A MAN DIED TODAY

Julius Canns, a multi-ethnic renaissance man, died today. He was a man of many talents. He always had a smile, if you looked. He took positions which were well out of the mainstream, yet no one snickered. He believed in them, he spoke passionately from experience and with a special meaning.

Many proclaim to be his friend. In that vein, your reporter asked the governor, “Is there some issue of Senator Canns that, as a way of honoring him, you will take as your own?” Platitudes, clichés, banalities, and hackneyed courtesies, replied the governor. “No really,” another reporter asked, “What about taking on Julius’ fervent concern for the rights and recognition of the Abenaki?”

Legalities, difficulties, complexities, entanglements, not to mention gambling, spoke a concerned governor. Friends, Vermonters, and countrymen, the governor said, Julius was an honorable man and we loved him so.

Sure, recognition might make life a bit interesting for a while. But not as long a while as the Abenakis have waited while living in embarrassment and humiliation. What are a few complications? So it is not your issue, he was your friend, why not recognize him by holding dear an issue dear to him? Leadership.

SAY IT AIN’T SO

It is beyond the pale the Jim Douglas has “endorsed” Jim Jeffords for re-election. We do not care if they were blood brothers as children, fell in together as aspiring political brothers, or were in fact brothers. Jim Jeffords does not deserve the “endorsement,” the vote, or the withdrawal from the field of battle of the state’s highest and mightiest Republican.

Recall that Jeffords was Douglas’s co-chair of the Bush/Cheney 2000 election effort. Recall that Jeffords stabbed Bush in the back only four months into his presidency, turning the senate into a killing field for his policies and appointments. Recall the glory which fell on Jeffords’s shoulders for his betrayal. Recall the bounty of book deals falling into his purse.

It was fleeting, the euphoria in that Madonna moment. Twenty months later Jeffords was tossed into and still remains in the minority. Before switching, Jeffords could have gained for his constituents in Vermont money for roads, schools, universities, research and the moon. Bush could have been putty in a potential switcheroo’s hands.

But no. Not only have Sanders and Leahy endorsed Jeffords, now Douglas joins them in praising Brutus. Can you say Bernie Douglas? They are now running mates, co-conspirators. With the moon, planets and powers in alignment, there is no democracy in Mudville. Leadership?

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT

This is the first law in many a business. A second law is, “When in doubt, check the first law.” Along comes Bernie Sanders commenting on Tubbs of Stowe moving its manufacturing to China, “If you are an employer and you don’t give a damn about your workers and you don’t give a damn about your country, going to China makes perfect sense.”

Customers want cheaper snowshoes. Fill the need or someone else will. The truth of this cannot penetrate the soul of Sanders. He would prefer that the employer lie to the employees. “Just take a pay cut, and we’ll get them; just give up your benefits, and we’ll get them; just work longer hours, and we’ll get them; just lower our quality and we’ll get them.” Each of these strategies would continue the employment of the workers Bernie so loves, but each would also fail, leaving the worker with less money, less flexibility, less training, and fewer opportunities. This is Bernie-ball.

THAT OLD GANG OF MINE

It sure was nice to hear from my old pals from the Queen City. They voted Town Meeting day on the inside players’ conclusion that the YMCA was moving into the Moran Power Plant. Only an effort by the lone Republican city councilor shamed the powers into allowing the poor unwashed a chance to make their thoughts known through the ballot.

Here in Randolph, four mailings arrived, slick, four-color, and glossy, urging your editor to support the YMCA move to the old Moran Power Plant on the Burlington waterfront. As always, it is about “our kids, our families, the waterfront wins, the taxpayers win.” Sound too good to be true? It was; the plan was defeated by the residents, 4,743 to 2,693. For good measure, they turned down a local sales tax as well. Here’s to the people.

THE SKI CAPITAL OF THE EAST

The roller coaster of Stowe’s Act 60 trauma continues. A gold town, Stowe through its Education Fund avoided the perils of Act 60. Their sole representative, Dick Marron-R, wrote Act 68 as chair of the Ways and Means Committee in the last legislature removing the “shark pool” yet it did not fully mitigate the demand on property rich towns to fund property poor towns.

This year, the Stowe Reporter opined that the citizens should approve the school budget despite an increase in property taxes of forty-three percent. They did so in part because regardless of their level of spending, property taxes would not go down. In the same issue, frequent Act 60 critic David Jaqua in an op-ed column asked the voters to turn down the budget if only to send a message.

TRAIN TO NOWHERE

At town meeting, Jaqua reversed himself saying according to the Stowe Reporter, “Voting no would cause more harm and destruction than good.” Nevertheless, the school budget was voted down for the first time in Stowe history, 595-591. In 2005, Stowe will send an estimated $17,300,000 in property taxes to state government. There are seventeen million reasons to vote no. Stowe also turned down three bonds, one for the rescue squad, another for the ice rink, and the last to restore the town hall.

