vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

3.18.2008

Support and challenge

Couple of developments in the gubernatorial front.

1. Former Gov. Phil Hoff, a Democrat, wrote in a letter to the editor printed yesterday in the Free Press that he supports Progressive Anthony Pollina. It's a place many other high-profile Democrats are not willing to go. So much so that the Democratic State Committee didn't even want to hear from Pollina until they have a chance to see if a Dem is looming in the candidacy wings. Does Hoff's support carry enough weight to break the ice jam for other D's?

2. Broadsides blogger Michael Colby has paused long enough in his Iraq war protests to declare that he's taking on Pollina in the Progressive primary.

He writes:
"A Run for Governor? Hello folks, it’s semi-official. After being
approached and encouraged by many people, I am now actively considering a run
forgovernor of Vermont under the banner of the Progressive Party.

...

"The only declared candidate for governor in the Progressive orDemocratic
parties is Anthony Pollina, and he has been seemingly more interested in playing
footsie with the powers-that-be than offering a true alternative to them. I, on
the other hand, believe in the importance and necessity of building an
alternative base to politics as usual amongst the dominant two parties. I think
it’s important for a progressive to be in this race to offera true contrast to
the failings of the other major parties when itcomes to stopping the war,
providing health care for all, addressinge conomic inequality and celebrating
and protecting Vermont’s natural resources."

Will he have the Progs shaking in their third-party boots?

Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 10:36 AM |

Comments:

This is better than reading the funny papers!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:54 AM, March 18, 2008

The Progs should call themselves the Mickey Mouse party.

Of course, the GOP should be the Goofy party.

That'd make the Dems the Daffy Duck party ...

The political leadership is lacking on all sides.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:00 PM, March 18, 2008

The Progressive Party has a strong candidate for governor. The Democratic Party doesn't want to lose another office like the one they lost to Bernie. But no one dares to run for fear of losing. So their only hope is to paint Pollina as a loser and hope that he does. The governor wins again. But that's okay, according the Dems. Wait'll 2010. Then they'll take care of everything. Just be patient.

They're more pitiful than the national dems.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:21 PM, March 18, 2008

Just saw a nice article about the managerial skills of Pollina at Vermont Milk. Seems some farmers haven't been paid since last year. Oh well, let's just move on to something different....hey gang, lets put on a party and run for governor!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:07 PM, March 18, 2008

bubba, give us a link to that article.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:46 PM, March 18, 2008

Today's Caledonian Record

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:19 PM, March 18, 2008

You lied. That article doesn't say that farmers have not been paid.

It says that it is a new company. There are plenty of investors willing to come on board and there is a healthy supply for their products.

Things aren't perfect but it's a new venture. They are working hard to make it work and there are a lot of great opportunities ahead.

I guess you just want to trash people that are working hard at creating ag jobs in the Northeast Kingdom.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:30 PM, March 18, 2008

Bubba not factual??? Wow. That's surprising.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:39 PM, March 18, 2008

Bubba not factual??? Wow. That's surprising.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:39 PM, March 18, 2008

Hoff's letter can be read as something other than an endorsement.

Here's what Hoff said, with some commentary:

"For a long time I have felt that the Democratic and Progressive parties should work together for the common good of Vermont. In the absence of a viable Democratic candidate it seems to me that the candidacy of Anthony Pollina offers such an opportunity."

Comment: I'm only saying this because there is not a viable Democratic candidate. If such a candidate were to declare, I'd support the Democrat over Pollina.

"I do not know Pollina well. Several Democrats that I respect know him well and give him high grades in terms of his character and devotion to Vermont. Certainly he is “right” on the issues facing Vermont."

Comment: I don't know this guy, and I really hope the Democrats can come up with a stronger candidate.

"It is my understanding that he seeks the support of the Democratic Party. Given this situation it seems to me that we Democrats should set aside partisan politics and support Pollina."

Comment: If the situation were different, in other words, if there were a strong Democratic candidate, we wouldn't have to support Pollina.

