Talk grew over the weekend in Republican circles about the advantages of offering the Senate nomination to Lieberman if he loses the primary. The 20-25% a Republican nominee would thrust Lieberman considerably past Lamont. Expectations of more Schlesinger revelations have moved from the if to the when column among party apparatchiks.
Lieberman may first have to get by former Republican state Senator William Aniskovich. The seven term legislator was defeated in 2004 on the heals of his to-the-last-ditch defense of felonious former governor John Rowland. Aniskovich confirmed for me this weekend that he is interested in filling any vacancy. He began today to make calls for support. Aniskovich, a dynamic campaigner when his interest is engaged, might have some troubled convincing Governor Jodi Rell, with whom he has had a strained relationship, to support him. Nevertheless, he is thought to be able to fund a fast start and then persuade donors that a three-way would be a contest in which he would thrive.
Seriously? Aniskovich? Two years ago he couldn't beat a guy who moved from New York 10 minutes before the election in a state senate district with a less than 800 person Democratic registration advantage and now he is going to win the senate election in Connecticut? It would have to be a 10 way race!
Somewhere in Branford, CTKeith is already setting up a table in front of a Stop and Shop and licking his chops...
PS - read the whole post. Dole (Bob not Elizabeth) as broker to get Schlesinger to drop out? Tell me the truth, if this wasn't unfolding in front of you, would you believe it was happening?
35 comments:
Let's talk brass tacks
Anyone who jumps in this late date better have either high name recognition or access to immediate funds to buy it
Bill never raised more than 200k for his races and if you stopped people in North Haven and asked people who he was you'd draw blanks..forget Fairfield or Hartford counties
So I don;t see it. Frankly, this would be of benefit solely to Lamont, a GOP candidate strong enough to hold down Lieberman's vote but too weak to really pose a threat to win
And the campaign that beat him was run by...wait for it...Tom Swan & John Murphy!!
Re-match would be interesting!!
Rennie gives Foley far more credit than he deserves. The best thing he could do is make a quick and quiet exit, spending the rest of his days on his veranda, pounding nicorette by-the-pound until his jaw drops off.
Aything less than a full withdrawl by Schlesinger, with no promises or cushy positions offered, would be acceptable. This slimeball has done it to himself and shouldn't be rewarded for his misdeeds. I can't wait for Hamilton's article.
Aniskovich would have been a nice idea...if he were still an up-and-coming state senator. But Bill has skeletons in his closet that probably match Schlesinger's in gravity. Rell, Inc. have long memories and if Lieberman's not the guy, then it will undoubtedly be someone who won't cause her anymore heartache, nor will they be inclined to resurrect a former foe who was all to eager to write off the sitting Lieutenant Governor in his own quest for the throne.
Is anyone up and watching Nightline? They are doing a segment on CT-Sen coming up. It seems to be focused on how "one blogger" (Kos) is taking down a sitting Senator (at least, thats what the teasers seem to be saying). Sigh. One blogger can write what he wants, but, without discontent among the, you know, voters of Connecticut, no sitting Senator is going to lose their election.
Bizarre. Aniskovich is a stronger candidate than Schlesinger, but that isn't saying much.
Its an easier bar to get over than under, thats for certain...
FYI... Another Nightline teaser just called Kos "the kingmaker".
Kos the kingmaker? Bloody hell!
FYI... Here is the complete transcript of the Kos interview. The report is on now - compare it with the transcript and you get a keen insight into the story the media wants to report...
Annoying... When talking about blogs and Lieberman, they just showed a bunch of blogs - none from Connecticut! What a surprise...
For the national media, it's a national story. Could be happening anywhere. Connecticut is just a backdrop.
Here is a snippet from the full interview that wasn't included in the report, probably because it doesn't fit into the national media's overarching storyline (the primary is all about the war):
He was the last Democrat — to me this is amazing. This is the reason I oppose Joe Lieberman. It isn't the Iraq war. The reason I oppose, I personally oppose Joe Lieberman is because during the Social Security battle last year, he was the last Democrat to fall in line with the Democratic caucus.
