Friday, December 01, 2006

Morning Quick Hitters

A few stories are in danger of slipping into the ether:

- The election is officially over.

- Judge dismisses Golden Hill Paugussetts' suit. This likely ends their (hanging by a fraying thread) chances of building a Bridgeport casino.

- In his latest column reprinted in the Courant, George Will shows us the magic of selective quotations and an absence of context.

- Gov. Rell is thinking about whom to name to her administration. Sadly, that is as much information as the article provides - no leaks, no speculation, no fun. :(

Consider this an open forum.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think Bluecoat is on to something...
Does anyone know why State Representative and Soundkeeper Terry Backer is supporting Broadwater's LNG terminal in Long Island Sound? As a Democratic state legislator with an allegedly strong environmental record, his silence can only be seen as a ringing endorsement of the project.

I've heard the rumors but could it be that Rep. Backer's silence is a result of having a financial stake in energy concerns that will benefit as a result of the LNG terminal?

There's a company, PurePower, on the SOTS C.O.N.C.O.R.D site that uses the same address as Rep. Backer's Soundkeeper office. At the very least, that should raise some eyebrows.

Rep. Backer supported the Cross Sound Cable and received hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to his non-profit as a result. Maybe he's selling Long Island Sound out again to pad his wallet on this one, too.

Does anyone have an interest in looking into this?

Anonymous said...

Backer is not the only CT Democrat that might be considered a "backer" of the LNG terminal but the whole issue will be decided by New York State so it really doesn't matter what CT does. It's just pols, like Drew from Fairfield, posturing to be be good dobe's to get a few points.

Gabe said...

Brass Boy - Of course we can disagree on the President, Webb, everyone else, but George Will left out the part where the President, after Webb answered his "Hows your boy?" with "Lets bring him home", answered with "Thats not what I asked you."

Without that happening, I would agree, Webb sounds like a jerk. But it did happen. If my aunt...

Anonymous said...

Rowland has screwed CT for quite some time. The CRRA shouldn't even exist. The entire operation can and should be privatized and properly regulated:Towns suing CRRA expected to focus on astonishing tale of former official's job deal with Tomasso company
By Don Michak, Journal Inquirer
12/01/2006


and Amman has his head up his...when he:Amann Calls For Utopia Mediation
House Speaker Says He's Seeking To Avoid Lawsuits, Save Jobs
By Paul Choiniere, Day Staff Writer


and if CT wants to keep the subbase then they might have to subsidize the Navy:Inaction Could Spell Doom for Sub Base, Panel Warns
Governor's Commission: State Will Have To Spend millions To Avoid Closure By Paul Choiniere

Anonymous said...

actually in response to Bush's question Webb said: I would like to bring them home, sir. I usually like Will but he's off base on this one.

Anonymous said...

here is a more correct accountHow's your boy?" Bush asked, referring to Webb's son, a Marine serving in Iraq.

"I'd like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President," Webb responded,

and here's another

Anonymous said...

At best, Webb is a self-righteous twit. Plus, anyone who wants to go mano-a-mano with George Will on the topic of writing is an idiot. Webb's writing skill is sophomoric and on par with that of Lindsay Lohan.

Matt said...

Webb is a tough old Marine, Scots-Irish, and for all the self-important moaning of George Will and BrassBoy, his willingness to pick a fight with our boy-king is precisely why we're going to see Webb on the national stage long after 2012.

Yeah, he has a macho swagger. But unlike most blowhard conservatives, he's earned that swagger.

Matt said...

With the election results certified, you can now register as a member of the Connecticut for Lieberman party.

Anonymous said...

Shays wants Iraqi view of conflict
PETER URBAN purban@ctpost.com

Anonymous said...

BB said: I just want to ask someone a polite question about their child webb;s "child" is an adult, a United States Marine and in harm's way; Bush should have been ready for an honest answer not talk about the kid's latest binky!!!

Gabe said...

What's rude and classless about "I'd like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President"?

