Both of these from the Rutland Herald:

Budget cuts irk critical politico:

Efforts to trim $32 million from the state budget turned political Monday when a prominent Democrat (sic) lawmaker criticized Gov. James Douglas for proposing more than $400,000 in cuts to child-care subsidies while preserving at least seven public relations positions.

In the wake of a downgraded revenue forecast in July, the Douglas administration last week unveiled a proposal to cut spending by $24 million in the General Fund and $8 million in the Transportation Fund. That list included $436,000 in cuts to a child-care subsidy program that helps low-income Vermonters pay for daycare.

Rep. Floyd Nease, Assistant Majority Leader of the Vermont House, said that Douglas could restore the cuts by instead axing seven taxpayer-funded public relations jobs.

“What we’re doing is cutting child-care subsidies to working Vermonters instead of cutting Governor Douglas’ public relations machine,” Nease said.

and…Dem rivals pile on Dubie:

Tom Costello and Nate Freeman faced off Monday night in a polite debate that saw most of the two Democrats’ criticisms aimed at the man one of them will face in November, incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie.

These are the headlines we should be seeing.

The other day, as odum and I were planning what what we would do, I ambitiously thought there’d be a whole lotta posting going on. Then those pesky logistics get in the way – bus rides that should take 10 minutes take 45… the line at the Pepsi center takes 45 minutes just to get through security. Or, when you finally make it to the convention floor, the computer situation is not what you wanted.

But, nevertheless, it was a spectacle. I’ll have more on that aspect over at Five Before Chaos hopefully soon. It did kind of feel like I was at a rockshow. I camE in just as Ted Kennedy was ending his speech. Claire McCaskill’s speech that folowed sounded like one of those political speeches you buy in a box, that had just about every tired cliche you cold possibly imagine, followed by some (inexplicable) heavy metal music for when she left the stage.

Michelle Obama’s brother introduced her with thoughtful words. Her speech, although way to heavy on the sentimentality angle for my tastes, did seem to move many people in the crowd. Regardless of the politics of it, she is a very thoughtful and well-spoken woman (which is probably why she gets so much scorn from the right-wing).  You could tell that some of the words were carefully crafted to counter some of the right-wing nonsense (full text of speech here). All in all, I was a sort of detached observer to the whole thing. It was a surreal experience being in the thick of it all regardless of the politics of it all.  I’ll have some vids hopefully soon, but I threw together a sideshow for your enjoyment. I’m unfortunately not using the best photo equipment but it’s not bad, either. The flickr thing put them out of order, unfortunately.

Crossposted at Docudharma.

The Big Tent was a hip and happening place. Lotsa people in the bloggers lounge today. I met up with some of the shakers and movers of the blogosphere: Markos, MissLaura, BarbinMD, Plutonium Planet, Kagro X, and others. Daily Kos has their own couch reserved for them. Everybody there is cool. I also ran into Bill Scher of Liberal Oasis and Matt Stoller of MyDD.

Lots of people made their appearances. Arianna Huffington, my wonderful Senator Pat Leahy of Vermont, Paul Krugman, and more.

Paul Krugman of The New York Times

Arianna Huffington

There was lots of media covering The Big Tent. Eat your heart out MSM. You loathe us yet we’re the ones getting tons of press. It’s great.

Not much more to report. The rest is just a blur. I think that was when the Fat Tire Ales kicked in. However….

More below the fold.  

…. there was a rumor going around that the RNC was sponsoring an event for the PUMA folks. It seems to me the RNC wanted to exploit and take advantage of the bitter Clinton supporters who are out here. I heard some of the DKos front-pagers were going to crash it tonight. If I hear of anything I’ll be sure to post it ASAP.

Before I headed back to the Highlands, I did catch an MSNBC round table show with the usual suspects: Rachel Maddow, Norah O’Donnell, Pat Buchanan, and a special guest I wasn’t familiar with. The part I caught, Maddow and O’Donnell were arguing over something. Rachel said something that made the crowd cheer then they went to commercial. Then they cheered her on some more.

O’Donnell gets pwned by Rachel Maddow

 “The Bastard” known as Pat Buchanan

That’s it for tonight so….

