R.I.P. John Orman

Rest in Peace (4.00 / 4)

Not sure what else to say.  Dr. Orman will be missed.

|Spazeboy.net|Spazeboy's Guide to Political Videoblogging|

---

by: spazeboy @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 17:13:19 PM CDT

Such Sad News (4.00 / 1)

Our own Sue wrote about John Orman's one woman play "Helen Keller Speaks" in March. It was a benefit reading for the American Foundation for the Blind. Very interesting woman, and John's research and dedication to bringing back to light the progressive work and mind and words of this American Icon was very powerful.

I will always be grateful to John for opening my eyes.

"I am not a Blogger...But I play one on the internet."

---

by: tessa @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 17:32:42 PM CDT

I JUST saw this in the Courant - I can't believe it (4.00 / 1)

http://blogs.courant.com/capit...

I took out the word 'the' so they can't sue me:

John M. Orman, a well-known political science professor at Fairfield University who considered running for the U.S. Senate in 2005 against incumbent Joseph I. Lieberman, died suddenly on Sunday night.

Orman was one of *** university's best-known professors as he was widely quoted in newspapers around the state, along with national television outlets like CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and National Public Radio. His death was announced Monday by the university, where he had been a teacher since 1978.

In line with his mantra of telling his students to get involved in politics, Orman ran as a Democrat for the U.S. Congress in 1984 against longtime incumbent Rep. Stewart McKinney, a powerhouse at the time in Fairfield County politics. McKinney won, as usual, but Orman gained enough publicity that he was quoted even more often on political races in the coming years. After his defeat, Orman invited McKinney to speak to his students in class.

Two decades later, Orman considered running against Lieberman in 2005 - before throwing his support to little-known Greenwich entrepreneur Ned Lamont, whose campaign generated national attention by defeating Lieberman in the August 2006 primary. Lamont, a former member of Greenwich's board of selectmen and 12-member Board of Estimate and Taxation, then lost to Lieberman in the general election.

As the chairman of the political science department at Fairfield, Orman authored or co-authored five books, including "Celebrity Politics'' that was written with a Brown University professor, Darrell West. Orman was once named the "Teacher of the Year'' at Fairfield, and his classes included examinations of the U.S. Congress, the Presidency, public opinion, and policy-making, among others.

Still seeking new challenges after more than 30 years in teaching, Orman recently traveled to the Ukraine to deliver lectures about the 2008 presidential election of Democrat Barack Obama. While there, he participated in interviews on Radio Free Europe Ukraine and the Vatican radio station.

For some reason I was thinking about him today - and the play he composed Helen Keller's later works. What a powerful statement that was...

---

by: Sue @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 17:55:13 PM CDT

A compilation of some of his work: (4.00 / 5)

(I've probably missed a few)

Dr. Orman with Jane Hamsher of FireDoglake.com in New Haven:

"Helen Keller Speaks" A staged reading of a one woman play

Helen Keller Speaks

The New CFL Party Rules (the party is signed over, 2009) and here again.

(DailyKos edition)

Connecticut for Lieberman Party on Fox News

(DailyKos edition)

Notice of statewide CFL Meeting (March, 2008)

(DailyKos edition)

Joe Lieberman registers as a Democrat in Stamford (2007)

Joe's Petition is fine with me (2007)

The CFL Chair has a question on our 1 year anniversary

(DailyKos edition)

CFL Chair calls for Lieberman's resignation (2007)

The Official CFL Letter to Sen. Lieberman (2007)

Connecticut for Lieberman Minutes )2007)

(DailyKos edition)

Bar in New Haven at the Ned Lamont 'thank you' party.

CFL Party receives Cease and Desist Order (2007)

Announcing the CFL Rally (2007)

(DailyKos edition

CFL Holds its First Meeting (2006)

John has left a rich and vibrant history to for us, his students and his family. I'll miss you, MC Doc O.  

---

by: Sue @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 20:10:27 PM CDT

So sorry to hear of his passing (0.00 / 0)

I listened to him speak at a Greenwich DTC meeting, and he was humorous, self-deprecating, yet courageous.  He stood up for principle, and for the right principles.

