MONEY, MONEY, MONEY 

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Our best two weeks of fundraising ever. But a bit more would be helpful. We need your check if you have not yet mailed it in. Send what you can, every penny helps. Mail to JDLS LLC, 610 Mason Road, Randolph, VT 05060 

JUST AROUND THE CORNER 

And none to soon, Jim Douglas’s 2004 campaign. Maybe that is why some are suggesting that the governor’s term might be extended to four years. Only New Hampshire and Vermont still ask everyone to stand every two years as if we might control them better. Yes, that is the theory but the theory does not have much to show for itself.

The Douglas campaign is off and running. Clearly they believe that their next opponent will be Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle or Congressman Bernie Sanders. 

WHERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS?

Take a look. Former opponent Douglas Racine is not going to beat Douglas. The Democrat’s previous lieutenant governor nominee Peter Shumlin is not a reasonable challenger. Senate pro tem Peter Welch who lost to Dick Snelling in 1990 says that he will wait his turn. Former minority leader John Tracy is still smarting from his failed speaker race.

So who is there: Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz, Auditor Elizabeth Ready, Attorney General William Sorrell, or Treasurer Jeb Spaulding? Not likely. For Markowitz it is a bridge too far, Ready would not take the shine off Mr. Clean, Sorrell would be left standing in musical chairs, and Spaulding says what? I just got here. That leaves Clavelle or Sanders. 

GO LEFT YOUNG MAN

Douglas therefore leans left. He jumps into the Fletcher Allen board controversy and effectively fires eight members, snatching Sanders’s platform right out from underneath him. Douglas then comes out with support for a jump in the minimum wage, another Progressive plank. Another one bites the dust when Douglas signs up with Michigan and now others states in a pharmaceutical buying consortium. Douglas drives the drug clean up while Clavelle dithers. Smart moves. 

SAY WHAT? 

DPR asked Mayor Clavelle what happened on his recent victory tour. He had no opposition. He stole the Democrat nomination from Andy Montroll. Ian Carleton, Burlington Democrat Chair, was going to throw his hat into the ring but a reported call from former Governor Howard Dean squelched that uprising. At the eleventh hour Republican Representative Kurt Wright told folks, "If you are really upset that you have no choices, write in my name." Then Montroll announced his own write-in campaign and put up signs.

Clavelle with virtually no one on the ballot squeezed out only sixty-four percent. Why? According to Clavelle, "We still have some ass----s in Burlington."

Looks like Clavelle will have one less business to tax soon. Sources have told DPR that to avoid the personal property tax, a Burlington business will relocate in a friendlier Vermont town. 

DOUGLAS GOT HIS GROOVE BACK 

This week, smooth as a baby’s bottom, Douglas is in his groove. However, our remarks last week on the lost groove prompted many calls, all with a similar off-the-record message: what’s with the governor’s staff, particularly Chief of Staff Tim Hayward? They urged, "You have to do something about this, the governor needs to know." Performing without a net, here goes.

Having a new administration after eleven years of Dean is new. It is different. Everyone needs to learn new dance steps, listen to new music. It requires practice and patience, not natural political practices.

The Dean method was to have a large staff, task some with jobs like chief of staff, press secretary, secretary of civil and military affairs, and staff counsel. Others were assigned as advocates for departments of state government to the legislature and conversely advocates for the corresponding legislative committees to the administration. For all the complaints about Dean not being engaged, the staff was generally on the job.

Legislation is a relationship business. The new folks must build those and that takes time. We are told that the Douglas team decided to follow the Dean model. However, it appears that the Douglas office is staffed with fewer people than the Dean office. Some are doing two jobs, their assigned one and their advocate one. Legislators complain that though they understand that so and so is their go-to person in the governor’s office, with the session half over they have yet to meet that person. 

IS THE GOVERNOR’S STAFF IN ITS GROOVE?

