John McCain swung through Hartford on Friday, praising Jodi Rell for all the reforms she's helped put together. No irony there.
Seriously, I still suspect Jodi Rell would play some part in a possible McCain Administration, should one come to pass. He may be one of the few national Republicans she can work with.
Bill Kiner is, in fact, challenging State Senator John Kissel (R) again this year. I think we already knew that, but now it's official. Their 2004 race was the closest State Senate vote that year.
What else is going on this weekend?
40 comments:
Any word on Gov. Rell's running mate yet? What are the names that are out there? I keep hearing Stewart, Kalinowski, McKinney, etc....does anyone know anything?
Also, what does one expect as far as coattails for this November? Will Jodi be able to bring in numerous "R" Senators and Reps. When Rowland won big, it seemed like his coattails weren't that strong? What does everyone think?
Rennie had a nice article on the autism issue. It is certainly time CT start taking care of this issue instead of throwing more money at Mayors and developers who are more than capable of taking care of themselves
Rowland never cared about coattails and whether or not other Republicans were elected. Notice when he went down how many Republicans cared about him? Rell is different and is going to want to use her ratings to carry in some people she believes she can work with. More importantly, It will also make her a legitimate superstar at the national level if she can pull it off. Lets be honest, her election is in the bag even if she stopped campaigning today. I believe this election will be all about Aunti Jodi’s ability to reshape her declining party meaning she will target certain Republican Senator and Rep seats. Can she be successful in a state that is not overly in love with Republicans? My initial instinct would say no but then again, I wouldn’t want to bet against a lady with an 82% approval rating especially if she knows the prize is becoming a major player at the national level.
Nothing against Kiner but I don't think he stands a chance of beating Kissel in 2006. If the anti George Bush voters that negatively affected all state republicans couldn't sweep in Kiner in 2004 don't expect better result in 06 especially with Rell at the front of the ticket. My guess is, Anti Bush voters spotted Kiner a 15 point advantage in 04 not because they liked him but simply because he was in the opposite party of Bush. Unless there is something extraordinarily bad out there on Kissel or there is a movement to toss out all incumbents.... 2006 will not be kind to Kiner.
this state isn't as anti republican as you think, Republicans lose because of poor organizational skills, not because they are Republicans. Bush recived on average 48% of the vote in a majority of towns, he got killed in the cities, plus Republicans control a majority of this states towns and cities.
So before you buy your own hype as a blue state, you might want to look inside the numbers.
There are Congressional elections this year. Remember Congress?
Chris Murphy calls for reform of Johnson's Medicare "reforms." A recent story examines the tradeoffs betweens costs - payoffs to Nancy Johnson and ripoffs for seniors and taxpayers:
During the 2001-2002 election cycle when the Medicare “reform” bill was being drafted, Johnson received more than $1.14 million in contributions from insurance companies, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, HMOs and other health-related sectors....
Johnson’s ”reformed” drug program originally was to cost $400 billion over 10 years, but the cost has risen to $1.2 trillion. The bill specifically prohibits the government from negotiating economy of scale lower prices with drug companies. Murphy said that the current program costs 85 percent more than the government pays under Veterans Administration drug program.
The Medicare debacle has become a political problem for many Republicans, including Johnson, who remains in denial about the frustration of seniors, only 23% of whom have a positive impression of the Part D program.
Check out video of Murphy's interview with PoliticsTV if you haven't yet.
Diane Farrell was recently interviewed on WTIC on the Colin & Bruce show (mp3 file). She tries to stay on-message challenging Shays on the war (Shays refuses to debate her), but here and elsewhere Shays' & Farrell's joint support of Lieberman pulls her off-track. Colin McEnroe puts her on the hot seat for her endorsement of Lieberman, since she argues the war is the most important issue of the campaign.
While I'm a little Lieberman-Lamont'ed out this week, Colin has an excellent column on Joe's arrogant attitude towards traumatized rape victims on the issue of emergency contraception, and Elizabeth Hamilton talks about what this issue really means for the victims. (And this is, after all, really about contraception, not abortion. Perhaps "pro-choice" Joe is sympathetic to those who want to revisit Griswold v. Connecticut, too.) Finally, Lamont was on Fox 61 this morning, and the Lamont Resource page has the video.
I do concede that the Bush factor in 04 did hurt Republicans across that state. I think 15 points may be a little high but I have no problem believing it was substantial. I do respectfully disagree with you when you say that Kiner has no chance of winning in 06. Keep in mind that every race is different. Yes, may not be a factor in 06 but the state elections will be much more closely watched than before. If a challenger can make his or her point that the incumbent has not done the job--- they can win. For that reason, don't count Kiner out.
The Bush factor substancial? I guess so especially when a no name Oscar "Meyer" weiner beats a well known Republican incumbent like Bill Aniskovich, you know there's some real bad mojo out there.
