"Independent" Jeffords Joins Democrat Attempts to Keep Senate Control

NewsMax ^ | 2/20/02 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

"Independent" Jeffords Joins Democrat Attempts to Keep Senate Control

When Sen. James Jeffords deserted the GOP he identified himself as an independent pledged only to help Tom Daschle take control of the Senate. Now he's going all the way, signing up for a major $10,000 a plate fund-raising dinner for Senate Democrats on Feb. 27.

And that's not all, the man who made it possible for Daschle to stymie the Bush agenda is now promising to go out into the grass roots and campaign hard for Democrat candidates.

''He clearly would like to see the Democrats maintain control of the Senate and would like to help in that effort,'' Susan Russ, his chief of staff told the Boston Globe.

Jeffords told Democrats he would not campaign against any of his former Republican colleagues, but observers say given his tendency to switch sides, GOP Senatorial incumbents had better be prepared to see him helping their Democrat opponents.

Russ told the Globe that while Jeffords will base his campaigning decisions mostly on his ability to fit them into his schedule ''I can't imagine a Democrat incumbent he won't go to an event in Washington for.

''He believes that there's a multitude of issues where ... there's a better chance of something good coming'' under Democrats, Russ added.

Jeffords' decision to go all out for the Democrats isn't all altruistic, the Globe reported, noting that it also reflects a realistic calculation about what his prospects would be under his former Republican comrades.

Said Stuart Rothenberg, publisher of a political newsletter that rates elections, ''If the Republicans were to take over the Senate, I'm sure they wouldn't be very kind to him.''

No more kind than American patriots would have been had they been able to get their hands on Benedict Arnold. But comparisons of Jeffords to Arnold are not fair: Arnold was an American hero - the man who military historians say was responsible for the victory at Saratoga - the patriot's first great victory over British forces, before he changed sides.

Jeffords, on the other hand is just a run-of-the-mill turncoat.

[bloodmeridian]

The turncoat turns some more.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Jumping jim is scared crapless that the gop will take back the senate and he will be cast aside by both (especially the gop) parties and he would be lucky to get an appointment to the senate subcomittee on watching the grass grow

too bad jim you made your bed get ready to sleep in it

[RJCogburn]

it also reflects a realistic calculation about what his prospects would be under his former Republican comrades.

Well, sure. No surprise here. If the dems are in control he gets to keep his chairmanship. One cannot fault him for this any more than any other "practical" politician.

[America's Resolve]

Jeffords, on the other hand is just a run-of-the-mill turncoat.

AMEN! And a pretty stupid one.

Deserves everything he gets.

[mgc1122]

In Jeffords, we have a man so dumb and pliable he is willing to roll over on the GOP but never got the promised goodies the switch was to bring ... and he wants to keep these liars in office.

Vermont. You should be so proud to have a moron like this in office.

[skeeter]

Jeffords to stump for Democrats? It's nice to see the DNC self destruct for a change.

[Jonathon Spectre]

His former friends hate him. His new masters don't trust him. The next time he comes up for election he'll be out on his ear. What a piece of trash.

[pankot]

How could we criticise this man of principle--the principle, of course, is "look out for #1 at all costs"? What a slug.

[teletech]

Just when I thought that the GOP was nothing but dim-witted bigots and facists, Jeffords proves me wrong. Finally a real American from the GOP. Just imagine what a mess this country would be in had Jeffords not given patriots like Daschle, Kennedy and Feingold the ability to stop the stupidity that is the Bush admin.

Paging Jim Rob..... Cleanup in aisle 14!

[Free the USA]

Bump List

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

There was talk of him running for another position in Vermont. Once again, our party must realize the need to remind the public of his failure to attend to their dairy needs.

[Alissa]

Just when I thought that the GOP was nothing but dim-witted bigots and facists

Said in a true Hitleristic fashion: All spiel and hate language, but no substance except to show your own bigotry and ignorance.

[pt17]

Jeffords, on the other hand is just a run-of-the-mill turncoat.

Maybe the good news here is that the GOP will regain control of the Senate with one less not-so-run-of-the-mill RINO in tow. Had he not turned, he could have mucked things up at a later, and potentially more critical, time.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Sarcasm, right?

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Fits "right" in.

[bloodmeridian]

and how

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

What a mind.

[bloodmeridian]

Someone should buy him a milk shake, curdled of course.