SNET Internet : Features : Survey : The Jeffords Defection

Respondents to this week's SNET Internet survey seemed about evenly split between anger and elation at the decision of U.S. Sen. James Jeffords to bolt the Republican Party, which had the net effect of deeding leadership of the the U.S. Senate to the Democrats.

The question generated a lot of commentary -- read on.

How do you feel about U.S. Sen. James Jeffords decision to leave the Republican Party, which gives control of the Senate to Democrats?

I'm thrilled about it - 3,430 (43%)
Jeffords is a traitor - 3,427 (43%)
It makes no difference - 474 (6%)
Who cares? - 605 (8%)

Your comments:

"His decision to leave shows a lot of guts. The man wants to express his feelings but was in a position of supressing them. We need more politicians like this." T.R., Enfield

"The party that selects the man to run for normally would do so because he meets the basic core values of the party. If a person wants to change office it shoulod only be after he has served more than seventy five percent of his term.Or the area he represnts should be allowed to hold re- election(s).
I am registered as an independent because I don't feel either party is repreenting my needs. Today I could side with the Demoratic and or Republican party on an issue." A.R.C., Stamford

"It doesn't make a difference because he didn't vote with the Republican party anyway." M.D.A., Enfield

"As do so many elected officials, the senator from Vermont has ignored the wisdom of the voter. It is difficult for him to appreciate the fact that voters were trying to balance Washington power. But of course, the voters wisdom is ignored, because once again, the politician knows what's best for us, the simple voter." Fred, Brooklyn

"A politician with a conscience who can no longer support this administration's policies. A gutsy move on his part ... Democrat or Republican, black or white, right or wrong, true or false. This seems to be the only choices we seem to have in politics. There is more to this country than just two viewpoints. Now there is an independent. More individual thinkers are needed. Three cheers for him." J.S., Thomaston

"In the House and Senate there are at least 4 members who went from Democrat to Republican. For whatever reason, I don't know a single Republican who called them a traitor! I have heard more than one comment about people not being allowed to have an individual opinion within the Republican Party in either of the houses. I don't know about you all but I couldn't exist that way. Look at them, they all open their mouths and the same words and voice come out. Also, you must remember, he didn't become a Democrat, he went Independent. Because of not being allowed a voice, I understand that others are standing on a cliff ready to slide." J.C.S., No Town

"I feel a representative should not be allowed to change his party until the end of his term, prior to re-election. The party that elected Mr. Jefford was the Republican party, not the Independent party. He is supposed to represent the views of the people who elected him. He is their voice, their representative. If he chooses to step down, his replacement should be appointed by the Republican party. It is not his decision alone. He is a traitor, has no ethics and the Republican party is better off without him." C.B., New Preston

"I think your survey would have a different response if you didn't use the word 'traitor'. Something like 'I'm not thrilled about it' or 'Jeffords is selfish' would be more appropriate." Rick, Wallingford

"It is a betrayal to those who voted him into office and it should be illegal. If he no longer wishes to represent the party he ran under during the election, he should resign. " Crystal, Woodstock

"I'm not thrilled by Senator Jefford's decision but I don't think he's a traitor. I think he went with his conscience and that the shake-up will go on for awhile. I don't see a choice for how I feel. I really like the surveys, keep them coming." Ken, New London

"David subdues Goliath. Only in America." Russ, Putnam

"Sen. Jeffords action to switch parties reflects the attitude of many Americans. Many still feel the election was clouded. Many see that the campaign promises were shallow. Many will start to speak out. The honeymoon is over and now we can really move on with the Nation's business. I think it was John F. Kennedy who said that we must not let the pendulum swing too far in either direction. Lets move toward the center." R.L.A., Lebanon

"The piece of garbage should rot in hell." Alex, No Town

"The Senator's switching Party affiliation while in office is an affront to the people who elected him. It amounts to deceit. If he wants to change, he should do so after his term expires or resign and enter a new election. The people after all elected a Republican, not a Democrat or Independent." R.A.B., Guilford

"The question choices are very poor in my opinion. The first two are way too polar, there is no opposing choice to 'it makes no difference', and the last is just a flip toss-away reply. My choice would have been 'It will make a difference'. The leadership roles of the Senate change as a result of this. I think that if a person chooses to run on a party basis, he should resign if he wants to change party status and let the voters decide if they still want him as their elected representative." R.A., Gales Ferry

"I'm happy, We have power now. We don't need anymore stupid G.O.P." S.P.C., Morris Cove

"How about the people who voted for him? In his party? He is an old man
who will not play if it's not his way, we would all like that. What world is he living in? On the plus side he is old enough to retire soon. (I'm old too)" J.L.L., Milford

"He should resign from politics. He let his voters down the drain. I feel sorry for those voters, It's a stab in the back. He can't be trusted." L.T.G., Orange

"I am thrilled with Jeffords' move. If you do not wholeheartedly believe in your party's agenda, you need to move on or it will follow you forever. It is more important to follow your beliefs than to support ones you do not believe in. Mr. Bush will destroy our natural resources to pad his back pocket and will destroy our education when it needs our help. He obviously didn't get a good education at Yale!" L.J.N., East Haddam