Tim Hayward is described as a grumpy old man who speaks to the floor, a control freak who is tighter than a Swiss watch spring. Others say, cut him some slack. Don’t assume he knows the state house because he has worked it for decades. He has really only worked two out of twenty-six committees. Give him time and he will come around.

Most have Douglas’s fortunes in mind, speaking with worry and concern. In the legislative process, the big problem will be the annual end game, the unseemly pit of struggle, accusations, trading, and more accusations. If the governor’s staff has not built good relationships within the next few weeks, the administration will suffer during that end game. 

MR. CHARM

This is inside baseball. Most folks do not know, do not care. Friends outside the state house worry about the next election; will the staff find its groove? There seems little worry about that. The campaign team is intact, well oiled and functioning. The campaign message and strategy has rolled out some twelve months early. As for Douglas, he is back in his groove and as one old timer told us, "When he walks into a room, he can charm anyone." 

DON’T KILL ME 

The Capitol Plaza was packed. They had to set up more tables. Legislators were eating, their plates hanging over the banister. Whether it was the free lunch or the physician assisted suicide lecture we do not know.

The advocates for the bill’s defeat were persuasive. Doctor Robert Orr spoke:

"Vermont has a good end of life care system, ranked second by Medicare. This is a slippery slope. In the Netherlands which has allowed physician assisted suicide for over a decade, twenty five percent of cases were without a specific request. Adolescents aged 12-16 can now qualify for physician assisted suicide with parental consent. In Oregon, only thirteen percent of physician assisted suicides were because of pain and suffering, the others appear to be more depression related. In Oregon, eighty percent of lethal prescriptions were not written by the patient's own doctor but by someone else." 

THE DOCTOR IS OUT, HOSPICE IS IN

According to Doctor Orr, it appears that Vermont is the only state where Hospice is available in every city and town. Terminal patients in pain with no hope of recovery may receive morphine "to help control the pain." It can be administered by a morphine drip controlled by the patient or at the request of the family. As one doctor familiar with the practice told DPR, "Morphine is the unwritten ugly word of what is allowable. The morphine will inhibit respiratory function killing the patient."

So why are folks pushing physician-assisted suicide? Is this legislation in search of a problem? 

LET’S BUILD LOW COST HOUSING 

Jim Davis of Woodford, Rhode Island tried. The Agency of Natural Resources has abused him but not broken him. Almost though, costing him hundreds of thousands in needless expense on what appears like a state sponsored witch-hunt.

Davis owns 12.5 acres along Route 9 in Bennington. Davis had the property surveyed and asked the surveyors to mark the 100 and 500 year flood level. Carl Jurentkuff of ANR, its flood plain engineer, reviewed the survey and agreed with the delineation.

For years Davis allowed folks to dump clean fill on his property. Eager beaver Warren Foster, Coordinator of District 8 Environmental Commission, ruled that no one could dump fill on Davis’s property without first receiving an Act 250 permit. 

WHOA NELLIE

Davis appealed the ruling which was promptly reversed. Then the nightmare began. Davis decided to build 30 units of elderly housing on the site. He filed his Act 250 application and in July 2000 had his hearing. ANR was not represented. In August ANR asked for an additional hearing. In the September hearing, in spite of its own expert and probably to spite Davis, ANR asserted that all 12.5 acres were in the flood plain.

The District Commission disagreed and granted the permit to build. ANR appealed. At the Environmental Board hearing, ANR asserted that they had a new standard for flood ways and asserted that the building site was an alluvial fan. Davis hired Professor Bierman of UVM’s Geology Department who refuted that claim and ANR dropped it. 

LET’S MAKE A RULE

Then ANR imposed a new rule made without the procedures for rule-making about the fluvial geomorphology of the area, hiring an expert from Ontario to testify. The process was appealed to Vermont Supreme Court.

On this Tuesday, March 11, 2003, Davis had his day in court, Woodford Packers (Davis is a Green Bay Packers fan from Woodford, RI) versus Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Davis awaits a ruling. The questioning of Justices Dooley and Amestoy suggest that they were not amused by the process ANR used, "changing the rules in the ninth inning." 

