tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post113638629435079676..comments2023-10-18T11:04:13.946-04:00Comments on Connecticut Local Politics: Open ForumGenghis Connhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13042849182723767087noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136503185818515932006-01-05T18:19:00.000-05:002006-01-05T18:19:00.000-05:00Until PACs and ad books and that time of nonsense ...Until PACs and ad books and that time of nonsense is limited locally and federally, campaign finance is nonsense. All politics is not local, it is sponsored by the wealthy corporation or special interest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136496170920498252006-01-05T16:22:00.000-05:002006-01-05T16:22:00.000-05:0040 of 45 members of the Senate Democrat Caucus hav...40 of 45 members of the Senate Democrat Caucus have taken money from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, his associates and Indian tribe clients. <BR/><BR/>Abramoff pled guilty Tuesday to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion. He also plans to implicate a number of U.S. lawmakers and congressional staffers in a bribery scandal. <BR/><BR/>Among those named by the NRSC as the worst examples of "Democrat hypocrisy" for taking money from Abramoff and his associates are: Sen. Byron Dorgan, (D-N.D.) who received at least $79,300; Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who received at least $45,750; Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who received at least $68,941 and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who received at least $6,250. <BR/><BR/>Dorgan is among the lawmakers who have already returned campaign donations or given those donations to charity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136491974326111092006-01-05T15:12:00.000-05:002006-01-05T15:12:00.000-05:00http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2005/12/18/natio...http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2005/12/18/national/20051219_LOBBY_GRAPHIC.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136475386930960712006-01-05T10:36:00.000-05:002006-01-05T10:36:00.000-05:00ctkeith, there is no question that this is much mo...ctkeith, there is no question that this is much more a Republican corruption scandal but the issue is not taking money from Abramoff personally, but taking it from his clients as he was a bundler, and there are quite a few Dems who did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136473952489740632006-01-05T10:12:00.000-05:002006-01-05T10:12:00.000-05:00Don't know if Jodi likes a good stoggie, but I hea...Don't know if Jodi likes a good stoggie, but I hear she knocks down champagne in a hot tub like there is no tomorrow.<BR/><BR/>Really folks, can't you come up with something better, like all the problems witht the performance of virtually every stae agency. Guess not; then you'd have to admit not every state worker performs equally to their assigned task.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136472398493409172006-01-05T09:46:00.000-05:002006-01-05T09:46:00.000-05:00Looks like the Moodygate isn't going to go away sl...Looks like the Moodygate isn't going to go away slowly...anyone know if Rell likes cigars tooAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136471345409233502006-01-05T09:29:00.000-05:002006-01-05T09:29:00.000-05:00NOT ONE DEM TOOK MONEY FROM ABRAMOFF,That myth and...NOT ONE DEM TOOK MONEY FROM ABRAMOFF,<BR/><BR/>That myth and any idea that this is a bi-patisan scandal is a lie.If you can prove otherwise show me the link.ctkeithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10225806283179995491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136470685881053062006-01-05T09:18:00.000-05:002006-01-05T09:18:00.000-05:00So Susan is losin' again; this time on running wit...So Susan is losin' again; this time on running with the choke out on the new voting machine selection. She is a lousy administrator. What does she do in real life as an attorney? Mediate divorces? <BR/><BR/>Larson is lackluster as a Member of Congress but nobody in his district is going to go for change.<BR/>And Genghis is right; the GOP won't get behind even the most qualified of candidiates. Rowland, Rell, Shays, Simmons and Johnson have always been about themselves and not a unified state GOP with some kind of bold GOP type goals for the state's future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136459244760331062006-01-05T06:07:00.000-05:002006-01-05T06:07:00.000-05:00If you think Abramoff gave Kennedy $$$ because he ...If you think Abramoff gave Kennedy $$$ because he was a nice guy then you really are clueless.<BR/><BR/>Most Capitol Hill scandals (see Keating 5) are bipartisan. Sorry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136436078014197002006-01-04T23:41:00.000-05:002006-01-04T23:41:00.000-05:00Setting aside his Abramoff donations for a moment,...Setting aside his Abramoff donations for a moment, one of the best political documentaries I've seen was <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00062110K/qid=1136435590/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl74/102-0477455-0461769?n=507846&s=dvd&v=glance" REL="nofollow">Taking on the Kennedys</A>, about the mudslinging race that got Patrick Kennedy his seat. (And in unrelated news, check out the <A HREF="http://www.walmartmovie.com/" REL="nofollow">Wal-Mart movie</A> if you haven't already - it's phenomenally well done.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136434922090191692006-01-04T23:22:00.000-05:002006-01-04T23:22:00.000-05:00Nice try anon 10:38,Unfortunately for you and all ...Nice try anon 10:38,<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately for you and all the other very slimy Republicans about to be indicted Money donated by the tribes is not illegal and not what this scandal is about.