Wally’s two cents on Freyne’s departure

This week, long-time political columnist Peter Freyne ended his tenure as a columnist and political gadfly.

His departure from the scene will make all press secretaries sleep easier.

Peter had his own rules of journalism. He was a columnist that acted like a reporter and expected to be treated like one. He was always first to a press conference. He forced everyone to speak to him no matter how outrageous his editorial behavior. No one was safe from his attacks. He had a good sense of humor about almost any situation. He was notorious for taking everything and anything out of context. And misquoting was his art.

But he was a columnist, not a reporter, even though he fancied himself one. Peter was fed the dirt because he was often the only one writing and because he lived and breathed politics.

He played favorites. He was his allies’ best attack dog. Unlike almost any other figure in Vermont Politics, Freyne’s favorites usually won.

We will miss his passion, but not his style.

And hopefully PolitickerVT.com can provide the same level of continuous flow of good political information and gossip without the misquotes and the favoritism.

Good luck, Peter, in your future.