Thought For Today

Branford Boy Is Why Lamont Will Not Win (0.00 / 0)

Branford Boy is just one reason Ned Lamont is going to get crushed in the primary by working class Democrats. The blind rage about the war (however justified) does not/will not give Lamont the right to attack Democrats who spend every day fighting for working families and people of color in CT. Below find a letter from the head of the AFL-CIO supporting Mayor Perez (attacked by Branford Boy earlier this week) for his willingness to stand up to corporate interests. Lamont is worth over $90 million. Who is he going to support once he is in office?

***********************************************************

Rather than attack Mayor Eddie Perez for standing up for unions and good jobs for his constituents, Mayor Tim Stewart of New Britain should muster the courage to emulate his Hartford counterpart’s leadership.

Mayor Perez has that rare quality in elected officials of actually standing up and supporting the people who elect him. Rather than roll over for the corporate special interests who hold profits above paying their workers a living wage, Mayor Perez encourages workers to join unions and create better working conditions for themselves.

The City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut have invested well over $1 billion in Adrien’s Landing, a project which includes the Connecticut Convention Center. The city and the state should expect that the operators of these new facilities create good paying jobs with health benefits. Union membership can help create these jobs and give workers a voice in the process. It is not a new concept in America that anyone who works for a living should be able, at a minimum, to provide a living for themselves and their families. The city and the state should accept nothing less for their $1 billion investment.

I applaud Mayor Eddie Perez for his courage and dedication to the people of Hartford and the State of Connecticut. Encouraging the creation of good paying jobs with health benefits should be the goal of every elected official in this state including Mayor Stewart of New Britain.

Respectfully,

John W. Olsen

Rocky Hill
 

---

by: TruedemocratCT @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 21:54:09 PM CDT

Dog, True Democrats don't befriend (4.00 / 1)

Hate-mongers like Sean Hannity. They don't turn to William Buckley for support. And they don't back up George Bush.

And for the record, Lamont is one of the few people that I trust not to sell me, and the working class out.

Joe Lieberman's wife is a corporate lobbyist.

Joe was the only Senator from the region to vote for Bush's energy bill. (even RI and NH Republicans voted against it!)

Joe hasn't explained his vote to confirm Attorney General Alberto, "Torture is Legal" Gonzales. Joe was only one of six Democrats to vote "aye". Out of the other five, four were up for re-election in red states, and the other was Salazar from Colorado, who I believe was our first Latino Senator.

Joe voted for CAFTA, even after NAFTA proved to be a mistake.

Joe lobbied for the Iraq Invasion, even before 9/11.

Joe sold women out by rolling over on the Alito confirmation, ETC.

---

by: TrueBlueCT @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 22:11:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

P.S. Since your trying to steal my moniker... (0.00 / 0)

Will you agree to a debate here, say Sunday night at 8:00pm?

My guess is that you are just another chicken-hawk.

---

by: TrueBlueCT @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 22:12:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Cool.. another Liebertroll (4.00 / 1)

You guys are really coming out the woodwork lately.

I especially liked your line

Lamont is worth over $90 million. Who is he going to support once he is in office?

Who do you think Joe Lieberman is working for anyway? Let me count the dollars he's racking up from out-of-state, large donors (nearly 80% now). Or the money from PAC's (over a cool $1,000,000). Let us ask ourselves what the good Senator was thinking when Republican lobbyists came calling with promises of fundraising efforts? Even Robert Novak had to chuckle over something so obvious.

Yes, I'm sure Ned Lamont is gleefully looking at his Senate run to grow still richer, in the mold of say a Dick Cheney.

Newsflash for you Lieberfolk: this is not about the Iraq War. This is about Joe Lieberman's record, what it is he thinks he's doing in the Senate, and who he really represents. It is clearly not working class Democrats. How would you explain his support of Bush's energy bill, which gave away billions in tax breaks to the big oil companies? Or Bush's bankruptcy bill, which makes it much harder to declare bankruptcy and more onerous for someone to repay their debt?

It really is astounding the level of duplicity you folk will  go through to try and justify your support.

As the primary date draws closer I imagine we'll see more of you people, especially as panic sets in and the you begin to realize the awkward predicament you're in.

I suppose the only thing we can be greatful for at myleftnutmeg is that you're not calling yourself Harry Reid or Barack Obama.

---

by: Scarce @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 22:27:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

and the name of your home planet is? (4.00 / 3)

1. what has Perez have to do with Lamont?
   
2. When was Joe Lieberman a "working class" anything? From what I can tell he was a well paid attorney for a short while and has lived the rest of his life on our tax dollars. Now, I have no problem paying my tax dollars for someone who accomplishes something, but his greatest accomplishment to date seems to have been the Clinton censure.

   In terms of what else he has supported, lets see if you support what he does.

   
   
   • You believe the Condi Rice should be Sec. of State since she did such a great job as the head of national security.
     
   • You believe that torture is an American value and that they Attorney General (the head law enforcement officer in America) should be a man who beives that, and believes that the Geneva Convention is quaint and antiquated.
     
