One piece of news that slipped by during all the Obama buzz (and my own writer’s block) was a change of guard in Vermont GOP-land. Developer lobbyist Tayt Brooks has taken over as the Executive Director of the badly floundering State Republican Party (here’s a link from the Freeps blog, which only a couple weeks ago seemed in danger of withering away, but has lately seemed re-energized). The Vermont GOP, under Jim Barnett (now of the McCain campaign), became little more than a Douglas re-election office, leaving legislative races dangling badly and throwing sporadic support to the occasional statewide race, such as Dubie’s or former Auditor Randy Brock. It is this Republican Party that has allowed nearly-veto-proof Democratic majorities in the legislature to flourish, and are letting a freshman Democratic US Representative who was elected in a tough race and has faced continuing pressure from the left waltz back into office, seemingly without a challenger.

Seriously – who’d want that job?

But Brooks’s new role may (or may not) require him to reassess where he offers his support. Some may remember that Brooks was caught by JDRyan concern trolling on this blog under the name Pizzaman. Brooks was trolling in defense of Jim-Dog Dem, Rep. Jon Anderson of Montpelier, who is facing a primary challenge from Mayor Mary Hooper (who can be seen near the beginning of this video from the State Democratic Convention).

Why would Republican Brooks be defending the honor of a Democrat? Small wonder, really. Anderson was appointed to the position following the retirement of Rep. Francis Brooks by Governor Douglas, who broke tradition and rejected all the candidates proposed by the local Democrats (who had soundly rejected Anderson’s bid for the slot). “Democrat” Anderson was a Douglas campaign contributor, and his first action in office was to uphold a Douglas veto, earning the wrath of the Speaker’s office, and a quick boot off the committee he had first been assigned to, where the former Developer lawyer would have been in a position to push the Governor’s “New Neighborhoods” agenda. Anderson has been frantically trying to reinvent himself as a Montpelier liberal to insure his re-election.

Don’t bet on that likelihood, as Anderson has gone up against Hooper in the past – for the Mayor’s office – where he came in a distant third to Hooper and Progressive stalwart Marge Power. Rumors already abound that Anderson will simply avoid the primary and run as an independent. For a graphic explaining the nature of this political dynamic, click here.

Brooks was entertaining for a few days though, strongly implying that he was a Montpelier area Democrat jumping to the defense of his embattled Representative who represented the true heart of the people. Here are some choice quotes:

Huh???  Poorly treated???  How do you think someone who was a former Democratic City Chair might feel by getting shafted by a back room deal?  Seems to me the person who should be pissed the most in all of this is how Anderson got treated by his own city caucus.

Hmm… the interesting thing I hear around the city is how much (GMD Front Pager Jack) McCullough is hurting his creditability (sic).

Mr. Odum, do you think with that head???  I tell you what, you are pissing off a lot of moderates around this city with your attack style politics.

You guys could just… y’know… get your own blog. Well, except for the problem that nobody would care.