Gov. M. Jodi Rell and GOP State Chairman George Gallo publicly urged fellow Republican Alan Schlesinger to reconsider his candidacy for U.S. Senate after learning Wednesday that he gambled at the Foxwoods Resorts Casino under an assumed name while an elected official in the 1990s.
...
Schlesinger said he did nothing wrong, other than try to keep his name off Foxwoods' marketing list. But Rell and Gallo said his behavior was troubling, signaling that Schlesinger will face pressure to quit the race.
"Gov. Rell is disturbed by this new information and believes that Alan Schlesinger should seriously consider whether he should go forward with his campaign," said Judd Everhart, a spokesman for Rell.
"I share the governor's concern about Alan Schlesinger, and I will be meeting with him within the next day to discuss his U.S. Senate bid," Gallo said.(Pazniokas)
He's done. If the two leaders of his party in this state have lost faith in him, then he really can't make a credible run. He can either stay in and hurt the party's best chance at a Senate seat in years this November, or give way to another candidate. Gallo will probably try to convince him that he ought to gracefully step aside. He probably will.
The sad thing is that Schlesinger's offense doesn't seem all that bad. So he was a card counter. So he played blackjack. Big deal. Card counting isn't illegal, and from his account he wasn't even very good at it. But the Republicans desperately want to run the best candidate they can to capitalize on discontent within the Democratic Party, so Schlesinger, who now has just a whiff of impropriety about him, has to go.So what's the next move for the GOP? Who will replace Schlesinger, who wasn't the best of candidates on a good day, on the ballot? Will any high-profile Republicans even want to risk it?
Source
Pazniokas, Mark. "Rell Urges Schlesinger To Reconsider Candidacy." Hartford Courant 12 July, 2006.
26 comments:
Genghis-
I disagree with you and I think many people will agree with me. Schlesinger's so-called infraction is minor at best. Schlesinger should definitely stay in the race. I don't know if Gov. Rell fully understands what is going on.
'She continues to support her chief of staff Lisa Moody, who evidently lied at a legislative hearing, yet disparages Schlesinger for trying to stay off Foxwood's marketing list. Unlike Rell's chief of staff, who violated the law, what Schlesinger did was completely legal and quite rational, a simple measure prevent Foxwoods from having too much of his personal information.' - (from my blog)
Plus, who is going to run? Schlesinger was a fine candidate- not a great one, but much better than Streitz. Republicans don't have many other options. Rell needs to get her own house in order before criticizing others for worthless trangressions.
Sean,
As I said, it is kind of a small thing, and your comparison to the Moody affair is very apt.
But Rell and Gallo want him out, so I think he'll be persuaded to go. You'll probably hate the idea, but someone like Diana Urban might not be such a bad choice.
Urban will never win. If they put her forward, it will be b/c Joe cut a deal with Simmons, Shays and Johnson.
All Urban will do is guarantee all the Congressional incumbents win. And she helps Lieberman, big time.
If Republicans really want to win this seat, they will put forward someone who can hold their base.
Genghis-
If Schlesinger ends up dropping out, I will give you alot of credit for your political clairvoyance.
I can't imagine Urban being actually chosen as the Republican nominee. This Quinnipiac poll (http://tinyurl.com/oquy8) shows that 65% of Republicans still think that going to war was the right choice. I don't think CT Republicans are willing to embrace an anti-war candidate.
at least the Ill. GOP had a guy who wanted to take his hottie actress wife to sex clubs when this sorta thing broke for them in 2004.
Bu this is CT, where gambling undercover is now worse than snortin coke undercover...for Republicans at least
How about Rell herself? If the Dems implode on primary day, she could waltz into the best political job there is: 6 year term, great benefits, staff, and none of those pesky running-the-state responsibilities that seem to trip her up.
Rell & Gallo should do a better job recruiting candidates for their party. Just look at their pick from Waterbury like Sammy Caligari. His ties to Rowland and ethics problems (discounted concert seats) are another issue that will explode in their face. Funny that Gallo was an old Rowland campaign manager and former executive director when DePino and Rowland were running up their party’s credit cards and Rell picked him to run the party. Some things never change.
Maybe ACR can suggest Republicans run some other washed-up, has-been pol from days of yore. WHy run someone good when you can run the chewed-up GOP excrement from the greater southington/chesire/waterbury area, right?
Schlesinger's goose is cooked. Gallo and Rell have been looking for a reason, any reason, to get him out and here it is. The real shame for Alan is that when was asked "is there anything in your past that could come up and cause yourself or the governor embarassment," he fell into the classic politician's rationale..."no one will find out about that." If he had been able to stay above-board for a little longer, he probably could have wrangled a pretty good consilation prize for stepping aside...now he get's nothing, he loses, good day sir.
