VT-SEN: Scott Milne in

[IceSpear]

And it tells you something that single payer is so toxic in ultra liberal Vermont of all places that the incumbent governor nearly lost re-election to a some dude from a crippled political party for merely proposing it. Yet apparently, it's supposed to work nationally with a closely divided country and a right wing Congress, if we just scream loud enough.

I really wish the media pressed Sanders harder on why single payer failed in his own home state and what he did (if anything) to try to save it. IIRC, when it was mentioned in the debate he just shrugged it off and blamed Shumlin.

That was on topic. Do I sense an axe to grind?

It is on topic. Considering this was Shumlin's opponent in 2014, and that race is used to justify why he may or may not be a strong opponent to Leahy, Shumlin and his single payer plan (which was at least partly responsible for his embarrassingly pathetic performance) are clearly relevant.

And not really. If you were here longer you'd know I've rarely bashed Sanders on this forum, but failing single payer in his own state when he has massive influence there, certainly more than Shumlin or the legislature does, is one of my main gripes with him (that and doing precious little to help build his "political revolution" in Congress.)

Also, why would I have an axe to grind? Hillary won. Sounds like you may be a bit salty.

[IceSpear]

Yeah, this is a really curious choice on his part. He should have chosen literally any other elective office.

It's not like Milne is a particularly strong candidate, and I don't think he's very bright either judging from a lot of the statements and decisions he's made. He's a some dude that did well because a) it was 2014 and b) he was Not Peter Shumlin. And it tells you something that single payer is so toxic in ultra liberal Vermont of all places that the incumbent governor nearly lost re-election to a some dude from a crippled political party for merely proposing it. Yet apparently, it's supposed to work nationally with a closely divided country and a right wing Congress, if we just scream loud enough.

I really wish the media pressed Sanders harder on why single payer failed in his own home state and what he did (if anything) to try to save it. IIRC, when it was mentioned in the debate he just shrugged it off and blamed Shumlin.

I mean, a small state like Vermont or any state is going to have trouble going it alone on Single Payer. They got next to no support, and because of that, it did fail. That wouldn't be a problem if it was introduced federally for the whole country.

And to say Shumlin came so close to losing in 2014 nearly completely because of health care reform is a fantasy. He wasn't that likable a guy, it was a tremendous wave year.

I do wish Sanders had just used Conyers' plan for single payer system. It's really bizarre that he didn't, he could have touted a bill that had about 50 co-sponsors and a Democratic house hold name attached to it.

Shumlin dropped single payer nearly immediately after the election, so clearly he thought it had some impact. I do agree the wave contributed, but it wasn't enough on its own (see Leahy winning in a crushing landslide in 2010.)

[Shameless Lefty Hack]

Not really salty. Figured we'd lose when Bernie announced, knew we'd lose after NV.

Just have always really disliked the Clintons, and will continue to dislike them for the foreseeable future.


Reasons Single Payer/public option/medicare for all/making sure medical bills don't bankrupt poor people wouldn't work in just one state, VT in particular:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/09/12/the-northeast-is-getting-older-and-its-going-to-cost-them/

Yes, that is an average age of above 40. Just like the rest of northern New England. That means more old people, more sick people, more people taking out of the system and fewer paying in.

[IceSpear]

If you want another example of what a joke Milne is, his official website still talks about how he's running for governor.

[Figueira]

Are we seriously suggesting that a relatively fiscally efficient and tiny, homogeneous state with a large liberal majority who's in agreement about a lot of issues like VT would have a harder time rolling out single payer than our federal government?

I think the argument is that state governments have a harder time due to the nature of the federal system. I mean, why else would Vermont be unable to institute single payer?

[RINO Tom]

Are we seriously suggesting that a relatively fiscally efficient and tiny, homogeneous state with a large liberal majority who's in agreement about a lot of issues like VT would have a harder time rolling out single payer than our federal government?

I think the argument is that state governments have a harder time due to the nature of the federal system. I mean, why else would Vermont be unable to institute single payer?

Because it's a terrible idea.

[Figueira]

Are we seriously suggesting that a relatively fiscally efficient and tiny, homogeneous state with a large liberal majority who's in agreement about a lot of issues like VT would have a harder time rolling out single payer than our federal government?

I think the argument is that state governments have a harder time due to the nature of the federal system. I mean, why else would Vermont be unable to institute single payer?

Because it's a terrible idea.

No, it works fine in other countries.

[Mr. Reactionary]

At least Milne won't drop out before the election and endorse Leahy as is known to happen in Vermont.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

At least Milne won't drop out before the election and endorse Leahy as is known to happen in Vermont.

#BringBackFredTuttle

[Badger]

He may be able to keep Leahy below 70%.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

At least Milne won't drop out before the election and endorse Leahy as is known to happen in Vermont.

Tuttle was a Vermont icon.