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


9.24.2007

 

Political work

Some of you will look at Sen. Bernie Sanders' hiring of Will Wiquist as a spokesman to mean that Sanders is adding a new mouthpiece.

I look at it this way: Things aren't looking good for the Hungry Vermont softball team. Will was a smooth and versatile infielder with a steady bat on a very inconsistent, and some would say, bad team this summer. I was the pitcher on that team. I would say the 2008 season was in jeopardy anyway, but Will's departure isn't going to help.

Wiquist is joining Sanders' D.C. staff, to crank out the senator's words of wisdom to the media alongside Michael Briggs. He will, in essence, replace Erin Campbell, who did the speaking for Sanders when he was in the House but left his employ in the spring.

Wiquist is the latest from a team of young, politically charged former Welch for Congress staffers to find his way into a full-time political gig. It's clear that that campaign has been good for the careers of more than Peter Welch.

Wiquist, at 29 one of the older members of the crew, has worked for the Vermont Democratic Party, for the Federal Election Commission and as a volunteer for Howard Dean's and Bill Bradley's presidential campaigns before coming back to Vermont to work for Welch's 2006 House campaign.

Some others from Welch's staff who found gainful political employment after the campaign: Andrew Savage, Welch's communications director; Calvin Garner, Welch's press assistant, Claire Benjamin, a Welch legislative assistant; Molly Gray, Welch's scheduler; and Jill Krowinski, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party. Welch's former state Senate aide Chesley Thurber also landed a spot on his D.C. staff.

The fact that so many of them are young is no coincidence. Youthful exuberance, a willingness to move and a lack of expectations concerning salary are key factors to snagging political jobs. Most campaign jobs are part-time, seasonal and low-paying. Every cycle it seems like there are people eager to do it, though.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
15-20 years from now, several of the people mentioned in this post will be Vermont elected officeholders themselves.
 
Don't forget Ben Palkowski, a former Welch campaigner who now heads up the Democratic House PAC.
 
I wonder if there is a single Vermonter in the whole leftist bunch that has ever held a job in the real (i.e., private industry) world. My guess is just another bunch of socialist idealists fresh out of Goddard, UVM, or some other school for the propagation of communist propaganda.
 
Spoken like a true Republican. Spew venom and lies about hard working people that you've never met.

Come on, Bubba. You can do better than that. Call Senator Cleland a traitor. Spit on Senator Kerry for his service in vietnam. Step it up a little!
 
"Sanders is adding a new mouthpiece"

Please Terri. The only mouthpiece Bernie will ever have is Bernie himself. This Wiquist fellow mine as well be be named "Ventriloquist." Nothing against the guy, I just know how Bernie operates.
 
^^ yea, fool, that's what press secretaries do. they talk about what their boss is doing. All pols operate this way, not just Bernie.
 
Seems sad that Bernie's become just another Democrat.
 
Because he has a PRESS SECRETARY??

Gimme a break!!

I guess you'd rather that a US Senator not talk to press??!!
 
Ventrilwiquist!!
 
If anyone thought Burlington's "West Coast of NE" slogan sucked, check out this new gem to draw in young people:

“PursueVT”

Blech! How much did some consultant get paid to come up with this loser slogan? Stop with the slogans already. THEY DON'T WORK!
 
Yeah - how come GOP supporters blast Dems for having press secretaries and media folks - but not their own Gov Jim Douglas who has something like 14 "mouthpieces" strategically placed in state government at a cost of $800K taxpayer dollars.

THEN to top it off Gov Douglas' spending habits include no-bid contracts to out of state GOP leaning lobbying firms.

GIVE ME A BREAK!

Gov Jim Douglas operates state government much the way that GWB at the federal level.
 
"THEN to top it off Gov Douglas' spending habits include no-bid contracts to out of state GOP leaning lobbying firms."

That firm has worked for Dems as well.

And apparently Vermont's ultraliberal Congressional delegation has absolutely nothing bad to say about this decision.

And Vt's Dem. Attorney General signed off on the contract as perfectly legal.
 
We need a new Attorney General.
Elect a new one right now!!!
 
Senator John Campbell for Attorney General!
 
Funny, but Bernie Sanders' new press person -- Will Wiquist -- has I predict a very short lifespan. Just count the # of press secretaries Sanders burned through since 1990. It's undeniable.

The 'champion of the little guy' (gag, ugh, reflex, ugh, coming on fast) thinks nothing of abusing the 'little guy' or gal who tries (nights, weekends included) to help advance his cause.

Surprised?

Count the number of 'press secretaries' Mr. Nasty's had since his election to Congress in 1990.

Compare it to number to the number who had the EXACT SAME JOB with (take your pick) Mr. Douglas, Mr. Dean, Mr. Leahy. Mr. Jeffords.

This is a fact, dear blog.

The guy with the state's foulest onion breath is Vermont's worst pol to flack for.
 
Guess he talks so much he doesn't even have time to brush his teeth?
 
When counting Jim Douglas' press people - don't forget to include the 14 or so he has scattered throughout state government to make him look good - at a taxpayer cost of approx. $800K.

ANd lately they have begun to flee when tehy find out their job is to make Douglas look good.
 
Bernie does have the worst bad breath ever! What is up with that!
 
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