Online Chat
Granville One Room Schoolhouse
May 16, 2000

[Senator] Hi great to be with you again

[oneroom] We're very happy to be chatting with you again. Travis has our first question for the Senator. He wonders, "Do you use a push lawn mower or a riding lawn mower."

[Senator] Travis I use a push lawnmower - but a lot of the time someone else mows my lawn because I have a home in Vermont [my real home] and one in Washington and I don't have time to do them both.

[oneroom] Riley (1st grader) asks, "What is one interesting thing you do at work?"

[Senator] GREAT - I just saw all of you!

[oneroom] We SEE YOU TOO!

[Senator] Riley these chats are some of the best things I do. I also like meeting with Vermonters who come here and I like meeting with the President

[Senator] I'm going to wave now

[Senator] \I saw you wave back!

[oneroom] The kids are thrilled that you're waving, but it's not quite like TV. Becky wonders where you went to school when YOU were in third grade.

[Senator] Becky I went to school in Montpelier when I was in the third grade. The class was very small and it was a wonderful time.

[oneroom] Maricar (2nd grader) wonders if you've ever seen a movie star or a superstar?

[Senator] Maricar I have met a lot of movie stars. In fact I had a small part in the last two BATMAN movies. My youngest son is an actor and he has introduced me to some stars. Who is your favorite?

[Senator] Someday we will get this as good as TV - probably in a couple years I hope

[oneroom] WE have many favorites including Leonardo diCaprio, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jerry Garcia (that's from Peter the teacher, of course). Taylor (a third grader) asks what kind of computer you use, and he wonders if you've ever received a virus like the love bug.

[Senator] I know Whoopi Godlberg and have met with her in Vermont when she and I got honorary degrees from UVM. Jerry Garcia was a friend of mine as Peter knows [he and i have discussed that].

[oneroom] Very cool! Jozef asks, "Is your yard really big like mine?"

[Senator] Taylor we got hit with a very bad virus this past weekend. It got past Senate security and wiped out hundreds of e-mails from Vermonters

[Senator] Jozef I don't know how big your yard is but in Vermont i live on our tree farm which has over 200 acres - but we only mow about an acre or so.

[oneroom] Joe says he'd the other two hundred for a reasonable price. Back to more yard work. Missy asks, "Do you have any farm animals.

[Senator] Thanks Joe - we actually hay about 40 acres and raise trees on the rest. Missy we do not have farm animals but my oldest son, who also lives there , has two choclate labs.

[oneroom] Stephen (a first grader) wonders what a senator does.

[Senator] Stephen a Senator helps to pass laws, tries to help the people of his state, and helps to run the country. Different Senators have different areas they are interested in but the 100 of us try to speak for the 260 million americans we represent.

[oneroom] Jack (who came to visit you last spring) asks what you and the President talked about last week.

[Senator] If you would all wave again real slowly we can capture it for the website.

[oneroom] we're waving!

[oneroom] in slow motion

[Senator] Thanks - i caught it.

[Senator] Jack the President and i talked about prescription drug prices and about law enforcement matters. I also thanked him for coming to birthday party last month.

[Senator] that is my birthday party - sorry for the typo

[oneroom] HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Jason wonders what you and the President have in common.

[Senator] Thanks for the birthday greeting.

[oneroom] Toni asks, "What do you think about the Civil Union bill?

[Senator] The President and i both want to make the educational system better in our country. We want everyone to have the kind of quality education you are getting because you have such good teachers and such goodfamilies.

[oneroom] We've lost our picture of you, but Kit is working on it. Seeing you is really great. We are glad you're working for good education.

[Senator] Toni the civil union bill was in the Vermont legislature so i did not get involved in that debate. As a Vermonter I think the legislature did the best they could with the Vermont Supreme Court decision they were operating under. The Democrats and Republicans in Vermont worked very hard to reach a compromise and they did

[Senator] Kit is great and if anyone can get the picture back he will. I still see you and you look GREAT!

[oneroom] You're back too. Danial wonders what you think about Elian Gonzalez and whether you think he should be sent back home with his dad.

[Senator] You know i have been in your school - wish I was there right now but i had come back from Vermont yesterday for a meeting last night.

[oneroom] We all remember your visit fondly.

[Senator] Dan - I always thought Elian belonged with his father and i am glad they are together. i did not like the way the Miami relatives kept parading him around for the TV cameras - it was not good for him

[oneroom] The kids agree with you. Rosely (a fourth grader) asks what you thought about the Million Mom March.

[Senator] We have time for a couple more questions - but i was wondering what the weather is there.

[oneroom] It's sunny and warm. A great Vermont spring day.

[Senator] Rosely - I think a lot of mothers worry about the safety of their families. I know the mothers of Vermont do and we live in the safest state anywhere. If everyone handled guns responsibly like Vermonters do there would be no problem but today there is a real fear of gun violence in the country.

[oneroom] The kids also agree with you on that. Jack wonders if you and Fred still see each other.

[oneroom] And we all wonder if you have any other questions for us.

[Senator] Jack I talk with Fred every so often. He and his wife Dottie are very special people and Vermont can be proud of both of them. I enjoy it every time i see him.

[Senator] Do all of you have plans for the summer? Are any of you travelling to Washington?

[oneroom] Sounds like some camping and trips to Maine are in order. CCerise is going to Virginia. I think she'll be the closest one to you....

[Senator] Well I hope all of you have a great summer. I want to spend as much time as I can in Vermont during the summer and if any of you see me please stop me and say hello. I am very proud of you, your teachers and your school.

[Senator] Enjoy the rest of the day and I am heading back to the Senate floor. Thank Kit for me too please.

[oneroom] We want to thank you for time and hope we can do this again with you! Please visit us whenever you can. XXO