And I'm not talking about Galbraith. Activist “Snarky Boy” Michael Colby announced today that he's considering throwing his hat in the ring, in the Progressive primary:

The only declared candidate for governor in the Progressive or Democratic parties is Anthony Pollina, and he has been seemingly more interested in playing footsie with the powers-that-be than offering a true alternative to them. I, on the other hand, believe in the importance and necessity of building an alternative base to politics as usual amongst the dominant two parties.

I think it’s important for a progressive to be in this race to offer a true contrast to the failings of the other major parties when it comes to stopping the war, providing health care for all, addressing economic inequality and celebrating and protecting Vermont’s natural resources.

Well, this should be interesting, to say the least. It's a 180 to the 'unity' theme that has been the focus of the discussion so far. Colby is a very polarizing character, so this is definitely news, to say the least.

( – promoted by Jack McCullough)

Per reuters:

“I must say, I’m a little envious,” Bush said. “If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed.”

“It must be exciting for you … in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You’re really making history, and thanks,” Bush said.

Words completely fail me.

First, let’s start with the notsofarback machine:

• Mission Accomplished: Jim Douglas Kills Composting in the Intervale, in which it’s discussed how the Intervale composting center is being shut down by environmental regulators.
• Good thing we’re not talking about left leaning composting operations, in which it’s discussed how a series of construction sites are not compliant with state regulations but are in “a period of education rather than enforcement.”

Now let’s fast forward to Friday afternoon, at which point VPR aired a piece on how there have been questions raised about political pressure that led compost operation to close.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

…The non-profit Intervale Center says it can’t afford to meet new regulatory hurdles for the compost operation, which handles 20,000 tons a year of organic waste.

Now questions are being raised about the political pressure on the Intervale that led to the decision to close.

VPR’s John Dillon reports:

(Dillon) …The Douglas Administration says it has been very sensitive to keep politics out of environmental enforcement at the Intervale. Governor Jim Douglas said enforcement isn’t even being handled by his administration now.

(Douglas)“And now the Attorney General has assumed responsibility for enforcing it. And if the Attorney General believes it’s something that ought to be pursued, I certainly respect his judgment.”

(Dillon) Intervale officials say they’ve tried to work out the various legal issues with the state. But there are questions about how flexible the state has been – and whether politics are involved.

Now, we pause, to draw special attention to the emphasized text below.  Apparently, the media is reading us:

On the Green Mountain Daily blog it was stated recently that Agency of Natural Resources Secretary George Crombie told the Intervale that he had the center in a — quote — “noose.” For some at the meeting, the meaning was clear: Crombie was going to tighten the regulatory vise on the compost center.

Intervale Director Kit Perkins was there.

(Perkins) “It was upsetting. But I certainly didn’t get it out publicly. This is not my initiative here. But I will tell the truth and say yes that was said at the meeting.”

(Dillon) Crombie has said publicly that the Intervale is the wrong place for a composting operation.

But Crombie said he did not use the word noose to describe his agency’s hold on the Intervale.

(Crombie) “No. No. I would not do that.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but to me, the phrase “I would not…” is not really the same sort of denial as “I didn’t.”  It’s more like an, “I can’t imagine that I’d say such a thing.”  But the thing is, we have one witness who didn’t try to use this to make political hay.

More from the VPR piece:

(Dillon) Tom Moreau is the general manager of the Chittenden Solid Waste District. He was at the meeting between Intervale officials and Secretary Crombie. Moreau didn’t want to characterize the meeting.

(Moreau) “If I get asked by anybody in authority, his boss, somebody from the attorney general’s office, I will tell the truth. And it will be very clear what I heard.”

(Dillon) Moreau said he’s been dealing with state regulators for 30 years. He said this case is different.

(Moreau) “I’ve seen less cooperation on this than I have on most every other environmental problem than I’ve been associated. And I don’t know the reason for that. I’m just not going to speculate. I just don’t know the reasoning for it.”

So really, this is interesting to me.  It seems from Moreau’s comments that this isn’t just about a guy who’s a bit of a pain when it comes to regulations.  It sounds more like someone who’s doing a political hatchet job on the Intervale.

Douglas has a couple options here.  If he wants to maintain credibility when he claims that he’s not interested in politicizing regulation, then he can see to it that this incident is investigated.  If, instead, he wants to do damage to lefties, then he can do nothing.

But the idea that, as Douglas claims, he wants to “keep politics out of environmental enforcement,” then I think he has some serious explaining to do.