By Guy Page
VTDigger yesterday published an account of a lively three-way discussion between Vermont Democratic Party Executive Director James Dandeneau, a 14-year-old legislative page, and VDC Social Media Director and reporter Paul Bean yesterday afternoon in the hallway outside of the Senate Chamber of the Vermont State House.
The account, authored by Digger Bureau Chief Sarah Mearhoff, appears in the final segment of the Final Reading column for February 1.
After reading the account and discussing it with Paul, I asked him to write up his side of the story of what happened Thursday, February 1. I have no beef with Digger writing about this: Dandeneau and Bean – who also ran a strong fourth in the three-seat Washington County Senate race in 2022 – are both public figures and they were speaking in a very public place. Bean’s account does includes some facts the Digger account lacked – including Durandeau’s longstanding social media beef with Bean.
Paul Bean account of yesterday’s encounter
I’m just telling a story from my perspective, and I will let the reader decide for themselves.
On Wednesday afternoon, I was sitting outside the House of Representatives Chamber on my IPad, reading all about Vermont’s dispatch nightmare, when one of the pages from the State House approached me to inquire about who I worked for, and what I was working on. She really seemed to want to know what my take on feminism was… She told me a bit about herself, and went on with her day.
I thought the interaction was a bit odd, however I did not really make much of it.
Fast forward to yesterday.
I’m sitting outside the senate chambers, fine tuning an article, when I again, was approached by the very same page. This time she was not so timid. She asked “are you like a male rights activist or something?” To which I replied, “I’m really not sure how to answer that question.”
She then asked, “well, do you like think feminism is stupid?”
At this point I was sure the interaction was odd, but I’m a so-called “free thinker” and I’m not afraid that my views will “get me in trouble” or “canceled.”
So I obliged.
I told her “I think the original idea of feminism was good. Voting rights and equality in the workplace, however I think a lot of feminism today can be reduced to “we hate men.” (I should have added specifically- “we hate white men.”)
She inquired more about me. She wanted to know who I was, what my name was, and who I was working for. When I told her my name she didn’t believe me. Thankfully Russ Ingalls was walking by and I asked him to confirm my name and he did.
She was persistent and not going anywhere until she got some type of response out of me. She informed me that women couldn’t take out a loan by themselves until the 1990s, which she was wrong about, it was actually 1974, which I was still very surprised by.
Okay…
I said to her “your problem is…” then I abruptly received a phone call from my boss, Guy Page. We talked for 5 minutes total per my phone log. [Editor’s note: yes, I made that call and we had that conversation.] I figured the page would scurry away during our call, however she remained seated across from me… oh well.
Amidst our conversation, he reminded me of a print out that I needed and I informed him, “oh yes I have a page right here in front of me, maybe she can help me.” To which she agreed.
However it was going to come at a cost.
“Yes I’ll print that out, here is my email. But first you have to tell me what is wrong with me, what’s my problem…”
And I said, “you’re too wrapped up in all this crap.”
And she replied “what do you mean?”
She had informed me the day before that she had a fairly religious background.
So I asked her “have you ever read the book of Genesis?”
“Yes.”
“So you know the story of Adam and Eve right?”
And she said “yeah I know that women were created from Adam’s Rib.”
“Sure.” I said.
“Whether or not the story of Adam and Eve is true or not, I still think it’s an amazing analogy on life and the relationship between men, women, and God. There’s just something about this world that we can’t change.”
And out of nowhere storms into the scene, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party, Jim Dandeneau.
“Oh really, Paul Bean? You can’t change the world? Didn’t you just host a chemtrail rally this weekend?!?!” Get the hell out of here!” And pointed towards the door.
I started laughing. And laughing hard. To which he became visibly upset. At the time I didn’t know who he was – I’d never met him. But he sure knew me…
“Is this guy harassing you?,” Dandeneau asked the page. “Are you alright?”
I replied “she’s been harassing me for the past 20 minutes, actually. You are being extremely rude, you need to calm down.”