REMEDY PLEASE

The cost has been huge. Davis has spent "hundreds of thousands dollars." The State of Vermont, you and us, spent tons more. Three years awaiting and growing. No construction, no jobs. No housing for seniors. No property taxes for Bennington. All because of what? Some state employee’s nose was out of joint.

Perhaps before Secretary Wibs McClain promises "help is on the way" as she did in Saint Albans the other night, she might review all appeals to see if time and money are not just being wasted as it appears in this case. Remedying these problems does not require permit reform.

Governor Jim Douglas promised a user friendly and a common sense government. This is not it. 

HOW BIG IS THAT BRIDGE? 

Most appropriations are for stuff that is clearly defined. A bridge for example. To fund bridge construction, we need to know how wide, how long, weight capacity, number of abutments, and so forth. Once the request is defined it may be funded. Such is the case with all manner of legislative proposals for roads, railroads, land acquisition, VEDA funding, Agency of Natural Resources personnel, or jail construction.

Not so with the largest expenditure, education. Senator Mark Shepard, R-Bennington has introduced such a measure, Senate bill S.152. Read it here: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/bills/intro/S-152.HTM Governor Douglas said at his weekly press conference that he supports it but worries if the Supreme Court will lend an ear. Don’t know if you don't ask. 

WHAT IS EDUCATION? 

In order to fund it, what is it? In order to measure it, what is it that we are measuring? In order to meet Brigham, what provides "equal opportunity?"

Reading, writing, arithmetic? More? It is a race to the moon when undefined. If one school offers Chinese, must all? If one school offers Latin, must all? If one school offers fencing, must all? If one school offers fluvial geomorphology, must all? 

WHAT IS SPECIAL EDUCATION? 

What are the IEP’s (Individual Education Plans) in your school? It may be your money, but you cannot find out. Can your school board that you have elected to mange your school? No, not according to the professionals running the Special Ed programs.

School Board member and Representative Tom Pelham, I-Calais, reportedly took exception when told by the professionals that it was none of the school board’s business. Just keep writing blank checks. Pelham sent off letters to Washington and soon produced rulings which required that the professionals share its data with the Calais School Board, the Board being held to the same confidentiality agreements. 

VERMONT IS NUMBER ONE 

According to the Census Bureau, Vermont is first in spending per pupil on supervisory districts, those heartbeats of learning. They will tell you that it is because we are such a rural state. If that was the case, you might think Alaska or maybe Montana would lead. Perhaps North or South Dakota or maybe Wyoming. But no, it is Vermont once again in the lead. 

IF ONLY WE HAD A STATEWIDE CONTRACT

Here’s another Brooklyn Bridge coming. Okay, now they say in Milton, we are the lowest paid teachers in Chittenden County. We only want what is fair. If we only had a statewide contract, they couldn't do that to us.

Not only would a statewide contract lift most everyone’s pay in a "just this one time adjustment" to break our already broken banks, they would then say that we are lower paid teachers than Massachusetts or Connecticut or New York. Insatiable comes to mind. 

MAYBE NEXT CENTURY 

No Burlington School Budget has passed on its first try this millennium. Here's why:

"It seems to me that there is an increasing level of difficulty people are having with Act 60." --Michael Green, Chair, Burlington School Board 

WHEN DOES YES MEAN NO? 

