Senator Dodd on TV

[connecticut yankee]

I just received this message and thought I'd pass it along --

"In our continuing effort to make you aware of Senator Dodd's national media appearances, we wanted to let you know he will be appearing this Sunday, March 13th at 12:00 noon EST on CNN's Wolf Blitzer Reports with Senator Trent Lott (R-MS). The topics of discussion will be Social Security, bankruptcy, gasoline prices and the Middle East."

edited for spelling

[CTyankee]

1. Hi there

from another connecticut yankee! What part of the state are you in? I live in the Westville section of New Haven (about 5 blocks from Joe Lieberman's house).

[madinmaryland]

2. Wow! Are you folks twins?

I moved from CT last year after 20+ years.

[connecticut yankee]

3. Hi, yourself

I'm from Fairfield. I've been active in local politics for many years. I lived in Westport until three years ago.

:hi:

[danalytical]

4. One more hello

Hello, I'm from Newington CT just outside Hartford. I am not active other than voting, making a point to discuss politics with others, and keeping up on the political news. interesting note: My grandfather was the mayor of Groton and head of the Groton democratic committee back in the 60's.

[NewJeffCT]

6. Hi, I just moved from Newington

We moved to Ellington so my wife could be closer to work. We miss the convenience of Newington, though. We lived right off of Rte 175 - so, we had easy access to Route 9, the Berlin Turnpike & 84.

[CTyankee]

5. Fairfield? That lovely area of Greenfield Hills?

Beautiful dogwood festival there.

But I do love New Haven. It is a great city!

Who do you like for governor to run against Rell?

[connecticut yankee]

7. Yes

we live in Greenfield Hill. We moved here from Westport, just one half mile away, because we wanted to downsize and there are no smaller houses left in Westport. It's quickly becoming "McMansion Alley." We live within walking distance of the Dogwood Festival.

We go to the theater in New Haven, but not much more. There's so much going on in this area!

I'd like Dick Blumenthal to run for Governor. I've hoped he would do so for many years -- he's committed, dedicated and extremely attractive. Unfortunately, he's afraid to take a chance and lose the AG spot.

I never liked Bill Curry. I voted for him because the alternative was Rowland. If Curry ran against Rell, I'd probably vote for her.

[CTyankee]

8. I love Dick Blumenthal

He is very progressive and relentlessly prochoice. He has appeared at fundraisers for Planned Parenthood and spoke very strongly on behalf of reproductive rights.

How did you feel about Diane Farrell who ran so strongly against Chris Shays. I know a number of people in Fairfield County who supported Shays in the past but voted for her. I think she is a rising star. I wonder what's next for her?

I voted for Bill Curry because I knew stuff about John Rowland that would make your hair curl. But I don't know that much about Curry. I would vote for him because I don't want any more Republicans in office, anywhere. It's nice to support a moderate woman like Rell, but I have come to mistrust all Republicans. These so called moderates allowed the right wingers to take over their party.

[NewJeffCT]

9. On Rell

It's been pretty quiet on the Rell controversy front, though there are a few things that should have hurt her... (I think mainly because most of the newspapers are Republican run in this state.)

The Rowland scandals were just so bad that even the RW newspapers couldn't ignore them, and Rowland did sort of challenge the right of center Hartford Courant when first running for governor - so, they kind of kept after him.

On Rell, she imposed a hiring freeze for state employees, except in the most dire of emergencies. However, post-freeze, three Rell cronies got pretty cushy state jobs. I think one crony got a part time job running the governor's mansion for close to 6 figures. (It was in the Courant a few weeks back)

And, not sure why this is not big news, but Rell also proposed eliminating the estate tax in Connecticut - a move that would cost the state $180 million in revenue when we have more than a $1 billion shortfall to make up... I guess Martha Stewart needs to be able to pass on her estate tax free.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

10. Rell

SHe doesn't seem to be sucking up to the national repug party. She didn't go the the governors conference in DC last month and is now chiding Bush for not naming someone from the Northeast to the panel that will decide which bases to close.

