Author: Daniela Altimari

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rob Simmons and his Democratic rival, Richard Blumenthal, don’t agree on many issues, but when it comes to Ben Bernanke, they have found common ground.

Both Simmons and Blumenthal oppose the confirmation of the Fed chairman, who is up for a second term.

“Despite burying our country under trillions of dollars in new debt, the Obama Administration’s plans have done little to improve the economy for families and small businesses,” Simmon said in a statement this morning. “As a central figure in failing to anticipate and prevent the economic meltdown, an architect of the no-strings-attached government bailouts, and a defender of the Fed’s lack of transparency, Chairman Bernanke’s record does not support his confirmation for another term as Federal Reserve Chairman.”
 
“Whether or not Chairman Bernanke is reconfirmed, the Federal Reserve and the Administration need to focus on getting America’s economic house in order by keeping taxes low, reigning in spending and inflationary pressure and providing incentives for small businesses to grow and create jobs,” Simmons said.

Blumenthal expressed his misgivings about Bernanke in kinder terms, repeatedly emphasizing his respect for the chairman’s public service. But he also criticized Bernanke’s “inadequate” response to the financial crisis and failure to embrace “real reform.”

“As Attorney General, I have written to Chairman Bernanke repeatedly, asking him to take action against unconscionable bonuses to failed financial executives, spiraling credit card fees and interest rates, and other abuses and excesses requiring reform. Despite the intent of Congress, such increasing fees and interest rates have been widely imposed, even on many consumers who pay in full and on time,” Blumenthal said in a statement last week. 

“Chairman Bernankes responses have been inadequate, consisting of broad generalities and platitudes, failing to fully acknowledge the severity of issues I and others have raised or the need for real reform. He has failed to support common sense reforms to safeguard investors and consumers and prevent Wall Street from engaging in risky practices that precipitated our nations worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.”

Peter Schiff, a broker and financial pundit who, like Simmons, is seeking the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, has also come out against Bernanke, saying his seven-year-old son could do a better job.

Another Republican in the race, Linda McMahon, has not yet expressed an opinion on the Bernanke reappointment.

However the state’s two U.S. Senators, Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman, both have come out in strong support of the Fed chairman.

“Sam is exactly the right candidate our district needs to send to Washington at such a critical time,” Stewart said in a statement.

“He understands the need for fiscal responsibility, and is not afraid to do the belt tightening the federal budget desperately needs.”

Caligiuri, a Republican from Waterbury, is running for Congress from the 5th District. New Britain is one of the district’s population centers, along with Waterbury, Danbury and Meriden.

“As mayor of one of our district’s biggest and most diverse cities, I know what the broad spectrum of voters are looking for in a candidate,” Stewart said. “Winning candidates need a record of making tough budget decisions and keeping more money in taxpayer pockets. Sam has that record, which is why I am enthusiastic about his candidacy and proud to stand behind him.”

In addition to Caligiuri, Republicans Justin Bernier, Dan Carter, Mark Greenberg, Kie Westby are running for the seat, which is currently held by Democrat Chris Murphy.

Politicians love to display their bi-partisanship by claiming that their wives or best friends are members of another party, but that option has been forsaken by the family of Oz Griebel, writes the Courant’s Rinker Buck.

A Simsbury resident and president of the MetroHartford Alliance, Griebel is expected this week to join the growing field of Republican aspirants for governor.

But according to Buck, this has apparently raised some troubling identity issues in the Griebel household, where wife Kirsten Griebel was a registered Democrat and the founder of the Simsbury Citizens First independent political party. The two Griebel children were either not registered to vote or registered as unaffiliated.

It’s now All in the Family again at the Griebels. Last week, the Simsbury registrar of voters  confirmed, Kirsten and her two children appeared at Town Hall and registered as Republicans, just in time to appear as a united front once Griebel declares for the governorship.

You’ve heard of Super Bowl parties and Oscar night parties. What about a party to watch the president’s State of the Union address?

Organizing for America, the grassroots arm of the Democratic party, is hosting just such a thing in living rooms across the country.

