Should Progressives Run a Candidate for Governor in 2010?
What will it take to keep a Progressive out of the race for Governor in 2010? That is a question that I am often asked. And, of course, I say it will take a candidate who will stand up and fight hard on the following issues:
- Enacting a Single Payer Health Insurance System
- Closing (or not extending the license of) Entergy Nuclear (formerly known as VT Yankee)
- Fixing the insolvency of Vermont’s Unemployment Insurance fund without doing it on the backs of the workers who are unemployed.
- Fixing the state employees retirement fund (where retired teachers currently receive an average of slightly more than $10,000 per year and retired state employees currently receive an average of slightly more than $14,000 per year) without gouging current and future retirees.
I also point out that it is not about what candidates say, but about what they do. It is not enough to voice agreement with the issues. We are looking for someone who will be proactive at trying to rally people behind the needed changes.
As Progressives we need to begin a conversation taking a hard look at the current crop of candidates, watching them over the course of the upcoming legislative session, evaluating their leadership on these and other issues, with the goal of deciding whether all or some or any one of them is a leader that we want to support. Or whether they say the right things but just don’t provide meaningful leadership in terms of action in the legislature and we should run our own candidate…
There have been two forums so far, both dealing exclusively with environmental issues, one at the Toxics Action Conference at VTC in Randolph on November 7th and one this week at Main St. Landing put on by the Vermont League of Conservation Voters. I saw some familiar faces at both of those events. Two of the candidates for Governor (Sen. Doug Racine and Sen. Susan Bartlett) have spoken at Progressive State Committee meetings. Two more (Sen. Peter Shumlin and Matt Dunne) have asked to speak to a future meeting.
So, today, I would like to start a conversation among Progressives. What are your thoughts? What do you like about the current candidates? What don’t you like? Keeping in mind that I am not supporting anyone, I will start off by saying one thing I like about each candidate:
Bartlett - I find her candor refreshing. She speaks off the cuff and clearly thinks well on her feet. She seems knowledgeable about agriculture issues and mentions the impact of policy decisions on farmers frequently.
Dubie – He is a proponent of wind power and was willing to disagree with Douglas on it.
Dunne - The only candidate who I have heard say that it is unfair and irresponsible not to take an up or down vote on VT Yankee in the legislature as soon as possible so their employees and rate payers will be able to plan ahead.
Markowitz – She is the only one I have heard say that preserving and stimulating the rural economy is the key to a sustainable Vermont as we know it.
Racine – Has supported VT State Employees in their battles with the Administration and was vocal about fixing unemployment without cutting benefits.
Shumlin – has tried to educate the Legislature about global warming and has been strong on closing VY.
OK, now it’s your turn. As we get further along will try some “polls” on the website to gauge strength of opinion on these questions.
November 28th, 2009 at 11:08 am
[...] Party, addresses considerations in running a candidate for governor in a recent blog post. Read the full thing here. What will it take to keep a Progressive out of the race for Governor in 2010? That is a question [...]
November 29th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
It is no surprise to note that Dubie’s support of industrial wind energy is not progressive, being support for energy sprawl and industrializing of mountaintops — for an expensive, highly variable, intermittent, nondispatchable source that therefore can not effectively replace other sources.
November 29th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Glad to hear that Dunne and Shumlin have asked to speak to us. I’m really looking forward to hearing what they have to say.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:25 am
What will be of interest to me is not just what the candidates have to say about policy, but perhaps just as importantly, how well they articulate on funding their proposals. A proactive progressive can “sell” and Vermonters will “invest” if they can make economic sense out of it.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Three Cheers for another oxygen tank to a bunch of wheezing geezer failures of the two “parties”..1) Single payer? sorry, we got two whores to fight and cannot afford it unless you work for GenDyn, IBM, GE or other “war” contractor’s..2) Vt.Jankee? 2 positions..Prone for R’s and Supine for D’s. while they negotiate with the madame..How much for the “service”?, “well, how long you wanna run”? “how much for the service”, “how long you you gonna run?” ad infinitum while the fenceline and rems increase. 3) “un-employment” ins.? whatever happens, do NOT ask the folks who “lay-off” every spring and fall to pay more, maybe we could just have the skiers take up construction and they could blend from one into the other in the fall/spring?? Until no one is building/skiing anymore..4) Teacher’s “retirement”? default..tell ‘em it was all in AIG stocks buried somewhere in Stowe..Here’s a shovel and Stowe’s thataway, meantime try and live off SS like the rest of us saps..That will teach ‘em to allow a pass/fail generation to assume the position, they will have a 50/50 chance of getting their “assigned” benefits. Maybe they are over in “special” ed. somewhere with a highly paid “facilitator” helping/watching..Thats why the school lot is so full of cars as enrollment declines..
We better think about running a Prog or just sit back and watch as more die (my neighbor died of cancer for want of a diagnosis), Yankee gets “extended”, more unemployed set up camp under bridges, and “teachers” get a lesson they won’t soon forget..Thanks SM
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:39 am
I’ve really liked what Dunne has said so far. I really like his imagination. I also admire the fact that he spoke of getting Vermont to be the first carbon neutral state… I’d completely support a write-in campaign for Dunne on the Progressive ballot. That being said, I’d also like to see Zuckerman do the same thing. Dunne/Zuckerman??? Not to shabby… Dunne/Zuckerman/Bernie= power trio.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Martha, let’s run you for gov. I’ve voted for you before and would do it again. I’m sick of rhetoric about “wasting” my vote. I’ve come to the conclusion that voting one’s values is more important than the prospects of a neo-liberal candidate - to do anything but vote one’s values is a wasted vote. The four issues you identified are at the top of my list.
That said, it would be great to see some Progressives pay their dues as Dog Catcher, etc. Maybe it’s happening elsewhere, but not in my town.
December 10th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
re my earlier comment. I’ve really liked Racine lately too. I can’t choose between him and Dunn. Especially after Racine endorsed the Health Care is human Right campaign… But Progressives should definitely go for the fusion-type campaign and it wouldn’t hurt to check out the history of the Working Families’ Party in New York while you’re at it. They’ve had great success with fusion campaigns.