Mereja

Author: Daniela Altimari

  • Don’t tread on them

    More fallout from the Gadsden Flag flap.

    “Dead wrong” is what Justin Bernier called the Capitol police department’s decision to rescind approval of the Tea Party activists’ request to fly the Don’t Tread on Me” flag.

    “The authorities are dead wrong to bow to political pressure from members of the legislature and deny a legitimate request to fly the Gadsden flag over the capitol,” Bernier, a Republican running for Congress from the 5th District, said in a statement.
    “Connecticut citizens have good reason to be upset when the flags of foreign countries are allowed to fly over the statehouse, but not a flag associated with our nation’s founding and with the United States Marine Corps.  This is more proof that the political class in Hartford is completely out of touch with the rest of us.”
     

    Meanwhile the Family Institute of Connecticut sent an email to its supporters decrying the Capitol police department’s decision.
    The email singles out Democratic state Rep. Michael Lawlor, one of many people who questioned whether it was appropriate to fly a flag that is now associated with the Tea Party movement at the Capitol, especially since the flag-raising ceremony was to have been followed by a political press conference (that event has now been scrapped, though the flag-raising will go on as planned. Tea Party activists are bringing their own flagpole.)

    “It is time to stand beside our Tea Party friends — for liberty and against the likes of Rep. Lawlor,” the email says.
     
     

  • Gadsden Flag won’t fly above the state Capitol after all

    State Capitol police have rescinded permission to allow the Gadsden Flag over the state Capitol, though Tea Party said today they plan to go ahead with the flag-raising anyway. They will bring their own flagpole.

    Cpitol police, which oversees requests to fly flags in the highly visible spot, reversed an earlier decision allowing the bright yellow “Don’t Tread On Me” banner to flutter after learning that activists had planned a political rally following the flag-raising ceremony.

    “It went from being a flag-raising ceremony to a political event,” Capitol police Chief Walter Lee said. “They are using it as a launching pad for [candidates for] public office.”

    Tea Party activists view the flag as a historic symbol of American defiance, but critics say the familiar flag with the image of a coiled rattlesnake is now associated with the controversial political movement.

    The policies regarding flags at the State Capitol were put in place after a 1999 controversy over the Gay Pride Flag. Rick Hancock of Fox 61 reported this at the time.

    Tea Party groups have unfurled it at rallies across the nation, and some Republican members of Congress, who hung it from a balcony at the U.S. Capitol before a vote on the health care overhaul.

    “Generally speaking, most people would agree the top of the Capitol is not the place for partisan political flags,” said state Rep. Michael Lawlor, a Democrat from East Haven and co-chairman of the legislature’s judiciary committee.

    The Connecticut Tea Party Patriots, a loose-knit group of activists from across the state, had received permission from the state Capitol police to fly the flag from Friday through April 15.

    The state’s policy regarding flags specifies that only flags from the U.S., its states or territories, recognized Indian tribes, nations with which the U.S. has diplomatic relations and military organizations can fly at the highly visible spot over the state Capitol.

    The Gadsden Flag dates to 1775 and is named for Christopher Gadsden, a delegate to the Continental Congress. It has long been associated with the U.S. Marine Corps, and that apparently was why it got the Capitol OK.

    Lee said he initially granted permission because the flag is a symbol of the U.S. Marine Corps. The Tea Party group had wanted to fly it in connection with Patriots Day.

    But permission was recinded when he learned that the Connecticut Tea Party Patriots was plannign to host a press conference with political candidates after the flag-raising.

    Said Lawlor, “It doesn’t sound like this is an event honoring the Marine Corps.”

    Patriots coordinator Tanya Bachand rejects the notion that her group has a partisan agenda, even though it is supporting candidates in the November election. She says the group isn’t allied with Republicans or Democrats, but rather is focused on promoting grass-roots activism.

    “It’s a nice encapsulation of the American spirit,” Bachand said. “We are a strong-willed, independent people and given the chance, we can flourish.”

    Bachand said today that her group still hopes to work out a compromise. It has agreed to scrap the political rally and press conference if Capitol police permit the flag to hang. “They still said no,” she said.

    But even if the flag cannot be officially flown from a Capitol flagpole, the tea party group plans to have a flag-raising of its own. The group will bring another Gadsden Flag and a small flagpole to the Capitol tomorrow morning and hold the ceremony as planned.

     “Since when did liberty become a controversial topic?” Bachand asked. “The important thing is the flag-raising, not the press conference.”

    The debate harkens back to another flag controversy that erupted at the Capitol in 1999.

