This is a cropped version of a photo from 2022, but it’s useful in remaking a point I’ve made before: Phil Scott notwithstanding, the Vermont Republican Party is a creature of the far right. Trumpers and conspiracy believers dominate the VTGOP from county committees to state committees to top party officials and, shocker I know, the party’s 2024 ticket. Pictured above: Party vice chair and practicing extremist Samantha Lefebvre, who won a single term in the Legislature by fooling the voters into thinking she was a “common sense Republican” (and lost her bid for re-election because she’d revealed her true colors), current party chair Paul Dame, former governor Jim Douglas and his familiar dead-eyed smile, and Samuel “Two-S” Douglass, currently making his second bid for state Senate. (He ran against Bobby Starr in 2022 and got 42% of the vote. He’s now running to succeed the retiring Starr against deep-pocketed Democratic Rep. Katherine Sims.)

Two-S is a fellow who thinks that Fox News isn’t conservative enough, the acquittal of multiple murderer Kyle Rittenhouse constituted “justice,” and our three biggest environmental challenges include “industrial wind turbines” but not climate change.

He’s also the chair of the Vermont Young Republicans. Yep, another fringe character who’s gained a top position in party circles. Great.

His group is sponsoring a Mixer on September 7 in Barre that promises “Vermont Republican candidates from across the state, all in one place!!” I think the double exclamation points are appropriate — as a warning, not a promise.

But the best part is that the guest speaker is one Ross Connolly, not to be confused with Ross Connelly, the former owner of the Hardwick Gazette. Mr. Connolly is the Northeast Regional Director for Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the dark-money organization founded by Charles and David Koch. Yeah, the infamous fossil fuel barons turned ultraconservative sugar daddies.

AFP likes to emphasize the economic side of its agenda — promoting “the values of freedom, liberty, and opportunity.” But it also devoted energy and big money to a 2018 “grassroots” (cough) campaign to support then-president Donald Trump’s judicial nominees. It has spent hundreds of millions on election campaigns in support of conservative candidates for Congress. It has taken an active role in voter suppression efforts and, back in the day, was instrumental in funding and organizing the Tea Party movement.

Oh, and this year? It has already surpassed its own record for pumping money into an election cycle with months to go until Election Day. (In fairness, during the presidential primaries AFP spent millions in support of Nikki Haley and against Trump, so not entirely evil?)

(On the other hand, AFP has generously supported members of Congress who opposed certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College, so predominantly evil.)

One more tidbit. Tim Phillips, the longtime head of AFP, resigned in disgrace in 2021 because he couldn’t keep his pants zipped. (Of course, he’s hardly an outlier in conservative circles on that count.)

I’m not so sure that Americans for Prosperity will help Vermont Republicans craft a winning message for 2024, but I’m sure Samuel Douglass thinks so. The mixer’s listing on Eventbrite includes a street address but doesn’t identify the building’s occupant, perhaps out of concern that said occupant might get some backlash. A quick DuckDuckGo search reveals that it’s the Elks Lodge in Barre.

The event is scheduled for three hours, which is about two hours and 59 minutes longer than I’d choose to spend with that crowd. If you’re interested in attending, posted admission prices range from $50 (Table Sponsor for a business or organization) to a truly aspirational $700 (Platinum Sponsor, including “FIVE” tickets and even a spot in what’s sure to be a bleak parade of speakers). Should be loads of fun. At least there’ll be a bar.