vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

9.26.2007

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I did not attend the Chertoff event this afternoon, but our man on the scene, Adam Silverman, tells me that the Homeland Security secretary took just four questions from the media. Most of them centered on the enhanced driver's licenses that were the focus of his visit.

The warning that "Journalists may be asked to present media credentials or valid government-issued photo ID like a driver’s license or passport," turned out to be just hype. I was picturing some sort of surreal moment where media attending an event that was about enhanced driver's license might show up with their non-photo paper Vermont driver's licenses, and have to have the governor intercede to get them in. Alas, media were apparently allowed to just wander in incognito.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 4:11 PM |

Comments:

Remember this Chertoff quote:

“I have not heard a report of thousands of people in the convention center who don’t have food and water.” -Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Sept. 1, 2005.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:45 PM, September 26, 2007

Chertoff has pretty much made it easier for Vermonters to travel to Canada pain free, only having to obtain a new driver's license for security reasons. What do you want to bet some spoiled, petulant, lefties immediately start whining about possibly being slightly inconvenienced because they have to do something for their country? Oh yes, and of course the ACLU and the lefty lawyers in Vermont defending those poor terrorists, not to mention the wretched college faculty,will all join in in a massive protest and probably try to sue the government! If only these slackers had had to put up with some of the "inconveniences" of WWII.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:14 AM, September 27, 2007

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:09 AM, September 27, 2007

THis enhanced driver's license is fine, as long as the costs of it are fully covered either by user fees or by grants from the federal government. Existing state Transportation Fund dollars shouldn't be used for this program - there are too many existing demands on that fund for road and bridge repair, etc.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:37 AM, September 27, 2007

One way or the other, the taxpayer funds the program.

All the while we piss away billions each week in Iraq.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:22 PM, September 27, 2007

Terri,

Why is it news that the Governor asked Chertoff about immigration?

Did Gov Jim Douglas also speak about the immigrants his wife's family use?

Has the Freeps investigated whether any of them are legal or illegal?

Then in the article about the Intervale, you mention Rob Roper's baseless reach?

How many times to print Ian Carleton's press releases?

Sure looks like the Freeps is biased.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:39 PM, September 28, 2007

Stop complaining that the Governor gets press coverage. The Left in Vermont has its completely own newspaper and it's own journalist. They're called Seven Days and Peter Freyne.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:37 PM, September 30, 2007

So, since Seven Days has a liberal columnist, it's okay for the BFP to be completely biased?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:26 AM, October 01, 2007

From what I have seen, the BFP is a very liberal paper that allows some conservative input at times. Seven Days is so far left it is just a Burlington joke. As is the moron Freyne.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:41 PM, October 01, 2007

You have got to be kidding; the Freeps a liberal paper?

It is very much a conservative Gannett paper!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:52 PM, October 01, 2007

"So, since Seven Days has a liberal columnist, it's okay for the BFP to be completely biased?"

First, I don't accept your built-in assumption that the FP is "completely biased." By "completely biased, I assume you believe that it is conservative. I don't agree. It is all across the map, depending on the issue. On some things it is very liberal.

But to address your question: no, Seven Days not only has a whack-job biased liberal columnist, it is an entirely biased newspaper.

You want the Free Press to be more balanced (in your view), but you're okay with Seven Days staying as a biased ultraleft paper. Howabout instead of calling for the FP to be more liberal, you call for Seven Days to be more conservative?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:42 PM, October 01, 2007