Connecticut

Fund Raising Will Be Key to Schiff’s Success

Fri, 09/18/2009 - 11:36am | posted by David Carlson

Schiff On this Constitution Day, Peter Schiff made a major announcement as some of you know. He officially announced his intentions to run for Senator of Connecticut.

I have personally been following Schiff since last Spring. I read both of his books, and agreed entirely with his investment thesis. As a finance and political science double major one could easily see how I would naturally gravitate to someone like Schiff. A man who owns a stock brokerage that takes into account how government affects investments who is now running for Senate - It doesn’t get much better than that.

Though it can’t be called an automatic win for Republicans, it is more likely than not that whoever wins the Republican nomination in Connecticut will take out Chris Dodd in the general election. Dodd’s ratings are tanking in Connecticut; he’s simply not popular anymore. This likely outcome of the general election is good for Republicans, obviously, but has created a crowded field of candidates.

CT Senate: Dodd decides to retire, likely saves seat for Democrats

Wed, 01/06/2010 - 3:02pm | posted by Jason Pye

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) has decided to retire, becoming the latest Democrat to not seek re-election in 2010:

Embattled Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd (D) has scheduled a press conference at his home in Connecticut Wednesday at which he is expected to announce he will not seek re-election, according to sources familiar with his plans.
Dodd’s retirement comes after months of speculation about his political future, and amid faltering polling numbers and a growing sense among the Democratic establishment that he could not win a sixth term. It also comes less than 24 hours after Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced he would not seek re-election.

While ordinarily a struggling Democrat retiring is good news for Republicans (such as Byron Dorgan), this is likely not the case in Connecticut. Voters had not responded well to Dodd since his ethics problems came to light, and polls showed that he was trailing two of his potential Republican challengers (Peter Schiff was also leading Dodd).

Richard Blumenthal (D), Connecticut’s Attorney General, has indictated that he plans to run for the seat. He is the most popular politician in the state, with approval rating of 78%

Pfizer abandons site of infamous property rights case

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 7:25pm | posted by Jason Pye

One of the worst decisions by the Supreme Court, at least in recent memory, was Kelo v. New London. This decison redefined the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, allowing local governments to use eminent domain to take private property for private use or economic development.

The City of New London used eminent domain to essentially steal the land of Susette Kelo and a few of her neighbors in the Fort Trumbull area of the city to build for Pfizer to build a new complex.

The site where the homes sat has been vacant for four years, with no signs of looming development. Today, news broke that Pfizer is abandoned the city, and will now consider selling or leasing the land.

If you want some background, you can watch Ms. Kelo tell her story:

Lieberman is Betting on McCain

Tue, 09/09/2008 - 10:17pm | posted by Shana Kluck

The liberal, pro-war, Independent, McCain-supporting Senator from Connecticut is living on a prayer- a prayer that McCain will win in November. If such happens he is hoping that his cross-party election support of McCain will secure him a Cabinet position. Lieberman has walked a tight line with the Democratic Party, who he still caucuses with, since his Independent run following his primary defeat by Ned Lamont. With Lieberman stating that he will no longer be attending lunch with his Democratic colleagues, those relations seem to have reached a breaking point since his speech at the Republican Nation Convention.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) will not attend the Democratic policy lunches in the Senate this month, the latest sign that he is moving away from the party after criticizing Barack Obama at the Republican National Convention.

“I think it’s probably wise for me and for my colleagues in the Democratic caucus to dine somewhere else for the next few weeks,” Lieberman said in an interview with The Hill. - The Hill.com