While the highways, airports, and train stations fill with travelers, enjoy an evening open forum.
The Governor wants a special session before Christmas to overhaul the Citizens’ Election Program and re-balance the budget.
U.S. Senate candidate/prospective CT Governor candidate Tom Foley speaks.
Were you excited for the sales tax cut that [...]
Per CT News Junkie, State Health Care Advocate Kevin Lembo is running for … Lt. Governor?
“Sometimes the governor leaves office and no one has really vetted the lieutenant governor, who is suddenly charge of $18 billion budget,” Lembo said. “Twice in recent history, Connecticut’s lieutenant governor has been asked [...]
State Sen. Sam Caligiuri announced his intent to end his bid for the U.S. Senate and instead run for the U.S. Congress in a press release today.
His new website can be found at: [www.samforcongress.com]
The move shakes up races for both the US Senate and the House. On the Senate [...]
The Hartford Courant reports that according to Kevin Rennie’s Facebook page, one of his friends says that:
GOP Senate hopeful Tom Foley told the West Hartford Republicans last night that he is considering hightailing it into the less competitive race for governor. He’ll decide in 2 week’ developing…’sounds like decision [...]
Does anyone have access to information released today about the breakdown of delegates by Town for the GOP Convention. I was told that this information was to be released today, but haven’t seen head nor tail of it. Heath?
[...]Norwich’s Mayor-elect, Peter Nystrom, has a long four years ahead of him that will really get started when he gets sworn in on December 1.
But for the UPS driver-turned-Mayor, the days will seem as long as the years:
Mayor-elect Nystrom hopes to grab a 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. shift [...]
At an event in his hometown of Stamford, he was asked about a potential candidacy for Governor, Lt. Governor Mike Fedele said that an announcement would happen soon:
… Fedele said it would be “in the very near term.”
Rumors have been circulating in the Capitol about when exactly the Lt. Governor would make such an [...]
This evening the Senate passed the motion for debate on the healthcare bill.
Here’s what Senator Dodd, who took over work on the HELP committee for his ailing friend and colleague, the late Senator Edward Kennedy, had to say:
if you’ve watched the debate here in the Senate over [...]
Sen. Joe Lieberman isn’t worried about the political consequences of his stance on health care reform:
“I don’t think about that stuff,” Lieberman told POLITICO this week. “I’m just — I’m being a legislator. After what I went through in 2006, there’s nothing much more that anybody [who] disagrees with [...]
Rick Torres decision to run for the GOP nomination in CD4 against Himes, besides not making a heck of a lot of sense, also assists Sen. Dan Debicella as he seeks the nod. Torres is from the same town, the same Bridgeport GOP “club”, as it were, as former Sen. [...]
Wow. You take a few days away from blogging to focus on the job that pays and look what you miss:
1. Hearst’s drooling front page love fest on Linda McMahon
(see “McMahon’s wealth dwarfs resources of most GOP foes”).
McMahon’s money “makes her instantaneously … a formidable candidate,” [...]
According to Dennis House, former U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Connor won’t be running for Governor in 2010:
The 42 year old Republican made the announcement tonight during a taping of WFSB’s political program, “Face the State.” O’Connor is now an attorney with the Bracewell Giuliani law firm.
In the same upcoming episode [...]
Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz has been touring the state for weeks holding ceremonies to honor veterans.
Some though, like Brian Lockhart at the Stamford Advocate, are raising questions about whether it is a proper role of the the Secretary of the State – an office charged with registering [...]
Per the Courant, Fifth Congressional District Rep. Chris Murphy is at the center of a controversy over his health care vote.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is running an advertisement criticizing his vote while a liberal-leaning health care reform group is praising the second term Congressman in a rebuttal ad.
So [...]
The comments section knows all.
State Rep. Jason Bartlett has been arrested for driving on a suspended license:
Newtown Police Sgt. Dominic Costello says Bartlett was pulled over by an officer who saw him driving while speaking on his cell phone, without a hands free device. After a short investigation, [...]
One day after the Republican contest in the Fifth Congressional District was shaken up by the announcement that State Sen. Sam Caligiuri is considering switching from the U.S. Senate race to the Congressional race, GOP candidate Justin Bernier has received to big boosts to his effort.
The Torrington Register Citizen featured [...]
“She may look like a Sunday school teacher,” Graham said, but he insists nothing could be further from the truth. “Linda McMahon’s hands are as bloody as her husband’s because she is aware of every move in the ring,” he said.