Hoff's letter can be read as a challenge to the Democrats just as much as an endorsement of Pollina.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:56 PM, March 18, 2008

Today's Caledonian Record: "we stopped shipping milk to them December 1 because we didn't get paid Karla Barrett said. They still owe us a lot of money".

Bubba doesn't lie. I only report what I read.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:09 PM, March 18, 2008

Snarky Boy '08!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:18 PM, March 18, 2008

The same farmers said that they DID get paid their base price.

They also said, "I think it's a good company and once they get their feet on the ground, IT WILL BE FINE."

Nice try, Bubba.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:29 PM, March 18, 2008

"We stopped shipping milk to them December 1 because we didn't get paid," Karla Barrett said. "They still owe us a lot of money. We got paid the base price but not the extra money."

She said she understood there had been some poor business management decisions, but she wants to know what is going on.

"Somehow I think they should look into Anthony Pollina. I don't think he'd make a good governor if he can't run a little milk company," Barrett said.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:38 PM, March 18, 2008

The Vermont Milk Company has done more for Hardwick than Douglas ever will.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:42 PM, March 18, 2008

Hardwick is the armpit of Vermont, basically a ward of the state. They are a combination of gullible Vermonters and left-wing hippies left over from the 70's. If this is the crowning achievement of Pollina and the progressives, I don't think I'd want to talk about it too much!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:47 PM, March 18, 2008

Hardwick jokes are the red-neck jokes of Vermont.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:48 PM, March 18, 2008

I think Hardwick is filled with hard working Vermonters and decent people.

It's too bad that the forces on the right seek to belittle them.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:53 PM, March 18, 2008

There are MANY hard working good people in Hardwick and a lot of other poor towns in Vermont. No body is belittling them anymore than the liberals belittle the hard working poor people of Mississippi and Alabama, and we know they would never do that. If it had been left to the natives to build an economy the area would be much better off, but many on the left really like the NEK poor and "pristine". This is why the hippie trash invaded Vermont starting in the 60's and this is why Hardwick has no businesses "unapproved" by the liberals in Montpelier. Drive into a small town in the South and they proudly display signs stating "A business friendly town!" Hell, in Vermont the sign itself would be illegal! If you want to really know why there are so many "Hardwicks" in the state, just look at Montpelier.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:48 PM, March 18, 2008

Here, here!

And so many supporting Pollina!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:16 PM, March 18, 2008

Pollina did not not pay the money he promised

no question about that

end of that story

NO QUESTION PERIOD

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:50 PM, March 18, 2008

According to Rep Lucy Leriche there are a lot of toilet bowl cleaners in Hardwick

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:35 PM, March 18, 2008

Lucy Leriche is one of the reasons Hardwick is in the toilet.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:55 PM, March 18, 2008

Loose Lucie is a real prize!
Did you hear her remarx on the floor yesterday?

Will someone interpret them for me

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:35 AM, March 19, 2008

Pollina apparently can sit around coffee shops all day long while his "business" can't even pay farmers what they were promised. Mixing "progressives" with private enterprise is like mixing oil and water. And this "entrepreneur" wants to be governor? (Can anyone picture Brooklyn Bernie running a private-enterprise business?)

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:00 AM, March 19, 2008

As a true Vermonter and a Republican I can tell you that people from Hardwick are lazy, dirty and uneducated.

If they'd just get up off their buts, wash their clothes and get jobs, they wouldn't have all of the problems that they do.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:22 AM, March 19, 2008

Nice try - real hard to tell you're a downtown Hardwick hippie. If you were a Republican you'd be out spending your time finding businesses willing to move to Hardwick instead of wasting your time on this stupid blog.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:53 AM, March 19, 2008

"If you were a Republican you'd be out spending your time finding businesses willing to move to Hardwick instead of wasting your time on this stupid blog."

So are you not a Republican, Bubba??

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:30 PM, March 19, 2008

Yawn

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:16 PM, March 20, 2008

Bupkis.

# Posted by: