In the classic 1954 movie On the Waterfront, Father Barry (Karl Malden) tells Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) what ails the waterfront: “You want to know what’s wrong with our waterfront? It’s the love of a lousy buck.”

The “lousy buck” may have played a role in the strange and secretive case of city waterfront supervisor Adam Cate.... Read more

The passage of the same-sex marriage ban in California is reigniting efforts in Vermont to go beyond the state’s landmark civil-union law.

More than 200 people gathered in the rain Saturday in front of Burlington’s City Hall for a rally organized by the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force. Their goal? To bring same-sex marriage into the modern era of equality and civil rights.... Read more

More election-night snafus in Burlington have some local politicos wondering: Can the Queen City hold an error-free election?

City and state officials agree that state election laws are too cumbersome for a city the size of Burlington. They say they will push the upcoming legislature to make some changes — namely, allowing them to release results earlier and finding a way to make counting write-in votes less time-consuming.... Read more

The polls were barely closed when the first candidate officially threw her hat into the ring for what’s shaping up to be another big election — for the job of Vermont’s Speaker of the House.

With Gaye Symington setting aside her gavel, at least five Democratic colleagues will vie for the coveted post. Two of the candidates are from Burlington, and two of them are women. House Democrats will gather December 6 to choose the new speaker.... Read more

Are you better off than you were six years ago? Four years ago? Two years? Two months? Yesterday?

Those questions are at the heart of the presidential campaigns of Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. And the same is true of Vermont’s gubernatorial candidates.

Who’s to blame for your misfortune?

The other guy (or gal). Or President George W. Bush. Or former President Bill Clinton. Or socialists. Or capitalists.... Read more

Heading into the final fortnight of the 2008 election, the two key questions are: Will Gov. Jim Douglas, well ahead in the polls, earn more than 50 percent of the vote?

And if not, will a legislature dominated by Democrats choose to elect the party’s nominee, Gaye Symington or, should he finish strongly, Independent Anthony Pollina?... Read more

As the state’s top elected official, Gov. Jim Douglas gets around-the-clock security. Wherever he goes, his trooper goes.

The same went for Gov. Howard Dean, who was roundly criticized for dragging along his security detail while politically gallivanting. After all, why should taxpayers foot the bill for his national ambitions?... Read more

The word “leadership” is being tossed around almost as much as “maverick” and “hope” and “terrorist” this election season.

We’ll hear the “L” word plenty this week, thanks to a new TV ad attacking Republican Gov. Jim Douglas by Democracy for America.

Last week, DFA announced it was backing Democrat Gaye Symington in the race for governor. No shock, since the DFA was founded by former Gov. Howard Dean and is now run by his brother Jim Dean.... Read more

In recent debates, Gov. Jim Douglas has implied that the improper use of public-relations positions pre-date his taking office.

He’s done nothing wrong, he claims. He claims previous administrations have done the same.... Read more

This week Congress will debate the Bush administration’s proposed $700 billion bailout of the high-flying Wall Street financiers who made some really, really bad decisions.

Taxpayers will likely be asked to buy up more than a half-trillion dollars in bad debt — and, consequently, the Wall Street types will get to keep making bad decisions.

I love my country, but I really loathe my gummint sometimes.

Vermont’s congressional delegation isn’t taking kindly to the Bush administration’s plan. Surprised?... Read more