|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Paul Bean
Everyone VDC talked to assisting Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the Mad River Valley said was in fact here to spend vacation time with his family and not engage in politics. They also told us that overall it was a positive experience and there’s every indication that he may return in the future.
This event was the perfect storm for this reporter. Not only did I get to spend the weekend skiing with my friends and family at my favorite place in the world (where I would have been anyway), but one of the most high profile guests on Planet Earth was there skiing as well. This event also resulted in unprecedented social exposure for VDC.
Saturday morning, while waiting in line to get on the chairlift, I noticed some people standing by the lines holding signs in protest of the VP’s visit. As a frequent skier of Sugarbush and former employee I can say confidently that such behavior would typically never be tolerated at the resort. This was clearly a unique circumstance.
So, despite my ski party’s objections, right before I was supposed to get on the chair, I jumped out of line and snapped the photo above and posted it to our networks.
That photo now has 220,000 views, 7K likes, and 295 shares on Facebook, and many more on other social media platforms.
In a matter of days our audience increased significantly and more rapidly than ever before. It has been extremely hard to keep up with the endless incoming stream of information in messages, comments, and calls during this whole event.
For a political reporter who lives in the-middle-of-nowhere central Vermont, it felt like the whole world was knocking at your door, especially considering the heated exchange that took place in the White House on Friday between President Trump, Zelenskyy, and JD Vance…
Protesters were in full force this weekend in downtown Waitsfield and some in Warren as well. However, I spent all of my time this weekend hoping to catch a glimpse of the Vice President on the mountain- and MAYBE he would see me skiing in my black MAGA hat.
“Nice hat Nazi!” said one of the protesters while flipping me off as I took the photo of the protesters by the chairlift.
Another skier who was protesting while skiing told me while waiting in line that he “hoped I tore my ACL skiing,” to which I replied, “do you really feel that way?”
“Yeah I do. Donald Trump is a f***ing racist.”
“Do you want to ride up with us?,” I replied.
“No. I don’t, and you’re a f***ing loser.”
Many in the crowd line stood there in shock as this exchange took place in front of a lot of people.
“Peace be with you,” I said.
This exchange spiked the blood pressure of myself and my companion. We both felt concerned that he might becoming physical or try to do something nasty. It was truly a vicious display of hate. And all I was doing was peacefully skiing in my hat.
Again, I was just hoping that I would get a glimpse of the VP, or perhaps he might see me absolutely rippin’ it up, sporting their cap.
The whole time we were skiing, we all felt like we were on a secret mission to find the Vice President. It felt like a mix of James Bond and an episode of National Treasure with Nicholas Cage.
Everyone was wondering the logistics. How they would make this happen? Would lifts be shutdown? Would trails be closed? How would they make this work?
I am genuinely impressed by the Secret Service and security overall. It was extremely hard to find the VP. As a former employee I know the mountain very well. I know a lot about the inner workings and operations of the resort and I have a pretty good idea of how they did it. I think it’s best, however, to just let everyone infer for themselves.
What was likely a very stressful weekend for the Sugarbush staff, was a very fun weekend for the rest of us. With every large grouping of skiers and riders we wondered, “is that him in the blue jacket?” “Oh maybe that’s him over there!!” “I think I just saw him you guys!!”
The feeling of anticipation that we just might come around a corner on Jester and there would be the Vice President of the United States of America… how weird!
Not all of my interactions with the protesters were bad, however.
I also rode on the chairlift with a man from Central Vermont who was wearing a Ukraine flag and some message of support for Zelenskyy.
“I love the Dark MAGA hat man,” he said. “I am not a fan of MAGA at all, but that design is just so sweet. I especially like Elon Musk’s ‘Gothic Dark MAGA.'”
His kid was also on the chair with us.
“I don’t necessarily disagree with a lot of the things the administration is trying to do. I am a tech guy, I know what they’re trying to accomplish,” he told me. “It’s just that my kid is transgender and I am concerned about what the way they’re going about this all.”
He also had concerns that Donald Trump might be seeking to empower himself indefinitely and effectively establishing himself as a dictator.
While he and I certainly disagreed on many things, we both agreed that our Government should be seeking to operate with a balanced budget and that we cannot continue to bury our nation’s future in debt.
JD Vance’s motorcade consisted of 30+ vehicles and hundreds of people including security, staff, and family
I did not personally witness the motorcade, but the Store Manager of Champlain Farms did, and took the video above.
