Why not Vermont?
It really shouldn't surprise anyone that President George W. Bush hasn't visited Vermont yet during his presidency, now mercifully grinding to something of a conclusion. Some will no doubt mark the departure of Karl Rove, the "Genius" or "The Architect" as the day the music died for this administration, but there's still 16 months to go, so maybe the toxic Texan will still have a chance to visit the Green Mountain state.
The question is why bother. Let's start with the obvious: Bush is deeply unpopular here. He's deeply unpopular in a lot of places, as a 30 percent approval rating nationally will attest to, but those numbers are probably even lower in an uber-liberal state like Vermont, at least if you go by the make up of our congressional delegation. So maybe if he's feeling truly in a self-flagellatory mood, it might make sense, but otherwise, where's the upside?
With only three electoral votes in play, Vermont just isn't worth it, Rove might counsel the President on his way out the door.
And then there's the local Republican Party to consider here. Would any of them be wild about having Bush drop by for a meet and greet even on a some theoretically safe Republican bastion — Williston maybe, or the Northeast kingdom, or maybe, just maybe — Manchester? The Dems carried the town for the most part here last fall but it's as reliably Republican a town as they come these days. But while even in its discounted condition the Bush Presidency still carries the aura of the Presidency, there may not be a lot of Vermont Republicans eager to associate themselves with the current officeholder. Even Gov. Douglas might be just as happy if he didn't surface to muddy the waters further.
Still, it would bespeak a certain amout of nerviness on Bush's part, and provide a test of his famous unshakable mettle, if he were to chance a visit here. At this point, what is there to lose? It would show us he really does "go with his gut." And he wouldn't want to leave that blemish — of visiting all the states save one — on his record, would he?
If the Bushites do decide to make it an even 50, here's a few suggestions. Don't come during foliage season, Mr. President. The roads are choked enough. How about early November, or maybe mud season, when the Presidential entourage could by itself make a difference in the the state's economic output? Don't go to Brattleboro, despite its convenience to Keene, N.H., a state you conceivably might visit during the primary there, unless you want to do something truly counterintuitive and visit the food co-op. Now that would put the photo in the photo op.