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Watch this space: Lt Governor Questionnaire Responses to be Posted Sunday

by: odum

Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:27:44 AM EDT

Because of timing and logistics, we weren't able to have an online debate between the candidates for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor (as we did with candidates Dunne and Tracy two years ago). I have, however, sent a ten question email to candidates Tom Costello and Nate Freeman, and will post their responses Sunday morning. If both candidates do not return the questionnaire, we will post the response of the one that does. There hasn't been much (any?) opportunity to compare and contrast the two candidates side-by-side in the press, so this should be a good opportunity for Democratic primary voters to see how these two pretenders to the Dubie throne stack up. (Just heard over the radio that VPR will be talking about these candidates on VT Edition today. Here's a link.)

Between now and primary eve, we will run a Lite Gov preference poll on the top right.

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Liam Madden & IVAW to meet with Obama campaign, McCain ignores

by: Christian Avard

Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 06:29:54 AM EDT

Iraq War veteran and Bellows Falls native Liam Madden is in this morning's Brattleboro Reformer. Madden travelled to both party's conventions with Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) to demand a full and immediate withdrawal of American troops in Iraq.

In the Twin Cities, Madden said the GOP was not receptive (surprise, surprise). In Denver, it was a different story. Robert Plain writes the following.

"We marched right through the front gates of the Democratic National Convention," he said proudly.

They told the guards they had a letter they wanted to deliver to Sen. Obama ... the Obama campaign agreed to meet with leaders of IVAW behind the police line.

"It was the first victory of the anti-war movement in seven years," Madden said. "They didn't just send some Secret Service officer, they sent a senior official. it was the first time a protest ended in something other than everyone just going home."

Madden and a group of veterans delivered the letter to Phil Carter, Obama's senior veteran's affairs liaison. During the meeting, Carter agreed to meet with IVAW at a later date. Madden is hoping he may get some face time with the nominee himself, as well.

Despite the good news, that still didn't stop Madden from criticizing both parties.

On Barack Obama.

"Obama has presented himself as the anti-war candidate and he is not," Madden said. "He said he wants to remove all the combat troops, but there are tens of thousands of non-combat troops in Iraq, too. He hasn't committed to removing them. He's just repackaged the war and re-selling it to the American people. It's still the same war based on the same lies. It's still the same violation of the Constitution."

John McCain.

"McCain is obviously not supporting the troops," he said. "As far as their voting record on veteran issues goes, Obama is clearly doing a better job."

To read the full article click here.

Amidst all the hoopla surrounding the conventions, I think it's imporant that we give Madden, IVAW, and other anti-war groups appropriate face time. They are too often ignored for all the great work they do and it's important we support their efforts. Especially Madden, a Bellows Falls native.

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The NRC actually does its job

by: JulieWaters

Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 05:58:53 AM EDT

Per today's Rutland Herald:

Neglected maintenance on the brakes on a Vermont Yankee refueling floor crane failed in May as it was holding a cask full of spent nuclear fuel because Entergy Nuclear failed to correct ongoing problems with the crane, a recently released inspection report from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission stated.

The crane has accumulated seven problems in more than three years, a result of "Entergy's failure to take timely and appropriate corrective action," the special inspection report stated.

But not to worry. I'm sure they're doing everything else just perfect.

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Douglas Administration Emails: VSEA's Report

by: odum

Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 17:48:16 PM EDT

VSEA's report on the duplicity replete in Douglas administration internal emails regarding the state layoffs is worth seeing in its original form, unedited and undigested through the press. Rather than comment extensively, I'm going to let it speak for itself below...

On July 9, 2008, VSEA sent public records requests to all secretaries, commissioners and human resources staff from the agencies and departments impacted by the 400 position cuts exercise.

We requested:

Copies of all written communications (letters, e-mails, faxes, documents, or any other reports) concerning-

-The Governor’s initiative to eliminate 400 state positions.

-The impact of this initiative on the services provided by the Department or Agency.

-The impact of this initiative on the operations of the Department or Agency.

-The impact of this initiative on the Department’s or Agency’s clients and employees.

