@VTGOP: The King and no court | The Vermont Political Observer.
@VTGOP: The King and no court
So the inevitable happened in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Phil Scott won.
The sad thing is, Bruce Lisman actually did pretty darn good. He got all the way from four percent in a February poll to 39 percent in the primary. That’s respectable, really.
But it leaves you wondering, again, what the hell? Why did Lisman challenge the widely-beloved Republican Great White Hope? Why did he pump two million Bruce Bucks into a doomed effort?
Mmm, smooth. (Photo by Mike Polhamus of VTDigger.)
He does have some lovely bottled water to show for it. That’ll taste nice, as a visual reminder of the second-worst day of his life. (And a metaphorical reminder of how he flushed a fortune down the drain on a wasteful, futile candidacy.)
I’m assuming his worst day was when Bear Stearns collapsed, although this is a more directly personal ignominy. The Wall Street meltdown was merely a global calamity; this is the people of Vermont telling you to your face, “We don’t want you, now please go away.”
Maybe someday these rich white guys will get it: Vermont doesn’t take kindly to people who try to buy popularity. Rich Tarrant, Jack McMullen, Bruce Lisman. Peter Galbraith.
Vermont must look like easy pickin’s to them. Small state, cheap media buys, I’ll come in and blow some smoke, the rubes will eat it up.
So now the Republicans, at long last, have their Prince Charming.
And pretty much damn-all else.
Statewide ticket? Randy Brock has a shot, if David Zuckerman can’t broaden his appeal beyond the Dem/Prog left. But Brock hasn’t won a statewide election since 2004, and owns the rare distinction of losing a race for a low-visibility office as an incumbent. To Tom Freaking Salmon.
Below Brock, the Republican ticket is a wasteland of no-hopers and blank lines. (No, Deb Bucknam will not beat TJ Donovan.) They did score one decent victory, by finally ridding themselves of The Human Stain, Norm McAllister. With Carolyn Branagan as one of the Franklin County senate candidates, they stand a good chance of retaining the seat.
On the other hand, they’ll lose one in Chittenden County, so there’s that.
The Republicans are certain to extend their age of stagnation in the Legislature, leaving Phil Scott, if he wins, a man alone. A Scott administration promises to be a rerun of the joyless Jim Douglas years: a Republican Governor in perpetual stalemate with a Democratic Legislature.
If he loses, then it’s lights out, VTGOP. Bruce Lisman will suddenly look real good for 2018.
So, will Phil win?
Odds are, yes. But the odds are shorter than they once were.
Lisman didn’t win, but his negative campaign put some dents in Scott’s fenders and pointed the way to potential Democratic attacks. I doubt we’ve heard the last of the inherent conflict of interest with Scott’s construction company bidding on state contracts. His self-described “blind trust” is a joke; everyone will know who’s involved when DuBois Construction bids on a highway job. I really don’t think Scott would do anything corrupt, but it’s a terrible look, and violates any reasonable ethics standard you could name.
Gee, too bad we don’t have an Ethics Commission. Thanks, Legislature!
In the most recent VPR Poll, Scott had a substantial edge over Minter in name recognition — but they were dead even in favorability. It’s not hard to close the recognition gap; it would have been much tougher to catch up in favorability. But Minter won’t have to.
There’s also Scott’s own defects as an orator and the scantiness of his platform. He basically skated through the primary; now the question will be, can Sue Minter pin him down? And will the media look past the good-buy exterior and really explore Phil Scott’s policies and capabilities?
Don’t forget that this is a presidential year, which raises the bar significantly for any Republican candidate. There’s an argument that Minter’s presidential bump may be smaller than usual because Bernie Sanders has so many disappointed supporters in Vermont. But honestly, I don’t expect that to be much of a factor.
There’s more than enough time for the vast majority of liberals, even in Vermont, to come around and support Hillary Clinton. And more than enough time for Donald Trump to horrify the voters into serious engagement with the election.
In summary, Phil Scott’s primary victory was inevitable — but there’s a little tarnish on it. He remains the favorite, but he isn’t bulletproof. As a candidate and a fundraiser, Sue Minter has greatly exceeded expectations so far; she’ll have to do even better to knock off the King-in-Waiting.
This entry was posted in 2016 election, Bruce Lisman, Phil Scott, Sue Minter and tagged Carolyn Branagan, Donald Trump, Dubois Construction, Hillary Clinton, Norm McAllister, Randy Brock, The VPR Poll on August 10, 2016 by John S. Walters.
← @VTDems: The Odd Couple, and other observations Here comes the money →
5 thoughts on “@VTGOP: The King and no court”
Rick Weston August 10, 2016 at 1:40 pm
Sue Minter only exceeded the expectations of those that don’t know her.
