By Ted Cohen

Blah blah blah.

That’s all we heard from the three Democratic candidates who are seeking that party’s nomination for the top elected job in Vermont’s largest city.

No real leaders.

Just psychobabble from all three – Joan Shannon, Karen Paul, C.D. Mattison, in the weekend mayoral forum hosted by a WCAX-TV reporter.

Sorry to report this but they have no clue.

The reason businesses in downtown Burlington are going belly-up isn’t because of crime.

It’s because they’re selling refrigerator magnets for $40.

In the old days, Burlington had a wide variety of quality department stores and five and dime stores. But there’s nothing there anymore.

Moreover, not one candidate explained how she will reduce property taxes for homeowners, how she will control spending.

Taxes in BurlinFrisco are out of control.

Speaking of psychobabble, it’s really funny how Paul and Shannon are afraid to take each other on by name and just sort of stick it to each other with vague, passive-aggressive accusations.

Paul’s favorite one is vaguely accusing Shannon of talking a lot without doing anything. But she’s afraid to mention Shannon’s name.

Shannon’s favorite one is vaguely accusing Paul of talking big about supporting police while at the same time Paul voted to cut police positions. But again, Shannon will never mention Paul’s name.

Then there’s Mattison, who talks a good game.

Mattison? She calls herself Mattison in first reference, but her first initials are C.D.

But what’s her name? Mattison? CD? Like, what’s that all about?

Shannon decided the solution to the to the problems in Vermont’s largest city – crime and lack of business – are “go shop.”

Isn’t that what George W. Bush said after 9/11 and was laughed off the face of the Earth for saying so?

Paul, meanwhile, keeps talking about quote “financials.” She thinks she’s so cool because she’s an accountant.

BTW, no one has asked her why she quit her job as an accountant so she could vote for the Burlington Telecom contract. That’s a very mysterious one…

Seriously, how much money does she have? Could you just simply quit your job for a part-time city councilor job?

God help us.