Vermont Megathread

[KaiserDave]

By the way, Scott Milne's central argument for him being Lt. Gov:

""We're in a pile of sh*t. You want some help getting through it? I'm the guy."

Great article here

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/soap-box-derby-molly-gray-and-scott-milne-compete-for-the-lieutenant-governors-perch/Content?oid=31324885

Molly Gray has some serious problems. Many committed, liberal Democrats are frustrated by how she waltzed in out of nowhere to win the nomination without spending any time working for the Vermont Democratic Party. Milne has been running a vaguely moderate campaign, basically as "Phil Scott 2.0" and his history in Vermont politics is long, much longer than Gray's anyways. I believe this race will be close, no more than Lean D, closer to Tilt than Likely.


As for my view? Milne is probably a bit too moderate-right for me, and while writing in Jim Douglas for President (as he did in 2016 and is doing in 2020) is respectable, voting for Biden is clearly so much better.

But Gray's residency issue is something. I suppose my ballot would probably look something like this

Governor: Phil Scott

Lt. Governor: Not sure....

State Senate: Dem (as long as they're not crazy)

State House: Dem (as long as they're not crazy)

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Phil Scott may be the stand alone R in NE since Sununu is now in a competitive race, Sununu was never gonna win in a blow lout. If Sununu loses, so will Collins and then Baker

[Figueira]

I sure hope Molly Gray wins. Republicans need to learn that they can't just pretend to be liberal and win elections that way.

Phil Scott I have more respect for, though.

[KaiserDave]

I sure hope Molly Gray wins. Republicans need to learn that they can't just pretend to be liberal and win elections that way.

Scott I have more respect for, though.

I get this position.

But the Lt. Governor position is really quite powerless. That being said it is often a stepping off point to the governorship.

[Anna Komnene]

This is a good article on Molly Gray's background. Personally, I think between her community service with the red cross, legal experience, and working for Peter Welch, she has a great resume for LG and would have a lot of experiences to draw from to advocate for Vermonters.

[KaiserDave]

This is a good article on Molly Gray's background. Personally, I think between her community service with the red cross, legal experience, and working for Peter Welch, she has a great resume for LG and would have a lot of experiences to draw from to advocate for Vermonters.

This true, but politically speaking her global experience isn't really helping her.

The problem is, she's barely spent all that time in Vermont itself. There's a reason many in the state party kinda hate her guts. One of her opponents endorsed Milne. And Zuckerman's wife hates her.

[Roll Roons]

https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/with-just-weeks-to-go-trump-is-not-making-up-ground/

Sabato shifted the race from Likely R to Safe. Phil is so awesome.

[Torrain]

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2020/09/30/zuckermans-spouse-slams-gray-on-social-media

Facebook rage or a legitimate conflict?

David Zuckerman's wife lashed out against Democratic candidate for governor Molly Gray last week.

She called her "slimy" and "manipulative." Full quote:

“It is phenomenally sad to think that all of his hard work and dedication to the people of Vermont over the last 20+ years could be ‘replaced’ by a lying, manipulative, self-serving power-hungry individual who has only ever bothered to vote in ONE election"

Personally, I just feel like she's jealous that Gray will probably be in office a year from now, and have a far better shot at statewide office in future cycles than Zuckerman.

She's actually a Democrat, and could be the first woman ever to represent Vermont in Congress. If she's also an incumbent, she makes far more sense for the state party to back than Zuckerman, who is likely done after his probable loss this November.

[KaiserDave]

Gray is absolutely awful. Pushing papers in Switzerland and having the right last name does not qualify her to hold statewide office, and she's already a proven liar. It's too bad that the Kunin Krew and national donors have taken such a liking to her, as I can imagine her blowing a Senate race for Democrats if misfortunes align.

So I take it you're voting for Scott and Milne?

[KaiserDave]

In episode number 43848 of "Phil takes a based position but nobody cares"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nikkifrias/2020/10/11/more-work-is-needed-says-gov-phil-scott-after-vermont-legalizes-recreational-cannabis/

Scott, who just let a bill pass establishing a legal market for marijuana, declares that more work is needed on the subject, especially for racial equity given the continuing legacy of the national war on drugs.

But of course nobody will care and "muh Phil Scott is a right wing Republican" will continue to persist

[KaiserDave]

It would be silly to read into this, but Phil Scott liked a comment I made on a website where I said he was great and should run for Senate.

Also, he has a forum on his website tomorrow with Hogan and Baker.

[KaiserDave]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9M8cooJeGU&feature=emb_title

Thoughts on the Latest Zuck ad?

I find it very silly that he compares himself to FDR and Obama, but also I like his farm themed website, but that's another matter.

[KaiserDave]

Some more fun stuff

I noticed today that Scott's challengers in 2018 and 2020 both got similar vote totals.

In 2018 Keith Stern won 11,617 votes, good for 32.22%, Scott got 24,042 (66.67%).

In 2020, John Klar got 12,762 (21.94%) and Scott got 72.62%, which is 42,275.

This would suggest the anti-Philist coalition has remained roughly the same, with Scott getting a new wave of support this round. Curious.

[KaiserDave]

https://mobile.twitter.com/paulheintz/status/1323732725250088960

I smell vindication

[Hope For A New Era]

Someone needs to make an edit of the Bill Nye intro.

Phil! Phil! Phil! Phil! Phil!

[KaiserDave]

Someone needs to make an edit of the Bill Nye intro.

Phil! Phil! Phil! Phil! Phil!

With a spinning Scott head yes

Also, my final prediction for this race is

Phil Scott (R): 58%
David Zuckerman (P/D): 40%
Other: 2%

Scott carries every county but Windham, which he loses narrowly.

[Roll Roons]

In a tense and unresolved presidential election, there is happy news: Phil Scott has won reelection with a crushing 68%!!! of the vote.

He is likely to carry all but three or four towns, and came within 200 votes of winning Burlington.

[President Johnson]

68% for King Phil? This man is a GOD.

[KaiserDave]

Love you guys! Yes Phil did fantastic! Unprecedented! Beautiful!

[KaiserDave]

The scale of this victory is truly unprecedented. He won every county and almost every township.

Absolutely amazing

Any comments folks? How bout from our resident Vermonters?

[Roll Roons]

In some places, the vote really is for the person and not the party. Wish people could be like that everywhere.

[Brother Jonathan]

The scale of this victory is truly unprecedented. He won every county and almost every township.

Absolutely amazing

Any comments folks? How bout from our resident Vermonters?

Scott winning was of course unsurprising, but the margin is note worthy. I mean, Zuckerman winning Burlington by .2% is just insane. Scott didn't have any coattails, but it does look like the Dems have lost their supermajority. I'm happy with the result (though I will note I vote absentee in NH, where of course things were crazier, so I have been paying more attention there). I only know about one person who voted Zuckerman.  

Milne lost, which is unsurprising. The "Molly Gray is rising star" discourse has already started, but for what it's worth they said much of the same about Zuckerman. I will say I was pulling for Milne, but I knew it would be an uphill fight.

Also, both legislative Chambers may have new leaders come next year. Ashe is out (he lost the LT Gov. primary) and it looks like Speaker Mitzi Johnson may have lost her seat, though it looks like there may be a recount.

[KaiserDave]

Milne lost by 8, which was honestly better than I expected, and Republicans made gains in the state legislature. I think Scott will get his veto pen back.

[smoltchanov]

In some places, the vote really is for the person and not the party. Wish people could be like that everywhere.

+101. I really dislike "party robots"...

[2016]

I wonder if Scott goes for Leahy's Senate Seat in 2022 should Leahy retire instead of running for Reelection again.