Online Chat
Windsor Jr./Sr. High School
April 27, 1999

[PatLeahy] Sorry that our hearing on Kosovo has held me up but am glad to be with you now.

[Callie] Why do they call you "cybersenator" on capitol hill?

[Jennifer] Hello Senator Leahy

[PatLeahy] Callie I was one of the first Senators to actively use the net, to have a home page and to hold hearings on cyber matters. I meet often with people like Bill Gates, Jerry Yang, Jim Barksdale and other leaders n the industry to work at designing laws that allow us to use the full potential of the technology.

[PatLeahy] Hi Jennifer

[Alesha] What is it like being the senator?

[PatLeahy] Alesha being a Senator is fascinating. It means a lot of 12-14 hour days but you get to learn new things every day from environmental matters, to health care, jobs and on to foreign policy. Helps if you are a fast reader!

[PatLeahy] Please excusse any typing mistakes I make - hope I am a better senator than am a typist.

[Elissa] Hi this is Elissa Which of those areas do you prefer more?

[PatLeahy] Elissa I find many very interesting. As a native Vermonter anything that directly effects Vermont goes right to the top of the list . Foreign police and hi-tech matters are also fascinating and the latter usually impacts Vermont.

[AndyT] Jeremiah Paquette speaking here:What do you think about the shooting in Colorado?

[PatLeahy] Jeremiah I am heartsick over the shootings. As a parent of three I can begin to imagine how the parents feel there. As a former prosecutor I know how devastating to the community even one murder is. As an American I feel it is time for all of us to stop and ask what is happening.

[Chris] Tristan Burch speaking, did you play any sports in high school or college and what were they?

[PatLeahy] Tristan I was the manager of our basketball team in high school and was a member of the rifle team in college. In college we took part in many national matches.

[Callie] This is Jessie. You said you were at a Kosovo hearong, I was wondering what you think about the Kosovo Crisis?

[PatLeahy] Jessie we could take hours on this. I do not feel that the USA and our NATO partners call allow the genocide and war crimes of Milosevic. I am concerned that not enough planning went into the operation and I have told the President that no where near enough effort has been made to help the refugees.

[PatLeahy] After partners the word should be can and not call.

[AndyT] Michael Weld typing: What do you think about us sending ground troops in Kosovo?

[PatLeahy] Michael I think it is becoming very probable that we will have ground troops in Kososvo. In the air war the US has carried the brunt of the work - I would hope our NATO partners supply a much greater proportion of the troops.

[Alesha] This is Nicole speaking: What past experience of work/studying has helped you with your present job?

[PatLeahy] Nicole my college work and than law school helped a lot. I was in private practice and than was a prosecutor for eight years. All this helps but to be effective in this job you have to learn every day. I read as much as 300 or more pages of materials almost daily and have a superb staff who brief me on everything.

[AndyT] Danny Harrington speaking; Why did you want to become a senetor?

[PatLeahy] Danny as a Vermonter I knew the US Senate was the one place where our state was equal to all others [even a state as large as California gets only 2 Senators] and this is where I could do the most for Vermont. I feel very fortunate that my fellow Vermonters have given me this opportunity.

[Elissa] Shannon speaking: How many years have you been in office??

[PatLeahy] Shannon I have been here 25 years.

Senator Leahy is going to have to go back to the hearing in a minute. Can we have one more question?

[Chris] Amanda Howard: what do you think about the three soldiers that were captured and do you think we will get them back at the end of the war?

[Alesha] Thank you senator leahy!!

[Elissa] Elissa and shannon : Thank you . Goodbye!

[Callie] thankyou Senator Leahy. from Jessie Palatucci and Callie Ewald

[Alesha] Good-bye!!

[PatLeahy] Amanda I do hope we get them back. Under the Geneva Convention we are supposed to and they are suppossed to be treated well. I am glad the Red Cross has seen them. In A war like this we have to know we could have casualties.

[AndyT] Thank you senetor Leahy from Danny

[Chris] Thank you senator Leahy from Amanda Chris And tristan.

[PatLeahy] Great to be with all of you. Hope to see you in Vermont or Washington

[Jennifer] Thank you Senator Leahy