Bye Bye Rob

Rally!

2006-03-14T15:52:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, be there or be square!

P.S.: Once again, sorry updates have been so terrible. I may have an announcement coming up in a few days.

Hmm

2006-02-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

I've been neglecting you again, blog.

For those of you that think conservatism is taking us back to the 1950's, I say to you, we're way past that.

From The New York Times:

FULTON, Mo. — When Wendy DeVore, the drama teacher at Fulton High here, staged the musical "Grease," about high school students in the 1950's, she carefully changed the script to avoid causing offense in this small town.

She softened the language, substituting slang for profanity in places. Instead of smoking "weed," the teenagers duck out for a cigarette. She rated the production PG-13, advising parents it was not suitable for small children.

But a month after the performances in November, three letters arrived on the desk of Mark Enderle, Fulton's superintendent of schools. Although the letters did not say so, the three writers were members of a small group linked by e-mail, all members of the same congregation, Callaway Christian Church.

Each criticized the show, complaining that scenes of drinking, smoking and a couple kissing went too far, and glorified conduct that the community tries to discourage. One letter, from someone who had not seen the show but only heard about it, criticized "immoral behavior veiled behind the excuse of acting out a play."

This is getting ridiculous.

Lieberman Update

2006-01-26T09:16:00.000-08:00

Lieberman is giving a floor speech on Alito at about 2 o' clock. I'll get an update up as soon as we learn how he'll vote.

Flip...Flop...Flip...Flop

2006-01-26T08:12:00.000-08:00

Rob Simmons has always tried to have the best of both worlds. He's hid conservative beliefs behind a veil of moderation. Finally, the inevitable has happened and Simmons is no longer able to maintain this political opportunism.

Simmons went along with Bush and voted for the massive and damaging spending cuts on December 19th. This decision was contrary to a statement he made in an email on November 30th of the same year, stating:

“Medicaid, student loans, and food stamps are programs that help people. I could not vote for a bill that targeted these programs. I am for a reduction in federal spending, but it must be done in a more equitable manner.”

So, theres one flip flop. He promised to vote against it, but then he voted for it. He was widely criticized in the Second District for this. And he has now changed his position once again, planning to vote against the budget cuts when they come up for a second vote in the House.

How does Simmon's explain this blatant opportunism?

“I opposed the original House budget in November because I knew it could be, and should be, improved,” Simmons said in a statement. “The budget that was drafted in the House-Senate Conference was a better budget, and I voted for it in December.”

[...]

Simmons said he has since met with a number of constituent groups, including AARP Connecticut, the American Federation of Teachers, Connecticut Voices for Children, labor unions and radiologists, a “consensus” of whom oppose the bill. The congressman said he will oppose the measure when it comes to a vote, as is expected Feb. 1.

Ah, well that clears everything up then. The man has no strong moral standing on issues such as Medicaid, student loans, or food stamps. He promised to vote against any spending cuts that cut Medicaid, student loans, or food stamp programs; yet the seemingly "better" conference bill cut all three. Simmons ended up feeling the heat for his betrayal, and performed a political stunt to save his own rear.

Joe Courtney gives Simmons someone to look up to, taking a stand on Rob's waffling:

"He had the chance to do what was in the best interest of the district and instead broke his word and sided with Bush and his Republican leadership,” Courtney said, “Now that he has been criticized, he wants to pretend that he can undo the damage. That's not leadership. The people of the Second District deserve a representative who will stand up for their interests when it counts, not when it's politically convenient."

Mr. Lieberman

2006-01-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

We are watching you closely today Mr. Lieberman.

How will you vote?

Update: As of noon on the 26th, Lieberman still has not announced his vote. You're making us nervous Mr. Lieberman. We have itchy donate fingers waiting for Lamont to launch his site.

Courtney's on the Case

2006-01-24T16:53:00.000-08:00

Evening all, just wanted to give those of you that don't already know a heads up that Joe Courtney will be appearing at a UConn forum this Thursday. More here:

( Storrs , January 19, 2005) – Angered over Rob Simmons' vote to cut nearly $13 billion from federal student loan programs, the University of Connecticut Democrats are hosting a forum with 2nd District Congressional Candidate Joe Courtney and State Representative Denise Merrill on January 26th at 4 p.m. at the University of Connecticut 's Dodd Center .

