With a cold, blustery wind and the feel of oncoming snow, the Charlie Ross Making and Breaking of Political Heroes event at UVM started with an ominous hint of confrontation.

VIPs were escorted to the front section. Local press milled about, including Chris Graff, the recently fired from the AP dean of the Vermont press corps, and father of Dean staffer and first White House Blogger Garrett Graff… Sam Hemingway and that blond guy with the ponytail. I know I know his name, but…

And no less than 5 professional video cameras - three on the floor, one on the stage and one in the balcony - were on hand to capture the fireworks, apparently in part for an upcoming VPT program.

Current and past UVM presidents, Dan Fogel and Ed Colodny, talked amiably. Dan in an appropriately academic suit. Ed in a bright red v-neck sweater. And, of course, there was the gruff and rumpled Frank Bryan.

The program began with a welcome from President Fogel and then Chuck Ross, son of Charlie Ross, the event’s namesake. Charlie, the father, was many, many things, including a UVM professor and one-time unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate. The eventual winner of the campaign of 1974 was Pat Leahy. Chuck, the son, is Leahy’s State Director.

After a touching slideshow covering Charlie Ross’ full life, the combatants took the stage. Sitting left to right were Howard Dean, Howard Fineman, Dotty Lynch, Howard Wolfson, Ron Kaufman, and moderator Norm Ornstein.

That’s right, Howard Dean and Howard Fineman, sitting right next to each other.

All were treated to a personal water pitcher which must have contained at least 18 ounces of water. This group was going to need to slake heavily. And they clearly were not going to share.

So, Ornstein tried to soften what surely must have been a tense and anxious crowd with a few jokes. The best of which were (paraphrases, of course)…

37% of Americans say that they would rather have Dubai run the U.S. than Bush.

And when Cheney was at a 38% approval rate, Bush asked him, “What’s your secret?”

George Bush said recently, “You know, people keep saying that I just don’t listen, but when I do, they say I need a warrant!”

So the stage was set for battle. But, confrontation, there was not.

(to be continued…)

For more coverage, with actual quotes, read this or this.

UPDATE: Fellow traveler, Corinne, pointed me to this WCAX story and offered this…

This is why I love irony so much:

“Before the public forum, panelist Howard Fineman of Newsweek told reporters it’s difficult but not impossible to see heroes in politics: “Maybe I’m being naive, but I think the American people see someone who can reach across the divide in the country, speak truth, be fearless, have a sense of humor, they’ll respond to it. That’s my hope and my belief.”

All he had to do Tuesday was look to his right. Guess you can’t always see what’s right in front of you.