Credibility Zero

Friday's Burlington Free Press:  "Symington said if she becomes governor, she would 'confront the underlying causes of property tax increases -- the costs of health care, energy and special education.'"

Why would we believe this woman who declared in February of 2007 that "the Legislature is committed to working with the Douglas administration to contain property taxes" and then flip-flopped on Act 82?

Comments

[G. Cross]

Well, Symington learned that she could not work with the Douglas administration on every issue, as they were less than willing to compromise on a number of topics. She compromised over and over, but got little in return. Thus, to fault her after the fact is a distortion of the facts.

[anonymous]

George - it's pretty simple - Gaye flip flopped.

All politicians do it - why can't you at least admit it?

[Curtis Hier]

George, they both compromised. But she was the one who broke her word. Shumlin, to his credit, didn't break his word.

All politicians do change their minds from time to time. Some for more noble reasons than others. John McCain didn't think the Bush taxcuts should be made permanent as of 2004. But he feels differently now because it would amount to a tax increase going into an economic downturn. Barack Obama flip-flopped on public financing, just simply because political expediency is more important to him than his word. And Gaye Symington flip-flopped on Act 82 because she caved into pressure from Vermont-NEA. She has no honor and no guts.

[D.K.]

Why when you cite John McCain you say "he feels differently now" with some back slapping justification, but when you cite both Obama and Symington, you say "flip-flopped" with additional character attacks???

Flip-flopping OK as long as it works for you?

[Curtis Hier]

D.K., it's all about the motive.

[Glenn Eno]

Whether the term is "flip-flop" or "feels differently now" the underlying result is the same: Politicians WILL say anything to get elected. Gaye Symington was probably holding the strongest Democratic position in Montpelier. She was the leader of the majority party of the Vermont Legislature and yet could not gather enough support to push through more disasterous legislation. Fortunately, there are still a few checks against an all out socialist Vermont.

Nationally, we are not any better. We have a liberal candidate who will not protect our boarders, spend billions of dollars on the religion of global warming, won't open up our own oil reserves and will look to gather more taxes from the people who make our economy tick. And this is the guy running AGAINST Obama!!

[Green Mtn Punter]

The rational person's test is as follows: Is it flip flopping merely for bald political gain, i.e., to perpetuate unproven facts and media induced hysteria at the behest of special interests, or is it changing your mind, as rational decision makers are expected to do, because the wisdom of a contrary position has become so obvious that to do otherwise is sheer stupidity- or calls into question your true motives?

It is quite obvious that Democrats, defending environmental special interests, are defending the indefensible, and therefore are poised to be flip floppers, whereas Republicans, representing the interests of the average American, are rational decision makers on the energy issue and have been all along. For example, now that we have sat idly by while the supply of oil has remained steady, and world demand has outstripped supply forcing up prices, the Democrat Congress continues to block domestic exploration and production because some special interest groups say it is harmful.

The Dems have flip flopped on everything else, could domestic energy production be far behind? But will Republicans be stupid enough to let them off the hook with this desperate conversion on the Road to Damascus? Or will the Dems roll the dice and go for nationalization? They're not quite that stupid, I'm afraid.

Our biggest fear is that the Democrats, aided and abetted by their media sycophants, will be able to fool the American people one more time with their nonsense. We can only hope not. By November 4 there will be a whole nation of very angry voters out there looking for some government people to be held accountable for this mess. It's Congress' fault, stupid- and those Democrats who sit in Montpelier.