The ALL NEW Connecticut for Lieberman Party

by: Sue

Fri Aug 27, 2010 at 18:00:40 PM EDT

(Reno 911 police officers preparing to attend the Burning Man Festival.)

For Immediate Release:
U.S. Senate candidate John Mertens attending Burning Man

John Mertens, U.S. Senate candidate in Connecticut, will attend Burning Man, an annual event held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada next week. The event is described by many participants as an experiment in community, radical self-expression through art, and radical self-reliance. It will be the sixth time Mertens has attended.

Rare is the political aspirant who touts his attendance at an event that has been called "the greatest party on Earth."

But Thursday, John Mertens of West Hartford did just that.

Kind of an odd publicity stunt from an earnest candidate who advocates for election campaigns that are about "ideas and solutions to problems" and laments the circus atmosphere of modern politics -- right?

In case Dr. Mertens needs some help with his attire, here are some classic Burning Man fashions:

and ~

and ~

Hmmmm....

Alternate CT festivals during the same time frame Dr. Mertens could have chosen:

Meet the Artists & Artisans Labor Day Show -- Mystic, CT
September 4, 2010 to September 6, 2010
Beneath the shades of the apple trees this 60 award-winning exhibitor show features national award winning artists and artisans.

or

Prudence Crandall Day -- Canterbury
September 4, 2010
Celebrate the birthday of Connecticut's State Female Hero with craft demonstrations on the lawn, period music, self guided tours of the museum and a theatrical performance by Young Audiences of Connecticut

Connecticut Bob also has some thoughts on Dr. Merten's trip,  but this cat sums it up for me: