Peter Shumlin’s been out preaching the good word of marriage equality in New Jersey, where legislative sponsors of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage are doing a delicate procedural dance to maximize it’s chances for passage. Shumlin’s open letter appeared in GMD’s Soapblox/50-state-blog-project sister site, Blue Jersey:

Senators,

As you consider a vote to extend the civil marriage laws to include same-sex couples, let me offer my two cents, based on our own experience here in Vermont:  Just Do It!

[…] I have no doubt that for some of you, this vote seems scary.  Fear is the opposition’s strongest weapon at this point.  I promise you-if you do the right thing, you won’t regret it.

Kudos also to Republican Senator Diane Snelling for testifying in favor of marriage equality in the New Jersey legislature.

You might’ve already read about this (the Shumlin piece, anyway) in vtbuzz, whose link to Blue Jersey proves that, yes, the Free Press will acknowledge the blogosphere – just not in Vermont. Heh.

In re: Mr. Salmon… When you’re working on as many things as 7 Days’ Shay Totten is, sure you’re gonna get dinged more at a site like this – but you’re also gonna get more kudos, and kudos are what’s in order today. Totten has reportedly been shaking just about every bush imaginable for info on our soap operatic state Auditor Tom Salmon. What he found most recently may not end up getting as much press as a DUI – but it should.

Turns out Salmon has been using state funds to purchase a camera and have staffers video his public appearences. That would just be tacky, and a bit narcissistic, in and of itself – but it seems he also used the state-owned equipment and state employee staff time to record his big campaign fundraiser that included the likes of desperate-to-stay-relevant Burlington moneybags Harlan Sylvester. And that’s against the rules, at the very least.

“If I ever get to the big office, I’ll tell you right now, I’m going to be about reform and honesty and commitment, and I appreciate your help with me getting there,” Salmon told the crowd of supporters. “I may raise $200,000 as auditor, and if I have anything left it will be for the next pursuit and I hope you will help me get there.”

One thing might get in the way: Taping a political speech with a taxpayer-purchased camcorder may violate state rules and regs.

Here’s what it says in the state personnel manual: “An employee shall not use State property or equipment for his private use or for any use other than that which serves the public interest.”

There’s also Bulletin 5.62, which reads: “Employees shall not use, or attempt to use, state personnel, property, or equipment for their private use or for any use not required for the proper discharge of their official duties.”

Salmon defended himself with more insipid attempts at folksy straight talk. This guy is an embarassment and clearly doesn’t give a rats ass about professional ethics.

Bernie & Colbert on capitalsim (weren’t some commenters lamenting the lack of a critique on capitalism? Well, here y’are…. we aim to please…)