The guy's son is a Marine in Iraq and he just spent a year campaigning that the war was a bad idea to being with and then improperly prosecuted - I'm not sure what answer he was expected to give.

Anonymous said...

Webb's son isn't whining and neither is Webb (corrected). Bush is used to having yes men around him. Webb is no yes man and he once worked for Bush's role model - Reagan. Webb failed to give Bush - and BB - the answer he sought. War is not cocktail party conversation.

And when you go into battle there is an expectation that the man/woman on your right, the man/woman on your left and all around you are on the same team.

Anonymous said...

Instead, he clearly responded in a way intended to provoke a response., says BB who first whined that Webb was a whiner. Whiners don't confront Presidents and besides he just answered the question.

And Blogger pisse me off sometimes.

Gabe said...

We could do this all day and never convince each other, so I'm going to post this, let you have the last word, and then get back to being miffed that the Courant didn't provide us with any gossip about Rell's appointees:

I don't see how "I'd like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President" is somehow provocative enough to get a rise out of the President (who, incidently, was called by his title in the quote in the WaPo story; the title is missing from George Will's version). Maybe Webb just isn't very good at being rude, classless, and provocative, but that statement, complete with respectful use of the title, just isn't that rude, classless or provocative.

Also, the campaign is over and no "posturing" is necessary and he still said it?!?!?!?! This is what outsiders who get elected to Congress look like when they actually believe what they were saying from the stump, instead of it being empty "campaign posturing."

Anonymous said...

Self appointed "Sound Keeper" is a phony. He and the other self appointed defender of the enviorment. Kennedy, operate a shake down organization with the complicity of a ignorant and stupid public. Blummie plays the same game, going after minor problems on TV every other night, while the rowlands and that ilk mislead and churn and earn ----

Anonymous said...

You're no fun today, gabe. BB's coming around the same way Senator-elect Webb had hoped Bush would come around with his repectful answer that might have led to a discussion about how to wind up in Iraq - something Bush is, in fact, engaging in with others - had Bush not acted like Webb's boss.

Anonymous said...

Webb's kid is in a war zone, and he's supposed to say "he's fine" and smile? Those are the manners of an alcoholic family.

Anonymous said...

I have never heard that Rodriguez wasn't doing the job - simple association with Rowland never made them Rowland hack's for me. Candidates for dumping should be Moody, Cogswell, Lantz (she runs the only prison system in the US that allows unmuzzled dogs), Sheriff Carpenter and his DOT deputies, DSS - whose name escapes me; not to mention Rell should propose all kinds of Commissioner consolidations.

Gabe said...

Gossip Score:

BrassBoy 1
Courant 0

Anonymous said...

Webb is a one term wonder. His bruteness and antics have a place in the House, not the Senate.

Matt said...

Waah, the new Democrats don't like conservative boy-hero George W Bush.

In the reality that Republicans would rather not acknowledge, Webb's son was just shot at in Iraq -- the tank next to his had 3 Marines killed.

Regardless of whether wilting conservative lilies like it or not, serving yourself, having a son who serves, and being willing to stick up for those troops in harms way is actually a big plus. I don't think anything in this episode is likely to hurt Webb's re-election six years hence.

Since the displeasure of the dauphin seems to be expressed through coordinated PR bitchfests like the one BrassBoy is spouting (seemingly unrelated to anything), I'm guessing that BB agrees with Will et al that highlighting this guy is supposed to accrue to the Republicans' benefit somehow. I can't really see how that's supposed to happen: if anything, the transparent fraud of the conservative movement will just make more veterans and southern whites join Webb in the ranks of "former Republicans."

Petulance is Newt Gingrich shutting down the entire Federal government because Clinton wouldn't let him ride on Air Force One. Webb's reaction to Commander Codpiece's posturing was exactly appropriate.

Anonymous said...

The Architect shows us once again why Republicans are shrinking in size and stature in CT. I wish I could link the Norwalk Hour. Earlier this week Cafero suggested in a convoluted OpEd that his caucus lost seats because the voters confused the performance of incumbents Stone and Tymniak (and others obvioulsy) in the statehouse with Bush's response to Katrina before he went on to conclude correctly that: Elected officials who are arrogant and stubborn test the will of the people at their own risk.

