Full disclosure:  this is a gratuitious plug for both Pamela Polston at 7Days and Shoreham Uncovered in its effort to raise money for the local library.

Plus, it's too damn fun!

3 days now until our upcoming strategy/brainstorming session among new media activists and other “Democratic stakeholders.” Again, if you plan on coming, please RSVP to (jodum at poetworld.net) as this is not a public forum per se – its a working meeting with the goal of brainstorming some specific strategies and moving towards implementing them to whatever extent we feel is manageable.

Yesterday I rambled a bit on the first discussion item to little response from readers. Betcha looking at the next agenda item – if only one aspect of it – will get a bit more feedback…

III. Avoiding the candidate vacuum of the last cycle. Do we need new faces if we can’t get the old ones off the dime?

Early signs are that this may – or may not – be such a problem this year, at least for the Governor’s race.

Now I remain dubious about early speculation and early trial balloons, as we don’t want to get caught with our pants down and end up with nobody, so the last thing we should be doing is waiting for the whims of chance. But if there are names being bandied about, it changes the dynamics of our discussion quite a bit.

After the flip, I’ll focus on the early names/faces/balloons/wild-speculations that currently seem to be floating about for the Governorship, and some names might surprise you…

There all all kinds of names floating around this year.

Of course the big news last week was that State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding is considering a run for the top spot. It’s pretty common knowledge that Jeb would like to be Governor some day, but he was also at the top of the list of potential candidates who wanted to wait until a Jim Douglas retirement, rather than run against the reigning electoral champ. It sounds as though he is either getting tired of waiting, or perhaps he’s banking on Jim Douglas retiring, taking a shot at the Presidency of Middlebury College, or possibly making another run for US Senate (although it seems likely that Patrick Leahy will stick with the job and wait for his chance to Chair the Appropriations Committee).

By way of inference, one has to assume Matt Dunne and Doug Racine are possibilities. Neither was intimidated out of consideration by the prospect of running against Jim Douglas last time, and so it follows that neither would be this time. Racine made serious moves towards a run at the end of ’06 but decided he wasn’t prepared for another 3 way split like the one that cost him his first time out. With another addition to the family, Dunne likely decided the time was wrong. But still – if it was worth considering then, it seems likely they’re considering it now. Since his return to the Senate, Racine, of course, has become a huge vote-getter in the populous, more conservative Burlington burb-towns where we often lose statewide races.

Other names that are floating around include State Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Bartlett of Lamoille County. Bartlett has long been eyed by many as a strong candidate, since she has historically been one of the most effective voices countering the Governor this decade. The big challenge for her would be name recognition, as this would be her first run on a statewide ballot, and first runs historically don’t work out in this state.

There are, of course the perennial rumors about Leahy State Director and Democratic National Committeeman Chuck Ross which I’ve now heard from three different sources. Seems like we hear the Chuck Ross rumors every time, though, so he either has a perennial trial balloon he launches, or there are some folks who really, really want him to run and who float his name every cycle.

And finally, although I’ve heard of nothing that has come from her, its clear that a lot of Secretary of State Deb Markowitz’s friends are urging her to throw her hat in the ring as well.

A lot of names early on, which is a great sign. The question is, who is going to stay in the mix? Spaulding and Markowitz seem to have little enthusiasm for taking on Douglas (Markowitz was also encouraged to run last time by folks such as Madeleine Kunin, according to hubbub), so if Douglas confirms, they may or may not try it this time around. The fact is that both would be stronger campaigners if the seat was open. This may be unfair, but down-ticket statewides may well start at a disadvantage when running against Douglas, as they often tend to be convinced that they know how to win based on their experiences getting elected to such offices, and often resist advice. The reality, of course, is that running for Governor is a completely different endeavor – and running against a seasoned pro like Douglas is even more challenging still. The challenge with either of them would be to ensure they don’t fall into that trap.

Then there’s the Primary factor. One of the reasons to float ones name early, as Spaulding has done, is to hopefully clear the field and discourage challenges from within the Party. Historically, the VDP has been loathe to have Primaries and tries to avoid them at all costs. But an appeal to Leahy to play the heavy and broker a pick behind the scenes will likely not work out so well during a year he has his own election to look at – and besides, we may well be (thankfully) past the time where such efforts make a difference.

So who might be put off by a Primary? I expect Spaulding and Markowitz would see it as a disincentive. If Dunne decides to get into the mix, he’s be particularly formidable in a Primary context and obviously has no qualms about running in one. I think with Racine and Bartlett its harder to say, and while one might say that Ross would likely to get lost in a shuffle of far bigger Democratic names, it also might give him a chance to raise his profile earlier in the election cycle and make inroads with Party faithful and non-Dems alike.

And I’m stepping in firmly against tradition to say that I would welcome a Primary. I think it would be helpful. It’d force the candidates to get out early and often, and pull press and public attention, interest and enthusiasm far sooner than usual (since nothing else seems to do that). I think we’d have a shot at replicating some of Obama’s success nationally with a scaled down repeat of his protracted Primary. SUre it means the money from the National Dems would be locked up in escrow (if it would come at all), but it’s time we all learned that the National Dems are simply not going to send a candidate going up against Douglas money before the end of the summer anyway, so let’s not kid ourselves. If the candidates in Democratic Primary were to strategically plan high profile forums around the state (and I mean high-profile… debates at County Committee meetings don’t count… the State Party itself should engage in the process and create/broker real debates in real public venues with real press coverage over as long a period as possible to generate attention), the winner would come out in a very strong position, compared to the recent previous attempts.

