Republican will challenge Leahy in VT

WCAX-TV ^ | 2/11/03 | WCAX-TV

[JimVT]

This is the transcript from the 6 p.m. WCAX-TV news

21} MCMULLEN_INTRO

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The Massachusetts millionaire who was humbled by a Tunbridge farmer in the U-S Senate race four years ago is back for a second try. Jack McMullen says he will again seek the Republican nomination -- hoping to take on incumbent Democrat Patrick Leahy. Darren Perron has our exclusive report. 22} MCMULLEN_PKG

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((I will seek the republican nomination.)) Jack is back. Jack McMullen says he plans to unseat Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy. ((Time for a new voice. Leahy is not the favorite son with the current administration because of his decisions while on the Judiciary Committee)) This is not McMullen's first bid. He ran once before back in 19-98. That Senate race made national headlines. McMullen had recently moved full time to Vermont from Massachusetts -- when he announced. ((announcing))

That earned him a reputation as a "Carpetbagger." And another man stepped in to stop him. Tunbridge farmer -- turned movie star -- Fred Tuttle. The carpetbagger name stuck. And McMullen lost to Tuttle in the primary election. Tuttle claimed the Republican nomination but ENDORSED the the Democrat Pat Leahy. ((Tuttle with Leahy)) ((MCMULLEN: That wouldn't fly again. It's a horse that wont run well again I don't think. Not a good idea.)) McMullen says its important to bring private sector experience -- where he became a millionaire consultant -- to the public sector -- especially given the current economic conditions. McMullen has continued to play a part in local politics -- and has been active in the Burlington community. He thinks this time -- he can win.

((MCMULLEN: I think that kind of background is what is needed down in Washington. A voice for the current government.)) 23} LEAHY_RUP

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For his part, Leahy says it is way too early to even think about a challenge from McMullin or Fairfax businessman Peter Moss ((SEN. PATRICK LEAHY: Really right now I'm far more intent on just getting my job done. They'll be a time to campaign .. but certainly I'm not going to campaign in Vermont right now a year and a half before I even know which one of the two candidates will be my opponent.)) Although Leahy now says it is way too early to talk about campaigning, he is clearly thinking about it himself.

A publication called "Campaign and Elections Magazine" reports in the February issue that Patrick Leahy has just hired a company called campaign finance consultants to help him in his campaign for re-election next year.

[JimVT]

Well...he's starting early and he's got a bunch of dough so maybe it'll work this time.

At least we won't have Fred Tuttle in the mix...

Unless some liberal media wacko is looking to make another joke of Vermonter's right to vote.

[Malcolm]

Vermont is as liberal they come, but it would be nice to show Leahy the door. I've heard several instances, on FReep, of how he gives away confidential secrets to the media. Plus his stance on Republican court nominees. PL, can you say, "retirement?"

[The Wizard]

good

[Lancey Howard]

There is no shortage of people to loathe in the Democrat Party, but Leahy is at the top of the list.
What an ugly, sneering little mouse he is. What a scumbag.

[gop_gene]

Is it just me?--but the first time I saw Leahy, he reminded me uncannily of Olivier's mad dentist in "The Running Man."

[Dan from Michigan]

ANYONE but Leahy.

[timestax]

There is no shortage of people to loathe in the Democrat Party, but Leahy is at the top of the list. What an ugly, sneering little mouse he is. What a scumbag.

DITTO

[John Valentine]

You mean "Marathon Man"?

[JimVT]

Fred Tuttle - Farmer, Actor, Politician

Retired dairy farmer Fred Tuttle knows how to milk things for all they're worth. Take fame. He felt like a genuine movie star. Everywhere he went, people knew him and wanted his autograph. Tuttle exclaimed, "People I never saw before would say 'Hi Fred, how's it going?" Fred Tuttle became a cult figure of sorts in his native Vermont, thanks to his hilarious turn in "Man with a Plan," an acclaimed "mockumentary" movie, á la "This is Spinal Tap." It was about a poor, retired dairy farmer from Tunbridge, Vermont, who runs for Congress after realizing that being a congressman is the only way he can make $129,000 a year with no references and a 10th grade education.

In real life, the film's director asked Fred to run for Senate to promote the movie and protest a wealthy outsider's campaign for a Vermont senate seat. Fred said he would spend only $16 on his tongue-in-cheek campaign and subverted the electoral process by beating his opponent. Fred made his point and decided that enough was enough and dropped out of the campaign against the incumbent, Patrick Leahy.

Re the underline: Funny, this "promoter", John O'Brien, hasn't done any movies about a couple of other wealthy Vermont outsiders; Bernie Sanders and Howard Dean.

