Now, the unemployment rate is the highest in 14 years (”State jobless rate highest in 14 years,” June 21) and that is without including IBM’s most recent cuts. It would be disingenuous to suggest that this was all the governor’s fault. Yet, by the governor’s own measurement, not only is he falling short, the record during his tenure is really quite a failure. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

When running against Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan asked, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” Now, loyal Republican Gov. James Douglas after six years in office wants yet another term: So it’s appropriate to ask Vermonters: Are you better off now than you were six years ago? (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

With Gov. Douglas’ recent campaign stop in Windham County, it’s a reminder to take note of the Douglas spin machine.

Most recently, the governor announced last week, he would “release an additional $1 million into the traditional weatherization program.” The reality check on this is the governor trying to take credit for something he was originally against. This is a pattern those of us in the Legislature have gotten to know all too well, and we hope others are also catching on to this. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

I was relieved to hear that Anthony Pollina is going to remain in the race for governor. Health care continues to be the issue of overwhelming importance, and Pollina recognizes that. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

I have read and re-read Saturday’s editorial on the Vermont gubernatorial race, and I agree, it doesn’t add up. Despite all the pats we’ve placed on our own backs, this state hasn’t shown much national leadership since the passage of Civil Unions several years ago. I’m arguing neither for nor against them, just pointing out that we did something about it. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

I am appalled that the Democrats are running Gaye Symington against Anthony Pollina. She had her chance but she either compromised (health care) or did nothing (impeachment), so we ended up with nothing on both counts.

Anthony cares about the things we care about – renewable energy, single-payer health care and education. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

Now that Gaye Symington has officially entered the governor’s race, I guess the old cliché about the Democrats’ penchant for “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory” still holds sway. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

Last week, the Speaker of the Vermont House announced that she is running for governor. She is the fifth candidate that the Democratic Party has tried to recruit and they finally got a taker.

The next day the Brattleboro Reformer ran an editorial (”Now, it’s a real race,” May 13) in which they all but endorsed Speaker Symington. At the same time, they bent over backwards to marginalize Anthony Pollina, the Progressive Party candidate who officially declared in March. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

Democrats have a lot of nerve to act as though they own the rights alone to run against Jim Douglas. Anthony Pollina was the first candidate to challenge Douglas in the governor’s race, two months before the Democrats got their act together and had a party candidate step up to the plate.

Now it seems as though the Dems want Pollina to fall in behind them, maybe, as suggested in the May 13 Free Press, run for lieutenant governor (”Will Dems, Progressives unite?”). (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

Many people from both in and out of Vermont question how we Vermonters continue to elect a right-wing Republican like Jim Douglas to our highest office. This question is difficult to answer, but the “nice-guy” image is just that — image. Those of us who pay attention to politics know that Douglas has been a major booster for George W. Bush, a man who would not even set foot in our entire state in his eight years of mismanaging the government. He now thinks that John (bomb,bomb, bomb, Iran) McCain would be a great successor to Bush. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

Another tax day has come and gone, the eighth one under President Bush. I think his tax cuts — that have mostly benefited the wealthiest citizens — were wrong to start with, and it’s even more wrong now to extend them for another decade. But that’s exactly what John McCain (Republican) promises to do if he’s our next president. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

Last week, while the governor and the Legislature were bickering over the administration’s secret plan to stimulate the economy, and the rest of us were counting how much it was going to cost us to repair our axles, Anthony Pollina was thinking outside the box and producing a concrete proposal to put Vermonters to work, rebuild infrastructure, build affordable homes, make Vermont buildings more efficient and create jobs while stimulating the renewable-energy sector. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

I’ve heard it said more than once that Jim Douglas can’t be unseated in November — and I always wonder why anyone would believe that notion. Sure, I hear he can tell a joke and we all know he wields a mean pair of scissors on those ribbons. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

The Democratic Party needs to stay out of the governor’s race and endorse Anthony Pollina for governor. It is our best chance at beating Jim Douglas. Gaye Symington should run for lieutenant governor and challenge Dubie. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

The governor has learned well the lessons taught by the White House: cut the programs that benefit the majority and shift the costs downward so he can say he hasn’t raised taxes. The governor would shift health payments and road and bridge repairs to health insurance ratepayers and local governments. (more…)

Letter to the Editor:

Like our nation, Vermont needs leadership, and with Anthony Pollina a committed candidate, Vermont has the clear opportunity in November to vote in leadership for real change in our government, one that will put people ahead of Big Business and the corporate establishment. (more…)