We had people like Ben Nelson from Nebraska, Mary Landrieu from Louisiana, conservative Democrats firmly standing with the Democratic caucus in opposition to George Bush's efforts to destroy Social Security, and Joe Lieberman would refuse to join this effort. He was trying to negotiate with the administration. He was the last person. And he only fell in line when it was obvious that George Bush's efforts had failed. So he wasn't helping the caucus. He was actually a source of problems. Of, you know, he was hurting party unity. He was hurting our efforts to defend a very valued and critical government program. That's the reason I lost all faith in Joe Lieberman.
Also, whats witht he anchor man? "The might of Daily Kos." Do they have a school where you can learn how to say inane one liners in a dramatic voice after a segment ends?
If Aniskovich is really thinking about it, then that means Foley has dunped Schlesinger.
Foley is very close to Aniskovich, DeLuca (who nominated Alan), Krivda and Co.
Alan Gold's days are numbered, for sure. This guy has baggage... too bad he exits, would make for an interesting fall!
Look for Foley to drop Alan for Bill and earn same (if not more) $$ as senior operative.
(And, $200,000 for state senate race is impressive. Bill lost the senate seat last time, Meyers didn't win it)
Bill lost the senate seat last time, Meyers [sic] didn't win it.
That is exactly my point.
Gabe,
The Walbaums was my personal Hangout.We even ran into Bills mom once,lol.She didn't like the "Bill got caught with his hands in the cookiejar again" Line.
We all know because Bill told all his Lobbyist freinds in Hartford he got about a 5 million bonus for the sale of the Stonington Institute.
Heres a little story I love to share about our boy Bill.
The first time he ran for state Senate he had meetings with both the Pro-choice and Anti Abortion folks schedualed on the same day.
The next day the paper reported they BOTH endorsed him.LOL
The next day they BOTH pulled their endorsements.
Thats Bill in a nutshell.
Google Ed Meyer,
We kicked Bill Aniskovich's ass because we had a better and smarter candidate with unquestioned integrity and we outworked him.
We didn't only beat him we enbarrassed him by beating him in every district in his home town of Branford and every town except Madison(where we lost by less than 100 votes).We even won N. Branford which was the first time any Dem had by going to every football game and shaking hands.
CTKEITH: Nice to know you had such an outstanding candidate and Aniskovich losing had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it was a Presedential election and all Republican's in the state took a pounding.
So I just googled Ed Meyer. He favors raising the state income tax to 18.97% for those making over $2 million. I guess he hasn't figured yet that this would make Connecticut the highest taxed state by far. In fact, no other state has a top state income tax rate above 10%. New York's top marginal rate is 6.85%, so if someone making $2 million per year were to move to Westchester county, they'd save $260,000 per year. And most people making over $2 million per year can probably have some amount of control in when they realize that income, so we'd see a pretty decent exodus of people out of the state who would then exercise their options or whatever. Connecticut would be so anti-competitive with other states that instead of taking in 18.97% of the rich's income, we'd take in practically nothing, because they'd get out of here as fast as possible.
There is evidence high taxes causes the wealthy to emigrate. France has been losing a millionaire per day for several years now, and once those people leave, they pay no more taxes to France.
Ct Keith:
It's pronounced "Pro Life" not "anti-abortion."
I've got a better shot at being elected Pope than Aniskovitch has of getting the nod to replace Schlesinger. Aniskovitch was aiming to run against Rell, before Rowland imploded. He was actively trying to line up people, and wasn't very subtle about it. He probably has some support on State Central, but without Rell, he's toast.
From what I'm hearing, look for a woman to fill the slot. That would really throw the 3 way wide open.
Anon,
How many other 7 term incumbents who were Senate Pro Tem Lost their seats in this Presidential year.
GC,
Maybe you should add political stupidity or ignorance to lack of civility for reasons not to post a comment.
By the way, Meyer was a NY REPUBLICAN who was so disliked by his own party that then Gov. Rockefeller had his district eliminated through redistricting. The pattern continues now, as he is easily the most disliked D in the Seante. His own people hate his guts.
