vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

7.30.2008

Campaign mis-speakings

The governor's political opponents were quick to jump on the notion that the state was going to charge the Vermont State Employees Association $1,700 for looking through public records related to state job cuts.

Maybe too quick on the part of the Symington campaign.

Tuesday, the campaign sent out a release criticizing the charge, suggesting the state should have the requested information handy. It said, in part, "itʼs difficult to imagine that the Douglas administration would not have already compiled a list of the job cuts."

It wasn't a list of the job cuts that the VSEA was looking for, however. The union has that. What it wanted was written exchanges among state officials related to the job cuts to see what was behind the decision to cut specific jobs.

A day earlier, the Symington campaign sent out a release with some odd math related to the state's job growth. The campaign claimed that Vermont was projecting the slowest job growth rate in New England. Rhode Island, which lost jobs, didn't count in the rankings, the reasoning went, because the state didn't have job growth.

The release asked: "The question is, do you include a state that lost jobs in a comparison about job growth?"

The answer should have been yes, you do.

Quite separately, I assure you, Douglas campaign manager Dennise Casey and I came to the same analogy. She used the National League. I'm more of an American League kind of person. Under the Symington campaign theory, the reasoning goes like this: The Toronto Blue Jays are the last-place team in the A.L. East among those with at least a .500 record. My Baltimore Orioles, playing below .500, don't count. As an O's fan, you don't have to tell me that, but technically they're still in the standings. Even bad teams are still teams.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 9:30 AM |

Comments:

Gaye's logic is as impressive as her record as Speaker.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:37 AM, July 30, 2008

"Even bad teams are still teams."

That pretty much sums up Team Symington.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:38 AM, July 30, 2008

Funny. Last week, Team Douglas lied and said that radiation output from Vermont Yankee was up 30% on the year. Turns out that they changed the methodology of measuring the radiation output ... the actual increase of radiation from VY is 80%.

Why didn't we hear about that in the BFP?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:28 AM, July 30, 2008

Let's not lose sight of the real issue - the way the Douglas Administration maintains and operates state gov't in the most secretive manner in the history of Vermont state gov't..

I can't believe the press hasn't done an expose on this - frankly, I think they are afraid of Jason, Dennise Mike and Neale.

They throw up obstacles to anyone who disagrees or questions them - just like the playbook that Rove and Bush use in DC.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:32 AM, July 30, 2008

Yeah, typical GOP and very much typical Dennise Casey and Jason Gibbs -- someone questions their boss and they attacker the questioner!

Disgusting!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:34 AM, July 30, 2008

JIM DOUGLAS has been feeding at the public trough his entire working career.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:35 AM, July 30, 2008

And when can we expect the BFP to ask the Douglas campaign for the documentation of Douglas' claim that the Symington housing plan would have resulted in only 12 new houses a year? Just another free pass by the BFP. Kids would have loved the BFP as the school principal!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:04 PM, July 30, 2008

This appears to be a typical example of "new math" by the VT Democrats. Let them get in charge and watch out for your wallets.

(I am an Obama supporter.)

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:57 PM, July 30, 2008

Remember Jim Douglas's $250 million stimulus package?

Turns out it was a $250,000 stimulus package.

Jim's lies and fuzzy math are going to catch up with him soon.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:49 PM, July 30, 2008

go Symington!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:04 PM, July 30, 2008

So what if Douglas isn't totally truthfull about radiation levels in southern Vermont ... who cares?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:37 PM, July 30, 2008

Symington is running her campaign like she ran the House....poorly.

It is inconceivable that anyone would vote to turn the keys over to her to run the State. She routinely shows her inability to get the facts straight.

Go Douglas!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:32 PM, July 30, 2008

The Douglas hatchet man (David H.) is up to his same old tricks. Charge the union a ton of dough and it will be a deterrent. Just do your job you sloths.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:00 PM, July 30, 2008

"The Douglas Administration is the most secretive in history"...what the F---. Ever try to get a copy of Howierds public appearance schedule? Did Douglas sign bills behind closed doors to avoid controversy? Did Douglas seal his records for 10 years? Sorry, you've got the wrong guy pegged as "secretive."

