This morning, I sent this message to the Pollina campaign in response to their new donor ask on the basis of his announcement yesterday:
Dear Meg,
Frankly, I was disappointed that Anthony Pollina did not show some courage and leadership to resolve a political quagmire that seems likely to bring us a Douglas-Dubie State House for the foreseeable future.
I am un-subscribing to your newsletters, because I am losing faith that Pollina wants to be more than just another politician, taking more vague swipes at his opponents than declarations of new ideas, that I know he could use such public forums to push into the headlines.
I could regain my confidence in him — and would indeed become a donor to him for the first time ever — under two possible scenarios (now that he has refused to take on the still uncontested Lt. Gov. race). One is that he run, as no less of a Progressive, but in the Democratic primary. If he believes he is the better opponent for Douglas, why not give everyone who most wants to unseat the governor the chance to make that judgment. Until we can get IRV in VT (which I strongly support, but it will take a new governor), a 3-way general is not the way to go. Resolve these differences in a primary, and I will definitely be there for Pollina, with bells on.
The other avenue, though less preferable, would be to start running as an ally of Gaye Symington. I’m hardly one of her fans, but they are both running against an incumbent. In political reality, the center-left controls the legislature and the only way a 3-way race will unseat Douglas, whose faction is smaller but undivided, will be to put it in their hands. If Pollina and Symington run as a tag-team, agreeing to endorse the other if they take the highest vote tally, I would also regain my enthusiasm for a Pollina candidacy.
Until this happens, I am disappointed and sorry to say that I can no longer support you.
Sincerely,
Tim Wolfe
I have to give Meg credit, given the content of my letter, that she wrote back. Reprinted with permission:
Dear Tim,
Thank you for your honest comments. I am really sorry to hear you are removing your support. As much as the ideas you present are really good there are so many negatives to them that I don’t see them as viable options.
I would totally support a world and political system free of these games but that isn’t the world we live in. IRV is central and as you know an issue Progressives have long supported and promoted. The problem with running for Lt. Gov is that the discussion was not serious enough to ensure we would not change races and then still find ourselves in a 3 way race.
With regard to doing that and to running in the Democratic primary, while they may get votes the chance of people just promoting Anthony as an opportunistic person who will change parties or offices at whim to try and win an election is much greater and the damage would be to the credibility of the candidate and the campaign. I am open to any ideas you have and we do discuss them.
Peace,
Meg
Actually, Pollina is displaying more courage than many so called liberals or progressive minded individuals are displaying.
According to Merriam Websters courage is defined as
Issue for Issue Pollina is stronger on progressive issues than the other two candidates.
If one wants to suggest a candidate switch to Lt. Governor it should be Symington to switch. Essentially she would have the same responsibilities as she had as Speaker. As Lt. Gov she would reside over the Senate and for that she is the most qualified.
Real political courage is to stand up to the politics of the status quo and suggest a different course than has been displayed. Anthony Pollina is displaying courage and not sub-coming to the political punditry that suggest he cave in. His recent statement has energized my support for his campaign.
Without courage Vermont still might have Republican Peter Smith as its representative or maybe he would now be in the Senate. The same arguments used now are the same used against Bernie in his campaign to oust Peter Smith. People labeled Bernie as a “spoiler” but in actuality in 1988 the Democratic candidate was the spoiler.
Prior to that race Bernie was only able to grab 14percent of the vote in a statewide election, but from that point on Vermonters choose to look past party and look at issues. Issue for issue Pollina is a better candidate. He supports universal health care/not compromised Catamount. He supports funding of education/ not the band-aid two vote caps. He supports diversified local agriculture. He supports full resource allocation towards renewable energy.
And to answer the quarrels about whether he is experienced or not, I and many others would prefer to have someone who has not been entrenched in the system. We need new blood and new ideas in Montpelier, and Pollina is that new blood.
Be courageous and think outside of the box, or you can choose the easy route and be against everything…
“Without a struggle, there can be no progress.” Frederick Douglass.