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Why I am supporting a former Democrat to lead Vermont.
by John Klar
I am endorsing John Rodgers in the Vermont Republican Primary to be Vermont’s next Lieutenant Governor. I do not generally endorse candidates in primaries, because I believe people should be encouraged to run and the Party should avoid internal conflict where possible. Indeed, Greg Thayer asked me earlier in this election cycle to endorse him and I declined for this reason.
By endorsing John Rodgers, I am upsetting more people than Greg Thayer, and I want to explain why.
If John Rodgers loses the Republican Primary, David Zuckerman will remain Vermont’s (extremely progressive) Lieutenant Governor.
I do not have anything negative to say about Greg Thayer. We are friends, he has worked very, very hard on his campaign, and I personally align with Greg more than John Rodgers on most issues. But that is why I couldn’t win LG against Dave Zuckerman any more than Greg could, and why despite all his best efforts Greg would do well to gain even 35-40% of a statewide vote for office. Phil Scott is Vermont’s only Republican statewide officeholder.
Also, I believe it is very important to be welcoming to people like John Rodgers – whether candidates or voters – who have become so disenchanted with their own party that they walk away. They need a new political and cultural home, not in the toxic, identity-focused divisions and failed policies of the Far Left, but in the “Big Tent” of a more traditional center ground, where free speech, mutual respect, civil disagreement, and fiscal competence reign.
Like John Rodgers, I am a walkaway – though for both of us, it is the Democratic Party that has walked away, from fundamental constitutional and societal precepts. And though the road has at times been bumpy, I am grateful to the very many wonderful conservative Vermonters who have warmly encouraged my conversion to unashamed Republican. We conservatives may not always agree on issues, but let us always be a Party that agrees to be civil and respectful of others, not just within our ranks but toward independent voters and even those progressive legislators with whom we disagree. That is an attractive tent – and voters and other Democrat lawmakers are watching how John Rodgers is treated, to ponder whether they too might take shelter here.
But let’s talk about John Rodgers some more. One need not be an attorney to make the case that John Rodgers was more conservative as a Democrat than Phil Scott has been as a Republican.
– I strongly supported Phil Scott’s run for Governor in 2016 and stumped for him in the Northeast Kingdom. But when he abandoned our fundamental Second Amendment liberties, I sharply disagreed – and so did John Rodgers. John stood on the State House steps, leading a powerful minority opposition against the move to strip Vermonters of longstanding gun rights because of the actions of a single mentally deranged criminal in faraway Sandy Hook flatland. John even introduced a Vermont State Constitutional Amendment (patterned after Wyoming) that would have protected Vermonters’ gun rights against even federal intrusion.
– In 2016, I defied Vermont state laws that prohibited farmers from selling on-farm slaughtered livestock except as whole animals. John Rodgers was my Senator at that time, and he met with me in a local restaurant to discuss the problems created for Vermont’s itinerant slaughterers and custom processors (many of whom John knew personally) by the State’s restrictions. John was more than just supportive – he was fired up and protective of farmers and Vermont farming traditions. Vermont’s on-farm slaughter activities have been preserved thanks in part to John Rodgers. I am not aware that Phil Scott chimed in a chirp regarding this important agricultural practice.
– John Rodgers has repeatedly defended Vermont’s culture from slanderous claims of white supremacy and systemic racism, and against overly-pushy out-of-staters who relocate to Vermont and then condemn its people as racist while exploiting its wonderful resources. I have never heard Phil Scott defend Vermont’s police from false charges of racism – John will.
John and I disagree on some issues, always respectfully. But the case I am making is not that I am a more conservative walkaway than John Rodgers, but that John is substantially more conservative than Phil Scott.
The Lieutenant Governor choices facing Vermonters – both Democrat and Republican – in the 2024 General Election will be between a far-left incumbent David Zuckerman vs. either a right-leaning Greg Thayer or a wisely-walked-away John Rodgers who is substantially more conservative than Governor Phil Scott. Especially after eye-popping “Progressive” property tax hikes were enacted while food prices skyrocketed, Democrats who would never consider voting for Greg will support John over Dave Zuckerman, and Vermont will have two statewide Republican officeholders in 2025.
