THANK YOU PETER 

Peter Freyne used his column, Inside Track, in this week’s Seven Days http://www.sevendaysvt.com/ to promote the Dwinell Political Report. Our web site’s visits more than tripled on the day the column appeared and soon our coffers might be jingling. Thanks for the recommendation, Peter.

Peter did misrepresent the site a bit, calling it a political sex site. We are sure that those who visited dwinellpoliticalreport.com were deeply disappointed, spending hours trying to find a word or two about sex. Sorry you wasted your time.

We did bring up in a short story, twenty-six lines, our concerns about sexual harassment and its potential consequences to the state. It is surprising that Peter, who used almost six times that number to titillate his readers, was not somewhat sensitive or circumspect about sexual harassment. According to informed sources, years back Peter was asked to and did submit his resignation as press secretary to Governor Madeline Kunin for what is clearly prohibited in the state's current personnel manual on sexual harassment (reviewed here: http://www.state.vt.us/pers/er/pm/pm31.htm)

"Examples of prohibited sexual harassment include, but are not limited to the following, when such acts or behavior come within one of the above definitions:

"Verbal: Sexual innuendoes, suggestive comments, jokes of a sexual nature, sexual propositions, threats, unwelcome sexual flirtations, persistent requests for dates, degrading words used to describe an individual, other verbal comments of a sexual nature, and graphic commentaries about an individual's body."

If this is just too much for Peter, we apologize. But then his misogyny is too much for us. His continual berating of a private person long absent from the political field is humiliating to us, fellow media members.

They are just words, theirs or mine. Why is he afraid of mine? Why would Peter Freyne call WCAX and imply that the Dwinell Political Report should not be allowed to prosper through advertising? 

PHOENIX RISES 

For years the Republican Club at the University of Vermont was dormant. Well maybe that is too positive, suggesting that in a new season it would spring to life. Seasons came and seasons went with no revival. Dead is more descriptive. Not so today. With a concerted effort by a few highly motivated folks, last spring they were recognized as an official UVM club qualifying them for small funding and legitimacy. This fall at their organizational meeting, ninety-five students signed up.

UVM has not been balanced in generations, not even close and not even today. But this is a good start. To ring in their success, Thursday this week they introduced their first off-campus speaker, Ken Adelman. Adelman, adjunct professor of national security studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and adjunct professor of Shakespeare at George Washington University, will speak on the case for war against Iraq. Adelman is the former director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, deputy U.S. representative to the United Nations and assistant secretary of defense 1975-77. A great start.

Such a speaker is clearly going to raise the hackles of the left wing crowd who have effectively controlled speech at UVM for some time. Keith Rosenthal, an anti-war leader at UVM wrote to his list serve, "we should go inside, sit together, and ask poignant questions, and possibly, at the end, all hold up signs that say, "'No Blood for Oil' or something of that nature... This (speech) is more than simply another hilarious attempt by the campus Republicans to further alienate themselves from the entire student body. This blood-curdling cry for war will protrude from the mouth of the 'honorable' Kenneth Adelman..."

There has been an interesting dialogue on the VTGOP list serve. Some members are insistent that the club must help Vermont's GOP candidates, writing, "Being a college Republican is not the same as being a college conservative... In being a College Republican there comes responsibility to the party. For those that want a club that only focuses on conservative issues I believe that is great and support that completely. But to call oneself a Republican and turn ones back on the very party that you are supposedly in is counter productive."

Clearly there are others who see the need for the club to solidify its fine start, bring in nationally known speakers to give credibility to their efforts and to counter on campus the hard working efforts of the left. The left will continue to play an important role in the socialists' agenda in Burlington.

Recall it was UVM's students who put Bernie Sanders on the map. In the Vermont Cynic's second issue in its 119th year, there was a recruitment letter from a Sanders' UVM coordinator, "Getting involved with this exciting campaign is the opportunity of a lifetime. If fundamental change happens in America, it will come from Vermont... Participate in politics and make your voice be heard. Contact the Sanders for Congress Campaign..." There were of course no other such letters for any other candidates' organizations. 