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:26 PM, July 30, 2008

Symington's staff = amateurs

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:44 PM, July 30, 2008

Douglas political staff = paid for by taxpayers.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:48 PM, July 30, 2008

"Ever try to get a copy of Howierds public appearance schedule?"

Yes. Dean's public appearance schedule was always available.

"Did Douglas sign bills behind closed doors to avoid controversy?

Yes. He has done that. You didn't see Douglas sign the medical marijuana bill in public, did you?

" Did Douglas seal his records for 10 years?"

He will. There is no doubt about that.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:51 PM, July 30, 2008

I have Aubrey Huff on my fantasy baseball team and he's one Oriole who actually is decent.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:38 PM, July 30, 2008

The so-called secretive stuff by Howard is small stuff compared to Jim Douglas.

Douglas operates ANR the same way GWB operates the EPA.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:44 PM, July 30, 2008

The further adventures of...

THE DOUGESTAPO!

Secrets, half-truths, innuendo, smear campaigns, red baiting. This season of the Dougestapo promises to be his best yet. Stay tuned (if the Dougestapo doesn't censor you first-or just deny you viewing rights).

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:38 PM, July 30, 2008

As if either side has a lock on the truth. The media should and does act as a filter to keep all on their toes and make sure they don't play fast and loose with the truth.

It's in the campaigns' best interest not to push too far. When you do, you quickly lose credibility with the media, who tune you out when you really do have the goods.

So far, it's the Democrats who are having a hard time of it. They accuse Douglas of throwing away $500,000 on a grant to a furniture company that later was bought out and moved out of state, then somebody tells them the company never took the money.

Instead of admitting the error, they accuse Douglas of misleading the public by announcing the grant and then "not delivering." As if he should have FORCED them to take the money.

Now this.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:43 PM, July 30, 2008

"The so-called secretive stuff by Howard is small stuff compared to Jim Douglas."

If it is so secret how do you know about it?

All this conspiracy/hidden agenda stuff is really getting old. Do you all also fear microwave emissions and wear tinfoil hats?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:10 AM, July 31, 2008

Independentvter,

You are exactly right.

This bipartisanship has evolved to the point of demagoguery (from my POV mostly seemingly from the Dems and Progs….words like racist, fascist and Gestapo appear far too frequently in their rhetoric for them to be credible). Real issues lay on the table unresolved. Watching how the game is played in VT today probably tends to discourage rather than encourage qualified people from being more involved.

We are paying top dollar in taxes for services from the State and deserve better from both sides.

Captain America

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:21 AM, July 31, 2008

to correct the above, it should say '....seemingly from the DEM and Prog bloggers'

my bad, apologies

C.A.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:19 AM, July 31, 2008

Give me a break - the most partisan, staunch party position, no-compromise entity in Montpelier for the last 6 years has been Jim Douglas and his cronies (Jason Gibbs, Neale Kunderville, Mike Smith, Jim Barnett, Dennise Casey).

Under Welch, then Shumlin, and Speaker Symington there has been much more compromise than from GOV Jim Douglas!

Don't read the press - ask people who were actually there - like the lobbyists and others.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:34 AM, July 31, 2008

Is the 'Press' not telling us the true story? The BFP may have a thought on that.

Much of the compromise comes about because Welch, Shumlin and Symington have had no agenda or vision for the State that they are trying to move forward. Douglas has had one (liKe it or not)and moved to implement it. When he put his initiatives on the table the Dems have had only one choice; negotiate it, compromise and try to save face.

They have had a chance to lead but haven't. They let Douglas set the agenda and chosen to play the role of the victim.

You may not like JD but he has put forth initiatives and worked to successfully implement them. That's what a leader does.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:54 AM, July 31, 2008

Jason, Neale, or Dennise (anonymous11:54a)---- Thanks so much for your wisdom!

You really are brainwashed!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:01 PM, July 31, 2008

Champagne corks will be popping all over Vermont tomorrow when Mike Smith departs the pavilion building for the last time! Good riddence.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:59 PM, July 31, 2008

I am not so much brainwashed as frustrated that the Dems and Progs have been so inept as to not have had one solid idea which they have brought forth and implemented to improve the state of our State. They have a clear majority and have been unable to work across the aisle to bring anything home. Instead they play the victim card, blame mean ol' Jim and you all drink the kool-aid with them. Now who needs to start thinking critically?