I have worked many long days on a concrete foundation crew and as a mason’s tender and mason. John Rodger’s profession as a stonemason requires particularly rugged grit, careful planning, and patient implementation. His childhood training on a Glover dairy farm means he knows what it means to work seven days a week for years on end, and that hard work is not always just about money. His life advocating for the rural communities of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom demonstrates a steady passion for the issues at the forefront of Vermonters’ needs today. Frugality and common sense are rare commodities in Montpelier….
Just like when John Rodgers spoke out bravely against the unconstitutional seizure of Vermont’s state and federal gun rights; just as he listened to farmers when the State went too far in its regulations; and just as he has defended Vermont’s culture when most others were silent, so too will he speak, listen and defend Vermonters when he is their next Lieutenant Governor.
This is why I am compelled to speak out forcefully for John Rodgers – he has earned my trust and respect, and that of many others, by standing up on important issues despite enormous political flack and at great personal risk. That is an integrity – whether of Democrat or Republican flavor – that is too rare in politics generally, and very much in need in these looming hard times. John Rodgers can defeat David Zuckerman in the General Election, but only after winning the Vermont GOP Primary.
It is very important to our State that he does. Please vote for John Rodgers for Lieutenant Governor in Vermont’s Republican Primary on August 13.
The author is a Brookfield best-selling author, lawyer, farmer and pastor.
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Categories: Commentary, Elections, politics
An endorsement from John Klar is cancer. I am so disappointed in Rodgers, a family friend who came to my granddaughter’s first birthday party, I can barely type this.
This is John Klar:
“Gays invoke racism as part of their clarion cry. Black Lives Matter speaks out for gays, transgenders and women, including abortion. In Vermont, progressive white strategists have scrounged up a handful of black citizens (mostly recent urban imports) to wield as battering rams against the native population.”
But wait! There’s more!
In another letter from 2011, titled “Why gay marriage is so obviously queer”, Klar opines, “If the federal constitution is twisted to protect marital sodomy as a “civil right,” then all those states’ laws will be struck down as unconstitutional by federal preemption. We as a nation will be compelled to elevate the gerbil tube to it’s highest possible standing.”
Marital sodomy? Gerbil tube?
Gerbil tube!
Yes. He went there.
I cannot believe that the Rodgers I know would accept an endorsement from a racist homophobic transphobe like Klar.
Who are you, and what have you done with John Rodgers?
Eddie, your toxicity toward me is clouding your perspective. I thought you were pro-Second Amendment. And thus pro-John Rodgers. And here you are trying to discredit John using my unrelated opinions. Do you support him or are you trying to discredit him because you can’t figure out why I’m right that social justice ideology is toxic and racist, and that elitist white people (and race-baiting antifa frauds like you) use it to exploit the suffering of minorities for power and hate?
“I thought you were pro-Second Amendment. And thus pro-John Rodgers.”
Isn’t Greg Thayer pro-Second Amendment too?
Re: “I have never heard Phil Scott defend Vermont’s police from false charges of racism – John will.”
Think of Phil Scott what you will. John Rogers isn’t running against Phil Scott. And neither is Greg Thayer.
Re: “I have worked many long days on a concrete foundation crew and as a mason’s tender and mason. John Rodger’s profession as a stonemason requires particularly rugged grit, careful planning, and patient implementation.”
I will wager to say, Mr. Klar, that you haven’t worked as many days building foundations or laying as many bricks, blocks, and stones, as I have. We can compare notes another time. But the point is, being a mason shouldn’t be a litmus test for political office either. Policies are what count.
Re: “His childhood training on a Glover dairy farm means he knows what it means to work seven days a week for years on end, and that hard work is not always just about money.”
