Politics

There are choices beyond Trump and Clinton.

Evan McMullin says  “I humbly offer myself as a leader who can give millions of disaffected Americans a conservative choice for president.”

“I am running with the only national party that does not take corporate funding,”  says Jill Stein.

“I do believe that crony capitalism is alive and well. It’s Democrats and Republicans that contribute to that. I’d like to be that choice that is not going to succumb to that,” says Gary Johnson

The Professional Firefighters of Vermont (PFFV) have endorsed Matt Dunne for Governor. Matt is a lifelong resident of Hartland, Vermont. He is an experienced leader with a deep commitment to making Vermont’s economy work for all Vermonters. In addition to PFFV, he has earned the endorsement of the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, Rights & Democracy, and the Vermont State Employees Association (VSEA). 

After many months of fighting the good fight, and losing, we’ve come to the end of the line for Bernie Sanders.  He was our last best hope, but for whatever reason, people opted for the “safe,” status quo candidate Hillary Clinton.  This may have been engineered, to a large degree, by a party apparatus that opposed his candidacy — the DNC email leak last week made it clear that they were out to get him, and it’s likely the party’s animosity toward Sanders trickled down to local party people across the country.  No wonder people thought there was voter suppression and shenanigans — the Democratic party was at war with its own progressive wing.  But so be it.  

Gubernatorial Candidate Meet, Greet & Lunch

Where: Senior Meals – Gibson-Aiken Center – 207 Main St., Brattleboro, VT  05301

When: Friday, July 22, 2016 at 12 Noon

Who:  , Vermont’s former Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Irene Recovery Officer, and State Representative, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor in the upcoming .

Q&A:

Will there be lunch?

Summer is a time for TV execs to preview fall programming. So it is in politics, too. Conventions are previews for presidencies. What shall we watch for four years? Let’s look at the choices.

Bernie Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton today, marking the official end of his campaign to become President and the beginning of his more-powerful-than-this-time-last-year campaign for major changes. This leaves us a Coke-Pepsi type of choice. Sorry, we’re out of root beer.

Clinton has been laying somewhat low, presumably preparing for the convention and general campaign. It’s certainly hers to lose. She’s got more money, she’s been through the election cycle many times before and has the connections and “ground game” to pull it off. The Clinton network has reach and power.

WASHINGTON, July 6 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday said legislation that could soon come to the floor of the U.S. Senate would undermine efforts in states around the country to help Americans stay informed about what goes into their food.

“The American people have a right to know what they’re eating,” Sanders said during a press conference on Capitol Hill. “That is why states like Vermont, Maine, Connecticut and Alaska have adopted laws to label goods containing GMOs and why many other states are interested and on the path to do that.”

One look at Robert Oeser’s list of gubernatorial candidate forums and you can find out that there is one candidate who has been excluded: Cris Ericson was excluded because she doesn’t have a $400,000. campaign account, PROVING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN VERMONT IS IN VIOLATION OF THEIR OWN PLATFORM!

Look at the ballot! Cris Ericson for U.S. Senator: Patrick Leahy refuses to participate in a forum or debate with her. Cris Ericson for Governor: Sue Minter, Matt Dunne, and Peter Galbraith have conspired to exclude her from debates and forums. Not one of them is a true Democrat! Not one of them embraces real Democracy!

​Vermont Candidates On Community Health: Gubernatorial Forum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb6l9CrZPrE

​Southern Vermont economy gets eye of gubernatorial hopefuls
https://vtdigger.org/2016/06/28/southern-vermont-economy-gets-eye-of-gubernatorial-hopefuls/

VT Governor’s Candidate Forum – Brattleboro American Legion 6/28/16
​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj6_5-l8Ego​

On line: VPR Meet the Candidates page
http://digital.vpr.net/post/meet-candidates-governor-vermont#stream/0

Absentee voting starts Friday June 24th? Yikes! I’m on the ballot, and who knows who I am?

The majority of media have blasted across Vermont that there are only 3 Democratic Party candidates for governor – NOT true! There are 5! If you want to see all five Democratic Party candidates for governor of Vermont for the very first time together, then please attend the Democratic Party debate tomorrow, Thursday, June 23rd being held at the Congregational Church, 77 Main Street, Springfield, Vermont starting at 6 PM for socializing with everyone, with the debating starting at 7 PM.

This is the first time you will see me with the other candidates, and as of today, June 22nd, I have NEVER met any of them. I was certified by the Secretary of State Election Division on May 3rd, and now over 6 weeks later, ONE DAY before absentee voting starts, I’m finally included in one candidate forum with all of the other Democratic Party candidates.

The latest twist in the presidential campaign season comes primarily on the GOP side, with regular, traditional GOP members freaking out about Trump as their nominee. So much so that delegates to the Republican convention are being given a nod and wink to, if they want, maybe, perhaps, just change their support come convention time. (But not you Democrats! Stay in line!)

Others are reporting push polls testing Paul Ryan and Kasich against Clinton. President Ryan?

Clinton, meanwhile, has called for those under FBI investigation to not be allowed to purchase handguns. This comes while she is under investigation by the FBI.

All along, Bernie Sanders has been telling us that he is seeking
nothing less than “a political revolution” — a complete change in the
way America operates with regard to its people and the world.  As it
turns out, he’s not the only one. Over 25 million people cast a vote for
change in the recent primaries on both sides of the political spectrum,
or about 65% of voters.  How individuals define “change” differs from
right to left, but in the end, both sides are united in their
disenchantment with the current state of government and the continued
unravelling of their hopes and dreams.

Will US Senator Patrick Leahy lose the Aug. 9th primary after giving his super delegate votes to Hillary Clinton?

Cris Ericson (D) vs. US Senator Patrick Leahy (D) Vermont primary election Aug. 9th.

Will Bernie fans revolt against Patrick Leahy for giving super delegate votes to Hillary Clinton?

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.

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.

Brattleboro should be proud.  

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.

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?

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.

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