Sen. James Jeffords (R-VT) is one hour away from a press conference in which he is expected to announce a change of alliance from Republican to independent, or possibly even Democrat. If he accepts the various carrots being held up by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, he will become a de facto Democrat in either case, giving that party either a 50-49-1 majority or better.
Doing so will strip Republican control of the Senate, has the potential to change the entire legislative agenda, and could make the confirmation process for President Cheney’s Executive Branch nominees even more difficult. It could also remove any chance for the President to nominate new “strict constructionist” (read: anti-Miranda, anti-Abortion) Supreme Court Justices. In other words, it’s the cops showing up at the door of the party at 10:30 pm, just when it’s getting started.
It’s worth remembering that Vermont has a “liberal Republican” tradition, a wing of the party that until this year in the Senate has been almost completely forsaken by GOP leadership as of late. Vermont already has a turncoat independent Representative in the House, who was reelected last year as an independent.
If it happens, it’s big, big news that will delight and mortify people around the world. Any comments?
You bet I’ve heard about it. Unfortunately, as the receptionist at the VT Dept. of tourism, and the gal who handles all the info requests, I’ve gotten ten e-mails just today about our ‘Benedict Arnold’ senator, and how now that he might be changing affiliation, they will: no longer buy things/boycott our state/say nasty things about us at recess. Good, more power to you all.
Ever notice that any letter/email that starts with “I am a good, god fearing christian” is invariably bad news?
sigh
By the way, he has delayed the announcement until tomorrow, so that he can give it from the state house. I’m surprised that I haven’t gotten any calls about it yet.
Personally, I think that it’s really great, and as soon as I get home tonight, I’m going to send him a supportive e-mail. It’s gotta be hard to make such a tough decision, especially when you’re working in politics.
I hope Jeffords isn’t the only one. I hope there are others — Democrats as well as Republicans — who will leave their parties if their consciences dictate. It could help speed the formation of a viable third party.
I wouldn’t HA HA too loudly. The GOP has taken 14 Democrats in the past 51 years. This will only be the 2 Democratic acquisition. But i gotta say, Jeffords has some GREAT timing. Can you say VP candidate?
Considering the number of people who vote straight party line on their ballots, it seems dishonest to change affiliations during a session. There are a lot of morons who vote all the way straight down a ticket without a clue to stands on issues because “She’s a Democrat” or “He’s a Republican” even in major races (pres, sen, congress, etc.). He took their votes. If he takes up a party banner, and takes their money, he should stay aligned with the party for that session. (that does not mean he must vote in lockstep, but there are procedural issues). If, at re-election time, he chooses to switch parties, that’s the time to do it.
Parties suck. Too bad we can’t get people who vote what they think is best for the country, instead of their party.
Yep, he did it. Now I’m not only getting e-mails, but phone calls as well. Seems silly to me. He’s the same guy he was. Politics is a very strange business.
Some people do vote on party lines, and I can see how one might consider it dishonest for an elected official to switch parties. However, a lot of people vote for someone who represents their viewpoints. And when that elected official sees what Bush is sending down the pipe, (for instance, alaskan wildlife preserve oil drilling) and knows it’s something his constituents would oppose, he has to do what he can to oppose it. If the most effective way to block it is to switch parties, so be it. To do otherwise would be dishonest to those who voted for him based on his principles.
In a way, that’s what Jeffords did. But it would be nice if everyone would vote independent of parties. Ah, well.
Moderator’s Notes: I’m not certain why this thread was placed here in MPSIMS, but it seems to be okay for the moment. I’ll leave it here until it evolves to a debate, or devolves to a slugfest. I would suspect there’s a thread already in GD on this topic, though. Please consider this prior to posting in this thread. I can’t get into GD at the moment or I’d provide a link.
And lurker, if the “morons who vote all the way straight down a ticket without a clue” cared what Jeffords really thought, then they would or wouldn’t have voted for him on his own merit. I don’t know why he should feel his loyalty lies more with a moron than with his own conscience.
