Bill 'Spaceman' Lee brings lefty outlook to Vermont governor's race

Bob Hille

Bill 'Spaceman' Lee brings lefty outlook to Vermont governor's race image

Former MLB left-hander Bill "Spaceman" Lee is bringing his lefty-leaning politics to the always entertaining Vermont governor's race, WACX.com reported.

The ex-pitcher for the Red Sox and Expos describes himself as "a pragmatic, conservative, forward thinker."

Interesting Lee uses the term "conservative" in a state known for an array of liberal politicians, including current Democratic presidiential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders.

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Because once Lee — a candidate for the Liberty Union party with which Sanders cut his political teeth in the 1970s — starts talking policy, well …

"You get what you pay for, if you want change, you vote for Sanders or me. I'm Bernie-heavy, I'm not Bernie-lite. My ideas were before Bernie," Lee said. "If you want to see money come down from the 2 percent, we're going to need umbrellas when I'm elected, because it's going to be raining dollars."

That kind of confident guarantee might remind some of a certain GOP presidential candidate — until Lee, 69, goes into all-out attack mode on Republicans in particular.

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"The problem with Americans is their fist is like this," he says, showing a tightly closed hand, "and you got to open your hands. Republicans are pterodactyls, they have little short arms that never get to their front pockets."

So what else is on the crafty lefty's platform?

He argues for legalization and taxation of marijuana in Vermont, along with single-payer healthcare, paid family leave and, yes, bringing the Expos back to Montreal.

Bob Hille

Bob Hille Photo

Bob Hille, a senior content consultant for The Sporting News, has been part of the TSN team for most of the past 30 years, including as managing editor and executive editor. He is a native of Texas (forever), adopted son of Colorado, where he graduated from Colorado State, and longtime fan of “Bull Durham” (h/t Annie Savoy for The Sporting News mention).