BROAD STREET BULLIES BARK 

Cheap shot of the week comes from mean-spirited liberal Racine Cheerleader Representative Ann Seibert of Norwich. Siebert charged that a sweep account mutual fund type of investment, which invests Vermont's short term cash, owned some small percentage of a company which sold tobacco products. This represents to her Douglas's not keeping his promise to divest the state's pensions of tobacco stocks. Not true of course, Douglas led the effort to divest Vermont's pension funds of tobacco companies.

The headline writer for the Times Argus joined the Racine effort by writing "Activists (no, Racine mud slingers) want Douglas (no, the pension board) to divest from tobacco companies." 

MY LEARNING PROCESS 

"Racine used to be against the Circ Highway now he says he's for it. He used to be for government-run health care, now he says he's against it. He used to be against welfare reform, now he ways he's for it. He used to be for gay marriage, now he's says he's against it. He used to be against allowing private fundraising for education, now he says he's for it."

There is only one thing Racine is for: his election. 

INSANE MEDIA REPORTS 

Who would be so insane to spend over $140,000 of his own money to re-gain an office similar to one he gave up for free? Ed Flanagan. Tallying up his spending in a race in which he received about 7,260 votes we found that his total spending to date with one more financial report due was $202,737, an additional $73,441 in the last two weeks. You could say that equaled about $30 a vote. But then in his 2000 primary, he received 17,440 votes. So in part, his spending of a small fortune on lying and misrepresenting both his and his opponent's record cost him 10,000 votes.

Spaulding has spent to date about a third of Flanagan's , $63,631 and in symmetry he won two thirds of the vote. Of course he was endorsed by everyone who held a pen, including, we suppose, this newsletter. It seemed ironic to read Ed's reports faxed in from the Hoff and Curtis law firm while Phil Hoff was actively supporting his opponent. Guess that Ed must have done something wrong. 

WINNERS AND LOSERS 

According to the office of campaigns and elections, Vermont is blessed with superb and conscientious election officials at all levels. Reports were not just quick and clear. Election officials were very concerned and vigilant in watching for people who tried to sneak two marked ballots into the used ballot box. In one town, it was reported that seven succeeded, but overall it appeared that few were successful.

If you added up what all the candidates spent on this year's primary, the spending to persuade you to go to the polls and vote for a candidate was over a million dollars. And yet, the turnout was very small. There were many interesting elections. Lots of diligent effort. In the Progressive primary, some candidates did not even receive as many votes as the ballot signatures that they obtained to be placed on the ballot. With such apathy, disconnectedness, or despair over one's unimportance, we are all losers.

As of Thursday afternoon, unless there is a unexpectedly high write-in vote in the yet uncounted Burlington ballot, any write-in effort to eliminate Michael Baldamo as the Progressive's candidate for governor has failed. 

SURPRISE, SURPRISE 

Act 60, the darling of the egalitarian, unfair? Naw, couldn't be. After all, the very essence of Act 60 is fairness and equity, all children deserving the same educational opportunity. But shine the light of day on the liberal's ideal and power, "mathematical exactitude is not required; equity and fairness are." So speaketh Judge William Cohen.

According to the Stowe Reporter, Judge Cohen's ruling "called the state's methodology used to equalize tax burdens across town borders arbitrary and capricious." Our government will probably waste everyone's time and money by appealing, thereby postponing the following of Cohen's directive to develop a new and fair formula.

For years Governor Dean and his acolytes reported that a one cent rise in the tax rate in one town is just like a one cent tax rise in another. Now here comes the judge to suggest that Dean's claim is a crock. 

I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE...BUT NO MORE 

A quote from the Free Press: "It wasn't a secret that the company was in trouble, but this still came as a surprise to all who are now without a job," Ed Goddard commenting on Williston's CF Trucking's demise. Add to that Miltope moving thirty-one jobs from Springfield to Alabama, Wyeth Nutritionals of Georgia laying off seventy-five employees and Lyndonville Savings Bank nine. The beat goes on. Campaigns spin their wheels on charges and denials. 

