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‘Way ahead of his time’: Jim Jeffords’ 2001 political switch back in the spotlight
Vtdigger.org ^ | 5/23/21 | Kevin O'Connor

Posted on 05/24/2021 5:03:39 PM PDT by cotton1706

right Republican Party.

“Are you uncomfortable remaining a member?” one reporter asked Scott after U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., was dumped from GOP leadership this month for repudiating former President Donald Trump.

Scott’s response: “The big tent we talk about a lot within the party doesn’t appear to exist, and I think that’s really unfortunate. All I can do is continue to serve the people in a manner that is reputable, open and welcoming.”

But 20 years ago this week, another Vermonter did something explosively different. On May 24, 2001, then U.S. Sen. James Jeffords walked into a press-packed Burlington hotel ballroom and announced he was leaving the Republican Party, single-handedly tipping control of a 50-50 chamber to the Democrats.

“Mr. Jeffords Blows Up Washington,” shouted a subsequent cover of Newsweek.

The print magazine has given way to the internet, and the man who sparked the headline died in 2014. But as commentators debate whether today’s GOP is facing a “purge” or a “civil war,” they’re finding the inside story of Jeffords’s two-decade-old defection to be surprisingly relevant.

(Excerpt) Read more at vtdigger.org ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections; US: Vermont; US: Wyoming
KEYWORDS: elections; jamesjeffords; jumpingjimjeffords; jumpinjimjeffords; kevinoconnor; lizcheney; mediawingofthednc; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; vermont; wyoming
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Well well well what have we here, a puff piece on a turncoat republican.

And how familiar is the refrain? The Republican Party had become TOO conservative. He just couldn't take it.

George Bush wasn't supposed to win so conservative governance must be thwarted, at all cost.

And Jim Jeffords was more than happy to help out.

He didn't leave the Republican Party till AFTER he was safely reelected. then he retired. Such a "brave" maverick. And how typical!

We can recognize these types now and have been weeding them out.

1 posted on 05/24/2021 5:03:39 PM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706

Real Republicans are uncomfortable allowing that ignorant s*** to remain in the Republican party. Let her whore her ignorance and stupidity with her love for party of ignorance and intolerance and experience true wokeness (along with a whole lot of excrement).

And may the flies of a thousand camels fly up her......


2 posted on 05/24/2021 5:07:35 PM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: cotton1706

I’m sure he collected his 30 pieces of silver.


3 posted on 05/24/2021 5:10:03 PM PDT by RetiredTexasVet (Corrupt Slow Joe Biden is the Bolshevik sock puppet.)
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To: cotton1706

Good riddance.

THE DEMOCRATS DON’T BELIEVE IN A “BIG TENT” AND NEITHER DO I.

There is only room for Socialists, racists, traitors and transgender freaks in their parry.

AND I DON’T WANT ANY IN MINE OR QUISLINGS AND BENEDICT ARNOLDS LIKE HIM.


4 posted on 05/24/2021 5:10:08 PM PDT by ZULU (Impeach John Roberts, Coney-Barrett, Kavanaugh and Gorsuch. TRAITORS)
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To: cotton1706
The big tent we talk about a lot within the party doesn’t appear to exist, and I think that’s really unfortunate.

The tent can accommodate more people when people with big heads (you, Christine Todd Whitman, Paul Ryan, Jeff Flake, anything named Romney) are no longer inside. We have to break some eggheads to make an omelette (Lenin ... kinda).
5 posted on 05/24/2021 5:10:46 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (Dr. Sivana is not a medical doctor. He is a comic book doctor of the Mad Scientist variety.)
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To: cotton1706
Where's the Democrat's big tent?

Are there any 2nd Amendment or pro-life voices in the Rat party?

Of course not. It's always the GOP that's "too extreme."

6 posted on 05/24/2021 5:11:09 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Free Republic: The Internet's 1st social media platform. Since 1996.)
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To: Da Coyote
Cheney will be lucky to poll 20% in any Wyoming primary and most of those will be cross-over Democrats.