A 15 point(Bush factor)Democratic advantage in 04 makes perfect sense.
I keep hearing Cappiello as Rell's LG.
Anonymous 12:20 is absolutely right, "don't count kiner out." In 2004 The Kiner/Kissel race was the closest in the state, and we must remember that 2006 will be the third time that Kiner and Kissel will square off with each other. In 1990, Kiner beat Kissel 2:1 in a State Rep. race, and in 2004 Kissel won with 50.4% of the vote. Kiner represented Enfield for 16 years, and although Kerry no doubt helped the Democrats in '04, Kiner's name recognition in the district and the good he did in Hartford while serving was not overlooked by the voters, and will not be overlooked again in '06. Each one of those bright orange signs represents change, and in a candidate the people believe in. People also talk coattails from Rell, however even if Rell wins big (as it looks like right now) People will still be switching lines right after and voting for Lieberman.
Dont expect the senate R's to leave their incumbents twisting in the wind this cycle like last time when they threw megabucks into a fool's errand in W Htfd
I'm hearing that Rell will name Lieberman her LG running mate.
After the election, Joe will leave senate creating a vacancy, whereby Rell will name Cappiello or Stewart to fill seat.
Part of arrangement, Rell will resign in 3 years making Joe Governor.
Senate President John McKinney will become LG.
Well according to his Courant letter, Ralph Capenera is in the running for LG.
Anonymous (3:08),
Some speculation on Rell running mates for you. Personally I hope she chooses Fig Newton. (I couldn't make this up!)
Also speculation from John McCain:
McCain told reporters that if the election were held today, he's very much concerned Democrats would take back control of Congress.
The Host of Ralph Talk is in the Runing For Lt. Governor? Never won anything in his life.
Hell, I got elected to my school board. Maybe I should put my name in.
The Courant is reporting that Perez is endorsing Molloy tomorrow so, Game On!
Regarding the looming hearings over the Rell Campaign's dealings with Garfield and Moody-gate, the Courant reported that Deputy House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk said "They are going to have a hearing for the purpose of embarrassing the governor."
Didn't the same lawmakers make the same comments about a hot tub a few years ago? It's the same old Republican corruption machine coming at you.
Stewart or Kalinowski for LG. It doens't matter who she picks though. She could pick Bugs Bunny and will still win by 20%+ in November.
Brass Anon.....I would suggest all those associated with Waterbury politics refrain from the term "corruption machine"...you sound like Britney Spears giving a lecture in manners and taste
When was this letter by Ralph Capenera published?
Cafero is right on...there is no question of legality here, there is only the question of ethics. Which puts the question before the Office of State Ethics (Big Ben Bycel presiding), and not with the state legislature.
Now if only Bycel had a good executive assistant....
Looks like Dan Malloy is picking up some major endorsements. Mayor Perez will endorse him today and over the weekend I see Senator Billy Ciotto and a group of prominent Wethersfield Democrats came out in support of Dan Malloy for Governor.
Billy has some of the best instincts in this business and will rarely come out to support a candidate he doesn’t think will win. Just ask Barbara Kennelly or Bill Curry.
Knowing Billy doesn’t like to be on the losing side,could his support of Malloy be a sign that he knows of a Rell scandal brewing that could be exposed before the election?
More likely a Destefano scandal.
Speaking of DeStefano, it looks like someone isn't paying their website bill.
www.destefanoforct.com
I mean come on, who's running the show over there?
Anonymous said...
Cafero is right on...there is no question of legality here, there is only the question of ethics. Which puts the question before the Office of State Ethics (Big Ben Bycel presiding), and not with the state legislature.
OK, so the state legislature as a branch of government is irrelevant? Cafero is about as partisan as they get up there. If Rell has done nothing wrong she will have nothing to be emebarassed about. This isn't high school where we need to keep the names of adolescents out of the newspaper. Let the sun shine in!
Trader...Sure, "Skippy" Ciotto has a real nose for scandal. U dink anybody is surprised Skippy supports Mad Dog Malloy?
http://www.dondodd.com/raker/101104.html
Here is another piece of nonsense out of the CT State Police with the normal spin by waterbury Alderman Vance's dad who has been telling stories to cover for the nonsense in his department so long he doesn't know what the truth is anymore. Whelan, the company he is defending is a major camopaign contributor. Somebody should give Vance a radar gun and tell him to do some police work for a change.
Boyle inherited a mess created by Spada and Connelly and the trooper union, of course, their favorite boss Johnny. Will Boyle acknowledge the slop and clean it up? Probably not. He's a prosecutor not a leader.
Bluecoat--
A little toooo angry. did you get a speeding ticket or something? Have a sip of coffee, take a deep breath and relax.