The Senante Act 60 plan was put to a vote in the House this week. "Shall the House NOT concur in the Senate proposal of amendment and ask for a Committee of Conference?" Forty-five democrats voted "NO," indicating support for accepting the Senate proposal. The other 95 representatives present voted "YES," thereby rejecting the Senate proposal. See how your representative voted here: http://www.act60.org/no_to_senate_03_03.htm

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS 

How are your taxes? An analysis of Act 60 tax burdens shows just how bad it is for property owners in towns with high property values (a.k.a. "Gold Towns"). In "The Tyranny of the Bribed and Dependent Majority" the author concludes, "Wasn't it all supposed to be about equal educational opportunity?" See the figure here: http://www.act60.org/jaqua_03_03.htm

WARM AS TOAST 

A US News and World Report cover story concludes warmth is a key ingredient in presidential success. "The single most important attribute a candidate brings to a campaign is not his record but his personal qualities. Voters in the center think first not about a candidate's stand on trade or abortion, but is he a windbag? Is he arrogant? How is his bearing? How does he carry himself?"

Stuart Rothenberg, a nonpartisan analyst, writes both about complex issues and about likability. Rothenberg wrote of Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont, that "it's only a slight exaggeration to say that he has the personal warmth of an empty fireplace on a frigid night in Novosibirsk." 

WALDO'S THIRD 

A Suffolk University poll of 496 like Democrat voters conducted March 1 through 5, 2003 showed Kerry first at 32 percent, Lieberman second at 17 percent and our Howard third at 10 percent.

Go to http://www.suffolk.edu/opa.news/nh_poll.html

THAT'S OUR WALDO 

Howard Dean was talking with Tim Russet on Meet the Press last Sunday. Dean explained that as a Doctor President he would not impose an ideological "litmus test" when appointing federal judges.

Dean: "But I can assure you... it'll be incredibly unlikely I'd ever appoint anyone who opposes Roe v. Wade.

Russet: That sounds like a litmus test.

Dean: It's not a litmus test. It's ah - it's a package that you look at. I don't ask about specific issues but I do look for judicial tenure -ah judicial temperament -opinions -things that people have written. I do not want right wing ideologues serving on the bench." 

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED 

Over the past couple of years, DPR has chronicled the rebirth of the Republican Club at the University of Vermont. We encouraged, praised, and engaged others in the UVM, Chittenden County, and Republican communities to find common cause with UVM GOP. We followed their list serve communications and reported on their events and successes.

Suddenly, we no longer received their communications. We gently emailed saying that we had somehow lost touch and could we please sign on again. Then we learned that the leadership of UVM GOP was out of sorts with DPR over our publishing a letter from former member and Douglas Campaign veteran Nathan Rice criticizing UVM GOP.

Oddly, they were even more angered that we published their response. To punish us, they removed DPR from their list serve. Whether this is megalomania, stupidity, or immaturity we do not know. We do know that it is disappointing. 

FOUR LETTER WORDS 

In Saint Albans, a three-letter acronym has become a four-letter word. CLF, the Conservation Law Foundation, is fighting the expansion of their industrial park creating long delays and costing thousands of dollars. Why? Can’t build on agricultural land. Can you build on wetlands? No. Can you build on hillsides? No. Can you build at higher elevations? No. Can you build in urban centers? No. You get the picture. 

OXYMORON

These very same Franklin County voters just sent two Democrats, partners of the Conservation Law Foundation, to the Vermont Senate. Why do they not make the connection when it counts? Your senators are part of the problem not part of the solution. 

BUILD YOUR COMPANY HEADQUARTERS HERE 

How many have? According to March, 2003 Expansion Magazine, none in Vermont. They list the company headquarters of the Fortune 500, the Forbes 500, and Inc’s 500. Only Vermont and Alaska are without any. New Hampshire has five. Even such industrial giants like North and South Dakota are listed, two for the former and three for the latter. 

A DISCOURAGING WORD 

Employees at IBM Essex were told that it would continue to downsize. This on top of 42 layoffs at Burton Snowboard, 24 workers at King Arthur Flour and many others "working fewer hours," and the gathering cloud over Ethan Allen in Beecher Falls and Orleans following their decision to close three factories in New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

IBM announced last week that Fishkill will be in Essex this week or next to recruit 150 people for the 3000mm wafer manufacturing at that plant. Those 150 jobs will not be replaced in Essex. At a meeting, folks were shown an employment graph that resembled a "ski slope" from 2000 to 2004. They were told that this continuing downdrift of employment would occur via inter-plant recruitment, attrition, retirements and buyouts.