Douglas is far from perfect but he is trying to do something positive. I haven't seen that from the other parties in years. For one, I would prefer to not turn the keys over to a bunch of whiners with no vision and little demonstrated political wherewithal.

Captain America

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:05 PM, July 31, 2008

Dude. You call yourself Capt. America. If you expect people to take your comments seriously, maybe you want to try a big boy name?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:48 PM, July 31, 2008

Okay dude. Perhaps the rest of us will take you seriously if you speak like an adult.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:06 PM, July 31, 2008

Anonymous said...

"I am not so much brainwashed as frustrated that the Dems and Progs have been so inept as to not have had one solid idea which they have brought forth and implemented to improve the state of our State."

No, you're ignorant trash with bupkis, auntie amerika, and your clueless cabeza is in need of a good soak and power wash.

"They have a clear majority and have been unable to work across the aisle to bring anything home."

Nice try, nitwit. A "clear majority" is not a veto-proof majority, little factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest filly. It never was. It never will be.

As long as the incompetent doogie/dubie debacle and their veto-override-proof gop-scum legislative minority continue to care more about themselves than they do about Vermont and its people, the Dems's hands remain tied and you remain caseless and clueless.

Clearly, you and your boys remain tireless champions of the status quo and everything that is wrong with the State of Vermont.

Moreover, an ignorant-trash with bupkis lie does not become a truth if it's repeated often enough, little factually-challenged filly. Ninety-three is not 100. It never was. It never will be.

It's merely an ignorant-trash with bupkis lie your factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest ass keeps spewing psychotically again and again, crazy lady.

"Instead they play the victim card, blame mean ol' Jim and you all drink the kool-aid with them. Now who needs to start thinking critically?"

That would be your ignorant anonymous ass, crazy lady.

"Douglas is far from perfect but he is trying to do something positive." He is, eh? Sure, and saddam's links to 9/11 and wmd were right where cheney and rummy said they'd be, too. Sure thing, crazy lady. Sure thing.

"I haven't seen that from the other parties in years. For one, I would prefer to not turn the keys over to a bunch of whiners with no vision and little demonstrated political wherewithal."

Ah, yes, "Stick with the incompetent devils you know - reelect the doogie/dubie debacle in '08" There's a campaign slogan/ bumper sticker for the ages. Run that one up the flag pole and see how many nameless-nitwits salute it, crazy lady. That'll rally the scum vote. That and Pollina are all doogie's got left.

Always a pleasure, cap'n clueless.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 1:29 PM, August 02, 2008

IndependentVter said...

"As if either side has a lock on the truth. The media should and does act as a filter to keep all on their toes and make sure they don't play fast and loose with the truth."

Nice try, indy. If the freeps and the rest of the so-called liberal media had held the doogie/dubie debacle to the facts, they wouldn't have gotten their first encore let alone a second.

"...So far, it's the Democrats who are having a hard time of it. They accuse Douglas of throwing away $500,000 on a grant to a furniture company that later was bought out and moved out of state, then somebody tells them the company never took the money."

Apart from the fact that VT Tubbs was sold to a larger NH Firm with their own larger facility and employee base and made a business decision to consolidate their operations and you've offered no evidence to the contrary in the month or so since you raised this issue the first time with your horsebrit claims of Vermont's alleged "anti-business environment" being the primary if reason they closed the Vermont facility, did doogie pat himself on the back, pose for the photo op and take credit for offering them the grant?

That's what I thought.

Then he doesn't get to take credit for the fact that they chose not to take the grant money. He didn't talk them of takin' the money. That was their decision.

He doesn't get to take credit for offering them the money and talking them out of taking it, too.

Doogie's just the incompetent schmuck in the picture.

That's all he ever was. That's all he ever will be.

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 2:09 PM, August 02, 2008

So much auntie amerikan nonsense, so little time.

Anonymous said...
Independentvter,

"You are exactly right."

Well, there's one foot solidly in horsebrit, care to make it a pair, crazy lady? Have at it.