[hijack]
And now, in an effort to keep this a likely MPSIMS thread (because I feel I’ve helped the pendulum swing over to the debate side), allow me a quick hijack…
If you need any more reasons for Jeffords to turn his back on the Republicans, and the President in particular, read some Bushisms.
[/hijack]
I’m not sure about this, but I believe Gravity and I are the only Vermonters on the boards. (feel free to tell me differently, but know I’ll ask you the difference between Grade A and Grade D maple syrup to test you). And I think Gravity’s post is representative of Vermonters in general. Yes, we are a very liberal state, but you head into the country, and you’ll find a lot of conservative good ole’ boys who believe Roe V. Wade should be reversed, Civil Unions should be repealed and it really IS pronounced “supposibly.” But above all, Vermonters are about not letting the government kick you around. This tradition started in the Revolutionary War, with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain boys helping to win a war Vermont wasn’t officially a part of. And it continues to today with Jeffords, who is mostly adored by the aforementioned non-flatlanders because he fights like a dog for the Northeast Dairy Compact. All of this combined means that the fellows down at the Feed and Grange are likely not to give a flying fornification about switching of party lines. Sure, they’re republicans, and have been their entire life, but Jim has fought for farming his entire career, and now that he doesn’t have to take heat from his party, he’ll continue to do so with more furvor than before.
Given that, and also given that as a pinko liberal, I am on cloud nine. So I give you ** The Top Reasons To Love My State, by Swiddles** [ul] [] With the loss of Jeffords, that leaves Vermont with one Democrat Senator (Leahy), one Indepentant Congressman (Sanders) and one Independant Senator. We also have a Democratic governor (Dean). Come to think of it, I can’t think of ONE high ranking Republican outside of the state house of representatives or senate. [] Civil Unions weren’t repealed yesterday. Granted, they really couldn’t do anything about it, really, but there was a push to try, and it was defeated. Come to Vermont, buy our silly Maple candy, and marry your true love, whoever they are!!![] I discussed The Sorrow and the Pity with Jon Fishman at the video store I work at two days ago. Where else can you have a polite, intelligent coversation with a member of the touring band with arguably the largest following in the world in his home town, and not be accosted by fans?[] Lilacs are out, and I just took a walk to the corner store for dish detergant. It’s been raining, and everything smelled of rain and lilac. Then I got to the store, and Peter Frayne, local liberal columnist for a couple different papers, was giddily discussing the USA Today headline with another customer. I LOVE this state! [/ul] I think I’ll go call my parents and thank them for moving here from NYC pre-Swiddles so that I can honestly call myself a native Vermonter. I’ve never been so proud of that distinction in my life.
An article in the local paper said that Bush probably pushed Jeffords into changing his party by mistreating him over recent legislation. If so…
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I work for a political services company, so everyone’s in a tizzy over this, especially since our main cashcow, a congressional guide, needs to be redone totally: we align the information in the committee sections by the majority party.
As a liberal, I’m overjoyed (but this isn’t IMHO or GD), but I’m annoyed that the guy next to me, a moderate Independent, who is even more ecstatic, refuses to pronounce “Vermont” correctly. He says it like “vermint” and it drives me nuts because he’s been on the phone talking about it all day.
Remember also that Trent Lott from Mississippi will no longer be senate Majority Leader. My poor little state will miss having him in that position. Nobody can do pork barrel like that guy.
Well, it certainly seems that Senator Jeffords is a straight up, stand up guy and, lordy, lordy, he’s going to need to be. Every tax return, every meeting, every sniff of nasal decongestant is going to be examined and re-examined for even the slightest whiff of indiscretion. And that’s aside from the inevitable conservative press whispering campaign.
Bush has almost four years, Jeffords five. He’s going to need friends. I wish him the very, very best. Much kudos to him and Vermont.