Jeffords to retire

May 9, 2005 2:53 PM

SenatorJames Jeffords (I-VT) has decided not to run for re-election in 2006 and Bernie Sanders will run for the Senate seat. Major General Martha Rainville (adjutant general of the Vermont Army National Guard) is thinking of making a run as a Republican.
posted by C17H19NO3 (19 comments total)

The Army Times link says and the second news link implies that this would be a run for the House; in other words, to replace Bernie, not to fight him for Jeffords seat.
posted by hackly_fracture at 3:04 PM on May 9, 2005

Oh shit. I left out the whole Bernie-going-for-Senate-and-Rainville-going-for-House.
posted by C17H19NO3 at 3:08 PM on May 9, 2005

Why do we even care?
posted by delmoi at 3:10 PM on May 9, 2005

“I am a mainstream Republican. I know I’m independent minded. I speak out whenever I feel the need,” said Rainville, who was born in Connecticut.

what the republican party needs is more nominal republicans who favor limited government, individual and states' rights, and lower taxes and fewer "mainstream" republicans who willing to sell-out these core beliefs in order to acquire power.

a career soldier who follow orders from washington is unlikely to demonstrate any independent thought whatsoever. vermonters won't be fooled.
posted by three blind mice at 3:11 PM on May 9, 2005

Matt, could you make it:

Senator James Jeffords (I-VT) has decided not to run for re-election in 2006 and Bernie Sanders will run for the Senate seat. Major General Martha Rainville (adjutant general of the Vermont Army National Guard) is thinking of making a run for the House seat as a Republican
with the links that are already there...
posted by C17H19NO3 at 3:11 PM on May 9, 2005

I am curious to see how many recent veterans head for political careers.
posted by hackly_fracture at 3:17 PM on May 9, 2005

Jeffords and Sanders plans are way old news, just FYI.
posted by CunningLinguist at 3:38 PM on May 9, 2005

[I added the extra text "and Bernie Sanders will run for the Senate seat"]
posted by jessamyn at 4:28 PM on May 9, 2005

I am curious to see how many recent veterans head for political careers.

Well, if they take Kerry (and the lying Swifties) as an example, it might not be many. "I knew him in Fallujah. He wounded himself just so he could get a purple heart."
posted by fungible at 4:33 PM on May 9, 2005

thanks, jessamyn
posted by C17H19NO3 at 4:35 PM on May 9, 2005

adjutant general of the Vermont Army National Guard

Sorry for being the pedant. Maj. Gen. Rainville is the adjutant general of the State of Vermont, not of the Vermont Army National Guard.

Her rank in the U.S. Air Force is Major General. She is inspector general and quartermaster general of the Vermont Army and Air National Guard, but not because of her rank in the USAF. Rather, it is because of her being appointed adjutant general by the governor of Vermont.

Confused yet? :)

She probably also has powers under the Vermont constitution to activate the "unorganized militia" - which basically means ordering all able-bodied men to fight in the defense of Vermont....
posted by bugmuncher at 5:56 PM on May 9, 2005

adjutant general of the State of Vermont

Yes, that's what I meant. I've just been screwing this whole post up. Believe me, I know this, for I've had to say "Yes, m'am" to her before. Nice lady, BTW.
posted by C17H19NO3 at 6:05 PM on May 9, 2005

It's high time the US has a socialist senator :)
posted by Kattullus at 6:36 PM on May 9, 2005

Ahhh - a Burlington Free Press link! As a teen growing up in that neck of the woods, it was always a thrill to peruse that Gannett-owned McPaper in the high school library to learn which of your classmates had landed in "Day in Court" — almost invariably for DWI...
posted by MaxVonCretin at 6:42 PM on May 9, 2005

which basically means ordering all able-bodied men to fight in the defense of Vermont....

Finally, someone to save us from the lesbian bunnies!
posted by Saucy Intruder at 6:46 PM on May 9, 2005

a career soldier who follow orders from washington is unlikely to demonstrate any independent thought whatsoever. vermonters won't be fooled.

Personally, I liked Wesley Clark as a candidate.

Following orders from Washington has everything to do with duty, and nothing to do with politics. To suggest that any soldier (or just any officer) will not think independently as a politician is probably inappropriate.
posted by bugmuncher at 8:05 PM on May 9, 2005

what the republican party needs is more nominal republicans who favor limited government, individual and states' rights, and lower taxes and fewer "mainstream" republicans who willing to sell-out these core beliefs in order to acquire power.

Well, they've got Ron Paul. It's a start.
posted by bugmuncher at 8:10 PM on May 9, 2005

Born in Connecticut, eh? Well, she'll never get elected!

(Seriously.)

Being a graduate of "Vote Nader University," I'm almost as happy to vote a Socialist into the Senate as I was when civil unions were created.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:19 AM on May 10, 2005

Jim is a good man for switching his affiliation to independent. However, he would have been a GREAT man if he'd gone ALL the way to DEMOCRAT!
posted by minderbinder at 7:03 AM on May 10, 2005