Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Open Forum

I have a feeling that the Lieberman/Lamont battle is going to get pretty ugly before it's over.

Legal experts are warning the legislature to refine campaign finance reform laws, or risk losing the whole thing.

And in ever-so-slightly out-of-state news, Springfield is still in deep trouble. Connecticut officials should take note: this is how not to run a New England city.

What else is going on?

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

Question: Can anyone tell me, I am a registered Republican and want to change my registration to Democrat so that I can vote in the primary for Liebarman. Can I do this and then swich back after the vote?

Anonymous said...

Yes, so long as you switch at least three months before the primary, or May 8th.

Anonymous said...

I believe the following to be true.

Connecticut has a three month waiting period to join a party if you are switching from another party. That means for someone today who is a registered "R" to vote in a "D" primary he/she would be able to so long as he/she switched his/her party affiliation before three months before the primary (which will be August 8, meaning you must switch by May 8)...it is also true of signing a primary petition--->you must wait three months after you switch your party affiliation to sign the petition--->meaning you could not sign a petition for an individual attempting to force a primary by signature since u must wait three months before you are officially in the new party (petitions, for example, to the state house of rep.'s are due 14 days after the close of the convention...conventions are mid-May meaning you would have to have switched by mid to late Feb.
---At this point you can switch and vote in the primary in August (you have until May 8) but could not sign a petition that would force a primary---

You can switch back the day after you vote, but again would not officially be back in the R party until three months later...it is sort of a holding list one gets put on when they switch parties.

As far as U's switching to R and D...they must switch by noon of the day before, I believe, to be elgible to vote the next day

In summary, CT has a 3 month waiting period to switch parties and gain the priveleges of the new party while U to R or D one gets the priveleges the next day.

This is just my interpretation of the law on my reading of it,,,please do not take it for concrete fact but instead go to the Secretary of State website and check it out or call the Secretary of State's Office.

JJ

Anonymous said...

CT is going to run a train line up to Springfield, MA to help them out.

Genghis Conn said...

Former Hartford Mayor Thirman Milner (who was the city's first African-American mayor: in office 1981-87) will be coordinating the DeStefano campaign's operations in the capital. Current Mayor Eddie Perez hasn't officially endorsed anybody, I don't think, but I imagine he'll probably back Malloy.

Springfield does one thing right: parking. Hartford could learn a thing or two from the way the city runs parking operations. Other than that, Hartford > Springfield.

Anonymous said...

Here is the latest on the hunt for Lieutenant Governor candidates:

RELL: It's down to Gugliemo, Ward and Stewart with Stewart the favorite. McKinney is off her short list.

DESTEFANO: JD is begging Sullivan to not retire and to run with him. Jim Maloney mentioned as a Plan B.

MALLOY: Will announce Eddie Perez as his running mate next month.

Anonymous said...

Stay off the drugs... the problem with people like you is you don't know anything about ONE of the candidates choices no less all three.

Anonymous said...

You forgot about Kevin O'Conner.. he's off her short list too.

Anonymous said...

you mean Kevin O'Connor who ran up Joe Ganim's behind at the behest of John Rowland and blew the biggest government corruption investigation in the state's history?

Anonymous said...

I heard Rell is considering David Cappiello, in spite of him being from neighboring town...

Anonymous said...

How about Andrew Roraback for Lt. Gov?

Anonymous said...

Cappiello really needs to stop posting here. His wife, the lobbyist, might not be baggage Granny Squeeky Clean wants to deal with. So whoever thinks it will be David, I'd be willing to bet heavily againt him.

Anonymous said...

bob ward brings what to a statewide ticket? all his money comes from lobbyists which jodi has verboten on her campaign. house gop has been up his butt to step aside for cafero for a good while... maybe jodi wants to further alienate her party?

Anonymous said...

How in the world does the UConn women's basketball team get to play in CT when they are not a #1 seed? There has to be a political reason for this...that is why I am posting on this site!!!

Anonymous said...

