You wrote,

"I know how much this must hurt. For the past six years I've argued that GW was wrong. Each time I got the same right wing response that somehow tried to compare Clinton's actions with Monica to the reason why we can't find WMD."

- – - – - – -

FMann (Home State of President Bush),

From what you've shared – you're an angry anti-war protestor who thought electing a Democratically controlled congress would yield impeachment and our troops magically returned?

I would be angry too if I bought into the "hype" sold to you by your partisan leaders.

Couple of points:

1) Some of the reason we entered Iraq SEEMS to be based on faulty information (WMDs). We KNEW Saddam had them and was willing to use them (gassing the kurds). We KNEW Saddam was a brutal dictator and middle-eastern thug (invaded Kuwait). And we KNEW he was not fully complying with 11 UN resolutions. The fact is – we had good reasons to remove Saddam.

2) The Administration did not have a good game-plan for AFTER Saddam was removed, I agree. Our generals and soldiers are sincerely making the best effort to secure the country and give the people the chance to create a representative government.

3) We ALL want the soldiers home. The difference is many of us think we need to leave Iraq with a fighting chance of success politically, economically, and a police force able to quell violence.

4) Impeachment. Disagreeing with policy is not a basis for impeaching a President. Anger is not evidence. You must have EVIDENCE of high crimes and misdemeanors (something MORE than baseless accusations).

I do invite you, however, to SPECIFICALLY back your statements:

- "Impeach Bush", explain where Bush has violated US Laws, your evidence, and which court has found him guilty.

- "Put Bush on trial at the UN for war crimes", (aside from the fact it's the HAGUE which prosecutes international criminals) – what international crime did Bush commit? What law did he violate? Would you also be indicting Congress since they voted to give Bush authority to pursue Iraq?

PS – Notice I didn't mention Bill, Monica, or Hillary being an enabler?

I bet at least 3/4 of the Vermont bashers here have never been and have absolutely no idea what they're talking about. Why don't you come here and see what it's like before you declare it a "communist backwater"?

Bush-bashers and Vermont-bashers, you need to grow up.

Vermont is proof that a multi-party system works. We have a Democrat and a Socialist/Democrat for our Senators, a Republican Governor and our Legislature has a strong mix of members from the Democratic, Independent, Republican and Progressive parties.

President Bush believes in his ideals as much as Vermonters believe in theirs. To be able to share our thoughts and concerns with our democratically elected President is an opportunity that many countries are not afforded. But…will President Bush give us that opportunity?

This must be the most incompetant President we've ever (almost) elected.

I hope both parties give us wise choices for 2008, and I hope the voters REALLY THINK about it, before pulling the lever.

Our Country is now ridiculed throuout the world, but could someday stand proud again....

That said, I can also see many reasons why it would make sense to only visit near the end of his last term.

This isn't really what I wanted to comment on, however. My degrees are in political science/international relations, and it is really sickening to me to see how people throw about the 'respect for the Constitution' card. The TRUTH is that only a SUPER-MINORITY of voters have ANY idea what the Constitution says to begin with! Even if they know a bit of what it says, they don't understand what it really means. And even if they understand what a part of it means... they don't understand it as a whole. People quote the Constitution just like they quote the Bible: to suit their purposes.

We love to blame politicians, corporations, people of other political parties, the media for our problems, but in THIS country, with THIS system, WE are to blame. That's right, it's ALL our fault. Neither Republicans NOR Democrats have any right to self-righteously blame the other. We're all at fault. Since we are all fat and happy, and have everything we need to lead oblivious cattle lives, we are going to sit around, complain a bit from time to time, and wait for a truly enormous disaster before we wake up and take control of our country again.

What's it going to take? I shudder to think.

I do have one suggestion, though. It will never be enacted because educated voters are much more difficult to manipulate, but a free class on the Constitution, other founding documents, and our current political system should be offered to all Americans of voting age. ONLY Americans who have taken the class and passed a comprehension test should be allowed to vote. Please note that nothing will be required in the way of agreeing with certain positions on current issues. Perhaps passing the test would grant 10 years of voting ability.

Regardless, we need to realize it is our own lack of awareness and education, it is our own apathy and bovine contentedness that has allowed the government to get so corrupt and out-of-touch with the people.

Last note: There are certainly a few aspects of Vermont that would make a Jefferson smile (lots of guns and farmers), but nothing in the Constitution calls for an entitlement state. The founding fathers envisioned a system where independent people came together to form independent states, and independent states came together to form the United States of America. Instead we find ourselves moving in the direction where people routinely (by right in their minds) depend on the state, and the states necessarily depend on the federal government.

This country was meant to be about independence, personal responsibility, and respect for the individual. It has instead become a country of dependence, profound self-interest, and complete disregard for how one's actions affect others.

As negative as all that sounds, I hold great hope for our country and the American people. We have certainly been stuck in a rut for decades now... but I think we are tiring of it. As we ultimately, thanks to the Constitution, have the power to change things... they will change when we've finally had enough.

So Red staters are anti-gay? Wht not use the term pro-marriage instead?

