Vermont Republicans have apparently seized upon the GMP/CVPS merger as their best weapon against Governor Shumlin. More precisely, the utilities’ plan to repay a $21 million ratepayer bailout through some energy-efficiency investments. It was one of the key issues House Minority Leader Don Turner included in his last-minute list of demands that hamstrung Democratic attempts to pass its remaining legislation. It became arguably the single biggest anti-Shumlin talking point in the closing days of the legislative session.

And, considering that the issue is emblazoned on Randy Brock’s “Republican bear” mascot, it’s certain to be a key component of his campaign for Governor. (The bear could simply get a different T-shirt, of course; but Brock has also referred to it as his “$21-million bear,” which seems a pretty firm commitment.)

I’m not here to debate the merits of the merger, just to explore its place in the coming campaign. And, more precisely, the Republicans’ utter hypocrisy on the issue.

Now, I do believe that some Republicans legitimately oppose the deal on the grounds of fairness to ratepayers. But for the entire party to seize on the issue, and to try to portray itself as the friend of Everyman, is a complete joke. The VTGOP is pushing the issue out of sheer political opportunism; Governor Shumlin has outmaneuvered them on so many issues, and done a good enough job of keeping the state running through very challenging times, that the Republicans are desperate for a winning issue. And this is the best one they’ve been able to find.

Which is a little bit sad, frankly. And a whole lot hypocritical.

After the jump: an outbreak of politeness at Vermont Tiger, and consequence-free demagoguery in the GOP.

The force of this hypocrisy hit me when I read a mildly-worded commentary on Vermont Tiger by the staunchly conservative Bill Sayre. Who happens to be board chairman of CVPS. (And is also a partner in Bruce Lisman’s “nonpartisan” Campaign for Vermont. Just sayin’.) His essay offered an uncharacteristically understated defense of the deal, and some diplomatic bemoanings over the tenor of legislative debate.

(The Comments thread underneath Sayre’s essay is also quite uncharacteristically polite and tippy-toey by Vermont Tiger standards: full of delicately-worded arguments couched in expressions of mutual respect. It’s far from the fire-breathing outrage that accompanies the usual Tiger diet of anti-left screeds.)

Sayre had to be diplomatic because he suddenly found many of his “old friends and kindred spirits” on the other side. This is a man who has no trouble making full-throated attacks on the liberal/socialist/collectivist left, but he was put off stride when he had to argue with his fellow conservatives.

His discomfort is understandable, because his “old friends and kindred spirits” would — under any other circumstances — defend the merger deal and depict anyone who opposed it as an irresponsible anti-business liberal who was out to wreck Vermont’s economy. But in a year when Vermont conservatives are desperate for hot-button issues, they can’t resist this one. Even if it puts them on the “wrong” side philosophically.  

And they can comfortably do so because they know they are powerless to block the deal. Do you really think Don Turner wanted to intervene in the merger? He knew damn well that the Democratic House leadership wouldn’t accede to his demand, so he was free to demagogue the issue.

Republicans can’t do anything to stop or change the merger. And even if Randy Brock wins the Governorship in November (snort), the deal will have been consummated by then and he wouldn’t be able to do anything about it even it he actually wanted to. Which he doesn’t.  

It’s an ideal opportunity for a little harmless rabble-rousing. Problem is, it’s not going to do them very much good. It may be the best issue they can find, but there’s no way they can convince liberal and moderate Vermonters that the Republican Party is an enemy of big corporations. It’s like when Mitt Romney was trying to convince Tea Partiers that he was really their guy. Doesn’t pass the smell test.

The Republicans are having some fun with the utility merger right now. But if they can’t find a better issue, they’re going to lose the election.