I heard Rell was considering Sulim Noijaim from Waterbury. Conservative catholic to offset the plan B stuff, tireless campaigner with great grass roots appeal, and a wealthy small business owner who will be out front on jobs creation. Watch for him to be more visible this session.

Anonymous said...

Still hearing Ray Kalinowski from the 100th district as the Governor's running mate. It makes sense with his high profile background (Secret Service). His image is squeaky clean and squeaky clean is why Rell has such high approval numbers. He also brings an ethnic name to the ticket. I don't think he has ever lost an election (Durham First Selectman and 100th District Representative). Plus the 100th district I believe is overwhelmingly D and he still finds a way to win. He makes sense as a solid choice and I have heard the name mentioned numerous times throughout the state.

Anonymous said...

Audrey Blondin? Don't be silly. anyway, I guess she is supporting Lamont since she was in that Cuorant article about his meeting in Torrington so I don't think Destefano would want her.

Guglielmo would be a great choice for Rell. He neutralizes a lot of the liberals because they love him even though he is a republican.

Is it just me or does that first post about republicans wanting to swicth parties to vote for Lieberman look a lot like a plant from the Lamont campaign to make people talk about republicans loving Lieberman?

Anonymous said...

Noujaim (or however you spell it) won't get the nod, no matter how qualified he is. Don't call me racist but this is just a stark political assessment.

A) How do you pronounce or spell his name? B) Sounds middle eastern.... in today's atmosphere that's not the greatest background to be from, all things considered.

Anonymous said...

I did hear Marilyn Giulano's name mentioned as well. She is from Old Saybrook. People might be mistaking Guglielmo's name for her. She hasn't been in the legislature very long but she has a good reputation and little baggage. Smart move.

Anonymous said...

I'll toss a few possible Rell mates out there - Sonny Googins from Glastonbury. Judging from the Governor's appointments and inner circle, she trusts women more than she does men (and who can blame her there). But Googins is a social moderate and very well liked, and served with Rell in the House.
Another woman on the rise is Toni Boucher from Wilton - can raise money and is strong on education issues.

Anonymous said...

I heard Boughton mentioned again today, but I agree with Kevin Rennie that if she goes municipal, it will be Stewart.

Anonymous said...

Noujaim has really tried to spark that rumor in Hartford, but there is no chance that Jodi would pick him for the 2 spot.

Anonymous said...

Oh please dear God, let her pick Noujaim. Even though we are generally considered an enlightened state, the anti-Mideast sentiment would draw votes away from Grandma.

Anonymous said...

I wonder whey we are letting ourselves get distracted by Ned Lamont.
As a Democrat who wants to re-take the Governor's Mansion for the first time since I was in college, this focus on Lamont hurts our Gub candidates in a big way, and makes Grandma seem entitled to four additional years.

Joe needs a wake-up call, but Lamont is just going to flame out. Ned should not be doing this to the party. Joe ain't gonna lose, but Jodi might, if our focus is on that campaign.

I won't vote for Ned just because it is fouling up Dem plans to get back in the Governor's house.

Anonymous said...

TrueBlue - did you really just use the term "Lieberwhore" and then accuse someone ELSE of being spiteful?

The nastiness from the Lamont camp is going to backfire. Watch yourselves.

Anonymous said...

nothing against david cappiello or mark boughton, but neither is going to get the nod from Rell. They are both from a town bordering on her hometown of Brookfield. Looks like they will have to wait with the others for Nancy to retire. Tim Stewart is looking better and better for the Lt Governor nod, and I do NOT think that McKinney is out of the running. Toni Boucher would be a fantastic candidate as well.

Anonymous said...

Bob Ward is getting a judgeship.

Anonymous said...

haha i am another Republican who is going to switch temporarily to support Joe. I saw the Lamont supporters in Hartford yesterday, what a bunch of liberal crazed lunatics.
In the current political environment that is so bad for Republicans, look for the Dems in CT to screw it up yet again:
1. Primary Joe just to have him come out stronger than ever and watch him win 70% of the vote with more GOP than Dems voting for him
2. Have two decent Dem candidates for Gov spend each others money in a primary and give it to Jodi in a walk
3. Watch as Shays, Simmons, and Johnson all win with reasonable margins, as all are seasoned campaigners who have had to fight every two years to defend their seats. Tying them to Bush will be fruitless per usual.