…. “STICK AROUND. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE STUFF!”

Crossposted at Docudharma.

Michelle Obama spoke tonight but I was too damn exhausted to cover it. I was one of many bloggers getting bombed with all the free beer they’re giving us under The Big Tent. So I guess I’ll just give you some random observations throughout the day along with some pictures to boot. The good news is Green Mountain Daily got some press in Conde Nast Portfolio magazine. Look for it tomorrow….. I hope. So here’s the recap:

*Spent most of the day trying to get to the place to pick up my creds. Luckily I caught a Falun Gong parade. They marched all the way around the Pepsi Center. Check it out.

Lots more below the fold.

* It took me forever just to get my press credentials. I had to have a runner come out and meet me at the first perimeter with a pass. Then they let me in. After that, it was another perimeter just to get to the media tents and The Pepsi Arena. It was like going through airport security. They made me take my laptop out, my wallet, cellphone, etc. I went through the metal detector, got “wand raped,” and then I was free.

*In line were Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski of “Morning Joe.” They stood out like sore thumbs.

 Joe and Mika wait to get in.

A young girl went up to interview them and asked Scarborough if he was going to The Big Tent. He responded by saying, “not unless they pay me well,” and then went on to criticize them because they criticize him. Brzezinski just stood there and validated everything he said. What an ass.

* I got my creds through Talk Radio News Service. Great group of folks. The crappy aspect of the media tents were there was no wifi. The DNC wouldn’t permit it from what I heard. When I asked Dan Patterson of Talk Radio News why the DNC wouldn’t permit it, he said “because the DNC are assholes?” Pretty funny. All the usuals suspects were there. I saw the WaPost, Newsweek, Time, Christian Science Monitor, AP had a HUGE presence, WSJ, even GQ was there as well as Politico, NPR affiliates and more.  

* CNN and FOX have their own buildings. They literally took out entire Pepsi Arena restaurants. CNN on the other hand, is in the restaurant business. I’m serious. Check it out.

 CNN: The restaurant franchise? WTF?

 FOX News headquarters: In a burger joint.

* The scene inside the second perimeter is surreal. There are all these empty streets with nothing but cops (lots of them) and tons of golf carts carrying around what looked like important people. Weird. The cops have these friggin long billy clubs while other are carrying machine guns. It’s like a couple notches below a Palestinian check point. It’s that f-ed up.

* After I got my bearings of the area I just had to leave. I did walk by Ted Koppel on my way out and then at the first perimeter I saw a black stretch limo pull up with Colorado license plates saying “TOPGUN-1.” Out came Andrea Mitchell of NBC Nightly News and she was brisked away through security. Whatever.

 Andrea Mitchell: TOPGUN-1? Whatever.

I biked my way over to The Big Tent and things got even better. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to cover Michelle Obama. I’ll be in there tomorrow night to cover whoever’s speaking. Now for Part II: The fun under The Big Tent.

Favorite photo of the day: Rednecks for Obama!

I’m having fun in Vermont with my new web cam 🙂

(crossposted at the UK Guardian website)

The state of Vermont is many things to many people, as those of us who live here are subjected to a daily helping of someone or another trying to define the mercurial “Vermont Way.” One thing everyone can agree on though is that Vermont is small. Burlington, it’s largest city, is home to a mere 40,000 people.

The state’s size and rural character makes for unique political dynamics. Vermont doesn’t have the critical population mass to sustain a “political class” in the sense that larger states do. What it has instead is something smaller and less impenetrable; what could be called a series of political “cliques.” In other states, for example, the prized national delegate slots are generally allotted to party elite, but in Vermont there exist opportunities for those who are not blessed with such institutional gravitas.

At 18, first-time voter and Obama delegate Taylor Bates may well be the youngest delegate at the convention and will be able to boast a unique introduction to the Democratic process. Bates, who at the 2008 State Convention was a high school senior, had to defeat more than 100 other candidates for a national delegate position, including some current officeholders. Bates was well positioned to be the beneficiary of an influx of new activists, engaged by the Obama campaign and who were moved to send newer – and younger – faces to Denver’s national stage.

