Authentic Connecticut Republican

Erik needs some folks with real brass

2012-01-31T13:43:00.001-05:00

Erik Semmel's an unusually decent fellow.

(Literally a pillar of the community.)

If you've got brass,

he wants to hear it.

Erik's a busy guy!

He finds time to coach these young musicians:

Southington Brass

Since 1995 along with his trusty sidekick TJ, he's hosted a radio show, you've probably heard them:

Somehow he makes time to pay his civic dues serving as an

official town waterboarder as well!

<- Not that waterboarding.

This water boarding ->

Erik's on the town

Water Board!

Now, as if in addition to the above and raising his own kids he needs a little something extra to while away the time;

Erik's gotten the idea to break a Guinness World Record!

The Brass Blast

The Southington Brass Blast is a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest trumpet ensemble and a benefit for organizations that support students and musicians. At least 1,200 trumpeters are needed to break the record. We will be performing The National Anthem and a selection that meets the Guinness criteria for this record breaking attempt. Trumpet players who haven't picked up their horn in a while, especially parents of current trumpet students are encouraged to join us.

Learn more!

http://www.southingtonbrass.com/Images/Southington_Brass_seeks_trumpeters_for_record-breaking_performance-MyRecordJournal.com_Southington_News.pdf

School Choice

2012-01-19T08:56:00.000-05:00

Restoring American Exceptionalism - Connecticut Townhall

WHEN

January 26, 2012 at 7:00 PM

WHERE

SBC Restaurant & Brewery
850 W Main Street
Branford, CT 06405
Google map and directions

American 15-year-olds rank 35th out of 57 countries in math and literacy!

America shouldn’t be 35th in anything. It's time to Restore American Exceptionalism!

Rather than protecting and promoting failure, let's put our kids first. Let's do even more to support the teachers and the schools that are succeeding, but let's hold those that are failing firmly accountable. Whether it’s a private school, a charter school, or a traditional public school, parents should have the right to choose the school that will do the best job educating my children. Every child deserves the best education we can give them – and every family has a right to choose the education that’s best for their child.

Restoring American exceptionalism to our schools and putting kids first isn't a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. It's an American issue. Join the conversation today!

Join AFPF-Connecticut in a simulcast event with everything you need to know about school choice!

RSVP on Eventbrite: schoolchoiceconnecticut.eventbrite.com

CONTACT

J.R.Romano · JRomano@afphq.org

Hunting — it’s not just a way to fill the freezer. It’s a matter of national security.

2012-01-13T11:16:00.001-05:00

The world’s largest army… America ‘s hunters!

A blogger added up the deer license sales in just a handful of states and arrived at a striking conclusion:

There were over 600,000 hunters this season in the state of Wisconsin .

Allow me to restate that number.

Over the last several months, Wisconsin ‘s hunters became the eighth largest army in the world.

More men than we had under arms than in Iran .

More than in France and Germany combined.

These men deployed to the woods of a single American state to hunt with firearms, and no one was killed.

That number pales in comparison to the 750,000 who hunted the woods of Pennsylvania and Michigan ‘s 700,000 hunters,

All of whom have now returned home.

Toss in a quarter million hunters in West Virginia and it literally establishes the fact that the hunters of those four states alone would comprise the largest army in the world.

The point?

America will forever be safe from foreign invasion with that kind of home-grown firepower.

Hunting — it’s not just a way to fill the freezer.

It’s a matter of national security.

That’s why all enemies, foreign and domestic, want to see us disarmed.

Food for thought when next we consider gun control.

ObamaCare and the Individual Mandate

2012-01-09T12:51:00.000-05:00

The Connecticut Lawyers Chapter of the

The Federalist Society is pleased to present:

Dr. Roger Pilon, Ph.D.
B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies
Director, Center for Constitutional Studies
Cato Institute

and

Zach Janowski Investigative Reporter Yankee Institute for Public Policy

Followed by Q&A

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 8:30 am
Breakfast provided beginning at 8:15 am

The Connecticut State Capitol

Legislative Office Building Room 1 C
300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT

Map/directions available at: http://www.cga.ct.gov/capitoltours/directions.htm

This event is free and open to the public.

Please RSVP to ctfedsoc@gmail.com

A fellow walks into a bar.........

2012-01-08T19:14:00.001-05:00

A guy goes into a bar where there's a robot bartender.

The robot says, "What will you have?"
The guy says, "Whiskey."
The robot brings back his drink and says to the man, "What's your IQ?"
The guy says," 168."
The robot then proceeds to talk about physics, space exploration and medical technology.

The guy leaves, but he is curious...So he goes back into the bar. The robot bartender says, "What will you have?"
The guy says, "Whiskey."
Again, the robot brings the man his drink and says, "What's your IQ?"
The guy says, "100."
The robot then starts to talk about Nascar, Budweiser, the Saints and LSU Tigers

The guy leaves, but finds it very interesting, so he thinks he will try it one more time.
He goes back into the bar.
The robot says, "What will you have?"
The guy says, "Whiskey," and the robot brings him his whiskey.
The robot then says, "What's your IQ?"
The guy says, "Uh, about 50."
The robot leans in real close and says,

"So, you still happy with Barrack Obama?

Southington Legislators in the News!

2011-12-22T11:45:00.003-05:00

Two do us proud! Then of course there's that other one......

Sampson, Markley break national 1 hour fund-raising record!

Senator Joe Markley greets Southington resident (Illustrious) Jim Vander Eyk
as State Representative Rob Sampson looks on, while fund-raising
in front of the Southington WalMart store earlier this month.

State Rep. Rob Sampson and Sen. Joe Markley helped raise more than $24,000 to help feed local families in need recently.

Teaming up with The Salvation Army, Sampson and Markley ran one of their iconic red collection kettles outside of the Walmart on Queen Street.

Shortly after their hour-long shift started, local firefighters pulled up in an engine and dumped a manila envelope full of money into the pot.

The legislators collected more than $9,000 in checks and more than $3,000 in bills and coins.

Meanwhile...
Bruce ("Zeke") Zalaski arrested on DUI charge.

A state representative has been arrested on a drunken-driving charge following a traffic stop in Bristol.

Bristol police say Rep. Bruce "Zeke" Zalaski of Southington was arrested early Wednesday morning.

Newly elected New London Mayor Finizio `legalizes' pot

2011-12-07T14:16:00.001-05:00

From the New London Day:

Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio issued his first four executive orders today, instructing the city police department not to target for arrest potential illegal immigrants and people found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia on private property.

The order goes on to say that no New London police officer shall be disciplined for failing to enforce such drug laws.

Coming Soon to New London

A 390 Year Tradition

2011-11-23T13:44:00.000-05:00

The Mayflower Compact

"In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620."

Mr. John Carver, Mr. William Bradford, Mr Edward Winslow, Mr. William Brewster.
Isaac Allerton, Myles Standish, John Alden, John Turner, Francis Eaton,
James Chilton, John Craxton, John Billington, Joses Fletcher, John Goodman,
Mr. Samuel Fuller, Mr. Christopher Martin, Mr. William Mullins, Mr. William White,
Mr. Richard Warren, John Howland, Mr. Steven Hopkins, Digery Priest,
Thomas Williams, Gilbert Winslow, Edmund Margesson, Peter Brown,
Richard Britteridge, George Soule, Edward Tilly, John Tilly, Francis Cooke,
Thomas Rogers, Thomas Tinker, John Ridgdale, Edward Fuller, Richard Clark,
Richard Gardiner, Mr. John Allerton, Thomas English, Edward Doten,
Edward Liester.

Now let's get it right:

The Pilgrims were not Puritans

The `Pilgrims' (our name for them, not theirs) were not Puritans regardless of how many dimwits think they were, author text books with the same disgusting lie, or post articles in print or online repeating the same nonsense.

It's a lie and the Puritans were nothing less than horrid. Defending them or boasting of one's lineage to them is akin to the same as it regards members of Germany's 3rd Reich SS Nazis.

There is no defense for the Puritans.