It is depressing being a Republican but when looking across the aisle, seeing the Dems' screw it all up is all the more enjoyable.

Go Joe in 2006!!

Ohh, and hopefully we will get Hillary in 2008 with Kerry as the VEEP candidate

Anonymous said...

My dearest little elephant friend:

Don't be so sure of a Republican sweep this year. The primaries are early now, and Destefano or Malloy will have plenty of time to regroup and face down Jodi. And it doesn't take much to tie Simmons, Johnson and Shays to Dubya -- plus you don't have to tie them too tight for Bush's 35% approval rating to drag them down.

It's been forever since there were three hot congressional races and two legit candidates for gov for the dems, all in one year. All the work all those campaigns do to spread the message about how badly the republicans have screwed up this country will have a collective effect -- political cross-pollenation -- and the dems are going to get a huge surge at every level because of it.

The Lamont thing is a distraction, nothing more, and regardless of what happens there you end up with a dem in the seat, so there you go.

Anonymous said...

perhaps I am reading too much into this but Lamont got a hundred people to his announcement

A hundred

If he was running for First Selectman Id be impressed, but for US Senate, call me underwhelmed

Anonymous said...

Can someone find me a Lieberman fan who isn't:

1) Part of the Party establishment, or
2) A Republican?

Joe's support is so shallow he ought to be really scared. Go to the FEC and check out his donations. 85-90% of them are from out of state!

When was the last time someone saw a Lieberman bumpersticker?

Anonymous said...

Toni Boucher? Give me a break...

The woman is smart, but has a way about her that drives everyone nuts.

I'm hearing Lenny Winkler as a possibilty. Have also heard that Bill Nickerson is meeting with the Gov soon to lobby her for himself. (He did the same with Rowland many years ago...)

Anonymous said...

how about Henry Winkler?

Anonymous said...

Video of Lamont's announcement is online.

Also folks should put the antiwar rallies in New Haven (Saturday) and Hartford (Sunday) on their calendars.

Anonymous said...

another safe night in New Haven, especially for Q Bridge commuters

"New Haven-WTNH, Mar. 14, 2006 UPDATED 10:40 PM) _ One robbery suspect is dead and another is in custody after an officer involved shooting on the Q-Bridge.Police say one State Trooper and one
East Haven police officer were also shot."

Anonymous said...

Great, so there is crime in Connecticut.

And instead of lauding our brave policeman, you make some half-racist sneer about New Haven.

I say, take your sarcasm and shove it......I mean there are real people, with real families, who have had a terrible evening.

Anonymous said...

oh, you mean the East Haven cops that you liberals all wanted to put in jail after Malik Jones.

Save me your situational ethics, please.

DeStefano says his city is safe. Anyone who demonstrates otherwise is a racist. You folks all sound like some White House mouthpiece defending the Dubai ports deal.

Anonymous said...

I am not a smart man, and I havent seen the news coverage so I could be wrong, but if it was an East Haven cop and a state trooper doesnt it stand to reason that the crime took place in East Haven and the chase finally ended on the Q - Bridge with the Q-Bridge being really the only link in the story to New Haven?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 1:14:

Pointing out crime in New Haven is racist? You're pathetic.

Anonymous said...

Anon(9:36):

It's just DeanFan84, posting anonymously, and yes, it's pathetic. Ignore it.

Anonymous said...

Before you give New Haven a bad rap, wait until they release where are the suspects from.

Anonymous said...

If LaMont's announcement could only draw alittle over 100 people...then he is finished....so much for the " left machine"

Anonymous said...

Expect Marty Looney to start setting uo New Haven mayoral campaign. Either way, he WILL be a candidate for mayor in 2007.

Perhaps JD will seek Looney's state senate seat. Gets him to Hartford... but his parking spot will no doubt be in the far parking garage. Well he still be driving the Navigator when he is paying the gas? That car was ridiculous, btw!