Assail my logic regarding Dean and Vermonters

[clar]

I'm not saying it's unassailable, but....

During the same period of time that Vermonters were electing Bernie Sanders, Pat Leahy and Jim Jeffords, they were also electing Howard Dean. Our Congressional delegation consists of some of the best elected officials in the country and some of the most liberal. And yes, Jim Jeffords is a liberal. (Voted no against the war in Iraq, has a good environmental record, has fought endlessly for full funding for special ed.)
So if Howard Dean is some stealth right winger, how is it that Vermonters, while simultaneously voting for one or more of the above mentioned, continued to elect Dean. Yes, the same folks voting for Bernie kept voting for Howard. Vermont voters are some of the most engaged and informed in the country, (I largely credit town meeting for this)
As a holder of statewide office here, you can't avoid the electorate; we're talking micro retail politics. Throughout Dean's tenure, there were at least two call in shows a month wherein the public had the opportunity to question the governor. In other words, the argument that the nefarious Dean fooled the public just won't wash.