The Mayflower Separatists neither robbed nor disabused the native Americans (Henceforth here referred to as "Pilgrims" and "Indians" due only to the commonality of the terms as it applies to them.) they encountered and who were kind enough to befriend the small colony. Quite the contrary in fact as the two groups found themselves in a symbiotic relationship in no time at all. The Indians being familiar with local food sources and the Pilgrims access to then modern hunting gear such as early firearms.

A decade after the arrival of the Mayflower Pilgrims the horrid Puritans began arriving setting up their own adjacent Massachusetts Bay Colony (and running roughshod over Plymouth Colony at every opportunity)
It was a scant 7 years before Thomas Hooker led a group to what became Hartford and later Connecticut so as to escape the reach of the dastardly theocracy the Puritans were creating.

From: Pilgrims, Not Puritans

Arrived 1620	Arrived 1630
Governors Carver and Bradford	Governor Winthrop
Plymouth Colony	Massachusetts Bay Colony
Friendly with Indians for 40 years	Indian problems from the outset
Paid Indians for land	Seized Indian lands
Communal living first seven years	Individual profit from the outset
Democratic, consensus of the governed	Authoritarian
Separated from the Church of England	"Purified" the Church from within
Not a single prosecution of witchcraft	Prosecuted and executed for witchcraft
Representation and equal inheritance	Nothing to compare
Forerunner of US Constitution & Declaration of Independence	Nothing to compare
More tolerant than the Church of England	Intolerant

Republicans Gain

2011-11-09T23:41:00.001-05:00

Blow Out!

Congratulations

to my

Town Committee

Elsewhere:

Despite the headlines, last night was a great night for Connecticut Republicans and our candidates. Across the state, many Republican candidates enjoyed momentous wins, some with large margins of victory. I've outlined below some of the specifics for what proved to be a successful night.
The following is based on all information that is currently available to the CT GOP and contained on the SOTS website as of 3:30PM.

REPUBLICAN PICK-UPS
Windsor Locks (town council majority)
Tolland
Hampton
Stafford
South Windsor
Sherman
Suffield
Seymour
Plainville
Oxford
Harwinton
East Haven (pending recount)
Cromwell
Beacon Falls
Total: 14 Towns

DEMOCRATIC PICK-UPS
Chester
Burlington
Middletown
Milford
New Britain
Manchester
Newington
Southbury
Old Lyme
Total: 9 Towns

Republicans enjoyed a net gain of five towns which extends our majority from 99 towns with Republican control to 104.
As more results become available, we expect these numbers to stay consistent as outstanding towns were not heavily contested.
Many towns saw Republican candidates win by large margins such as East Lyme where Republican First Selectman Paul Formica won by a 6-1 margin and South Windsor where the lowest Republican vote-getter beat the highest Democratic vote-getter.
Additionally, many towns saw a Republican sweep--with Republicans winning every (or nearly every) office for which they fielded a candidate (Farmington, Colchester, Plainville, South Windsor, Seymour, Cromwell, and others).
There are a few of instances across the state where we expect recounts including East Haven and Cheshire. The Connecticut Republican Party intends to be very involved in the recount process as a part of our initiative to insure integrity and transparency.

The Team Republican Logo was designed and copyrighted by Daniel J. Brookes in 1985

Read This Before You Vote Tomorrow

2011-11-07T18:13:00.000-05:00

A Benevolent Monopoly?

2011-11-05T19:53:00.000-04:00

It surely seemed like a good idea at the time.

CTL&P as a baby

Without granting some sort of monopoly to what appeared to be small harmless start-up ventures, the country would never have gotten wired for electricity or telephones thus began what would be known as

Benevolent Monopolies

CTL&P Today

who would later become giant utilities.

Republicans can take the 3rd

2011-10-21T11:50:00.000-04:00

At first glance Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District appears to be a Republican nightmare.

However - look at the disparity between our cash-strapped candidates and their respective results!

Our candidates have out performed their donations by a factor of over 4 to 1

Let's All Help The East Hartford Republicans

2011-09-29T13:27:00.001-04:00

A hearty lot those East Hartford Republicans,

badly outnumbered, rarely a majority on any board or commission; they continue fight the good fight.

God Bless them they deserve a tip of the hat.

This cycle they appear to have put together a fairly impressive slate of candidates, you can learn about all of them right here: http://www.ehgop.com/election-2011/

East Hartford has recruited one candidate that I've become quite familiar

with, and who impresses everyone I've introduced him to.

Hector Reveron

Hector has a Bachelor of Technology from Aeronautics College in New York,
and works for Pratt and Whitney as a technician and Quality Control
for the military and major airlines around the world.

Fellow Republicans, it's imperative we get this man on base; my plan is to purchase additional signs (they have so few) and do a blitz in E. Hartford in Hector's behalf the weekend prior to the election.

We can do so legally too.

Want to help a little? Donate $10 or $20 towards the signs or show up with us that weekend?

Send your contact information to ACR right here: authentic.ct.republican@gmail.com

Thanks!

Forget Cigarettes - It's The Damn Goats!

2011-09-26T10:37:00.002-04:00

WARNING: Exposure to Goats
may cause cancer.

Goats increase chance of lung cancer!

From: The European Lung Foundation

Amsterdam, The Netherlands:

Exposure to goats could increase the risk of a certain type of lung cancer, according to French researchers.

The study, which will be presented at the European Respiratory Society's Annual Congress in Amsterdam today (25 September 2011), has linked a professional exposure to goats with a distinct subset of lung cancer, known as pneumonic-type lung adenocarcinoma (P-ADC).

This form of lung cancer has a weak association with tobacco smoking when compared with other types of the disease. In attempting to identify other triggers that may cause the disease, scientists have previously noticed similarities between P-ADC and a viral infection which causes growths in the lungs of sheep. Given these similarities, the researchers have investigated whether a viral agent found in sheep and goats could be easily transferred to people who work with the animals, leading to a partiality for P-ADC.

Stealth killers or innocent
Tobacco-Free Kids?

The current epidemiologic study involved 44 patients with P-ADC and 132 controls without the disease. All participants were given a questionnaire assessing a number of risk factors including their smoking status, their personal history of cancer and their exposure to goats.

The results showed that people who had experienced a professional exposure to goats during their lifetime were five times more likely to get P-ADC compared with other types of lung cancer.

The findings also showed that P-ADC was significantly associated with females, and people who had never smoked or had any personal history of cancer.

Dr Nicolas Girard, from the Louis Pradel Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, said: "Scientists have noticed similarities between P-ADC and a contagious viral infection in sheep before. This led us to explore the possibility that professional exposure to cattle could make humans more susceptible to P-ADC. These findings demonstrate that exposure to goats could be a risk factor for this type of lung cancer, however further studies are needed to assess other potential risk factors for the disease."

Packers Job Creation Record

2011-09-25T17:48:00.001-04:00

Edwards

Last year

After the Packers / Bills game, Buffalo released quarterback Trent Edwards.

Kolb

During the Packers / Eagles game, the Packers injured Philadelphia quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Vick

Philadelphia then had to play backup quarterback Michael Vick.

During a playoff game against the Eagles, the Packers injured Michael Vick and another backup was needed.

Phillips

After the Packers / Cowboys game, Dallas fired Wade Phillips and most of his staff.

Childress

After the Packers / Vikings game, Minnesota fired Brad Childress and most of his staff.

Singletary

Four weeks after losing to the Packers, the 49er's coach Mike Singletary and most of his staff were fired and replaced.

Cutler

During the Bears Playoff game, the Packers injured Jay Cutler

Collins

and backup Todd Collins

Hanie

forcing the Bears to go with 3rd string quarterback Caleb Hanie.

Is it just me, or did the Packers create

more jobs than Obama last year?

FDA sets stage for mass murder

2011-09-23T13:09:00.001-04:00

This was my sister Nancy's 1963 high school yearbook photo.

Nancy died at 26 in September of 1971 in the midst of a severe asthma attack while trying to load her syringe with adrenaline.

Had the FDA not tied up the Asthma Inhaler for a full decade prior to approving it for use in the United States, she would be 65 now.
Asthmatics across Europe and Canada had been using the inhaler for ages at the time of Nancy's death.