“Yeah sure Paul, why don’t you go drink some onion water!”
I couldn’t contain myself at this point. The laughter was rising to the top. I realized when he said who he was.
Jim and I history… or should I say a one-sided history.
Last year Jim and his team spent “hours” digging through my Twitter posts to find “the worst” things I’ve said online. Of course his goal was to attack Governor Scott through me.
After another exchange, the interaction pretty much ended. I sat there in complete disbelief as to how someone could be so rude.
If you go read through their online attacks, the memes they choose sort of make their party look like zombies. They attack me for a slew of memes, jokes, and replies that in all honestly I can stand by without any fear or repercussions.
The chair of the party with a super majority and increasing control and power amongst local government and statewide government seems fixated on me. Don’t they have bigger fish to fry? For example the housing crisis, ever increasing homelessness, and a budget on the brink of failure.
Conclusion
As editor and publisher of VDC, I haven’t heard anything else about this incident. If I do, my readers will be the first to know. Paul, as a relative newcomer to the State House, doesn’t know that pages aren’t authorized to print material for press or members of the public. But that’s almost besides the point. I’m most perplexed by Dandeneau’s behavior. I’ve known GOP Chair Paul Dame and Progressive chair Anthony Pollina for many years and through agreement and disagreement with both our conversations have always been civil and professional. I can’t imagine either of them treating me – treating anyone – the way Dandeneau treated Paul.
Odd interaction, indeed.
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Categories: Media
OMG!! First of all I hope that someone at the State House speaks with the page about her totally inappropriate behavior, esp. in her role as a page. I won’t even mention the behavior of the Dem “leader”, except that itis scary that he feels entitled to harass someone that might not align with his political agenda. He should be dealt with as well, esp. thinking he can order someone out of the building that happens to be ‘Our House”.
Her behaviour was not “totally inappropriate” she is a “free thinker” just like Paul Bean says he is. While she shouldn’t have been so curious she was free to speak her mind. Also you have to remember that your words affect people and she is just a kid. Paul bean said “you’re too wrapped up in all this crap.” however it’s hard not to be since she works in a place of government. What I am trying to say is that you guys should cut her some slack. The one mistake she made was not providing a fact correctly, and now everybody is saying she doesn’t know what feminism is! While I do agree that feminism is getting a bad rap these days that’s because of entitled people on the internet. I believe people shouldn’t be talking about how the page was rude and arrogant because you are allowed to make small talk while delivering messages, but harassing her on the internet is really stingy and especially since she is just a kid! So if you don’t have anything nice to say about her then don’t say anything at all!
I like how you spelled “behaviour”. Never seen a Vermonter spell it like that before.
Honestly thanks for the compliment, it’s because I lived in Europe for 10 years of my life. So that is the reason behind my regional dialect error.
I think that Dem party fella should be nice to the reporter and respectfully inquire how the reporter stays so slim.
I also think the Dem party guy is so full of himself (not in a food sense…well may be…) he should read that old standard, “How to win friends and influence people.” (I never have, but have read “The Art of War”)
As to the Dems party leader telling another to,”Get the hell out of here” I think he is going to be in for a rude awakening, sooner then he realizes.
The capital is the peoples house not the Dems house, even if they think so.
Vote the bums out…they have been getting FAT off the sweat of the people for far too long.
Get these rude charlatans out of OUR house…Vote Trump ,Vote Republican, for a mentality balanced America.
i never had any one tell me to leave the state house///when i would go to the state house ,my wife would ask me it she would have to post bail/// when i left i could not answer that question///
Sounds very much like the same arrogance which is infiltrating the power brokers of our state Democrat controlled legislature. A carbon copy of the same pompous hauteur that seems to be inherent in the national version of the party. Their disdain for those who are not of their narrow-minded goose stepping Woke and DEI mindsets is becoming more evident and pervasive in what used to be called a free country which cherished the right to free speech. Spineless vegetable Joe Zero sits atop this sordid pile of conceit. Kudos to Paul Bean…love his winning and fearless presence among the wolves.
