B e r n i e ' s M a g i c C a r p e tE

  'sa scenario that deserves headlines on the supermarket

checkout line:   "CIA Kidnaps Bernie - Lookalike Double inlacel" ..  "State Department Reprograms Vermont Socialist!"

Sure it's a joke, but the funny part is the fact that the storiesunder the tabloid headlines would make you think twice.

When Bernie Sanders was mayor   of Vermont's   largest city,Burlington had its own foreign policy. Mayor Bernie held count-

less press conferences to denounce Reagan and Bush over U.S. policy toward South Africa, Nicaragua, EI Salvador, you name it.

01' Bernardo was so outspoken on foreign policy, he was a guestof the Sandinista government at the anniversary celebration of 

their revolution. And he paid a visit to scenic Cuba and came back singing the praises of Fidel Castro.

Mayor Bernie got away with it, too. Heck, it was part of theguy's mystique as an official Vermont political folk hero. Duringthose years even his critics grudgingly conceded Bernie belonged 

in Washington since his chosen issues fit the national and inter-national arena.   And   sure enough, that's exactly where Vermontvoters sent him in November 1990.

So Bernie goes to Washington and what does he do?

Surprise, surprise. He leads the battle to make American

living rooms safe from toxic carpeting! Bernie the Environmental

Dustbuster! Last week he escalated his major offensive to cham- pion the fight against indoor air pollution. Foreign policy, how-

ever, has suddenly become his least-favorite subject. At his lasto Mond nf Be ie's ducked ti th

two Monday press conferences, Bernie's ducked questions on the

frontburner issue of the day - U.S. air strikes against the Serbsand a lifting of the arms embargo on Bosnia - two steps advo-cated by Sen. Jim Jeffords back in February. The new Bernieturned on his best doublespeak saying he didn't have a "magical

solution" to the crisis! Ethnic cleansing, thousands of women

raped, concentration camps like the Nazis and Bernie Sanders

chickens out on taking a stand? What is wrong, folks, with this picture? What's happened to our champion of peace and justice?

He's been Washingtonized, that's what. Sure he sucked up to

the Democrats on bended knee and was granted "standing" so hecould get a better committee seat, but all he did was showeveryone he would stoop to play the Washington game. Fact is,our only congressman has picked his issues very carefully -mom-and-apple-pie issues. Besides battling toxic carpeting he's

supported a breast cancer registry. A worthy issue, certainly, and 

a safe one. He's also opposed the S&L bailout bill and continued 

his opposition to bovine growth hormone. More "safe" issues thatwon't cost him votes in 1994. Plus, he's toned down his trademark 

ranting and raving style.

What's becoming apparent is the fact that Bernie's developed a love affair with hia new life inside the beltway. And he'd like itto be a long-term love affair. The best way to ensure its duration

is to get a long-term job in Washington - like United Statessenator. Senators get noticed because there are fewer of them.

And,   10  and behold, it just so happens there's a U.S. Senate seat

up for grabs in 1994 - Jim Jeffords' seat.

Could Bernie beat Jeezum Jim? Don't ever underestimate The

Bern. He's got the best campaign organization in the state, and  a shot at the U.S. Senate would certainly rally those troops. And 

lately, Jeffords has been playing right into his handa.Fearing a well-financed challenge in the Republican primary,

Jeffords the Maverick, who has ticked off so many Republicansin both the White House and Vermont over the years, has snug-

gled up to Sen. Bob Dole and rejoined the fold. Smart move.That'll help him come primary time. But Jimbo's recent

Republican gut check gives Bernie a big bull's-eye to aim for in

the general election showdown.

Then there's Jeffords' decision to swap his seat on the Senate

Environment and Public Works Committee for a seat on Foreign

A pro like The Bern simply won't get sucked into taking a stand 

on Bosnia until the outcome is clear. Too risky. He learned thatlesson when he opposed Desert Storm. To Jeffords' credit, our  

 junior senator did not check to see which way the wind was

 blowing before being among the first to publicly call for militaryaction against the Serbs.

Meanwhile, watching all this very carefully is Peter Welch.

The former Democratic state senator who was closing in fast onDick Snelling as they hit the wire in the 1990 gubernatorial raceis eyeing a run against Jeffords. "Jeffords broke the faith on thefilibuster," says Welch. Sounding like a candidate on the cam-

 paign trail, Welch charges Jeffords can no longer claim he isn'tinvolved in "the stink of party politics."

 Not many folks know the Sanders-Welch leftist brotherhood 

has been on the rocks since last fall. And in January, Peter Welch

was the architect of the state Democratic Committee resolution

opposing Bernie's plea to join the House Democratic Caucus

without joining the party. "I'd like to see Bernie become a

Democrat," says Welch, who accuses Sanders of "trying to have

it both ways." Politically, however, Welch is in a predicament

 because of Bernie. That's because he has to wait and see what 01'

Bernardo decides to do in '94 before setting his compass. No way

would Peter waste his time in a three-way U.S. Senate race. And 

that would leave 01' Bernardo with a clear shot at going to work every day with Pat   Leahy.

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