But you didn’t have to be a new voter to break through the array of insiders. Delegate Daria MonDesire is a writer who has lived many years in Vermont’s northeast kingdom. Previously unengaged with Party politics, her compelling oratory captured the roomful of State Convention voters – no small feat given that each candidate was allotted a mere thirty seconds to speak.

MonDesire’s (pronounced mondeZEER) work has been published widely, and is working on a novel about the “first black president.” An African American woman in the most rural region of the “whitest” state, she drew national attention through an article that took umbridge at the declaration of Bill Clinton as “the first black president” during his personal travails. As such, she is not unfamiliar with national attention, but this stage is one she wouldn’t have expected to find herself on.

“I’m not nervous at all….maybe I should be,” MonDesire remarked the Sunday before the Convention. After acknowledging “survivor’s guilt” at being one of the few  Vermont delegates selected, she made clear that she had no intention of quietly walking back into political anonymity when it ended.

MonDesire said that the delegate selection process had left her “disenchanted,” citing its favored treatment of high ranking officeholders, and the influence of  “the muscle of Chittenden County,” the state’s largest county.

MonDesire indicated she “would like to do something to help change it.”

Bates and MonDesire are enjoying opportunities they would likely not have had access to elsewhere. Opportunities that will likely prove transformative – both for themselves, and ultimately for the Vermont Democratic Party.

(Cross posted at Broadsides.org)

Repeat after me: We’re a long, long way from Plato. Or Socrates. Or any other great, Greek thinker on democracy. Because, baby, today it’s all about style, soundbites, sophomoric jabs, mind-boggling contradictions and – oh yeah – one, big spectacle intended to do one and only one thing: Negate substance.

I’m speaking, of course, of the political circus that is now capturing America’s post-Olympic attention: The Democratic National Convention. Quick, before it ends: Feel the nothingness of it all.

Conventions, in case you forgot, used to be about picking a candidate, about ironing out the party’s platform and about hashing and re-hashing the differences between the factions. But that is all sooooo yesterday. Because today’s political conventions are about anything but what they used to be about.

Debates have been replaced with pom-poms. Votes have been replaced with soft-focused documentaries of the long ago “chosen one.” And policy debates have been kicked outside behind 10-foot fences, cops in riot gear and the threat of Guantanamo-like accommodations for anyone who dares to spoil “the show.”

But wait. What about the people? One, two, three: Fuck the people.

Because, you idiot, this is the political playground of the rich and famous who are rich and famous enough to make you think that their rich and famousness are still powerful enough to make you sit in awe as they parade around a stage sponsored by Coke AND Pepsi while still pretending that they care. In other words: Ass, meet face. And enjoy the week.

The biggest irony in the very non-democratic show that is taking place in Denver this week is the way the Democratic Party hierarchy has managed to completely co-opt the liberal blogosphere. Frankly, it’s nothing short of pure genius how the Dean-led DNC held up a cookie for the oh-so-eager liberal blogs, asked them to sit, and then – realizing they had their full attention — offered the most obedient blog from each state a “free blogging pass” to the stinky spectacle that is about as spontaneous as a Wayne Newton concert. Good boys and girls. Now roll over, start drooling, and, better yet, send home posts about the pure spectacle of it all. Yawn.

Here in Vermont, where all things by Vermonters are considered to be next to holiness despite the inanity of most of it (I mean, come on, we still think Rusty DeWees is funny and Bernie Sanders is a socialist), the great anointed blog by the DNC to “cover” its convention is the Green Mountain Daily blog. You know, the folks who do little but steal from the mainstream AND alternative media but then pout until the cows come home for not being recognized for their ability to steal from the same sources they stole from. Oh yeah, I forgot: Have blog, assume you’re a media God.

But this is “their moment,” a chance to have an “official pass” and prove that their coverage is oh-so needed to provide the people with a view of the spectacle that they would otherwise not be getting (did they not know that there was 24/7 coverage on numerous channels?).

Soooo, let’s check in on their coverage. Oh wait, cut, cut, cut. Because it seems like they’re all just “tired.” Odum, J.D, and Avard of GMD, for example, all made the their first posting all about how early they had to get up, how tired they were, and how the travel was exhausting. Avard, however, did manage enough coffee to provide us with this starry-eyed nugget:

“…I was sitting outside, going through my Big Tent “goodie bag,” I saw George Stephanopolous. We made eye-contact, nodded to each other, and he went in the bookstore.”