"Well, it finally happened. Due to a political tiff with the President, we now have what every democrat was wanting and that is CONTROL of the Senate. Yes, this is a free country, and you can disagree with the common norm, but to go against party lines and and tell that President to go for a smaller tax cut from what he suggested is almost like political suicide. Bush is the President and he does make policy, but where does some one like Jeffords get off saying that he is better than anyone else? If he didn't like being a Republican in the last election, then he should have switched then and not when the present administration is still to new because you want to play your way or not at all. Well, only time will tell as the democrats will get all the pork they can into the tax cut and then you will see no tax cut at all. Then you will see more years of Clintonism the likes you have never seen before. As if scandal in the White House wasn't bad enough, can the hallowed halls of the Senate take scandal itself and just poo poo it away and hope that when election time comes around, these scandalers hope to get re-elected? There should be a law demanding that no party switches until election time no matter what. If that happens, hell would freeze over. I guess that the people of this nation have become the sheep ready for political slaughter." G.M.K., Waterbury

"For a man that self-proclaims his integrity, he seems to have subdued the urge to prove it. A man with integrity would have demanded a recall election INSTEAD of negotiating with Democrats the switch in exchange for the chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee." G.W., Bethany

"I have become very distressed over the direction of the Bush Administration. I am delighted over Jeffords defection as now Bush has lost his steamroller. His position on Choice, the environment, taxes, education are all poor in my opinion." Joe, Guilford

"I wouldn't call Jeffords a traitor. I do not think he is telling the truth why he switched. I was taught to stay and fight, don't turn and run." Bill, Putnam

"In this day and age when it takes pulling teeth to get people to the polls, I feel sorry for the those who voted for him in good faith." K.C., North Stonington

"I think the man has the right to stand up for his rights. He is honorable and that is what this country needs. We, the voting public are not stupid. May God bless him and all like him." William, Torrington

"I have a lot of respect for Senator Jeffords. He is a brave man to stand up and make a decision to leave a party he has such close bonds with. I do not understand how anyone can call him a traitor. Senator Jeffords is a man who has a right to speak his mind fight for what he believs in and brings to light what needs to be told. The Republican Party are the ones who need to adddress their actions and show Senator Jeffords the respect he deserves.

If the Republican Party would only think about how they treat members of their own party and the way they treat Americans in general. They do not come out as very nice people they appear to be and rather mean spirited and spiteful and it is sad.

They need to think about why Republican Party members feel the need to have to leave the party. Bullying tactics may have worked in the past, however it needs to stop now. If the Republican Party actually stopped, thiught and actually used some of the 'Compassion' that they are always talking about there would not be the as much bipartisanship as there is now among all Americans.

Senator Jeffords should be aplauded and the Republicane who feel he is a triator should reflect on their own actions and open their minds and eyes to see what must have happened to make a man who has spent his life working hard in the Republican party leave. Senator Jeffords did what he had to and did what Americans are entitled to under the Constitution and voiced his opinion for the good of the country and he did what was best for himself. Again, he should be applauded." V.R., Naugatuck

"I think what Jeffords is doing is great. We need more people like him. He stands for we the people, not these high paid guys that just do everything for their bosses and the rich." Joe, Somers

"Although I live in Connecticut, I feel that this man took Republican money to run and win his office, and for him to remove himself before his term is completed is wrong. The way I see it is that he deceived those that voted for him and gave funding toward his election. In essence he stole the money, he ran under the Republican banner and should stay there until his term was completed. It is not a party thing, but an honor and committment thing. I may not like being married at times, but I stay that way due to my commitment. This man is without honor and I feel due to this his word canot be trusted." C., New Britain

"I am happy that Mr. Jeffords has the guts to switch his party affiliation. I wish I did! George W. has proved to be a MAJOR disappointment so far. I had great hopes when he took office that he was really serious about giving government and 'OUR' tax money back to the people to reinvest. What a "crock". There is no money to invest, it all goes into my gas tank. The only people who have money to re-invest are the OIL men!" F.M.C., Chester

"There should be some kind of law that if you are elected by one party you have to remain in that party until you run for re-election. What will stop this from happening again? I could run on the party that will get the most votes and then change to the other party just to get elected. I might try this ." Louis, Berlin

"I find your choice of responses to the Jeffords question rather curious. The answers you have posed, taken at face value, would lead someone to believe there is a polarization of your respondents' views. Unfortunately, like most surveys of public opinion, this one seems designed to steer the respondant's in a certain direction. A way of supporting a previous claim. There would seem to be more poignant answers that could have been listed. How about whether the ability to switch parties after being elected should be allowed? Should there be a special vote in New Hampshire, (Vermont - Ed.) where the voters get to decide whether they approve? Everyone claims to be moderate in their beliefs, but there seems to be less and less of a tolerence for moderation in the media these days." Gordon, Monroe

