…and the latest buzz to reach my ears is that former executive director of Vermont CARES Tim Palmer is also talking to folks about jumping into the Lieutenant Governor pool. Is this becoming a free for all? Palmer, who has run unsuccessfully for State Senate at least three times since 1998, would have an awfully rough time establishing statewide name recognition with the heavy hitters he’d likely be facing, but could conceivably compete for Chittenden primary voters against Flanagan (if he also gets in), which would be good news for Floyd Nease (who is definitely in).

He’s gonna have to get “timpalmervt.com” unhacked, though (probably shouldn’t check it out to see what I mean…there might be something malicious… currently, it bears the message “Team Users : CIGLIK – Real_Karizma – GiX – NiqhT – inSuLiN_20mg – XJaDeX – BY K@RT@L – REDWHiTE- Zombie – G@MMBeT”).

You want real medical care reform? You can’t HANDLE real medical care reform, and just to save you from yourself the politicians will side with big corporate insurance!

But the Times/CBS poll found 85 percent of respondents wanted major healthcare reforms and most would be willing to pay higher taxes to ensure everyone had health insurance.

(Wide support for government health plan: poll, LA Times, 06/21/09)

REMEMBER: This is not somebody else’s job! It is up to those of us who provide male role modeling to show non-violence is desirable, practical and efficacious. Step up dad … and do your part today.

The inspiriation for A Fathers’ Day for Peace comes from the Million Man March and Mothers’ Day (which originated as a Mothers Peace Day Observance).

“We will break up any protest that comes, because no protests have been allowed,” said the national police spokesman. (Boston Globe, 06/21/09)

No, we’re not talking about Iran at the moment (although the current protests in Iran do warrant a great amount of illumination, discussion and support). Look much closer to home, in the Caribbean, Haiti specifically.

Shortly after the British colonies became the United States, a second nation clawed and fought its’ way into independence from a European overlord. In 1803 Haiti dragged itself out from under the thumb of a then crumbling Napolean inspired French empire.

Unfortunately for Haiti, its’ revolution was one of slaves against slave master, and that was directly counter to the prevailing national mood in The United States. As a result the French, with backing from Thomas Jefferson that was designed to facilitate the Louisiana Purchase that same 1803, were able to force a huge financial reparation from the newly freed slaves.

Since those days, we have been feeding Haiti a steady diet of dominance enforced by periodic invasion. Even the 2004 coup against Aritide was fueled by US supplied weapons and training provided to corporate backed thugs and murderous faux revolutionaries headquartered in neighboring Dominican Republic. And it provided a perfect excuse for another invasion of Haiti.

Some other examples: U.S. Invasion and Occupation of Haiti, 1915-34 as presented by the US State Department. CIA collusion with outside invaders as presented by the CIA.

We’re not even touching on the multiple pro-corporate, anti-people economic acts that have been perpetrated in our names against the good folk of Haiti.

And the Haitians are still there, still being violated by the United States … we who were the first nation in the western hemisphere to throw off European dominance in pursuit of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” standing on the necks of the second nation to do so.

Sunday June 21 is the longest day of the year, the Solstice.

And it looks like it’s going to be a really long day for politicians and activists who like to keep up.

You could start the day at 1 pm at state Senator Ed Flanagan‘s brunch at the seventh-floor townhouse he shares with his spouse Eric Lustgarten in  the big, newish lake-view building at Main and Battery St. in Burlington. There’s no fundraising or political pitch in the invitation, but it is likely that Ed (the former bulldog Auditor) will announce that he is at least “exploring” a run for Lt. Governor.

Former Governor Phil Hoff and his wife Joan are hosting a fundraising do for Doug Racine at $250 and $500 per, though it’s actually at the home of Rep. Joan Lenes on Governor’s Lane in Shelburne.

Deb Markowitz has sent out invitations to her fundraiser happening the same day, reportedly featuring former Governor Madeleine Kunin and a bevy of other high-powered and well-heeled women, including foundation-connected Crea Lintilhac, who donated over $25k to various campaigns last year, and Billie Gosh, Vermont’s genetically double-X DNC delegate, and Burlington developer Melinda Moulton. [Update: Invitations are out, but the event, I’m now told, is WEDNESDAY the 24th from 5:30-7 pm]

A little lower down the political ticket is the annual Solstice gathering at Franklin County Senator Sara Kittell‘s home on the Chester Arthur Road in Fairfield. She and lawyer-husband Bill have hosted the potluck get-together for years. Kids, dogs, food, beer, wine, neighbors, friends, family, politicians and all start gathering around 5 pm and party into the dark, at the first sign of which, fireworks (of the backyard variety) appear. A fun time is had by all.

