In memory of Jim Jeffords
by David Atkins
Jim Jeffords’ recent passing was a sad moment for many in Washington. He is remembered by many as a decent human being. I’m sure that he took some awful votes over his career. Most Republican electeds do. But his speech switching from Republican to Democrat, and with him control of the Senate, remains one of the more electric moments of the early aughts. It’s also one of the milestones that historians will use to signal a mile marker on the growing radical extremism of the modern GOP.
In the last 13 years, the Republican Party has only gotten far, far worse. By today’s Tea Party standards, Jeffords would be considered a commie. That should scare observers, but the Village seems remarkably blase about it all.
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