"the right wingers are now crying foul when a single guy changes sides cause he believes he's right. "
You're missing the big picture BIG time! This isn't about just about ONE man and his "high moral standards", an "honorable man reluctantly following his conscience"... It IS about an opportunist, a deceitful USER of voters and associates to reach personal and selfish goals.
Jeffords has been a "closet liberal/Democrat" for YEARS, so his support and votes will not change in the least from what is on his record from the PAST - the biggest gripe against his current actions of switching to the Independent party is due to his hypocracy in primarily VOTING liberal, being highly supportive of Democratic bills and agenda - but RUNNING for office as a Republican because he KNEW that if he ran for office as a Democrat OR Independent, he would LOSE! He represented himself as a Republican as LONG AS it benefitted him politically!
He continued to REPRESENT himself as something he WASN'T, and when the time and opportunity presented itself to his advantage, he virtually crapped on his claimed party, his associates, and the voters he had deceived. He did this purposely to damage Bush and former fellow Republican Senators, and because his supposed Democrat political opponents had PROMISED to reward him with a permanent committee chairmanship (30 pieces of silver... ) if he WOULD play the turncoat against his former party. They BOUGHT him - AND control of the Senate at the same time!
How does history now view Benedict Arnold - or any of a list of those who turned traitor to those they formerly claimed to support? Are they considered "heros" and "men of conscience" - or hated and despised (by both their former friends, AND those they have then switched to!) as cowards and deceivers?
Those they have turned to certainly rejoice at the destruction the act creates - but they DERN sure don't think much of the traitor, at the time, and especially LATER! Do any really think the Democrats LIKE Jeffords, or will ever trust or view him with respect as their equal? He was a traitor ONCE, who's to say he won't be AGAIN?
Jeffords will NEVER accomplish anything of value with either the Democrats OR the Independents - you can be sure most Demo Senators despise his flawed character as much as the Repubs do, his days as a Senator are virtually ENDED, and his only remaining political hope is the Governorship of his home state, which he has had his eye on recently. He will CERTAINLY never be elected as an Independent Party Senator in his state!
His act, if it had only primarily affected HIM and those of his supporters back home, would not loom NEARLY as obscene as it does when he so effectively wiped his posterior upon his claimed party and the entire GOP party thruout the nation at a time when (as he WELL knew!) his act would create the most damage to his President and former party - all for his own selfish personal, TEMPORARY gain and petty spite!
It isn't about what Jeffords did to HIMSELF, he'll GET what he deserves - it IS about what his treachery did to so MANY who THOUGHT they could trust his integrity - the change in control of the Senate leadership and critical committees Jefford's treachery has created will greatly affect the entire NATION and threatens Bush's ability to govern as effectively on behalf of the nation who elected him, not merely Jefford's home state...
THAT is what makes Jeffords and his act so disgusting, treacherous and obscene.
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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... 108,000 trouble-free miles... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... Tweaked pump, upgraded radiator... Power Shot 2000 propane system... Mag-Hytec double deep A/T transmission pan...
MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...
"Dura" WHAT? NOW I know where all those recycled beer cans go...
[This message has been edited by Gary - KJ6Q (edited 05-25-2001). ]
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