I grew up on a farm in Lancaster County, PA. I was a 4H member for years raising angus beef cattle. We had the national champion Holstein dairy cow for several years. I suspect I’ve gathered as many eggs, baled as much hay, picked as many weeds from the garden, and shoveled as much you-know-what as either you or Mr. Rogers has. But that doesn’t make me or you or John Rogers a good political candidate.
How about we see some specific policy recommendations for a change.
I listed three specific policy areas, Jay — guns, farms, and culture. I am not sure why your masonry and farming competition is apposite. I would expect you’d agree that work experience and ethic do matter for a leader’s character. And you have no idea just how much granite block I have moved — I’d just rather discuss John’s specific policy issues, and strong record on guns, farming, and defending our culture.
I’m assuming ‘John’, that you are John Klar – an assumption (note to Guy Page) accentuating the flaw in the use of pseudonyms. At first, I thought this may be a response by John Rogers. Nonetheless, thank you for engaging. It’s the discussion that’s the proof in the pudding, and it’s too bad John Rogers and Greg Thayer aren’t speaking on their own behalf.
Re: “And you have no idea just how much granite block I have moved…”
No. But I do have an idea as to how many tons of stone, brick and cement block I’ve moved… the point being, that it doesn’t matter. Again, it’s policy that counts.
Re: “I am not sure why your masonry and farming competition is apposite.”
That was my point, John. You raised the masonry and farming prerequisite. I didn’t. Now you’re blaming me for responding to you in kind.
Re: “I would expect you’d agree that work experience and ethic do matter for a leader’s character.”
Ah, yet another classic false dichotomy. What ‘matters’, John, is where it is I’m being led to by this leader. Again, it’s policy that counts.
Re: “I’d just rather discuss John’s specific policy issues, and strong record on guns, farming, and defending our culture.”
First, why isn’t John Rogers having this discussion? Why are you and others always speaking on his behalf? Is it to establish Mr. Roger’s plausible deniability, perhaps?
Second, I’ve already addressed these issues in a previous post.
– “John Rogers supports the 2nd Amendment.”
But I suspect Greg Thayer does too.
– “Vermont’s on-farm slaughter activities have been preserved thanks in part to John Rodgers.”
I suspect Greg Thayer supports ‘on-farm slaughter activities’ too. But I haven’t heard either candidate, Rogers or Thayer, say so in writing. While I’d like to take Mr. Klar’s word for it, that it comes from the candidates themselves is proof in the pudding.
– “I’d just rather discuss John’s specific policy issues ‘… defending our culture.’”
And just what ‘culture’ would that be? Yours or mine or John Rogers’? This is why I am persistent in my advocacy for School Choice. I don’t want to tell anyone how they should live, as long as they aren’t trying to tell me how I must live.
I hope you don’t let this conversation end at this point, and I hope we can hear directly from Mr. Rogers and Mr. Thayer. We all would like to know specifically what we are letting ourselves in for when we vote for a candidate.
My family will be voting for Thayer, Rogers will be a turn coat for the GOP, as he still has his left leaning agendas …………….. No Conservative !!!
He only left the DemsocRATS because the field was to crowded with progressives, not due to there policies ……..
Klar wants to vote for a democrat cause he is one as well. He admitted to voting for Obama not just once but twice. He may have the gift of gab, and talks the talk but I doubt his walk.
This just proves my point about open doors for people who might seek to become conservatives. I have explained why I voted for Obama, as well as how he then betrayed me and others on promises to help farmers (he helped Monsanto instead), improve GMO labeling (he did the opposite), and fix the broken financial system (he bailed out Wall Street). I am disgusted by what the Dem Party has become, but now I am condemned forever for what I did 15 years ago, like a Brett Kavanaugh, never to be redeemed? lol So sad. Why would anyone want to join a Party where people are so unforgiving and judgmental, rather than willing to agree on policies? I have MORE authority to criticize Obama than if I had not supported him, and my values are now firmly conservative despite all the childish name-calling. John Rodgers will find that most conservatives are smarter than this. As to walking the walk, my testimonies about John Rodgers are all easily proven true, and are on the record. I’m not “wanting to vote for a Democrat.” I’m voting for a Republican who used to be one, rather than punishing him forever like some kind of social justice nut job.