REWARD THE COMMISH

Former Buildings and General Services Commissionor Tom Torti told DPR the he decided not to lock in any state fuel oil purchases this past summer, but he decided to go with the current market pricing. Torti had the chance to lock in a delivered fuel oil price of $.85 cents a gallon for heating of all state properties. Chosing instead to pay market price, we now pay over $1.50 a gallon plus a delivery charge.

This obviously socks the taxpayer in the gut. Such deft dealings have led to Torti's being promoted to Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources.

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

The momentum to universal health care is building in Vermont. All but two towns where there was a universal health care resolution on the ballot voted in favor. Speaker Symington according to an AP report “panned” Governor Douglas’s ideas as at best a one-year fix.

Former Human Services Secretary Con Hogan is pushing his book which advocates for universal health care. Yapping Waldo is too. Editorialists are coming on board, a “con”sensus is building. What is a governor to do? Leadership.

SPEED IS FUN

Skiing, driving, running, or sliding; speed is fun. But not here. The Ethan Allen Institute reports that Vermont’s ranking for economic vitality tumbled from a B in 2001 to a D in 2004. Traveling recently, one could feel the vitality and energy just stepping off the plane into areas flowing with excited engaged people.

Years ago your editor worked with the Shoshone People in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. He asked for a typical Shoshone joke. “I went fishing the other day and a fellow asked why I did have a cover for my worms. I told him that I did not need one as they were Shoshone worms; if one tried to crawl out, the others will all grab him and pull him back.” Same here, you try to speed and rules, regulations, or your neighbors will pull you back. Boring.

BETE NOIRE

You of course read it here first, three years ago. Ward Churchill had been invited to speak at the University of Vermont for a handsome fee after having called the victims of 9/11 “little Eichmans.” We were not in favor of censoring Ward, but we thought that students might wish to hear an opposing point of view.

From March 8, 2002 DPR,

“A UVM club recognized and funded by the Student Government Association, SPARC, gushed at Ward Churchill who shared in an essay ‘If there was a better, more effective, or in fact any other way of visiting some penalty befitting their participation upon the little Eichmanns inhabiting the sterile sanctuary of the twin towers, I'd really be interested in hearing about it.’"

The March 15, 2002 issue of DPR continued, “'The local crypt-fascist right goes after it's usual suspects...’ Professor of Philosophy Will Miller wrote introducing our work to his list serve. When the administration begins to ask why alumni relations might have slipped a notch or two, they might revisit Miller’s words to describe your editor, a distinguished UVM alum, as ‘the local crypt-fascist.’

“Professor Miller maintains on his web site, http://www.uvm.edu/~wmiller, the immortal words of Ward Churchill, not to be confused with his cousin Winston: the victims in the twin towers deserved to die because ‘they were too busy braying, incessantly and self-importantly, into their cell phones, arranging power lunches and stock transactions.’ Miller makes a great ambassador for the University of Vermont don't you think?

President Fogel escapes blame; he was selected January 28, 2002 and assumed office on July 1, 2002. You could point a finger at his predecessor, Judith Ramely, whose lax, unfocused rule had her run out of town on a rail. As WDEV’s Ken Squier said at the time, “It must have been a very wide rail.”

UVM, A HELL OF A STEAL

Reports reaching DPR suggest that UVM has a serious theft problem. It is not just the usual dorm stuff, electronic gear for a quick sale and a drug buy. It is worse then that.

Some folks are entering locked laboratories and research offices with keys. No breaking and entering here. Whether this is an inside gang or not no one knows. Purses are disappearing from professional offices, wallets gone from suit jackets neatly hung up. Others are losing computers containing their life’s work, irreplaceable data and doctoral theses. Though they back up their work in case of a crash, the thieves are sweeping up all the discs they can find, including the backed up files.

Calls to the UVM police suggest that they have no clue as to who the culprits may be. Despite these reports, Enrique Corredera, UVM spokesperson, tells DPR that crime is down on campus. “The data does not support the assertion that thefts have ‘taken a turn for the worse.’ They peaked in 2001 at about 300, and they have been declining steadily since to about 200, almost the lowest in the past seven years.”

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS KILLS

Michael Tuohey, a US Airways agent, said recently according to an AP story, “Checking in Mohamed Atta (at the Portland Airport) just sent chills through me. I looked in this guy’s eyes and he just looked angry. I just got an uncomfortable feeling. I said to myself, ‘If this guy doesn’t look like an Arab terrorist, then no one does.’ Then I gave myself a mental slap because in this day and age, it is not nice to say thing like that.”