"I prayed that the Democrats some- how would get back in control. Now we don't have to worry about all our money going into the pockets of all the CEO'S or Millionaire's." M.A.L., Groton

"He's just as confused as the rest of them. Too bad it's so hard to make it as an independent." Bob, Groton

"While control of the Senate is an important issue.The big question is how do the people who ELECTED Jeffords feel? I know I'd feel cheated if the candidate who I helped elect left the party which I vote for." Al, Enfield

"If Jeffords wanted to change political affiliations he should have waited until he was up for re-election. To use a political party to help win an election and then abandon it, especially with such dramatic results, is traitorious." N.A.N., Vernon

"How odd that Sen. Jeffords became 'conscience stricken' only 6 months after being elected for a six-year term. How fitting that those who are 'thrilled' with his defection, see no personal gain for this selfish hypocrite." W.F., Higganum

"I admire his courage, more power to him! I think both major parties are too caught up in their own self interests. We shouldn't be stuck in the mentality that this is only a two-party country. Liberty, Democracy and Freedom demand more than that." S.M.B., Shelton

"Senator Jeffords was obviously paid off by a Snakelike Democratic Pool of funds. I'm sure other republicans were approached, but Jeffords' took the bait. The Democrats will stop at nothing to regain control of the Senate. OBVIOUSLY Jefford wasn't going to go Democrat ... it would have been like a pro wrestling script if he did! Going 'Independent' saved his face, and saved the Democrats. The Dems are two faced--They preach all this good will towards everything and everybody, but have hidden 'gut rot' morals and mentality, and AGENDA! Democrats & Jeffords = misguided losers!" Z.I.N., Middletown

"People who say that it makes no difference are truly ignorant. It matters even as far away as a state such as Hawaii. The GOP's loss in the Senate could mean Hawaii's gain. Hawaii Senators Dan Inouye and Daniel Akaka are in line to assume the chairmanships of a number of committees following the majority shift from an even Senate to a Democratic Majority. Inouye is expected to gain chairmanship of the Indian Affairs Committee which could mean a greater chance for Native Hawaiian issues of sovereignty to be recognized. Among other assignments Akaka would be named to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on national parks and historic preservation. The assignments are tentative pending the official transfer of Vermont Senator James Jeffords from the Republican to the Independent party." G.S., Winchester

"Finally -- a politician who acts on his beliefs, not on what will be good for his political career or paying back "favors". Bush's Karen Hughes says Bush is just carrying through on the issues as he campaigned on them, but I disagree. I think he said things just to get elected and is now showing his true colors with his extreme right wing agenda. He's not the "compassionate conservative" he wanted us to believe he was during the campaign, and Jeffords knows it." Maggie, Kent

"The following is a copy of what the email I sent to Sen. Jeffords:

Though I am not one of your constituents, I wish I were. I would vote for you a thousands times over. Since George Bush was elected, I have been afraid. Vacuity and arrogance in these times may lead to global calamity, and we can not afford it in just the combination our President possesses. With a growing sense of dread, I watched the changes being made. It is not that I am against change, but only that changes today can have such far-reaching consequences that they must be well-calculated, and not arising from the form of exaggerated Republicanism that now emanates from the White House. I have been a Republican, a Democrat and an Independent, reflecting my growing disillusion with politics. Still, on paper, the Democratic ideals are more parallel to my philosophical beliefs. It being a choice of the lesser of evils, I voted for Gore in the last election, wanting to vote for Nader, but figuring he would not have the political acumen in foreign affairs, nor be able to garner the power he needed to get things done once elected.

But this isn't about me. It is about you. I want to thank you to the length and breadth of our planet. I believe that your decision was no less than salvation of it, and I believe that history will tell the tale of how. Even if it doesnít, you have my gratitude and that of thousands like me. Remember it when you are a pariah among Republicans and looked at with wariness by some Democrats. Remember, too, that all great men had to take stands that were not popular with some group or another. You number among them.

With everlasting gratitude,

P.S. I have never before written a letter praising an elected official, only letters requesting their attention or support. How happy I am to write this one!" S.M., East Hampton

"The true color of a chameleon socialist masquerading as a Republican capitalist is revealed. The Republican party does not need him. Let him run for an office in a socialist country in the next election cycle. Thats where he belongs." Ian, New Haven

"Many people vote for the party and not the person. To switch their party and so soon after being elected, is a misrepresentation or a lie. I feel they should be held to their electorial committment full term and change if they so desire with the next election. Just picture it if everyone should suddenly change their minds. The out come would not be as the voters chose. So why bother voting?" S.V., Newtown

Your use of 'Traitor' for the negative comment is too harsh. But the man did break a promise to the Republicans not change parties and He broke a contract with the people who elected him. I don't believe you should be able to change parties in the middle of a term in office." K.T., Norwich

"It's refreshing to hear of a politician who stands up for what he believes his constituents believe in. He has a moral understanding of government. Perhaps he should run for DUBYA's job in 2004?" J.L., No Town

"He was elected as a Republican but has been bribed by Democrats. This says much for his integrity, no matter how he explains his defection." E.G., Stratford