Reactions on social media were mixed. Here are some of the responses from the Chronicle’s Facebook page:
This will go down as one of the most memorable weekends in the valley for many locals. Between the protests, amazing ski conditions, and our high profile visitor, the hype was pretty real.
I close with this text from friend and former candidate for office Dexter Lefavour, responding to a photo of me skiing in my MAGA hat. It expresses how I felt about the whole weekend:
Discover more from Vermont Daily Chronicle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: National News, Tourism
Perhaps they should do some more research before protesting?
https://twitter.com/i/status/1896397206057611695
How about this, they should read the Bible and learn how to spot liars and thieves, do not believe what people/press say, but what they do.
Why would Vermont condone censorship? Why would both parties say nothing about the massive censorship going on in Vermont?
Here is an example of how to spot propaganda, it is often on the news every night where news broadcasters are told what to say.
IF Vermonters read Sheryl Atkissons “The Smear” they would be enlightened.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1896397206057611695
Here is a former, ardent supporter of Bernie Sanders offering an opinion that differs…
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1896145498853290277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1896145498853290277%7Ctwgr%5E2677b4826ad7376572d6fd919a82e39e150335b0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whatfinger.com%2F
If he was amused as much as I was by the foolish protesters, whose efforts accomplished only to show they were ‘ignorant’ fools. Then of course he enjoyed his visit. If disrupting idle peoples day for naught, I would return often!
Great story Paul, thanks for covering the vacation of The United States VP to our State. It must be something about President Trump’s VPs enjoying spending time in Vermont. As we remember that VP Pence alson enjoyed spending time here in the summer.
Again thanks for telling the news and not an opinion piece.
Nice reporting Paul. It made for a good read this morning. Your enthusiasm was evident, and your graceful response to the foolish protestor showed your depth of character. Blessings.
“A people that no longer dares to speak the truth is a people enslaved.” I think we saw who the enslaved by falsehoods were on the mountain.
I’m intrigued that many on the aging white Left would presumably have been anti-Vietnam War protestors at one time, but now are the eager rubes of the neo-cons and Liz Cheney who sparked this war (especially under Biden and Obama, but also with Bush) against Russia. I invite every sign-holding embarrassment of our state to fly over to Ukraine and grab one of those assault weapons they abhor and pitch in personally to the fight the war they agitate for (from their pampered, privileged position of security). Perhaps they would also fight in Gaza, and put their own lives on the line to “demonstrate” the courage of their convictions. Yes, I thought not….
(And of course, when the Trump Administration understandably severs federal dollars for the whacked-out Green Mountain disgrace, these same sad sack agitators will target him for the cut-offs they seeded. Perhaps the Scrawny Little Dyke will bring home the federal pork bacon as Leahy and other predecessors once did? Doubtful — maybe Becca can solicit replacement funds from the violent illegal aliens she championed in her veto of deporting them — after all, we are told (by the Left) that our Vermont economy depends on them. I hope mainstream Vermonters are paying attention to all the tolerance, love and peace the America-haters exhibit without fail.
I’m as MAGA as they come, but in my opinion, if I was going to Sugarbush to REPORT, I would NOT be wearing a MAGA hat. Lord knows how destructive bias in the media has become, and you certainly can’t act as a “journalist” when you openly display your allegiance to one side or another.
Anyway, I think you meant to say that protesters were out in full farce, not force. Spell catcher always misses that.
Brings to mind when then VP Dan Quale’s wife came to Montpelier to visit and the GOP State committee needed someone to show her around the capital so asked me as I had just returned from working for 41 and had the clearances and was free so she showed up with her security detail and we were walking across the statehouse lawn to show her the capital when a car came driving toward us on the lawn,just below the statehouse and the sec service went for their guns but I saw the driver was little Laura McBride of Maple Corner,who had spotted me then drove up to us. I hollared to the security detail to stand down I know her and she pulled up rolled down her window and said,”Hi Bill” I asked what she was doing driving on the statehouse lawn then she said she was going up to get a photo copy she needed as she didn’t have one at home. Everyone was a bit shook up and I turned to the VP’s wife and said…”Welcome to Vermont” Vance and family had a different type of welcome likely paid protestors…A–holes.
OMG! That is hilarious, esp. because I remember Laura. I can just picture her doing that. Thanks for the LOL>
Somehow, I can see federal funding getting pulled over this.
Me too, and we will pay the price.
Nothing this administration does is by happenstance. The President is nothing if not media savvy. Welcome to the white-hot spotlight, Vermont, with the highest per capita count of NGO’s.
I’ve really been surprised by JD. He seems to be very comfortable in every situation I’ve seen him in, from fishing with some locals in where was it, Wisconsin(?) Minnesota(?), to being the first to read Zelensky the riot act last week. And yes, it WAS JD who stood up to Little Napoleon first. Trump joined in after JD.
So, as much as President Trump has done and continues to do to save this country, let me ask you this. Who would you feel more comfortable going fishing with? Snowmobiling with? Eating wings and having a beer with? Spending a night at an LT shelter with? I say JD.
Now, if the question is who I’d like to play a round of golf with, the answer will always be President Trump.
Bottom line, this whole *protest* thing this past weekend was a disgrace, not only for the clueless individuals involved, but for the black eye they gave Vermont. JD just wanted to have a fun weekend with his family. There were no politics involved. Leave the man alone.
I suggest we find out who the loudest paid protesters were and heckle them as they drive their entire routes to work. IF they work, that is.
I just want to reiterate that (apparently) the majority of the hateful protesters were paid and from out of state, as usual, and by “you know who”.
That is 100% correct, Gail. I pointed this out last Friday I believe. Check out how to tell in my Jeff Foxworthy-style comment: You might be a paid protester if….
They work – They work as paid protestors and paid online posters for Soros and their affiliate, the DNC.
Don’t work? Hardly!
Marylyn Quale…forgot her name for a moment ,old fart, brain fart. Excuse me.
What on earth is a political reporter doing wearing a MAGA hat? Do you know anything about real journalism?
What I don’t understand is the aggressive “you will believe the way I do or you are a traitor”. They shouted about losing their freedom of speech and yet by their very actions robbed anyone with a different opinion of theirs. Hmm…free speech only for them and those who agree with them? And if you were not at the protest, you were berated for your silence. “Silence is compliance” they wrote on their posters. Um, not always….sometimes silence is not wanting to have your car keyed or being accosted in the supermarket. People may have been silent out of fear of the anger and aggression being displayed. And still, some of the protesters absolutely could not believe anyone would have the audacity to disagree with them and made that well known to all and sundry. Here is the thing I believe that they have lost sight of…..Sometimes your candidate wins and sometimes they don’t. It is how our country has functioned for many, many years. To yell obscenities, stomp your feet and intimidate others just because you don’t like who won…well back in grade school we would have called you a sore loser. Here’s the thing…. people are allowed to have an opinion that may not agree with yours…it doesn’t give you the right to scare them into silence. It does not give you the right to demand that everyone believe the same as you. Protest all you want, THAT is your right, have your own opinions, THAT is your right…and make your voices heard because, yes, THAT is your right. But when you insist on being rude, aggressive and downright threatening…you have crossed the line. Enough with the name calling and intimidation on the public forums. There are ways to express your opinion that do not include disrespecting the rights of others. I actually had to think long and hard about making this post, I was nervous about repercussions…but, you know what? I’m done with this behavior and I am ALLOWED to have an opinion.
Joyce, with all due respect: in Europe, they are ALLOWED “freedom of opinion”. Here, we have a RIGHT to free speech. And to this administration’s credit, people who were endlessly persecuted, prosecuted, placed on watch lists, and imprisoned for speaking truth to the Obiden regime are now in positions of power. So, please continue to speak your truth and show them that their emperor has no clothes. They may key your car or call you dirty names. So what? They are scuttling like roaches exposed to sunlight.
Well, it is just plain rude and downright uncivilized for people to treat a person on vacation with his family with such idiocy.
If it’s a political stump or meeting, go for it, as vile as it may be. But subjecting his family to such rudeness is simply unconscionable. Especially, when it’s the group that calls for unity, harmony and inclusion. I guess they haven’t read a dictionary lately?
And the idea that VP Vance and Family we forced out of VT is simply a childish delusion.
The real reasons were; -10 to -20 degree windchill. Not many people skied on Sunday – period. The other concern was for the various Federal and State members of the protection detail being subject to those temps just so the VP could ski. That was not in VPs nature.
VP Vance is a beginner skier and it simply wasn’t worth it so he decided to cut his trip short and come back some other day. Hopefully, when some Vermonters learn good manners.
In reality, other than die-hard skiers, that’s what most would have done and did.
