vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

10.30.2007

Rainville in charge of warnings

When I read about the famous fake FEMA press conference of the other day (FEMA staff posed questions to FEMA staff while real reporters tuned in by phone and were not able to ask questions), I naturally wondered about the only person I know of who works at FEMA, and whether she had a role.

Didn't really believe Martha Rainville would be involved (she'd had all the lessons she could bear about staff-written fake position papers during her congressional campaign last year). Indications are that indeed she was not in the thick of the recent mess.

According to Washington Post columnist Al Kamen: "We're told the questions were asked by Cindy Taylor, FEMA's deputy director of external affairs, and by "Mike" Widomski, the deputy director of public affairs. Director of External Affairs John "Pat" Philbin asked a question, and another came, we understand, from someone who sounds like press aide Ali Kirin. "

But a FEMA/Rainville search did tell us a little about what that the former adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard and former congressional candidate was up to at FEMA. Here's a recent article from the publication Washington Technology that talks about her new role overseeing public warnings and alerts. If only she could have warned her FEMA colleagues about the idiocy of a fake news conference.

Be prepared
09/17/07
By Alice Lipowicz
Most emergency alert opportunities will lie with the states, FEMA official
says

The 2007 hurricane season has been relatively mild so far. But it is still
a busy period for Martha Rainville in her new position overseeing national
public warnings and alerts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

She joined FEMA in April as deputy administrator of continuity programs.
Rainville’s responsibilities include FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning
System (IPAWS). It will expand the nation’s longstanding emergency alert system.

If you want to read more, go there yourself from HERE.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 10:57 AM |

Comments:

"Didn't really believe Martha Rainville would be involved ..."

You seriously couldn't believe that a woman who had plagarized material on her campaign website could be involved with FEMA's fake news conference ??!!

She has a history of this kind of thing.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:24 AM, October 30, 2007

There are petty strong rumors out and about that Jim Douglas will continue his policy (of providing good jobs to those GOPers who run and lose an election) by appointing Martha Rainville or Randy Brock to be his Public Safety Commissioner replacing Kerry Sleeper.

Martha might have some explaining to do since there still exists that she allegedly destroyed evidence in a grievance case before her as the Adj General.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:53 AM, October 30, 2007

Martha was in town attending Brian and Mike Dubie's Dad's funeral this weekend.

Interestingly, the Governor did not show up for the funeral - and one prominent GOP member said he was very surprised since Douglas was at the GOP State Convention that morning.

I'm sure he must have had a ribbon cutting opening a McDonalds somewhere.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:57 AM, October 30, 2007

Naw - Governor Doesless just had higher priorities. The rest of the people attending had priorities too, but they all changed them out of respect for the Dubie family.

Here's Gov. Doesless' schedule for that time period.

Saturday, October 27, 2007
11:00 a.m. Wheels for Warmth
Dubois Construction,
US Route 2, Middlesex

1:00 p.m. Vietnam Veterans
Memorial 25th
Anniversary Celebration
Sharon Rest Area, I-89
(Northbound)

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:06 PM, October 30, 2007

Wow!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:41 PM, October 30, 2007

I can't believe that Chris Stewart has a blog - and from all accounts is well read.

The guy is an absolute joke; did Hillary Clinton ever seek legal action? After all - plagerism is illegal.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:03 PM, October 30, 2007

What ever happened in the Rainville porn cover-up at the Guard? Are the DVD's still being copied and passed around at the Guard? Is this the real reason she left Vermont to go work at FEMA?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:18 PM, October 30, 2007

Rainville did porn? That's a scary thought.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:20 PM, October 30, 2007

Martha Rainville should run for Chittenden Senate in 2008. She would be an improvement on Hinda Miller and/or Jim Condos.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:46 PM, October 30, 2007

Wouldn't it be enlightening to find out the following from the slime-bag slugs smearing Martha Rainville: (1) Occupation (if any) (2) Work History (if any) (3) Accomplishments (if any)(4) Military service (if any)?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:52 PM, October 30, 2007

More high-minded insights. Par for the course. This blog is as tedious as Peter Freyne's blog with completely predictable and eminently tedious points made repetitively.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:54 PM, October 30, 2007

Yea -- thanks for raising the level of our discourse.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:22 PM, October 30, 2007

"This blog is as tedious as Peter Freyne's blog "

agreed... same ten people with too much time on their hands

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:39 PM, October 30, 2007

You can't counter the points that people are making ... so you attack the people.

