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


9.18.2008

 

the debate

The trio of gubernatorial candidates are winding up.

If you know their positions on issues, you wouldn't have heard much new or surprising this afternoon.

Gov. Jim Douglas repeatedly told the largely business audience that there was no need -- not even the backlog of road and bridge work -- that justified raising taxes.

House Speaker Gaye Symington responded to Douglas' criticism that she and the House had supported raising the gasoline tax to provide more money for road and bridges. She argued that if the tax had been raised several years ago, there would be fewer bad roads and deteriorating bridges. But now, with higher fuel costs, she would no longer advocate any increase in gasoline taxes to pay for road and bridge work.

Pollina suggested closing the loophole in the capital gain tax and using some of that money to cover debt payments on $75 million in bonding for roads and bridges.

There was a bit of an exchange between Symington and Pollina over health care.

Pollina offered his idea that all of Vermont could be in one self-insured health coverage pool. He criticized Catamount Health as another patch on a failing system.

Symington conceded that more progress was needed to ensure that everyone has coverage and everyone pays in -- but she shot at Pollina that "We need to get real about options. There are federal barriers that get in the way now."

Symington made sure the audience knew that Douglas once proposed a tax on health care premiums. Douglas explained that some premiums are already taxes and he proposed a consistent policy.

The candidates were asked about putting a moratorium on new transportation projects -- but none of them embraced or really even answered the question.

They were asked about weight limits on the interstate and Douglas and Pollina seemed to agree that consistent rules across the region would make sense.

Throughout the debate, Douglas and Symington sparred over who had initiated or block various ideas. Douglas said the Legislature failed to go far enough on workers compensation reforms. Symington said it was the Legislature that has taken the lead in energy efficiency planning and programs.

Pollina took every opportunity to use the word "gridlock" after one of those sparring sessions. His best line was perhaps in response to the health care back and forth. "Under the leadership of both these fine folks, it (the current health care system) isn't working."

The candidates received the questions in advance -which I'm sure they appreciated since the questions were complex and multi-faceted.

It appeared that Symington was working from talking points for each question. Pollina has some papers in front of him, but didn't refer to them as constantly as Symington. Douglas spoke without notes.

-- Nancy Remsen

Comments:
The fact that Symington had to rely so heavily on notes indicates that the Democrats have moved onto Plan B with the Symington campaign. Otherwise known as the "Weekend at Bernie's" plan.
 
They had the questions in advance? What a stupid way to conduct a debate. Gaye must have loved being able to practice her awnswers and refer to cheat sheets. This wasn't a debate, it was a exercise in memorization and note reading. Douglas just has someone implant the answers into his robot mind chip and turn him on and for Pollina, this talking business exercise must have seemed like pergatory.
 
Notes? You mean she thinks things through before she just talks?

And she calls herself a politician??

Shameful.
 
Did they play the Double-Mint Gum Theme or the Patty Duke Show Theme when Johnson introduced Doogie?
 
No, they save that little jingle for the Curt / Coop alter-ego dance.
 
They did play the theme to Lost in Space when Gaye was introduced.
 
...and played select scenes from the movie 'Clueless'
 
They played the Freddie Mercury song "Liar" when Douglas was introduced.
 
Does the debate even matter ?

As we can see from the polls and the constant poor reporting Vermonters are not informed or they do not even care about getting informed.

The populace seems to just vote either because they like Doesless, or the are Republican,

and they vote Democrat no matter who the candidate is.

The media has down a poor job reporting the true performances on the debates because if the debates were accurately portrayed Pollina would have been the focus of each article. Pollina has been offering a different approach to the BS of the other candidates, while Doesless-regurgitates tired rehashed rhetoric, and Gaye stumbles and mumbles her nonsense about who knows what ?
The governor is in a state of denial, and Symington is at fault for conforming to the governor's whims. WAKE UP PRESS AND WAKE UP VERMONT !!!
 
Thanks Tony
 
Voters just don't care.
 
I think Douglas's entrance song should be Led Zeppelin's "Nobody's Fault but Mine." But Zep would be a little too hip for Douglas, so maybe the Lawrence Welk version would be better.
 
Pollina is just another politician ... like the rest of em. Good intentions tainted by the drive for power and approval.

He's no different from the rest.
 
Douglas has ZZ Top on his I-Pod.
 
Anonymous said...

"No, they save that little jingle for the Curt / Coop alter-ego dance."