Now they're at it again!

Federal health officials are alerting asthma patients that a type of inhaler sold over the counter will be phased out at year's end because it uses carbon gas that depletes the Earth's atmosphere.
Read entire article here -> FDA phases out inhaler.

Here's the real problem - the prescription inhalers simply don't work for some asthmatics anywhere nearly as well as the 5 times less expensive over the counter unit being banned.

Thousands of asthmatics will undoubtedly succumb do to this heavy handed decision by the FDA and one real shame is that not one of those involved will ever be charged as they so rightfully should be with murder.

435 Members of Congress

2011-09-23T00:51:00.000-04:00

There are 435 members of Congress, Connecticut only has 5.

For some reason, this one's one of ours.

Why?

Obama using Photoshop?

2011-09-18T15:18:00.002-04:00

An American car with an Obama magnet?

Not likely, his supporters only talk about American jobs, they rarely help create or keep any.

Don't believe it?

Drive by any public school and take a look at what the unionized teachers are driving.

Maybe instead of "GET YOURS" it should say; "Up Yours".

Rob Sampson!

2011-09-09T23:22:00.000-04:00

Representative Rob Sampson (R-80 Wolcott / Southington) discusses the
New Britain-Hartford Busway on Face The State

Milford: "3 grand or the dog gets it"

2011-09-04T23:11:00.002-04:00

Town of Milford sends ransom demand.

Read the entire article here: The Haven Register

File this under - Ya can't make this stuff up!

AT&T Drops Ball and Calls!

2011-08-31T11:34:00.001-04:00

Christine Stuart AKA
Connecticut News Junkie

Connecticut News Junkie has an interesting piece up regarding the disparity between cell providers during and after emergency situations as we in Connecticut have just (and some still are) gone through.

Author Lon Seidman confirms what I learned the hard way after spending 12+ years with the folks that after multiple mergers and name changes became AT&T Wireless - they stink.

Seidman points out:
In small shoreline communities averse to unsightly cell towers, carriers often share the same space. AT&T’s largest competitor in Connecticut, Verizon Wireless, was functioning in the affected areas and throughout most of the state using many of the same towers.

How can that be? You might ask.

Generators

Verizon is a more responsible company and has approximately 300 generators already in place in CT alone at their tower locations set to automatically protect their coverage.

The photo to the right illustrates what Katrina taught Verizon.

Considering that in 2010 there were already 25% of American households without telephone land lines and that percentage is growing; Verizon's actions are those of a firm that recognizes the importance of delivering their product and especially during times of calamity.

Just say "NO" to AT&T

Thus, even if you're fastidious regarding your cell phone and have equipped yourself with all sorts of emergency backup plans as seen here, it won't matter a bit if your carrier isn't up to the job.

Hey AT&T - Can you hear me now?
My Verizon bias is a matter of record; from their own site: In Our Customers' Own Words

Connecticut Republicans need to get our Good Luck Back!

2011-08-23T13:14:00.000-04:00

Every Connecticut Republican is aware that our state
has never been as blue as it is right now.

There are loads of reasons, some of which have been discussed on the site before and not the least of which would include wild spending by the party's previous administration. (Fear not, those of you familiar with the site already know that should anything like we saw over the past 4 years occur again 1 it'll be posted here as soon as possible when I call for the heads of those involved.)

Thankfully - There's a new Sheriff in town!

Connecticut Republican Chairman
(no funny spending)
Jerry (The Sheriff) Labriola

...and he's brought his Posse too!

Yes folks, it's safe to donate

and support the CTGOP again.

Next month Jerry's getting some help from:

Joe Visconti & Marianne Clark

as they present..

Good Luck Back!

An event benefiting the Connecticut GOP!

Featuring The Johnny Bass Band with

~~Chairman~~ Sheriff Jerry Labriola, Jr. on the keyboards

Friday September 23rd

Blue Fox Run Golf Club

65 Nod Road, Avon

Take this link for full details and reserve your place today!

http://www.ctgopevents.org/goodluckback/

See you there!

1(ie:Like one red cent of your donated money spent out of state without a damn good reason....and no I can't think of one either.)

Five Things Democrats Don't Understand

2011-08-15T18:28:00.000-04:00

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

Is Japan Nervous Yet?

2011-08-10T12:42:00.004-04:00

China's first aircraft carrier

The vessel is a refurnished Soviet-era carrier, the 990-foot-long Admiral Kuznetsov-class Varyag

Nanking China

Japan has been the traditional bully / aggressor in Asia since the beginning of recorded time, racking up a record of torture and death that would make even Hitler & Stalin combined seem paltry.

Only recently has Japan even acknowledged their actions in China during the 1930's, the most notorious being the massacre of Nanking.

The United States should extract ourselves from our various treaties with Japan.
Especially those guaranteeing our intervention should Japan suffer long overdue military aggression lest we find our forces defending a nation that cheats ours at every opportunity.

Consider the following:

Arriving in Beijing one would find themselves in a Chinese made Buick Taxi Cab, ride past a McDonalds, KFC and probably a WalMart on their way to the Hilton.

No such experience is likely in Tokyo.

Japan's markets are virtually closed to both our produce and products with but only handful of notable exceptions.
(A fact conveniently ignored by those who happily purchase Japanese nameplate vehicles.)

China's markets are much more open to us yet many Americans find it easy to rail against China while ignoring the damage Japan does to our own manufacturing base and overall economy.

Despite their "new" Carrier China is no threat, but Japan is no ally.

Click on the chart below for a larger view and note that currently the United States has 24 of the world's now 37 Aircraft Carriers.

Spammer Apprehended

2011-08-06T00:09:00.000-04:00

Spam King Indicted for Facebook Spam

By Robert McMillan, IDG News

Notorious spam king Sanford Wallace is facing federal fraud charges for allegedly breaking into Facebook accounts and sending 27 million spam messages in 2008 and 2009.

Wallace, 43, allegedly used a phishing attack to steal user-names and passwords from victims and then used the stolen credentials to post spam to victims walls, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Wallace allegedly made money from the scam by driving Web traffic to affiliate marketing companies, who pay their members by the number of clicks they can deliver to websites.

The charges are outlined in an indictment, filed July 6 but made public Thursday after Wallace turned himself in to federal authorities.

Wallace gained fame as one of spam's most vocal defenders back in the 1990s and he has faced numerous civil actions over his activities, including lawsuits from MySpace and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

However this is the first time he's facing criminal charges.

Wallace has also been sued by Facebook, which won a US$711 million civil judgment against him. As part of that judgment, he was banned from Facebook, and the criminal indictment accuses Wallace of contempt of court for allegedly logging onto the social network during an April 2009 Virgin Airlines flight from Las Vegas to New York. Wallace also allegedly set up a Facebook profile in January of this year under the user name David Sinful-Saturdays Fredericks.

"We applaud the efforts of the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI to bring spammers to justice," Facebook said in an e-mailed statement. "Now Wallace also faces serious jail time for this illegal conduct. We will continue to pursue and support both civil and criminal consequences for spammers or others who attempt to harm Facebook or the people who use our service."

Wallace could get more than 16 years in prison, if convicted.

He was released Thursday on a $100,000 bond. His next appearance is set for Aug. 22 at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Jose, California.

Don't Ask

2011-08-03T11:39:00.000-04:00

Bowling With Boughton!

2011-07-25T16:12:00.000-04:00

Click Here to RSVP!

Happy Birthday Dad

2011-07-04T14:50:00.001-04:00

My father had a part in the design of the satellite Telstar - he would have been 95 this week.

L. Coulson Hageman (about 1950)

TelStar

Labriola

2011-06-23T15:40:00.006-04:00

The Connecticut Republican Party has the tradition of allowing the senior elected public office holder to appoint a chairman of their liking. (State Central members still have to elect the individual, but there's never been a case where they have collectively challenged the Governor.)

This is isn't unusual as most if not all other states do the same thing and when the President is Republican they exercise the same privilege as it regards the Republican National Committee Chair.

However; this well accepted tradition creates a problem in that the party chair's loyalties naturally are to; whoever appointed them, not to the committee that elected them, and much-less to our local town committees.

