Happy 2010?
Photo credit: Photo by Steve Kotchko
Posted 12/28/09
As is our wont on this web peregrination through the world of politics at this time of year, your trusty correspondent would like to offer some “suggested” New Year’s resolutions for Connecticut politicians as we prepare for a new decade:
Gov. Jodi Rell: “I promise to stifle that pesky Cheshire Cat grin whenever I am in negotiations with lawmakers this year.” Rell, who’s not seeking reelection, has endured many negotiating sessions. However, in 2010, whenever legislators bicker, procrastinate, or otherwise annoy in Rell’s presence, the Governor can daydream about 2011,when she will be out of office, and hopefully sipping a cool drink at a vacation spot while lawmakers dither like they do.
Sn. Joe Lieberman: “I will take a trip in Mr. Peabody’s Wayback (aka WABAC) Machine to the year 1978 when I was Majority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate.” If Joe could go back in time in one of America’s all-time favorite cartoon time travel gizmos, he might remember what it was like when he was a liberal Democrat. Many of his friends in politics are trying to figure out what happened to Joe, who was denied the Democratic Senate nomination in 2006, won as an independent, backed Republican presidential nominee John McCain in 2008, and held up the Democrats health care bill in 2009 until they amended it to suit him.
Sen. Chris Dodd: “I promise to watch the DVD movie Titanic soon.” Some Democrats believe that Dodd, is the human version of the Titanic, and he’s already hit the iceberg politically, though he won’t acknowledge the event. Dodd’s poll numbers have been sinking for months due to a series of personal and professional controversies. Meanwhile, he’s been re-arranging the deck chairs metaphorically by issuing more news releases, holding more press conferences, and making more visits home. If Dodd stays in the 2010 Senate race, and goes down with the ship, he could take the Democrats 60-vote anti-filibuster majority with him.
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal: “I promise not to take Sen. Dodd’s political pulse every time I shake his hand.” Blumenthal says he supports Dodd’s reelection bid 100% (or is that 1000%), but readily admits that if Dodd dropped out of the Senate contest, he would quickly jump in.
State House Republican Leader Lawrence Cafero: “I’ll hum Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” whenever I get blue seeing others run for governor this year.” Unlike some other Republicans who tripped over each other trying to set up for a gubernatorial run after Rell made herself a lame duck, Cafero carefully pondered the possbility before deciding against a campaign, candidly conceding it just wasn’t the right time for his family. Too many pols put ambition over family these days. The always ebullient Cafero even added a touch of humor to his “I won’t run” news conference. When a reporter asked if he might be considered as some gubernatorial hopeful’s lieutenant governor running mate, Cafero joked: “Who would want me? How would they shut me up?”
Democratic legislative leaders: “We promise to read and study Article III of the Amendments to the State Constitution.” For the politically uninitiated, that’s the section that describes the General Assembly as a part-time legislature designed to meet about five months in odd-numbered years, and about three months in even-numbered years. The state’s founding fathers knew legislators had private sector jobs to do and families to care for, so they put specific adjournment dates into the Constitution. In recent years, legislative leaders seem to have forgotten those bounds. In deficit-plagued 2009, the procrastinating legislature met virtually every month, even three days before Christmas!