Oh please, tell me more. And let the blogging revolution begin!

But, if you want to dig deeper into the Vermont blogging coverage, you can find Philip Baruth of both the Vermont Daily Briefing and the Free Press telling us all about his stepping into cat puke and making damn sure we all knew about his political persuasions by posting his favorite photo of him staring lovingly into the eyes of Obama with a look that says little more than “how many ways can I bend over for you?”

Oh my, I remember when the blogs were supposed to be about the new media revolution. But, I guess, that was so yesterday. Before, for example, the DNC had blogger lapdogs willing to sit and kiss ass for official passes.

What can I say? I miss 1968. You know, back when a protest meant a protest. And when the “alternative media” still meant the alternative media, not a bunch of YouTube and blogging whores who think that if they’re the first to report that Hillary Clinton said “good things” about Obama that they’ll win a chest scratch and – perhaps, depending on their behavior – another invite in 2012.

It’s going to be a long week if you think democracy is happening in Denver. It’s as staged as staged can possibly be. In the end, it will be nothing short of the most massive, unending documentation of nothing other than the coronation of Barack Obama that democracy has seen since – oh – the most massive, unending documentation of nothing other than the coronation of John Kerry. But America loves spectacles as much as it loves suckers. And, together, it makes a convention.

Personally, I’d rather read Plato and weep.  

Vermonters will certainly get their per capita share of coverage for the Democratic Convention starting tomorrow. Here’s a sense of what you can expect from GMD writers…

For myself, I’ll be posting one or two reports a day that will alternately focus on some of the more interesting peripheral events (there are many), as well as the Vermont delegation itself. To supplement coverage, I’ll be posting roughly 3 brief video “lifecast” style posts a day viewable at the zannel.com widget atop the page. In addition, I’ll be doing some blogging for the website of the UK’s Guardian newspaper. They will be viewable on the Guardian op-ed page, “Comment is Free America” and will be crossposted here (I think).

JDRyan will be blogging at Five Before Chaos as well as this site – and will be doing some vlogging of his own at the VCAM site. He gives us this preview:

As far as people go,  I’m covering Michelle Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Clinton and whatever happens inside Invesco (as well as any other speakers I happen to see). Some might be articles, some might be liveblogging, I’m not sure yet. I’m also gonna cover some of the stuff in the Big Tent, and as much as I can cover of the protests without getting in trouble. I’ll also interview anyone I have access to if they’re notable.

Christian Avard will also be at the convention, but will be blogging under the auspices of the Huffington Post. I suspect he’ll be crossposting some of his coverage here, as well. Christian:

I’ll be doing spot news stories and exclusives for Huffington Post’s “Off the Bus.” Expect lots of photos. I’ll be covering a variety of events: Big Tent, protests, PDA conference, the press pool scene, etc. I’ll also do a nightly recap of events, observations, and gossip for Green Mountain Daily, iBrattleboro, and now Docudharma!

….and of course, blogging luminary and former GMD front pager Kagro X will be on the scene for DailyKos. Kagro sez:

I really have next to no idea what I’m going to do there… My backup plan is to borrow a video camera and post some “You Are There” YouTube videos, just conveying the experience.

Most of my time will be making the rounds of traditional institutional advocacy groups, looking to build bridges on legislative analysis, which we’re going to be doing a lot more of next year.

While we fully expect to inundate you with coverage, if you just can’t get enough, Delegate Philip Baruth will not only be blogging at Vermont Daily Briefing, but at the Burlington Free Press website as well.

Seven Days will also have a blogger on hand, but I forget who because I’m stupid. An attempt to find out on their website (including using their search function) came up short, and I’m too tired to keep looking. Maybe somebody can let us know.

And as far as the Democrats themselves, there will be updates on their website, as well some early-week blogging from gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington on her campaign website.

…..and there will no doubt be even more from other media outlets. If you’re not sick of hearing about this stuff by now, give it – ohhh, about 24 hours. In the meantime, our intrepid GMD crew will continue to remember the other things going on in the state and the world, I’m sure.