He will be missed.

---

by: thomashooker @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 22:03:33 PM CDT

I have a favorite photo of my wedding... (4.00 / 1)

It's an arty one in stunning black and white. My wife and I are dancing our first dance and are in sharp focus; the folks in the background are slightly blurry but you can tell that everyone has a smile. Over against the wall is John Orman, drink in hand, sharing in our happiness. It has sat on a shelf in our living room for years. I looked upon it in a different light this evening. It has now taken on an even more special place in our home.

This news is so stunning and unnerving. He was a family friend and all around excellent person. Here's to keeping his legacy alive and vital.

---

by: kwhitehead @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 22:54:25 PM CDT

RIP John Orman (0.00 / 0)

A Rock and Roll Historian with Chutzpah

My small interview with him from April 2005...

http://www.the40yearplan.com/a...

---

by: ken_krayeske @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 06:29:50 AM CDT

This just made the rec'd list at DailyKos (0.00 / 0)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/...

---

by: Sue @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 07:09:04 AM CDT

Well, it was as on the rec list for a second - (0.00 / 0)

but I think when I posted it I destroyed DailyKos.

I knew I had this technology black cloud problem. Sorry, Kos.  

---

by: Sue @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 08:32:39 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

He will be greatly missed (0.00 / 0)

So smart and warm and a great sense of humor, something that is too often missing in political discourse.

What a strong message he gave to his students - "Don't be a bystander in the political process" and he lived by example.

It's a message I try to give to my kids, and we owe it to him to try and pass that message on to all the young'uns we know.

---

by: saramerica @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 08:48:13 AM CDT

A great person - a sad passing. (0.00 / 0)

His students loved him and I never met anyone who didn't respect him. Most political consultants can't stand hearing 'political science professors' pontificate and give their academic opinion on real-world issues. John Orman was a big exception to that rule. I would seek out his advice. I guest-lectured to many of his classes and looked forward to it far in advance because of the great conversations John and I would have beforehand. They were ALWAYS a treat and they will be missed greatly.

Thanks for everything, John.

---

by: famillionaire @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 08:58:33 AM CDT

Sad news indeed (4.00 / 1)

Here is Professor Orman a couple of weeks ago, speaking at a Seniors Center on the 37th anniversary of the Watergate break-in.

And one with saramamerica, from 2007.

---

by: Scarce @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 09:12:41 AM CDT

does anyone know what happened? (0.00 / 0)

John will be greatly missed.  60 is too young!

---

by: Kim Hynes @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 12:51:15 PM CDT

Just saw this on NPR/CT Public Broadcasting... (0.00 / 0)

http://www.cpbn.org/article/jo...

Orman was a political science professor at Fairfield University who was a regular "quote machine" for cable TV news, local reporters and public radio.  You knew that if nobody else was available to talk politics on deadline, John Orman would be there.  He was a guest panelist for our coverage of a key debate at Fairfield University between incumbent Congressman Chris Shays and newcomer (and eventual winner) Jim Himes. He most recently appeared on Where We Live when we talked about Connecticut as "Corrupticut" - a place of intractable political corruption.  

A colleague told WNPR that Orman got his students so excited about politics that many of them ran for office.  He ran himself against incumbent Congressman Stewart McKinney in 1984, and lost.  But he made his biggest mark during the widely-followed Lieberman/Lamont race in 2006.

After briefly running as a challenger to Liebeman himself, he threw his support behind Lamont, only to see his candidate win the primary and lose to a newly "Independent" Joe in the general election.  In actuality, the Senator's invented party affilation wasn't "Independent," it was "Connecticut for Lieberman."  

Orman, with a showman's touch and timing, seized the opportunity, joined the "party," became "chairman" and used the platform to blast Lieberman's policies.  But, he wouldn't have used the word "blast."  He said he did it to be a "watchdog," and he became a darling of the liberal blogs that nearly took Lieberman down.  
John Orman - photo by Chion Wolf

Orman was known for a civil tone, never adopting the name-calling style that has permeated political talk.  He was an educator, he cared about politics, and he thought he could do something to make change. We asked Lieberman for a comment, and he put out this statement: "While he and I had our political differences, I always respected John's intelligence and his passionate citizenship."

