We get comments, we do, we do. Of late, they’ve included a couple of complaints about my occasionally salty language. To be fair, that language appeared in the headlines of two recent pieces, not buried somewhere in the text, so the offending words were hard to ignore.
I appreciate the feedback and I take it seriously, but I can’t promise to cut it out. There are times, especially these days, when a good Anglo-Saxonism is absolutely the appropriate response to some bit of political bullshittery or ratfuckery.
Oops, I did it again.
Besides, the only benefit of having A Blog Of One’s Own is that one gets to set The Rules Of One’s Own. I ain’t in this for the money, Lord knows.
Also, I find Vermont politics to be a little too reserved. This is fine, for the most part; I’d hate to cover that mess in D.C. where everyone’s hackles are permanently on Code Red. But our politicians commonly back away from any kind of real confrontation — or exposure of disagreements behind the scenes — out of an overly developed sense of politesse.
Which, up to a point, is a virtue. But there are times when differences that affect policy outcomes warrant a bit of sunshine. Or when a little vinegar improves the flavor.
I see myself as the vinegar. Or, in the words of my Twitter bio: “Political analyst, poo-flinging monkey.”
So yeah, I fling some poo from time to time, and I will continue to do so. Somtimes I’ll even call it “shit.” If you don’t like it, I will defend to the death your right not to read it.
The Vermont Political Observer. 
They say that honey attracts flies better than vinegar, but poop attracts them best of all. I don’t know if this will help in choosing your words, but there it is….
“ Which, up to a point, is a virtue. But there are times when differences that affect policy outcomes warrant a bit of sunshine. Or when a little vinegar improves the flavor.”
I gotta agree with that.
John, as a high school teacher of many years, I have heard every word in the book. It wasn’t your salty language I objected to per se. You misunderstand me. You are correct; it is your column and you can use salty language (to a reasonable degree only, I would hope) if you wish. What I objected to was you directing the comment “human turd” at an individual PERSON. That was what I found over the top. You could have called Trump a “right wing zealot” or a “sleazy politician” if that is how you see him. But not a “human turd”. That was what I found disgusting. I did not like Obama but I never called him that. I called him a liar or a Marxist or a Socialist or a globalist but never what you said. I hope you think about what I have said.
Actually, I called Cowboys owner Jerry Jones a human turd. For the record.