Remaining silent, Tuohey watched in horror as the World Trade Centers fell, blaming himself for his silence. Blame us all.

CAUDILLO IN TRAINING

President for life, Fidel Castro’s newest best friend is President for life of Venezula, Hugo Chavez. Chavez sends Castro oil, Castro sends Chavez advice. Taking a page from the Fidel survival guide, Chavez recently claimed “that the United States was planning the kill him” according to the Economist. The threat has kept Castro in power for four decades, why should it not work for Chavez.

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE

From Georgia to Ukraine to Togo to Beruit. The dish is dishing it out. Women vote? Women drive? Governments lie? Rulers for life have feet of clay? It is so exciting to see empowerment, dignity, and joyous faces. It is all in the document; right to speech, right to assembly, right to lift your voices, right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

SAY IT AIN’T SO JIM, ONCE MORE FOR CLARITY

DOUGLAS WON’T CAMPAIGN AGAINST JEFFORDS
February 16, 2005, Associated Press

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION -- Republican Gov. Jim Douglas says he will not campaign next year on behalf of a potential GOP challenger to U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords, saying he and the Vermont Independent have been longtime friends.

"Jim's done a great job. He's been a friend of mine for decades, and we were candidates together on the Republican ticket for many years, and it's hard to ignore that long relationship we've had on a personal basis," Douglas said to the Valley News editorial board.

Douglas when asked whether he would help his party defeat Jeffords, quickly said, "No, I think he's done a good job. We've worked together for so long, that trumps his recent political decision. I'm certainly not going to be out there campaigning against him."

DEMOCRATS JOIN DOUGLAS IN BOOSTING JEFFORDS
February 17, 2005, The Associated Press, By Christopher Graff

MONTPELIER -- U.S. Sen. James Jeffords, facing his first re-election bid since leaving the Republican Party, has picked up immeasurable boosts from Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy and Republican Gov. James Douglas.

The state's highest elected Republican, said he would not campaign against Jeffords. "I will not actively campaign against him because of my long friendship and my respect for Jim and the service he has rendered to the state.”

DOUGLAS WILL NOT VOTE FOR JEFFORDS
March 2, 2005, Washington Bureau, Benninton Banner and Brattleboro Reformer, By Evan Lehmann

WASHINGTON -- Gov. James Douglas won't cross party lines to vote for an old friend next year - Independent Sen. James Jeffords, who abandoned the Republican Party in 2001. "I'm a Republican," Douglas said Friday. "I've always voted for Republicans and certainly will in the future."

Still, Douglas repeated his pledge to hold back from attacking the three-term senator before the election -- but with more clarity this time. "I said I would not campaign against him," Douglas said, defending his statements last month. "It wasn't an endorsement."

Leadership.

WALDO GRABS HIS PRIZE

Yup, Chairman Mao. Whoops, wrong party. Chairman Dean’s long march succeeded. Setting out in 1997 plying the Live Free or Die waters, resting briefly, only to ply them again in 2001, leader of the pack in 2003, screaming out of Iowa in 2004 to his just desserts, licking his wounds while campaigning for lusterless John Kerry, thence to his coronation.

Liberal editorialist of the Times Argus writes, “If Dean becomes chairman, he will do much of his work below the radar.” Liberal op-ed writer Ted van Dyk writes in the Wall Street Journal, “The party’s congressional leaders will be eclipsed by the more colorful, uninhibited Mr. Dean. Television producers will provide the former governor every minute of exposure he craves.”

Can’t have it both ways. Guess we vote with Mr. van Dyk. How about you?

CONFLICTED

Not at the Burlington Free Press. They are here to tell you how you should live your life. Nothing in their past would bias them or keep them from showing us the path. They just know. Sue Allen is currently an editorial writer at the Burlington Free Press and formerly press secretary of Governor Howard Dean and press secretary of Dean for America. The Free Press comments on “Dean’s new job,” never sharing with readers unfamiliar with Ms. Allen’s past: conflicts of interests ahead.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MS. WALDOETTE?

Enquiring minds have wanted to know. Sue Allen flaked for Dean for years, moved gracefully with him to his presidential campaign. Just when it was heating up in the spring of 2003, she said that her maternal instincts superceded White House ambitions, and she “resigned” to spend more time with her family.

For an insight into her departure, read the words in the same editorial, “This is the Howard Dean who became lost in the glitter of national politics, painted and shaded by people who hardly knew him,” whom he allowed to push aside those who got him there. Ouch!

A HUMANE STANDARD

Hillary led the way, saying that abortion should be a last resort. The Rutland Herald editorialized, “The humane standard...is that putting children to death is barbaric.”

