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


10.06.2008

 

I've been polled

The phone rang Saturday morning as I chopped celery for potato salad. Rasmussen Reports, a national polling firm was calling. Or, at least, their automated polling machine was calling. Would I take a few minutes to answer questions? The data would be distributed to "television and radio stations," the female voice told me.

Sure, I said. I read references to Rasmussen's results all the time on national political blogs, so I was curious to see what questions I'd be asked.

With one exception, just what you'd expect, questions like: If the election were held today, would I vote for Barack Obama or John McCain? Which candidate would I trust more to handle economic problems? National security? How positive is my view of Sarah Palin (punch a button, 1-5)? Joe Biden?

But then came the Vermont question: If the election were held today, would I vote for Jim Douglas or Gaye Symington? I waited for the third name. Nope. As far as Rasmussen is concerned, only two candidates are vying for Vermont's governorship. With Anthony Pollina's name left out, Rasmussen's results won't be meaningful, I'd think.

My home phone number has been randomly selected by pollsters over the years, but this was the first time the questions were automated and I had to respond by pressing numbers on the phone pad. It's not a perfect system. In one case I tapped the wrong button, and I'd think that would happen fairly frequently. I shouldn't have tried to keep chopping the celery, I guess.
-- Candace Page

Comments:
Perhaps they already know that Pollina is destined to come in third, again.

They know enough not to waste their breath on him.
 
The new Symington ad is going to turn the tide. That sexy goth eye makeup she's sporting is sure to convert a few kids hanging out at the Dunkin Donuts.
 
I agree. The 7 percent showing from Pollina (who has been campaigning since January) shows that his campaign is in the toilet.

What a waste of time and money.
 
Anyone listening to the debates should understand that Pollina is a better candidate and has better ideas to help Vermont advance forward. However, partisan hacks, corporate media types, and Wall St like financiers consistently try to sabotage any hope of democracy. If you want Bailouts and Corporate power vote the status quo Democracts and Republicans, otherwise if you want government by the people vote something else.
 
That's crap. Vermonters know who Pollina is. He's been given a fair shake.

He's gotten far more media attention than his popularity or support warrant.

People just don't like what he stands for.

Can't blame anybody for Tony's problems except Tony.
 
So much for Vermonters being pioneers with respect to thinking outside the box politically. Judging by a lot of posts, Vermont Democrats as equally as close minded about Pollina as Vermont Republicans. This is why Pollina's candidacy is so important. If the Dems and GOP succeed at marginalizing Pollina's candidacy, Vermont becomes no better than Massachusetts or Utah. Other states look to Vermont to upset the status quo, but maybe not so much any more. Vermonters have only themselves to blame.
 
Yes, other states look at Vermont to upset the status quo. Particularly New Hampshire, North Carolina, New York - all the states that want some of Vermont's lost businesses!
 
Pollina = Douglas. Thanks a lot Tony.
 
Let's face it, Symington and Pollina both appear to be losers this time.

Who will run in '10?
 
Anon 1:58 --

What are you smoking?

You think that people are close minded because they don't agree with a man who talks a lot but has NO record of accomplishment?

Tony has done nothing, except run a milk company into the ground.

He's lost every campaign he has ever run.

He's an ass.
 
I just wonder some times how ANYONE could even consider electing a person who can't manage a small milk company to ANYTHING! We have another one in Bernie, but at least he's confined to ranting to empty seats in an empty chamber late at night!
 
If you can do better than Bernie, Bubba, put your money where your big mouth is.

Run against him.
 
I'm just enjoying watching the Democrats burn their bridges with workers and teachers. At this rate, the only base they will have left is environmentalists, maybe.

Yeah. Keep pissing and moaning about one endorsement Democrats. I hope it spurs more indys and Progs to run against you next time. Would serve you right. Get over yourselves. Your hobby legislators, not career politicians.
 
The teachers union just endorsed 100+ Democratic lawmakers.

Anyone who claims that the D's are at odds with the teachers isn't familiar with the facts.
 
Teachers union endorsed Pollina. Check the facts.
 
Pollina doesn't have a clue!
 
October 06, 2008

Anonymous said...

"Pollina doesn't have a clue!"

No, but he's doogie's only shot.
 
You think Symington is the one to beat Douglas? Stoned or stupid?
 
The teachers endorsed over 100 Democrats this cycle.

They've hardly abandoned the Dems.
 
This comment has been removed by the author.
 
JWCoop10 said...
bubba said...

"I just wonder some times how ANYONE could even consider electing a person who can't manage a small milk company to ANYTHING! We have another one in Bernie, but at least he's confined to ranting to empty seats in an empty chamber late at night!"

Ah, so Bernie is Steven King now, eh, bubbakis?

No, not the writer. The really scary gop-slime Congressman from Iowa.

Nice try, nitwit. No sale.

I'd explain it to ya, bubbakis, but you'd have to be a Vermonter to understand.

That bogus, ignorant, anonymous, take back vurmont trash just don't get it.

Always a pleasure.

Say goodnight, greasy.
 
"I'd explain it to ya, bubbakis, but you'd have to be a Vermonter to understand."

You an expert on being a Vermonter now Jersy girl?

Go 'way Coop. You smell funny.
 
"JWCoop10 said...
October 06, 2008

Anonymous said...

"Pollina doesn't have a clue!"

No, but he's doogie's only shot."

Quit with the victim mentality, Coopy. Gaye is in the race and if she were a competent campaigner/politician with a compelling platform she would win on her own merits.

Quit blaming mean ol' Tony and mean ol' Jim. If it were important, the Dems would be out there supporting her right now. Where's her buddy Shumlin when she needs him? She has certainly gone under the bus for him enough.
 
Same psychotic gop-slop, different day.

Anonymous said...

"Quit with the victim mentality, Coopy...."

Ah, so knowledge of the facts and the rules of Congress and the Vermont Legislature.

Get your ignorant anonymous ass some new psychotic-slop to spew, schmuck.

"Gaye is in the race and if she were a competent campaigner/politician with a compelling platform she would win on her own merits."

Ah, so there's no advantage flowing from incumbency, money and name recognition, eh, little factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest/nameless-nitwit/ignorant trash with bupkis fella?

Nice try. No sale. This delusional dreck didn't fly the first 500 times ya doled it out, deduce bag, and it ain't gettin' it now.

Again, get your ignorant ass some new psychotic-slop talking points to spew.

"Quit blaming mean ol' Tony and mean ol' Jim. If it were important, the Dems would be out there supporting her right now."

And if the doogie/dubie debacle and the incompetent-trash gop-slime legislative majority gave a damn about Vermont and weren't hellbent on doin' to Vermont what the utterly-incompetent, illegitimate-trash squatting in the White House and the late, unlamented, gop-scum Congress has done to the Country, we wouldn't be in this fix.

Like shrub did with the Country, doogie inherited a Vermont in far better shape than the one we're in now. Like shrub, he had a gop-scum Speaker of the House in the person of Walt Freed when he started in '03. He lost it after one term. Not only hasn't he gotten it back, the Dem Legislative Majorities have grown with each term.

He's had six years. He screwed the pooch. It's time for the doogie/dubie debacle to go and replace them with competent folks who give a damn about Vermont and Vermonters.

"Where's her buddy Shumlin when she needs him? She has certainly gone under the bus for him enough."

He's workin' on increasing his Dem Majority in the Senate, schmuck.

Is it now your ignorant anonymous ass's clueless-cretin contention that Shumlin doesn't support Symington, little fella?

As always, good luck makin' that case, clueless.

Always a pleasure.
 
Bubba

Pratt and Whitney is leaving Plattsburg. Must be Vermont anti-business policy is leaking over the border.
 
