Vermont

Online Chats

Senator Leahy: The Senator will be here in just a minute.
Senator Leahy: He is going to have to leave a few minutes early, he has a meeting that got moved up on his schedule.
Keith: Does that mean we still have a half hour?
Senator Leahy: Though if you have additional questions you don't get to ask you can send the Senator an email and he will write back.
Senator Leahy: Pretty close, I'm not sure of the exact time he will have to leave.
Mikhaila: Okay.
Senator Leahy: Thanks for waiting - even though this day started a little after 4 this morning it is already slipping but I'm here now.
Derek:: Hi I'm Derek Palmieri and I'm a Jr. at SHS
Senator Leahy: Hi Derek.
Mikhaila: Thank you very much. I'm Mikhaila. I'm also a junior.
Amanda: Hello, I'm Amanda Douangaphaivong and I'm a senior at SHS
Keith: Hello I'm Keith Bevacqua.
Senator Leahy: Mikhalia and Derek and Amanda and Keith -good to have you here.
Mikhaila: Are you ready for the first question?
Senator Leahy: Sure.
Mikhaila: Alright
Mikhaila: We know that you support Senator Kerry in the election, what are you doing to aid his campaign and how do you think the race is currently going for him?
Senator Leahy: I have spoken for Senator Kerry at various events and will Friday after the debates. I work with his staff every week on issue matters. The race is very tight - I have never seen polls so all over the place. This one can go down to the wire.
Derek: With you support of Kerry and the approaching debates are there any "holes" that you want to see filled?
Senator Leahy: I'd like to see the candidates have to speak directly to the issues and not thru surrogates. I think the fact that the war in Iraq has turned out completely different than what the President promised is a major issue.
Keith:: Do you worry that the debate will turn into a battle of charms?
Senator Leahy: I know both men very well and both can be very charming and will try to be. I want a lot more than that but I do worry about that Keith.
Keith: Thank you.
Senator Leahy: More questions?
Amanda:  Due to recent events do you feel there is a lack of civility in public office? And if so, how would you want to reinstate this?
Senator Leahy: There is less and less civility and the public suffers. Of course historians will remind us that in the past Amanda it could be even worse - note the Hamilton-Burr duel.  I wish they didn't use so many negative ads as this contributes to it - that's why I don't use them.
Derek: What are some of the steps that you would like to see in the house to build a greater unity
Derek: and the sent.
Mikhaila: he means senate
Senator Leahy: Derek it really requires the leaders of both parties to work toward it - the rules in both bodies assumes civility but it is not there. Again without it we all suffer.
Keith: Last June you talked on the Senate Floor about the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, your statement was very powerful. how do you feel about this today?
Senator Leahy: Keith it was a terrible thing and it took too long to respond to it. Like everything it is better to admit your mistakes and move to correct them - especially as the vast majority of our men and women in Iraq serve bravely and honor
Mikhaila: Do you think that might be a possible issue brought up at the debates?
Senator Leahy: Mikhail it would not surprise me if it is in the debates and I expect both sides will have prepared positions in case it does
Keith: How do you think it will effect elections in Iraq?
Senator Leahy: Keith I don't think it will effect the elections in Iraq - there they are more concerned about their own security. Iraq is still a very fractured nation.
Keith: Thank you very much Senator.
Mikhaila: What are you discussing on the senate floor today, is that why you have been up since 4 today?
Senator Leahy: Mikhaila I had a lot of work to do as we are finishing up the session - today we are on intelligence reorganization and it is extremely complicated - I'm leaving in a couple minutes to meet on this.
Derek: For the last question back to the debates do you feel that the ind. get fair treatment at the debates
Senator Leahy: Derek I want the country to have a fair chance. Last time Ralph Nader was the independent and knew he had no chance to win but threw the election to George Bush. This time many Republicans are supporting him. The country will elect either George Bush or John Kerry and no one else. i want to hear from them.
Derek: Thank you.
Mikhaila: one last question...
Amanda:  How is your re-election campaign going?
Senator Leahy: Great being with all of you - I'm impressed with your questions and they speak well of you and your teachers
Senator Leahy: Amanda thanks for asking. I believe it is going well but there will only be three weeks between the time the Senate recesses and the election - I will use it to go all over the state campaigning
Mikhaila:: Thank you very much
Derek: Thank you for your time today it was of a great help to the Green Horn. So thank you.
Amanda:  Good luck and thank you.
Senator Leahy: Hi guys, this is Chris, the Senator had to head off to that meeting but he enjoyed being with you
Senator Leahy: I will send along the photos of him chatting
Mikhaila: Okay
Mikhaila: We'll send along our photos as well
Senator Leahy: I know he would love to see a print edition of your next couple papers too!
Keith: Could you tell him we said Thank you.
Mikhaila: no problem, we'll send them
Senator Leahy:Of course! Thank you all, talk to you soon.
Amanda:  Thank you very much