John, JohnKlar, who did I just respond to? How many Johns are out there?
My reply is posted here to whoever will think instead of just react. I posted this on the other article “letters to the Editor”. Let’s try thinking before losing again.
I am a conservative through and through but I’m also a realistic person. My question is, how many democrats will have to change their voting pattern to elect Greg Thayer to defeat D. Zuckerman? Is it realistic to believe this could happen in the bluest of blue states? To my personal disappointment I don’t think it’s possible. It defies logic.
So, we already have a fairly conservative democratic governor who says he’s a republican and is supported by a lot of democrats but not all republicans. Is it better to lose the race altogether is it better to elect another former conservative democratic senator turned republican as LT governor? I would prefer to vote for Greg Thayer but if he loses, we get Zuckerman again. Rogers brings votes with him as a former senator and Thayer has already lost to Zuckerman. As you can see, I’m wrestling with this vote. There’s also the possibility that democrats will grab republican ballots to vote for Rogers.
While conservatives want change, we can’t get it by losing elects continually. In my opinion Zuckerman is a dangerous continuation of the progressive nightmare. I’m not saying one way or the other but I hope you all think about what I have said here. With a Rogers or a Thayer win we will gain. With another loss nothing is gained.
No johnklar, it’s not opening doors for people who change their mind to get elected. It is the compromising of our morals and standards to vote for someone who does not believe what we do, which is what got us here in the first place. Sound like someone you know that just stole an election promise from our previous president…to get votes. I don’t care what they say it is the DO that matters!! Look up Roger’s previous voting record. Have him make it available!!!
The one thing I’ve learned, that when a person runs for governmental office, they certainly desire to be elected. In that due course, they can and say anything to appeal to the audience, they have a strong urge for the most part to seek exposure and the perks that a government position affords.
To that end, there’s actually two vocabularies. The major definitions of words or phrases mean one thing to the uneducated normal populaces. In politics words and phrases can mean something entirely political and that’s their world. Here’s a web site for instance. There are many others to find in a search Politics is a confusing world and they like it that way. https://democracyonline.net/glossary.html
You have to listen closely to determine what a politician really is saying.
John Rodgers is a modern-day Trojan horse. If he gets elected to Lt. Gov. He will be the voice in the governor’s ear. He will make sure that Phil Scott remains the puppet he is.
Is there a possibility that when a candidate is on the soap box divulging their position and hopefully win over voters.? That’s the “game” ( a crude word for this endeavor).
I have seen and heard very often, when a person gets elected and has to vote on certain bills, They vote opposite from what they said previously. And used the phrase ” I had to change my mind on this matter”. Nothing is set in concrete. Reading the articles Meg Hanson did, I truly felt she was the real deal. She had great exposure that wasn’t political prior to running for Lt. Gov. That was a ticket I thought would be great for VT.
Oh, right. Dave Zuckerman is so much better on our payroll. There’s no Trojan Horse there.
OMG: John, John, John and John who?
‘Who’s on first’?
Yes.
I thought loyalty was valued by John Klar along with farms for food? You know, Principles and good, honest, hard work.
Greg Thayer made a commitment as a real Republican Candidate for Lt. Governor long before John Rodgers came along. You call Greg a friend and you betrayed him. Watch your backs, friends of John Klar.
What’s the interest in John Rodgers, John Klar? I thought you would be one to look at a person’s record to see if they are who they say they are? I don’t know what is worse, John Rodgers liberal voting record or the fact that he sold out his family farm to the highly brain damaging yet, high money making Marijuana business.
Watching how fast those who call themselves Republicans betray a fellow Republican to run after the “shiny new object” is sadly disturbing. I wonder what it does to any Republican who might consider being a Candidate. What happened to no endorsements until after a Primary Election? I guess that too is subjective and now open to violation.
Wouldn’t it be something if the joke is on all of you betrayers of Greg Thayer? What if John Rodgers played you all by saying he changed parties to get just the attention and moves you all gave him?