BTW - did Johnny Boy get sentenced? I thought I read that it would happen this week and he would find out how long he will be cleaning toilets

[NewJeffCT]

11. I think sentencing is Thursday or Friday

I was happy at Rell's stem cell proposal, though it doesn't go nearly far enough, and the fact that she said she would sign the civil unions bill.

But, I do think she is playing this down home charm thing to the hilt when she was Johnny Rowland's right hand woman for 10 years. I mean, come on, was she THAT out of the loop? I don't think so.

[connecticut yankee]

12. I'm not a big fan of Diane Farrell's

She's beautiful, charming and knows how to say the things people like to hear.

But I think her greatest strength is self-promotion. I certainly don't think she's qualified to be Governor or a Congressperson. In fact, I voted for Chris Shays.

Nonetheless, she will go far in politics -- she's spent a lot of time running around buttering up the powers that be.

[CTyankee]

13. I'm not sure I heard you tell me evidence of her incompetence

You might have info because you lived in Westport during her tenure, right?

I don't have that much enmity towards Shays but I would never vote for him. He did distinguish himself in the Shiavo case this weekend.

[NewJeffCT]

14. what did Shays say regarding Schiavo?

I did not hear...

[connecticut yankee]

16. He voted against the proposal

This was in WestportNow.com. Please read the last two paragraphs carefully. It will give you an indication of the true measure of this man.

Shays Votes Against Schiavo Measure

Rep. Christopher Shays, who met with Westport Republicans Sunday afternoon, returned to Washington later in the day and was among those who voted early today against legislation that would allow a federal court to intervene in the case of Terri Schiavo.

The measure passed by a vote of 203 to 58. Shays was among five Republicans who joined with 53 Democrats in opposing the legislation.

"My heart goes out to Terri Schiavo, her parents, and family, and, yes, even to her husband," Shays said in a statement today.

"My heart goes out to everyone who may have found themselves in a similar situation in the past or might find themselves in a similar situation in the future.

"I wanted to stay back in Connecticut and avoid having to cast a vote because I do not want to play God, and either way I vote I feel I am.

"We all know this is a time for real thoughtfulness and wisdom and inspiration, and I believe that is what we are all trying to do.

"On both sides of the aisle we ask 'Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.'

"Sanctity of life, sanctity of marriage, sanctity of an individual to decide for themselves what should happen to their own life, I find myself wondering why is there so much focus on this life when we ignore the countless lives throughout the world who die minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day from hunger and disease that this Congress could address and this Congress could prevent? Why only Terri when there are others like her in our country?

"The only way this bill has any legitimacy is if it applies to all cases, not just Terri's, and that is what concerns me. How deep is this Congress going to reach? How deep is this Congress going to reach into the personal lives of each and every one of us?"

[ProgressiveConn]

19. I like Shays but Bush needs to be Impeached in 2006

So Shays has gotta go. A vote for Shays is a vote against John Conyers getting to Impeach Bush.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

15. Jesus Christ, I voted for Farrell! We need that seat!

It's a blue seat and we need it. Do you wany Delay and Co in power forever??? :wtf: I don't! I want Democrats in charge.

[connecticut yankee]

17. You'd need about 12 others

to get a Democratic majority.

Meanwhile, I think Shays can do a lot more for Connecticut. He's a good person, and the Repukes call him a RINO.

[NewJeffCT]

18. yes

But, you have to do it one seat at a time and if we can beat Shays and Rob Simmons, we're 2 seats closer to doing it.

[CTyankee]

20. Recently, I haven't kept up with Rob Simmons

I had thought he would be more strongly prochoice since his wife had had a late term abortion, very sad situation.

I'm still interested in knowing what is so bad, Connecticut Yankee, with Diane Farrell. What did she do when she was in office in Westport that makes you so down on her? You know, we've got to get more articulate, attractive, prochoice, progressive women in office. These women work hard for the right thing to do. Now more than ever, we need them!

[connecticut yankee]

21. I agree

that she's articulate and attractive.

But I've always felt she's much more style than substance.

I really don't wish to discuss this any further, if you don't mind. Not on a public forum.