Be careful about getting Steve Levy started on Blumenthal. The Suffolk County executive blasted the AG as a politician who, rather than fostering cooperation between the Island and Connecticut, prefers to muddy pools with an “’us vs. them’ mentality.”
He’s not done – Levy just paused to reload on his fellow Democrat. Blumenthal, at the expense of middle-class Long Islanders, is “out to make cheap political points for some rich folks who live on the coast of Connecticut,” Levy said. And don’t forget, Blumenthal is “parochial” and his actions “lack common sense.”
[...]
Republican Brookhaven Town Board member Kevin McCarrick piled on – he champions the idea of “appealing to U.S and state senators to get Blumenthal to behave” – and even Rep. Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, joined in. According to Bishop, by blocking the proposed Islander East natural gas pipeline from Connecticut to Long Island, Blumenthal is providing aid and ammunition to Broadwater Energy’s plans for a floating natural gas plant in the Sound.
In his protracted legal fight against the pipeline, Blumenthal is allowing Broadwater – which, publicly, the AG passionately opposes – to ride to the rescue by convincing ratepayers it’s the only natural gas alternative, Bishop said. (Clancy)
We tend to forget that Long Island Sound isn't entirely ours, and I think we tend to dismiss their take on things. However, suggesting that the Connecticut coast is filled with nothing but the idle rich is inaccurate, at best. And why would Blumenthal need to curry that much favor with the super-rich? They probably all voted for Bob Farr anyway.
It's sometimes difficult to figure out whether Blumenthal is making a principled stand or going for media attention. Maybe the real issues here are whether the environmental concerns are actually justified, and whether Connecticut is appropriately compensated for a project that will not benefit us in the slightest.
Source
Clancy, Ambrose. "Why does this man hate us?" Long Island Business Journal 22 December, 2006.
17 comments:
I think it's really the other way around - I think NY forgets that CT has a stake in the Sound. I am hopeful that Blumenthal is truly making a principled stand in this case and is protecting CT's interests.
The Bob Farr comment is offbase. They probably all voted for Blumenthal actually.
I don't know any poor people who live on the Gold Coast. And why should CT be compensated for project that helps lessen U.S. demand for foreign oil? Isn't that blackmail?
Long Islanders apparently are also conveniently forgetting that it's not just Blumenthal who is opposing Islander East. Last week the DEP denied the pipeline a permit, for a host of environmental reasons that sound legitimate to me. Details are here here, on my Long Island Sound blog.
Does Farr even know where Long Island is?
Too many actually believe the daily PR BS put out by Blummie. It would be a worthwhile project to review all the news spots made by Blummie over the last three years and determine how many of these self righteous protestations by the CT AG actually led to anything. The sound is not hallowed ground and must be used for a variety of purposes. Some involve burying cables or the installtion of needed facilites, such as the gas dock, if we all are going to continue to live in this area with all the power requirements you all want. The "good ole days" are gone and part of the price for the way you want to live is the installation of the infrasructure to keep it powered and heated. Blummie is a politician, first and last who has made a career of finding a mob and jumping in front of it, waving a rope.
It would be interesting to conduct an audit of his office and find out just what the 170+ lawyers and additonal staff personal really do for the citizens of connecticut. I know that there would be some really surprising results.
It's sometimes difficult to figure out whether Blumenthal is making a principled stand or going for media attention..........
Does taking a principled stand on anything, require you to be on TV each night about everything?
How much did Blumenthal spend fighting the Cross Sound Cable after it was done being laid and before he capitulated it had been done per CT DEP permit?
Who are the folks in Brookhaven kidding? They are the ones who have repeatedly blocked a high speed ferry between New Haven and the old power plant in Brookhaven. The William Floyd Parkway ends right there, and it is the perfect place for a ferry to dock. The dock is there, the connecting highway is there, but those altruistic folks are against anything that might bring outsiders there, even though to do it would take countless cars and trucks off I-95 between NYC and New Haven. Wanna make a deal Long Island? Pipeline for High Speed Ferry? I bet not. So much for them making fun of our politicians.
If you measure the peformance of the AG by press releases issued, Blumenthal is the best ever.
>>... the Connecticut coast is filled with nothing but the idle rich is inaccurate, at best. And why would Blumenthal need to curry that much favor with the super-rich? They probably all voted for Bob Farr anyway...
The idle rich (better known by their other name; "Limousine Liberal") probably voted for one of their own - in this case that would be Blumenthal.
>>If you measure the peformance of the AG by press releases issued, Blumenthal is the best ever.
What's the most dangerous place in Connecticut?
Anywhere between Blumenthal and a camera.
a while back it was revealed that the clam farmers had been paid a great deal of money by the gas line people not to get involved in the pipleline issue. Blumie was nvolved in getting outside counsel hired - a third rate firm - to pronounce the "arrangement" legal. I do not mind the pipleline but the tactics of these people are inappropriate and dishonest.
PS: every time I see Blumie he seems to be thinner and more skeletal - Is he anorexic??
Overdue for open forum...
Blumenthal is a pain in the arse, I have not seen a more grasping sleezy pol in years.
The man is constantly sticking his nose in places were he should not be (any press is good right?) and Rell should reel him in a bit.
The only ones who can reel Blumie in are judges, and they're sleeping. A strict adherence to his constututional authority probably would cut the numner of cases he prosecutes -- not to mention the number of shake downs he engages in -- by a significant number.
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