Ah, so according to you and the ignorant anonymous trash community, now I'm "Curt", too, eh, little nameless-nitwit fella?

Just who the hell is "Curt" and when did I manage to become him, too, little fraudulent fella?

As always, feel free to cough up any or all evidence in support of your latest load of dimwitted delusional dreck, little fraudulent fella.

Gee, bupkis. Imagine that.

Six or eight weeks ago, one of you loons was even claimin' I was "bubba" when ya weren't periodically threatenin' my wife by name and postin' our names and address, phone and e-mail while offerin' google map directions to our place on a regular basis.

TO DATE, MY NAME AND OUR ADDRESS AND PHONE ARE THE ONLY THING THE IGNORANT ANONYMOUS TRASH COMMUNITY HAVE MANAGED TO GET RIGHT AND HAVE NOT MANAGED TO SCREW UP IN ONE WAY OR ANONTHER SINCE I STARTED POSTING HERE IN 11/O7 WHEN BUBBLES, NEKWIT AND THE IGNORANT ANONYMOUS TRASH COMMUNITY SPENT SIX MONTHS OR SO CLAIMING I WAS DOUG HOFFER BEFORE GOING ON TO CLAIM I WAS HOFFER AND CHUCK LACY FOR A COUPLE OF ALL-WET AND WILD CRAZY MONTHS.

AGAIN, TO DATE, MY NAME AND OUR ADDRESS AND PHONE ARE THE ONLY THINGS YOU LOONS IN THE IGNORANT ANONYMOUS TRASH COMMUNITY HAVEN'T SCREWED UP SINCE I GOT HERE.

AGAIN, I'VE NEVER POSTED HERE AS ANYTHING BUT JWCOOP10 SINCE I GOT HERE, BUT, AS ALWAYS, IF YOUR IGNORANT ANONYMOUS ASS HAS EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY, FEEL FREE TO FAIL TO COUGH THAT UP, TOO.

MY WIFE DOES NOT POST HERE. MOREOVER SHE HAS NEVER POSTED HERE OR ON ANY FORUM OF THIS SORT.

NEVERTHELESS, EITHER YOU OR THE OTHER INGNORANT ANONYMOUS TRASH WITH BUPKIS FELLOW CONTINUE TO PERIODICALLY THREATEN HER BY NAME IN A FAILED EFFORT TO MASK THE FACT THAT YOU'RE DUMB, YOU'RE SCUM, YA GOT BUPKIS AND YA FREQUENTLY CAN'T SPELL WHAT YA CAN'T SUBSTANTIATE.

Again, those facts have never been in dispute, so why do you feel the need to continually threaten someone who doesn't even post here by name.

She's not a public figure, so how would threatening her alter the fact that you're dumb, you're scum, your ignorant anonymous ass continues to have bupkis and ya just generally don't know what the hell you're talkin' about and ya frequently can't spell what ya can't substantiate?

Gee, the simpleton silence is deafening.

So, while you and the ignorant anonymous trash community have always made it abundantly clear that I'm not dealing with intelligent, rational human beings here let alone worthy adversaries advocating a legitimate point of view supported by fact and evidence that rational, reasonable people could conceivably differ over, nevertheless, when you feel the need to periodically threaten my wife in the future, you will address her as Mrs Cooper.

Have I made myself clear to you and the ignorant anonymous trash community or am I still goin' too fast for ya, little stoneless-wonder fella?

Always a pleasure.
 
Anonymous said...

"Douglas has ZZ Top on his I-Pod."

"Just got paid" and "I thank you"
 
Anonymous said...

"They played the Freddie Mercury song "Liar" when Douglas was introduced."

They also played the "Lies" by the Knickerbockers and "Liar, Liar" by the Castaways.
 
Dude, if you truly get upset over the fact that people post "anonymous" comments on a blog, you really need to get a life.
 
Coopy or Chuck Lacy or Doug Hoffer or Curt...whoever you are, take a deep breath and get a grip.

You are into the Wild Irish Rose a little earlier aren't you? Perhaps another Prozac will help.
 
Anonymous...

"Coopy or Chuck Lacy or Doug Hoffer or Curt...whoever you are, take a deep breath and get a grip."

Gee, you're squeakin' even more than ya usually do, little fraudulent fella.

Evidently, I've got a healthy grip around your ignorant anonymous ass's stoneless, soulless, caseless and clueless, utterly- psychotic slimeball throat, little factually-challenged nameless-nitwit fella.

Get a grip, iggy slop.

