Presented as a Public Service

A follow-up on a previous post.

Graphic Courtesy of: Homeowners Insurance

Oz Griebel = Lowell Weicker version 2.0

Lowell Weicker spoke against an income tax throughout the 1990 campaign.



As you'll recall however, once elected he was singing a different tune altogether, and before we could blink we had an income tax!

Meanwhile, it sounds like Oz is getting us ready for whatever he really has in mind.


 

Griebel:   
"Trying to find $3.5 billion worth of cuts, that's daunting,"  

he said, adding that if he pledged to close it entirely with cuts, 

"I don't know if I could look at myself in the mirror."

Ironically, Griebel made the remarks to the Mirror.

 ("Griebel's First Budget: Dip into 'Big Buckets'", CT Mirror, 6/21/10)

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Mike Fedele - Immigrant Boy Makes Good

My friend Angelo Fusco called me in 1992 and told me;
"I want you to help my friend Mikey get elected, you'll like him."
Angelo never lied to me, and sure enough I did like Mike Fedele, and after 18 years I still do. I was becoming a bit of a political mechanic at the time, and made some rather experimental bumper stickers for Fedele, which hopefully he no longer remembers.

Mike Fedele is the personification of what's right about the United States of America, and is the literal ratification of the work of our nation's Founders.

You bet that's a strong statement - because it's true!

Who do you want running things anyway? Some self-serving political hack on a power trip, or someone who started a business from scratch, has employed 100's and got pushed into politics due to an honest, "I guess I'll have to try and fix it myself" attitude?

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Fedele will Veto

Our state is at a crossroads.

Democrat super-majorities in the legislature have left us mired in debt, with near record unemployment and the threat of new taxes ever present.  This election  is our chance to take a stand against the tax and spend policies that have seen our economy stagnate in recession  and employers flee our state in favor of greener, more business friendly pastures. 

This is why I pledge to you the following:

 As your Governor I will veto ANY legislation that proposes to raise our taxes.

But in order to take my message of fiscal accountability to voters across the state, we must first qualify for the Citizens Election Program.  Will you help me reach that goal with a one-time contribution of $25, $50 or $100?

Legislative Democrats have been clear, they refuse to make the systematic changes to the state budget necessary to get our economy back on track.  They would rather spend, tax and borrow, to appease their special interest friends, than make the difficult choices necessary to grow our economy and create new jobs. 

We need a Republican Governor with the character and courage to stand up to the Democrats and their special interest buddies, and I am prepared to be that Governor. This is why I have authored a comprehensive plan to revitalize our economy and lead a state government that is affordable, sustainable and accountable to the those that pay the bills - you the taxpayer.

And with your help, I stand ready to make these tough choices and VETO any proposed tax increases.

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Tom Foley wants to have it both ways

Republican candidate for Governor Tom Foley, a former corporate raider, seems to want it both ways; or since he can afford it, maybe five ways as seen in this photo.

This week Foley claims:

"My business experience has taught me how to deal with banks and rating agencies. I am the only candidate for governor who can get Connecticut's rating back to where it belongs."

But last month in this Hartford Courant article Foley said he is "not really a finance person by background" and instead has specialized in managing companies he buys and improving their performance.

 Sounds to me like his next business acquisition should be these folks:

I love Denise McCluggage

Denise McCluggage writes for Autoweek.
This article, titled Love and Recalls appeared in the March 23, 2010 issue of that publication and appears here until their lawyers call and threaten me.

 

Love and Recalls
Denise McCluggage

The coincidence of Toyota-gate and Alfa Romeo's revival of the Giulietta name has reminded me how much more important it is for a company to make cars that are loved than to build ones that are respected. Not that Toyota hasn't yearned to be loved--it's just that it never quite got the knack. I've said before, if a Toyota or a Lexus were a suitor, I'd tell it, "You're really terrific, but can't we just be friends?"

When a car is loved, forgiveness is plentiful; when a car's reliability is its strong point and that is now doubted, the absence of a net is sorely evident.

My history of car ownership is dotted, or maybe oil-splattered, with several British marques. Two MG TCs and a Jaguar XK140. Almost an Austin-Healey. I even craved a Jensen Interceptor with Ferguson Formula. (Don't ask.)

Forgiveness was further extended to four (!) Fiats. But my Alfa Giulietta Sprint Veloce circa 1958 is the subject here.

The Giulietta had a quirk that spurred the starter motor to spiral into action, even when the car was at speed. Like when I was on the Nürburgring with Phil Hill showing me his preferred line as I clung fiercely to the passenger's seat. (No seatbelts.) We didn't hear the ominous whirring until we were stopped in the pits. Took every tooth off the ring gear. Push starts or small hills were then in order for several weeks.

But Giuliettas almost universally shared two other quirks (quirks are what you call flaws that love lets you forgive).

Always when one Giulietta owner met another, the question inevitably arose: "Carburetor or battery?"

My answer: "Battery," meaning that my Alfa was one in which the trunk-mounted battery liked to tip over, spreading hungry acid on anything left nearby.

For other owners: "Carburetor," which meant that it chose to burst into flame at varied intervals. I never met any Giulietta owner who had both quirks to forgive.

We would compare quirks and shake our heads with fond smiles, almost prideful. Look what I have forgiven. How much more could anyone love thee?

In those days, "recall" was what you did when you redialed--and I do mean dialed--a busy phone number. Caveat emptor ruled the market. (Remember, a Ford Pinto and a Chevrolet Vega had been loosed on the world.)

Not until the fledgling Japanese manufacturers strengthened their wings and began to soar in the United States did their strong point--reliability--become what most buyers simply expected.

"Bulletproof" was a common description of things Toyota, and that powered the company's remarkable growth.

Sometimes the spark of love might glint a moment in an enthusiast's eye--the MR2, maybe the Celica--but that uniqueness would be hammered down.

Fun was banished. Back to trustworthiness and reliability.

Now those very traits, admirable but unexciting, are under question. Late-night comics strike with relish. Toyota is damaged by real tragedy and its inexperienced, tone-deaf responses. Sad.

My belief: All of Toyota's problems will be tracked down and made right. But the healing balm of love will be missed.    © AutoWeek 

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My response appears below.