Well, AS may have the right idea about eliminating inconsistencies in the tax code, but unfortunately it's not going to go anywhere as the last time I checked, you need a bit more than 9% to win a Senate race, even a three way race. And 9% is where Schlesinger is now polling. It's so damned pathetic that he needs to leave. The gambling stuff, and apparently some other things as well are about to come out from what I've seen on this blog.
I'm sort of stunned by how bad the Republican Senate candidates have been. I know that the Democrats are entrenched incumbents, so no one serious really wants to challenge them. But the consitutional offices as well: there doesn't seem to be a credible R for any of those offices either. There are about 5 credible Republicans in the state that could really have a good shot at winning a statewide office: Rell, Shays, Simmons, Johnson and the US Attorney.
Anon,
You're correct about Ed Meyer not being the most liked guy in either the NY or CT legislature .
The crooked Rs didn't like him in NY and the Crooked Ds don't like him in Ct.
It's rare you find a guy who goes into public service who is looking out for the public and not himself and they're always the most hated people by those whose hands are always in the cookie Jar.
I was the Candidate against Bill Aniskovich for 6 weeks and it was me who decided to hand the baton to Ed Meyer.
I still consider that decision the second best in my life only surpassed by my decision to ask my wife to marry me.
Aniskovich is by far the most talented, articulate and electable commodity in either party at this time in Connecticut. The Senate race is a perfect vehicle for him to demonstrate these attributes statewide with absolutely nothing for him to lose. Entering the race for the former Senator at this time is an absolute no brainer. go get em Bill!
It was nice of Aniskovich to have what's left of his minions post on this page. I guess those genius's are still hoping their golden meal ticket may still come to pass. Hey guys, how's that "Governor Aniskovich" thing working out for ya?
Aniskovich has minions?
The only chance The GOP has is to run one of its names like Jodi Rell, Rob Simmons, Nancy Johnson or Chris Shays.
Bill Aniskovich is an ex-State Senator not much of a trade up from Alan Schlesinger.
The Democrats will win whether it is Lieberman or Lamont.
The GOP has no farm System so to speak like The Democrats do. That is a lesson they havent learned or cant get it to resonate within The GOP Establishment
Very funny Anon 2:05.
OK then geniuses, if Aniskovich can't win or won't run, then who are the Rs going to get after they push AS out of the race. O'Connor won't give up the US Attorney gig. Who's left? Is there anyone who can make a credible showing in the time left? And, if so, who does it help, Joe L or Ned L?
Diana Urban for US Senate!
they have made a decision to go thru the motions with AS...weaken him...hope that Lamont wins..and then run Jodie or someone she enlists to take out Ned in 2112
orchulli
Jack Welch
for all of you who have "figured out" how Aniskovich lost, remember this:
Aniskovich received more votes in 2004 than he ever recieved and there was absolutely no dropoff between the kerry vote and the meyer vote (the anti-bush vote killed bill)
Aniskovich won his three Simmons towns (Durham, Killingworth and Madison) and lost his three DeLauro towns (Branford, North Branford and Guilford). In fact, only one Senate R in the 3rd CD won in 2004---Len Fasano WHO WAS UNOPPOSED. Win Smith got beat this way---he ran a good campaign, called on Rowland to resign, didn't have a wife appointed to office by JGR and had no Stoningtn "baggage." BTW, Aniskovich won his threee Courant towns (which slaughtered him) and lost his three Register towns (which ran one story on the Stonington crap.
Oh and by the way, not a single bit of the Stonington crap ever stuck...because it was a last week sleazy smear that had no basis in fact as far as I can tell.
I live in Bfd. Aniskovich didn't work hard, never slammed Meyer for being the carpetbagging pro-life Republican NY legislator we know he is and was so focused on being Gov that he left himself open to attack.
And by the way, his wife is the smartest person in the Rell Administration.
In response to the claim made earlier regarding Senator Meyer's supposed plan that he is in favor of raising the income tax, that statement is misleading.
In an effort to reduce local property taxes, according to the article linked to that blog, one plan that should be examined would be raising the local tax on those that make over 2 million dollars in an effort to reduce the local property tax. Those that make over 2 million can afford to pay the extra amount.
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