Further in the article:
An aspiring painter, Graham [...]
Aftet last week’s Quinnipiac Poll revealed continued weakness in Sen. Chris Dodd’s public standing, some commentators are reviving a drumbeat that began earlier in the year by suggesting that Mr. Dodd should strike his colors and depart the field of political battle before things get worse.
The Hartford Courant picked up this meme in [...]
First came an e-mail statement from CTGOP Chairman Chris Healy:
Over the last few weeks, State Senator Sam Caligiuri and I have discussed his candidacy for statewide office. After much thought and discussion with other leaders and activists, I have urged him to focus his energies on the Fifth Congressional district where [...]
A reminder plug for the Genghis Conn/Chris Bigelow fete tomorrow night in Hamden.
Where: Eli’s On Whitney
2392 Whitney Ave
Hamden, Connecticut 06518
Phone Number: 203-287-1101
Website: [www.elisonwhitney.com]
Directions, RSVP information, etc. is included Bob’s original post. All are welcome.
[...]Vice President Joe Biden, the man that some have called the fundraiser-in-chief, will be in Hartford on December 11th for an event to benefit Sen. Chris Dodd’s re-election campaign.
Per CTNewsJunkie:
“We expect this event to be an entertaining one, with a lot of good-natured ribbing, as well as some [...]
According to a report by ABC News, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the Stimulus) has created 25 jobs in Connecticut’s 42nd Congressional District.
In Connecticut’s 42nd District (which also does not exist), the website claims 25 jobs created with zero stimulus dollars.
Thankfully, here in Connecticut it didn’t cost any money [...]
In a discussion on health care reform on Fox News Sunday last week, Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) told Chris Wallace, “If the public option plan is in there, as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote.”
Last night over 500 people [...]
Anonymous state employees used Brian Lockhart’s piece on Lisa Moody in the Greenwich Time to take potshots at the outgoing Governor’s Chief of Staff:
“She seems to delight in keeping people, whether commissioners or her own staff, miserable. She’ll play people off against each other, especially the governor’s staff. And [...]
Ralph Nader, the consumer advocate turned perennial Presidential candidate, is reportedly considering another comeback, this time in Connecticut’s U.S. Senate race:
“You can’t believe the number of people of asking me [to run]… Right now I’d say I’m agnostic,” Nader told me earlier today, asked about rumors he’d run an independent, [...]
Jim Amann Still Gaining Steam
Per CT News Junkie, Former Speaker Jim Amann picked up another legislator endorsement yesterday from State Rep. Ryan Barry of Manchester. The money quote:
“This is the kind of guy who grabs you by the lapels in the middle of a budget crisis and says, ‘Just [...]
Quinnipiac has a new pollout this morning in the Senate race and the results are decidedly negative for Sen. Chris Dodd.
In addition t0 Dodd’s job approval rating of 40%-54%, every Republican challenger runs well against him in a head-to-head matchup. Former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons led Dodd by 11%, [...]
According to the New Haven Register, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has ruled out a run for the Governor’s mansion in 2010. Instead, he will run seek another term as AG, “because it is a job I love because it enables me to fight for people and make a difference. [...]
Don Michak of the Journal Inquirer(subscription only) had interesting piece on November 4th that got lost in the election day shuffle. Apparently, on one day last summer, GOP senate contender Rob Simmons took in nearly $105,000 of campaign cash from contributors associated with the coal industry, according to [...]
posted on the behalf of CTBob, who has kindly done the legwork in organizing this event
In appreciation of all the superb writing and amazing work he’s done with CT Local Politics, we’re planning a little get-together for Chris Bigelow.
It’s nothing fancy, just an opportunity for us to show Genghis [...]
As political gossip mavens continue to digest this morning’s Quinnipiac poll, one thing should emerge as perfectly clear: Ned Lamont, should he choose to enter the race as a candidate, is going to be a front-runner for the Democratic nomination for Governor.
Less than a week after announcing [...]
It seems that anyone who goes near a microphone at the State Capitol may be a potential gubernatorial candidate now.
CT News Junkie is reporting that Health Care activist Juan Figueroa is mulling a bid for the Democratic nomination:
Figueroa declined to comment Tuesday morning. A person familiar with the evolving [...]
And the plot thickens. The New Haven Independent reports that during a visit to the city this morning, State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, left the door open as to whether he, too, might throw his hat into the race for governor now that Jodi Rell has declared she won’t [...]