Anonymous said...

We know that Rell is looking for a job for Cathy Cook but I thought that was DMR - a Commision with a title that is disgraceful in this day and age and that should be consolidated with DSS and DMHAS anyway. Requires legislative action, I know.

Anonymous said...

bluecoat, I fail to see any connection between what I wrote and your diatribe that referenced me. I'm writing about a Senator from Virginia and somehow you wrap it around the CT state legislature??????

Anonymous said...

Bush is not a conservative. He's a neo-con; there's a huge ass difference. Even Reagan-lover, George Will, has problems normally with the way Bush fights terror and conducts foreign policy; and speaking of the past - Dick Armey remarked that the new Democrats sounded like conservatives in the last election - fiscal responsiblity, judicious use of the military in foreign policy, etc.

Crappy day out today.

Anonymous said...

I am not surpirsed, Architect. It's about your CT GOP 'tude that you apply to VA.

Anonymous said...

hank you bluecoat for correctly pointing out that there are vast differences between being a mainstream conservative and a neo-con. Sadly, the neo-cons and the religious right have given all of us mainstream conservatives a bad name.

Anonymous said...

Stick with your initial instincts on Webb cgg. In the long run, they will prove correct.

Anonymous said...

You're welcome 12:30 but whae you say:Sadly, the neo-cons and the religious right have given all of us mainstream conservatives a bad name, I would argue the mainstream conservatives have allowed that to happen for a number of reasons - not the least of which is that they didn't care to be called traitors.

Anonymous said...

bluecoat, I didn't see myself defending Bush's attitude over the past year on this blog.

Get over your own self-righteous pompous attitude.

Anonymous said...

Twist and shout there, Architect.

Anonymous said...

Regarding Rell's appointments.

Rumor has it that Omaera at DMR will get reappointed and the deputy commissioner du Pree will be shown the door. For Cathy Cook to become deputy she would have to swallow her principles. O'Meara has defended keeping people institutionalized and she is just the opposite. But you never know. Cook has been shilling for Pfizer for years and sees nothing wrong with that. An interesting aside at DMR is that O'Meara is one of the 14 appointees that ended up getting fined in the Moody fundraiser investigation. Moody has also gotten cozy with former Rowland stooge Marty Zito who's pulling down $108,000 as Chief of Staff/Enforcer/Empty Suit at DMR. He was the only person to refuse to cooperate with the investigation and absolutely nothing happened to him. Deputy Commissioner Dupree on the other hand refused to play ball with Moody as noted in the investigation report. We should keep score on who paid fines and who keeps their jobs. The higher number of the fourteen that get reappointed, the more Lisa Moody looks like Peter Ellef in a dress.

Anonymous said...

Request for clarification:O'Meara has defended keeping people institutionalized and she is just the opposite. But you never know. Cook has been shilling for Pfizer for years and sees nothing wrong with that. Does that mean Cook supports institutionalizing people or getting them into the mainstream?

Anonymous said...

Alright! Some reasoned and thoughtful debate from ProgCT! Yesssss!!!

p.s. whores or not, I'd much rather look at either one of the current first daughters than the last one. sheesh...

Anonymous said...

I may have just answered my own question. Cook might support institutionalizing people even though she opposes it, the same way she shilled for PFizer because it would be in her best interests? I would hope not.

Anonymous said...

Bluecoat,

I would hope not myself. O'Meara and Cook would be the strangest of bedfellows but I don't think she gave up her senate seat in a hopeless run for comptroller for nothing. O'Meara actually donated $100 to Cook's campaign. He used his Cape Cod summer home address instead of his Connecticut address which, based on looking through the the Sec. of State Campaign finance site over the years is not that uncommon.

Anonymous said...

well, I sure hope Jim Webb will be able to spend more time with his son in a few years when he's home from Iraq and the VA GOP puts up a candidate smart enough not to utter obscure racial taunts in front of a video camera