One More Cup of Coffee for the Road...

There is something about MTV that attracts and maintains the attention of America’s youth. It could be the never ending parade juke box heroes that marches through its army of TV stations every day; it could be the music; it could be Bevis or Butthead or the Real World… who knows.

I grew up with Carson and TRL, when the cool kids stopped watching Nickelodeon and started wondering about kissing and the opposite sex. MTV plays a huge role in the way so many kids become adults.

I’m no different. 

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All Signs Point to Symington

Speaker of the House, Rep. Gaye Symington (D) announced Saturday that she will not be seeking reelection, thus opening the door for a much anticipated gubernatorial run this fall. Symington is expected to join Anthony Polina (P) in the race to unseat Republican Jim Douglas.

Symington, who has served the last two years as Speaker of the House, first took her seat in the legislature in 1996, and quickly gained the respect of her peers, being named to the House Ways and Means committee in her first term.

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God & Guns: The Rural Disconnect

Sen. Barack Obama on Rural Americans:

"They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

So now that it’s out there, let’s just let it linger a little bit.

After another long week of the Democratic Presidential Primary one thing is certain: Barack Obama has lost a piece of the heart land with his rouge comments on guns and religion,  just how much is yet to be determined.

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A Post Card From Home

One of the realities of a rural life is the never ending relationship one develops with the land. Vermont is, in my completely biased opinion, the most beautiful place on earth; an opinion shared by most of Vermont’s children. 

My home, the Champlain Valley, is wedged between the rocky peaks of the Green Mountains and the shores of Lake Champlain. For 23 years I’ve watched the sun crest the foothills of Mt. Mansfield and set gently behind the towering Adirondacks, with purple and orange flakes of dusk dancing brilliantly off the clear waters of St. Albans Bay. 

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Community Response

Tyler Stanislas is your typical 22 year old. He’s got a job and a car.

But Tyler wants to give back; Tyler wants to make a difference….

See how you can help Vermont…

 http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF0098A0C400170098E195/

Pursue Vermont: Vermont Wants You!

The State of Vermont is trying desperately to solve the problem of disappearing young people.

Here’s what the Douglas Administration is doing to in hopes of attracting young people to Vermont in hopes of replenishing the state’s aging work force.

http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF0098A0C400170098DF54/

Vermont’s Third Party

Vermont is full of political parties. In any given election there are ten, or fifteen candidates for most state wide offices. The Liberty Union Party, the Marijuana Now and Green Party are just a few of the Davids trying to slay the two political giants every March and November.  But out of the crowd of voices trying so desperately to be heard, a legit third party has emerged over the last decade. In a world dominated by Elephants and Donkeys, don’t be surprised if you see a couple Moose meandering around Vermont’s political landscape.

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Can The Democratic Party Withstand The Storm Ahead?

With Sen. Hillary Clinton snatching Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island last week, the race for the Democratic nomination is back on. And while Sen. Barack Obama still leads in the delegate count, one has to wonder if the party and eventual nominee can survive a long, drawn-out contest. 

The prolonged battle between Clinton and Obama, has been billed, for the most part, as a good thing; a war of ideas and ideals. But the longer this race pushes towards the Democratic convention in August, the more negative it is becoming. And with Republicans and conservatives slowly gathering behind Sen. John McCain, can a bitterly divided Democratic Party stand in November?

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Obama, McCain Win Big In Vermont’s Presidential Contests...

On the heels of an incredible turn out, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama won their respective primaries Tuesday by huge margins.

McCain drew 70% of Republican support, while 60% of Democrats cast ballots for Obama.

McCain’s sweep of Vermont, Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island last night, pushed him over the top in the race for delegates, securing the nomination and finally knocking-off Gov. Mike Huckabee,

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