Former Speaker James Amman on Governor M. Jodi Rell’s decision not to run for re-election and how it affects his chances in the 2010 Governor’s race:
“It’s as I predicted, but no one listens to me because I’m a has-been,” Amann quipped, adding that with Rell out and Attorney General [...]
According to Roll Call, Republican Senate candidates Rob Simmons, Tom Foley and Sam Caligiuri won’t push for an August 2010 primary if they fail to capture the requisite number of delegates at the State GOP Convention.
Former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons stated that he would not pursue a primary if he [...]
Outgoing Governor M. Jodi Rell remains popular with Connecticut voters, according to a new poll released this morning by Quinnipiac University.
Rell’s public approval ratings are actually up with 64% of voters approving of the job Rell is doing. 30% disapprove of the Gov’s efforts.
Remarkably, only 33% of those polled [...]
Update by Heath, 6:41pm: Governor Jodi Rell announced at a press conference this evening that she would not run for re-election in 2010.
According to CTNewsJunkie, the Governor was near tears as she explained to reporters that she’s enjoyed her years as Governor:
“I want to thank the people of Connecticut [...]
Either by design or accident, it often seems that the political class in this state spends a considerable amount of time wondering just what the Governor will do next. With the municipal elections behind us and 2010 rapidly approaching, the parlor game “Will the Governor run for re-election?” is surging [...]
Per the Connecticut Post:
All I want is exactly what Sonia Finch, the first lady of Bridgeport, has — a law enforcement chauffeur to shuttle me where I want to go and be at my beck and call. Election night taxpayers footed the bill for the Park City’s first lady [...]
Peter Schiff launched a new campaign website last night, to coincide with a one day “money bomb” that was planned to start just after midnight.
But according to Schiff’s brother and campaign spokesman, Andrew Schiff, the website was the target of a cyber attack moments before the money [...]
Option A: The Return of Ned Lamont
“Look, I’m somebody who’s devoted his life to creating jobs, and I think I bring that perspective, an entrepreneur’s perspective, to the political discourse,” he said. “I’m going to challenge the political class. We’ve got to reform the way we do business [...]
Back in September when the State Legislature passed a budget, many people raised concern about the extent to which borrowing was relied on to make it balance. Perhaps no feature better defined this budget than borrowing $1.3 billion against “undefined future revenue streams”.
But with revenue [...]
After sleeping on Tuesday’s results, I beg to differ on Vincent’s dismissal of the NY-23 results as due to “The odd vacillations of the even-more-odd Dede Scozzafava” leading to “a win by a walking, talking mediocrity,” because I think this has a clear implications for one of the [...]
Okay, this is the end of the line for me; my last post here.
I’m not one to make a lengthy goodbye. I’ve said all I ever wanted to say and more on this site over the past five years… but before I go I want to thank all of the [...]
2006 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Ned Lamont will take the first step toward running for Governor according to the New Haven Independent.
Lamont planned to start informing past supporters of his move Wednesday morning, a day after the polls closed on the 2009 municipal elections and attention officially turns [...]
That Republicans would have a decent night last night was a foregone conclusion — out-parties usually do the year after a Presidential cycle.
And it wasn’t unremittingly positive, either. The odd vacillations of the even-more-odd Dede Scozzafava in NY-23 led to a win by a walking, talking mediocrity. But on the [...]
11:00: Final update. Republicans have a lot of reasons to be optimistic tonight, and I think CT Bob makes an important point–Democrats need to figure out what’s going on if they want to have any hope of retaining their supermajority next year. It’s hard to translate local election gains [...]
Okay, it’s 8pm and polls are now closed.
Races I’m watching: New Britain, Middletown, Newington, Danbury, East Haven and others.
Results will trickle in sooner or later. Stay tuned.
[...]
At the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, it is said that a woman shouted a question at Benjamin Franklin: “Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”
To which Mr. Franklin replied, “A republic, madame, if you can keep it.”
It’s Election Day [...]
A few more long-winded predictions about CT races from yours truly, just because
Governor
Is Jodi Rell running? Is she not running? Hell, I don’t know. We’ll find out soon. Well, you’ll find out soon, I intend to be hiding in a politics-proof bunker somewhere. Ha!
This race is hard to see, right [...]
Liberal Hartford Statewide_News
saramerica, Heath, Genghis Conn, ATalbot, Vincent
