vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

12.19.2007

Pollina's next step

There's an ad in today's edition of Seven Days that, if you didn't know better, would make you think Anthony Pollina is running for governor.

It is an appeal for campaign help.

"Volunteers, paid staff, contributors," it says. "You can help make Vermont
an even better place to live & work. We're looking for volunteers, donors
& campaign staff to help build this important grassroots campaign.

Join us today!
229-0800
AnthonyPollina.com"

It's got a logo and everything:

Pollina
GOVERNOR '08
With a sunburst coming out of the o in Pollina

The number is the number for the Progressive Party office. The Web site, technically, isn't working, but party Executive Director Morgan Daybell said it should be later today.\

As you know, Pollina, a Progressive from Middlesex, who has made runs for governor and lieutenant governor in the past, has been making noises about running for governor in 2008. He has indicated with each candidate-like movement that he's taking steps toward a candidacy, while courting the support of the Democratic Party. He has not announced his candidacy.

I asked Morgan if this ad, which makes it look very much like Anthony Pollina is running for governor, means that Anthony Pollina is, in fact, running for governor. "I would say yes," he said. "We are definitely moving forward. Though you should call Anthony for his quote."

I have a call in to Anthony. I wouldn't be surprised if he says this is another step toward running, but that, no, he would never officially announce his candidacy through an ad in a weekly newspaper. At some point, though, one has taken so many steps that one has gone through the door, whether one has announced one's entrance or not.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 12:51 PM |

Comments:

Hey! Two more years of Douglas, assured by Pollina. Thanks Anthony.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:08 PM, December 19, 2007

Let's have more farmers dump their milk down the drain at Pollina's suggestion. Perhaps he can pay them back out of campaign funds.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:14 PM, December 19, 2007

Pollina is running for something? What's new? Yawn...

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:02 PM, December 19, 2007

I do hope that Anthony is running for Governor. The Democracts say that Douglas can't be beat and I think if anyone can beat him it is Anthony. Anthony will have support tripratisn support. Go Anthony.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:24 PM, December 19, 2007

Tripartisan support??

Anthony will have a ton of support from Progressives

Lukewarm support from Democrats (unless a Democrat is in the race, in which case Polina will come in third again.)

And ten Republicans in Essex county will vote for Pollina because they want to be able to grow their own pot.

Pollina doesn't have a chance.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:27 PM, December 19, 2007

Never trust a politican period, but particularly never trust a politician who wants to start at the top without having to work his or her way through the system. It almost always means that the politician's ego and own inflated view of him or herself is telling them they are too good to earn voters' respect and confidence by starting local and advancing up the ladder.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:58 PM, December 19, 2007

^^^ I agree with that ... on the other hand, I don't think that the political insiders are doing us a lot of good.

Folks get into the political system and they get mired down in political games.

I'd like to see an outsider run against Douglas ... but it has to be someone who has a better resume than Pollina.

Perhaps a small business owner or someone who has some experience in the private sector ...

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:08 PM, December 19, 2007

As a strong and active Democrat, and after listening to Anthony and the rest of the Progs bash Dems over the years, I could never support Anthony.

And that doesn't mean I will vote for Jim Douglas either.

Anthony has no track record for accomplishing anything except for insuring that Brian Dubie was elected in 2002.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:38 PM, December 19, 2007

Hear, hear.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:42 PM, December 19, 2007

This is exciting news. Can't wait for the debate. Hopefully Democrats in the rank and file will support Anthony. I can't imagine they're just waiting around for Douglas to leave like their leadership seems to be doing. Gotta believe the rank and file wants a new governor.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:41 PM, December 19, 2007

I don't think Anthony will have too much trouble raising money. Jim Douglas' supporters are getting the checkbooks ready for him the same way the Republicans funneled support to spoiler Ralph Nader in 2000. Merry Christmas VT GOP!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:41 PM, December 19, 2007

"Never trust a politican period, but particularly never trust a politician who wants to start at the top without having to work his or her way through the system"

Dubie
Tarrant
Rainville
Brock
Leahy
Hoff
Dean Davis

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:20 PM, December 19, 2007

And Sanders -- whose very first foray into Vt. politics was not a run for state rep, or state senate, or sec. of state, but for Governor, only a couple of years after moving here from Brooklyn.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:35 AM, December 20, 2007

Anonymous said...

"And Sanders -- whose very first foray into Vt. politics was not a run for state rep, or state senate, or sec. of state, but for Governor, only a couple of years after moving here from Brooklyn."

Did he win?

That's what I thought.

Bernie was elected and served multiple terms as mayor, knocked off an incumbent Congressman, served multiple terms in Congress before replacing Jeffords as Senator this year.

What was Bush before he served a term and a half as Governor of Texas where the Lt Governor runs the show?

That's what I thought.