“On Wednesday evening, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address. It comes at a critical moment,” states an email sent by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe to OFA volunteers. “We must regroup, refocus, and re-engage on the vital work ahead.” 

There are at least six SOTU parties within 45 miles of Hartford, according to the OFA website. Among them is a gathering in Bristol where participants can “watch, absorb and pray” as well as participate in a national conference call with Plouffe.

The speech is Obama’s first SOTU address and the stakes couldn’t be higher — especially in the wake of the Democratic defeat in Massachusetts. That might explain why party activists are turning to the same grassroots approach that helped them win the presidency in 2008.

“We’ve hit some serious bumps in the road recently in our march toward change. We always knew it would be difficult, but this past week has definitely been a hard one, for all of us,” Plouffe wrote.

“The President’s resolve has never been stronger to keep fighting for health insurance reform, for lasting job creation, and to rein in the big banks and fight the undue influence of lobbyists. Wednesday’s speech will be a pivotal moment for us all to get on the same page and continue the fight together,” Plouffe wrote.

Add Joe Lieberman to the chorus of senators coming out in favor of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.

“I intend to vote in favor of the reconfirmation of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke and urge my Senate colleagues to join me in supporting him.  Chairman Bernanke acted in a timely and decisive manner to shepherd our country through one of the worst financial crises we have ever faced,” Lieberman said in a statement this morning. 

“Although it is easy to criticize any single decision made during the crisis in isolation and with the benefit of hindsight, our economy would likely be in far worse shape today than it is without Chairman Bernanke’s leadership and diligence during this extraordinary time. Chairman Bernanke’s experience and leadership will be valuable assets to our nation in continuing to restore our economy’s health and creating jobs for American workers.”

Prospects for Bernanke’s confirmation to a second term, once all but assured, grew murky last week, when a number of Senators on both sides of the aisle indicated they would not support him.

Uncertainty about Bernanke’s future is blamed for last week’s stock market slump.

The issue isn’t breaking along party lines: both Lieberman and Sen. Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, are backing Bernanke. Last week Richard Blumenthal, a Denocrat  running for U.S. Senate, said he opposes the Fed Chair.

And Lieberman’s BFF, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, said yesterday on “Face the Nation” that he is “leaning against” Bernanke’s confirmation.

The not-for-profit online news initiative, CTMirror.org, launched today. The debut issue features a story on Dannel Malloy and a smart and comprehensive examination of the potential conflicts faced by members of the General Assembly. There’s also a treasure trove of information in the site’s guide to politics and government. Welcome to the web and here’s to many years of success!

U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd offered a ringing endorsement of Ben Bernanke Saturday and predicted the Fed Chairman would be confirmed for a second term, despite rising populist anger at Wall Street that could shape the November elections.

“In the last few days there have been a flurry of media reports on Chairman Bernanke’s confirmation prospects, highlighting a very vocal opposition,” said a statement jointly written by Dodd, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, and New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg, a Republican and longtime member of the panel. 

“Chairman Bernanke has done an excellent job responding to one of the most significant financial crises our country has ever encountered.  We support his nomination because he is the right leader to guide the Federal Reserve in this recovering economy.  Based on our discussions with our colleagues, we are very confident that Chairman Bernanke will win confirmation by the Senate for a second term.”

Dodd’s embrace of Bernanke puts him sharply at odds with the Democrat who wants to succeed him, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

Blumenthal called for “new leadership” at the Fed during an interview yesterday with John Dankosky on WNPR’s Where We Live.

“I give him credit for many good decisions, but I think that his current tack needs to be changed.  And that we need to send a message to our nation that we’re done with the kind of laxity toward Wall Street that has been tolerated for much too long,” Blumenthal told Dankosky.

“The chairmen of the federal reserve have come from the culture and profession that really embodies Wall Street. And Wall Street can do many great things,” Blumenthal said. “But the kind of bailouts that we gave, and the lack of sufficient oversight against the bonuses, and some of the now repeated excesses I think is something that the federal reserve has to be held accountable for doing.”

