Simmons (R) smacked down on Social Security; Larson (D) to hold forum

[Atman]

I LOVE this! The fun has begun, kids. The great unravelling is underway, and it is beginning in Connecticut, once known as The Constitution State (our new motto "Almost as Corrupt as Louisana, Without the Gators"). Or so we can only hope. This may not be a monumental event all by itself, but it is pretty significant in the grand scheme of things.

--------

Crossing A Line On Social Security

April 7, 2005
By DAVID LIGHTMAN, Washington Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON -- There's finally going to be a Social Security public forum in Rep. Rob Simmons' congressional district - but the featured congressman isn't Simmons. It's Democratic Rep. John Larson.

Crossing that line is especially sensitive, because Simmons, R-2nd District, is already a popular punching bag for national Democrats hoping to pick up congressional seats in 2006.

And Democrats believe an important way to gain voters is by tying Republicans to President Bush's teetering campaign to allow future retirees to have personal Social Security accounts.

The situation is so sensitive that Simmons approached Larson for a private conversation about it on the House floor Wednesday. He wanted to know why Larson was participating - and why he hadn't let him know about it.

<snip>

Story in Hartford Courant

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

1. Connecticut is still a great state and the corruption thing will pass

check this out: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3440085

[JerseygirlCT]

3. Yeah, proud to be from CT today

Hope the house goes the same way. Rell has said she'd sign- hope that's right!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

5. it would ensure her reellection, don't ya think?

[Atman]

6. Unfortunately, yes. I think she's too tainted by Rowland.

Common sense tells the thinking man that Rell HAD to know what was going on in Rowland's nest of Ee-vil. She was by his side for many years. For those unfamiliar, Governor John Rowland was once being groomed for the Bush team, or so the headlines said. He is a personal friend of The Family, and even appeared onstage at the podium with Jeb Bush during the last National Governor's Conference, despite his investigation and wrongdoings having been completely out in the open at that point. But I get ahead of myself. Suddenly, mysteriously or so it appeared at the time, Rowland was dropped from the A-list of appointees to the Bush administration. No reason why at the time, just speculation run amok, or so we were told. But, the Enron deal was beginning to have an impact (another good buddy's company, Enron, was the recipient of virtually the entire bank account of the Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority, some $250,000,000, for which Enron would give Connecticut a good deal on energy at some point in the future. A week after the money transfer, Ken Lay personally funded a lavish re-election gala for Rowland. Pure coincidence, or so we were told). My guess is that BushCo was actuallys still vetting people back then, and Rowland had FBI all over him like flies on shit.

All this stuff went on while Jodi Rell was in office, too. I suppose it could be argued that any investigation into Rowland would have had to included Rell to some degree, if only tangentially, and there she is, Governor, in the clear. But this Enron crap is the tip of the Rowland iceberg. The asshole once-and- future BFEE inductee got a mere 10 months in a "dormitory" for his crimes against the people of Connecticut. I wonder why? Amazing what great treatment friends of the BFEE get. And Jodi was Rowland's right-hand man for many years. I don't buy that she's stink-free. She's just lucky, maybe.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

7. She has the highest approval rating of a governor in recent memory

Across party lines even. I guess common sense has gone out with the bathwater on her.

[Atman]

8. Maybe we're just exhausted. Personally, I could give a...

...flying whatever. I think maybe we're just saying, "Hell, at least her name isn't appearing in another scandal story every other day!" like we had to put up with with Rowland. People were a bit apprehensive at first, but since she is still relatively "clean" so far, I think it is natural that approval ratings are going up. Me, I really can't say I have any negative opinion of her. I have no positive opinion of her. Everything I know/feel about her is because of Rowland, which isn't really fair to her, right?

But still...ewww. What's that smell?

[JerseygirlCT]

9. Corruption fatigue

I think people are just plain tired of the whole stinky thing, and really, really want to believe that Rell is different.

She's going to have to start showing she's different soon, though, I suspect, or the shine will go off her.

[Larkspur]

10. Rell has not made any indication that she will run for Gov in 2006

In fact, it's very plausible that she will NOT run for Gov in 2006, despite her current high approval ratings, which are starting to slip. As Susan Bysiewicz, CT Sec. of State and official Dem Gubernatorial candidate said to my Dem Town Committee, Killingly, Rell knows that the really tough questions are about to hit her, and she may not want to face them. It's easier to retire from her long years of public service with high approval ratings than face the brewing storm over the budget and taxes. Rell's husband has property in Florida and they just may prefer to retire to the sunshine state.

The CT Budget is a mess and Roland had a lot to do with that. She is Rowland's successor and stuck with millions of debt.

FYI, my Dem Town Comm, Killingly, unanimously voted on March 29, 2005 to endorse Susan Bysiewicz as Dem Gubernatorial nominee.

[dbeach]

2. SS remains a hot issues..Simmons has mostly voted with bush..

He used his Veteran status to win in 2000 and has done next to nothing for Vets..in fact the VA hospital LOST every bed at Newington facility and is essentially an out pt clinic...
I hear many complain about him....BUT he still the incumbant and has lots pals..A strong Dem could beat him..

Repubs in Blue states that support bush may be in for big surprise..


"In the mailing Simmons sent to constituents this week, he said he "visualized a two-tiered system" in which Social Security remains the foundation of retirement security, while personal savings accounts become a "second tier."

He has repeatedly said he opposes privatizing Social Security. But that's not good enough for his foes, a point likely to be made at that forum next week."

[JerseygirlCT]

4. The GOP likes those two-tiered systems

the haves and the have-nots.

[Larkspur]

11. Joe Courtney, who lost to Simmons in 2002, has officially declared his

candidacy to be Simmons' Dem challenger. Courtney lost by 9 pts to Simmons in 2002. He had been down by almost 20 pts 3 weeks before the election, but the Repukes began running negative attack ads against Courtney that started backfiring on them. Courtney is hoping to get an early start with fundraising. He'll need it. Simmons can raise almost $2 million with the help of Bush and Cheney visits to the state.

[dbeach]

12. THANX for info..

I work in CT but live out of state..I may have met Courtney..not sure..

I know Simmons gets big free ride from local papers..hhmm sounds familar....

He is made of plastic..voters need to see how he continuously votes the repuke manifesto which is against most folks interests..