Just how do you think your ignorant anonymous ass's admission that you and the ignorant anonymous trash community have got at least 4 strikes on you in addition to the fact that admitting you've been posting my name and address while periodically threatening my wife helps your ignorant anonymous ass or the case of the clueless-cretin community it claims to speak for, little fella?

Gee, that must be that "nameless-nitwit choking on pretzel" impression you've been workin' on?

Thanks a bunch, bonehead. Keep workin' on it.

If bill bennett's slot machines had paid off as reliably as your ignorant anonymous ass, little fella.

He'd still be a psychotic, sanctimonious sack of gop-slop, but at least he wouldn't have handed the PC to the arresting officers or the evidence to the prosecution.

"You are into the Wild Irish Rose a little earlier aren't you? Perhaps another Prozac will help."

Nice try, little fraudulent fella.

Nameless nitwit, heal thyself.

Always a pleasure.
 
Coopy,

You are seeming to become increasingly violent in your posts. A few days ago you were Ali having just knocked out Bubba or NEK or some poor victim of one of your rants. Now you have a grip on my expletive, expletive, expletive throat.

Seek help sonny boy. You are going over the edge. Again, sit back, take a deep breath and think of your happy place.

Dr. Laura
 
Anonymous said...
Does the debate even matter ?

"As we can see from the polls and the constant poor reporting Vermonters are not informed or they do not even care about getting informed."

Well, little nameless-nitwit fella, while that may be more than a little bit true, anonymous Vermonters bear more than a little responsibility for that sad state of affairs.

"The populace seems to just vote either because they like Doesless, or the are Republican,"

Well, if doogie had to rely solely on the votes of self-identified gop-slime voters, little fella, he'd never have been Governor and the State of Vermont would be the better for it.

Unfortunately, he's gotten more than a few votes from self-identified independents and when our Freeps Folks friends and the rest of the so-called liberal media continue to mindlessly repeat how popular the jimi douglas experience is with little to no supporting evidence to substantiate their auto-pilot mutterings, that situation isn't helped as the myth of doogie's alleged popularity is perpetuated and he doogie gets votes because of the political variant of the paris hilton/nicole ritchie effect.

Hilton and Ritchie are famous for being famous and the doogie/dubie debacle remains popular for being popular.

Indeed, I can remember hearing Sam the Sham himself muttering something in the wake of the '06 election that perhaps support for doogie wasn't as strong as they thought or words to that effect as a panelist on Vermont This Week.

Of course, I could take some time, comb the VTW archives - assuming of course, there are VTW archives - and dredge it up or he could save me the trouble by confirming or denying it himself.

"..and they vote Democrat no matter who the candidate is."

OK, for the sake of argument, let's say that's true, little fella?

That said, why does the anonymous prog vote for Pollina when he knows that such a vote will only benefit doogie the dim, little fella?

Gaye's a lousy candidate. There's just no gettin' around that, but that don't make her wrong on the issues any more than her lackluster skills on the stump make doogie decent or Pollina viable.

Pollina's "pedal to the metal", "freewheelin'" performance in debates is a function of the Me and Bobby McGee factor.

"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose", little fella.

Always a pleasure.

Doogie is doogie. If you like ZZ Top's "TV Dinners" or just TV Dinners, you'll be able to stomach doogie.

Personally, I prefer the mid-70s La Grange, Tush period of ZZ Top, but as long as they just got paid, I'm happy for them.

Better them than the record company that fleeced 'em in the first place.
 
Anonymous
Coopy,

"You are seeming to become increasingly violent in your posts."

No, but your ignorant anonymous ass's delusional dreck grows more desperate by the day, little fraudulent fella.

Always a pleasure.
 
Last November the dim legislature came up with a phony and fraudulent "study" that "claimed" Vermont was actually a low-tax state! As several of us pointed out, only 20 states were used as comparison, all high-tax states, and property taxes were omitted. JW's hero Doug Hoffer obviously had a hand in this charade as he is a hired gun for the far left, and will come up with anything they want (for a price). Faced with the deserved ridicule this "study" deserved, who should suddenly appear but jw! His apparent man-crush on anything Hoffer led him to immediately start attacking ANYONE questioning Hoffer or his "work" with the now-boring "bupkis" and the rest of his cute Yid phrases. Of course no one believed him to be Hoffer, inasmuch as Hoffer, while whoring himself out to any leftists for a paycheck, wouldn't stoop to the gutter language of jw.

