Morning Joe had Vermont gubernatorial challenger Democrat Christine Hallquist on today.

[lapucelle]

The Republican panelist went after her (both guns blazing) concerning the costs of Hallquist's agenda: a single payer health care system as part of a multi-state coalition, universal broadband connectivity, and increased education spending.

The incumbent Republican, who has vetoed both the creation of a paid family leave program and an increase in the minimum wage, declined an invitation to appear.

Since her August 14th primary victory, Hallquist has garnered the endorsements of national figures including Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Kennedy, Corey Booker, Howard Dean, and Barack Obama.

The Vermont Progressive Party (which is not running its own candidate) has thus far declined to endorse Hallquist, citing differences with her on the details of the establishment of a state single payer health care system, as well as on tax policy and the possibility of increased taxes to pay for her proposals.

Hallquist and other local candidates will be appearing with BS (who endorsed Hallquist in September) at several GOTV events in VT this weekend.

https://www.christineforvermont.com/

https://vtdigger.org/2018/08/21/progressives-dont-endorse-hallquist-wont-rule/

[lark]

1. It was really kind of funny.

The Repug woman tried & tried the usual tricks overtalking the Dem, saying everything was so expensive and how could they do this without gasp, raising taxes, with a tremble in her voice. Halquist was amazing, refusing to put up with the BS, calling it out in a civil but very firm manner, explaining how she would save money and help the citizens. I was quite impressed with her.

[Squinch]

2. And of course the Vermont progressives give her no help

because they disagree on the details of her plans to establish single payer.

I'm sorry, but those people are assholes.

[lapucelle]

3. Making the perfect the enemy of the good

brought us the Roberts' court and the Trump presidency.

[JI7]

6. nothing progressive about them

[Me.]

4. That Guy Is Such A Prig

and such a Con (double meaning applies here)

[handmade34]

5. Christine is a treasure!!

missed the interview, but I'll be seeing her Monday... forget the Progressives... she has everybody else's (that matters) endorsement

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[lapucelle]

8. Hallquist raked in early endorsements from EWarren, JBiden, HDean, and Joe Kennedy

and then BSanders and CBooker, and President Obama.

Hallquist has been especially outspoken on Vermont's housing of out of state prisoners in a for-profit prison in Mississippi.

I was aware that Vermont has a disproportional rate of incarcerated people of color, but I wasn't fully aware of the extent of the need for criminal justice and prison reform in the Green Mountain State. Like all Americans, the people of Vermont deserve better.

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2018/09/19/vermont-inmates-moving-to-corecivic-prison-in-mississippi

[R B Garr]

7. What a mess! The "progressives" can't even agree on how

to implement single payer in one little state, yet it’s being held as a club over the heads of other national Democrats. Seems it’s time for some straight talk by the head of this talking point to explain how difficult it really is.

I saw part of that interview this morning and had to shake my head that these aspiring candidates are the only ones getting the hard questions about this. The same thing happened to Gillum.

Thanks for posting this, lapucelle. It is an interesting glimpse into the leadership in Vermont.

[lapucelle]

11. I'm not sure why some people assume that VT is a bastion of progressivism.

It almost appears as if the Green Mountain state is a place where insulated self-interest trumps all else. Gun rights, low taxes, lobbying for the expansion of the military industrial complex in order to bring in revenue, and policies of shipping "problems" like the incarcerated and toxic waste out of state seem to take priority over gun, criminal justice, prison, and environmental reform, a workable single payer plan, a living minimum wage, and a paid family leave program.

It should have been "all hands on deck" in getting Hallquist elected since August when she won the primary.

[R B Garr]

19. "insulated self-interests". Great description. With no pressing

real-life problems as compared with bigger, more diverse populous states, there is no accountability to any of it, and it shows.

It is curious why Hallquist was not supported earlier instead of coming to a liberal state like California, for instance. Thanks for your reminder about California’s new primary date...

[sheshe2]

9. K&R!

GOTV for Christine!

[lapucelle]

10. I just found out this morning that Hallquist is fighting to end

Vermont's practice of housing out of state prisoners in a for-profit prison in Mississippi.

It's bewildering that the Progressive Party of Vermont has not endorsed this candidate. Aren't they aware of the current practice of housing the state's prisoners in a Mississippi hellhole for-profit prison AND of the need for criminal justice reform concerning the disproportionate incarceration of people of color in their bucolic Green Mountain state?

[sheshe2]

12. I did not know about the housing of prisoners in Mississippi.

Good for her for wanting to end this practice. I did know about the reforms needed in the Green Mountain State. Sounds like she could make a huge difference as Governor in VT.

[lapucelle]

14. Republican incumbent Governor Scott explained:

My prerogative would be to house everyone here in Vermont, but at this point in time, that's not feasible, so we have to make the best deal we can.

snip=======================================================

However

Hallquist said in an interview with NCEN that she would like to see out-of-state prison contracts end through a combination of criminal justice reforms, new construction at home, approaches like non-prison sentences for low-level crimes, and even home confinement for certain offenses.

"America incarcerates its prison population at five times the rest of the world," Hallquist said of her belief that too many Vermonters are currently housed behind bars. "I think the idea of for-profit–the idea of putting people in prison for profit–is uncivilized; it’s not something [corporations] should be making money from."

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2018/09/19/vermont-inmates-moving-to-corecivic-prison-in-mississippi

https://www.necn.com/news/new-england/Planned-Deal-With-For-Profit-Prison-Company-Draws-Pushback-in-Vermont-493104231.html

[sheshe2]

16. This from your link.

McCarthy predicted shipping inmates even farther from home than Pennsylvania will hurt their chances at positive reentry back into their communities.

"I feel strongly that a big part of keeping the rehabilitation going is to have people who care for them nearby and able to visit on a regular basis," McCarthy said.

[NastyRiffraff]

13. The Progressive Party has a single issue

that they care about: single payer. It not only has to be single payer, it has to be THEIR VERSION of single payer. Their way or the highway, period.

[lapucelle]

15. All hands should be on deck in this election. N/T

[Cha]

17. Not impressive. Not team players.

If it's not their way they take their ball and go home?!

[Cha]

18. Thank You, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Kennedy, Corey Booker, Howard Dean, and Barack Obama!

Mahalo, lapucelle for this news on the Democratic candidate, Christine Hallquist, for the Gov of Vermont.

It's a shame the so-called "progressives of Vermont" have learned NOTHING from the 2016 shitefest.

It says at the link they ".. won't rule it out.." that's mighty big of them. If they don't they have no right to called themselves "progressive".. it's called regressive if another republicon gets in as Gov of Vermont.

Is the incumbent gop term limited now? Thanks!