“Rob broke his word,” said David Adams, President of the UCONN Democrats, “He repeatedly promised to oppose these drastic cuts, yet was there to give Tom DeLay and the Republicans the vote they needed to narrowly pass these reductions.”

Courtney has already made his stances known on the issue:

“It's time for leadership that will stand up for Connecticut's college students and their families,” Courtney said, “Affordable college tuition is essential in that it gives our young people the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy. Once again, Rob Simmons failed to step up when it mattered.”

I'll do my best to make it.

Rob Simmons Just Can't Help Himself

2006-01-22T11:29:00.000-08:00

Its comments like this that remind me why I started this blog. Rob Simmons jumps on the misinformation bandwagon regarding Abramoff according to the Groton times (via CT Blue:

First he [Simmons] cites examples of Democratic corruption from years ago (all of which sound rather quaint today), and then he states, "[a]nd this is particularly true in the Abramoff case, where the Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, has accepted substantial contributions from Abramoff; where Carl Levin, the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, who's been around for 30 plus years has accepted substantial contributions; the senator from New York, Hillary Clinton..."

Now, I'm going to say this once. NOT A SINGLE DEMOCRAT TOOK MONEY FROM JACK ABRAMOFF. Jack Abramoff is a Republican. He gave money to Republicans. He cheated Native American groups. The cheated Native American groups themselves gave money to Democrats. However, suggesting that those donations are illegal or even in bad taste is ridiculous.

The whole "bipartisan scandal" idea can be put down with a diagram. Say your grandfather has just died and your grandmother has hired a lawyer to manage the inheritance. However, the lawyer was crooked and extorted your grandmother and funneled that money into the Yakuza. Oh, by the way, your grandmother gave you some money for Christmas:

Click for larger version

Now, using Republican logic here, both you and the Yakuza would be equally corrupt. However, this is pretty obviously untrue, because while you might use your Christmas money to buy a copy of Kill Bill, the funneled Yakuza Ney money was a bribe to buy a vote, or keeping with the metaphor, to knock somebody off or a new katana or something.

A Few Things

2006-01-21T18:16:00.000-08:00

Sorry the site has been so inactive recently. I have been pretty preoccupied with a combination of sickness, holidays, and exams. When I have been able to get on to post, however, I seem to have been neglecting the site's actual purpose. So first, I'd like to recommned that you all go sign Joe Courtney's petition on the disasterous prescription drug bill. 'Tis a worthy cause.

That being said, just as a warning, I think I do reserve the right to post on another topic if the mood strikes me. Which it often does.

But I digress.

Secondly, my last post seems to have drawn some ire from a commenter who had this to say (my first troll, goody!):

Nothing But the Truth said...
This has to be the weakest site I have seen in a while. your posts don't even make sense if you read them carefully, and you espouse ideas that are illogical. Go get a real job.

Don't take this too hard. Just don't keep blogging- and failing.

Ouch man, that hit me right here. Either you're a Lieberman fan, or you just lost a pet or something. In either case, I'm very sorry for your loss. But man, all that pent up aggression is just bringing you down.

Also, just FYI. I'm a 15 year old kid, though I'm hoping to get a "real job" this summer. Any recommendations?

Your Blogging Failure,
ATalbot

First Meeting with Ned Lamont (w/ pictures)

2006-01-17T17:50:00.000-08:00

Tonight, among the portraits of famous revolutionaries and free-thinkers in the Cafe La Paloma Sabanera in Hartford, Ned Lamont spoke to possible voters and contemplated the possibility of challenging Joe Lieberman for the Democratic Nomination for Senate. Those who attended ranged from happenstance passers-by to hardcore activists, to even a brief visit from Hartford mayor Eddie Perez.

The evening opened with a chance for the around 50 who attended to discuss their concerns face to face with Mr. Lamont, who received the questions well and seemed as eager as those there to challenge the often cronyish behavior of Joe Lieberman. I was able to ask Mr. Lamont a few questions, including getting his opinion of domestic wiretapping. "It's illegal" he said, the two, simple, clear-spoken words Democrats have been longing to hear from their elected representatives. He said that there has not been nearly enough vocalized outrage from those on the left about the issue and that he intended to challenge Joe Lieberman's painful silence.