Rell & Gallo made another great pick with the 9th Senate guy Ralph Capenera. His family was one of the Trash Hauler King Pins in Connecticut. Rell & Gallo even gave this clown the spotlight at the State convention and he through in some stupid line about Italians. Who's his campaign manager Paulie Walnuts? Just another GOP loser ready to get smoked.
Sounds like someone has a thing against Italians.
Sean 12:17 AM, July 13, 2006
Doesn't matter if you're right.
There's right, wrong and reality.
The reality is Jodi's Governor and I doubt Alan (who I like) will survive this.
ACR,
I think that's exactly the case.
I'm hoping Schlesinger will stay in the race and help make gambling--our new state and national sickness--a major campaign issue. Example: the U.S. Senate just passed a bill banning Internet poker run by private offshore companies but in the process had nothing to say about state-run or state-sanctioned (Native American) operations that soon may be operating games online. In other words, the only moral weakness they'll tolerate is the kind they and their cronies can wallow in, too. Maybe the Senate needs a small-time card counter to lend authenticity to future debates.
I'm hoping Schlesinger will stay in the race and help make gambling--our new state and national sickness--a major campaign issue. Example: the U.S. Senate just passed a bill banning Internet poker run by private offshore companies but in the process had nothing to say about state-run or state-sanctioned (Native American) operations that soon may be operating games online. In other words, the only moral weakness they'll tolerate is the kind they and their cronies can wallow in, too. Maybe the Senate needs a small-time card counter to lend authenticity to future debates.
Hey do any of you know who Alan really is? I live in the town that he was Mayor of. Let me tell you that he ruined education with his "fiscal responsibility" which we will probably never recover from. He attempted to help a buddy who had connections with health insurance plan for the city. He was also a stockholder in that company and in the process shafted municipal employees. He nickels and dimes every businessman he ever met. He drives a Jag and leaves his coat open at parties so you can see his designer label. The man is a fraud with a massive ego. Good riddance--just dont send him back to us. In light of this gambling thing maybe he can go back to the shadows.
AnonAndOnAndOn said... "
Dick Foley, who doesn't know the word quit. "
There are many words Dick doesn't know.
Honesty
Integrity
He does however know the word "snake".
Incidentally Foley is on Schlesingers staff. I also hear that the Senate continually unleashes him on unsuspecting novice candidates. Not a bad gig.
Chris MC said... "
ACR, I'll of course defer to you, but I say he's gotta be cooked."
Thanks but too many on state central have a clue who I am, thus this would be a good time to keep my mouth shut a little more than I normally do.
I have a very strong opinion as to what we should do, but I'm not sure all the parties involved would go along.
capecodder said... "
Incidentally Foley is on Schlesingers staff. I also hear that the Senate continually unleashes him on unsuspecting novice candidates"
I know of no easier way to make sure Jodi doesn't show up at your functions, and avoids you like the plague than to retain Foley.
The house republicans loathe him.
His track record is dismal; he sucks money out of already too short campaign budgets for his retainer and does little or nothing for it of any value.
BrassBoy,
I wouldn't underestimate the organization of the Southington Democrats. In Chris Murphy's short time in Southington (but let's leave your hatred for him out of this), the Southington Dems have become extremely organized and a formidable group. While I think John Barry or Zeke Zalaski would have had the seat locked up, Zoni and Caligiuri will have a tough race.
Ultimately, I think the same organization that swept the 2005 Southington municipals will deliver this election for Zoni. Just last year, more Democrats turned out in Southington for a municipal than ever in history. Provided Malloy wins this primary and Rell actually has a serious challenger, Democratic turnout will set more records.
Blame Rowland on ALAN
Very funny. I was at a campaign event that year where Rowland and Schelisinger both showed up. Alan did not like his seat and he let everyone know. I knew then that he was a pain in the rear.
Genghis-
There seem to be some complexities to this story beyond what the newspapers are reporting. To register for a wampum card, you need legal I.D., meaning that Schlesinger probably had a fake I.D. Illegal, yes, but not terrible. Pres. Bush's daughter had been caught with a fake I.D.- no jail time, minimal community service. Moody's incident is more serious. Also, there is the IRS layer of the story not reported by newspapers. To what extent did Schlesinger report his winnings to the IRS if at all? I still do not think he will be pressured out, but now I am less confident...
Sean,
I saw in an article that one doesn't have to report winnings under $10,000 to the IRS, so he may have never won that much.
But the illegal ID thing is interesting.
Nobody who is an admitted card counter, who is known and has been approached by casino officials and asked not to play a certain game, who has received rooms/meals on the house based on his level of play and size of bets, is a perennial loser. Wait til the IRS sinks there teeth in.
This new J-I article says he's lost 50K or so. You'd think they'd encourage him to keep going.
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