We Hereby Resolve
Photo by Steve Kotchko
Posted 1/3/12
Our tradition on this web page at the turn of each new year is to offer up our “suggested” New Year’s resolutions for Connecticut politicians, not that they’d follow our advice. We’re just sayin’:
Gov. Dannel Malloy: It’s time for the Guv to resolve that he’ll stop blaming past administrations for every problem that surfaces in Connecticut. For instance, last year, he said he “wasn’t the governor” when the foundations for chronic budget deficits took root. When he had to admit late last year that state employees likely committed fraud in applying for federal storm relief aid, Malloy half-blamed that scandal on aging state computer systems left in place by past administrations that aren’t equipped to catch fraud. Unless the Guv gets past this rationale, at some point he may be pointing an accusatory finger at the Haynes administration. Gov. John Haynes ran Connecticut in the 1600’s.
Attorney General George Jepsen: Campaigning for office, Jepsen vowed not to file a zillion lawsuits or go gaga with press conferences. Translation? He’d be a different kind of attorney general than media-hungry Richard Blumenthal. OK, we get that. However, Jepsen’s gone too far in the other direction. The AG has been as quiet as a church mouse. C’mon, George, this year vow to step in front of the news conference mikes and cameras a bit more. Reporters need work.
The Candidates for U.S. Senate: This is a simple resolution. Promise to be civil to each other. Political campaigns have become much nastier in the last several years and “attack” mode never stops. It moves from the campaign trail to Congress. Americans need smart rational leaders to get us out of the recession and debt. This year we have a high stakes presidential campaign, and many Senate and U.S. House races. If there is going to be a new trend of responsibility in American politics—let it begin here, in Connecticut—The Constitution State.
State Legislators: How about promising to make bipartisan cooperation the norm on important issues instead of the exception? After a rough-and-tumble legislative session in 2011, characterized by finger-pointing, endless debates, and embarrassing one-upmanship, lawmakers did get together on major jobs growth legislation in special session, as if to say: “See, we can play nice.” The state doesn’t need an occasional “kumbaya” moment, it needs lawmakers willing to put the public good above politics—on a regular basis.
U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman: Vow to bow out in style. It’s your last year in the Senate and we’d like to see you go out with a bang not a whimper. Having said that (to borrow an oft-used phrase by Gov. Malloy), be sure whatever you try to accomplish this year makes Connecticut proud. Remember that you grew up in politics as a well-respected State Senate leader. You created the mold for being an activist consumer crusader state attorney general. You were the first person from Connecticut to be on a major party national ticket (vice president in 2000). Then came the failed presidential bid in 2004, the fight within the state Democratic party that led to reelection as an independent in 2006, followed by your endorsement of the Republican nominee for president in 2008 (Sen. John McCain). Enough with the drama. Use your Senate experience and stated desire for Congressional cooperation to help achieve great things this year. Make it so, Joe.
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