vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

7.23.2007

Who's out there?

It was with a little trepidation that I set about writing a story about who's not running for governor next year, which appeared in this morning's paper.

First, there's all the people who told me it's way, way early. Most of them had to admit, though, that it's not way, way early to be hearing about people thinking about running for governor. And that if somebody's really going to get going they're going to have to do it soon. And furthermore that the reality is there probably isn't somebody with a good chance of beating Douglas, as much as it pains many Democrats to admit.

I was more concerned that I might miss the people who are really thinking about running, tucked away somewhere in the hills of Vermont.

So why wait for you all to jump on the bandwagon? I'll open the door myself. Is there somebody else out there getting ready to run? Is there somebody you think should? Are the Democrats who are active in and around the Legislature out of touch with the party's voters out there in the rest of the state? Is Douglas the one who's more in touch? If there any way they can learn to co-exist in a way that benefits the state?

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 11:18 AM |

Comments:

The Democrat leaders in the Legislature are not just out of touch with their parties voters, they are also out of touch with most Vermonters. All they did this session was pander to their left "base" with issues that most Vermonters don't give a hoot about. Even Shumlin admitted early on that Vermonters were "taxed out" and that there was "no money in the bank"...so what did he do all year? Propose tax increases nearly each week...he just doesn't get it and neither do most of the other Democrats in the Legislature...either that or they're just plain good sheep and follow their shepherd blindly and now Terri according to your article they need more sheep. What a sorry state of affairs.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:35 PM, July 23, 2007

Wow! You are really out of touch with what's happening in Montpelier! Your diatribe sounds like it was written by someone on the Douglas staff - maybe Jason, Denise, or Neale.

The fact of the matter is Gov Jim Douglas has no vision for Vermont unless it meshes with the GOP conservative base.

You state that Shumlin proposed tax increases nearly each week - show me!

Talk about being good sheep being led blindly - how about those republican legislators who vote for a bill when it first passes, then vote against it when the veto is before them.

The fact is Gov Jim Douglas has done nothing to improve the job climate in Vt - except to over and over tell the world VT is a bad place to do business.

He won't raise taxes - however, he has been raising fees on Vermonters since he took office in 2003.

He has raised salaries, including his own, of his secretaries and commissioners above the rate of inflation since he first took office.

He has created a Public Information network throughout state government to the tune of approximately $800,000. Their job is to make the Governor look good.

Gov JIM Douglas has in fact been the most partisan and political force in the statehouse.

Wake up Vermont and smell what really stinks in Montpelier.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:10 PM, July 23, 2007

State Senator Jim Condos has local government experience, regional experience and now state experience, to go with a good private sector business background.

He is considered to be fiscally responsible and socially liberal and would make a great governor.

He did a great job leading South Burlington - he is truly a leader with common sense.

Run Jim Condos, run!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:15 PM, July 23, 2007

I've heard the name Paul Melman mentioned on the blogs. He's a businessman in Windham County somewhere.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:41 PM, July 23, 2007

The list of people who can beat Douglas is short. And the people on the list won't run. Here is the list:

-Howard Dean
-Pat Leahy
-Ben Cohen
-Philip Baruth (makes you think ...)

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:58 PM, July 23, 2007

Is Jim Condos now living in Washington County and if he is will he be resigning his Chittenden county senate seat

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:38 PM, July 23, 2007

People who can't beat Douglas:

-Jeb Spaulding
-The Attorney General (whatshisname?)
-Markowitz
-Shumlin
-Symington
-Racine
-Dunne
-Odum
-Hallenbeck
-Pollina
-Zuckerman
-Clavelle
-Parker
-Condos
-Welch
-Sanders
-Hinda
-Bartlett

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:40 PM, July 23, 2007

The fact is that Douglas has no accomplishments.

People complain about the 2007 legislative session accomplishments, but Douglas hasn't done anything in the last 5 years.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:28 PM, July 23, 2007

Hey, that's not fair, Gov. Doesless has come up with lots of good slogans and catch phrases.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:49 PM, July 23, 2007

I am writing in response to the question from the anonymous blogger regarding my residence:
I live and work in South Burlington, Vermont.

I have lived in Chittenden County for the past 52 years. I have worked my entire adult life in Chittenden County.

I have served four terms (8 years) as a Chittenden County Senator. I also served for 18 years on the South Burlington city council, and on the VLCT and National League of Cities Boards; as well as on Chittenden County's regional planning, solid waste district, metropolitan planning, organization, etc...