DO NOT KEEP YOU LIGHT HIDDEN 

Obeying the multitude who have asked us to spread the word, we have taken some of your contributions to create a television advertisement and enter into a contract with WCAX, Channel 3, in Burlington to be a sponsor of You Can Quote Me, seen weekly at 11:00 AM on Sundays. We have braced ourselves for the onslaught of new subscribers. 

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A DAME 

Candace Page of the Burlington Free Press previewed the Republican Primary race for its nomination for Vermont's lone congressional seat between eventual winner Bill Meub, Greg Parke, and Karen Kerin. She concludes, "Today, The Burlington Free Press offers a look at the views of the three men on Iraq and eight other key issues they would be likely to face in Congress."

Since producing this error, we have listened for a howl from Out in the Mountains or the GLBT community, or an apology. We have heard or seen none. 

"HOW A NEWSPAPER LEADS" 

The Vermont-NEA has invited editorial writer David R. Moats of the Rutland Herald to address their convention on October 24 (yes, that's supposed to be a school day). "Moats... will talk about the long struggle over education funding in Vermont and his role as editorial writer in the debate about Act 60. ... He will also describe the civil unions debate in Vermont and how a newspaper can help guide public debate in a constructive way." (from Vermont NEA Today) 

HOT ITEM 

»» Representative Rick Hube, South Londonderry: I hear there is a book about the state house. How can I obtain one? 

Editor's Note: Take out your credit card, go to our homepage, and click on the picture of "The Legislative Body" book cover.

THEY LIKE US 

»» Jack McMullen, Burlington: I always enjoy the Dwinell Political Report, which seems to be increasingly well researched with each issue Well written too, no to mention a much needed seldom heard point of view in Vermont. Keep your good work coming.

»» Congressman Richard Mallary, Brookfield: Welcome back to Vermont. I did the same thing thirteen years ago. I am happy to support what is now a local business. 

»» Mike Empey, Bellows Falls: Keep up the great work I await Fridays desperate for a weekly dose of balance and truth about what is going on in Vermont. Our local paper the Brattleboro Reformer is so lacking balance that it could be mistaken for a clock spinning backwards. I still await the investigative reporters of the Free Press following up on the tax dodging consulting firm being run out of a certain home in their own city owned by the king of self righteousness himself.

The only local (to us) paper offering any semblance of balance in the Governor's race is the "Claremont NH based" Eagle times. When Racine visited Bellows Falls the Reformer and their little brother the Town Crier covered it exclusively even though Jim Douglas was 10 minutes up the road all day in Springfield. The Eagle times ran side by side stories about the visits of both candidates which is what a paper ought to do. We have too many editorials disguised as news today, why can't they just tell us about it and let us sort it out?? Probably for the same reasons the Democrats don't trust us to vote on the Civil unions issue because they always know better than us! 

THE BATTLEGROUND
by James Dwinell 

This fall’s elections will be about message. They always are. There are hard core supporters on all sides. For them, issues do not persuade, they are already persuaded. Certain issues may motivate some to become more involved, work harder, and bring others out to vote.

Both major party candidates for governor are well known and fairly well defined. Both have been active party members for a long time. No one is going to make Douglas into the environmental savior. No one is going to make Racine look pro-business. Voters are smart, they know better.

So what is this election about? Recall themes from the past. I will never lie to you. Are you better off that you were four years ago? It's morning in America. It's the economy stupid.

In each case the campaign won in part because when the voter entered the polling booth and asked, what is this election about, the winning theme came to mind. Oh right, I am sick of being lied to, vote Carter. I am not better off than I was four years ago, vote Reagan. Oh yea, I am anxious about my economic future and they don't seem to care, vote Clinton.

Campaigns are won in the middle. Yes, turnout is important and with a motivated electorate, elections can be unpredictable. But even with 2000's election riling up so many, only one of three bodies of power changed hands.

In Vermont this year the theme is about trust. In Vermont with Republicans it is always about trust. The Democrats and their allies in the press have successfully portrayed Republicans to be against the women’s right to chose, willing to sacrifice the environment for profit, unwilling to take care of seniors, and supportive of corporate greed and malfeasance. In this environment, can moderate Vermonters feel enough anxiety about the general economic picture to try a Republican for a change?