Further, the office of the chair has virtually unrestrained authority leaving the 72 members of state central only hoping they might be able to convince the chair or his or her staff to fulfil whatever task they might need so as to serve their own constituencies, their respective RTC's (Republican Town Committees)

It's no wonder most rank and file members of the party consider State Central little but a glorified Dinner Club and with such a non-responsive design it's obvious our town committees have delivered one municipal election after another on their own - while the state party has never been in such sorry straits.

After visiting over 40 RTC's, (depending on who one might speak to) we found that the state party offers little help and then on case by case, the position of the moon, and apparently depending also on which months have an "R" in them.
Others however, virtually gushed with glowing reports of service beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

That dichotomy is reason for concern. SERIOUS concern.

It is therefore time, and this might be the last chance for another few decades, to make some minor changes in the bylaws of the Connecticut Republican Party so as to make it more responsive to the base.

Such a task will require someone with enough confidence in their own leadership abilities to be willing to weaken the very office they have won.

Jerry Labriola is such a man.

Jerry's been active in the party since his late teens in the 1970's
He knows where the bodies are buried (and who buried them too!)

Labriola's familiarity with the entire state and each of our 169 cities and towns is consummate as is his knowledge of virtually all things Republican.
Labriola has pledged to allow, (if not force) the members of State Central to be more responsive to the Republicans in their own districts as well as statewide.

If Connecticut Republicans wish to reverse their fortunes of late, there is but one clear choice next Tuesday - Jerry Labriola.

ACR - Why I Supported Bill Aniskovich

2011-06-15T13:56:00.003-04:00

A message from Doug Hageman

After visiting dozens of Town Committees throughout Connecticut, my supporters had knit together a plan to re-engage and re-energize our Republican base.

On Monday the 13th I spent a few hours with Bill Aniskovich and a mutual friend reviewing the entire plan.

When Aniskovich agreed with everything right down to the brass-tacks and promised to implement the entire program, I saw no reason to remain as a candidate for party chair.

His sudden withdrawal from the field leaves the program orphaned and none of the other current or past entrants have offered anything comparable what-so-ever.

Here's the facts:

Our Town Committees are doing their job - Republicans currently control about 100 cities and towns.

Clearly the "problem" is at the state level, and according to virtually every local RTC chair it's because state central doesn't listen nor behave as any sort of data clearinghouse or partner.

My team will meet tomorrow and a decision as to whether we re-enter the race or not will be forthcoming before Saturday.

This has never been about me - should someone enter who's willing to implement the plan designed by town committees and the team, we'll back that person.

Thanks!

-Doug Hageman

It's been a pleasure and an honor to stand as a candidate for chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to visit town committees throughout the state, and have been delighted by the response to my message.

Bill Aniskovich

My goal has been to use the energy and initiative of local party activists to rejuvenate the state organization.

Conversations with Bill Aniskovich have convinced me that he shares that vision, and I am offering him my support in the race for chairman.

Let's all look forward to working with Bill to create a strong, reliable, and victorious state party, and I hope you will join us in that effort.

Doug Hageman

Inner City Outreach

2011-06-10T08:44:00.005-04:00

After losing big time in the cities last year, many Republicans are suddenly interested in increasing our minority and inner city efforts.

Where have you been?


Corey Brinson speaks to a thrilled ACR (Doug Hageman)

"Doug will help us compete in the cities.

Not because it is vogue after our 2010 losses; rather, because Doug already was doing it before anyone was ever talking about an urban agenda."

- Corey Brinson

______________________________

I am pleased to support Doug Hageman for State Party Chairman.

It is always difficult to endorse someone for such an esteemed position, but having known Doug Hageman for the last two years that decision was easy for me. There are many reasons why I trust Doug to lead our Party into the future.
The most important reason is that Doug has no ego. He wants to lead out party into the future
with the best candidates, ideas, and strategies no matter who gets the credit. Doug will put Party before self and that is the type of leader we need in the 21st Century.

In addition, Doug will help us compete in the cities.
Not because it is vogue after our 2010 losses; rather, because Doug already was doing it before anyone was ever talking about an urban agenda.
Doug was to our 2010 political crisis what Peter Schiff was to our 2009 national economic crisis.

Doug was with my campaign for Secretary of the State from day one.
He didn’t know me.
He attended my campaign kickoff out of a sense of loyalty to the Party.
He told anyone who would listen about my candidacy and what it would mean to our Party.
As a longtime Republican, Doug understands our Party’s history; he also knows where our Party needs to be in the future.

As chairman, Doug will fight tirelessly to ensure that we win in the cities—evident by his recent appearance at my campaign kickoff for Hartford City Council.

Above all, what I am most impressed about Doug Hageman is his enthusiasm.
A speaker with enthusiasm is more persuasive than the most eloquent speaker without it. Doug is passionate about our Party, what it stands for and what it can be. That is an important quality that our next leader must possess.
This will translate at rallies, media, and with voters one on one.

Now I know that there are those who will find criticism with Doug. However, in sports no quarterback has ever won a Super Bowl without a good front line; no golfer has ever won a major without a smart caddy; no five point guards have ever won a NBA championship without a center, and, in politics, no Chairman can win it alone. I know that if we work as a team we can begin to win again, to build again, to hope again, to dream again and to believe again. I know that with Doug Hageman as our next leader we can have better days in Connecticut, a better Republican Party, and more freedoms to pursue our dreams.

So I endorse Doug Hageman for State Party Chairman.

Sincerely,
Corey Brinson

Corey J. Brinson, Esquire
Hartford City Council
State Central Member
Hartford Republican Town Committee
2010 Candidate for Secretary of the State

Watch For It!

2011-06-07T11:53:00.001-04:00

Malloy - "We're not raising taxes"

2011-05-20T13:54:00.001-04:00

Union ‘Concession’ Plan Full of Holes,

Mythical Savings Used to Balance Budget

A staged press briefing that took place today at Rentschler Field and was yet another attempt to sell the phony concession package to skeptical audiences. Gov. Malloy counted on at least $2 billion in savings and union concessions as the final pieces to balance the budget he introduced in February.

As details of the deal emerged since it was hastily announced a week ago, it has become clear that the numbers do not add up, Republicans said. "And there is little, if any, of the 'shared sacrifice' that the governor has called for,'' Cafero said.

Details of the package include:
* A four-year no lay-off provision for the entire state workforce
* 10.3 percent salary increase over five years
* A five year extension of the much criticized health care and pension plan
* No furlough days costing taxpayers $42 million a year
* No changes in taxpayer funded union steward positions which cost a total of $93 million a year
* No reduction health care benefits for state workers
* No increase in pension contributions or health care premiums

Gov. Malloy insisted his budget would contain no gimmicks and real savings. No gimmicks? The questionable savings amount to an estimated $566 million or nearly one third of the $1.6 billion
Malloy claims in savings.
Consider these.
* $205 million in anticipated savings from requiring state workers to become healthier overnight through annual check-ups and other "Value Added'' Health care components
* $180 million in savings to come from state employee suggestion boxes to be placed through state government
* $90 million through greater technology advancements
* $75 million in "Health Cost Containment Initiatives''
* $13.5 million relating to prescription drugs going "off patent''
* $3 million savings from voluntary obesity and tobacco programs.

Republicans said the four-year no lay-off provision and the five-year pension and health care extension will prevent many short and long-term savings.

Help us take the Connecticut Republican Party back!

2011-05-08T00:36:00.007-04:00

Should we prevail and return the party to it's rightful owners (registered Republicans) no one will need to spend a day downloading data to find this stuff.

We'll put it all online on the ctgop.org site.
Payroll and staff expenses should be there too.
We've allowed poor stewardship of our donors dollars, and it has to stop.
*It's no wonder our base is disengaged.*

*The state party should answer to, and behave like our Town Committees.*

Our Town Committees work, they win more often than they lose (we control over half the municipal governments in CT right now) and not one of them would put up with what you'll see below.