However, it was when he rose to speak that Mr. Lamont truly hit his stride. He opened by stating that two facts led him to consider entering the race: The Alaska "Bridge to Nowhere" and Bush's "War to Nowhere", Iraq.

Lamont chastized Democrats for not asking the tough questions during the leadup to the Iraq war and that Lieberman had instead chosen to be a "cheerleader for the president." He said that it was because of this fear to speak truth to power that we now find ourselves "looking down the barrel of a bloody stalemate in Iraq."

Lamont also challenged the prevailing feeling of stagnation in Connecticut, as well as in the nation at large. "If you're not moving forward, you're falling behind," Lamont said, challenging Lieberman to "stop by Bridgeport on your way back from Bagdad."

If Lamont's speech could be summed up, it would be the words he used to close, encompassing the Iraq war, the culture of "lazy corruption" in Washington, as well as economic foot dragging caused by extensive tax cuts. Lamont used his speech tonight to call for change within the nation, optimistically stating that "we can always do better than 'stay the course'."

Lauds to John Dingell (D-MI)

2005-12-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

This post has little to do with Rob Simmons, but I know at least one of my readers will be interested in what transpired on the floor of the House today. Congressional Republicans shut down all other orders of business in order to force a vote on whether or not the House endorses the "symbols and traditions" of Christmas and oppose the completely nonexistant "attempts to ban references to Christmas" (a morally reprehensible claim to make, in my opinion.) This embarassment to our government was not met by silence, however, and was instead responded to with a brilliant comment read by Representative John Dingell, Democrat of Michigan:

"Madam Speaker, I have a little poem.

'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House,
no bills were passed `bout which Fox News could grouse.
Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,
so vacations in St. Barts soon should be near.

Katrina kids were all nestled snug in motel beds,
while visions of school and home danced in their heads.
In Iraq, our soldiers need supplies and a plan,
and nuclear weapons are being built in Iran.

Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell.
Americans feared we were in a fast track to ..... well.
Wait, we need a distraction, something divisive and wily,
a fabrication straight from the mouth of O'Reilly.

We will pretend Christmas is under attack,
hold a vote to save it, then pat ourselves on the back.
Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger,
Wake up Congress, they're in no danger.

This time of year, we see Christmas everywhere we go,
From churches to homes to schools and, yes, even Costco.
What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy
when this is the season to unite us with joy.

At Christmastime, we're taught to unite.
We don't need a made-up reason to fight.
So on O'Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter and those right-wing blogs.
You should sit back and relax, have a few egg nogs.

'Tis the holiday season; enjoy it a pinch.
With all our real problems, do we really need another Grinch?
So to my friends and my colleagues, I say with delight,
a Merry Christmas to all, and to Bill O'Reilly, happy holidays.
Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas."

As the young people would say: Owned.

(Update: Link to the video stream here.)

Apologies

2005-12-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates all. I've either been down with the flu or swamped with makeup work to do. Either way, I'll leave you tonight with something Rob Simmons can ponder as he lays in bed tonight:

Obama says Republicans practice "Social Darwinism"

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - Republicans controlling the federal government practice Social Darwinism, a discredited philosophy that in economics and politics calls for survival of the fittest, according to a Democratic U.S. senator.

Sen. Barak Obama of Illinois, a fast-rising Democratic star, told Florida party members that only a philosophy among Republicans of sink or swim explains why some Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans still live in cars while Republicans in Washington prepare next week to enact $70 billion in tax breaks.

"It's called the 'Ownership society' in Washington. This isn't the first time this philosophy has appeared. It used to be called Social Darwinism," Obama said late Saturday at the Democrats meeting at Walt Disney World.

"They have a philosophy they have implemented and that is doing exactly what it was designed to do. They basically don't believe in government. They have a different philosophy that says, 'We're going to dismantle government'," Obama said.

Republicans running the federal government believe, "You are on your own to buy your own health care, to buy your own retirement security ... to buy your own roads and levees," Obama said, referring to flood barriers that gave way in New Orleans during Katrina last August.

A Candidates Profile

2005-11-24T16:25:00.000-08:00

Cross-posted at District Blogs

I figure a good way to start this thing off would be to do a profile of the two candidates. We'll start off with the rather disreputable fellow who is the incumbent, Rob Simmons:

Rob Simmons is one of the lucky chosen few in the current Republican Congress. Congressional leaders allow him to create the appearance of a stoic moderate, a lone voice of dissent against the vast swath of Republican congressional corruption.