Coopy said "Ah, so there's no advantage flowing from incumbency, money and name recognition, eh, little factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest/nameless-nitwit/ignorant trash with bupkis fella?"

There you go again Coopy, playing the victim card.

Gaye was the incumbent Speaker of the House... With such an important role, why wouldn't she too have name recognition for the great accomplishments she has had?

And do you want me to believe that the candidate for a major party like the Dems should have trouble getting campaign financing? C'mon...it is actually amazing that coming from a Party as powerful as that and running for a position as important as Gov, she has been able to raise so little. That is a unique achievement.

Maybe if she were a little more open about her tax returns that her and fat cat Chuck really file, people would be more open to supporting her. I suspect she has more than enough personal wealth to fund her campaign on her own.

What do you say to that my little factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest/nitwit/ignorant trash with bupkis fella?

Your pal,
Captain America
 
Anonymous said...

"Coopy said ""Ah, so there's no advantage flowing from incumbency, money and name recognition, eh, little factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest/nameless-nitwit/ignorant trash with bupkis fella?""

Yeah, I did. Was I goin' too fast for ya? Do ya need me to repeat it for your ignorant anonymous ass, auntie amerika?

"There you go again Coopy, playing the victim card."

Still spewin' that psychotic slop where statin' the facts is "playin' the victim role", crazy lady.
That's your clueless-cretin lie and your stickin' to it.

Well, you're nothin' if not consistently-clueless and cluelessly-consistent, crazy lady. Actually, you're nothin' no matter how ya slice it, auntie amerika.

"Gaye was the incumbent Speaker of the House... With such an important role, why wouldn't she too have name recognition for the great accomplishments she has had?"

I hate to keep confusin' ya with the facts, crazy lady, but the position of "Speaker of the House" is not on any Vermont ballot, crazy lady.

Never has been. Not now. Not ever.

As is the case with the Speaker's position in the US Congress, crazy lady, Vermont's Speaker of the House is elected by the members of the General Assembly.

Like all members of the US Congress and the Vermont Legislature, the Speaker is only on the ballot in the district they run to represent.

Always has been, probably always will be.

That's why this is Symington's first statewide race, auntie amerika.

Feel free to check.

"And do you want me to believe that the candidate for a major party like the Dems should have trouble getting campaign financing? C'mon...it is actually amazing that coming from a Party as powerful as that and running for a position as important as Gov, she has been able to raise so little. That is a unique achievement."

A unique achievement, eh? Feel free to prove that, too, crazy lady. Pack a tent, a sleepin' bag, some vittles and a change of clothes, loony lady.

"Maybe if she were a little more open about her tax returns that her and fat cat Chuck really file, people would be more open to supporting her. I suspect she has more than enough personal wealth to fund her campaign on her own."

Well, little factually-challenged filly, despite the best efforts of shrub, cheney and clueless mcsame, this is still a free Country and your ignorant anonymous ass is free to suspect whatever psychotic slop you like, crazy lady.

That don't make it so any more than the rest of your ignorant anonymous take back vurmunt trash foulin' Vermont's roadsides, rivers and streams.

Enjoy the debate and the death of the 43rd reich, auntie amerika.

Always a treasure, always a pleasure.
 
Thanks for the insults Coopy. Do you have any facts to offer the group? We haven't seen one in all the time you have been here.
 
Anonymous said...

"Thanks for the insults Coopy..."

Ah, the ol' "confusin' batty broads with bupkis is an insult" song and dance. Now that's playin' the victim card, crazy lady.

More importantly, it's entertainment, too.

Not at all, auntie amerika. You earned 'em and I always pay for services rendered. It's my pleasure.

"Do you have any facts to offer the group? We haven't seen one in all the time you have been here."

Denial ain't a river in Egypt, crazy lady and ya still can't buy or cough one up for the life of ya.

Gee, that's gotta suck.

Always a pleasure.
 
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