The Final Primary – D.C.

Just a little shout-out to my ol’ stomping ground of D.C. As a former resident of Washington, let me say that Sanders staying in until D.C. has voted is appreciated. It won’t change anything, but residents of D.C. are accustomed to being overlooked and ignored with all things political, which is very strange for such a political city.

The fact that he’s made statehood for D.C. his final campaign issue before the convention is also appreciated. The district has license plates that point out the irony of taxation without representation. Politicians are opposed because it will give Democrats extra seats on Congress, but this former resident says it shouldn’t be about balancing politicians. It should be about about giving everyone in the county representation in Congress.


Suicide Ideation – The Idea You Must First Save Yourself

1871: (Phoenix) Those people contemplating suicide may have their desires gratified by travelling their teams smartly across the bridge over the Whetstone brook, near Mr. Loomis’s blacksmith shop. The chance is good, and “not to be sneezed at.”

What is a suicidal ideation? “Suicidal thoughts, also known as suicidal ideation are thoughts about how to kill oneself, which can range from a detailed plan to a fleeting consideration and does not include the final act of killing oneself. The majority of people who experience suicidal ideation do not carry it through.”  

Now look it, people, in 1965 when the Beatles song Michelle went to number one, the human race reached the population of 3.5 billion. Scientific pundits tried to warned us that a planetary Earthly population of 3.5 billion people had reached its level of sustainability.


The Other Candidate Is No Good

The Democratic primary has been decided, according to the AP. Speaking with anonymous superdelegates, party insiders, and donors, they’ve calculated and announced that Clinton has already won.

It’s a strange move to go out of one’s way to declare a candidate the winner on the day before a major primary. Superdelegates don’t vote until the convention, and the DNC had reminded the media, but the AP has called it anyway.

Clinton and Trump are the official choices in the coming election. Both are the best each party will offer.

This will not be an election about a positive vision for the future. This will be about why the other is no good.


A Normal Downtown Brattleboro

Just a quick observation that this is the first year in many years that we have a “normal” downtown Brattleboro. No burned out buildings are sitting or being repaired, no road paving projects are scheduled, and no sidewalks are being torn up. 

Anything can happen, and things can change, but it is nice to have a bit of time to enjoy downtown Brattleboro rather than just fix and clean it year after year.


Did Devout Muslim Muhammad Ali Ever Speak About US NATO Genocide in the Muslim Middle East?

DESCRIPTION:
Ali declared “murder and burn another poor nation [Vietnam] simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. … such evils must come to an end” For lack of world public interest in prosecuting obvious US genocidal crimes against humanity and peace, “such evils” have remained profitable. As a devout Muslim, how did Ali feel as he watched the murder and burning of millions of Muslim children.

TEXT:
Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali was our hero, not only for his performance in the ring and his infectiously happy and charming wit, but for his clear, upright, honest, compassionate and unequivocal condemnation of his nation’s racist invasion, bombing and genocidal occupation war in Vietnam.


Hurricane Damage Costs Will Skyrocket Due to Climate Change, New Report Finds

WASHINGTON, June 2 – Costs from hurricane damages in the United States are expected to increase 39 percent in the coming decades because of the effects of climate change and coastal development, according to a new report prepared by the Congressional Budget Office for Sens. Bernie Sanders and Patty Murray. The 2016 hurricane season began Wednesday.


Democratic Party Turning Out to Be the Biggest Hypocrites in Vermont!

The Democratic Party in Vermont is turning out to be a bunch of flaming hypocrites!

I’m not listing all the forums I have not been included in as a Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Vermont, but this is the most recent one I found out about today that I have been excluded from; and now I can see the Democrats for their true colors.

I have not yet been invited to any Governor candidate forum or debate in Brattleboro.


I Will Not Celebrate Memorial Day

“I do not celebrate Memorial Day”

 I do not celebrate this one day

to commemorate the war dead.

I do not honor this one day

to remember their sacrifice.

No, I will not honor them

on this one day…


Mourn Deceived GIs! “US Foreign Policy Greatest Crime Since WWII” (Ex US Att. Gen. Ramsey Clark)

DESCRIPTION:

1994, Ramsey Clark wrote in his The Fire This Time – US War Crimes in the Gulf, “The greatest crime since WWII has been US foreign policy,” in Crime in America, 1970, “Crimes are meant to be prosecuted,” and in Challenge to Genocide, 1998 that ‘investments in the illegal and genocidal use of the nation’s Armed Forces, CIA and mass media will be made unprofitable and brought to an end through prosecution under the law’


Pet Peeve – Brattleboro Tax Tabs

May 30, 2016
John O’Connor
Town Treasurer/ Finance Director
Town of Brattleboro
230 Main Street
Suite 111
Brattleboro, VT 05301

Dear John,

I was  preparing bills and I just felt compelled to air a pet peeve that I have had for years.