[timestax]

bump

[fieldmarshaldj]

I watched that race -- with great disgust. That had 'Rat dirty tricks written all over it. The liberal media thought it was cute and funny. Tuttle was an old fart being cynically manipulated by a bunch of socialistic filmmakers (who conveniently forgot about VT's own home-grown carpetbagger, the Socialist New Yorker Bernie Sanders) who were rather MOCKING of the original farming denizens of the state rather than heralding them. It was shameful. Tuttle was supporting Leahy anyway, and the GOP should've stripped him of the nomination. I wonder how cute and funny the 'Rats/media would've found it if we hijacked the 'Rat nomination for some fuddy-duddy to run against a potentially vulnerable GOP Senator ? I doubt they'd be laughing.

[dfwgator]

Oops, I thought you meant "Fred Scuttle."

[JimVT]

Brothers under the skin!

Benny probably would have done a good job.

[fieldmarshaldj]

McMullen is potentially a good candidate, though Leahy hasn't had a close contest since his 1980 reelection. If only the Progressive Coalition (the technical name of Sanders's party) fielded a strong candidate from the far-left and attempted to sandwich him, we might have a shot (as with what happened in both the Gov & Lt Gov races), though I don't think the Progs want to risk sending a Republican to Washington. I still think it will be tough to dislodge Leahy, though.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yeah, ole Fred's "plan" is to try to take less than 2 hours to take a leak each day.

[JimVT]

Yeah, ole Fred's "plan" is to try to take less than 2 hours to take a leak each day.

Ayup...ya woulda thunk ol' Pat Leaky woulda taught him a thing or two 'bout that there.

Say...how's a good-ol-boy from Tinnissee know so much about VT. politics?

I agree on Leahy being tough to oust.

I'm glad McMullen is starting early and has plenty of dough.

There is enough crap that stuck to Leahy over the past few years that a good case can be made for sending a new face to DC.

One thing that would help in VT is candidates who will state up front that they will only serve 2 terms (Senate) and 5 (House) and honor the comittment.

I think people are getting weary of having permanent politicians. Our trio has close to 80 years of taxpayer-funded employment.

After I trashed Leahy and Jeffords in print on their recent $55 million dollar boondoggle to "clean up Lake Champlain"(1) I got whacked by the Lib-lovers who maintain that their long service is a benefit to VT.

Bushwa!

Both of them will be lucky to get a toilet paper allowance for a while. And Sanders is gonna be ranking-member of one esoteric committee for all his time in DC.

One of the local hacks wrote that Jeffords was 'moving' (can we spell evicted) to a new Senate office which "had a lovely view of the Mall even though it was a bit smaller than his old office."

(1) Leahy managed to stick a $55 million dollar rider on a Great Lakes bill to clean up Lake Champlain.

It has two minor problems: first, no money at all was allocated for the bill and second, Vt. has to come up with 35% of the grant total or a mere $17 mill as its share.

Given that former Governor and Tail-End Charlie Presidential Candidate Howard Dean left the state with deficit there is no way that the current Gov.....(I love to say it)... REPUBLICAN JIM DOUGLAS is gonna spend money he hasn't got.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Say...how's a good-ol-boy from Tinnissee know so much about VT. politics?"

I try to keep up with and remain knowledgeable about all our states politics and territories, too, if at all possible. Think of me as a "Michael Barone, Jr." Not to toot my own horn, OK, maybe a little, I wrote a bit more today about VT & IL: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/841421/posts?page=14#14 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/841713/posts?page=23#23

"There is enough crap that stuck to Leahy over the past few years that a good case can be made for sending a new face to DC."

Yes, but being an a$$hole hasn't stopped him from winning elections time and time again, alas...

"One thing that would help in VT is candidates who will state up front that they will only serve 2 terms (Senate) and 5 (House) and honor the comittment."

I'm not sure that would help all that much. I'm all in favor of term limits... for 'Rats and RINO traitors. In small states like VT, they often value seniority and the perks that come with those who have it. As you know, the state usually commits long term to its officeholders (Dean for 11 1/2 yrs., Sanders for 12, Leaky & Judas for 29).

"I think people are getting weary of having permanent politicians. Our trio has close to 80 years of taxpayer-funded employment."

Apparently, not enough there. :-(

"After I trashed Leahy and Jeffords in print on their recent $55 million dollar boondoggle to "clean up Lake Champlain"(1) I got whacked by the Lib-lovers who maintain that their long service is a benefit to VT."

They "gots" to earn their kneepads somewhere. Whatever they were capable of bringing home went straight out the window with the GOP win of the Senate. We know they are all a long-term DIS-service to both VT and the rest of the nation. They're often the reason why some of us refer to your state as Merdemont. Of course, with the cretins running our state down here, we're hardly much better. I hope Douglas is successful in cleaning up the mess that Dr. Dean the Dope left the state in...