   • You believe that even though there have been 27 reasons given for going to war with Iraq, that any of them was a good reason, even if the facts supporting that reason have been debunked as lies.
     
   • You can't think of anything better to spend $250 million dollars of our treasury on every day
     
   • You think that social security should be made into a risky investment program to benefit Wall Street rather than an insurance plan that it is today
     
   • You think giving tax breaks to the wealthiest 1% of Americans is more important than providing basic preventitive heathcare to the millions that are forced to use emergency services as their basic healthcare provider
     
   • The fact that billions has been given to the President and Vice-Presidents friends and contributors in no-bid contracts, and that they have failed to provide the services paid for, or underprovided these services, well that doesn't deserve investigation and we should pay the friends and contributors from the treasury even though they have failed.
     
   • That consensual oral sex between two adults is bad but spying on Americans in violation of FISA and the IV Amendment is something we have to support
     
   • That Cheney's energy policy that was written by the energy industry to benefit the energy industry, was good legislation for the rest of America,
     
   • That it is to the benfit of Americans to ensure that they can never get out of their debts via bankruptcy.
     
   • That Brownie was a great pick to head FEMA
     
   • That Chertoff is a great pick to head the DHS
     
   • That Roberts was a great pick for the SCOTUS
     
   • That Alito was a great pick for the SCOTUS
     
   • That the job of a Democrat is to support President Bush and keep their differences of opinion and policy to themselves.
     

   Of course, you support all of these Lieberman positions, which is why you are so sure that Lamont won't connect with the voters. Because you believe that these positions are good positions. In fact, whenever you go out to tell people that they should support Lieberman, you make sure you list these as the reason why.

3. You think that Joe Lieberman should just ignore this silly primary thing and just run as an Independent because he doesn't need to be a part of a party that would actually pick someone for his seat in the Senate other than Joe, since Joe knows what's best.

so, tell me again, just why you support Lieberman.

The question is not what you are, we already determined that, we are now negotiating price.
electrealdemocrats.com Online since 3/07 -- TimetogoJoe.com Online s

---

by: Met00 @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 22:36:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

And let me add Joe's signature accomplishment (0.00 / 0)

The Department of Homeland Security.

Bush originally rejected it, but Joe persevered.

Now its a great jobs program for former Bush campaigners.  A great source of $ for Haliburton and mobile home companies.

And seeing the results of his efforts, what does Joe propose?  Another reshuffle of the organization chart, sure to delay any chance of emergency help for a while longer, and provide more employment for more political hacks.

Without Joe's seniority, we can look forward to less of these dubious accomplishments in the future.

because Connecticut voters count: http://www.CTVotersCount.org

---

by: BlastFromGlast @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 07:21:13 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

WHAT DOES LAMONT STAND FOR??? (0.00 / 0)

The only fact we know about Lamont is that he is worth $90-$300 million and that if he had been a senator he would have voted against the war. Any clue what else he stands for?

---

by: TruedemocratCT @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 22:21:55 PM CDT

Please. (4.00 / 3)

Yes, in fact, we know exactly what he stands for. And the rest of CT would too if Joe wasn't scared to death of debating him.

Ned stands for national health care. Joe does not.
Ned stands for privacy. Joe does not.
Ned stands for reproductive rights. Joe says its a short drive to another hospital.
Ned stands for equal marriage rights. Joe says homosexuality is wrong.
Ned stands for withdrawl from Iraq. Joe stands with Bush.

Plain and simple, this is a desperate last ditch effort by Joe. This is borderline pathetic.

---

by: ATalbot @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 22:31:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Most of us have met him. (4.00 / 3)

Don't say "we" when you mean "you."  Or more likely the mythical "low information voters" Sean Smith is so enamored of.

You might listen to Lamont speak sometime, that will give you a good indication of what he stands for.

Ned stands for fiscal responsibility.  By far the largest component of any of the speeches I've heard has to do with this topic, from the "bridge to nowhere" to earmarks to the crooked lobbying establishment in DC.

Ned stands for the Constitution.  The founders of our republic despised the authoritarian governments growing in Europe at that time, and the idea of Absolute Monarchy.  So does Ned, and he realizes the danger posed by bogus legal principles like the "unitary executive."

Ned stands for the right to privacy.  The Terry Schiavo case and the need to keep Republicans and extremist judges out of our bedrooms and hospital is another pivotal part of his speech.

I believe from my conversations with him that Ned stands for working men and women too.  I wish he would make that appeal also a central part of his stump speech, but so far he hasn't.  Nevertheless I think he will be a good champion for our interests and the value of work over wealth.  Unlike Joe Lieberman, who was busy parroting the administration talking points about how Social Security was in imminent crisis, implying that we had better let King George fix it.  You know, just because he's worth a hundred mil or so doesn't mean he won't be on our side.  FDR did more for the American working class than any other president, and he was far wealthier in relative terms than Lamont.