Obviously the party by-laws need looking at; the office of Chair simply has too much autonomous authority without seeking so much as an *"Okay that sounds good"* from the committee itself. In fact we should insist on some changes regardless of who takes the chair, if I do we'll move quickly to do so, just in case I drop dead or something.



You can decide for yourselves what expenditures were unnecessary; but of the 271K you'll see here I'd bet you'll agree that at least 150K of it was a waste. *Expenditures of a Dubious Value.*


Why only 9% of Connecticut Republican Party money is spent directly on candidates.

Vendor	City	State	Date	Amount	Explanation
Barker Specialty Co. Inc.	Cheshire	CT	20100603	$710.22	2010 Convention Lanyards-Hats
Barker Specialty has a had a link on the CT Democratic website in the past, and are Democrats. Why would we give them our business?				Total:	$710.22











Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100205	$112.55	Service Fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100222	$2,360.11	Web Maintenance-PARTY Fundraising
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100305	$52.90	Service fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100402	$97.94	Service Fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100420	$225.00	Web Maintenance-PARTY Fundraising
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100429	$918.96	Web Maintenance-PARTY Fundraising
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100507	$668.77	Service Fee-PARTY Fundraising
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100604	$1,497.15	Service Fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100614	$648.00	Website Maintenance
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100702	$231.77	Service Fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100715	$525.00	Website Maintenance
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100720	$46.14	Service Fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100806	$256.75	Service Fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100809	$375.00	Website Maintenance
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100907	$208.54	Service Fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20100913	$54.03	Website-Domain Name
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20101013	$438.19	Service Fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20101018	$1,164.66	Service Fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20101021	$750.00	Web Maintenance
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20101105	$499.32	Service Fee
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20101108	$1,500.00	Web Maintenance
Campaign Solutions	Alexandria	VA	20101208	$28.82	Service Fee
Twelve thousand dollars for an out of state web service?				Total:	$12,659.60
We could easily have someone on staff part time to do that and more.

CD Inc.	Alexandria	VA	20101028	$50,000.00	Generic GOTV Web Ad
CD Inc.	Alexandria	VA	20101102	$15,000.00	Generic GOTV Web Ad
Sixty - Five thousand for a WEB AD?				Total:	$65,000.00

Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20100113	$2,576.28	Direct Mail-PARTY Fundraising
Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20100222	$4,604.10	Direct Mail-PARTY Fundraising
Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20100329	$876.15	Postage-PARTY Fundraising
Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20100415	$1,880.00	Postage-PARTY Fundraising
Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20100429	$8,434.11	Direct Mail-PARTY Fundraising
Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20100603	$6,191.99	Direct Mail-PARTY Fundraising
Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20100617	$775.50	Direct Mail-PARTY Fundraising
Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20100726	$2,292.55	Direct Mail-PARTY Fundraising
Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20100907	$595.00	Direct Mail-PARTY Fundraising
Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20100920	$210.00	Postage-PARTY Fundraising
Direct Mail Systems	Clearwater	FL	20101008	$379.50	Postage-PARTY Fundraising
There's plenty of Republican Mailing operations in Connecticut.				Total:	$28,815.18


FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20100222	$4,802.00	Telemarketing-PARTY Fundraising
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20100527	$550.00	Telemarketing-PARTY Fundraising
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20100603	$11,060.48	Telemarketing-PARTY Fundraising
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20100715	$7,625.00	Telemarketing-PARTY Fundraising
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20100820	$3,951.95	Telemarketing-PARTY Fundraising
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20100922	$2,189.00	Telemarketing-PARTY Fundraising
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20100930	$2,272.00	Telemarketing-PARTY Fundraising
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101015	$4,978.00	Telemarketing-PARTY Fundraising
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101019	$230.90	Printing-Generic Mapbooks
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101021	$1,700.00	Telemarketing-PARTY Vol.Recruitment
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101026	$300.35	Telemarketing-PARTY Vol.Recruitment
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101028	$4,716.80	GOTV CALLS-INKIND
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101028	$4,146.24	GOTV CALLS-INKIND
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101029	$223.40	Printing-Generic Mapbooks
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101101	$1,103.21	Generic GOTV Calls
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101101	$21,550.80	Generic GOTV Calls
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101101	$40,256.40	Generic GOTV Calls
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101108	$130.64	GOTV CALLS-INKIND
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101108	$192.03	GOTV CALLS-INKIND
FLS Connect LLC	Saint Paul	MN	20101110	$1,653.00	Telemarketing-PARTY Fundraising
Consider the number of volunteers we had phoning last fall plus our multiple staffed offices.				Total:	$113,632.20


Grassroots Targeting	Alexandria	VA	20100913	$21,000.00	Microtargeting-Generic
Grassroots Targeting	Alexandria	VA	20100930	$21,000.00	Microtargeting-Generic
Whatever "Microtargeting" is - it didn't work did it?				Total:	$42,000.00

SMARTech	Chattanooga	TN	20100817	$1,465.93	Telephone-Polling-Non Allocable
SMARTech	Chattanooga	TN	20100826	$859.43	Telephone-Polling-Non Allocable
SMARTech	Chattanooga	TN	20101012	$899.85	Telephone Polling-Non Allocable
Out of state vendor retained despite massive number of volunteers and paid staff on hand.				Total:	$3,225.21


Expenditures of dubious value total:			$266,042.41

Bin Laden Assigned To The Hitler Wing In Hell

2011-05-02T10:48:00.001-04:00

I must report it's very warm here in Hell.

Who's Next?

Democrats Abuse Single Mothers....AGAIN!

2011-04-29T16:21:00.000-04:00

Governor Malloy and the Democrat controlled legislature want to start taxing clothing under $50.

Purchases made at Consignment stores, Thrift stores and Resale shops should be exempted for the following reasons.

1. Clothing is a necessity not a luxury.

2. Stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers, Uptown Consignment and many other second hand clothing stores are good outlets for the middle-class and working poor.

While there seems to be a soak the rich mentality in CT, many of the customers who shop in resale shops are single Moms, out of work people who need to dress up to go to on job interviews, Teenagers who have limited resources and a growing group of middleclass taxpayers that can't afford to pay full retail and need to stretch their budget.

Taxing these people further will hurt those citizens who need the help most, especially in this difficult Connecticut economy.

3. These items have already been taxed when purchased new.

4. Second hand stores are good for the environment.

An estimated 12.4 million tons of textile waste was generated in 2008, or five percent of the total municipal solid waste (MSW) generation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The textile recycling industry prevents 2.5 billion pounds of post-consumer textile product waste from entering landfills, which represents 10 pounds for every person in the U.S. That figure represents five percent of the total municipal solid waste generated.

To exclude customers from paying taxes on second hand goods would encourage recycling and be a net positive for the environment.