And, the author was correct it was pretty mellow at the mountain.
Great article, Paul. And great comments so far. So, I’ll take this opportunity to catch my breath for a change. Thank you all again.
You will always find a few wackos in any group. It’s unfortunate that Mr. Dean had an unfortunate encounter with a couple of them. Mr. Dean obviously disapproved of these two protesters. I wonder if he also disapproves of the name calling in this list of comments: “neo-cons”, “A-holes”, and “Scrawny Little Dyke”.
By the way, Mr. Klar, I am an “aging white Left” who served his country in Vietnam. When are where did you serve?
Yes, call them what they are…sore losers. But please let’s have some empathy for those in the throes of Trump Derangement Syndrome, like we should for anyone suffering from any other serious mental malady. I’m guessing that most grief counselors, psychologists and therapists are booked up well into the summer ever since election day. These protestors dont have many other options to cope with their irrational shock and grief so they resort to calling duly elected officials, their advisors and staff scary names like nazi, fascist and dictator as their preferred form of overt virtue signaling. It is unfortunate that the Vice President and his family had to be subjected to the abuse but think of the benefit that was derived by the moonbat community in terms of therapy for their illness. If you encounter them, it never hurts to offer sufferers of TDS a kind word demonstrating some level of understanding of their plight, followed by “not tired of winning!”…
“This exchange spiked the blood pressure of myself and my companion. We both felt concerned that he might becoming physical or try to do something nasty. It was truly a vicious display of hate. And all I was doing was peacefully skiing in my hat.” I call b.s. on you.
In the first image is an interesting sign from a Vance protester.
“Racketeering does not make us great”.
Have to laugh, because that is what DOGE is all about. Getting rid of the racketeering in the present government, if want to call it that. I wonder if he really gave that any thought. Probably not. Oxymoron protester.
Having skied most of the Vermont ski areas in my younger years, I would suggest that in the future the VP skip Mad River and Sugarbush and go to Burke Mountain and Jay Peak where the skiing is better and the people much friendlier and less liberal.
…much farther from the moonbats’ main base of operations in the Chittenden County area…
Oh this article is hilarious. I don’t know you Paul, but I can just imagine you up there hoping to get a look at our VP. I would have been the same way.
I was at the protest with a handful of MAGA supporters. We were reluctant to participate as we really just wanted the Vance family to be left alone. However as we heard of more and more protesters forming we felt compelled to show some support.
It was not a peaceful event whatsoever. Vermonters for the Liberation of Palestine spewing antisemitic hate speech, Trump haters literally trying to run our cars off the road, security guards pushing angry protesters away from vehicles so they could pass, etc.
Honestly, if I had known Saturday what I know now about ‘Vermonters for the Liberation of Palestine’, ( which were protesting across the street from us in Warren), I would never have stayed there. This group is well organized, obviously well funded and a danger to living peaceable in this state. They have taken their antisemitic force so far as to have hate driven ballot initiatives on the town meeting ballots of 5 towns here in Vermont. Tomorrow Brattleboro, Montpelier, Newfane, Thetford, Vergennes and Winooski
will be voting on them!!
This ‘protest’ was multifaceted and cannot be taken lightly
One of my nicest years, now long since, was waiting on tables at the Sugarbush Inn, before burning, owned by the Gadds. Proudly from Vermont when it was conservative, as I’ve remained. Girls haven’t been as pretty since, and Vermont remains most beautiful. Coming from poverty, as I did, I doubt that JD had opportunity to ski as a teenager.
After you vote all the town, city, and school budgets down Tuesday, along with all the bonding items all hell will prevail. The problem is that you will not do it and you will continue to p… and moan and the cave monkeys do not care. The best way to get rid of the monkeys is too take away the federal banana tree.
While the Vermont social justice warriors were all in a tizzy and distracted by VP Vance having some down time in the lion’s den, a massive human smuggling ring was busted in Los Angeles. Appears those 200K pending sealed indictments are breaking open? If so, Hallelujah!
The details of this criminal syndicate is enough to puke a dog – but it is the Truth. Anyone supporting, aiding and abetting crimes against humanity should think really hard and deep about what sort of evil they are playing around with – listen to the facts as presented, consider the lives of children and women kidnapped, tortured, and killed in the hands of the most wicked among us.
https://youtu.be/Y0Hg8WUxNhE?si=9KM5amfrrxtlOEWY