Online Chat With Thetford Academy's 7th Graders
March 25, 2004
Sen Leahy: Hi, I'm Pat Leahy and I just got in from a hearing -
please excuse any typos as i do my own typing!
Thet7th has left the room.
Thet7th has entered the room.
Sen Leahy: glad to have you back!
Thet7th: Sorry about that, small technical difficulty, we're
good now
Sen Leahy: Works fine - great to be with you and glad to answer
any questions you have.
Thet7th: Thank you
Thet7th: I'm here at Thetford Academy with some
members of the seventh grade. They have a few
questions for you. The first comes from Sarah Schindler.
She wan
Sen Leahy: Go ahead Sarah
Thet7th: She wants to know when you were in 7th grade,
what you wanted to be when you grew up.
Sen Leahy: Sarah I was in Montpelier where I was born. I think
even in the 7th grade I wanted to be a Senator but mostly I
wanted to make it to High School!
Thet7th: Sie Arnold wants to know what your first job was.
Sen Leahy: Sie I had a paper route growing up, worked at the
Leahy Press as a printer in Montpelier and after college and law
school in a law firm in Burlington.
Thet7th: Ella Flett would like to know what made you want
to be a Senator
Sen Leahy: Ella I always knew the one place where our small
and special state could be equal to the rest of the country would
be in the Senate. I've been very fortunate that Vermont has let
me speak for our state in Washington
Thet7th: Ashleen Buchanan wants to know if you were
scared to become a Senator.
Sen Leahy: Ashleen I was 34 and a State's Attorney when I
became a Senator. When I saw all the older and more senior
Senators it did make me very nervous at first.
Thet7th: Tori Chandler is interested in what you like most
about your job, and why.
Sen Leahy: Tori I like the fact I still live in Vermont and come to
Washington to represent us. THere are always different things to
learn from environmental issues to matters like the war in Iraq.
It is like being in a fascinating school ever
Sen Leahy: y day
Thet7th: As a follow up question, Adam Parker wants to
know what is the worst part about being a Senator.
Sen Leahy: Adam there is never enough time to get everything
done. I read and work until midnight almost every day and start
before daybreak and still can't seem to cover everything - but
fortunately I have a superb staff who help me.
Thet7th: Adam Shay would like to know how many bills you
have approved in your time as a Senator.
Sen Leahy: Adam I have voted more than any Vermonter in
history. To date that has been around 11,500 times. Not all of
these bills pass but I am very proud of many on education,
environment and jobs creation
Thet7th: This question comes from Adam Pluta: "What do
you think is the greatest thing you have done in
Washington.
Sen Leahy: I'm beginning to think everyone is named Adam! I
hope the best thing I have done is show others in Washington
that we Vermonters have a real sense of integrity and
commitment to our state and country.
Thet7th: We certainly have plenty of Adams here. Tasha
Gero wants to know if you had the chance to change
anything in the world, what would it be?
Sen Leahy: Tasha like so many others I would hope I could stop
all wars and greatly improve the lives of people on this planet.
Thetford is a very beautiful and safe place and you are fortunate
to have great schools and teachers. Much of the w
Thet7th: In response to your mention of war, Tyler Williams
would like to know your position on the war in Iraq.
Sen Leahy: world lives in abject poverty without the safety, the
schools and the opportunities you have. As a moral issue those
of us in the wealthiest country history has ever known should
work to change that
Sen Leahy: Tyler I had opposed going to war in Iraq. As terrible
as Saddam Hussein is our threat was from Osam bin Laden and
we should have completed what we started in Afghanistan.
We'd be safer if we had
Thet7th: Ruby Sadoques wants to know what you think
about the Mayor of San Fransisco issuing marriage
licenses to gay and lesbian couples
Sen Leahy: Ruby I talked with the Mayor last night. He is a nice
person but whatever his motive he should not have violated
California law which forbids such marriages. States must have
the right to decide who they will allow to marry
Thet7th: Since we are in History class, Andrew Harhen
would like to know who is your favorite US President and
why?
Sen Leahy: I have two - Abraham Lincoln and Franklin
Roosevelt. During their presidencies our country could have
ceased to exist if they had not taken the steps they did. Both died
in office but both left a stronger America. We have had many g
Sen Leahy: great presidents but these two are special
Thet7th: We're moving on to some of your favorite
non-politics questions. Sarah Chambers would like to
know what you do in your free time.
Sen Leahy: Andrew who is your favorite?
Sen Leahy: Sarah I like to read and I am an avid photographer. I
also hike and snowshoe and go scuba diving any chance I get.
Thet7th: Andrew says it is Abraham Lincoln because he
made good choices during the Civil War
Thet7th: Caitlin Roberts and Isaac Alexandre-Leach want
to know who your favorite is to win the Men's and
Women's NCAA tourney
Sen Leahy: Caitlin and Isaac I REALLY wanted UVM to win the
Men's tourney. I like UCon in the women's tourney
Thet7th: Jared McCusker wants to know if you are a Red
Sox fan
Sen Leahy: Jared I am and my oldest son and I have gone to many
of their games. He's bigger than I am so I had to let him have my
Sox warm up jacket!
Thet7th: Cody Jordan wants to know if you have any pets
Sen Leahy: I have time for a couple more than have to run - you
all seem like very good students and obviously have very good
teachers
Thet7th: Our last question on the mind of many students:
What kind of car do you have?
Sen Leahy: Cody I don't have pets. My three grown children all
have dogs. Because I go back and forth between Washington
and Vermont several times a month it is really impossible to
have a pet
Sen Leahy: I have a six cylinder aging Buick
Thet7th: Thank you very much for taking the time to chat
with us. We hope you will be able to visit our school
soon; we have the best view of any school in VT.
Sen Leahy: I would love to visit - have a great day
Thet7th: Thank you
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