“We must have both jobs and a healthy environment in order to realize the true promise of Vermont.” Sept.2003 press release

Gov.Douglas announced in 2003 Clean and Clear an effort  to clean Lake Champlain that balanced regulations and voluntary efforts to reduce pollution and not slow or put harmful restrictions on development .Five years later how’s that working out Governor ? The Governor’s people have unveiled a plan to dredge and treat part of St.Albans Bay floor with alum.A strategy reportedly that will cost millions of dollars and only have short term effects as pollution continues to flow into the water .  

September 30, 2003

Governor Douglas Announces Clean & Clear Water Action Plan”After more than a decade of discussion…we can, and we must, act now.”……….”I believe strongly that our environment is not an inheritance from our ancestors to be spent down; it’s a loan from our children and we ought to be prepared to pay it back with interest,” Douglas said.

August 2008………

“We were playing basketball here last week and the ball went into the water. My friends were like, ‘Don’t get it, don’t get it,’ the water was so gross. We spent like 20 minutes trying to fish it out with a stick,”

St. Albans City resident

http://governor.vermont.gov/to…

http://www.burlingtonfreepress…

link for Blue-Green Algae in Lake Champlain info from State Health Dept.

http://healthvermont.gov/envir…

      Maybe you’re jealous, maybe you miss him. Maybe Odum’s recent appearance in The New York Times’ “Fashion and Style” section makes him dangerously comparable to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. If you’re a Republican. Maybe that 3AM text message bleeping Biden has primed you for all politics all the time. Maybe you’ve realized that when Biden literally says “literally” he literally means literally.

           Maybe you wish you were in that other state with the green license plates. Maybe you’ve got Denver on your mind. Maybe the Sunday morning yapfests leave you feeling empty. Maybe just maybe you didn’t get to see VTblogosphereTV’s first episode on public access television…….

Okay I already posted the first two segments, but if you haven’t seen them yet, click here and here.

             And here’s the last pieces uploaded to Youtube to make for the first ½ hour episode. I looked at ustream but it appears to be purely about live streaming, and I do a bunch of post-production work that wouldnt fly on such a format.  But keep the suggestions coming, good stuff all around.

          BREAKING:  Episode Two with Nate “mydog” Freeman is ready to air! I will post some Youtube clips well before the Lt Gov primary on September 9, but you can see the whole thing on ORCA media  starting September 1. I’ll post times and clips soon.

          Nate and I went on a bit long as the production folks at ORCA didn’t give us a time check, so we’ve got nearly an hour of quality content! Imagine Brian Dubie yapping for an hour. Hey you wake up.

          Nate’s got a ton of enthusiasm and insight to get us all woke up into the twenty first century and he articulates his vision in an accessible way. Vermont has a great tradition of citizen politicians and Nate is effectively challenging the stultifyingly stagnant Republican executive branch.

       VTblogosphereTV will also show on V-CAM in Chittenden county and I will post air times soon. Episode Three will be with Philip Baruth right fresh off the plane from Denver. He’s not just a blogger, he’s an Obama delegate and is in Denver as I type.

         I would like to get this show on more local public access stations and that requires a local sponsor. So if you live elsewhere other than the VCAM or ORCA service areas let me know at mcabadi(at)verizon.net. If you fill out a form then VTblogosphereTV can show up on your local access channel. And in the spirit of reciprocity, if you have a show you’d like to broadcast in the ORCA service area, I’d be happy to sponsor it. Just let me know. Here’s a list of public access service areas.   The production people at ORCA are talking about a live broadcast on election night so we’re poised to grow. Don’t be surprised if I bother you about coming on the show or let me know if you have any interest.

          I’m telling you, when the blogosphere hits public access TV, we’ll have some serious media democracy on our hands. WGOP look out. And now video updates from Denver on the GMD site? Exciting times.

         So enjoy, produce communicate vote activate educate advocate. Nice to see the sun go down on free market ideology nonsense. Time to plant the seeds for people’s governance. Gardening at night. Oh what a beautiful morning awaits. Darkest before the dawn and all that.