Greg Thayer cannot win the statewide election against Zuckerman. What people are forgetting is that the LT Governor has the power to lead the republicans in the senate. Do you believe that Zuckerman will help any republican policy vote in the senate, hell no. In fact, Zuckerman doesn’t have Phil Scott’s ear or a place in any republican circles at all, he works with the progressives. I don’t believe Rogers has a progressive bone in his body and makes for a better choice. Rogers also has democrat supporters who are not Zuckerman voters and may be on the fence due to the progressive policy ruination and excessive taxes.
I was on the state house steps with John Rogers when Phil Scott sold us out and signed away over 200 years of Vermont freedom when he signed the first ever gun control laws in Vermont. He is your Trojan Horse and turncoat. Analyzing this choice and voting for John Rogers is not abandoning my beliefs. Our republican governor already did that. I’m looking for a candidate who has been on my side of the issues and can have a chance at leading the senate republicans.
I would be Okay with Greg also, but I don’t think he can turn enough democrats to beat Zuckerman. I would rather stand with someone who has fought with Vermonters against his party at the time than lose the election and return Zuckerman, (who is not a Vermonter and is a carpetbagger) to the senate where he can continue to ruin our state, tax us to death, steel our rights and support the progressive ruination of this once beautiful place to live. I’ve made my choice, I’m voting to win, not lose another election over stubbornness.
We can’t win the war by continually losing elections. John Rogers is my vote!
Re: “I was on the state house steps with John Rogers when Phil Scott sold us out and signed away over 200 years of Vermont freedom when he signed the first ever gun control laws in Vermont. He is your Trojan Horse and turncoat.”
And yet, VIP1, Phil Scott endorses John Rogers? Which one, then, is the “Trojan Horse and turncoat”? Scott or Rogers? Or both?
Just askin’.
David Zuckerman must be greatly enjoying this exchange. If you want a Republican to win in a Democratic state, perhaps you should end this conversation and think about cooperating.
Dear Duane,
Isn’t that the Democrat Way? No truth welcome, no opinions welcome, and no individuality allowed. Listen to the lobbyists, the elites and the special interests.
“All are to go along to get along,” because “all actions are acceptable as long as the intended result is met,”and “don’t think, just get on the train and go along or you’ll be thrown off?”
So we should have a LG race between a democrat and a democrat? So why even have a republican party then? So John Rodgers wins the primary; that guarantees we won’t have a republican in a position to win the governorship when Phil has enough. Really, is that the plan?
And if Greg loses you have something worse.
Gregory Thayer betrayed every person that works so hard for him on his right end campaign that he requested we do for him.
We spent money on him we hustled around to get pictures of him we work day and night behind the scenes to send messages to people to vote for him and make sure they spell his name properly…
What did Greg Thayer do for us?
He stabbed us in the back!
He endorsed Joe Benning and everything we were against as conservative Republicans..
He asked people to vote for Joe Benning in an article that he wrote after he threw the people that worked so hard for him to the curb.
That’s right he supported Joe Benning who wrote article 5 and was a stunt supporter of article 22 that eventually was placed in the Constitution of the state of Vermont
Yes Greg Thayer supported The same Joe Benning that said Trump supporters were white supremacists and racists.
Yes the same Greg Thayer you know the conservative guy that is lying to everyone… He asked us to vote for Joe Benning who said that people who supported Donald Trump should not be allowed to be members of the Republican party…
So you see Greg has fooled you but he hasn’t fooled me..
And H Jay… You say he supports the second amendment… He didn’t have a clue about the second amendment in the last election he must have woke up at some point… Probably right after he asked me to call the NRA representative in the state of Vermont…
Now H. Jay I know you have questioned that but I called that gentleman a couple of times at the request of Gregory Thayer who couldn’t even fill out the questionnaire for the NRA properly or completely…
And yes this is the guy who brags about his occupation as an accountant…
My suspicion is he had somebody help him fill out the questionnaire this time around so at least he stood somewhat of a chance of getting some of it correct..
