For many years, the beginning of every Vermont campaign’s homestretch has been marked by a gubernatorial debate at the Tunbridge Fair, broadcast by WDEV Radio. It’s the customary first leg in a series of campaign forums.
Until now. The Fair is this weekend, and the debate was scheduled for Thursday morning. But on Wednesday afternoon, former lieutenant governor and WDEV host David Zuckerman issued a statement touting the event as best he could, but ending with this little wet fart:
Sad. Ken Squier is likely rolling in his grave.
Which raises some questions. Is the governor going to show up for any debates at all? Or does he take the voters for granted? Does he think sharing a stage with Amanda Janoo is beneath him?
I hear a couple of potential objections from the back of the room. First, the governor has a busy schedule and maybe he just couldn’t make the time. To which I say, nonsense. The Tunbridge Fair is scheduled far in advance, and the WDEV debate has always been on Thursday morning. Besides, the Fair is right up Phil Scott’s alley — an earnest if slightly overwrought paean to Vermont’s rural and agricultural traditions. It’s his home turf, for Pete’s sake.
Second, maybe he didn’t want to appear in a debate moderated by Zuckerman, a staunch Progressive who ran against Scott in 2020. Well, Zuckerman and/or WDEV anticipated that potential hurdle. The debate was to be co-hosted by Zuckerman and fellow “Vermont Viewpoint” host Brad Ferland, a former top official in the Scott administration.
In other words, fair and balanced.
Let’s hope that our governor has enough regard for his constituents to actually participate in a campaign including multiple debates with Janoo. He’s asking for another two years as the most powerful person in state government, answerable to the people who elect him. Putting in the work of campaigning, or at least making a show of it, is literally the least he could do.
Vermont Public’s gubernatorial debate will broadcast live on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. on the radio and Vermont Public’s main TV channel. Mikaela Lefrak will moderate the debate from Vermont Public’s Winooski studios. The debate will re-air on the radio on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 12 p.m.
Good for them. I’ve heard that WCAX is hosting a debate on October 28. Both are far too late in an age of widespread early voting. And there’s little time before Election Day for debate content to sink in with the electorate. But it’s better than nothing.
“Does he think sharing a stage with Amanda Janoo is beneath him?”
I don’t think Phil Scott believes this at all. If anything – he’s probably afraid of her. He most surely wants to remain behind his “nice guy” curtain and avoid all discussion about his managing of our decline. The illusion of good governing must remain fully intact.
I watched him on the news this morning, commenting that he couldn’t make the debate because he had another event scheduled. It looked as if even he didn’t believe what he was saying. We deserve better.
Vermont is not doing well and regardless if he wants to own it or not – he’s been our governor for years and years now – the captain of our ship.
Like it or not, the buck stops with him.
We either vote for change by voting for Amanda Janoo who is more than willing, able and not afraid to take on Vermont’s biggest issues. Or, we continue with a governor who has stayed too long, has a real tendency to blame everybody else for his lack of leadership, would rather veto bills he doesn’t like instead of working with legislators to come up with something workable for Vermonters and now, can’t even find the time or the respect for us to do the annual debate at this years Tunbridge World Fair.
Democrats who continually vote for Phil Scott, it’s time to say goodbye.
Vermonters struggling with unaffordable healthcare, unaffordable and unavailable housing and so much more – need a leader who is not afraid do the hard work, has a desire and willingness to change our downward trajectory for
the better and is smart enough to know how to do it. That leader is Amanda Janoo, the exact one who respected us enough to show up at the annual Tunbridge World Fair debate.
The time has come. This go-round, please cast your vote for her.
He’s never really been interested in governing (let alone being a leader). He’s doing whatever Jason Gibbs tells him will enhance his chance of again prevailing. That he might keep what is basically a part-time job (the way he does it) and being the genial sock puppet.
The sad fact: this was a cunning and canny and deeply cynical move.
wow
The Establishment Snub – who would have thought that in such a civil, polite and open minded place like Vermont such things happen.
Janoo is an existential threat the wealthy Chittenden Cty crackers who think Vermont belongs to them and only them. Scott is their man because Scott is a virtuous believer in the natural order of things and will safeguard the flow of federal and state loot into right into their pockets. That’s why they all bend over for and love Trump too.
Janoo all the way.
an earnest if slightly overwrought paean to Vermont’s rural and agricultural traditions.
a little snarky there, are we? no need to put down the sweetest and least commercialized autumn gathering in the northeast just because they did away with the girly show and chain fighting. the sight of little children leading huge teams of yoked oxen placidly about with no more than a quiet word to the leader should be enough to soften any old fart’s heart.
Open debates where a wide range of subjects and opinions are covered have become truly passe in Vermont’s “news” coverage. Even you, John, have derided the old debates where more then just one or two anointed interesting and important candidates would be present and heard.
You’re getting what you asked for. Not me – I was against this enshitification of Vermont’s political debates from the moment you and others started this route.
I have, and will continue, to deride debates where the stage is cluttered with the Cris Ericsons of the world.
And you’ll continue to complain about the results.
Ah, you get me.
I have derided debates where the stage is cluttered by the Cris Ericsons of the world.
behind his “nice guy” curtain and avoid all discussion about his managing of our decline.
Yep, only the chosen should rule by virtue of the wealth they stole from others. They want this decline and the guv’s their leader.