Government officials have also said that IBM Essex is selling off equipment to the Orient for fab shops, their products becoming commodities sold at the lowest price. 

AN ENCOURAGING WORD

Employees at Fletcher Allen are hopeful after a series of meetings with interim President Ed Colodny. Colodny reported told them: We needed this expansion, it will be built, and we have reduced architectural excess to save millions, so let’s get on with life. Folks notice lots of new people who are moving forward, providing new resources and energy, and who have instituted new controls and communication procedures.

Husky is expanding and may add up to 100 new jobs. Gilman Paper is reopening and may add back 100 jobs. 

BOOK HIM DANNO 

Both the Addison Eagle and the Addison Independent covered the appearance of the ferociously or fetidly anti-war Bread and Puppet Theater at their local school. A worried parent went to check out the occasion and found himself handcuffed for "trespassing."

In Maine, the Commissioner of Education Duke Albanese was prompted by "insensitive comments or actions by school personnel," to write: "School personnel around the State may have been less than sensitive to children of military families regarding our continued strained relations with Iraq... Most educators are being careful in their teaching about America’s response to Iraq, although some reports indicate otherwise... These incidents have fueled some strained feelings from affected families towards schools."

Full advisory here: http://www.state.me.us/education/edletrs/2003/ilet/ilet45.htm 

DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN 

The Times Argus headlined its recent article of the political woes of British Prime Minister Tony Blair political problems, "Major faces mutiny over policy on Iraq." Former Prime Minister John Major has been long gone from the British political scene, almost six years now. 

WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED 

"Early indications are that Douglas just might be the right man for the right job at the right time." --Peter Freyne, Vermont Business Magazine, March 2003 

NOT WORTH COVERING? 

Last Thursday the U.S. Senate failed to end the historic month-long Democrat (and Independent) filibuster preventing a vote on the nearly two-year-old nomination of Miguel Estrada to the federal circuit court. But ABC’s and CBS’s daily morning and evening news shows haven't done a single story on the Estrada battle in the last two years. NBC Nightly News aired one story in late February, when Latino activists visited the White House to press for Estrada’s confirmation. The Media Research Center has posted a longer discussion of this "oversight" here: http://www.mrc.org/realitycheck/2003/fax20030306.asp

Come to think of it, there hasn't been much in the Vermont papers either. Inquiring Vermonters can read more about this topic via links found here: http://www.vermontGOP.org/estrada_nomination.shtml

THE THREE STOOGES GET ANOTHER PASS 

»» Jim Daley, Colchester: Perhaps DPR can use its strong investigative skills to determine who pays Burlington Free Press Washington writer Erin Kelly; the Freep or our coterie of permanent politicians, Leahy, Jeffords and Sanders.

Her March 7 item, "Democrats hold off nominations: Leahy leads opposition to Estrada" continues her policy of never speaking a discouraging word about the trio.

Her exciting opening graph in the story tells us that Leahy was "the leader of the opposition to ...Estrada" and that the effort caused him to strain his vocal chords. Darn!

She quotes the usual claptrap from Leahy that the U.S. Court of Appeals rules on... "almost every major issue that is going to affect us in Vermont" assuming, of course, that if Estrada is finally appointed he will automatically vote in ways that are harmful to the state.

Even though the President and Senator Orrin Hatch have said the Dems can submit any questions they want to Estrada (which few of them have done) Sen. Leahy opines that: "If the White House would just give us the information we've requested, Mr. Estrada would have his vote on the Senate floor.

And if you believe that you'll believe Howard Dean will be the next president! 