This info provided for new bloggers who wonder where jw got his start.
 
Mr. Coop - for the record, I have at times left posts that prompted nasty back-n-forths between the two of us, but I was appalled when someone starting posting personal info about you (address, phone #s, spouses name, etc). I would not want someone to do that to me, and you have every right to be upset about it b/c it was waaaay below the belt and uncalled for.

I reserve the right to engage in more spirited dialogue, but I want you to know - and this is the honest truth - that I think the posting of personal info about you was really, really disgusting . . . and the person that DID post that crap should consider what it would feel like if the shoe was on the other foot.

Even though I rarely agree with you on politics, I agree that you have been wronged.

And after typing that, I'm reaching for the Irish Rose myself . . .
 
I agree. By posting such personal info the blogger is sinking to the depths of jw, or worse. You are right to get into the Richard's, because soon more invective will be hurled your way by the one who's privacy you defend.
 
bubba...

"I agree. By posting such personal info the blogger is sinking to the depths of jw, or worse."

No, he's already sunk to the level of your ignorant anonymous ass, bubbakis.

That ignorant trash with bupkis ship sailed a long time ago, little fella.

You and nekwit just have the common courtesy to put a name to your dimwitted delusional dreck.

Evidently, even anonymous19 or anonymous22 is a bridge too far for the majority of the ignorant anonymous trash community.

"You are right to get into the Richard's, because soon more invective will be hurled your way by the one who's privacy you defend."

Is that right? And who would that be, bubbakis?

Apart from my wife, just whose privacy am I defending and, apart from giving your ignorant anonymous ass the time of day, just why should I be worried about her "hurling invective my way", little fella?

Nice try.

Say goodnight greasy. You can give me your answer in the morning.

Always a pleasure.
 
Anonymous said...

"Mr. Coop - for the record, I have at times left posts that prompted nasty back-n-forths between the two of us, but I was appalled when someone starting posting personal info about you (address, phone #s, spouses name, etc). I would not want someone to do that to me, and you have every right to be upset about it b/c it was waaaay below the belt and uncalled for."

I reserve the right to engage in more spirited dialogue, but I want you to know - and this is the honest truth - that I think the posting of personal info about you was really, really disgusting . . . and the person that DID post that crap should consider what it would feel like if the shoe was on the other foot.

Even though I rarely agree with you on politics, I agree that you have been wronged."

"And after typing that, I'm reaching for the Irish Rose myself . . ."

Well, that makes one of us, little fella.

I've seen the posts to which you refer. I'll even give your ignorant anonymous ass the benefit of the doubt that you authored them.

That said, as I've told ya before, if you don't like being mistaken for the ignorant anonymous trash in question, get yourself a handle.

Even bubbakis, nekwit and indy have the stones to do that much.

To the extent that you haven't to date and continue to do so in the future, that's your call.

If you aspire to slither back into the Superfund site that spawned ya with the nameless-nitwit in question, you've dug your
own grave. Go fall in it.

Always a pleasure.
 
bubba...

"Last November the dim legislature came up with a phony and fraudulent "study" that "claimed" Vermont was actually a low-tax state! As several of us pointed out, only 20 states were used as comparison, all high-tax states, and property taxes were omitted."

Feel free to cough it up if you remember it so well, bubbakis.

Our Freeps Folks Friends have given your ignorant anonymous ass the same access to their archives they've give me.

You made the accusation, it's up to you to make it stick.

"JW's hero Doug Hoffer obviously had a hand in this charade as he is a hired gun for the far left, and will come up with anything they want (for a price)."

Again, access, archives, knock yourself out, bubbakis.

It's all bupkis from bubbakis.

"Faced with the deserved ridicule this "study" deserved, who should suddenly appear but jw!"

Oy Gevalt! Jesus - Like Brother Kinky said, they sure as hell ain't makin' Jews like you anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sold on this Son of God shtick of yours, but if you're gonna keep blessin' me with enemies this fookin' stupid, I might have to give ya another look, but not at those prices.

Still, thanks for blessin' me with bubbakis and the ignorant anonymous trash community.

Call Mom. Yeah, she's meshuggah. Oy, don't get me started, but you know mom. she worries.

C'mon. A quick "Shalom Mom, a couple, yeah, mom, I knows and you're outta there. 5-10-45 minutes, tops!

Is it truly your ignorant anonymous ass's clueless-cretin contention that I never posted before 11/20/07, bubbakis. Are you really that fookin' suicidally stupid, schmuck!