And I’m amazed at all of you that don’t have a clue who John Rodgers is or what he put on the line to appear at numerous rallies on the statehouse steps as a Democrat to fight for our Republican values..
I have to question your values where the hell were you guys when we were fighting for these rights?
Where was Gregory Thayer? He wasn’t on the State House steps with us..
Where were you H.Jay?
I think it’s disgusting that any one of you attack John Rodgers after he has done the work for us not just flapped his lips.
Is this really how we welcome someone into the Republican party that has decided to move from the Democrat party to represent us.
We should all be ashamed of the behavior shown by people towards this John Rodgers… Especially those that didn’t have enough time to familiarize themselves with John who is a wonderful person that has worked hard for the state of Vermont for many years…
John took 16 years away from his business and his family to serve Vermont under the golden dome…
And you should be ashamed of the attacks on John Klar for presenting his opinion which seems to be based on the correct facts.
Like I said before John Rogers has had meet and greets around the state how many of you that wanted real answers to your questions bothered to go and ask this wonderful man questions?
I’ll guarantee it was none of you..
And just look at the damage Gregory Thayer has done to our Republican party in the state of Vermont because of his lies and
And disgusting messages that he sends to people about the people that supported him in the last election at his request… can you get any lower than that?
I don’t think you would hire a thief if you ran a business.. I’m amazed that any one of you would consider sending a liar to represent you in Montpelier Vermont.
Gregory Thayer has lied about the people that supported him and worked so hard for him..
Gregory Thayer continues to lie to the voters in the state of Vermont.
Gregory Thayer claims to be a conservative Republican yet he doesn’t believe in free speech.
There’s only one choice and one candidate who can defeat David Zuckerman that can represent Republicans properly and that is John Rodgers.
If any of you have any questions regarding my interactions with Gregory Thayer.please feel free to contact me.
You can read about Gregory Thayer at this website which presents only a small portion of the lies he has told..
If any one of you are truly concerned about the government in the state of Vermont I can’t believe you would support a liar and a turncoat..
Gregorythayer.com
Please everyone get out and vote tomorrow for John Rodgers as a first step and bringing for my government back into Republican control..
Mr. Ley,
It seems you are overly judgmental about Greg Thayer’s personal choices. Don’t take away the beauty of Individual Freedom when you don’t agree with someone.
Those of us who know Greg, strongly disagree with your accusations about him. We know first hand what you say is not true.
Do you have Thayer Derangement Syndrome? Please consider focusing your energy and enthusiasm elsewhere.
Politicians are prostitutes thus the number of Johns commenting on this article.
There is no right.
There is no left.
There are no Republicans.
There are no Democrats.
There are only Anti-Constitutionalists and Patriots.
Re: “And H Jay… You say he supports the second amendment… “
No, Richard, I did not say he supports the 2nd amendment. I said “… I suspect Greg Thayer does too.” There’s a difference.
Re: “Now H. Jay I know you have questioned that …”
You know I’ve questioned what, specifically, Richard? ‘Have I stopped beating my wife?’
Mr. Ley’s continued inaccurate characterizations levied about my comments, not to mention the vitriol in his ad hominem attacks, have convinced me, for now at least, to discount any advice or plea he makes until further notice. If anything, in my opinion of course, Mr. Ley’s misrepresentations do a disservice to the very campaign he claims to support – which seems to be a common theme for Vermont Republicans who seem obliged to continually exercise their 2nd amendment rights to shoot themselves in the political foot.
It is the republican way to be so stubborn that we continue to lose elections. Phil Scott voted for Joe Biden; how do you explain why he hasn’t sold the party out by doing so? He signed away over 200 years of Vermonter’s firearms freedom in a display of giving us all the finger on the state house steps and you and others are calling Rogers a RINO for switching parties. R. Ley was correct in his assessment of the Benning support by Thayer, read that part again. If republicans want to keep losing elections keep voting for people who will not win. This is a blue state, and it didn’t happen overnight. Political change starts with changing what we do to win. We all have our opinions and our vision of how to vote. The record for republicans is poor and until we decide to accept walk aways from the democratic, not progressive party we are doomed to lose. There are probably many old-time democrats who could support John Rogers, but they won’t support Thayer as they will see him as too extreme. That’s the reality in Vermont. Either vote to win or continue to vote to lose. Change starts with small steps.