<BR/><BR/>You'll find out soon enough when all those Republicans members of the house are indicted that this is stictly a ONE PARTY SCANDAL and thats the REPUBLICAN PARTY.<BR/><BR/>It's hard to peddle influence and accept bribes to get legislation passed when you have NO influence and thats exactly the position the Dems in the house have been for a very long time.Hopefully when the people of this country come to understand just how your party sold them out you'll pay dearly in 06.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136433735819236752006-01-04T23:02:00.000-05:002006-01-04T23:02:00.000-05:00Sullivan took a hit? I can't find it. Would somebo...Sullivan took a hit? I can't find it. Would somebody please post it? Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136432323934472602006-01-04T22:38:00.000-05:002006-01-04T22:38:00.000-05:00His neighbor from RI, the gazillionaire Patrick Ke...His neighbor from RI, the gazillionaire Patrick Kennedy, is keeping his sirty Abramoff loot<BR/><BR/>Rep. Patrick Kennedy, citing his support for American Indian causes, says he has no plans to return any of the $42,500 he took from tribes represented by GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff.<BR/><BR/>....<BR/><BR/>Kennedy, D-R.I., was the top congressional Democratic recipient of Abramoff-linked funds, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign watchdog group that analyzed contributions from 1999 to 2005. He was eighth overall among members of Congress....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136431910324440652006-01-04T22:31:00.000-05:002006-01-04T22:31:00.000-05:00Congressman Simmons donated to charity the $1250 h...Congressman Simmons donated to charity the $1250 he received from Abramoff in mid December.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136430596540632482006-01-04T22:09:00.000-05:002006-01-04T22:09:00.000-05:00A few electoral updates:As Aldon hinted above, Sus...A few electoral updates:<BR/><BR/>As Aldon hinted above, Susan Bysiewicz has been <A HREF="http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-04161608.apds.m0588.bc-ct--votijan04,0,5174895.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire" REL="nofollow">forced to scrap</A> the RFP process for new voting machines and is back to the drawing board. This provides an opportunity for her to open the door to optical scan voting machines, which are far cheaper than the tocuh screen voting machines that she has stubbornly insisted upon. The <A HREF="http://www.truevotect.org/" REL="nofollow">True Vote CT coalition</A>, the CT Conference of Municipalities, and the Registrar of Voters Association have all expressed a preference for opening up the bid process to optical scan machines. As with her opposition to voter verified paper ballots, Bysiewicz has a pattern of backing herself into a corner, alienating others and politically isolating herself, then reversing her position at the last minute. This may be another example.<BR/><BR/>With even less fanfare than he generated in entering the race, obscure Green candidate Bill Davis has <A HREF="http://www.votebillc.org/" REL="nofollow">dropped out</A> of the 5th Congressional District contest against Nancy Johnson. As of September, he had $25 cash on hand and $278 in debt.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.henrygenga.org/" REL="nofollow">Henry Genga</A>, (pronounced Jenga) Democratic candidate for state rep in the 10th district special election on January 23rd, has <A HREF="http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15832635&BRD=1642&PAG=461&dept_id=10299&rfi=6" REL="nofollow">received the endorsement</A> of the CT Working Families party, meaning that he will appear on two ballot lines.<BR/><BR/>Middletown election officials should be more careful this time in <A HREF="http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15840385&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=8" REL="nofollow">inspecting voting machines</A> in preparation for the January 24 special election for city council, which was <A HREF="http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15798029&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=8" REL="nofollow">mandated by the CT Supreme Court</A> after one lever on a voting machine repeatedly failed to register votes since 2001 (unnoticed despite previous inspections).<BR/><BR/>The <A HREF="http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15868873&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=569429&rfi=6" REL="nofollow">Journal Inquirer reports</A> on the Manchester Democratic Town Committee's resolution against Joe Lieberman.<BR/><BR/>As MVD notes above, Jack Abramoff <A HREF="http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Jack_Abramoff.php" REL="nofollow">donated $1250</A> to Rob Simmons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136422656348900602006-01-04T19:57:00.000-05:002006-01-04T19:57:00.000-05:00Just one comment on John Larsen ... he did have on...Just one comment on John Larsen ... he did have one other very competitive race, the 1998 1st CD primary against Miles Rapaport. Miles was favored by the progressives, John by the mod/conservative dems. I wasn't involved at all, but I wonder if anyone remembers who ran the various campaigns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136418211131136422006-01-04T18:43:00.000-05:002006-01-04T18:43:00.000-05:00I see a Republican State Central guy took a pretty...I see a Republican State Central guy took a pretty nice hit at Kevin Sullivan in todays Courant editorials.I have to admit, he makes a good point. Sullivan sometimes shoots from the hip and that can land him in trouble.