New Speak

2011-04-23T19:09:00.001-04:00

Original Word or Phrase	Politically Correct Word or Phrase

Abortion	Emergency Contraception
Accomplice	Co-Conspirator
Alimony	Spousal Support
Apartments	Community Rentals
Arson	Reckless Burning
Bad	Less Than Perfect
Balloons	Inflatables
Bartender	Mixologist
Bellboy	Bellman
Bird Watcher	Birder
Black	African American
Bleeding to Death	Bleeding Out
Blind	Visually Impaired
Bomb	Implemented Explosive Device
Bombardier	Offensive Systems Officer
Broken Home	Dysfunctional Family
Bum - Hobo	Homeless Person
Butcher	Meat Cutter
Burglary	Home Invasion
Casket	Personal Burial Vault
Cattle	Beef Animals
Church	Worship Center
City	Urban Environment
Civil War	War Between the States
Civilian	Non-Combatant
Committee	Task Force
Concussion	Blunt Force Trauma
Congressman	Congress Person
Conservative	Right Wing Extremist
Craftsmen	Crafts People
Crazy	Psychotic Disorder
Creation	Intelligent Design
Crevice	Crevasse
Crippled	Disabled
Cuisine	Culinary Arts
Curtains - Drapes	Window Treatments
Dead End	No Outlet
Deaf	Hearing Impaired
Deliver (a baby)	Birth (a baby)
Diary	Journal
Died	Passed Away
Disease	Disorder
Do Not Disturb	Privacy Please
Doctor	Prescriber
Dog Catcher	Animal Control Officer
Doll	Action Figure
Drowsiness	Sleep Inertia
Drummer	Percussionist
Easter Eggs	Spring Spheres
Emergency Room	Trauma Center
Employee	Worker
Fire Department	Division of Fire
Fireman	Firefighter
Fireworks	Pyrotechnics
Flooding	Ponding of Water
Foot-Pounds (torque)	Pound-Feet
Forecast	Future View
Forest Fires	Wildfires
Free	You Just Pay the Shipping
Garbageman	Sanitation Worker
Girlfriend	Partner
Global Warming	Climate Change
Goalie	Goal Tender
Grocery Store	Food Store
Gun	Automatic Weapon
Gun Collection	Personal Arsenal
Hairdresser	Licensed Cosmetologist
Half Mast	Half Staff
Handicapped	Disabled
Handicapped	Physically Challenged
Harass	Harris
Harmonica	Mouth Organ
Hatchback (car)	Five-Door
Helicopter	Air Ship
Hero	Anyone
Hit and Run (accident)	Hit Skip
Homosexual - Queer	Gay
Housewife	Domestic Engineer
Housewife	Stay-at-Home Mom
Hunter	Urban Outdoorsman
Husband - Wife	Soul Mate
Iced Tea	Sweet Tea
Illegal Alien	Inadmissible Alien
Illegal Alien	Unidentified Foreign National
Illegal Immigrant	Irregular Migrant
I'm Sorry	My Bad
Indian	Native American
Indigestion	Acid Reflux Disease
Initiation	Hazing
Injury	Trauma
Janitor	Maintenance Technician
Jellyfish	Sea Jellies
Jungle	Rain Forest
Junior High School	Middle School
Kidnapper	Hostage Taker
Knowledge	Awareness
Laptop	Notebook
Larceny	Unlawful Appropriation of Goods
Librarian	Library Assistant
Lie	Spin, Verbal Misstep
Life Jacket	Floatation Device
Mailman	Postal Worker - Mail Carrier
Mankind	Humankind
Masseuse	Massage Therapist
Mechanic	Automotive Technician
Microphone	Acoustical Sensor
Midget - Dwarf	Little Person
Mood Swings	Bipolar Disorder
Mute	Non-Verbal
Night	Pre-Dawn Hours
Nightmares	Night Terrors
Oriental	Asian
Pain	Discomfort
Paramedics	First Responders
Parental Correction	Time Out
Parole	Ex-offender Re-entry
Passenger	Terminal Commuter
Pay (money owed)	Retire the Debt
People	Humans
People	Persons
Performer	Presenter
Ping-Pong	Table Tennis
Pistol	Handgun
Plastic	Composite Material - Carbon Fiber
Police Department	Division of Police
Police Department	Safety Center
Policeman	Law Enforcement Officer
Poor	Economically Marginalized
P.O.W.	Enemy Combatant
Prison	Correctional Facility
Prison Guard	Correctional Officer
Prisoner	Detainee
Prostitution	Human Trafficking
Recession	Economic Downturn
Rerun	Encore Presentation
Rerun	Previously Recorded
Restaurant	Eatery
Retarded	Mentally Challenged
Rifle	Assault Weapon
Right	Privilege
Riot	Flash Mob
Roads	Surface Streets
Robe	House Coat
Roommate	Suitemate
Running Away	Felony Evading
Runs Batted In (RBI - Baseball)	Runs Driven In (RDI)
Salesman	Retail Associate
School	Community Learning Center
School Closing (weather)	Calamity Day
Sedated	Medically Induced Coma
Serve (food)	Plate it Up
Shed	Outbuilding
Shoes	Footwear
Shoulder (road)	Clear Recovery Area
Shovel	Entrenchment Tool
Shyness	Selective Mutism
Siamese Twins	Conjoined Twins
Sinking	Taking on Water
Slave Trader	Human Trafficker
Slingshot	Wrist Rocket
Sniper	Sharpshooter
Snitch	Confidential Informant
Snow Flurries	Snow Showers
Soap	Body Wash
Spokesman	Spokes Person
Spouse	Life Partner
Spring	Resistance Coil
Stabbing	Sharp-Force Injury
Starfish	Sea Stars
Station Wagon	Crossover
Stewardess	Flight Attendant
Store Security Guard	Loss Prevention Technician
Stove	Cooktop
Strip Mining	Surface Mining
Stripper	Exotic Dancer
Stroke	Brain Attack
Submarine	Submersible
Sun Roof	Moon Roof
Suspect	Person of Interest
Suspended (police officer)	Paid Vacation
Teacher	Educator
Teenager	Pre-Adult
Terrorism	Violent Extremism
Terrorist	Insurgent
Thief - Robber	Gunman
Thumbtack	Pushpin
Tidal Wave	Tsunami
Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers	Tomb of the Unknowns
Tradesmen	Trades People
Traffic Accident	Aggravated Vehicular Homicide
Traffic Circle	Roundabout
Trailer Park	Mobile Home Community
Transvestite	Transgender
Travel Agent	Leisure Travel Consultant
Truck	Motor Carrier
Truck	SUV
Used	Pre-Owned
Vacation	Road Trip
Vacuum	Pressure Differential
Vandalism	Criminal Damaging
Waiter - Waitress	Server
War	Military Conflict
Woman	Person
You're Welcome	Thank You
Zookeeper	Animal Handler

Thanks and a tip of the hat to "Grizzly: http://home.roadrunner.com/~grizzly/correct.html

Race for GOP Party Chair might get pretty dirty

2011-04-19T22:12:00.004-04:00

Expect personal attacks to begin any minute.

Heaven only knows

what heinous things

I might have done!

He's been sued!

Yup - not only that more than once to boot! ( In over 30 years - what self-employed hasn't?)

What else?

We'll have to wait and see.
I've already heard rumblings that are laughable.

Tougher Penalties For Using Cellphone While Driving

2011-04-15T09:10:00.001-04:00

Distracted drivers beware:

The penalty for talking on a handheld cellphone while driving in Connecticut could get a lot tougher.

Daniela Altmari; The Hartford Courant

Unfortunately there's been no mention of any new penalties for those that refuse to get out of the left lane.

In answer to the perpetual question; "When and where was the photograph taken?" Off the internet around 9am 4/15/2011

Rebuilding The Connecticut Republican Party

2011-03-31T16:36:00.007-04:00

Since the founding of the party itself, never in over 152 years have Connecticut Republicans held not one seat in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and not one State Constitutional Office either.

Connecticut Republicans find themselves in the unenviable position of being held hostage in the bluest state in the nation.

Party members are disillusioned, disgusted, dismayed, distraught, all of which could lead to the party to becoming even more dysfunctional!
What's worse is our losses have led to a large portion of party regulars that are now demoralized!

We'll have to re-engage the party before we can re-energize it.

Here's one of the ways we might consider to do that.

Before we decide to pull

the plug on life support,

why not 1st call in some interns?

No - not those interns.

These interns!

College students!

They earn credits,

we buy pizza!

We're going to have our work cut out for ourselves and there's little doubt we'll need all the help we can get knitting the party back together from Putnam to Greenwich, but unless we reconnect with our base we will not prosper as a political party.

Putting forth an effort to attract as many college interns as possible can only help the Connecticut Republican Party. We can call them "Community Organizers"; that has a catchy sound doesn't it?

How to win only 42 of 169 towns & still become Governor

2011-03-23T10:43:00.000-04:00

The 2010 Republican candidate for Connecticut Governor won 3 times as many towns as his opponent, but lost anyway.

Republican candidates rarely do well in cities so ignoring them shouldn't make any difference right?

Wrong.

Here's how the conscious decision to write off the cities cost the entire election.

CTGOP_GOV_06_10

We Republicans Have To Stop Acting Like This

2011-03-19T11:18:00.002-04:00

Connecticut Republicans have come to the realization that somehow we missed a nationwide Republican landslide.

2010 was the best year in the history of the Republican Party.

Nationally the party took more state legislative seats in 2010 than ever before in the party's history.

We dodged a landslide.

