Posted on 07/17/2006 2:58:51 PM PDT by george76
Seeks to clear way for independent in US Senate bid...
Vermont's Democratic Party is maneuvering to keep the Democratic candidates for the state's open US Senate seat off the November ballot, as party leaders seek to clear the way for independent Representative Bernard Sanders in his bid for the Senate.
State Democratic leaders are spearheading efforts to gather signatures to put Sanders on the ballot as a Democrat, even though Sanders has repeatedly said he would turn down the party's nomination if he wins the primary.
At least three other candidates have announced their intention to run for the Democratic nomination in the Sept. 12 primary, but party leaders prefer Sanders to any of them.
Sanders's candidacy for the seat left open by the retirement of independent Senator James M. Jeffords has put national Democrats in the uncomfortable position of supporting Sanders in lieu of any Democratic candidates.
National party leaders have also been preoccupied with the Democratic primary challenge to Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut.
the party's decision to shun self-described Democrats in Vermont has led some to accuse their leaders of rigging the election.
Peter Moss, a retired chemical engineer who announced last week that he will run for the Democratic Senate nomination, called the party establishment's support for Sanders ``highly unethical" and unfair to outsider candidates.
Jim Barnett, chairman of the Vermont Republican Party, said the Democrats' decision to embrace Sanders is another example of their lurch to the left.
Sanders, 64, supports a state-run ``single-payer" healthcare system, opposes foreign trade agreements...
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Here in CT there's a lot of talk of supporting the CT senate primary winner, Lieberman or Lamont. Support the party! But in VT, the opposite is being played out...
Will Lieberman runs as an Independent if Lamont wins the primary ?
Yes, he has so stated and is already gathering the signatures.
So, they prefer a Socialist to three of their own, eh? Not surprising, really.
When is the Conn primary ?
This move shows how much the "Straight Ticket" voting matters to winning elections.
As an Independent, Sanders won't get Democratic Party straight ticket votes.
An injunction needs to prevent the Democrats from co-opting, against his will, Sanders into the Democratic straight ticket ballot selection.
Many a hippie idiot from the Northeast has moved to Vermont since the 60's. Case in point: Howard Dean.
August 8th thereabouts, I think.
Is there a Conservative Republican in Vermont who can step in amidst all the LIEberal/Socialist/Marxist inspired chaos and dissention and win?
Maybe someone from Vermont can answer your question.
This from the article...
"Two candidates, Richard Tarrant and Greg Parke, are running in the Republican primary.
Barnett said the state GOP is officially neutral in that race, though he noted that Tarrant received the overwhelming support of party regular in a nonbinding straw poll taken in May."
Thanks. Bernie Sanders needs to be retired.
Although Bernie may qualify as a beatnick. I had a chat with a guy from NYC that said he knew Bernie way back when.
Too bad your most Republican district spits out Nancy Johnson each year. When she leaves maybe you folks can find somebody more Republican Mainstream and less infatuated with abortion. Even in NH they manage congressmen who have ACU scores in the seventies from time to time.
"Will Lieberman runs as an Independent if Lamont wins the primary ?"
Question to ask is if Lieberman wins the primary, will Lamont run as an independent?
Lamont has stated that he will support Lieberman if Lieberman wins, and has asked Lieberman to extend to him the same courtesy...which, it looks like, will not happen...Lieberman has started (or is about to start) his petition drive.
Of course they would, Sanders is more left-wing.
Actually they prefer a Communist (Sanders) to their three Socialists.
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