There is economic uncertainty around, but can we trust the Republicans to fix it? Yes, our neighbors are suffering without medical insurance, but can we trust the Republicans to care about them. Can we trust the Republicans not to trade jobs for sprawl?

This is one reason why the unfair and untrue attacks on Jim Douglas are potentially so devastating. If he can not balance the checkbook, can we trust him with the government? If he is so inept at protecting state employees’ pensions, can we trust him to protect us? If he selects a risky pension manager, what risks will he take with our environment? Most likely believe that the Republicans will do a better job with the economy, with individual opportunity, and with roads and bridges. But can we trust them with our children, our land, our domestic tranquillity, and our health care? Can we trust them to share our basic values?

The Democrats are the wiser campaign strategists. They historically and again this year spend much more money on message development and testing than do Republicans. Historically, their voter lists, essential for all kinds of voter contact such as door-to-door, mail, phone, fax, or email, are vastly superior to Republicans. Their financial reports demonstrate that they are continuing to pay for list enhancement. And lastly, they have a proven team who have worked together for years to spend targeted, researched, and message driven resources carrying their themes to swing voters. Nothing we have seen to date suggests that the Republicans will be able to put this kind of firepower together in the next eight weeks.

So, how do the Republicans win? Avoid attacks. People do not like them. Just ask Ed Flanagan. Avoid making the election about trusting Racine because he flip-flops. People don't care. Bringing up the trust issues cuts for the Democrats. Hit the basic values of children, their lack of preparation and their lack of opportunities. Hit the basic value of families, economic insecurity, job losses, and the failure of Democrats to respond. Hit the budget busting, both yours and the state's, well meaning but just beyond our means.

Each cheesy little Democrat attack on Douglas takes him off message and it is he, not them, who must present his message, change versus more of the same to win. Voters know the Democrat's message. But can Douglas and the Republicans cut through their silly but effective drumbeat? The voters will soon let us know. 

SEPTEMBER 11TH 

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." -- Lisa Beamer on Good Morning America 

"...Only a complete moral idiot can believe for an instant that we are fighting against the wretched of the earth. We are fighting...against the scum of the earth." --Columnist Christopher Hitchens 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

"This is a man who said he would not arm up. This is a man who told the world that he would not harbor weapons of mass destruction. I will first remind the United Nations that for eleven long years, Saddam Hussein has sidestepped, crawfished, wheedled out of any agreement he had made not to develop weapons of mass destruction. ... And so I'm going to call upon the world to recognize that he is stiffing the world. And I will lay out and I will talk about ways to make sure that he fulfills his obligations." --President George W. Bush

THE AMERICAN LIBERAL

"My mother-in-law didn't approve. She said it wasn't right for us to send our daughter to private school. If we kept her in public schools and worked to make the system better, everyone would benefit -- including people who don't have the option of sending their kids somewhere else.

"For a card-carrying liberal, I was surprisingly unapologetic about our decision. Why should I sacrifice our daughter's future to an abstract principle? I wasn't up to battling the school system about class size, curriculum and extracurricular activities. And by the time any changes could be made, our daughter would have already missed out on a vibrant education." -- April Falcon Doss, The Washington Post, Sunday, September 8, 2002 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48640-2002Sep6.html

"Here in a nutshell is the definition of an American liberal: one who is willing to sacrifice the future of other people's children to an abstract principle." - Opinion Journal comment on the above. 

Do you enjoy the Dwinell Political Report? Think of a voluntary subscription. For $25, you can receive the newsletter for a year and help offset the costs of production. Make checks payable to JDLS Publishing, LLC and mail to 610 Mason Road, Randolph, VT 05060.

The Dwinell Political Report is published weekly by JDLS Publishing, LLC.
Portions of the Dwinell Political Report may be reprinted with attribution.

Contact the Editor with news & comments at: Dwinell@adelphia.net or 802.728.4793

The mission of the Dwinell Political Report is to give readers another view of the news that is refreshing, provocative and sometimes irreverent. 

Subscribe here!