"This bipartisanship has evolved to the point of demagoguery (from my POV mostly seemingly from the Dems and Progs….words like racist, fascist and Gestapo appear far too frequently in their rhetoric for them to be credible)."

Said the clueless cretin long on irrational rhetoric and short on evidence and credibility.

"Real issues lay on the table unresolved. Watching how the game is played in VT today probably tends to discourage rather than encourage qualified people from being more involved."

Well, a caring, competent, Democratic executive branch and/or a veto-proof Dem Legislative Majority will go a long way towards resolving those issues, repairing that situation and helping Vermont crawl from the wreckage the doogie/dubie debacle has left us in, crazy lady.

You've got to buck up, bonehead. Help is on the way.

Unfortunately, like Bush, doogie remains hellbent on bringing Vermont down with him and Obama, Symington and their respective Dem Majorities will have their hands full cleanin' up the biggest gop-scum mess they've left Vermont and this Country in since the Great Depression they gave us.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 2:40 PM, August 02, 2008

Coop,

Thanks for the reply but I see nothing of substance in your post, just insults and personal opinion. It is unfortunate a smart guy like you has such stunted comunication skills.

Walk the talk you bring to the board so often. Provide evidence that as you suggest in your last paragraph that Bush is 'hellbent' on bring Vermont down with him and that this is the worst situation since the Great Depression. What has Bush done specifically targeted at VT. Feel free to illustrate your point with facts and figures comparing today to the Great Depression and previous periods of economic contraction. Perhaps you would like to consider the Carter days. What were interest rates then?

Also explain exactly what it is the Dems will do when they are in power that will 'repair the wreckage of the Douglas/Dubie debacle'. They have offered very little vision in the last 6 years and even less as demonstrated by Symington's web site. What is it they will do now?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:38 PM, August 03, 2008

Anonymous.....

"Coop,

"Thanks for the reply but I see nothing of substance in your post, just insults and personal opinion. It is unfortunate a smart guy like you has such stunted comunication skills."

So, now that you've established the fact that you can't spell communication, the mechanics of spell-check continue to elude you and you continue to be unable to spell what you can't substantiate, in other words, your ignorant anonymous ass wants me to pretend that you are a serious person advocating a legitimate position supported by fact and evidence despite the fact that, as you've done here, you've continually provided example after example that none of those things are true.

Nice try, little factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest/nameless-nitwit fella.

"Walk the talk you bring to the board so often. Provide evidence that as you suggest in your last paragraph that Bush is 'hellbent' on bring Vermont down with him and that this is the worst situation since the Great Depression."

Well, given the fact that I didn't say what you've just erroneously quoted me as saying, I said the following:

"Unfortunately, like Bush, doogie remains hellbent on bringing Vermont down with him and Obama, Symington and their respective Dem Majorities will have their hands full cleanin' up the biggest gop-scum mess they've left Vermont and this Country in since the Great Depression they gave us."

once again, auntie amerika, given those facts, the only substantive thing your ignorant anonymous ass has managed to establish here or in any other post you've made since ya got here is that you not only don't know lack the ability to distinguish your ignorant anonymous ass from your elbow, but your reading comprehension skills are well below grade level, making you a virtual lock to issue delusional demands for detailed answers to clueless-cretin questions that weren't posed based on your meshuggah misunderstanding of the matters at hand.

Alas, your woeful reading comprehension skills and lack of relevant knowledge pertaining to the subject at hand were never at issue, cap'n clueless.

I will happily stipulate that your ignorant trash with bupkis credentials are well established and remain as impeccable as ever.

Simply put, you not only don't know what the fook you're talking about, you don't know what you don't know what the fook you're talking about.

That's not a good look for you, crazy lady.

Adult Basic Ed. Look into it.

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 2:59 PM, August 03, 2008

I am a Progressive Democrat and I think Captain America is right on!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:26 AM, August 05, 2008

Anonymous said...

"I am a Progressive Democrat and I think Captain America is right on!"

Sure, ya are, little fella. Sure, ya are.

And I'm leadin' the American League in stolen bases.

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 4:23 PM, August 05, 2008

Lets hope the future of the Democratic party in Vermont lies elswhere.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:27 AM, August 07, 2008