Green Mountain Boys’ and Girls’ States begin sessions this year on the Solstice and run through Friday. It’s a nonpartisan practice run for a select group of high school kids on civic involvement, including running for office (sponsored by the American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary). The boys are conferencing at Lyndon State College (Northeast Kingdom) and the girls are caucusing at Castleton State College. (In the far distant past in another state, I went to such a session, where I was the speechwriter and campaign manager for the successful Girls’ State gubernatorial candidate).

I’m sure there are more political events out there for the Longest Day. Please feel free to add the ones you know about.

Oh, yeah, can’t forget: It’s also Father’s Day. It may not be political for most of you, but don’t forget to thank him for being a mensch.

Word is that former State Auditor and current Chittenden Senator Ed Flanagan will announce at a brunch tomorrow that he will be a candidate for Lieutenant Governor.

Flanagan would enter a Democratic field that has already begun to fill, with House Majority Leader Floyd Nease reportedly already fundraising and putting together the fundamentals of a statewide campaign.

In addition, there continues to be speculation about current State Auditor Tom Salmon‘s ambitions. Junior Salmon has been keeping a high political profile of late, going as far as to attempt to insert himself into the recent budget battle between the Governor and the Legislature. Salmon has contracted with the nascent consulting firm of Theseus Advisors, which is the collective shingle of Burlington-area political usual suspects Selene Hofer-Shall and Jake Perkinson. That strikes many as a lot of firepower early in the election cycle for an Auditor re-election campaign.

So it seems likely that there will be a primary for Lieutenant Governor as well. The question remains as to whether the winner would face incumbent Republican Brian Dubie, or whether the rumors are true and Dubie will opt not to run again, passing the Republican institutional blessing to Barre Mayor Thomas Lauzon as his heir apparent.

Flanagan was, of course, the subject of an unflattering piece in Seven Days which lead with an extensive, generally anonymously-sourced indictment of his competence in office since his brain injury years back. While the latter part of the piece presented much on-the-record defense of Flanagan’s performance, it was clearly the intention of the article to raise the very doubts and concerns it could not meaningfully corroborate. It was not the usually dependable Ken Picard’s finest reporting hour.

This week our friends at Democracy For America are announcing another round of winners for their Netroots Nation scholarship contest. If you weren’t on the list of winners and you can’t find the money/time/energy to get to Pittsburgh August 13 to 16 for the convention, don’t despair…there is another way!

For the third year in a row we’ll be taking advantage of the rich multimedia capabilities of Second Life to bring you live streaming audio and video from Netroots Nation right to your own computer monitor. Through Second Life we’re able to bring you not only streaming video, but also real time discussion and participation in the panels from the comfort of your own home, exclusive online panels and information displays from nonprofit organizations, online retailers and great progressive companies. Oh, and did we mention it’s free?

Join us over the fold and we’ll walk you through the particulars of how to participate and how to support our work with sponsorships.

I know, I know, you have questions. We’ll get through some basic stuff in this diary, and if you have other questions please feel free to drop them in a comment and one of our volunteers will respond.

What is Second Life?

Second Life is all kinds of things for all kinds of people. In short, Second Life is Web 2.0 on steroids. Second Life is an online virtual world made up of “residents” from all over the world. Through our internet connections we can come together to chat, discuss issues, share streaming media content, share information, sell products, and best of all, party. You interact with the Second Life universe through an online version of yourself known as an “avatar.” Your avatar will walk, run, and fly through Second Life and interact with other avatars through the software’s built-in chat software. While in-world you can watch online videos and listen to music, too, and we’ll be taking advantage of this technology to stream panels live from the convention in Pittsburgh.

How does it work?

The free, multi-platform Second Life software connects you to the virtual world. To get started, simply go to SecondLife.com and click on “Get Started.” You’ll be prompted to give a little bit of information about yourself, choose a basic look for your avatar, and download the software.

Once you’ve successfully done that, we’ve set up a Welcome Center where you can learn how to move around, how to watch videos and hear audio, and how to customize your Second Life avatar with free clothing and accessories. From there you’ll join us either in the Netroots Nation Arena or the Netroots Nation Ballroom where you’ll be able to watch the action on huge video monitors while interacting with other Second Life residents.

Second Life is *not* a light-weight application: You will want a relatively recent computer with a nice graphics card and a good broadband connection for the highest-quality SL experience. The good news is that Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux OSes are all quite well supported. You can find the official requirements at the SL website.

We hope to be able to stream large portions of the real life Netroots Nation into NNinSL, so you can watch and, in several cases, interact with real sessions even if you cannot make it to Pittsburgh.  More information will be forthcoming as we get closer to August, but we strongly recommend that you try it out in advance to get your bearings so that you can get the most out of the conference and not be overly distracted by the mechanics of how to get around, talk, and find events.

Why is this better than watching the videos on UStream?