Penelope Chevalier August 10, 2016 at 5:24 pm
For the first time I voted and will be voting for Phil Scott as inoculation against Lisman from rising from the stinking primordial wall street ooze to try and purchase Vermont political office. Wall Street banks already have too much influence in our government. I want to vote for someone new, but I question how anyone could think it’s a good idea to elect the same investment bankers who created widespread financial misery, the destruction of legendary Wall Street firms, and left millions of hardworking Americans without homes or savings. Throwing America into the greatest financial calamity of our lives, a unprecedented recession that Lisman referred to without irony as “some financial problems”. Lisman is cynical enough to bet that voters have short memories and can be hypnotized by enough misleading ads. Thankfully he was wrong now and for the sake of our country I hope no state ever elects any wealthy, bored former investment banker into any high office.
Macy Franklin August 10, 2016 at 11:42 pm
You have to bake Lisman’s Campaign For Vermont money into the spending cake, which gave him the pretext to launch his nasty and negative run for Guv ($1.5m, give or take). Word is, once the dust settles on the debris field that was once his campaign, he will have spent $2.5m. That’s a jaw-dropping $4m for a freaking Republican primary! As Lisman’s fingernails-on-chalkboard TV ads reminded us every 10 seconds for the past 3 months – he’s really really not the “usual guy”. A usual guy would have sense enough to understand you cannot purchase higher office in Vermont.
Hopefully, having learned his lesson, Mr. Lisman will now paddle his little douche canoe back to New York.
Faith Biggs King August 11, 2016 at 11:36 am
It’s fascinating how Republicans are cluck, clucking over candidates “spending a lot of money” on a campaign, as well as – gasp – trying to “purchase higher office in Vermont” (substitute “Elysium” for Vermont). The crux of the problem ain’t candidates spending a lot on TV ads, social media strategists or barrels of hot dogs and balloons……. it’s where the money comes from. I.e. Businesses and corporations of any political stripe who ‘pay to play’. That’s the “Citizen’s United” world unleashed by, yes, cough, Republican Supreme Court appointees. IF this was a third world country, we would immediately recognize it for what it is – bribery and corruption, red in tooth and claw. And if Scott is elected governor, he’d better rethink his ‘Government is the Problem Strategy’ if he plans to keep accepting those State contracts. Maybe it’s only a problem when tax dollars go to poor people, not building contractors?
Robert Haskins August 10, 2016 at 11:59 pm
Another causality of the 2016 cycle is Lisman henchwoman Shawn Shouldice. She is so radioactive, she’ll need a condo on site at Vermont Yankee. In Republican circles, word is her lobbying days in Montpelier are done. Seriously, who would hire the toxic prom queen to lobby a Phil Scott administration? The good news is with the mega $ she pulled down helping Mr. Wall Street, she’ll have the a room with a view in Vernon.
@VTGOP: The King and no court | The Vermont Political Observer.
@VTGOP: The King and no court
So the inevitable happened in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Phil Scott won.
The sad thing is, Bruce Lisman actually did pretty darn good. He got all the way from four percent in a February poll to 39 percent in the primary. That’s respectable, really.
But it leaves you wondering, again, what the hell? Why did Lisman challenge the widely-beloved Republican Great White Hope? Why did he pump two million Bruce Bucks into a doomed effort?
Mmm, smooth. (Photo by Mike Polhamus of VTDigger.)
He does have some lovely bottled water to show for it. That’ll taste nice, as a visual reminder of the second-worst day of his life. (And a metaphorical reminder of how he flushed a fortune down the drain on a wasteful, futile candidacy.)
I’m assuming his worst day was when Bear Stearns collapsed, although this is a more directly personal ignominy. The Wall Street meltdown was merely a global calamity; this is the people of Vermont telling you to your face, “We don’t want you, now please go away.”
Maybe someday these rich white guys will get it: Vermont doesn’t take kindly to people who try to buy popularity. Rich Tarrant, Jack McMullen, Bruce Lisman. Peter Galbraith.
Vermont must look like easy pickin’s to them. Small state, cheap media buys, I’ll come in and blow some smoke, the rubes will eat it up.
So now the Republicans, at long last, have their Prince Charming.
And pretty much damn-all else.
Statewide ticket? Randy Brock has a shot, if David Zuckerman can’t broaden his appeal beyond the Dem/Prog left. But Brock hasn’t won a statewide election since 2004, and owns the rare distinction of losing a race for a low-visibility office as an incumbent. To Tom Freaking Salmon.
Below Brock, the Republican ticket is a wasteland of no-hopers and blank lines. (No, Deb Bucknam will not beat TJ Donovan.) They did score one decent victory, by finally ridding themselves of The Human Stain, Norm McAllister. With Carolyn Branagan as one of the Franklin County senate candidates, they stand a good chance of retaining the seat.
On the other hand, they’ll lose one in Chittenden County, so there’s that.
The Republicans are certain to extend their age of stagnation in the Legislature, leaving Phil Scott, if he wins, a man alone. A Scott administration promises to be a rerun of the joyless Jim Douglas years: a Republican Governor in perpetual stalemate with a Democratic Legislature.
If he loses, then it’s lights out, VTGOP. Bruce Lisman will suddenly look real good for 2018.
So, will Phil win?
Odds are, yes. But the odds are shorter than they once were.