Even Howard Dean mellowed. “‘I have long believed that we ought to make a home for pro-life Democrats,' said Dean. As Vermont pro-lifers know well, Dean is pro-abortion to the hilt and has no use for pro-lifers. During the Democrat primary I interviewed Mary Hahn Beerworth, the executive director of the Vermont Right to Life Committee. 'There is no abortion that Governor Dean doesn't think is a good idea and doesn't think the government should pay for,' she said. 'There is no more pro-abortion a politician in America.' She recalled the time Dean refused to talk to Vermont pro-lifers because, as he put it on a Vermont talk show, he didn't want to meet with common criminals."

--George Neumayr, The Spectator, 12/15/04

EDITOR’S WATCH

None is apparent this week at the Times Argus. Page one headline “Martha Stewart leaves prison to begin detention at her Connecticut estate”. The story begins, “Katonah, NY.” Heard that geography has been dropped from the high school curriculum.

On page three of the same issue, the headline went, “Shooting deaths of four Mounties stuns country.” The story below though was about the patriot missiles, a repeat of the story on page two.

APOLOGIES

»» Jason Gibbs, Press Secretary to Governor Douglas: You wrote, “The Douglas administration plays that game too by using the Education Fund for adult education though it is by law only meant to fund K-12.” This is wrong.

We have proposed spending education fund money educating children who are in the temporary custody of the Department of Corrections.

Editor’s note: Though our sources dispute that educating the corrections’ population is strictly K-12 as defined by Act 60, who would deny them an education? In that Douglas recommended in his budget that Act 60 funds would educate prisoners who are still school age, it appears the Gibbs is right and we are wrong. Apologies.

WALDO

»» Mary Daly, Fairlee: I can't think of a better thing to have happened to the National Democratic Party than their decision to elect Howard Dean as their chair. What were they thinking????

»» Laura Brueckner, Waterbury Center: Let's see you say Dean hates big business. Remember FAHC? Green Mountain Power? The few health insurance companies left in Vermont in furtherance of Universal Health? Act 71? VEDA? Factory farms? Taxes invested in foreign companies? DAH!

»» "Wes": I hate Waldo and everything he stands for.

THEY LIKE US

»» Edward Wilson, Morrisville: I always look forward to getting a new DPR. Thanks for your efforts and keep up the good work.

SAY, HOW DO YOU REALLY FEEL

“Good riddance, I wish that the rest of them would leave too. I feel that they are obstructionist.” --Glenn Thompson, on the departure of Mark Sinclair as leader of the Conservation Law Foundation, Burlington Free Press, 2/21/05

A LABOR OF LOVE

“It looks as if the Democrats are in exactly the same state as the British Labor Party was in after their 1998 defeat -- in need of one more humiliation before it can come to its senses. If so, they have chosen the right man in Howard Dean.” --The Economist, 2/12/05

THE RAGING CAJUN

According to the Lawrence Journal-World, Dean said: "Moderate Republicans can't stand conservatives because they're intolerant. They don't think tolerance is a virtue. I'm not going to have these right-wingers throw away our right to be tolerant."

Derrick Sontag, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party said, “My reaction is it's full of hatred. The Democratic Party has elected a leader that's full of hatred."

GROOVIN’ AT SCHOOL

“We handle children a lot more delicately today. They feel good about themselves for no reason. We have given them this cotton-candy sense of self with no basis in reality.” --A Tennessee elementary teacher, Time, 2/21/05

TRUST ME, I'M FROM THE GOVERNMENT

"Tens of billions of payroll taxes in excess of current Social Security benefits continue to flow into the Treasury annually to be spent on other things by the same politicians who claim that personal accounts are a 'risky scheme.' As if putting one's trust in politicians wasn't the riskiest scheme imaginable." -- Wall Street Journal, 3/3/05

"Money allocated to the personal accounts would no longer be available to fund other government activities." --Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan, Wall Street Journal, 3/2/05

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/?id=110006365

BACK TO DE-NILE

The state-run TV network has hailed the President Mubarak's speech as an ‘historical decision in the nation's 7,000-year-old march toward democracy.’"

THE WAY WE WERE

“The people behind the peace resolutions are pretty much from the bohemian proletariat. They are trust fund babies. Liberals have moved into Vermont since the late '60s. Since many do not have to work for a living they need things to do, like get active in the local politics which they have taken over. The very liberal speaker of the Vermont House is also from my town.

“One of our young officers who did a tour in Afghanistan stood up at town meeting and told the crowd what he and our troops did and the good that was accomplished. He spoke to what was going on in Iraq and the good being done there and how our guys feel about it. He was given a standing ovation. The town voted down the resolution. I couldn't believe it as it was my town.”

--GreyEagleO6, Mudville Gazetter, 3/03/05 http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/002294.html

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