Typical Republican BS.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:47 PM, October 30, 2007

Randy Brock would be great as the Public Safety Commissioner.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:33 PM, October 30, 2007

Randy Brock shouldn't take the job as Public Safety Commissioner. He should run again for auditor. Young Tom Salmon is in over his head in the auditor's office. Brock could defeat him in 2008. The Salmon name won't count for much once people know how little he has done. Plus, Brock has the money to put into his own campaign.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:47 PM, October 30, 2007

Rainville has probably learned, like Rich Tarrant, that Vermont is no longer your Father's Vermont. Your reward for accomplishment, furthering the interests of thousands of Vermonters, and retaining some Christian morals and principles count for absolutely ZERO in today's Vermont (at least it used to be just Chittenden County). This is why jackasses like Bernie Sanders are so successful. Let's just turn the whole state into a mini-San Fransisco!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:47 PM, October 30, 2007

Bubba hates Vermont so much, he should just leave.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:06 PM, October 30, 2007

"This blog is as tedious as Peter Freyne's blog "

Well la da freakin' da. Sorry to burden you with reading stuff that no one forced you to come in and read. Move on and spare us any further high-brow insight. Thanks.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:01 PM, October 30, 2007

"Have you been injured?"

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:37 PM, October 30, 2007

I think just about every comment on this blog is why I consider this blog utterly worthless in the first place.

I'm dumber for having wasted my time reading this meaningless dribble by people so obliously dissappointed in their own lives that they have to reach out and rain on everyone elses parade.

Such is the "environment" facilitated by the Burlington Free Press.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:40 PM, October 30, 2007

"....this meaningless dribble by people so obliously dissappointed in their own lives that they have to reach out and rain on everyone elses parade."

Dead on! It's a sad statement about our community when the apparent goal of supposedly civilized open-minded adults is to drag down hard working individuals whose only "offense" is they have worked hard and achieved some level of success.

What a group of victims! Maybe by redirecting your efforts to something more positive, you too can be successful...and then thrashed on a BFP blog

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:15 AM, October 31, 2007

What's the point of this blog?

Apparently to say Rainville had nothing to do with the news conference. IMO that doesn't seem all that important.

...or was it just to open her up to a series of cheapshots?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:19 AM, October 31, 2007

Allright! A "Dump Gov. Doesless" bumpersticker spotted in Island Pond. Hope lives!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:18 AM, October 31, 2007

This is the second rumor about Douglas appointing Brock to serve in his administration. If it doesn't happen it will tell you something about how much Douglas values Brock.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:23 AM, October 31, 2007

Won't happen because Brock will need to start campaigning soon.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:46 AM, October 31, 2007

Douglas didn't attend Dubie's father's funeral??? Ouch!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:03 AM, October 31, 2007

Did anyone see the approval ratings on Channel 3 last night.

The best part was seeing that Shumlin only garnered 8% of support from people interested in seeing a Democrat run against Douglas. That's worse than Polina!!!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:28 AM, October 31, 2007

Wow. A WCAX poll. I'm sure it wasn't biased.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:44 AM, October 31, 2007

Hey - just this morning I saw a "Dump Gov DoesLess" bumper sticker in Chittenden County!

Maybe people are starting to figure that Jim Douglas is really a do-nothing Governor!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:51 AM, October 31, 2007

Speaking of Shumlin, the calls by the NEA and the Vt School Boards Assn for repeal of the two-vote system in Act 82 is another example of Shumlin's erratic behavior coming home to roost. The two-vote system was never considered by any House or Senate committee or debated on the floor - it was concocted by Shumlin and his pal Vince Illuzzi in the conference committee at the end of the session last May. Symington went along because she didn't want the legislature to go home without having done anything about property taxes.

Now the NEA and the school boards will try to get the legislature to repeal that part of Act 82 next session, and Symington told VPR yesterday she's opposed to repeal. However, a majority of her own caucus might want repeal. Shumlin has yet to weigh in on this issue, while Jim Douglas can sit back and cut a few more ribbons while the Democrats fight this issue out with their natural allies in the NEA. With a Democratic party like this, no wonder Douglas looks like a shoo-in for re-election.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:52 AM, October 31, 2007

"Wow. A WCAX poll. I'm sure it wasn't biased."

Probably no more so than the NY Times, CNN, FOX, and the BFP.

I suspect only the participants in this blog offer fair and balanced points of view.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:03 AM, October 31, 2007

Dump Governor Doesless!

