Reply #11: Sorry folks [View All]

Although I haven't yet decided who to back, I have consistently defended Dean against the many egregious attacks here at DU. In this case I feel compelled to note that Dean really didn't stand up for the right thing. How do I know? During the period in question I had frequent contact with Robert Appel. He did a good job as Defender General, particularly championing rights of defendants with mental disabilities. I don't know the particulars of why Dean turned down the grant Nicholas J mentioned.

The Rutland Herald is not a partisan hack paper. Two years ago the editor won the Puliter Prize for editorials for the pro-civil union pieces he wrote. Tracey Schmaler, who recently became Jim Jefford's Press Secratary is/was a fine journalist.

Robert Appel is now the head of the Vermont Human Right Commission. I don't know if he supports Dean or not. I ran into him a couple of months ago and we did talk about the Governor's run in general political terms. He does not, I think, bear any personal animus towards Dean. I don't know if he supports him or not.

It should be obvious to anyone that I'm not flaming Dean. I liked him as Governor. He's not some conservative in liberal fleece. Nor is he a DK type liberal. I've said it before, and I'll say it again; he's not an easy guy to label. Comparing him to Bush or Ashcroft is merely hot and heavy-and empty- rhetoric. However Dean's got his warts, and in eleven years as Governor he took positions I disagreed with. This one happens to be the one that bothered me the most.

(I'm tired, I don't feel like proof reading this. Please forgive any typos or spelling errors.)