Re: “…how do you explain why he (Scott) hasn’t sold the party out by doing so? “
I can’t explain why Scott sold the party out any more than I can explain why you do and say the things you do. I simply pointed out that Scott now endorses Rogers. How do you ‘explain’ that? Are they both selling out the party?
Re: “R. Ley was correct in his assessment of the Benning support by Thayer,…”
I never said Thayer didn’t support Joe Benning. But what’s the difference between Thayer supporting Joe Benning and Scott supporting John Rogers?
Question #1: If Phil Scott is a “Trojan Horse and turncoat”, are you going to vote for him simply because he can win? At what point do you draw the line between maintaining your conservative principles and (dare I say it) walking away from so-called ‘extreme’ conservative values?
Question #2: What are Thayer’s and Rogers’ positions on the proposed H.405 School Choice bill? What does John Rogers know about Trump’s treatment of subcontractors that he’s unwilling to discuss?
Question #3: Why won’t anyone address specific policy for a change?
Question #1, No I’m not voting for Scott. Demo/progressives will re-elect him without my vote. I’ll vote for Kevin Hoyt who won’t win. Scott holds the record for turning on those who supported and voted for him over the years. I’ll go with what I know and not inuendo about Rogers being a turncoat.
#2, If neither one of them offer you policy answers, how would I know why. That’s your issue not mine.
#3, Why would you ask me that question? Contact them. Maybe ask the media why they don’t ask them.
Now addressing Scott endorsing Rogers. Scott has probably known Rogers for a while since they have both served in the legislature. Scott has done very little if anything to promote republicans. I didn’t say Rogers was my perfect candidate but at almost 75 years old and a lifelong Vermonter, I’m sick of republicans constantly losing elections. I also ran for office in Vermont twice.
I also didn’t say that you had said anything about Benning who was also a Biden voter and Trump hater. Frankly, for conservative Vermonters the republican party sucks as it is and with the stubbornness not to analyze why they keep losing is all I tried to point out. John Rogers who now claims to be a republican would still be a better situation for republicans than sending Zukerman back to state office. My opinion, you have yours.
H. Jay, thanks for your response as incorrect as it is..
You have refused to answer any question I have asked you and instead you deflect to foolish statements like I have shot myself in the foot with inaccurate characterizations…
Did you bother to read the web page that I posted that has the facts about some of the lies Gregory Thayer is attempting to block from the voting public..
If you believe in everything you claim you do then you would be questioning Gregory Thayer as to why he doesn’t want the truth exposed to everyone that he is asking to vote for him.
Why would he be asking the different GOP committees in the state of Vermont to block the truth from the voting public… Don’t you believe in honesty and integrity..
If you do how can you support Gregory Thayer?
I think you need to take your finger off the trigger because you shot yourself in the foot more than once during our discussions about John Rodgers and the liar Gregory Thayer.
You are attempting to defend the indefensible because the truth that I have presented is factual about Gregory Thayer even though it rubs you the wrong way..
Are you really going to attempt to defend Gregory Thayer after he sold us out to the likes of Joe Benning going on to endorse him and asking us to vote for him?
If I recall correctly in the last election you even went on to have a conversation with Benning after we started the write in campaign for Gregory Thayer.. at that time you were questioning the abilities of Gregory Thayer
There is no vitriol in the truth… Paint it any way you want…Obviously you don’t like the facts that I present here..
When you made the statement you suspect Gregory Thayer supports the second amendment doesn’t that equate to you believe he supports the second amendment?
I attempted to clarify for you the fact that Gregory Thayer had absolutely no knowledge of gun ownership or the second amendment when he ran in the last election..
