Editor's Pick
APRIL 7, 2009 12:39PM
Rate: 15
So much for the power of Gov. Jim Douglas, a conservative Repubican and former car dealership guy if memory serves me right. He can't veto the gay marriage bill just passed by the House and then the Senate. The bill passed by an extraordinary veto safe margin - 1oo to 49 in the House and 23 to 5 in the Senate.
Having been a former Vermonter, I can tell you that this has been a long time coming. Vermont is a wonderfully tolerant place, yet has deep deep roots in practicality, fairness and a "mind your own business" mentality.
Got a barn that needs to come down? Good for you. It will. Eventually. And all by itself. Why work at it when nature will do it for you? Got a horse that wandered off? No worries. Just yell out for it and a dozen neighbors in nearby farms will hear you and look for your lost horse. Logic says the horse wandered off to the nearest and tastiest vegetable or flower garden for a snack.
Got bats in the attic? Get a cat. A hungry cat. Got spring run off in your basement? Knock a few holes in the stone foundation downhill. Need to replenish the water in your well? Pull the cover off when it rains.
Got frozen pipes in the winter? Run the water just a bit all night. Going to be frigid cold? Pull the car up to the barn and plug in a lightbulb under the hood so the car will start in the morning.
Vermonters are nothing if not capable and practical, and caring. So it is not a surprise at all that though it took a long time, they finally successfully voted for the rights of their gay friends and neighbors to marry. Mazel Tov!
Having been a former Vermonter, I can tell you that this has been a long time coming. Vermont is a wonderfully tolerant place, yet has deep deep roots in practicality, fairness and a "mind your own business" mentality.
Got a barn that needs to come down? Good for you. It will. Eventually. And all by itself. Why work at it when nature will do it for you? Got a horse that wandered off? No worries. Just yell out for it and a dozen neighbors in nearby farms will hear you and look for your lost horse. Logic says the horse wandered off to the nearest and tastiest vegetable or flower garden for a snack.
Got bats in the attic? Get a cat. A hungry cat. Got spring run off in your basement? Knock a few holes in the stone foundation downhill. Need to replenish the water in your well? Pull the cover off when it rains.
Got frozen pipes in the winter? Run the water just a bit all night. Going to be frigid cold? Pull the car up to the barn and plug in a lightbulb under the hood so the car will start in the morning.
Vermonters are nothing if not capable and practical, and caring. So it is not a surprise at all that though it took a long time, they finally successfully voted for the rights of their gay friends and neighbors to marry. Mazel Tov!
Comments
here here!
vermont rocks!
Oh yup. But.....the governor DID veto it yesterday, forcing the legislature to take an override vote. The House barely got their two-thirds majority, but get it they did.
Lulu, you should hear some of the conversations going on around me this afternoon. I never realize how bigoted and homophobic some people can still be.
Thumbed. Yay for us!
Lulu, you should hear some of the conversations going on around me this afternoon. I never realize how bigoted and homophobic some people can still be.
Thumbed. Yay for us!
Woohoo!
A very happy day indeed!
Hey Bill! Ah yup, I can! I remember. I am sorry people are being idiots, but there are far more who are not bigots around there. At least not about this. This is a good moment, don't let them get to you Bill. Unfortunately we grow idiots all over.
Rated an "ayupped" from a proud alumnus of Middlebury College, who still misses Vermont even after all these years.
Vermont does rock, Lena! And it's true; they do grow idiots all over, Bill.
Loved this post for its vibrant description of practical-minded Vermonters. Had I only known about cats and bats!
Loved this post for its vibrant description of practical-minded Vermonters. Had I only known about cats and bats!
Just a couple of things.
As little use as I have for Gov. Milquetoast, he is, and has always been a moderate. I know claiming he's conservative makes for a better in your face moment, it doesn't reflect his politics. It also helps to remember that Vermont is the most secular state in the union.
Also he's a career politician, who practiced law for a very brief time. I can only guess that you're confusing him with Doug Racine, a democrat who ran against him once, and is planning on doing so again. His familys business is selling cars.
About the bats, unless your actually using the attic for storage, you just let them be. I know this from experience. Having lived in a house with an attic full of bats, the cat is only for any that get into the main living quarters. the rest you just let them help keep the mosquito population down. That's what they do.
By the way, VT. has always rocked.
As little use as I have for Gov. Milquetoast, he is, and has always been a moderate. I know claiming he's conservative makes for a better in your face moment, it doesn't reflect his politics. It also helps to remember that Vermont is the most secular state in the union.
Also he's a career politician, who practiced law for a very brief time. I can only guess that you're confusing him with Doug Racine, a democrat who ran against him once, and is planning on doing so again. His familys business is selling cars.
About the bats, unless your actually using the attic for storage, you just let them be. I know this from experience. Having lived in a house with an attic full of bats, the cat is only for any that get into the main living quarters. the rest you just let them help keep the mosquito population down. That's what they do.
By the way, VT. has always rocked.
Governor Douglas was never a car dealer. You're thinking of an opponent he had a few years ago. Douglas has drank from the government teat for his entire career, except for a few years working for the Republican Party.
I certainly stand corrected about the 2 Dougs. Been a few years since I was there, but Racine was in the Senate then. I personally don't think Douglas is a moderate by moderate standards. I would consider him relatively conservative, but not by, oh, let's say Palin standards.
Those old bats were in the attic and in the house. The cat was happy through the whole summer.
And yes, VT rocks. For many reasons.
Those old bats were in the attic and in the house. The cat was happy through the whole summer.
And yes, VT rocks. For many reasons.
Thanks to all you practical minded Vermonters. It is mighty appreciated. Of course the gays love you already you're so damn pretty in the fall.
Even though I have never lived in either place, I am so full of pride for the Vermont legislature and the Iowa Supreme Court, I could just burst. Thank goodness my fellow Californians deflate me before the danger of bursting grows too real.
I understand the Republicans are planning a nationwide anti-gay ad campaign as a result of this vote. Apparently, starting tomorrow (Wednesday) they will run ads that complain that gay marriage "violates the civil rights" of "real" Americans, who believe marriage is between one man and one woman.
Don't you just hate it when someone is dead but doesn't have the common sense to lie down?
I understand the Republicans are planning a nationwide anti-gay ad campaign as a result of this vote. Apparently, starting tomorrow (Wednesday) they will run ads that complain that gay marriage "violates the civil rights" of "real" Americans, who believe marriage is between one man and one woman.
Don't you just hate it when someone is dead but doesn't have the common sense to lie down?
Dana - that was perfect! I am going to adopt that. Yeah, being in CA is embarrassing. I wish I were still in VT. And the campaign. Violating the civil rights of "real" Americans? Seriously. Are they from the same America or Palin's real America?
i would have thought legalizing gay marriage would take the fun out of it. look what happened to straights...
Vermont, Iowa and D.C. all in one week. Yay for equal rights.
Mainers are a lot like Vermonters so we may be following suit.
The more Republicans make opposition to Marriage Equality a Republican Issue (tm) the better.
Thay ain't popular, and the majority of the Country doesn't wish to be aligned with them. Less than 30% of registered voters Nationwide are registered Republican.
Thay ain't popular, and the majority of the Country doesn't wish to be aligned with them. Less than 30% of registered voters Nationwide are registered Republican.
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