Here in Connecticut, and for a variety of reasons we didn't fare so well.

One of the reasons is our tendency to apply our own political purity tests which creates infighting, unnecessarily bloody primaries, and in the end victories for Democrats.

We'll agree on virtually everything, find some point of disagreement and withdraw our support at least, or attack our own at worst.

Traveling around the state speaking to Republican leaders and Town Committees the one thing I hear the most often is `We've got to stop infighting - it costs us too many close elections....'

I've often compared this weird counter-productive habit of ours to "The Baptist Joke". Most people understand what I'm referring to, but the remark elicits puzzled looks from others.

So here's "the famous Baptist joke" which clearly has nothing to do with Baptists or anyone else - except maybe we Republicans!

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump. I ran over and said: "Stop. Don't do it."

"Why shouldn't I?" he asked.

"Well, there's so much to live for!"

"Like what?"

"Are you religious?

"He said, "Yes.

I said, "Me too. Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

"Christian."

"Me too. Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

"Protestant."

"Me too. Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

"Baptist."

"Wow. Me too. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

"Baptist Church of God."

"Me too. Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"

"Reformed Baptist Church of God."

"Me too. Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?"

He said: "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915."

I said: "Die, heretic scum," and pushed him off.

The Brain Transplant

2011-03-09T09:39:00.000-05:00

In the hospital the relatives gathered in the waiting room, where a family member lay gravely ill. Finally, the doctor came in looking tired and somber .

"I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news, he said as he surveyed the worried faces. The only hope left for your loved one at this time is a brain transplant. It's an experimental procedure, very risky, but it is the only hope. Insurance will cover the procedure, but you will have to pay for the BRAIN."

The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news. After a time, someone asked, 'How much will a brain cost?'

The doctor quickly responded, "$5000 for a Democrat's brain; $200 for a Republican's brain."

The moment turned awkward. Some of the Democrats actually had to 'try' to not smile, avoiding eye contact with the Republicans. A man unable to control his curiosity, finally blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask, "Why is the Democrat's brain so much more costly than a Republican's brain?"

The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and explained to the entire group, "It's just standard pricing procedure. We have to price the Republican's brain a lot lower because it's been used."

The Damage Obama Has Done

2011-02-17T10:42:00.000-05:00

From Dick Morris

	January 2009	Today	% chg	Source
Avg. retail price/gallon gas in U.S.	$1.83	$3.104	69.6%	1
Crude oil, European Brent (barrel)	$43.48	$99.02	127.7%	2
Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel)	$38.74	$91.38	135.9%	2
Gold: London (per troy oz.)	$853.25	$1,369.50	60.5%	2
Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL	$3.56	$6.33	78.1%	2
Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL	$9.66	$13.75	42.3%	2
Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. fob	$13.37	$35.39	164.7%	2
Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall	7.6%	9.4%	23.7%	3
Unemployment rate, blacks	12.6%	15.8%	25.4%	3
Number of unemployed	11,616,000	14,485,000	24.7%	3
Number of fed. employees, ex. military (curr = 12/10 prelim)	2,779,000	2,840,000	2.2%	3
Real median household income (2008 v 2009)	$50,112	$49,777	-0.7%	4
Number of food stamp recipients (curr = 10/10)	31,983,716	43,200,878	35.1%	5
Number of unemployment benefit recipients (curr = 12/10)	7,526,598	9,193,838	22.2%	6
Number of long-term unemployed	2,600,000	6,400,000	146.2%	3
Poverty rate, individuals (2008 v 2009)	13.2%	14.3%	8.3%	4
People in poverty in U.S. (2008 v 2009)	39,800,000	43,600,000	9.5%	4
U.S. rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings	5	9	n/a	10
Present Situation Index (curr = 12/10)	29.9	23.5	-21.4%	11
Failed banks (curr = 2010 + 2011 to date)	140	164	17.1%	12
U.S. dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate	89.76	82.03	-8.6%	2
U.S. money supply, M1, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim)	1,575.1	1,865.7	18.4%	13
U.S. money supply, M2, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim)	8,310.9	8,852.3	6.5%	13
National debt, in trillions	$10.627	$14.052	32.2%	14

Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation’s history.
Over 27 times as fast!
Metaphorically, speaking, if you are driving in the right lane doing 65 MPH and a car rockets past you in the left lane 27 times faster . . . it would be doing 1,755 MPH!

(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury

Malloy's Budget - DOA?

2011-02-16T23:06:00.000-05:00

Senator Joseph C. Markley (R-16)
Response to Governor's budget.

Governor Malloy's Budget

2011-02-14T19:09:00.001-05:00

If Governor Malloy's budget seems reasonable to you,

it's time to increase your dose.

Moses

2011-02-11T18:30:00.001-05:00

Thanks and a tip of the hat to my friend Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach of Chababd Lubavitch of Northwest CT

Corey Brinson - Keep The Money

2011-02-11T10:53:00.001-05:00

Members of the Hartford Republican Town Committee:

I wanted you all to know that I have informed the Mayor that I am declining the entire $15,000 annual salary for remainder of my appointment to the Hartford City Council.

I think that the money is better spent on providing money to disadvantaged city kids for college or assisting the city in its budget deficit.

Corey J. Brinson

Hartford City Councilman

Happy Birthday

2011-02-06T18:01:00.000-05:00

Weather Forecast

2011-02-03T17:24:00.000-05:00

How'd our taxes get so high?

2011-01-16T00:04:00.000-05:00

Can you spot the real dope?

2011-01-10T21:29:00.000-05:00

Fairfield Weekly: The DEA Cracks Down on Fake Weed

On Nov. 24, the DEA used its emergency powers to outlaw a range of heretofore legal ”synthetic marijuana blends,” creatively marketed as “incense.” When the ban comes into effect at the end of December, the chemicals used in K2, Spice and related products will officially become controlled substances, illegal to use, possess or sell.

In a written statement, DEA acting administrator Michele M. Leonhart summed up the government’s view: “Makers of these harmful products mislead their customers into thinking that ‘fake pot’ is a harmless alternative to illegal drugs, but that is not the case. Today’s action will call further attention to the risks of ingesting unknown compounds and will hopefully take away any incentive to try these products,” said Leonhart.
And with that, the DEA killed a legal buzz, the likes of which this country may have never known.

Fake Dope Real Dope
Naturally, now that it's illegal nationally, and has been since December 24th last year, Connecticut State Senator Andrea L. Stillman, (D-Waterford) decided this week would be a good time to introduce a bill banning the stuff!

Connecticut News Junkie: Stillman Submits Bill To Ban ‘Fake Pot’

New Haven Register: Ban on synthetic cannabis

Like Drunken Sailors (With apologies to members of our Navy)

2011-01-10T11:28:00.002-05:00

Wake Up Connecticut!

Nope, it's not your imagination at all.

Connecticut's broke because we've been spending a lot more money than we have.

While household income has been fairly flat.

Visit http://commonsensecommitment.com/ for a a more in depth review.

The Passing Of The Gavel

2011-01-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

WTNH tanks

2011-01-06T13:22:00.001-05:00

New Haven based ABC affiliate WTNH, apparently hell-bent to tank their own ratings continues a practice started a few years ago; dump popular on-air personalities.

This time it's witty weatherman Geoff Fox whose contract will expire at the end of February and won't be renewed.

From his blog, "My Permanent Record"

After 26 years at 8 Elm Street I’m not being invited back at the end of my current contract. I got the word at 4:00 PM Wednesday. I’m done at the end of February.

The station's actions are in keeping with taking Ann Nyberg off the 11pm news and you might recall when they had a more authentic sports caster as well, Bob Picozzi.

The Problem With The Anti-Tobacco Crowd

2010-12-27T10:52:00.000-05:00

They Lie

Surgeon General’s Report Called ‘Unscientific’ and Potentially Unethical

Columbus, Georgia (Vocus/PRWEB) December 15, 2010

A renowned member of the Boston University School of Public Health and members of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association are challenging as unscientific and potentially unethical this week’s report from the Office of Dr. Regina Benjamin, the U.S. Surgeon General, about the effects of tobacco smoke.