Marriage is one man and one women, period. Pro-marriage.

Over 45 states have voted on this and using your logic all were red states and people just filled with intolerant hate.

Not true, as many of the same "haters" champion civil unions with all attached rights (it is about rights?) and that includes most of your beloved Democratic candidates for President.

Strike 1.

Propaganda about the war, lets see, again most Democrats when it was popular, authorized it, paid for it and ONLY when it became bad politically, are now against it.

Strike 2.

Nationalism and racism on immigration, again ALL across the country regular folks from BOTH PARTIES, are not for granting amnesty to criminals and strengthening our borders so we know who is here and why.

Also part of that is easing the methods one would use to become my neighbor and friend, the legal, right, American way.

Strike 3.

I believe that ANYONE who is against stem cell research is wrong, BUT it should be monitored closely.

Inntelligent design, nah, not buying that either.

When we all did sing Christmas carols in school and holy bleep, had a Christmas tree in town square (not a freakin' Holiday tree)life was a lot better back then, but politically correct morons took all that away.

Jon from Sacremento is one of the better posters on this site and his brilliance is only exceeded by his facts and knowledge. So there is hope for CA.

Generalizing is a tough sell to begin with, but generalization with only half truths, nobody buys, except the ones blinded by ignorance.

On the other hand, Texas has a lot of "esplainin" to do (as Ricky would say to Lucy), for having sent us their village idiot!!

Sigh.

When will we all put this bipartisan bullcrap aside and just be Americans? So many of these comments are coming from one-track, narrow-minded individuals that refuse to see/acknowledge anything that doesn't fit into the mold of their own ideology. The President did not start this war. Congress did. Not all conservatives are intolerant, hate- and fear-mongering, uneducated bigots. Liberals are not always right (if you'll excuse the pun, hehe). The Democratic party is not perfect, it is just as corrupt at the Republican party.

Shame, shame, shame.

But I bet that President Obama will be a regular visitor to the Newfane Inn!

Also the comment from Texas complaining about Vermont's liberal policies especially regarding economic policies. You do realize that those in Vermont as well as the northeast as a whole get other region of the country? Who gets back the most from the federal govt despite paying the least?? Well outside of Alaska its the south including your beloved Texas. Oh and vermont also has the highest per capita death rate of U.S soldiers in Iraq

Fact of the matter is that Vermont is the epicenter of a positive modern world view that is defined by freedom and independence, and casually wrapped in a blanket of reverence for the natural world. Because of that combination of ideals and an exquisite appreciation for American History, I strongly feel that Vermont is the most uniquely American of all 50 states in the union.

All you cranky wanky people who complain about Vermont or choose to avoid it (like our lame Faux Noise President) are vastly vastly out-weighed by the great people and great things happening in the Green Mtn State.

I logged on to Senator Bernie Sanders Web page and was totally disappointed that there is no such comment!

I'm not a Bush fan but I am also not a fan of false reports! Come on CNN do your research and give us the impartial, unbiased news we deserve. We are all smart enough to decide whether or not we agree with our Public Representatives views and actions!

Gee Bob, you labeled and bashed more than half the country (red states) that hold a different view than you.

Are YOU the bright & shining example of the tolerant and educated in our country?"

~Jon, Sac CA

Sorry Jonboy. The truth hurts, I know.

1. Jim Douglas is the governor of Vermont, not Jim Jeffords like someone said.

2. Patrick Leahy was born in Vermont (Montpelier to be exact), and he's not a "liberal flatlander".

Anyway, I'm disgusted by all the hateful conservatives responding to this article. So what if most of us happen to be liberal? Get over it. Shouldn't your "Christian family values" tell you that you should respect others' opinions? Stop the hate and smear campaign already, and especially stop calling us unpatriotic.

The picture would be him playing the guitar at that state fair with that second rate country star as Katrina was devastating the South.

He forgot to pay attention then too.

I’ve never been to Vermont, but I hope to visit someday. One valid generalization about California is that the seasons don’t really change here much.

As for it being full of hippies and rednecks and whatever else are claiming, people may want to relook into that. Many well to do families, including old politicians, movie stars and lawyers are retiring and settling in Vermont. I wouldn't call them hippies.

Bush shouldn't ignore Vermont just because the majority of the people don't agree with his politics. At the end of the day, it's still part of the United States and he has an obligation to the people just like he does in every other state. If he continues to ignore Vermont like he has been, it's just another way he is failing the country.

Are the right wing nut cases that callous and unseeing, that they can't say, enough is enough. Please, no more killings.

Maybe since it is such a small state, your logic is, that a death of someone from there, does not equal a death from somewhere with a larger population like Texas.

And to the guy from Nebraska, living in yesterday, talking about Clinton visiting Nebraska twice in his presidency, what in the world does that have to do with anything that is going on now? Were there any bodies coming home to Nebraska from Iraq during Clinton's term?

Presidents do not visit Vermont. We are the red headed step-child of the United States and that is the way we like it. It is unfair to call W out on this. But I accept all mudslingings.