Looking Back at James Jeffords - What a Hero and Patriot

[NashVegas]

Jeffords stood up to George W. Bush and his own party right about this time, three years and one month ago, when all of the press was fawning over the Shrub and dared not print a negative word, with few exceptions.

There was no Farenheit 9/11.
There was no Abu Ghraib scandal.
There was no Patriot Act.
There was no Valerie Plame, Joseph Wilson, or Paul O'Neill or Richard (?) Clark.
There was no Dick Cheney caught lying on national television.
There was no Air America.


In the past, without the presidency, the various wings of the Republican Party in Congress have had some freedom to argue and ultimately to shape the party's agenda. The election of President Bush changed that dramatically. We don't live in a parliamentary system, but it is only natural to expect that people such as myself, who have been honored with positions of leadership, will largely support the president's agenda.

And yet, more and more, I find I cannot. Those who don't know me may have thought I took pleasure in resisting the president's budget, or that I enjoyed the limelight. Nothing could be further from the truth. I had serious, substantive reservations about that budget, and the decisions it sets in place for today and the future.

Looking ahead, I can see more and more instances where I will disagree with the President on very fundamental issues: the issues of choice, the direction of the judiciary, tax and spending decisions, missile defense, energy and the environment, and a host of other issues, large and small.

...

In order to best represent my state of Vermont, my own conscience, and the principles I have stood for my whole life, I will leave the Republican Party and become an Independent.

James Jeffords hung his ass out in the wind, alone, over three years ago when the fascists who put George W. Bush in power saw nothing but good things ahead.

A DU toast to the man, whatever he's doing tonight.

In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot. - Mark Twain

:toast:

[ljm2002]

1. Hear, hear!

I toasted him at the time, and I'll gladly toast him again!

:toast: Here's to ya, Senator Jeffords!!!

[smirkymonkey]

2. A True American Patriot...

and apparently one of the few politicians left with a shred of integrity. Too bad there aren't more who put the welfare of the nation and their core principles ahead of personal and political gain.

[Rose Siding]

3. He is a lovely lovely man

I saw one of his town halls on c-span. He is so genuine. I liked his wife, too. Vermont sends us some fine people.

[Cha]

4. Sure! I'll toast Jim Jeffords!

:toast:

[kentuck]

5. Not enough to register "Democrat" though...

:)

[NashVegas]

6. Yeah, Well Neither Am I

:P

although I was a Dem for a day during primary season.

[stavka]

7. Stop saying "Fascists" !!!!!!!!

It sounds retarded, and makes easy and fair play for your political enemies.

Do you think swing votes, or the politically uninitiated have any sense at all what you are talking about when you say, or SCREAM FASCIST ? - they don't.

You need to speak in plain, real english - unlike Europe of the 10-40's the potential votes out there don't know or care about "fascism" - they just want a better job, or for some, a reason they shouldn't just make street crime an occupation yet read newsgroups.....

[NashVegas]

9. I'm Calling a Spade, a Spade

If you prefer "corporatists" that's just fine, but this is DU, where people know what fascism is, not TV Guide or People Magazine.

If you fear to call the Bush administration for what they are, Mr. Jefford's lesson to us all has been lost on you.

[stavka]

10. ...there's no need to bring race into the argument. Jeez

[Pobeka]

8. Yep, a man committed to his principles, not his party.

I wish most politicians had that much integrity.

:toast:

[AP]

11. What was his last vote as a Republican?

I vaguely remember that he stayed a Republican just long enought to vote for some huge economic giveaway to the rich.

He was a hero. But I wish he would have realized a little sooner that he was a Democrat.

If I were a Senator, you can bet I'd never be so confused that I'd be a Republican. I'd also never make the mistake of voting for give-aways to people who don't need them.