That is if she is stupid enough to run again.

7 posted on 05/24/2021 5:12:07 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (The politicized state destroys aspects of civil society, human kindness and private charity.)
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To: cotton1706
Once again someone who is not a Republican and probably doesn't even know a Republican is dispensing advice to us.

No thanks.

8 posted on 05/24/2021 5:14:04 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: cotton1706

VTdigger is a disgusting progressive rag - one of the worst in the State.


9 posted on 05/24/2021 5:15:49 PM PDT by GreyHoundSailor
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To: cotton1706

Liz Cheney is a lowly rep. Meanwhile, Joe Manchin is a Senator...

WTF does Liz Cheney have to do with jumpin Jim?

The author is an Idiot.


10 posted on 05/24/2021 5:17:21 PM PDT by UNGN
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To: cotton1706

Jumping Jim Jeffords as he was called at the time. All he cared about was milk subsidies.


11 posted on 05/24/2021 5:21:21 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage? (Drain the Swamp. Build the Wall.)
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To: cotton1706

When you hear “big tent” you know that a Bushbot is behind it pushing for surrender to the leftists.


12 posted on 05/24/2021 5:21:59 PM PDT by wildcard_redneck ( COVID lockdowns are the Establishment's attack on the middle class and our Republic )
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To: cotton1706

Jeffords made up a lot of excuses as to why he switched, but in my opinion he switched because he had a price that the democrats were willing to pay: chairmanship on a couple of senate committees.

It was satisfying to watch the republican party regain their majority only a couple years later, resulting in the loss of his chairmanships and his abandonment by both parties. Being in the minority now, the democrats had no further use for him and the republican party wasnt about to deal with this turncoat.

When he put out his autobiography in 2003, pretty much sales were underwhelming. To this day, it still has as of yet to garner a single customer review on Amazon. He disappeared into obscurity which is what he deserved.


13 posted on 05/24/2021 5:22:53 PM PDT by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge

I drove through Vermont that fall checking out the leaves changing color. Rural. Many farms had signs out front reading “Thanks Jim”. That’s ok. We won’t see many in Wyoming unless Liz resigns.


14 posted on 05/24/2021 5:25:07 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (`)
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To: cotton1706

Jumping Jim Jeffords the Vermont Dairy Queen....

He changed leadership and ruling in The Senate without having to go through one of those messy election things. A traitor and good riddance to him.


15 posted on 05/24/2021 5:27:45 PM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.d)
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To: lowbridge

“Being in the minority now, the democrats had no further use for him”

Nobody trusts a trader.


16 posted on 05/24/2021 5:29:47 PM PDT by alternatives? (If our borders are not secure, why fund an army?)
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To: cotton1706

I’d like to donate a used bag of burritos and a used 12 pack of beer to the memory of Jumpin Jim if I ever get up that way...


17 posted on 05/24/2021 5:29:58 PM PDT by kiryandil (China Joe and Paycheck Hunter - the Chink in America's defenses)
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To: cotton1706

[[[Scott’s response: “The big tent we talk about a lot within the party doesn’t appear to exist, and I think that’s really unfortunate. All I can do is continue to serve the people in a manner that is reputable, open and welcoming.” ]]]

What a pantload. Trump brought in minorities by the truckload and showed the GOP the way to the big tent without compromising principles. He also courted the working class away from the Democrats.

The GOPe was all for the big tent until it elected Trump on them. They sold their souls to the corporate lobbyists back in the 90’s.


18 posted on 05/24/2021 5:31:07 PM PDT by headstamp 2 (Socialism- Institutionalized Deprivation)
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To: cotton1706

And IIRC, 2 years later, after the GOP midterm wins, that turncoat fool all but lost all influence and entered the dust bin of senate history.


19 posted on 05/24/2021 5:46:18 PM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: ZULU

You can be my senator


20 posted on 05/24/2021 5:59:36 PM PDT by genghis
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