vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

8.11.2009

Vermont Progs lay it on the line

Vermont Progressives laid out criteria they're looking for in a gubernatorial candidate today:

- Supports single-payer health care (i.e. a publicly funded and operated insurance plan available to all).
- Supports labor position on such issues as pension and unemployment funding. i.e. not asking workers or the unemployed to pay more or receive less.
- Opposes continued operation of Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant after its license expires in 2012.

Do any of the current Democratic candidate meet the mark? Find out in Wednesday's Free Press.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Labels: elections, vermont politics, Vermont Progressive Party

posted by vt.Buzz | 4:27 PM |

Comments:

Don't know about the Progressives but I do know that your headline injected that stupid Lay it on the Line song by Triumph in my head.

Five Bands To Be Forgotten Forever

Steely Dan
Kansas
Styx
Triumph
Toto

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:26 PM, August 11, 2009

Any Democrat hoping to have even a small shot at ousting Douglas will have to say no to progressive positions #2 and #3 at the least. So it makes zero sense for Racine, Markowitz or Bartlett to suck up to the Progressives. Locking themselves into progressive positions is an instant loss in November, 2010. And, Steely Dan does not belong on the "bands to forget list."

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:08 PM, August 11, 2009

The Progs have "Too much time on their hands"

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:52 PM, August 11, 2009

Steely Dan...C'mon where's the love

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:10 AM, August 12, 2009

Perhaps the progs can recruit Ralph Nader to run as their candidate...He has more than a little experience being the spoiler...Ask Al Gore

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:14 AM, August 12, 2009

The state workforce can't afford to take any more hits. 10% of state employees cut in only 3 years is ridiculous.

Equally ridiculous is putting Toto on the "bands to forget list." Africa was an amazing hit.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:32 AM, August 12, 2009

Who are the Progs going to run, Tony again? That party is a paper tiger.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:19 PM, August 12, 2009

The Progs have never won a statewide office and they never will. While I don't really care for her, Markowitz is right not to cater to them. You can't get elected as a VERY Liberal in this state. You need to be moderate.

That's why Pollina loses EVERY TIME he runs.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:39 PM, August 12, 2009

If the Democrats dismiss the Progs too quickly, I hope the Progs use their limited power in the leg to scuttle the next veto override.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:11 PM, August 12, 2009

Wow, that's real smart - do something in spite - and what do you end up with?
A stronger Jim Douglas?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:19 PM, August 12, 2009

(i mean that in a negative way)

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:05 PM, August 12, 2009

Toddlers throw temper tantrums and threaten to hold their breath until they turn blue unless they get candy. NOW. And Progs issue ultimatums. Too funny! And a smart person deals with both the same way: let them do it and go about your business as an adult.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:52 PM, August 12, 2009

Essay question:

Progs are to the left what social conservatives are to the right.

Discuss.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:22 PM, August 12, 2009

Pollina for Governor in 2010. The Progressives deserve to be heard.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:13 PM, August 12, 2009

A quarter of those voting in the last election couldn't pull the lever for the weak Democrat. Yes, the Democrat better be strong. None of the announced candidates seem very strong. Racine lost to Douglas in 02. He's going to do better after Douglas has shaken every hand in Vermont in three more cycles? Plus he's incredibly dull. Markowitz thinks she's going to win by saying absolutely nothing. No one's going to buy that. Who is Susan Bartlett?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:59 PM, August 12, 2009

Yes, yes, I'm sure Mr. Coffee/Mr. Milk will do much better THIS time.

"Let me do for Vermont what I did for the Vermont Milk Company . . . "

yup, the Pollina/Flanagan ticket will be unstoppable!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:11 AM, August 13, 2009

There are compromise positions in areas #2 and #3 that would attract many progressive voters without turning off the democratic base. Pension funding is a "lay-up"...just compare companies and the state under Douglas to the Wall Street bankers who made billions and left us holding the bag...demand they do the right thing, etc.

Leading me to the point on Yankee: regulators could easily begin to put expense controls on Entergy until the decommissioning fund is back where it needs to be...those expense controls being senior level salaries, of course. This would result in the shut down of Yankee as surely as the sun rises in the East, without a government mandate. Simply stop allowing them to externalize their costs.

Nothing can stop the progressive who wants to run for governor do it. The Dem candidate has to go after him, marginalizing his positions by taking some of them as his/her own, painting the rest as out of the mainstream, and rallying those who want a new regime. Not easy, but not impossible, since the legislature is so completely liberal, and loathes Douglas so thoroughly, that simply denying Douglas a majority will win the next election by going to the House.

# Posted by:

Tom | 8:51 AM, August 13, 2009

Democrats show great leadership!! They own the state budget and don't know what to do with it so they ask for outside help! Careful what you wish for- the consultant might give you advice you don't want to hear!

# Posted by:

NEK | 8:54 AM, August 13, 2009

Maybe the candidate needs to be someone else

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:22 AM, August 13, 2009

"Pollina for Governor in 2010. The Progressives deserve to be heard."

They've been heard, and rejected. Pollina has run for Congress (as a Dem in the 80s), Governor twice (as a Prog), and Lt. Gov. (as a Prog). He's been rejected by the voters statwide 4 times, three times as a Prog. What part of NO doesn't he, and you, get?

Fifth time's a charm? Grow up already.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:00 AM, August 13, 2009

Three simple-minded Progressive criteria does not an election win.

# Posted by:

Older is Better | 11:22 AM, August 13, 2009

Hope Roper's got plenty of popcorn for this next run of the Heckle and Jeckle parties show.

# Posted by:

Unknown | 11:35 AM, August 13, 2009

Considering the Progs have never one a statewide election (Bernie had the brains to run as an I), why the heck would any candidate listen to them?

"Talk to the hand."

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:43 PM, August 13, 2009

You should have heard Pollina on VPR today harping on the fact that he came in second. He beat out Gaye Symington by only 257 votes, hardly a mandate and he came in with 22 percent of the vote.

Progs have had their chance. They got no money and no organization. If a Prog ran in place of a Dem (like Pollina wants), all the moderate Dems and independents will vote for Douglas. I certainly will.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:50 PM, August 14, 2009

Me too.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:54 PM, August 14, 2009

Let the Progressive Party do what ever it wants.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:13 PM, August 16, 2009

Right. Cuz who cares.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:56 AM, August 17, 2009

Saying yes to #3 - closing VT Yankee - is bad idea. Utilities say sayonara to $800 million in revenue sharing. 600 employees join the unemployment lines. Everyone's rates go up. More Co2 in air. Spent fuel still in dry casks, no leverage to do anything about it. Case study for law of unintended consequences.

# Posted by:

milton newport | 2:57 PM, August 18, 2009

vt progressive party= oxygen thiefs

what have they ever accomplished? just ignore those losers they need to get a life and some wasting people's time

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:51 PM, August 28, 2009