Minor Candidates Have Their Say;

One of Them Ends Up in Handcuffs

By M. D. Drysdale

Bernie Sanders and Rich Tarrant were the familiar faces at the Vermont Law School debate Tuesday night. But four other candidates graced the podium as well. They lent a certain character to the proceedings, ranging from colorful to potentially criminal.

The four independent or minor party candidates had merely to get 500 names on a petition to get onto the ballot and into the debate. They were Peter Moss of the Anti-Bush Party, Craig Hill of the Green Party, Independent Chris Ericson and Peter Diamondstone of the Liberty Union Party.

At the end of the debate, Diamondstone, a perennial candidate who has been rounning for something or other since the 1970s, was in handcuffs. He refused to stop talking when told to do so, and the student debate organizers, after several warnings, had him removed by Windsor County deputy sheriffs.

Once in the hallway, Diamondstone attempted to force his way back into the debate room by shoving Royalton Police Chief Bob Hull. Shoving a law enforcement officer is taken seriously, and Diamondstone quickly found himself on the floor being handcuffed. After a few minutes of yelling and struggling, he sat quietly on the floor, hands cuffed behind his back.

According to Windsor County Sheriff Michael Chamberlain, he was cited on the spot for disorderly conduct and allowed to leave on his own. It will be up to the Windsor County State's Atty. Robert Sand whether to formally charge him; the college has said it won't press charges.

Quotations from the Evening

Diamondstone's behavior was the most disrupting, but the statements from all the minor candidates were attention-grabbing. Among them were the following:

I’m in favor of the war on terror, because Bush is a terrorist.—Craig Hill

North Korea exploding an atomic bomb is a tempest in a teapot.—Peter Moss

I favor every nation in the world having nuclear weapons, because then the U. S. wouldn’t invade them.—Peter Diamondstone

I have a problem with the estate tax because you’re taxing somebody who’s dead. Once somebody is dead you have to draw the line and stop all legal action against them.—Chris Ericson

Democrats have hidden in a corner and let unspeakable things go through Congress.—Craig Hill

We should take the last three presidents and their administrations to war crimes tribunals.—Peter Diamondstone

My solution for energy is an ENEMA: an Environment and Energy Emergency Act to replace oil with liquid hydrogen.—Peter Moss

I would spend the Iraq war money on developing new fabrics to replace polyester so we didn’t have to import Mideast oil. And little windmills the size of your house.—Chris Ericson

Enjoy your cardboard box in the gutter (when Social Security crashes)—Craig Hill

We should become a little more like the government of Iraq before the war. Peter Diamondstone

We should legalize and tax marijuana sales to fund education. It’s less dangerous than handguns or hunting rifles or skateboards.—Chris Ericson

Bernie votes for all the money the president wants for the Iraq war. —Peter Diamondstone

One step we can take on global warming is to allow the legalization of hemp as a crop for American farmers. It’s a green plant. —Chris Ericson

Every day this war goes on is a victory for Haliburton and the other parasites that are leeching the life out of America.—Craig Hill

They’re not two parties. They’re one party, and tonight you can hear the similarities.—Peter Diamondstone

What low-income people in Vermont are paid amounts to male and female prostitution.—Chris Ericson