Colchester High School
Online Chat With
Advanced Placement U.S. History Class
November 21, 2008
CHShistory (11:52:19 AM):
Thank you for
taking the time to meet with our class. What is the
senate doing today?
SenPatrickLeahy (11:57:54 AM):
Hi - I'm
back from the Senate and with you now. Great to be with
all of you. [and please excuse any typing mistakes, Ms
McGuire knows i do my own typing!
CHShistory (11:58:10 AM):
Sadie: What immediate
changes do you expect with the new administration?
|
 |
SenPatrickLeahy (11:59:12 AM):
Sadie i think it will
be a far more open Administration and less secretive. I have talked
several times with Senator Obama since the election and he wants to
make sure all views are heard.
CHShistory (11:59:27 AM):
Stephen:
Gitmo is a hot topic these days. As a lawyer yourself, do you
believe that suspected
terrorists are entitled to due process? Also, do you believe that
they should be tried in a civilian (federal) court, a military
tribunal, or a mix of the two? (By the way, I enjoyed your cameo in
The Dark Knight!)
CHShistory (11:59:52 AM):
(I apologize for the
Stephen typo's)
SenPatrickLeahy (12:01:04 PM):
Stephen i am sglad you
enjoyed the Dark Knight - all my fees for that went to the
children's library in Montpelier where i had my first library card.
So far with the proceeds from a special showing we've raised over
$100,000 for them.
SenPatrickLeahy (12:02:56 PM):
On Gitmo Stephen i do
feel it should be closed. I agree with Sen Obama and Gen Colin
Powell on that. Our courts have said they should be tried and i feel
we can do that within the court system or an open military tribunal.
We would expect other countries to do that if they were holding
Americans and we should set the example as the world's greatest
democracy
CHShistory (12:03:18 PM):
Diana, Tristyn, Ryan,
Liam: What is
your reaction to the economic crisis and what will your role be in
trying to improve the situation?
SenPatrickLeahy (12:06:16 PM):
Diana,Tristyn,Ryan and
Liam this is the worst economic crisis of yours or my lifetime. It
has a worldwide nature and President Bush was right to invite
foreign leaders here to discuss the crisis. One of the immediate
things necessary is to make credit available for small businesses
and consumers before we lose hundreds of thaousands of more jobs and
of course we have got to find a way to stem the flood of mortgage
foreclosures.
SenPatrickLeahy (12:06:48 PM):
The reasons we are in
this crisis are myriad and it took years to get this bad - we won't
be out of it overnight
CHShistory (12:06:56 PM):
Liam:
How do you feel about the possibility of government bail outs to
major companies (such as the auto industry)?
SenPatrickLeahy (12:08:15 PM):
Liam the auto industry
won't get any type of bailout without a clear indication that they
are willing to build cars that reflect needs of consumers in a world
where fossil fuels are diminishing
CHShistory (12:08:28 PM):
Tristyn, Meagan,
Mikaela G.:
How do you feel about Obama’s election and what do you hope to
accomplish during his administration?
SenPatrickLeahy (12:11:11 PM):
Tristyn, Meagn,
Mikaela G. - i was a very early supporter of Senator Obama's and he
is a close personal friend of mine and my wife's as is his wife
Michelle. I am delighted with his election and of course he will
have to face the economic crisis first. I do think the most
important thing he can do is to re-introduce our great country to
the rest of the world. So far the reaction to his election around
the world is favorable in and unprecedented fashion
CHShistory (12:11:35 PM):
Amy:
How do you think the new administration will affect the
interpretation of the constitution and the constitutional decisions
made?
SenPatrickLeahy (12:13:32 PM):
Amy when Barack takes
the oath of office to uphold the Constitution you can be sure he has
read the Constitution, understands the Constitution and WILL uphold
the Constitution. As the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee
that gives me a great deal of hope.
CHShistory (12:13:58 PM):
Diana:
What does the Judiciary Committee do and what types of tasks do you
have as chairman? How did you become chairman?
SenPatrickLeahy (12:17:02 PM):
Diana the Judiciary
Committee has oversight of the Justice Department, all federal
prosecutors in the country, the FBI and whether our laws are being
upheld. We also have to approve all federal judges including the
Supreme COurt Justices. We handle all patent and copyright as well
as antitrust laws and hundreds of other laws. It is one of the 2 or
3 busiest Committees in the Senate. I became Chairman thru the
Seniority system - in the January i will be number 4 of the 100
Senators
CHShistory (12:17:32 PM):
Michaela Y, Mikaela G,
Ashley: What is
the process like for appointing a new judge Supreme Court justice?
How do you make the decision on whether or not to support a new
Supreme Court justice?
SenPatrickLeahy (12:21:05 PM):
Michaela Y, Mikaela
G., Ashley - the President nominates a Supreme Court Justice when
any of the nine either die or retire. He looks at hundreds of
possibilites and than asks the Judiciary COmmittee to approve his
choice. If we do the whole Senate than votes and if the whole Senate
agrees the person can become a Justice. It is the Advise and COnsent
procedure. Typically the President consults with the Chairman and
Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee as well as the Senate
leadership before making a choice.
CHShistory (12:21:17 PM):
Katelyn:
What is your job like on a day to day basis?
SenPatrickLeahy (12:24:09 PM):
Katelyn there is no
typical day. I usually check my emails around 5:30 in the morning
and skim all the morning press. I will have early meetings and if
the Senate is in session there may be dbates on the floor. Usually
there are several hearings of the different committees i serve on. I
look forward to seeing Vermonters who come by and will probably have
meetings with different members of the Administration. Some of these
are at the WHite House with the Presidents. On weekends i try to
clean my desk or i go to Vemront for further meetings. Most nights i
finish reading around midnight.
CHShistory (12:24:24 PM):
Entire class:
What made you want to become a senator?
SenPatrickLeahy (12:27:19 PM):
TO the class; I was
born in Montpelier almost across form the State House. From the time
i was a child i was interested in government and studied it at St.
Michael's. I went to Georgetown Law in Washington and used to spend
a lot of time at the Capitol. Every state has two Senators no matter
the size and i realized it was the one place where Vermont's voice
was equal to the rest of the country. I wanted to give voice to our
state and i have been humbled all the years my fellow Vermonters
have entrusted me with this opportunity.
SenPatrickLeahy (12:28:13 PM):
I have been very
impressed with the questions - it shows you are very knowledgable
young people and that Ms. McGuire has done a great job as a teacher
- i'm proud of you!
CHShistory (12:28:27 PM):
Thank you very much
CHShistory (12:28:30 PM):
Meagan.:
In my Spanish class, we recently learned about the contributions
that immigrants (legal and illegal) make to the VT economy by
working in dairy farms. What is your position on immigration
reform?
SenPatrickLeahy (12:29:47 PM):
Meagan we could spend
hours on this - we do need comprehensive immigration reform and i
worked with President Bush and Sen McCain on that - it didnt pass
and i expect the next COngress will try parts of the bill again
SenPatrickLeahy (12:30:22 PM):
Thank you for letting
me join you and i am now leaving for another meeting. Will grab a
sandwich on the way!
CHShistory (12:30:44 PM):
Alright, thank you for
meeting with our class today, Mr. Leahy
SenPatrickLeahy (12:31:09 PM):
i enjoyed it - thank you!
|
|
|