I have been an aggressive advocate for the needs of my constituents, and I intend to ask Chittenden county voters for their support in the 2008 election.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:30 PM, July 23, 2007

Dear posting #2, What really stinks in Montpelier is Floyd, Carolyn, Gaye and Peter (yes, we should throw in Campbell the so-called southern democrat) You guys are completely useless and out-of-touch with what real Vermonters want and need (hint - it ain't got nothing to do with the cool temperatures this summer)

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:28 PM, July 23, 2007

What a blow hard Jim Condos is...trying to continually sell himself as something he is not...we've got your number...it ain't got nothing to do with how many tires you've sold for Goss

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:47 PM, July 23, 2007

I can see the bumper stickers now: Shamy for Governor

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:04 PM, July 23, 2007

Condos sounds like a typical public sector teat-sucker.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:43 PM, July 23, 2007

Condos is as weak a lawmaker as 2 pound test line is on a big fish - breakable. He's never done anything. Come on Jim tell us what bills you are the main author of that have been signed into law? (other than a stupid, simple city charter) Name one.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:48 PM, July 23, 2007

Here's Pete Shumlin, in today's Free Press about who might take on Douglas in 2008:

"The name won’t be Shumlin," he said. His company, Putney Student Travel, recently landed a contract with National Geographic to run educational tours that will keep him busy. He also said, “I don’t have the ambition I used to.”

1. Putney Sudent Travel just got a big contract? Wow! They're doing better than expected. So let's tax the sh** out of it, just like Shumlin wanted to tax the sh** out of Vermont Yankee because they're making a lot of money.

2. "I don't have the ambition I used to." This is such a laffer! After his attempt to go mano-a-mano with the Gov. this year on his energy bill? Translation: Putney Pete's afraid to take on Douglas and lose.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:48 PM, July 23, 2007

Oh Condos was one of those fools seen shooting his mouth off on Fox News...

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:49 PM, July 23, 2007

Philip Baruth? We'd have to redecorate the governor's office with mirrors.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:36 AM, July 24, 2007

Nope. Jim Douglas already did that.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:15 AM, July 24, 2007

Senator Condos sponsored 35 pieces of legislation this passed session - many of which have already passed into law, including reestablishing the Department of Mental Health, awarding workers comp benefits to firefighters whose cancer was caused by employment, and prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity. As a Chittenden County resident, I'm proud to be his constituent and can't think of one lawmaker more effective in the State House.

...he'd also run circles around the governor in a debate.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:29 AM, July 24, 2007

"Fox News... "

what a joke.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:20 AM, July 24, 2007

Yeah, Condos taking a shot at Fox News is really going to sour my opinion of him.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:13 PM, July 24, 2007

From the editorial in today's Free Press about the need for financial disclosure laws for Vermont's state officeholders:

"House Speaker Gaye Symington told the Free Press she favors personal financial disclosure by the governor, calling it a "reasonable expectation." But Symington said a similar requirement for members of the Legislature "might be less necessary" because of an individual lawmaker's limited ability to influence events on his or her own.

So Princess Gay of Hypocritia thinks financial disclosure laws should apply to the Governor, but not to mere state reps like her? THAT'S BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT HER FAMILY IS AS RICH AS CRESUS.

What a goddam lousy hypocrite!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:49 PM, July 24, 2007

Um Condos? First poster had it right: it is one of Montpelier's worst-kept secrets that Condos lays his head in Washington County, not Chittenden County. And yes, there is even MORE to this story and every statehouse reporter knows what I'm talking about . . . and probably most every reader of this blog knows it too!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:40 AM, July 25, 2007

SO here we go...

The GOPs "politics of personal destruction" and obviously the Governor must condone it since he is the "leader" of the VT GOP or is he going to sidestep this one too.

I wonder if those with damning charges would be so forthright if they had the courage to state who they are!?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:18 AM, July 25, 2007

A legislator should live where he or she runs from. Period. If they move, they need to give up their seat.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:16 PM, July 25, 2007

"The GOPs "politics of personal destruction" and obviously the Governor must condone it since he is the "leader" of the VT GOP or is he going to sidestep this one too."

Methinks thou dost protest too much. It's not "the politics of personal destruction" to call out an officeholder who doesn't really reside in his district. And you can't say that the Governor is behind this just because he's the titular leader of the Republican Party in Vermont.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:53 AM, July 26, 2007

I wish people would keep their noses out of the personal life of politicians. Why cant we just focus on the job they do and how well (or not) they serve their constituants. They work their butts off for little pay, and never "leave" work. Vote for them or don't, agree with their positions or don't, but show a little respect....and stick to the issues...geez.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:08 AM, July 28, 2007

I'll consider voting for any politician -- WHO ACTUALLY LIVES IN MY DISTRICT, AND NOT JUST WITH AN OFFICIAL ADDRESS.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:03 PM, July 29, 2007

I am a proud Democrat but I may not vote for any of them in Vermont in 2008. I am discusted with their effort to avoid the tough problems. The ones that are working hard are not the ones you see sounding off in the press!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:45 AM, July 31, 2007

All those fools like Campbell and Condos who followed Shumlin down his path of self destruction - we could have told you so!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:16 AM, August 02, 2007