Knock yourself out. It's your funeral.

"His apparent man-crush on anything Hoffer led him to immediately start attacking ANYONE questioning Hoffer or his "work" with the now-boring "bupkis" and the rest of his cute Yid phrases."

"Of course no one believed him to be Hoffer, inasmuch as Hoffer, while whoring himself out to any leftists for a paycheck, wouldn't stoop to the gutter language of jw."

So, your ignorant anonymous ass is claiming that I won't be able to find any evidence of you or any other member of the ignorant anonymous trash community claiming I'm Hoffer, bubbakis?!!!

Jesus! What have I done to deserve such stupid schmucks for enemies!!

Alright, what's the catch?

C'mon! This is me you're talkin' to here. I've seen your shtick. There's gotta be a catch, nobody gets the lunatic-fringe likes of bubbles and the ignorant anonymous trash community dumped in their lap without a kick me sign somewhere along the line.

This Mary Magdalene has got a real meshuggah mieskeit for a sister.
I knew it. Nah, I'm not gonna double with you and take some mieskeit just so you can try to get lucky, boychick.

Oy Gevalt! Just which part of Mary Magdelene's a hooker is givin' you trouble, Jesus?

What a putz.

"This info provided for new bloggers who wonder where jw got his start."

Then provide it, bubbakis.

Say goodnight, greasy.

Always a pleasure.
 
Anonymous....

"I see coop is back to getting support from his imaginary friends again. Over at the Argus he'd pull that gag all the time."

I am, eh? I did, eh, little fraudulent fella?

Then I'm sure your ignorant anonymous ass will have no problem coughin' up the evidence to prove it, little punk fella.

Gee, bupkis. I'm shocked.

Is it your ignorant anonymous ass's clueless-cretin contention that I'm posting my own anonymous defense, little fraudulent fella?

Then I'm sure you'll have no problems coughing up the evidence to prove just that, too, little fraudulent/factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest/nameless-nitwit fella?

Gee, your ignorant anonymous ass is runnin' another special on brain-dead blather and bupkis tonight.

Imagine that. That's so unlike you, little fraudulent fella.

"Pity he is stupid enough to think it will work any better here."

Hey, you're the one makin' the ignorant-trash allegations, little fella. Let's see ya back 'em up before your ignorant anonymous ass tells me how things work around here.

To date, you're long on gop-slop and short on substantiation.

Again, your ignorant anonymous ass made the claim that I anonymously posted my own defense here earlier.

Still the only thing you've managed to do without screwin' it up is post my name and address and offer google map directions to the place while periodically threatening my wife by name and the only thing you've managed to prove - here or anywhere else - is that you're dumb, you're scum, ya got bupkis and your ignorant anonymous ass can't prove anything no matter what ya call yourself or where ya do it.

Of course, those facts were never in dispute, little fella.

Again, if you can prove that I anonymously posted my own defense here, do it.

Knock yourself out, little spineless, stoneless, senseless, nameless-nitwit fella.

Gee, all bupkis, all the time.

There's nothin' decent or human about you, schmuck. You're dumb, you're scum and ya got bupkis.

Disappear.
 
yawn
 
I am the "ignorant anonymous ass" that left a comment IN SUPPORT of you, Coopy. I said others had crossed the line posting personal info. I went to bat for you.

And in return, you tell me to "slither back into the Superfund site that spawned me".

Gee, I stand up for you and your wife, and that's the thanks I get? What a polite young man you are!

I regret coming to your defense, you ungrateful schmuck.

Dismissed.
 
To the "Anonymous" that defended jw: just remember the old saying, "when you lie down with dogs you're going to get fleas"!
 
Easy Jiffy.

Why would anyone come to the defense of a worthless tray of kitty litter like you?
 
Anonymous...

"I am the "ignorant anonymous ass" that left a comment IN SUPPORT of you, Coopy. I said others had crossed the line posting personal info. I went to bat for you."

Sure, ya did, schmuck. Sure, ya did.

Go cheney yourself, chump.

Now slither back into the shallow end of the superfund site that spawned your ignorant anonymous ass and take bubbakis with ya, little fella.

You're dumb, you're scum and ya got bupkis.

Always a pleasure.
 
You have to hand it to Coop. He is able to spew hatred 7 days a week, except for the days that his mother takes away his internet privileges.
 
Go Symington!
 
That's kind of how a lot of Vermonters feel about Gaye. Only add the word "Just" in front.
 
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