For some more bull on the State Troopers here is what LG Sullivan has to say on his blogspot FOR JM 3/6/06 @ 4:30pm -- Finally, the answer of personal use of state police vehicles. Connecticut requires state police officers to be on call 24-7 so long as they are in state and to respond to any police situation (e.g. a highway accident) even if off duty. This is also a contractual matter. Hence, under IRS rules, the vehicle use (within state plus a radius of 20 miles) is not considered a taxable benefit. Now, without knowing how often off-duty vehicles are involved in off-duty state police calls, I cannot yet judge the sense of this. I do know this is a fairly standard practice nationally and even for local police and fire. but it is absolute nonsense. Giving a trooper his or her own car to use off dutiy and not marking it for safety purposes is not fairly standard practice nationally and even for local police and fire
but Sullivan lies like the rest of them because he is too lazy to look around for best practices. That would mean that, like Jodi, he's have to admit he was part of the Rowland era, which he absolutley was.
How would I get a speeding ticket from the state cops? If they are not hanging out at the barracks or sitting in their cars at a jobsite with their radio blasting while their lights flash, they are at Doughnut Inn but never on patrol doing the police work that they are paid to do - they have a really sweet contract, don't you know. As for the management, the state is down 68 cops total at last count and half of that vacancy, or 34, is to be found at Bridgeport Troop G where they should have 120. I'm angry because the DPS is a three ring circus that is in the dark ages while people die on CT highways. How's that? And ask a trucker that travels the east coast if you don't buy my perspective that the state cops are a clown show and a half.
This is also a contractual matter from the anonymous 11:30 post that references our LG Sullivan blog. BULL. It's by no means a contractual matter to allow State Police officers to each have their own vehicle and the personal use of it a taxpayer expense. The contract leaves it to the discretion of the Commissioner of DPS and the practice is a bad one and it can and should be stopped immediatley except that the Commissioners have not been leaders but friends with, and pawns of, the union. The fleet could easily be cut in half if cars were assigned at roll call at the barracks with few exceptions. The freed up budget money, which would be substantial, could be used to do real police work to protect and serve the people of the state instead of the state employee union.
Damn, I pushed the wrong button 11:51 anon is me there anon who thinks i am too angry. This wasteful crap exists in every state agency but Vance denies it more than most of the spokesmen.
Yes, because we all know that spokepeople are the policymakers. lol.
ever hear the phrase 'don't kill the messenger'?
Bluecoat seems to have an axe to gring with both Alderman Vance and Spokeman Vance.
I guess Democrats don't like the unions that are responsible for our protection.
Sullivan and gang should go after the State Employees union first. The medical plan is killing the state, 5 billion in perscriptions last year alone, of how about the retiremnet package, save up sick days and vacation time for twenty years and get paid, i heard the state just paid a guy like 80k for saved up vaction and sick time, that is crimnial.
Maybe i shouldn't say anything, after all we know how efficiant the State of Connecticut is, it makes all that government waste so worth it.
Any other Register readers see the editorial today on DeStefano and the Cancer Center?
DeStefano lets union, politics stall Yale-New Haven’s cancer center
It's great that someone is finally taking him to task for this. Do we really want a Governor who will stall neccessary progress for political gain?
I bet cancer-survivor Jodi Rell is quietly rooting for DeStefano in the Democratic primary, just so she can use this one issue alone to destroy him in a general election.
Hey ther Mr. anon, I have a problem with the stifling of free speech and lousy management and leadership. As you can see here from the March 4 Hartford Courant another example of both as State Settles With Trooper In Free Speech Dispute for 450,000 dollars of taxpayer money.
Vance is just a loyal union made label that speaks the mangement party line at the same time in exchange for sweet sweet overtime and a desk job. I don't blame him for taking advantage of that. But I do blame anybody that denies the culture what is going on as Vance does repeatedly as part of the culture.
The trooper union is no different than the so-called state employee unions anon Rovian GOP 12:02 talks about. It's a problem across the board, the only reason not to shine the bright sunlight on the troopers and their management, whose captains and lieutenants now want to unionize as well, is that they are are likely to endorse Rell in much the same manner that they endorsed her former boss, John Rowland.
And I don't like the medical plan anymore than most Republicans do, but I refuse to deny like most Republicans that costs are going up not just because the state employees use the plan but because the quality of health services in this state is so poor that costs are out of control.
McCain talked about the need for more moderation and less spending from the GOP or they might lose the US Congress. You CT Rovians might wish to take heed.
Bluecoat-
Ax to Grind? You should put your name in to be commissioner when Boyle leaves.
Would he pass a state police backround test?
The one good thing Boyle did is dump the troopers from the OEM and Homeland security operation and brought in a town police chief, Skip Thomas, who has been getting the act together in that part of the agency - and when thngs don't go quite right, he doesn't make up silly stories.
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