In fact, it is completely the opposite. Republican congressional leaders allow him to vote moderately on controversial issues only if they are already assured of victory. It is a win-win situation for the Republican sleaze machine. Delay and Hastert get passage of far-Right bills, Simmons gets his meaningless dissent votes that, though completely spineless in nature, sure look good on a Connecticut campaign flier.

Simmons is, in fact, a rubber stamp for Delay's culture of Congressional corruption. Having accepted thousands of dollars from the indicted Texas congressman, Simmons consistantly refuses to return the funds. Challenger Joe Courtney has called on Simmons to return the dirty money, but Simmons has only responded with further name-calling.

Simmons smokescreen of false moderation shows once again on the issue of Health Care. Purporting to differ with Congressional leadership on the issue, Simmons nevertheless voted to push through the meaningless Republican perscription drug plan, another feel-good piece of legislation that does not address the core issue.

Simmons is consistently out of the mainstream of Connecticut's Second District. He claims to be against the Social Security Privatization schemes, but his actions speak otherwise. He supports school vouchers, diverting public school funding into private school pockets. He has consistantly toed the Republican line on the environment, voting for Bush's Energy Bill. He voted for the Republican bankruptcy bill, making it vastly more difficult for average families to get out of debt; Simmons is a rubber stamp for the credit card lobby. Simmons voted to disallow gunmakers to be held accountable for murders resulting from gun violence.

Simmons voted Yes on limiting Medicare prescription drug benefits, voted No on allowing the importation of cheaper foreign drugs, and is given a dismal 33% rating from the APHA.

Simmons is given a 27% rating by the AFL-CIO.

Simmons is given a 0% rating by the American Retirees Association.

Simmons voted Yes to make the wasteful Bush tax cuts permanant. He voted Yes to eliminating the estate tax. He apparently supports the disasterous economic principles of the Bush administration, the first in history to choose to fight a multiple front war while STILL cutting taxes.

Are you noticing a pattern? A change is needed. Connecticut's Second District, the most liberal district currently held by a Republican, needs far more than a rubber stamp for the failed Bush policies representing it.

Joe Courtney is the answer.

His past actions and voting record speak loudly. Where Rob Simmons has failed on health care, Joe Courtney instead says America deserves a true Patients Bill of Rights. He says that every American should have access to affordable Health Care, and that we need a more affordable drug alternative for our seniors.

Where Rob Simmons has failed on Social Security, Joe Courtney says we should not risk the livelihoods of our seniors on the stock market, that he would oppose any bill that would harm the Social Security Trust Fund through the irresponsible gamble that is privatization.

Where Rob Simmons has failed on education, Joe Courtney believes that we must insure the quality of our schools. And on an issue especially poigniant to me, having a mentally handicapped brother, Joe Courtney says he will fight to obtain federal funding to fulfill the special education mandate that is putting the squeeze on our schools.

Where Rob Simmons has failed on the environment, Joe Courtney believes that protecting our environment does not mean slashing environmental protection funds.

Where Rob Simmons has failed on labor, Joe Courtney has succeeded. He has consistently voted to increase the minimum wage, to compensate workers injured on the job, and to allow leave for workers suffering from medical and family issues, so that those individuals dont also have to be iterrified for their jobs.

Where Rob Simmons has failed, Joe Courtney will serve US. We must use the election in 2006 to show that we are tired of bloated government run by the lobbyists. That we are tired of the backwards proposals of the Bush administration and the consistent fawning support of Rob Simmons. We are tired. Change is needed, and it will come.

You can help. Please take a moment of your time and offer your support, monetary or otherwise, at:
Joe Courtney's Campaign Website

Cross-posted at District Blogs

Update: This has been front-paged over at My Left Nutmeg, a great community and resource for all things related to Connecticut politics.

Welcome

2005-11-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

This will be the first in I hope many posts detailing the campaign to defeat perhaps THE most vulnerable Congressional Republican, Rob Simmons. I will try to make sure to bring you events as soon as they happen, hopefully before you can get them anywhere else.

Our strongest Democratic challenger in this district is, of course, Joe Courtney.