Blumenthal isn’t the only Democrat to announce opposition to Bernanke. On Friday, Senators Barbara Boxer of California and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin called for new leadership at the Fed. Both Democrats are up for re-election in November and Boxer, in particular, faces a potentially bruising battle.

Opposing Bernanke, one of the architects of the bank bailout and the guy at the helm when the financial system crumbled, could help politicians in November. Rising populist anger was widely viewed as a factor in the Democrats’ loss in Massachusetts on Tuesday and neither political party wants to be portrayed as coddling Wall Street.

Dodd has been fighting the preception that he is too cozy with the banking industry and is pushing for tough new regulations on the financial system. But he is no longer running for re-election and Blumenthal, as the state’s attorney general, has a history as a populist crusader.

The Litchfield businessman, a Republican is running for the 5th District, says he’ll forgo a government pension if elected — and he’s calling on his opponents to do the same.

“I am running for Congress because we need to bring basic business principles to a Washington establishment loaded with career politicians whose primary agenda is getting re-elected each election cycle,” Greenberg said via email. “Serving in Congress is not about landing a career position and a fat pension. It’s about being the voice of ‘We the people,’ getting a job done on their behalf and then getting out.”

Greenberg also says that, if elected, he won’t obtain his medical insurance through his employer, the federal government. Instead, he pledged to sign on to “the health care plan Congress eventually adopts for all Americans.

“I believe it is an honor and a privilege to serve in Congress,” Greenberg said. “It should not be about monetary benefits and perks. What’s good for the average citizen should be good enough for its elected officials and I’m calling for all of the other candidates to do the same.”

 The insurance that members of Congress have access isn’t a government-run plan. Like millions of other federal employees, from a local postal worker to a member of the president’s Cabinet, they are allowed to buy private insurance through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, which offers an array of options, including HMOs and fee-for-service plans. (Members of Congress get a few extra perks other federal workers don’t have, such as access to U.S. military hospitals.)

At least four other Republicans are running for the 5th District seat: Justin Bernier, Sam Caligiuri, Dan Carter and Kie Westby. The winner of the GOP contest will face Democrat U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy. 

They were bitter rivals in 2006 but Joe Lieberman tells WFSB’s Dennis House that he could endorse Ned Lamont’s gubernatorial bid.

House interviews Lieberman on Face the State, which airs tomorrow at 11 a.m. on WFSB Channel 3.

In a political year when everyone and their dog has announced they are exploring a run for elective office, one name has been conspicuously absent.

“However, I want to be clear. I won’t be seeking any political office in 2010. It is not a practical option for me personally at this time.”

Slifka recently became a father. And unlike many members of the state’s political class, he holds a full time job outside of politics (he’s corporate counsel for Lego Systems Inc.)

If the volume of press releases are any indication, national Republicans have a giant target on the back of freshman Democrat Jim Himes.

The congressman from the 4th District was always viewed as vulnerable, but after the surprise GOP victory in Massachusetts, the National Republican Campaign Committee has stepped up its attack. Today’s missive is the sixth in a week.

“Another day, another story about Jim Himes still not getting the message out of Massachusetts,” NRCC spokesman Greg Blair said in a press release today. “While the rest of his party sees the red flags flying high, Himes is still kicking around the idea of backing toxic healthcare legislation.”

A spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says the attacks won’t work.

“The NRCC is simply clueless when it comes to their chances in Connecticut‘s 4th district because Congressman Himes has been an independent voice for his district and will continue to be one moving forward,” said DCCC spokesman Shripal Shah. “While Republicans are solely interested in going back to the failed George Bush economic agenda, Himes is working to turn the page on those disastrous policies of the past, and that’ll remain his focus.”  

A GOP strategist said Himes is the party’s chief target in Connecticut for a number of reasons. First, he’s a freshman and members of Congress are always easiest to unseat when they’ve served just one term. Then there’s the demographics and the history of the 4th District. Himes rode the Obama wave to victory in 2008, but before that, the district had been represented by Republicans since Lowell P. Weicker Jr. swept into office in 1968.

