If there was a Mount Rushmore for Vermont politicians, Bob Stafford's visage would be a candidate for inclusion. He never lost an election and touched nearly all the bases on his way up the political ladder, from AG, to Lite Guv, to Guv, the House and Senate. He also looked the part of leader -- tall, dignified and sonorous of voice.

Saturday's celebration of his life in Rutland drove all those points home, with touching speeches from family members, fond farewells from Gov. Jim Douglas and retired Sen. Jim Jeffords, and a particularly moving eulogy from Sen. Patrick Leahy.

What was most striking, at least to this scribe, was the gathering of Vermont's political elite who attended the memorial service and what their party afflliations said about the changing tide of politics in this state.

Leahy, Jeffords and their wives were in the front row of the dignitaries' section. Row two featured Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Peter Welch and Gov. Jim Douglas, the first Republican in the group. Row 3 had more Democrats: former Gov. Howard Dean, Secretary of State Deb Markowitz and Treasurer Jeb Spaulding. Row 4 had Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, another Republican, sitting next to his Adjutant Gen. brother Michael Dubie and Democratic guv wanabe Scudder Parker. And behind them in Row 5, more Democrats: former Gov. Tom Salmon, Auditor Tom Salmon Jr. and Attorney General Bill Sorrell.

Oh, there were other Republicans in the church for sure, but you get the picture.

Think about it. When Stafford was coming of age politically, every statewide and national officeholder in Vermont was a Republican. By the time he died, the number was down to two.
Remarkable.

--Sam Hemingway