-The possible or actual use of temporary or contracted employees to provide functions of the positions eliminated as a result of this initiative.

There's More... :: (6 Comments, 3968 words in story)

VSEA successfully goes nuclear: email public records acquisition creates a brand new world

by: odum

Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:21:01 AM EDT

I used to tell people that if somebody in state government ever really crossed the line, I could always "go nuclear;" that is, make a public records demand for a massive state email dump. As state mail through state servers on state equipment, written and sent on state time, it seemed a slamdunk. Imagine what awaits; legislators inappropriately interacting with lobbyists, people in the Governor's office doing campaign work, or illegally colluding with commercial or political interests over issues such as Vermont Yankee or the Intervale.

Really, the mind boggles, and the reason I always thought of it as "going nuclear" is that, once the floodgates were opened by somebody making a large-scale high profile request, it seemed likely that others would jump on board creating not merely potential political tidal waves, but possibly technical/logistical ones as well. Certainly there are people I know connected to the state who have shuddered at the prospect for years, now.

Well, the Vermont State Employees Association either just came to the realization that this strategy was possible, or simply decided that they were tired of sitting there with their finger on the button while the Douglas Administration continually screwed them over, year after year. VSEA, of course, made their request, Douglas tried to push them back with stickershock, but the nuke went off yesterday:

Internal e-mails on a continuing round of state government job cuts show high-ranking administration officials worried about protecting Gov. Jim Douglas and saying members of a key House committee are "like children."

The Vermont State Employees' Association, the state workers' union that has criticized the Douglas administration's staff reductions since they were announced last November, on Wednesday released some of the results of a public-records request for correspondence about the reductions...

...But the e-mails show that internally, another priority was keeping Gov. Jim Douglas out of political trouble over the issue...

...Another e-mail, dated Nov. 14, has McIntire sending Human Services Secretary Cynthia LaWare an electronic scolding before she is to receive one in person the next day from Smith.

"Mike set this meeting up because word has come back here that you have been complaining about your (staff reduction) targets to other departments and he needs to understand why you are not on the team re this project ... (Y)ou need to be here tomorrow and be prepared to talk about being part of the team. See you then."

VSEA is supposed to advocate aggressively and forcefully for their rank and file, and good for them for doing so, especially given the fact that they haven't always done so to their members' satisfaction.

But there's no denying that crossing this line has the potential to bring a lot of sunshine to corners of state government (in every branch) that have never been near any of the windows before. Start the popcorn!

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Open Thread: Jim-Dogs and Soulmates (UPDATE)

by: odum

Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 21:47:06 PM EDT

Where's the money? Interested persons looking into the Primary for Montpelier's House Seat were surprised to find that former Douglas contributor and Jim-Dog Dem Jon Anderson apparently did not file a campaign finance report last week. Statute requires candidates to file if they have collected or spent more than $500 in a reporting period, and with Anderson's campaign mailings continuing to hit, it seems likely that the limit was reached. Eeeeeenteresting. Something we're not supposed to see, perhaps? Slow train gets to the station after all: As of this morning, the reports were all available - Blue-to-bluer Challenger Mary Hooper has raised $1790.30 and spent $1537.48; Rep. Warren Kitzmiller has raised $2493.23 and spent $2013.80; and Anderson has spent $5385.46 and loaned $4665.46 to himself, with no other contributions listed.
A "soulmate" for Welch: At the final day of the Convention, I was seated behind most of the Delegation where, unlike at the Pepsi Center, Vermont had more seats than it needed and Iowa didn't have enough. As such, I offered the seat next to me to an Iowan I came to realize was a US Congressman - specifically freshman Representative Dave Loebsack. Rep. Loebsack was a personable, unassuming fellow and had a few things to say about Vermont, as well as a couple prominent Vermonters:

This page contained an embedded video. Click here to view it.

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Douglas completely loses touch with reality: "Palin is a choice Vermonters can relate to."

by: JDRyan

Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 08:17:48 AM EDT

(Note: in no way does the title of this diary imply that Douglas ever had a firm grip on the reality in regards to relating to Vermonters - this one is just too out in la-la land to pass up, though - he's really losing it.)