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136415372531876822006-01-04T17:56:00.000-05:002006-01-04T17:56:00.000-05:00Random thoughts:Weicker Liker: I'm with Genghis o...Random thoughts:<BR/><BR/>Weicker Liker: I'm with Genghis on this. As much as I am a hardcore Democrat, I am perhaps even more of a a hardcore democrat. We need to encourage people to get involved and to run for office no matter what party.<BR/><BR/>From my perspective, set up a website. Set up a blog. Talk about the issues that are important to you and why you think you are better at addressing the issues than your opponent. Most importantly, get out and talk to as many people face to face as possible.<BR/><BR/>(BTW, are you coming to drinks tomorrow night?)<BR/><BR/>Other stuff: I've heard from a bunch of people that are planning to attend tomorrow night. I hope we have a good turnout. Also, some people can't make it, but want to know about future drinking opportunities. If you have thoughts about when and where the next drinking event should be, let me know. I'm sure we'll talk about round two at the bar.<BR/><BR/>As to the news of the day. I think the Manchester DTC resolution is big news. It will be interesting to see if more DTCs pass similar resolutions.<BR/><BR/>Also, the news of Bysiewicz pulling the plug on the new voting machines is very big (IMHO). I look forward to hearing more about ths.Aldon Hyneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527868669926331034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136408503593655872006-01-04T16:01:00.000-05:002006-01-04T16:01:00.000-05:00I dislike W as much as the next guy, but you'll ha...I dislike W as much as the next guy, but you'll have to give me more than one line from the AP to support your argument that W is responsible for the mine collapse. I think this type of accusation causes all of us Bush-whackers to lose credibility when we truly have an issue worth bashing him over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136407531313660502006-01-04T15:45:00.000-05:002006-01-04T15:45:00.000-05:00I know this isn't local stuff but I just read this...I know this isn't local stuff but I just read this online and had to vent. It looks as if the idiot George W. has a hand in this mining tregedy as well! Already on the defensive. When is this country going to wake up?<BR/><BR/>WASHINGTON (AP) -- "The White House defended the administration's record on mine safety rules."<BR/><BR/>Asleep at the wheel once again. I'm tired of this. The intelligence of the Republicans and the damage they are doing to this country is truly horrifying. It just makes me irate when W. does his act to console the nation when bad things happen...especially when these tragedies would probably have been prevented if he were not the President.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136405229899538862006-01-04T15:07:00.000-05:002006-01-04T15:07:00.000-05:00Weicker Liker,Good for you! I like to see people s...Weicker Liker,<BR/><BR/>Good for you! I like to see people step up. My Democratic friends will forgive me for offering advice to a regular commenter.<BR/><BR/>The 1st District is a very, very steep hill for a Republican. It's a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a huge margin, and the independents tend to swing to the left. The RNC will ignore you, like they did with Phil Steele and John Halsted, so you'd be on your own. Halsted raised something like $2,000, while Larson will raise a ton of money from every company in Greater Hartford who wants access to power. Really, you'd almost be better off running as an independent, for all the good the GOP would do you.<BR/><BR/>...Having said that, anyone running against Larson would do well to be aware that Larson has been in a competitive race exactly once in his career (the 1994 gubernatorial primary), and he <I>lost</I>. To <I>Bill Curry</I>. I would study that race. Larson was a heavy favorite there, too, but lost because of his detatchment and apparent lack of personality. If he has a weakness, it's there. Also, he probably won't be paying close attention. Potential challengers may also want to study Charlotte Koskoff's 1996 race against Nancy Johnson, when another longtime "safe" seat was almost caught asleep at the switch.<BR/><BR/>It isn't much, really, and the odds are stacked against you. You'd be giving people an alternative to Larson, but probably little else.<BR/><BR/>Let us know what you decide!Genghis Connhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13042849182723767087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136403274877369832006-01-04T14:34:00.000-05:002006-01-04T14:34:00.000-05:00Bysiewicz has pulled the plug on new voting machin...Bysiewicz has <A HREF="http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-04125217.apds.m0558.bc-ct--votijan04,0,1116257.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire" REL="nofollow">pulled the plug</A> on new voting machines ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136402376722900062006-01-04T14:19:00.000-05:002006-01-04T14:19:00.000-05:00Anyone have any advice for a Republican that wants...Anyone have any advice for a Republican that wants to run against John Larson this year???<BR/><BR/>I am seriously thinking about running for Congress.<BR/><BR/>Anyone have any thoughts???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136401023436262172006-01-04T13:57:00.000-05:002006-01-04T13:57:00.000-05:00Anonymous needs to learn how to embed a link. He'...Anonymous needs to learn how to embed a link. He's making us look bad!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1136400778573933022006-01-04T13:52:00.000-05:002006-01-04T13:52:00.000-05:00http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/03/colo.gov.ap...http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/03/colo.gov.ap/index.html<BR/><BR/>I found this link to be very interesting, especially since both the right and left seem to have purity tests that drive good people away from government service.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com