I think I have done that a couple of times now as well as explain to you that I had to call the NRA for him.. you even went on to question that..
And like I said before I’d be willing to bet he had someone help him fill out the NRA form this time around so he could get it complete and correct.
I don’t know if you beat your wife or not that is up to you.. not too smart and analogy but that’s around the issues to make up here but….
What I did ask is have you ever attended a meet and greet for John Rodgers so you can ask him the questions that you claim you haven’t had answered. I don’t see a response to that question here however you dance around the issues with frivolous remarks to attempt to make yourself look good and to attempt to cast doubt on the truths that I have posted here…
Well we could certainly flip the script and say your obvious ad hominem attacks on me are an attempt to make It look like I am doing a disservice to John Rodgers in spite of your attempts to do that very thing several times now.
And you also went on to make the claim that we were not required to be politically active in our elections…
You are 100% incorrect about that..
If you need help finding that reach out to me I’ll do my best for you..
I went back and researched it and I would encourage you to do the same instead of getting up here and claiming I don’t know what I’m talking about..
So have you attempted to reach out to John Rodgers yet to get your questions answered?
Have you ever been on the State House steps with John Rodgers to fight the high taxes and the attacks on our constitutional rights?
If you were in attendance at these rallies when you looked around did you see Neil Johnson or Gregory Thayer present?
I appreciate your words but actions speak a lot louder than words do..
John Rodgers has always taken the actions necessary to fight for Vermonters and I appreciate and support him him 100%.
John Rodgers is the only one that can defeat Zuckerman in the primary election so I’m hoping people wake up and stop bashing this wonderful man and go vote for him.
Vermonters we have an election we need to win and John Rodgers is the only candidate capable of winning lieutenant governor in the state of Vermont
If any one of you have Vermont’s best interested heart it’s time to stop the bickering and put a check mark next to John’s name on the ballot today..
God bless our beautiful little state
After reading the comments of pro this guy., pro that guy, anti this guy, anti-that guy I don’t know if I’m on Planet Earth, never mind in the state reading the comments.. I don’t trust one word either way. I’ve seen people that say one thing to get elected, then become a turncoat once that heavy CO2 in the DOME fills their nostrils, like intoxication to pure crap. How does gut Instincts get involved, and live with it, live and learn? Most politicians are on a 2 year election cycle, vote differently next time, if dissatisfied. Looking at a recent VDC article regarding the people running for the Montpelier status, most are Dems (again) and the majority are in the Burlington area. They control Vermont. Whether or not a new LG can provide balance somehow in Government is to be seen. It’s noted many Dems are from out of state and have that Liberal stupid destructive attitude. Attack the Burlington area and get Reps to get elected. Baruth is one bad dude from NY for instance.
Until then the election cycles in Vt will be interesting, but not hopeful. Heads or tails on a coin, flip it and see what comes up.
Verse 2:
On the south came the Hessians, our land to police;
And, armed for the battle, while canting of peace;
On our East came the British, the red-coated band
To hang up our leaders and eat up our land
Ho—all to the rescue! for Satan shall work
No gain for the legions of Hampshire and York!
They claim our possession,—the pitiful knaves—
The tribute we pay, shall be prisons and graves!
Verse 3:
We owe no allegiance; we bow to no throne;
Our ruler is law, and the Law is our own;
Our leaders themselves are our own fellow-men
Who can handle the sword, and the scythe, and the pen
Hurrah for Vermont! For the land that we till
Must have sons to defend her from valley and hill;
Our vow is recorded—our banner unfurled;
In the name of Vermont we defy all the world!
-Verses 2&3, Ballad of the Green Mountain Boys (The Green Mountaineer), by John Greenleaf Whittier
The author makes a persuasive case for Rodgers. If he authentically opposes many of the excesses of the modern Democratic party he’s probably worth supporting. If Republicans are ever going to make a comeback in Vermont it will probably start with people who aren’t typical conservative Republicans, and it has to start somewhere. I don’t live in Vermont, maybe someday, but I encourage Vermonters to vote for Rodgers today.