So if you join us “in-world,” what can you expect to see, hear, and experience at NNSL? While the agendas for neither NN nor NNSL are finalized yet, during last year’s convention, many events in Austin were streamed into Second Life including six keynote events, another half-dozen panel discussions, a multi-faith service conducted by Street Prophets founder Pastor Dan, and a both-worlds meet-up that brought together Second Life users and attendees in Austin. We also provided unique SL-only content, including an additional four panels, several social gatherings including dances, and a documentary film screening.

Therein lies the difference. Beyond offering you live, streaming video, we’re also offering you the opportunity to connect with other convention-goers through online discussions. We will have NNinSL staff on both sides of the convention and we’ll be offering you the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the discussion panels in real time, as the panels unfold.

This year, we are expanding our focus to include content and events year-round rather than just during NN, beginning with live music events last winter and our own Inaugural Ball, continuing June 20 at 5:00 PDT with another documentary, the Second Life premiere of Kristen and Marshall Thompson’s moving A Soldier’s Peace, their chronicle of his walk for peace that covered the length of Utah, followed by an in-world interview with Marshall. After the interview we’ll be having live music and a wonderfully eclectic DJ. If you want to get a sense of what NNSL is all about ahead of the conference, join us at the Netroots Nation Arena this Saturday at 5:00 PDT.

Sounds great! Anything else?

YES! In addition to the events we’re bringing you from the Netroots Nation Arena and Netroots Nation Ballroom, you’ll be able to stroll through Exhibitors’ Row and check out wares and informational displays from all sorts of great progressive organizations and companies. If you or your organization are interested in being a part of Exhibitors’ Row, email us and we’ll get you set up. Our staff of expert Second Life builders will even help you with getting your booth set up.

Here’s the hard part of our pitch, so we’ll make it as quick and painless as possible: while we’re pleased to offer Netroots Nation in Second Life absolutely free for participants, the truth of the matter is that we do incur substantial costs in doing so. For starters, the folks at Linden Labs (the company that runs Second Life) do charge for the privilege of owning the land on which the NNinSL setup sits, to the tune of a couple thousand dollars a year. We are authorized to raise funds through the Netroots Nation organization (which raises money through its parent organization BloggerPower.org), so if you’re so inclined we’d love to have your support.

Awesome! I’m in!

Great! First and foremost, go to SecondLife.com and sign up for a Second Life account. Download the software, then log in! Click on this link and Second Life will “teleport” your avatar to the Netroots Nation area. The first thing you’ll encounter is our greeter, which will get you signed up for our in-world mailing list. Then follow the black arrows to the Orientation Area and go through the steps. By the time you’re finished you’ll be ready to join us August 13-16 for Netroots Nation in Second Life!

In the meantime, follow us on Twitter for updates, join our Facebook group (Netroots Nation in Second Life) and check out our website.

That’s it from us. What questions do you have?

Some days it seems that we could set up a whole separate section here, maybe call it “Yankee Watch”. At the risk of piling on, there's another story today.

It was less than a month ago that Douglas vetoed the legislation to require Vermont Yankee to maintain financial assurances for its eventual decommissioning:

“Rather, H.436 threatens our economic recovery by unnecessarily increasing electric rates for consumers and businesses.  Further, this legislation substitutes an objective process with political calculations, it breaks a promise made by the state of Vermont to a private entity and it exposes taxpayers to certain litigation.”

 Today it turns out that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the agency actually responsible for the safety of nuclear power plants (or, in the parlance of the Douglas administration, an “outside agitator”), takes a different view.

MONTPELIER — The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will notify the owners of Vermont Yankee and 25 other nuclear plants today that they have shortfalls in money dedicated to dismantling the reactors once they're no longer operating.

And who had it right on this issue?

Well, in addition to the General Assembly, it was GMD's own Maggie Gundersen:

Governor Douglas would rather add a tax burden of $1,000 to each and every Vermonter (yes, every man, woman, and child) than to tell ENVY it is time to fill the fund.

 So as Maggie said last year, read the table, read the news, and then repeat after me. “Thanks, Jim.”

VT Yankee’s sprung another leak, which isn’t really a surprise to me.  THIS is the surprise (from a Susan Smallheer piece in the Rutland Herald):

Stephen Wark, a spokesman for the Department of Public Service, said the recent inspection by the NSA team did not inspect the pipe per se, but general criteria such as the “design bases, maintenance, corrective actions and walk down of some areas.”

Hey, I’ve got an idea.  When dealing with parolees, instead of looking at their actions, let’s just ask them about their life philosophy.

Maybe when we inspect restaurants, we shouldn’t look at the actual food they store, but the overall structure of their storage areas.

Or, how about… when we inspect airplanes, we don’t look at the planes themselves, but interview a few of the mechanics, look at their instruction manuals and take a quick tour of the hangar.

It’s so much more efficient.