That fair and balanced enough for you?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:42 AM, October 31, 2007

Wow. What a clever reply. How is everything going in 2nd grade today!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:07 AM, October 31, 2007

Better than for your kindergarten class.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:29 PM, October 31, 2007

ooooo... well said Einstein

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:41 PM, October 31, 2007

I too saw Douglas at calling hours - let that go.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:16 PM, October 31, 2007

Campbell for Governor.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:16 PM, October 31, 2007

Dump Doesless sticker spotted in Waterbury! Keep sticking them on!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:13 AM, November 01, 2007

Who is going to run against him?

And is anybody going to run against
Jeb Spaulding?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:30 AM, November 01, 2007

"Dump Doesless sticker spotted in Waterbury! Keep sticking them on!"

...you really need to find a hobby!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:56 AM, November 01, 2007

It's that kind of high-brow reply that lets us know just how deeply we're getting under your skin. Thanks for letting us know!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:08 AM, November 01, 2007

Is John Campbell really running for Governor?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:16 AM, November 01, 2007

Are you kidding?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:22 AM, November 01, 2007

"It's that kind of high-brow reply that lets us know just how deeply we're getting under your skin."

Thanks for saying it all about the mentality of VT politics. Apparently campaigning by irritation is the key to success.

I did not realize how impactful the incessant and mindless rantings of a few chronics on a BFP blog could be! Thanks for showing the hand of the Dems and Progs.

I suspect High School campaigns for Class President are better orchestrated.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:33 AM, November 01, 2007

Check It Out!

http://cuttingribbons.blogspot.com/

Gov. Doesless is actually doing less and less. Let the mobilization begin!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:52 AM, November 01, 2007

"Check It Out!

http://cuttingribbons.blogspot.com/"

Wow, a web site dedicated to the coming and goings of Governor Jim Douglas. I didn't realize how deeply your obession with the Governor ran. To think you have the time to maintain a website memorializing it (I am sure it is on everyone's Favorites List). Are you employed?

You are deeply disturbed and in serious need of a socially acceptable hobby. Geesh.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:23 AM, November 01, 2007

Whats this about John Campbell?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:44 AM, November 01, 2007

????????????????????????????????

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:22 PM, November 01, 2007

John Campbell would make a great candidate.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:11 AM, November 02, 2007

Deb Markowitz for Governor - she could take Douglas on.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:15 PM, November 02, 2007

Brock should run because he has his own money to do it? Is that really a credible reason?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:31 AM, November 04, 2007

Let's require he live here first, regardless of whose money he's spending. When did buying your way become the acceptable way to go?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:03 PM, November 04, 2007

When Robert Kennedy did it when he moved to NY to run for Senator from that state?

When Hillary did it when she moved to NY to run for Senator from that state?

Carpetbagging is old news.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:42 PM, November 04, 2007

Does that make it right? Or a reason to vote for someone?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:45 PM, November 04, 2007

Nope. It makes it a reason NOT to vote for someone. Like Pollina. Like Symington. Like Zuckerman. Like Dean. Like Snelling. Like Douglas.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:30 PM, November 04, 2007

And the greatest carpetbagger of them all, BERNIE.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:32 PM, November 04, 2007

Zuckerman would not get elected if not for the students at UVM.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:57 AM, November 05, 2007

The greatest carpet bagger of all time is Hillary Clinton!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:36 AM, November 05, 2007

Dick Cheney also did it; Rich Tarrant attempted it; Randy Brock did it; Jim Douglas did it and others have attempted it as well. Why the emphasis on out-of-state Democrats?
No-one should be doing it.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:01 AM, November 05, 2007

Aat least in the case of some, they moved to the state and actually lived here before running. Tarrant and Brock were not even residents at all.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:04 AM, November 05, 2007

"Why the emphasis on out-of-state Democrats?"

probably because they have such a long and rich history in carpetbagging

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:04 PM, November 05, 2007

"Why the emphasis on out-of-state Democrats?"

probably because they have such a long and rich history in carpetbagging

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:04 PM, November 05, 2007

Seems to me the biggest offenders are those who aren't bothered about deceiving people about where they live to get what they personally want; e. g: the repubs above.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:18 PM, November 05, 2007

You got that right!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:25 PM, November 05, 2007

"Aat least in the case of some, they moved to the state and actually lived here before running."

Brooklyn Bernie hadn't been in Vermont for ten minutes before he ran for Governor.

Carpetbagger.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:15 PM, November 05, 2007

that doesn't really respond to the comment about people who don't even bother to live here and run anyway. That's the ultimate in chutzpah.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:45 PM, November 06, 2007

Randy Brock may do it again.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:15 PM, November 06, 2007