A 14 yo page who is not even aware of what feminism is. These days it is a dirty word. In my day it meant getting the ability to get a credit card, a loan, buy a car or a house without express permission from a man. 1974 would be the year we got that right. Credit cards were always issued to the husband, not the wife. Hell, being pregnant was a disability. I was applying for a grant when I was 30. I was married, had 2 children, a house, a car and a career. VSAC would not grant my grant without my father’s signature. I had no idea where he was and he certainly didn’t get to decide what I was going to do in my life. I got the grant, but had to fight tooth and nail for it. It is sickening to see the lack of education in our young people. As far as the dem leader. He had no right to demand someone to leave the people’s house. Must be they have a lot to hide. More people need to attend their sessions because clearly, it is not being reported. It’s a secret. I would suggest withholding tax payments as a protest until the include everyone in their legislative session. The very racist hair bill that passed unanimously shows what a ridiculous bunch of liberal teeny boppers feel is a priority.
You mean feminism doesn’t mean have the “right” to slaughter your own unborn child??? Well. I’ll be darned. You listening up, kids?
Weird encounter indeed.
From the Page.
From the Democrat.
Weird.
But the Dem’s behavior speaks more to me about fear and weakness than power or anything else. Only weak people speak and behave in that manner. I could be wrong, but I trust my gut.
I kind of think the world is walking on eggshells. Everyone has their backs up lately. Kind of whack-a-doodle.
Apparently, Ms. Sara Mearhoff has trouble with her hearing despite proclaiming she “hears everything”. But perspective is everything, is it not? We all look at things through a lens of bias whether intentional or not. I would be more inclined to believe Mr. Bean than Ms. Mearhoff or Mr. Dandeneau. See, that’s my bias. But guess what? I’m entitled to my bias as are all of you to yours. The truth generally lies somewhere in between.
Not to be confused with objective truth (there are two sexes, the sky is (appears) blue and the earth is round) and subjective truth (there are unlimited number of sexes, sometimes some people see the sky a different color and the earth is flat). Wait, was that too much for some?
Okay. Truth is challenging when discussing human interaction. And that’s all folks.
Trump said “Coal is King” in 2015 in W. Virginia.
He told all those miners he was going to get their jobs back.
By 2020, Fentanyl was king.
Funny thing. Billfromwherever apparently doesn’t understand that coal has been King in West Virginia for more than 150 years. Fentanyl became King in West Virginia only since the Chinese began collaborating with Mexican drug cartels. In the first year (2021) of the Biden administration’s immigration policies (or lack thereof), for example, Fentanyl seizures along the Texas border increased 1066%. And now WhereverBill wants us to believe that’s Trump’s fault. Perhaps Billfromwherever should check his Prevagen supplement for Fentanyl contamination. The symptoms he’s displaying are similar.
Thanks to Joey Biden’s “open border”.
Try honesty. And facts. And even some reality.
Readers should take a look at the article published in VT Digger to compare Paul Bean’s account with the Digger account. One wonders whether the “reporter” from Digger ever spoke to the participants to get the larger context. Did the Digger “reporter” ever go to reporter school? Comparing these two accounts will illustrate why I – for one – go to VDC for my Vermont news and not Digger. Thank you, Guy Page for VDC and for hiring Paul Bean. Note – Digger does not take comments like this, as far as I know.
If Sarah Mearhoff can hear everything, she can probably read people’s minds as well, and did not need to ask Paul Bean his perspective.
Don’t want to even give them a “click”. I’ll take your word for it. Besides it’s the same with every other story anyway… if they even report on it to begin with.
Bill from White Plains,
I have been reading your comments with keen interest and they brought me back to my Washington days when I used to indulge in an occasion drink with a drinking buddy at the Birds Nest at the Willard Hotel.
I think my drinking buddy and you would find much of mutual interest…he was the head PSY profiler at the FBI, just down the street.