Tarrant spent 7 million bucks introducing himself to Vermont and the more we knew him, the less we liked him.

Just like Bush. Just like Jimminy Cricket.

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 7:54 AM, December 20, 2007

The point was not whether Bernie won his first race or not. The point was the arrogance of politicians who insist on starting at the top because they're egomaniacs. Like Pollina. It's deplorable whether it's on the Left OR the Right.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:46 AM, December 20, 2007

Anonymous said...

"The point was not whether Bernie won his first race or not. The point was the arrogance of politicians who insist on starting at the top because they're egomaniacs. Like Pollina. It's deplorable whether it's on the Left OR the Right."

It was, eh?

You do realize that you don't have to vote for them, don't you? That applies to the respective Primary and the General Elections.

What do you propose we do about it? What is your solution for the situation?

Do you want to pass a law saying a candidate has to have yada, yada, yada amount of experience to run for each and every office on the ladder?

Good luck. It'd get shot down by the Courts within 30 seconds and rightfully so. It's blatantly Unconstitutional.

Pass campaign finance reform and you'll eliminate the Rich Tarrants Mitt Romneys and Shrubs of the World.

Like most gops, they simply can't compete on a level playing field.

If they can't buy and/or steal it, they're toast.

8:46 AM, December 20, 2007

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 9:05 AM, December 20, 2007

Hey... You have done a disservice to some of these politicians:

Brian Dubie - Served on the Essex School Board for several terms - some as Chair

Pat Leahy - Lawyer, and served as an elected State's Attorney

Phil Hoff - Lawyer, elected to the Vt House before becoming Governor

Deane Davis - lawyer, county prosecutor, Superior Court judge, and president of the National Life Insurance Co. before becoming Governor

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:09 AM, December 20, 2007

Don't confuse the nitwits with the facts.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 9:28 AM, December 20, 2007

Pollina -- no experience in government before running for Gov., and only job is hanging out in coffee shops.

Bernie -- underemployed carpenter's helper before running for Gov.

Hey, if you're gonna complain about people running for top jobs with no prior governmental experience, that's fine. But it applies to the leftist heroes as well.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:26 PM, December 20, 2007

Terri,

"Don't confuse the nitwits with the facts."

Another informative posting by jwcoop.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:26 PM, December 20, 2007

Anonymous said...

"Pollina -- no experience in government before running for Gov., and only job is hanging out in coffee shops."

"Bernie -- underemployed carpenter's helper before running for Gov."

That's fascinating. We'll just call your references and have our fact-checkers go over the points you've made and if everything checks out perhaps we can do business.

"Hey, if you're gonna complain about people running for top jobs with no prior governmental experience, that's fine. But it applies to the leftist heroes as well."

Once again, you do realize, of course, that you don't have to vote for them, don't you?

Anonymous said...

Don't confuse the nitwits with the facts.

"Another informative posting by jwcoop."

And another heapin' helpin' of bupkis to go with your whine, little fella.

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 1:52 PM, December 20, 2007

Jeb Spaulding for Governor.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:03 PM, December 20, 2007

Jeb Spaulding is too conservative for the Vermont drooling, hydrophobic loony left.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:56 AM, December 21, 2007

bubba said...

"Jeb Spaulding is too conservative for the Vermont drooling, hydrophobic loony left."

How about the ignorant, ill-informed, knuckle-draggin', neanderthal-nitwit, neo-nazi, homophobic, anti-Semitic, take back Vermont bigoted trash right, bubbles?

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 8:15 AM, December 21, 2007

Terri, please look at the uncivil and hate-filled posting of jwcoop at 8:15 and ask yourself if he has "cleaned it up?"

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:31 AM, December 21, 2007

Anonymous said...

"Terri, please look at the uncivil and hate-filled posting of jwcoop at 8:15 and ask yourself if he has "cleaned it up?"

How's about the bubbles quote I'm responding to, little fella, or is it different when you guys do it?

Are you saying there should be a different standard for me than for you, yourselves and bubbles?

Like I keep tellin' ya, little fella, as long as they call it both ways I'll take my chances.

Will you?

Nice talkin' to ya.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:33 PM, December 21, 2007

Bubb'a posting was dumb.

Your posting was of a different quality:

"How about the ignorant, ill-informed, knuckle-draggin', neanderthal-nitwit, neo-nazi, homophobic, anti-Semitic, take back Vermont bigoted trash right, bubbles?"

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:47 PM, December 21, 2007

Spaulding will only run for Governor when it is a sure thing - ask him he will tell you.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:03 PM, December 30, 2007

In today's (1/4/08) Free Press story about Pollina making it official that he's running for Gov.:

"Pollina, of Middlesex, ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2000 and lieutenant governor in 2002."

. . . and unsuccessfully for Governor again in 2008.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:53 PM, January 04, 2008