The report said that even brief exposure to secondhand smoke – as from one cigarette - can cause cardiovascular disease, trigger acute cardiac events and can damage one’s DNA and lead to cancer. These and other parts of the report are being challenged by the IPCPR which is comprised of some 2,000 members who are primarily small family businesses that operate neighborhood cigar stores or manufacture premium cigars, pipes, tobacco and related accoutrements.

“The mixed signals and misinformation coming from Dr. Benjamin’s office lead one to question everything they say and do,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR.

McCalla cited the fact that one of the first actions of President Barack Obama’s administration was to push through draconian increases in tobacco taxes to fund an expanded children’s healthcare program. Then the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was passed, giving new powers to the Federal Drug Administration to reduce smoking in the United States. Now, the Surgeon General is saying, in effect, that walking past a smoker on the street could cause a person to develop cardiovascular disease and cancer.
“It is simply untrue to assert that brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause such results,” added Prof. Michael Siegel of Boston University’s School of Public Health. “If there is no safe level of exposure to any carcinogen, that would include exposure to automobile exhaust, the sun’s rays, benzene, radon in homes, arsenic in drinking water and many other everyday items.”

Prof. Siegel, who is not associated with the tobacco industry or IPCPR, also said those statements are untrue and that nothing in the actual report supports those assertions.

“There is nothing in the report itself which … supports the assertions that a brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause cardiovascular disease or cancer. These assertions … have been manufactured to create a sense of public hysteria, but they are unsupported by any science whatsoever,” he wrote in his blog at http://www.tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com on Dec. 13, 2010. “This is the second time that the Office of the Surgeon General has misrepresented and distorted the science of … secondhand smoke. The press release which accompanied the Surgeon General’s 2006 report on secondhand smoke made the same false assertion,” he said.

Follow the money.

McCalla also cited the fact that, prior to her nomination as U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Benjamin served as a trustee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation which contributes tens of millions of dollars every year to promote smoking bans and fund anti-tobacco groups in the United States and internationally.

Why is this a potential conflict of interest?
"Because the foundation’s sister organization is Johnson & Johnson, maker of Nicorette, a nicotine replacement product,” he said.

White Christmas?

2010-12-21T09:32:00.001-05:00

Janice, our official computer model tells us we have a good chance of seeing a white Christmas this year!

Actually, she said:

Which apparently means:

Merry Christmas

Thanks to Ryan Hanrahan's blog "Way Too Much Weather"

Assange: "U.S. intends to prosecute me."

2010-12-18T09:49:00.007-05:00

"I came to Sweden as a refugee publisher involved with an extraordinary publishing fight with the Pentagon, where people were being detained and there is an attempt to prosecute me for espionage,"

Assange said in an interview in the documentary, aired on Swedish public television.

He shouldn't live long enough, the United States should have this guy eliminated as soon as possible, and we should make no bones about it.

As it regards Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning who is the suspect in leaking scores of classified documents to Assange; if found guilty of high treason he should be trotted out in front of a Firing Squad promptly.

Both events should be televised....."live" so to speak.

Why I feel so strongly the people that jeopardize

the lives of our intelligence personnel should

simply be dead.

I attended 4 high schools in as many years and had no idea why my dad had suddenly become something of a job hopper; and didn't learn why until a full 20 years later when my father leveled with me.
He had traveled to Connecticut for my 3rd and final degree of FreeMasonry, and spoke to me at length the night I was raised as a Master Mason in 1987.

"Well Brother....let me tell you what I really did all my life.." he began.

I spent the next several hours gasping things like "what?"
In 1967 his cover had been compromised; he had become a target.

I learned for the 1st time that my Dad had been an OSS (Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the CIA) agent during WWII, where he was placed behind lines in a German Officers uniform.
He was literally a Commando and spoke to me of the experience only that one night. He would acknowledge but otherwise evade any discussion about it for the rest of his life.
I had known he had worked on a handful of defense devices, but the details had been vague and rather uninteresting, I had no idea he was up to his neck in the business.

Neither of us were serious drinkers, but we finished the only bottle I had in the house, a fifth of Strega an Italian liqueur.

He had no interest in pursuing an undercover lifestyle and was mostly an R&D guy, designing among other things the 1st ceramic nosecone for the heat-seeking Sidewinder Missile in the early 1950's.
He later turned down a lot of money to work on the Cruise Missile as he found the device offensive (potential civilian targets) and was only interested in working on defense.
He'd had no pangs of conscience after killing those that killed civilians and wasn't about to become such a man himself.

Had those that had placed my father in mortal danger been eliminated it wouldn't have bothered me one bit; likewise for the two scumbags pictured above.

Joe Markley on the DPUC lawsuit

2010-12-05T09:04:00.001-05:00

Connecticut State Senator-elect, Joe Markley discusses the suit he's filed against the Connecticut Department of Utility Control (DPUC).

Other stories about this:
Markley Files Lawsuit to Block Utility Tax Grab
Candidate Files Lawsuit Against ‘Sneaky Tax’
Markley files lawsuit against DPUC

We should support whatever Ann Nyberg's promoting

2010-11-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

Ann Nyberg's a nice lady who by virtue of her staying power has become such a familiar figure that she's almost an institution in here Connecticut. Ann's generous with time and her celebrity draw as well.

She's also more than just a talking head, she's a trained journalist and a professional at that, seeing as one can't get a handle on where she is politically. Never a wink, sigh or cleverly timed raised eyebrow. She does the news dead straight with no slant.

I've come the conclusion that she's actually the same lady that tells us the news in real life as she seems on the tube.
Sort of like the late Bob Steele (only prettier) who had no real schtick but was simply a wonderful friendly soul who had a radio program. I knew Steele well enough to realize he had no act; on air or off he was the same guy! If you enjoyed him on WTIC-1080 you loved him in person as that same on-air wry, dry wit was built right into the man. It was just how God made him I guess.

When God was building Ann Nyberg He seemed intent on creating one of those kind thoughtful women who never seem to run out of time or energy. You know the type; those where just a glance at their schedule is impressive if not dumbfounding.

Nyberg's always up to something, she seems to get herself involved directly or simply promoting one goodie two-shoes project or event after another. Just following her on twitter can be exhausting.
.

One of December's big thing's is

Saturday, December 11, 2010 from 1-4pm 36 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme, CT 06371

Take out your PDA and punch this in now so you don't forget, it's a nice drive and your wife & kids will love it.

“A Connecticut Christmas”

To Benefit the Connecticut Food Bank and Tiffany Farm

From Nyberg's own website, Annie Mame:

This has come together fast and furious in the last two weeks over a cup of coffee and now it’s time to tell you all about it.
We can all work together to put food on the table for so many struggling families in Connecticut and help save a long time dairy farm at the same time.
This is being lovingly produced by, Heather Colby, Carol Dahlke, Ann Nyberg and Anna Rubino and we hope you will join us for our fundraiser: “A Connecticut Christmas – for Connecticut Food Bank and Tiffany Farm”, will be held at High Hopes in Old Lyme, CT!

This event is being hosted by High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. and we thank them for that. When you head out to this event, if you’ve never been to High Hopes you are in for a treat and you will hear all about what they do.
We will have music and hot coffee and this will be neighbor helping neighbor. Your price of admission is non-perishable food.

It is time to help our neighbors:
Connecticut Food Bank reports that the need for food in Connecticut is up an incredible 30% over last year.* The need is up a stunning 100% in areas that never needed to ask for food.*

About Tiffany Farms

Tiffany Farms has been around since 1841 in Lyme, CT. In September 2010 the lower barn burned down and at the time was holding equipment, antiques and over 1000 bales of hay that would have fed the dairy cows over the winter. The Farm is in need of our help to rebuild the barn and replace the hay for the animals this winter. Please join us this holiday season to make their season a little brighter.
Enclosed are more details about the farmers market portion for Tiffany Farm. The Farmers Market will be a component of an over all fundraiser for Tiffany Farm and the Connecticut Food Bank. We appreciate the instant interest by many of you for participation and look forward to working with all of you to make this event a great success.