    Gay rights received permission to fly the rainbow flag, which drew criticism from socially conservative lawmakers and resulted in the policy limiting what flags can be hoisted at the highly visible spot. The Capitol flagpole “really should be limited to honoring countries and causes that are completely non-partisan and non controversial,” Lawlor said.

     

  • UPDATE: Linda McMahon will have her cup of tea after all

    Though McMahon won’t be attending the April 13 debate hosted by the Connecticut Tea Party Patriots group in Woodbury — she reportedly has several previous committments, including an event at Sacred Heart University, where she sits on the board of trustees — she will get some face time with tea party activists.

    The candidate will attend a tea party meet-and-greet later this month, according to the group’s state coordinator, Tanya Bachand.

    The group has been holding forums with each of the candidates for U.S. Senate. McMahon’s visit has been scheduled for April 24, at a location to be determined.

     

  • Previous statement to the contrary, Peter Schiff is CT-focused enough to jump on the Husky bandwagon

    Predictably, just about every politician out there felt compelled to issue a comment, press release or tweet of congratulations to the national champion UConn Huskies. (You can check out their Twitter feeds on tweetct.org.)

    “By winning their 2nd straight and 7th overall national championship, our unbeaten Lady Huskies have shown the country what it means to be the ‘Top Dog’ of women’s college basketball,” Joe Lieberman said in a press release that is typical of the accolades heaped on the Huskies. 

    Among those lauding the team is Peter Schiff, the guy who famously told Hearst Newspapers’ Neil Vigdor  on Sunday that he is running a national campaign.

    “It’s not Connecticut focused because what I want to do affects the entire nation. Some people might think, `Why are people in California concerned about Connecticut?’ Well, because the vote of a Connecticut senator affects them,” said Schiff, who has raised significant sums from out-of-state donors.

    But today, Schiff bleeds Husky blue just like the rest of Connecticut. “UConn defeats Stanford 53-47 for NCAA women’s title and 78th straight win. Way to go Huskies!!” he said on Twitter.

    By the way, the broker/pundit/author from Weston lived in California for a time and is a graduate of UC Berkeley, across the bay from Stanford.

     

  • Republican Mark Greenberg plans to dig deep into his own pocket to fund his campaign for Congress

    Greenberg pledged to spend $1 million of his own money in his quest to win the 5th District seat.

    Greenberg also said he plans to start the process of gathering signatures to force a primary. Two of his GOP rivals, Justin Bernier of Plainville and Sam Caligiuri of Waterbury, have been busy lining up delegates in advance of the party’s May 21 convention. (Just this morning, Caligiuri was trumpeting the endorsement he received from former Newtown state Rep. Julia Wasserman.)

    Thus far, the GOP establishment, both locally and nationally, appears to be favoring Bernier and Caligiuri. Both men are on the NRCC’s radar (though Caligiuri is still not listed on the program’s website.) But given the National Republican party’s current fundraising issues, a wealthy candidate who is able to write his own checks might have some appeal. 

    Greenberg, a businessman from Litchfield, says he’s “in this race to win.”

    “Of all the Republican candidates, I alone have the ability to stand toe-to-toe with Chris Murphy and his PAC and special interest money,” he said in a statement released this morning. “I also bring the perspective of a businessman who did not create our country’s problems, but who knows how to fix them.”

    Greenberg announced last week that he has $403,282 in his campaign account. He said he  raising $77,335 during the first quarter of 2010 and lent the campaign an additional $271,500.

      

     

  • Vinny Forras will get some airtime on Imus

    Forras, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate, doesn’t have the kind of campaign cash some of his rivals do. 

    However on Friday, he’ll get some priceless free media: He’ll be interviewed on Don Imus’ radio show at 9:30 a.m. The show can be heard on WCCC-AM.

  • And speaking of Tea Party activists…

    they will soon have something in common with gay rights activists, Puerto Ricans, Jews, Brazilians and people of Italian descent. 

    Each of those groups has had the honor of having their flag fly over the state Capitol and on Friday, the Tea Party movement joins the ranks. 
    The Gadsden Flag — it’s bright yellow with a coiled snake and the words “Don’t Tread On Me” — will be hoisted from a Capitol flag poll at 9 a.m. According to a press release issued by Connecticut Tea Party Patriots, it will stay there until April 15. (Hmmmm…coincidence?)
    The Tea Party Patriots will host a flag-raising ceremony on the south lawn of the Capitol, followed by a press conference, when several tea party activists will announce their intention to seek elective office.
    flag   

  • Linda McMahon declines Tea Party invite

    The Connecticut Tea Party Patriots group is hosting an April 15 candidates debate in Woodbury, ground zero for the “Dump Dodd”  “No Blumen Way” movement.

