UPDATE: Mark Johnson reports that Dubie is running for Governor, and will make that announcement shortly has dribbled that announcement out via email, rather than making a public statement.
Last week, GMD asked its readers what Brian “Light Flight” Dubie would do this week.
Well, in few hours, he is going to announce that he is < < drum roll < > running for Governor.
For those of you are interested, this is the result of last week’s non-scientific what’s.on.your.mind poll, which GMD put up when we also reported that Light Flight would be announcing this week:
The totally non-scientific poll asked, in light of the pressure he was receiving from GOP leaders to run, whether Light Flight Dubie will —
33.33% Succumb to the pressure to run
26.67% Give an announcement speech that lacks enthusiasm
13.33% Give Tom Salmon a bouquet of flowers and skip town (TIE)13.3% Keep the money and not run (TIE)
6.7% Succumb to the pressure to NOT run (TIE)
6.7% Bow out but look really relived while doing it (TIE)
So with various rationals, the vote came down 60-40 on the side of a gubernatorial run.
Well, in a few hours, we’ll know for sure whether GOP leaders have talked Light Flight into running for, what will be for him, a classic Republican economy & Jim Douglas employment plan, i.e., a job requiring (1) significantly more hours of work that comes with (2) significantly less pay.
Stay tuned.
Dubie’s official kick-off will happen later this afternoon. Shay Totten reports that Dubie wants to bring people together, playing down his fiscal and social conservatism (although he was vocally against same-sex marriage). On the flip side, he wants to lower taxes, cut debt and all the usual conservative buzzwords. Sounds like more of the same. — Oh, gee, I guess it is.
If you didn’t see Tim Newcomb’s cartoon in the Time Argus yesterday, you should check it out. He nails what the administration has done to state employees and thus Vermont.
http://www.vsea.org/cartoon-sa…
Everyone’s favorite Marijuana Party leader announced her candidacy over at Swing State Project.
No question that Dubie is hard right on many issues (wind power being an exception).
But he will be really, really hard to beat.
He’s smart, he’s very personable, he’s down to earth in many ways, he’s experienced, and he doesn’t have much of a record to come back and haunt him.
Also, Vermont voters are really scared of single party control in Montpelier.
A leftist candidate will certainly lose against him. A centrist will have a helluva fight. With three parties in the race – – – forgetaboutit.
Just my personal assessment – – only meaningful if people think there is something in what I am saying.
PJ