The D.C.-based operative, who spoke anonymously because he did not want to publicly discuss the party’s strategy in Connecticut, said Himes is viewed as the most vulnerable.

But in the wake of Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts, national Reoublicans are also taking a fresh look at Connecticut’s 5th District, currently held by Democrat Chris Murphy.

Both Himes and Murphy campaigned as moderates and come from moderate districts but drifted left once in office, the GOP strategist asserts. The NRCC is painting both incumbents as being in lockstep with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The Litchfield County businessman says he raised $152,000 in the 4th quarter of 2009. He also lent his campaign $150,000 and says he ended the quarter with $256,000 on hand.

Those numbers top the sums raised by two GOP opponents, Justin Bernier and Sam Caligiuri.

“People are helping by donating to my campaign and they are helping me to develop important grassroots support by discussing my candidacy with their neighbors and friends,” Greenberg said in a statement. “I will continue to discuss with the citizens of the District the challenges facing our state and nation and my plan to bring basic business principles to the debate in Washington. These fund raising totals, in addition to showing strong support for my candidacy, mean that I will be able to continue to get my message out.”

Meanwhile, a new poll commissioned by the Bernier campaign shows beating Caligiuri, 36 percent to 15 percent, though nearly half of those polled — 49 percent — are undecided.

When asked for comment, the Caligiuri camp said it was its policy not to comment on polls done on behalf of other candidates.

In a decision expected to have sweeping reprocussions, a sharply divided Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the government cannot prohibit corporations and labor unions from spending in political campaigns.

“What a terrible day for American democracy,” U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd said in a statement. “With this 5-4 decision, a deeply divided Supreme Court has essentially given corporations free rein to drown out the voices of the American people, rejecting the sacred democratic principle of ‘one person, one vote.’ By overturning the century-old cornerstone of our campaign finance laws, they have opened the floodgates of direct corporate spending, allowing our political discourse and the legislative process to be further corrupted by huge corporations.  I intend to pursue every legislative option – including a constitutional amendment to allow Congress and the states to put appropriate limits on campaign spending – to restore the trust and voice of the American people.”

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat from the 3rd District, echoed his sentiment.

“With this ill-advised spate of judicial activism, five Supreme Court justices have struck down the distinction between individuals and corporations in election law and opened the floodgates to a hostile corporate takeover of our democratic process,” DeLauro said in a statement.

“As Justice Stevens eloquently put it in his dissent from this disastrous decision, “While American democracy is imperfect, few outside the majority of this Court would have thought its flaws included a dearth of corporate money in politics.” The ruling by the majority will unleash a raging torrent of corporate cash into our election system, and threatens to undermine and corrode the very functioning of our republic.

“In order to counter this blatant overreaching on the Court’s part, it now falls upon us in Congress to stem the tide of special interest influence over our political system. I urge my colleagues to pass the Fair Elections Now Act, which would create a voluntary public financing system for congressional elections. And I hope we can work on other ways to make sure that the voices of the people are always heard more strongly in these halls than the dollars of special interests.”

Read the entire decision here.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Peter Schiff is worth millions of dollars, but unlike one of his rivals, he does not intend to finance the bulk of his campaign. Schiff, a broker, author and financial pundit from Weston, says he has raised a total of close to $1.6 million, almost all of it in small donations from individuals. About $300,000 came in the past month.

“I don’t mind spending some of my own money on the campaign but I’m running for a cause and I shouldn’t be paying for it all myself,” Schiff said.

Schiff earned a salary of $17 million and reported dividends, interest and capital gains of at least $1.4 million over a 23-month period ending in mid-December, according to financial disclosure forms filed in connection with his run. Not listed among his assets is the Weston home he bought in December for $2.4 million.

Schiff’s wealth, while considerable, is overshadowed by the vast fortune of former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO and fellow Republican Linda McMahon, who has said she would spend up to $50 million to fund her own Senate bid.

Read the rest here.