ACT 60 REFORMS 

»» Allan R. Wylie, South Strafford: Regarding the Trainwreck that is Act 60: The voters of Strafford leaned over and grabbed their ankles for a 17% increase in their school mill rate. This on top of a proposed 23% increase two years ago which was recalled and adjusted downward to a 19% increase. 36% over three years, but that's OK, income sensitivity allows us to just soak the rich.

We were told that 75% over Vermont taxpayers qualify for income sensitivity. It was not observed that income sensitivity applies only to the homestead portion of the tax man's take. Seems to me that there is something basically wrong with a system that has to make adjustments for 75% of those affected.

Then there were our representatives Jim Masland and Ann Siebert. Not a single word from either of them about doing things differently or more efficiently. Just imaginative new ways to raise revenue to be spent. These are intelligent, caring people? They stand there and offer us relief from the rising cost of Act 60 and propose to pay for it by raising the cost of something else. Not a single word about reducing spending or regulative overhead--not a single word! 

»» Fran De Gasta, Norwich: Norwich and other towns are facing insurmountable tax increases, due largely to combined Act 60 penalties, decreased enrollment and increased education costs (teacher salaries, staff and benefits). Act 60 was designed with a built-in disincentive to discourage more affluent communities from outspending poorer communities, thereby leveling the playing field for Vermont students. It was flawed from the start and doomed to failure. Because of its complexity, even the most rabid Act 60 supporters did not understand the full impact this bill was going to have. A similar education funding system was tried in Maine and it failed miserably as well. This should be a wake-up call for our legislators. What part of this don't they get? 

MINIMUM WAGE 

»» Jim Barnett (Governor Douglas' office): I believe the Governor is correct that Vermont would be tied for 5th on minimum wage if his proposal passed. The three you mentioned --Alaska, Oregon and Washington -- and Connecticut (currently $6.90 and will be $7.10 by the time his proposal took effect) are all ahead of Vermont. 

»» Laura Brueckner, Waterbury Center: The reason for Douglas' minimum wage increase is no doubt one of those "feel good" proposals that, as you report, effect FEW! Were we supposed to notice the lack of comprehensive reporting due to the lack of reporters at the Governor's new conference? Your report and Doonsbury contain more information than all four of the newspapers delivered here. 

»» John Fitz Gerald, Essex: If you believe anyone can live outside of COTS or without their parents for $5.15 an hour, you have been living in a Fort Dix barracks all your life. 

»» Michael J. Badamo, Montpelier: Regarding Jim Douglas's advocacy of a higher minimum wage during the campaign, perhaps you did not notice or were not listening that night. During the Vermont Public Radio debate my question for Jim was "do you share my view and the opinion of many that the ever widening gap between the rich and poor is a dangerous circumstance and if so what do you intend to do about it?" His answer was that he was in favor of raising the minimum wage at least fifty cents an hour. I found that answer non responsive at the time but in retrospect I suppose it is better than nothing. Obviously no one except craftsmen and Internet journalists attempt to live on the minimum wage. 

THEY MUST BE WARNED! 

»» Douglas Mulac: Watching the weekly news commentator shows featuring EX-governor Dean is becoming very scary. I think it is about time that all of the fifty state Republican and Democratic Committees be advised of the sorry state he left Vermont in after eight Years in office.

If he can put Vermont in such a position just think what he could do to the United States. 

UNDER SALADS?

»» Hope Marston, Lane County Bill of Rights Defense Committee: Where are the Vermont Greens, as a listing under Political Parties on your web page? 

NET OR GROSS? 

»» Randy Schaetzke, DC, DIBAK: [RE: Take Me for a Sucker] I can see how someone with no experience in business or running a health care practice could make a rash statement. I do not know if you have any business experience. I must assume you do not. I say that because the figures used are gross figures. Yes before employee wages, rent, utilities, supplies, taxes and the numerous other business expenses. Today in health care, one's overhead is rising at an alarming rate. More bureaucratic regulations have recently been enacted that will cost everyone involved.