If you are honestly asking what Ned is about, I'd encourage you to get out to an event and talk to him face-to-face.  He is very approachable, and genuine.  I know plenty of politicians say one thing and do another, but Ned is not really a politician, at least not of that stripe.  Meet him and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Of course, there is every possibility that you are not being honest at all with your posts here.  In which case you're barking up the wrong tree looking for low-info voters here.  We're the people who are pumping out the high-info sunlight.  We're going to take your low-information voters away from you and make them high-info, high-energy voters.

---

by: D for Demsbetta @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 23:26:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

One more thing re: Labor (0.00 / 0)

I forgot to mention that every single union member I talked to at the State Convention was solidly supporting Lamont.  That means a lot to me, FWIW.

---

by: D for Demsbetta @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 23:30:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Go here: (0.00 / 0)

http://nedlamont.com/issues

---

by: terhuxtim @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 22:33:28 PM CDT

An actual on-topic rant to follow... (4.00 / 2)

WTF is up with the campaign scheduling what should be a massive kick-off rally in the MIDDLE OF A WORKDAY with less than one week's notice?!?!?!?!

Hello???????????  DFA?  MoveOn?  Lamont campaign?

People have JOBS.  Look back at successful efforts to have online activism generate huge in-person rallies: most successful case in point, the Sleepless Summer Tour of the Dean campaign.  First massive rally with 400 people?  Held on a SATURDAY.  With AMPLE NOTICE.  So people who have jobs could actually attend.  Other rallies, ones that fell on weekdays, were held in the EVENING.  Once again, so people who have JOBS could come.

Sorry for the snarky caps, but this is REALLY frustrating and not the first time that what could have been a major Lamont even was held with little notice in the middle of a workday. 

---

by: Maura @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 23:22:25 PM CDT

Correction (0.00 / 0)

I meant to type 4000 people, not 400.

---

by: Maura @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 23:22:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

And you're absolutely right on this (0.00 / 0)

But scheduale these things is really difficult on the short notice that was given.Jim Deans travel and event Schedule is nuts and with less than 70 days until the Primary Everything is going to be nuts.

These things are for the Media and I think the Smarter thing to do at nights and weekends is get Ned in front of voters who haven't seen or heard him instead of Media events.

I share your frustration  but sometimes reality sucks and not  staff or tactics that do.

---

by: ctkeith @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 23:34:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yes - scheduling is crazy! (0.00 / 0)

Maura - I apologize, but I didn't have the reins on this one.  Between coordinating Jim as well as the MoveOn folks, our choices were very limited.  Plus, the holes in the schedule seemed to shrink dramatically after the convention, now that everyone has realized that Ned is actually going to win!  Can you come to the NYC event Monday night?  It won't be that late an evening, and it will be ALOT of fun.  Let me know if you need transport.

---

by: Kim Hynes @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 07:34:09 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

MAURA... (0.00 / 0)

Just for the record, I am happy to be the CRITIC...

Semd me an email, and I promise to rant away, as the designated bad guy. No need for us all to TARNISH ourselves out of SHEER FRUSTRATION.

---

by: TrueBlueCT @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 23:52:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Tarnish? (0.00 / 0)

Whatchoo talkin' bout, Willis?  There ain't no tarnish on me.  There's a shine you can see from a mile away, baby!

I just want this campaign to be as participatory as possible, and mid-day workday is not welcoming to most Lamont supporters.

---

by: Maura @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 00:12:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Tarnish is on me.... (0.00 / 0)

Late night blogging can be risky...

I kind of remember going off on a campaign person 48 hours ago. Something about being right, but at the same time wrong? sigh.

---

by: TrueBlueCT @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 00:59:07 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Or... (0.00 / 0)

potentially wrong, and at the same time wrong.

Hard to know, but still uncomfortable about Bush's favorite Democrat being welcomed into a Stamford living room...

---

by: TrueBlueCT @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 01:11:25 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree, sorta (4.00 / 1)

I know how you feel, maura. I really wanted to come out to support Ned for his official announcement, but I couldn't. I realize, like you, I was frustrated because I really, really wanted to do something for the campaign.

But CT Keith is right; it's important to have people there, but it's also important to be able to get the story into the media, where people will watch it on television. Bush releases his bad news on Friday night for a reason. Nobody is paying attention.

That said, New Haven is probably the best place to have this thing. New Haven is full of progressives who can take a long lunch break to come out in support of Ned.

And the good news is that even if you can't make it Thursday, there is still plenty, plenty of stuff you can do over the weekend and in your community to support Ned. Best of luck, and I hope to run into you at a meeting or an event or at victoy celebration August 8th.

Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. - L. Cohen

---

by: inkadu @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 07:15:44 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Weeknights are better... (4.00 / 1)

...than Saturdays; some people have to go sailing, you know! 

Yeah, I agree that a Thursday nooner for this thing is hugely inconvenient, but I'm going to try to make it.  I was terribly disappointed to have to miss the NOW endorsement up in Hartford last month, so I'll make every effort to be there Thursday (work permitting) with my video camera.

And Thursday will be exactly 2 months until the primary.  We're going to need to kick this into high gear!

Bob

Connecticut Bob

---

by: Bob Adams @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 07:34:05 AM CDT

[ Parent ]