Yesterday, 3 “feminists” told me they saw no problem with men in dresses competing in women’s sports, no problem with women-who-have-penises changing with them in locker rooms. I was lost… what about high school girls? What I once thought of as “normal” is now considered politically incorrect.
Sarah Mearhoff’s last line in the VTDigger article, “I hear everything,” is delusional. Does she see dead people, too? Her self-proclaimed omniscience is hysterical. Her perspective in news pieces is commonly is off-the-mark to the point of slander, thus the nickname “Smearhoff.”
“He who establishes his argument by noise or command, shows that his reason is weak.”. —Michel de Montaigne
VTDigger’s account can be summarized in the phraseology of its editor’s own accounting of the statement by the young page – “(not quite accurate, but the spirit was there)”.
And Digger’s journalistic acumen is also accurately exposed by the reporter’s own admission.
“You may be wondering: How did I hear this entire exchange? I hear everything 🙂
— Sarah Mearhoff”
It’s always hearsay with these folks. No notes. No recording. No corroborating witnesses. No opportunity for the subject (Bean) to respond. In other words, in this story at least, Ms. Mearhoff and VTDigger break a myriad of Journalism Ethics Guidelines. So, what else is new.
Yes, thank you Guy Page for VDC and also for hiring Paul Bean. Finally the written truth in a Vermont News publication that all Vermonters can rely on.
And as far as that 14 year old page is concerned, she needs to be educated on the definition of feminism. Feminists protect women’s rights. Look up Title IX. They will recite what it means to be a woman. Organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests. They would not approve of a 14 year old biological male watching females change in dressing rooms and say that was ok because they would want to protect her and keep her safe. They would not want their 14 year old daughter competing against a biological male in a contact sport because of possible life altering injuries. If that girl has been working for years at a sport and holds scholarships and records who then wants to go to the Olympics. Would she feel right taking away her awards to give to a biological male who wasn’t good enough in that sport as a male so took some hormones and said he was a female? I hope she wouldn’t!!! They just stripped a Russian the other day of her medal for doping. It only took 2 years but how is this any different?
Regarding Olympic track and field, Lord Sebastian Coe said 2 years ago that biological males will not be competing in women’s events. At least sanity prevails somewhere.
Give these narcissistic windbags a coil of rope and eventually they’ll hang themselves.
Good job laughing at these children. That’s really all they are.
I don’t understand why Paul is perusing the dispatch nightmare while sitting on his IPad….
It’s called modern syntax, John. The grammatical ‘new world order’.
Personally, I like the ‘smearhoff’ moniker. Seems young Sarah is known for this journalistic conduct. We all know Digger is.
Actually,in 1968 or nine My mom left my dad took me to live in White river Jct. She borrowed money from the bank to buy us a mobile home. Previously she acquired a MasterCard on her own to which she was quite proud. In 1972 at the ripe old age of 16 she co-signed a loan at a bank for me so I could purchase my first car from a dealer in town. So that 1974 date was a little wrong
Maybe instead of wandering around the statehouse Bean should get a real job. The trades are always hiring. It’s not as easy as pretending to be a reporter, but it’s much more rewarding. With a real job you can make friends your own age and maybe even start dating. Once you have a fulfilling normal life all this culture war nonsense the elderly are obsessed with will begin to seem silly and childish.
Re: “Bean should get a real job.”
What? Like being VTDigger’s Statehouse Bureau Chief instead of being Vermont Daily Chronicle’s Reporter and Social Media Director? If I were to guess, they both pay withholding taxes.
And I get it… speaking of being ‘silly and childish’. If someone doesn’t agree with aaronflenser, or Vermont’s Democrat Party Director, or a self-advancing statehouse page – either on the make or directed by superiors (likely the latter), or a VT Digger quibbler, they aren’t welcome in the Statehouse where everyone else surely has a ‘real job’.
Hey Dandeneau – I hereby challenge you to a thumb wrestling match! That oughta teach you, you poo-pee head!! (My granddaughter assisted me with that piercing put-down!)
Look, because people like this buffoon cannot obviously use common civility or comport themselves with decorum. And in order to assert political power/prowess over clear-thinking individuals, they then must resort to bullying & strongarm tactics.
One need only to look at the poster “Chris” on VDC to see his own pedestrian, incoherent posts – including a couple wherein he essentially threatened hypothetical physical confrontations against me (LOL) in a futile effort to shut me down. Looks to me like I wasn’t particularly phased, but of course.
But Dandeneau – I’d start pumping iron quick if you want to even think about taking me down in the thumb-wrestling ring.
“Look, because people like this buffoon cannot obviously use common civility or comport themselves with decorum.”
Yours is not a civil statement.
Kathy, somewhere in there is a coherent thought. Almost! I haven’t threatened you with anything, if you remember the actual truth is that Guy had to create rules in the forum because of you. (His words) I’ve never tried to shut you down because you never have anything to say.
I did laugh at this down the page, “our phony labels never fooled any of Vermont’s true independent thinkers” Aren’t you from, New York? Btw, I’ve been here eight generations
Chris, somewhere in there I am at a complete loss to find a coherent thought emanating from your word salads.
The only reason you chronically tail me on VDC is because my posts consistently trump (so to speak) yours – and you try in vain – between your imaginary occupation and fabricated genealogy – to fruitlessly find a means to make your radical, rambling, and disordered posts somehow be seen as rational retorts. Sadly, your replies are much like airballs in your match up against the pros.
And here’s a clue for you, just so you might not continue to remain so thoroughly confused….once one relocates from one state to another, one becomes a bonified “citizen” of that state….and I’m thinking that perhaps you ought be keenly aware of that, being that travel/residency within the Union has long been a Constitutional Right, correct, “teacher of history”? Lol. Therefore, indeed, I am indeed a Vermonter as are hundreds of thousands of other like citizens who now comprise the population.
As for Guy Page, I never directed or requested that he alter/add to his requirements for posting (which you yourself continue to completely ignore, as you still obviously lack the courage to post your own given name), but I assume that he must have instead recognized the reality that misogynist comments are synonymous with racist comments which he previously disallowed and felt compelled to make that clear as the moderator of this site for those who might not be aware. If you believe that sexist comments ought to be allowed or encouraged, perhaps take that issue up with Guy and have him alter his guidelines.
As far as your threatening me – you foolishly did so twice in writing on this site and there they remain for posterity in all their usual juvenile form.
Catch up with you again as your OCD again shall necessitate you to continue to pursue me.
Okay ENOUGH you two – no personal criticism or mockery.
I do hope Mr. Bean has learned an important lesson. Never argue with a minor in public, to whom you aren’t related, or otherwise do not know anything about. Cowardly bullies are notorious for using kids to pick fights.
Genesis 3:14-15
14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
James Dandeneau, interim executive director since May 2022. Bio source VTDP: “…he worked as the Field Director for Sue Minter’s campaign for Governor. Before relocating to Vermont with his wife, Jim spent 15 years in New York City politics, working on campaigns for City Council, state Assembly and Senate, and County Legislature.”
James, along with many of his ilk, are carpet-bagging, foot soldiers for the belligerent, installed regime. James’ efforts in NY are stellar achievements as the results speak volumes this very day! They are losing control. The bull in the china shop routine is part and parcel of their panic and desperation. Stand your ground Paul and Guy – these clown’s days are clearly numbered. Declared and decreed!
Ah-HA! A Noo Yawka is he?? Well, that explains his bluster and bravado! One thing for sure, Jimmy – you’ve certainly met your match with me —- as a long ago, far, far away former downstate New Yorker myself, I relocated to Vermont to live amidst the peacefulness, the safety, the constitutional-carry, the old-fashioned American values, and the rural environs this state afforded – NOT to have boorish, opportunistic charlatans like you coming in to “change things”.
Everyone knows why your DNC fabricated your “democrat-socialist” political party banner — it’s because thanks to the COMMUNIST CONTROL ACT OF ’54 – being a card-carrying member of the Communist party in the USA is still technically, legally unlawful, you criminal. Thereby, the only one being thrown out of any “People’s House” should be YOU and your Pinko comrades. Your false flags & your phony labels never fooled any of Vermont’s true independent thinkers & that just drives you insane, as if sanity was ever an attribute you possessed.
By the way, the above apt descriptions brought to you by: FREEDOM of SPEECH. Ring a bell? Didn’t think so……
I do feel sorry for the young turks and Bernie Bros. They obviously fell headlong for the lies and deception. They truly believe they are making “change” we all have to pay for dearly, some with lives and too many livelihoods. I stood in their shoes before I snapped out of the programming. Eventually, they will have no choice but to embrace reality finding themselves adrift in a world that doesn’t find them all that “special” or “entitled” afterall. Seeing some of the liberal influencers coming to terms with reality lately is refreshing and does give some hope for humanity. We shall see….. In the meantime, point out the obvious that their Master’s programming isn’t working out and it is crashing down to the ground.
Anyone here ever seen a rabid raccoon? Yep, pretty much the same thing with the Progressives cloaking themselves as Democrats. A real democrat of the 50’s and 60’s would have tossed these modern-day Progressives (they should be called what they are, socialists and Communists) out on their collective butts. The nerve they have is astounding. Just a bunch of spoiled rich kids who have never been told no.
Who would think that a page could print out their document for them? Is he new to the statehouse? This guy seems like a novice. Maybe VT daily should bring back some of their old reporters that know how to pick battles and report on the actual news from the capitol.
Yes, Paul is somewhat new to the byzantine ways of the Golden Dome. Everyone has to learn sometime, he’s a quick study. He can do work with video and social media that we old hands could never manage.
Are the Legislative pages still placed in their positions by their “connected” relatives? When I worked at the State House, I recall a good many of the pages were related to Legislators and high-ranking bureaucrats – by three degrees of seperation or less. Being they are all minors running around and treated like servants – it was actually disturbing to watch and in hindsight, it is disturbing – considering the plight of unsupervised minors among disturbed adults these days.
the key board thumpers will not go the state house and confront dandy jimbo/// all talk no action//
thumb wrestling match/// dandy vs gaff/// can we take bets on who will win///
Sure. Me! 10 to one. Now…..your name again?
Jimmy Dandeneau hollers “get the hell out of here? Try that with me flatlander. See what you get Mr. Carpetbagger. While you are at it lose some weight. I mean REALLY, Jimmy.
WOW!!! “Sheesh, what a grouch!” This random misunderstanding could be racked up to “Much Ado About Nothing,” me thinks, but it does look, smell and sound like rabid raccoon/left wing symptoms as Steve Waldo suggested, or be it a local micro- cosm showcasing the selfrighteous& arrogant ineptitude of communist woodchuck wannabe-ism. Kinda reminds me of Bernie, too cool for shul, Sanders and his mission to castrate our Constitution and replace it with Sharia Law and other cool subjects which are now deemed untouchable by the elitist socialist media.
“Too cool for shul”. Like it. I’m going to convert, just so I can recite it. And Sharia Law – what with child sexual abuse now encouraged and equality of the sexes a thing of the past — just imagine the carnage they can further create by embracing ideologies such as female genital mutilation & legalizing the brutal beating of women who dare to expose the hair on their heads.
As far as the “grouchy” part, I’ll admit to that myself on more than one occasion…I notice it happens with greater frequency though whenever Marxists attempt to overthrow free nations and destroy the lives of the citizens within. Go figure, right?
name///reactionary disturber///wins again///never bet against him///
Most people recognize his inconsequential behavior. He attacks people he doesn’t know. He is the epitome of childish behavior. You would think Democrats would find a more stable leadership model. Shameful.
Why would you”… think Democrats would find a more stable leadership model”?
There’s nothing more ‘stable’ about the VT Dem party. Its lock-step authoritarian stranglehold on the Vermont legislature is working just fine – especially when compared to the dysfunctional VT GOP.