This morning's Argus had me spitting up my coffee:

But Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas believes that Palin, a mother, hunter and first-term governor, is not only qualified to be president, if it comes to that, but that she will win over residents of the Green Mountain state.

"I believe Gov. Palin is qualified," said Douglas, who has gotten to know Palin as a fellow state chief executive. He had hoped McCain would choose a governor as his running mate, he added. "I think a lot of Vermonters will identify with her."

I guess Douglas also feels that Vermonters also all have foreign policy experience because we live so close to Canada. Or perhaps we all have marine biologist experience because we live so close to Lake Champlain. Or perhaps the Vermonters he meant were the loons in Second Vermont Republic who can relate to her days in the Alaskan seccesionist movement. Who's going to be the first reporter to ask Douglas about this? Considering how much praise and support Douglas has given our current unqualified commander-in-chief, we really shouldn't be surprised, should we?

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VT Yankee Consumer Fraud Complaint

by: JulieWaters

Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 04:24:03 AM EDT

Damn. I wish I'd thought of this. Per VPR:

A consumer group says the owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant have used deceptive advertising in their campaign to operate the reactor for another 20 years.

The report quotes one of the ads:

"That's because one-third of our electricity comes from the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, which has been providing reliable electricity with zero greenhouse gas emissions for the last 35 years."

This is, of course, demonstrably false. VT Yankee is not a zero emissions plant, and the electricity it provides is neither consistent not reliable. But hey, why would we let facts get in the way of a good PR campaign?

Oh, and in response to questions about the zero emissions claim, VT Yankee spokesmodel Rob Williams had this great claim, as reported in the Rutland Herald:

Williams said the reactor was "essentially" free of greenhouse gas emissions. "Compared to other sources it is zero," Williams said, stressing that Vermont Yankee produced one-third of all the electricity used in the state.

Well, okay. So it's not zero emissions. So why not make the above claim in their ads instead of... what's it called again? Oh right: lying.

The complaint came from the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which included this gem in its press release:

"Vermonters would be far better off if Entergy put all the money they're spending on ads into hiring competent managers and engineers who can help to prevent the plant from falling apart until it retires in 2012," said Burns.

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St. Johnsbury: Frauds and Grifters welcome here!

by: Jack McCullough

Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 10:32:13 AM EDT

If you make your living reading palms, casting horoscopes, or some other manner of mystical fraud, St. Johnsbury is open for business.

That's right, folks, back in July, without much notice, St. Johnsbury repealed its ordinance prohibiting its ban on soothsayers, psychics, and other "practitioners" of mystical and nontraditional methods of divination.

The problem? Practitioners of new-age irrationality, like tarot card reading and feng shui, didn't like the idea that they couldn't ply their trade in the city limits. Now, if you feel uncomfortable visiting that spooky fake Gypsy lady with the crystal ball, you can visit her hippie granddaughter upstairs from the health food store.

A supporter of this move is quoted by the Times Argus as saying:

"The government has no power to determine whether or not these people are committing fraud."

Too late for Carlo Ponzi, but it looks to come up trumps for the New Irrationality here in Vermont.

I know there are all kinds of people who believe in this stuff, and probably a good number of them come here. We also know that the Northeast Kingdom has traditionally been receptive to superstitions like dowsing. Nevertheless, I think we're taking a step backward when we decide that anyone who wants to take money from unsuspecting dupes by convincing them that they have mystical powers is entitled to do so.

I also think the Times Argus is missing out by uncritically repeating the backers of this move. For instance, here's a quote from the article:

"We have people who predict what the stock market is going to do. We have people who predict the weather and get paid for it," said Haynes.

Is there any difference between predicting the weather and predicting people's fortunes based on feng shui? I can think of one: predicting the weather isn't infallible, but it's based on the laws of physics and it can be evaluated based on the evidence; feng shui, on the other hand, is based on the study of forces that nobody has ever shown to exist.

But if you're a practitioner in these things, and you think they actually work, James Randi has a million bucks for you if you can actually do it.

Discuss :: (19 Comments)