Another VT. RINO plans to switch parties

Snelling Considers Leaving GOP --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First it was U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords rocking the political world a year ago with his departure from the increasingly far-right-wing Republican Party. Now Seven Days has learned another prominent Vermont Republican is considering doing likewise. When asked this week if she would stand for reelection as a Republican, Chittenden County State Sen. Diane Snelling told us she is “reviewing many options.” She said there were a lot of times this past session “when I wasn’t as comfortable as I wanted to be in the [Senate] Republican caucus.”

Consider that her father, the late Richard Snelling, is the only Republican to hold the governor’s office since 1972. And consider that her mother, Barbara Snelling, served as a Republican lieutenant governor and came back from a stroke to serve as a senator. Given that, a party switch to Democrat by Princess Di would be equivalent to a member of the British royal family joining the Irish Republican Army.

But her options also include pulling a Jeezum Jim and becoming an Independent. Princess Di told us she is, in reality, “kind of independent-ish.”

If anyone could pull off a victory in November as an Independent, it would be someone whose last name has been on a Chittenden County ballot since the 1960s. Especially a name that in Vermont political circles is synonymous with “integrity.”

Sen. Diane Snelling, 50, is a Hinesburg artist who paints watercolors. She grew up in the political shadow of her famous parents. She mostly avoided the limelight, until last January when she was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Howard Dean. She replaced her mother, a living legend, who resigned for health reasons. But getting to the Senate chamber wasn’t easy for Barbara’s little girl.

January’s Taliban-dominated Republican county caucus refused to include her among the three names they recommended to the Guv. You see, like her mom, Diane is pro choice and supports civil unions. That makes her a sinner in the eyes of the religious right faction that calls the shots in the Republican county caucus.

The fact is, two years ago the same holier-than-thou gang, led by the notorious Rev. David Stertzbach, trashed Barbara Snelling something awful. It’s a foul wind the Reverend brings to the political arena. And there’s no reason to believe Rev. Sleazebag and his Bible-belters won’t be gunning for Diane Snelling in this fall’s Republican Primary.

You see, the Hinesburg redhead has come to enjoy being a state senator. She gets high marks from her colleagues as a thoughtful, intelligent representative. It is, after all, in her blood. The question is, could Diane Snelling get elected running under the Republican label?

State GOP Chairman Joe Acinapura told Seven Days this week that he has talked to Sen. Di “a lot” about her reelection plans.

“She told me she’d keep me in the loop,” said Chairman Jo-Jo. Acinapura said he was aware of the possibility she would have a difficult time getting past the right-wing God Squad in the primary in order to win a spot on the November ballot.

Should Sen. Snelling change her mind about running as a Republican, said Chairman Jo-Jo, “She assured me I would be the first to know.”

Peter Freyne writes in this week's Inside Track that Senator Diane Snelling, ?-Chittenden, is considering dumping her long association with the Grand Old Party and moving on a la Jim Jeffords. She may be afraid of a primary but you should never campaign looking at the rear view mirror. Then was then, and now is now. Folks are more worried about their jobs than civil unions.

Demodents do not fly. There are about twenty five percent of the people who will vote a straight Republican ticket. There are about thirty percent who will vote a straight Democrat ticket. There is no Demodent Party. That leaves Snelling with a maximum vote of forty five percent if all the rest vote for her. It will be hard for her to win unless she stays a Republican or goes all the way and becomes a Democrat.

We suspect that she would hold a senate seat for life in either party. However, her moving would sure be a knock on Republican leader Senator John Bloomer and new GOP Chair Joe Acinapura.

More at JD __________________________________________________________________________

The daughter of long-time Republican stalwart and governor Richard Snelling and (his wife) former Republican Lt. Governor and state senator Barbara Snelling was named by Gov. Dean last year to fill the seat left vacant by her mother after illness forced Barbara to step down.

Diane was not selected by the State Republican as one of three persons they wanted the Gov. to appoint.

But ol' Howie (I wanna be VP but I gotta make it look good) Dean told them to stuff it and picked Diane S. because "of her moderate views."

She's about as moderate as Jeezum Jim and just about as loyal.

Here's what a couple of local writers have to say about the situation.

Peter Freyne is a died-in-the-wool liberal-socialist and James Dwinell is one of the few bright lights of conservatism still burning in VT.

This just doesn't sound right. Those Republicans who switch parties do so like a thief in the night. They don't pre-announce. She will run as a Republican and then turn traitor; it is what flaming Jim did. Democraps who become Republicans (see: Phil Gramm) declare at election time so the voters can confirn or reject the change in affiliation of the candidate. I simply do not believe that a sleazy, commie, America-hating democrap would ever show the class to declare in advance of the election. The slimey, Clintonian behavior would be to use Republican resources, run as a Republican and, after misleading the voters who elected you, then switch parties. If the honey is a democrap, that that is the route she will take. After all, it worked for little Jim. You know that, when the Republicans take the Senate back from the socialists, little Jim will try to abandon the independents and re-declare as a Republican. Uh hum, yes he will. He is a sleazy weasel. I hope those with honer, Republicans all and a few Democrats, will then treat him as he deserves.

She will run as a Republican and then turn traitor

I'm not so sure.

One of the reasons given for her possible turncoating is that she doubts she will get reelected as a Rep.

She is described by the leading Dems in the Senate as as a nice, moderate person. Just what we need in Montpelier.

I guess she's living on her father's money (he was a successful manufacturer) since her occupation is listed as a "water-color painter."

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