Editor's note: The Parade story was entitled "What People Earn". Parade further explained that the numbers "reflect the salary of the individual participants." Randy was listed right beside Martha Stewart. Martha's company had revenues of $295,627,000 but she earned $4,000,000. Other professionals such as a designer, fisherman, and mink farmer appeared to list what they earned after expenses.

Anthony Otis, Vermont Chiropractic Association, Montpelier: Your "mandate mantra" against chiropractic simply is misplaced. Prior to the enactment of the Chiropractic Equality Law in 1999, the health care conditions that chiropractic physicians treat were already mandated for coverage by the Department of BISHCA Regulation 80-10 (Vermont's minimum health care benefit standards regulation). Medical doctors, osteopaths, physical therapists, and other practitioners and entities providing examination, diagnostic services and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions were all mandated to be paid for their services, but chiropractic physicians were specifically excluded. Thus the Chiropractic Equality Law did not add cost to the health care system, per se, it simply ended unjustified governmental discrimination against a particular provider.

I am not sure what your reference to "taxpayers" was intended to mean, but if you meant Medicaid, state dollars for chiropractic have been between $75-100,000 a year, 3/10,000% of the annual Vermont Medicaid budget. 

THEY LIKE US 

»» Lou King, Poultney: Please keep the Reports coming.

»» Jo Ann and Walt Simendinger, Williston: Thanks for what you are doing. We are vacationing in Florida until April but nice to keep informed of the "doings" in Vermont.

»» Raoul and Gabrielle Beaulieu, North Hero: Thanks for the great report. Keep up the good work.

»» Norm Runnion: Please subscribe me. Check forthcoming. Great stuff.

»» Representative Carroll Ketchum, Bethel: Look forward to the Dwinell Report each week. It is one of the good emails I get.

»» Fran Rice, Tucson: Don't want to miss an issue of your weekly tonic!

»» Lyon Rich, Montreal: Wish that we could help more. Don't give up.

»» Paul and Sherry Lamberti, Barre Town: Thank you so much for the Dwinell Political Report. It is great to get a truthful, interesting take on events and news. Keep up the good work!

»» Dick Stifert, Danville: Absolutely love the DPR on line. I now forward it weekly to over twenty other households, and everyone looks forward to it. Keep getting the word out! 

OFTEN WRONG, NEVER IN DOUBT 

"Dr. Dean elicited the loudest applause when he uttered this enravishing line: 'What I want to know is, why is the Democratic Party leadership supporting the President's unilateral war on Iraq?' That the line is obviously a lie perhaps added to the Democratic National Committee's pleasure. The President has a score or more countries lined up in support of war against Iraq. But being a liberal Democrat one operates on the assumption that one is never wrong, no matter how foolish." --R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., The American Spectator

Read the full commentary here: http://www.theamericanprowler.org/article.asp?art_id=2003_2_26_22_36_38

WHO YOU GONNA ASK? 

"A few weeks ago, we were doing some work on my back porch back home, tearing out a section of old stacked rocks, when all of a sudden I uncovered a nest of Copperhead snakes.

"A Copperhead will kill you. It could kill one of my grandchildren. It could kill any one of my four great grandchildren. They play all the time where I found those killers.

"When I discovered these Copperheads, I didn't call my wife. I didn't go before the city council. I didn't yell for help from my neighbors. I just took a hoe and knocked them in the head and killed them. Dead as a doorknob.

"I guess you could call it a unilateral action. Or preemptive. Perhaps if you had been watching me you could have even called it bellicose and reactive. They were a threat to me. And they were a threat to my home and my family. They were a threat to all I hold dear. And isn't that what this is all about?"

-- Sen. Zell Miller, Georgia Democrat, from the Senate floor on October 3, 2002 

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE 

"If you think back to our founding as a country, we are a country of revolution. One could say that Osama bin Laden and these non-nation-state fighters with religious purpose are very similar to those kind of atypical revolutionaries that helped to cast off the British crown." --Represenative Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, Toledo Blade 

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