ONE MORE TIME?: U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., may retire after this session, which would open up his Senate seat for the first time in 26 years.
Over the weekend social media was abuzz about the Rutland Town Selectboard rejecting consideration of an “inclusion statement” on racism. Plus, voters are wondering who might replace longtime incumbent U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., if he retires, and anti-Trump sentiment is still alive and well.
No social justice statements for Rutland Town
In Rutland Town last week, the Selectboard voted against consideration to adopt a statement proposed by several residents declaring that the community will not tolerate any forms of racism.
At least one Vermonter took to Twitter on Sunday to express displeasure with board’s 4-1 decision not to consider.
https://twitter.com/WSTTVT/status/1399098247927537664
This initiative prompted disagreement among some board members and residents over the extent that racism exists in the community, but the Selectboard ultimately agreed that it was not the role of the local government to make statements of this nature.
The statement read: “Rutland Town condemns racism and discrimination of any type, and welcomes all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability, and will protect these classes to the fullest extent of the law. And, as a town, we formally condemn discrimination in all of its forms and commit to fair and equal treatment of everyone in our community.”
Other Vermont communities are expected to vote on such inclusion statements.
As Essex/Westford SD gets set to vote Tues on an Equity Policy with our latest, chilling, anti-CRT elected board member, looks like Rutland is in the thick of it, too.
Do better, #Vermont. https://t.co/EiBVN19r4T— zelda laflame (@zeldalaflame) May 31, 2021
The Rutland Chamber of Commerce, however, is embracing the inclusion statement.
Rutland Chamber becomes latest to adopt inclusion statement, anti-bias measures https://t.co/UjNmEN0y3n via @vtdigger #vted #vtpoli
— Rutland County VT Democrats (@RutlandDemocrat) April 28, 2021
Leahy considering retirement
Vermonters are wondering who would potentially fill a Senate seat held by Sen. Leahy, who is 81 and reportedly considering retirement. Those on the political left are already declaring that it must not be a Republican.
Let's hope Phil Scott is right that Vermont would not send a Republican to Washington. #vtpolihttps://t.co/WaVrlvaUPO
— Scott Fletcher (@scottpfletcher) May 30, 2021
Candice King, a retires social worker, tweeted on Saturday that Leahy “represented VT well” but is just too old to continue in the U.S. Senate.
Leahy has represented VT well, but he will be 83 then. At some point, they need to retire. No one should be in the Senate and in their 80s. The front runner for his job is 74 now. This is getting ridiculous. Time for another generation to step up.
— Candace King (@vtmoderate) May 29, 2021
A VPR/PBS poll shows that if Republican Gov. Phil Scott wanted to have Leahy’s seat, Scott would likely win, even if Leahy seeks another term. The poll has Scott beating Leahy 41% to 38%. Further data indicate bipartisan support for Scott, both from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton supporters — 28% and 35% respectively.
Trump still on Vermonters’ minds
Though President Trump has been out of office for five months, Vermont’s liberal voices still post about Trump and his supporters on a regular basis. On Saturday, Jimmy Jim James tweeted that Trump-associated GOP leadership in Vermont should go away.
It is insane that the Trump supporting @BilladoDeb is the Chairwoman of a major Vermont political party. #vtpoli
When is the vote to replace her?https://t.co/SUbJRzQvIn— Jimmy Jim James (@MadnessVs) May 29, 2021
Rama Schneider also expressed his view that Vermont Republicans need to disassociate from Trump.
This is the dear leader of @GovPhilScott's freely chosen political allies. No wonder the #CatholicChurch is so comfortable working within the limbaugh/palin/trump/@gop/@vtgop. It's a birds of feather type thing. #vtpoli pic.twitter.com/VVDs9Iqh21
— Rama Schneider – visions to chase, needs to meet. (@RamaSchneider) May 29, 2021
Not everyone is happy to see Trump gone. “Your Cambridge MA” posted that the cost of building materials and food is way up under the Biden administration, and the integrity of the election is still being questioned.
APR '20—Under Trump
$304/1,000 ft. Housing Lumber
$183/Ton US Breadbasket WheatAPR '21—Under Biden
$1,500/1,000 ft. Housing Lumber
$251/Ton US Breadbasket WheatDems cheated to seize power in name of food & shelter?#CambMA #MAleg #VTpoli #NHpolitics #Somerville #MEpolitics pic.twitter.com/zozXnXCMrF
— Your Cambridge MA (@Our_Cambridge) May 29, 2021
Polls show that despite overwhelming opposition from left-wing voters, the 2024 presidential field for Republicans is still “Trump and everyone else” according to commentator W. James Antle III, writing for MSN.com.
“A recent Morning Consult poll found Trump leading 48% to former Vice President Mike Pence’s 13% among GOP voters. They were the only prospective Republican candidates in the double digits,” he wrote.
Vermont GOP representatives largely distanced themselves from Trump when the clear majority of them voted in support to have him impeached back in January. In a new national poll regarding the outcome of the 2020 presidential election results, two-thirds of Republicans distrust the reported outcome.
Michael Bielawski is a reporter for True North. Send him news tips at bielawski82@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TrueNorthMikeB.
If President Trump wins in 2024, he’s going to have a bigger mess to fix this time than last time, but he will do it successfully.
That &%^#(^ should have retired years ago.