Every year I get a Property Tax Statement that contains four tear off tabs that I am to mail in to the Town with a check for the quarterly payment of my property taxes. 


Progressive Party Meeting Notice

NOTICE of MEETING

      The Brattleboro Town Committee of the Progressive Party will meet on Thursday June 9, 2016 at 145 Green Street, 6:00 PM.  The agenda will include:   1) Acceptance of new members  2)  discuss and act on nomination of Mollie Burke as State Representative, District 2;  3) Other business     

  All interested persons welcome.


Cris Ericson Responds to VSEA’s Questions to Vermont Candidates

VERMONT STATE EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES, including Cris Ericson for Governor,
on the Democratic Party primary election ballot Aug. 9, 2016.
https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/757630/2016-statewide-primary-qualified-candidates.pdf

Cris Ericson’s responses below to VSEA.org Questions.

On Fri, 5/27/16, Susan DeVoid wrote:
Subject: VSEA Endorsement Process
To: “crisericson@yahoo.com”
Date: Friday, May 27, 2016, 11:26 AM
Ms. Ericson:
As per your request, please find the below questionnaire for the VSEA Endorsement Process. You may respond to my email address.

1. Should the work of State government be performed by State employees?


Dave Zuckerman: No Fortunate Son

Fellow Working Vermonters,

I am a former District Vice President and Member-At-Large of the Vermont AFL-CIO (UAW Local 1981). As such, I know there is only one candidate for Lieutenant Governor who has the backs of working class Vermonters; State Senator David Zuckerman. Dave has walked picket lines with me. He, like Bernie Sanders, has fought like hell (against the Democratic & Republican establishment) for livable wages, healthcare for all, and for the rights of union & non-union workers.


Final Round of Primaries

The primaries are about to wrap up with a series of state results in early June. Time to check in once again with our occasional political commentary series, starring your commentary.

In recent news, Trump is edging ahead of Clinton in head-to-head polls, Clinton has backed out of debating Sanders in California, and Sanders… isn’t being covered much by the mainstream news anymore. If you look hard, Sanders is continuing to attract large crowds, does well in polls against Trump, and is calling out the DNC for being less than fair.


My Prediction (West River Interstate Bridge)

You heard it here from me first: my prediction as a citizen observer is that the West River interstate bridge will not be completed until August/September 2020.

That’s with every single last thing done: boths side, lines on the pavement, all construction equipment removed, landscaping done, everything. My prediction is that Labor Day weekend 2020 will be the grand opening completion celebration.

This isn’t a diss to the project, it’s just stating my prediction based on how long it has taken thus far and how far they realistically still have to go, that it won’t be done until Labor Day weekend 2020.


Pride Goeth Before the Fall

The issue of inclusion has long been a concern of lesbian and gays. Following the gay riots in 1969 it was gay pride that was the focus of the movement. The Gay Liberation Front was the militant group of activist who helped to establish gay rights.In those days many gay people did not believe in bisexuals and oftentimes, like straight people, they denied there was such a thing. Gay pride was born of and lives in a dichotomous, black and white world where gays and straights are the axis of powers.

The struggle for gay rights extended through the Seventies and Eighties. Subsequently, it was gay people who took it upon themselves to add bisexuals to the initialism to create LGBT, in good part because it helped to buff up their numbers. The success of social movements regularly depend on how many thousands or millions they can put into the streets or add to their mailing lists to demonstrate widespread support.


Thank You Vermont Voters for Allowing Me on the Democratic Primary Ballot Aug. 9th!

THANK YOU! Hi! I want to thank the voters of Windham, Windsor and Rutland Counties who signed two different petitions for the statewide August 9, 2016 Democratic Primary Election to allow me to appear on the ballot for two offices, U.S. Senator and Governor of Vermontfor the Democratic Party.

2016 Vermont Statewide Primary Election Qualified Candidate List for August 9th https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/757630/2016-statewide-primary-qualified-candidates.pdf


The Stump Streets

Forest Square, also known as the Tree Streets, in Brattleboro was once a very desirable part of town to live. The area was given its name due to the ample number of trees, the streets are named after trees, and the streets were planted with large shade trees lining the sidewalks and roads.

The very largest trees in the neighborhood today were likely planted in the 1860s by Brattleboro’s Share Tree Association. There was a concerted effort to plant new trees to provide shade for future residents, since much of the town was being cleared of trees as people cut them for wood.

The shade trees grew up together and became quite large and doing all the things trees do – provide shade, homes for birds, food for squirrels, places to play and climb for children.