Lisman didn’t win, but his negative campaign put some dents in Scott’s fenders and pointed the way to potential Democratic attacks. I doubt we’ve heard the last of the inherent conflict of interest with Scott’s construction company bidding on state contracts. His self-described “blind trust” is a joke; everyone will know who’s involved when DuBois Construction bids on a highway job. I really don’t think Scott would do anything corrupt, but it’s a terrible look, and violates any reasonable ethics standard you could name.
Gee, too bad we don’t have an Ethics Commission. Thanks, Legislature!
In the most recent VPR Poll, Scott had a substantial edge over Minter in name recognition — but they were dead even in favorability. It’s not hard to close the recognition gap; it would have been much tougher to catch up in favorability. But Minter won’t have to.
There’s also Scott’s own defects as an orator and the scantiness of his platform. He basically skated through the primary; now the question will be, can Sue Minter pin him down? And will the media look past the good-buy exterior and really explore Phil Scott’s policies and capabilities?
Don’t forget that this is a presidential year, which raises the bar significantly for any Republican candidate. There’s an argument that Minter’s presidential bump may be smaller than usual because Bernie Sanders has so many disappointed supporters in Vermont. But honestly, I don’t expect that to be much of a factor.
There’s more than en
ough time for the vast majority of liberals, even in Vermont, to come around and support Hillary Clinton. And more than enough time for Donald Trump to horrify the voters into serious engagement with the election.
In summary, Phil Scott’s primary victory was inevitable — but there’s a little tarnish on it. He remains the favorite, but he isn’t bulletproof. As a candidate and a fundraiser, Sue Minter has greatly exceeded expectations so far; she’ll have to do even better to knock off the King-in-Waiting.
This entry was posted in 2016 election, Bruce Lisman, Phil Scott, Sue Minter and tagged Carolyn Branagan, Donald Trump, Dubois Construction, Hillary Clinton, Norm McAllister, Randy Brock, The VPR Poll on August 10, 2016 by John S. Walters.
← @VTDems: The Odd Couple, and other observations Here comes the money →
5 thoughts on “@VTGOP: The King and no court”
Rick Weston August 10, 2016 at 1:40 pm
Sue Minter only exceeded the expectations of those that don’t know her.
Penelope Chevalier August 10, 2016 at 5:24 pm
For the first time I voted and will be voting for Phil Scott as inoculation against Lisman from rising from the stinking primordial wall street ooze to try and purchase Vermont political office. Wall Street banks already have too much influence in our government. I want to vote for someone new, but I question how anyone could think it’s a good idea to elect the same investment bankers who created widespread financial misery, the destruction of legendary Wall Street firms, and left millions of hardworking Americans without homes or savings. Throwing America into the greatest financial calamity of our lives, a unprecedented recession that Lisman referred to without irony as “some financial problems”. Lisman is cynical enough to bet that voters have short memories and can be hypnotized by enough misleading ads. Thankfully he was wrong now and for the sake of our country I hope no state ever elects any wealthy, bored former investment banker into any high office.
Macy Franklin August 10, 2016 at 11:42 pm
You have to bake Lisman’s Campaign For Vermont money into the spending cake, which gave him the pretext to launch his nasty and negative run for Guv ($1.5m, give or take). Word is, once the dust settles on the debris field that was once his campaign, he will have spent $2.5m. That’s a jaw-dropping $4m for a freaking Republican primary! As Lisman’s fingernails-on-chalkboard TV ads reminded us every 10 seconds for the past 3 months – he’s really really not the “usual guy”. A usual guy would have sense enough to understand you cannot purchase higher office in Vermont.
Hopefully, having learned his lesson, Mr. Lisman will now paddle his little douche canoe back to New York.
Faith Biggs King August 11, 2016 at 11:36 am
It’s fascinating how Republicans are cluck, clucking over candidates “spending a lot of money” on a campaign, as well as – gasp – trying to “purchase higher office in Vermont” (substitute “Elysium” for Vermont). The crux of the problem ain’t candidates spending a lot on TV ads, social media strategists or barrels of hot dogs and balloons……. it’s where the money comes from. I.e. Businesses and corporations of any political stripe who ‘pay to play’. That’s the “Citizen’s United” world unleashed by, yes, cough, Republican Supreme Court appointees. IF this was a third world country, we would immediately recognize it for what it is – bribery and corruption, red in tooth and claw. And if Scott is elected governor, he’d better rethink his ‘Government is the Problem Strategy’ if he plans to keep accepting those State contracts. Maybe it’s only a problem when tax dollars go to poor people, not building contractors?
Robert Haskins August 10, 2016 at 11:59 pm
Another causality of the 2016 cycle is Lisman henchwoman Shawn Shouldice. She is so radioactive, she’ll need a condo on site at Vermont Yankee. In Republican circles, word is her lobbying days in Montpelier are done. Seriously, who would hire the toxic prom queen to lobby a Phil Scott administration? The good news is with the mega $ she pulled down helping Mr. Wall Street, she’ll have the a room with a view in Vernon.