Online Chat
Sheldon Elementary School
May 16, 2001

Sheldon School: welcome
Sheldon School: Before we start, We would like to introduce ourselves. There will be 3 screen names in the chat from our end. Steph2993 is Fred Nouvertne and Matt Bouchard.
Sheldon School: SheldonBears is Ryan King and Adam Reed.
Sheldon School: and AEBlue7 is Anthony Kaseoru.
Sen Leahy: The Senator is on his way!
Sen Leahy: Glad to be with you . Janice Ryan who works with me in the Senate office was a student in your school and says very nice things about the school.
Sheldon School: It's an honor to chat with you Mr.Leahy!
Sen Leahy: I wish I was up there with you - you live in one of the prettiest parts of Vermont.
Sheldon School: Thank You
Sheldon School: Now, how about some questions?
Sen Leahy: Go ahead!
Sheldon School: How many years have you been in politics?
Sen Leahy: I spent 8 years as State's Attorney of Chittenden County which is really a non-political position and have been in the Senate for 25 years.
Sheldon School: What do you think about George W. Bush in office?
Sen Leahy: I meet with President Bush often and find him to be a very pleasant person. I disagree with some of his choices for judges, I disagree with his opposition to the Dairy Compact and his positions on the environment but I assume there will be many areas where we will be able to work together.
Sheldon School: Speaking of that, what are your views about the NORTHEAST DAIRY COMPACT?
Sen Leahy: I strongly support the Compact. It has worked well for our dairy farmers and for our consumers - all at no cost to the federal government. Along with Sen Jeffords and Cong Sanders I hope we can continue it.
Sheldon School: What is your opinion on George w. Bush's idea of drilling for oil in the arctic?
Sen Leahy: I have told President Bush I disagree with his efforts to drill in the artic wildlife refuge. We could do a lot better working on alternative energy sources including wind and solar as well as more conservation.
Sheldon School: How does it feel to be the first Democrat elected into the senate from the state of Vermont?
Sen Leahy: It was a real novelty when I was first in the Senate - now most people are really surprised to hear Vermont has elected only one Democrat to the Senate. Once the novelty wears off people judge you on how well you do your job.
Sheldon School: Have you ever considered running for president?
Sen Leahy: No. I enjoy being the Senator for Vermont and am very grateful my fellow Vermonters let me serve in this postion. I have been quite impressed with a number of people who have run for President as well as some who are planning too.
Sheldon School: What kinds of things did you do before you were involved in politics?
Sen Leahy: I grew up in Montpelier and worked in my family's printing business while going to college. After law school I praciced law in Burlington as a trial lawyer and this is where I was married and my children were born. Later I was State's Attorney and than was elected to the Senate.
Sheldon School: What are your views on Child Labor in third world countries like.....Guatemala and China?
Sen Leahy: I think child labor especially as practiced in some countries is really a human rights abuse. It actually enslaves children in some countries and destroys their ability to have a fulfilling life and ultimately is destructive of the country they are in.
Sheldon School: How do you feel all the Clinton scandals have affected our country?
Sen Leahy: We showed the rest of the world that anyone can be investigated no matter how high an office they hold. Many people in other parts of the world - as well as many in our country - tell me they think President Clinton was unfairly treated but all know no one is above the law in our country. That is a claim many countries cannot make.
Sen Leahy: Time for one more and i have to go back to the Senate floor.
Sheldon School: How do you feel about our relationship with Russia, after espionage of a Russian spy in our FBI has occured?
Sen Leahy: Russia is a reality and they will continue to spy on us as other countries do - and we spy on them with our sattelites etc. The FBI case showed weaknesses in our structure of the FBI, it damaged relations with Russia but they are the world's other major nuclear power and we have to stay engaged with them.
Sheldon School: Thank you for allowing our school to chat with you. It has been a great privelege, we hope to speak with you again!
Sheldon School: It's been a pleasure chating with you today.
Sheldon School: It was definitely great asking you these questions. HAve a good day!
Sheldon School: Grateful Dead rules!!!
Sen Leahy: I am very impressed with your questions. It shows you are bright young students and that you are fortunate to have good teachers. Thank you for being with me today and hope to see you either in Vermont or Washington
Sen Leahy: I will tell Mickey Hart and Bob Weir what you said.