And then, of course, there’s the Pollina factor. Although it would seem insane for him to run again, I think that’s simply his gig. He has been reportedly making noise about running in a Democratic Primary, though. If he’d done so last time, he would’ve had a decent chance. This time, though, his chances have to be lower – both because of Dem rank-and-file polarization, as well as the fact that his percentage went down against Douglas/Symington as compared to Dubie/Shumlin, putting his viability into further doubt.

And given history, the question of “would he run as a third candidate anyway” seems tantamount to “Is the Pope Catholic?” Clearly, he is never going to be any less likely to run on any given election cycle than any other election cycle, and given that his base is feeling energized from beating the Democrat (or “useless turd” as one enthusiastic follower sees it) by 200 votes (some Symington poll visibility in Montpelier on Election Day morning might’ve changed that narrative right there), he’s gotta be considered a likely factor.

So – would he run in a Dem Primary if he didn’t think it would be handed to him? WOuld he honor the results?

And if not – can we essentially create a primary through IRV, a traditional runoff, allowing the same candidate to appear on more than one Primary ballot, or some other option?

That’s the question, iddinit?

( – promoted by odum)

So who’s more dangerous to society? A man armed with an uncooked cream pie, or a drunk with a loaded gun pointed at someone’s head?

That’s not a rhetorical question: according to Judge Brian Grearson it’s the pie man.

(my emphasis)

If Thomas Coffey hadn’t served his country with distinction during a military career that has spanned nearly two decades, the Waterbury man would almost certainly be serving time in jail today.

But he’s not, because Judge Brian Grearson concluded during a Tuesday morning sentencing hearing that if Coffey hadn’t served his country, he may never have done anything to deserve jail time in the first place.

Coffey, 40, is a decorated war veteran who was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after returning from his latest tour in Iraq two years ago. His charges stem from an incident where he walked into a crowded barroom in Montpelier last New Year’s Eve with a loaded semi-automatic pistol tucked in the waistband of his pants.

Before the night was over an intoxicated Coffey would draw the .45-caliber pistol and place its barrel behind the left ear of another Charlie-O’s patron with whom he had exchanged threatening glances.

(Judge: Vet was scarred by war, Times Argus, 12/03/08)

The pseudo-Santa who slopped Gov. James Douglas in the face with a faux pie during this year’s Independence Day parade in Montpelier copped a plea in Barre on Wednesday.

Judge Brian Grearson sentenced Matthew Manning, 23, to spend five days on a supervised work crew as part of his sentence after considerable debate about the impact of his actions.

. . .

Grearson, who described the incident as both “serious” and “reckless,” agreed. He suggested Manning’s actions had “a ripple effect” in Vermont – a small state where the highest elected official is extremely accessible and has historically felt comfortable participating in parades with minimal security.

(Gubernatorial pie thrower gets five days on work crew, Times Argus, 11/27/08)

***Sigh*** and I had started to think there was some intelligence and common sense regarding weapons since Vermont’s Supreme Court recently ruled that a hunting “accident” was still a crime of negligence.

From Twitterings by Townsend, the daily blog of the executive editor of the Burlington Free Press, recounting a visit to the editorial board by Peter Shumlin:

Since all meetings of the Free Press editorial board are on the record, we were told but only one area “where the state made promises it cannot keep: Catamout Health is a wonder program we cannot afford…I am not saying I am going out there to say we get rid of Catamount. But we have to talk about it.”

From the Platform of the Vermont Democratic Party:

 Health Care

1. We believe that every human being must have access to appropriate, quality medical care.
2. We are committed to reducing costs and improving services within a system where every Vermonter, without regard to employment, has access to health care, required prescription drugs, and long-term care. The system must offer a choice of health care providers, who are accountable to the public for quality of service, and patient fees must be based on ability to pay.

 Now I've been critical of Catamount more than once in these pages, but even I would say that Catamount Health is better than nothing for those Vermonters who rely on it. For some it is literally the only shot they have at getting health insurance.

So tell me this: what is the Democratic President Pro Tem, who has run for statewide office in the past and presumably has designs on higher office, doing talking about even the possibility of throwing those people overboard? We already know that Douglas is going to be attacking all kinds of human services programs, and we know that there will be a big fight to keep them. Still, don't you think we're starting off behind if our own leaders are saying things like this?

This is the sound of me beating a dead horse.  Governor Douglas does a lousy job for Vermont.  Jim=Jobs(FOR HIS CRONIES).  How many of us are better off now, heck, even as well off as when he took office?

Douglas bashing is easy, and I’m a great fan, don’t get me wrong.  But how productive is this in the long run?  I think this is where the Governors race this year bogged down.  The democrats were able to paint Douglas in a negative light, but unable to make their candidate a better, more logical choice.

The fact is he’s our Governor, unless we come up with the votes to override his veto, we have no choice but to work with him.  He’s going to run our state into the ground unless he gets some help.  Our roads will crumble, the budget shortfalls will be huge.  He needs to be met at the table with ideas, and if he chooses to reject them, that will be his undoing.

No democrat thus far has been willing to assume a true leadership role or be a leading voice in challenging the governor.  Not on his failures, but with new, well thought out ideas.  The person Vermont is comfortable getting behind to move our state forward, and pull Vermont out of this slump.  

If this person already exists I apologize.  It’s just that I’ve never seen any media coverage of you, or heard any of the great things you say we need to do.  Where are you?  We could really use you……..