---

by: Sue @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 16:44:50 PM CDT

This is a first (4.00 / 1)

I've NEVER seen anybody get an editorial written about them after death. This is in today's CT Post:

http://www.connpost.com/editor...
A thorn in the side of the powerful

John Orman wasn't one to keep his passions confined to the classroom.

The well-loved Fairfield University professor, who died this week at 60, extended his life's work into the thick of the political arena. He delighted in exposing hypocrisy, and taught his students the value of taking an active role in issues that matter. He will be sorely missed.

Orman was best known for his public jousting with Sen. Joe Lieberman, who, it must be said, has been known to make himself a ripe target.

It started in 2000, when Lieberman insisted on hedging his bets by running for re-election to the Senate in addition to the vice presidency. Orman filed a formal complaint, reasoning, not illogically, that such a course was not in the best interests of the senator's constituents.

As Lieberman drifted rightward over the past decade, Orman upped his criticisms, even weighing a primary challenge. But it was the shenanigans over Lieberman's contingency plan, the hastily formed Connecticut for Lieberman line the senator ran on following his 2006 loss to Ned Lamont, that gave Orman a spate of national attention.

It didn't make much sense -- then or now -- how a primary loser could form a party with no members and run as its standard bearer. It was legal, and ultimately successful, but to many made a mockery of our electoral process (why bother holding the primary at all?). Orman took up the mantle of the disgusted by switching his political affiliation to Lieberman's all-but-mythical party -- becoming the first person in the state to do so.

It was funny, it was pointed, but, most importantly, it was a lesson to anyone paying attention that politics is not a matter for textbooks and historic documents. It's a living process, and one that requires constant watch to keep honest.

His loss is a significant one.

---

by: Sue @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 05:25:54 AM CDT

Future of the CFL Party (0.00 / 0)

The liberal takeover of the CT for Lieberman Party was one of John's great legacies, but what is to become of the party, now that John is gone?

The most valuable asset of the CFL Party is its access to the ballot line for US Senator. In order to preserve this ballot access, the party must run a candidate in 2010. If it waits until 2012, it will lose access and will have to mount a petition drive in order to regain the line.

So what of 2010? While Dodd has not become quite the conservative that Lieberman is, there are still good reasons to challenge his re-election. James Lavin presents some of these arguments on his blog, http://www.jameslavin.com:

No matter Sen. Dodd's motives, his strong and unwavering support for paperless electronic voting played an instrumental role in election thefts this decade, including the 2004 presidential election.

and:

No one was better positioned to understand the dangers or empowered to prevent them than Senate Banking Chairman Dodd. And when problems first appeared, instead of addressing them, he moved to Iowa and launched a presidential campaign.

It doesn't matter whether Dodd was simply ignorant of the massive risks banks were taking or seduced by power and money. He failed, and America and Connecticut will pay a dear price for decades to come.

Will John Mertens or another member of the CFL Party run for Senate in 2010?

---

by: ribicoff @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 13:14:20 PM CDT

Interesting question (0.00 / 0)

I think it'd be valuable as an accountability tool, though of course there isn't anything outlined that would give a candidate an idea of what they'd need to do to earn CFL's endorsement. Is CFL really going to go single issue over paperless voting? I mean, that's not really my business, it just seems to me that there should be a process where those questions are hashed out. I'd love for it to be another WFP -- not so much another Green Party.  

–7.25 / –7.28

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

---

by: mattw @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 14:03:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ideally, In Keeping With Its Founding Principles (and Principals) (0.00 / 0)

CFL should nominate the Republican primary candidate most likely to draw away votes from the eventual Republlican winner and split the Republican vote. Making hay by citing the candidate as closest to the principles of our illustious namesake, of course.

Such a nomination would continue the theater of the absurd that CFL stands for, and have some practical use as well.

---

by: Jon Kantrowitz @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 14:53:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Give the ballot line to Peter Schiff... (0.00 / 0)

What could be more obvious?

---

by: AndersonScooper @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 16:46:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]