    Each of the Republicans running for U.S. Senate was invited to participate. Rob Simmons, Peter Schiff and Vinnie Foras all said they’ll be there, according to Tanya Bachand, state coordinator for the grassroots group.
    Linda McMahon declined. 
    UPDATE: Art McNally says in an email that McMahon told the debate’s organizers that “she must visit RTCs [Republican Town Committees] that evening and cannot make it to our Woodbury forum.” McNally, who calls himself “Joe the Voter,” says a seat on the dais will be left vacant “to remind people she is seeking their nomination too.” I have an email out to McMahon spokesman Ed Patru seeking comment.
    As the CT Mirror notes, last month’s Q poll shows that the Tea Party movement enjoys broad support among Connecticut Republicans and nearly half of the Tea Party backers also back McMahon.
    Unlike other debates, the format of this one allows audience members to ask the candidates questions. It will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at Nonnewaug High School and Bachand will serve as moderator.

  • Merrick Alpert’s 1Q haul: $12,326

    The Mystic businessman and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate says he recieved 95 donations — more than 90 percent of them from Connecticut residents.

    “It is on behalf of the average Connecticut citizen that I have been working to ensure that a strong, progressive Democrat keeps Connecticut’s open Senate seat in November,” Alpert said in an email announcing his fundraising total. “And it precisely these concerned citizens and their small dollar contributions that make a genuine grassroots campaign like ours successful.”

    Alpert says none of his contributions came from political action committees. The average donation was about $129 and 63 percent came in via his website. 

  • Lee Whitnum: Blumenthal should resign

    The AIG bonus fiasco helped drag down Chris Dodd’s political fortunes. Lee Whitnum, a Greenwich Democrat running for U.S. Senate, is hoping it does the same to Richard Blumenthal’s ambitions.

    Whitnum says in a lengthy press release that Blumenthal failed to do his job “and as a result, the greatest financial debacle and bailout in this recession took place right here in Wilton, Connecticut and the AIG [Financial Products division] guys just got bonuses – again.”

    Whitnum cites an article in the “Hartford Current” about the bonuses and says it is “morally wrong to reward a man by making him the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate.”

    And speaking of morals, Whitnum compares Blumenthal to Eliot Spitzer. “If we’d had an Attorney General with a half of Spitzer’s fire, intellect and follow-through,” Whitnum said, “perhaps the AIG FP financial melt-down could have been prevented.”

     

  • Mark Greenberg, a Republican running in the 5th, says he’s got $400K in campaign cash

    The bulk of that comes from two personal loans he made to the campaign: Greenberg, a Litchfield County businessman, $271,500 check for the first quarter of 2010, which ends at midnight tonight. 

    In the 4th quarter of 2009, Greenberg invested $150,000 of his money into the campaign.
    He is one of several Republicans hoping to unseat 5th District Democrat Chris Murphy, among them Justin Bernier of Plainville and Sam Caligiuri of Waterbury.


    Murphy “will be very well-financed by PACs and special interests and he will have the entire Democrat machine behind him,” Greenberg said in a statement announcing his fundraising totals, “but this election must be decided by the issues and qualifications of the candidates.    

     “There is simply too much at stake to keep sending someone who is part of the problem back to the source of the problem. We need change in Washington,”  Greenberg said.  “We need the outsider perspective of a businessman who knows how to create jobs and control spending.”

    Neither Caligiuri nor Bernier have made their filings public. The reports are not due to the Federal Election Commission until April 15.   


  • Money, money, money

    The deadline for first quarter fundraising arrives at the strike of midnight and, for some candidates for federal office, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

    Take the Connecticut Senate race. While it didn’t make Chris Cillizza’s list of campaign finance reports to track, this could be a make-or-break quarter for Republican Rob Simmons. According to this month’s Q poll, he’s already lost frontrunner status to Linda McMahon (who, unlike Simmons, has been flooding the airwaves with commercials.) In order to compete with her $50 million campaign chest, he’ll need a good haul of cash.
    Republican Peter Schiff’s numbers will be telling as well. All those money bombs have to add up to something. The first quarter fundraising report will be Democratic frontrunner Richard Blumenthal’s debut filing — he joined the race after the last filing deadline in January when Chris Dodd dropped out.
    In the Congressional races, the numbers in the Bernier-Caligiuri 5th District slugfest will be telling, though last quarter, wealthy Litchfield businessman Mark Greenberg topped the GOP field, thanks to a $150,000 personal loan to his campaign. (According to the candidates’ year-end filing on Dec. 31, 2009, Bernier had $203,392 on hand, Caligiuri had $70,388 and Greenberg had $256,226. Democratic incumbent Chris Murphy, the man they all want to unseat, had $941,694 on hand.)
     
     

    In the 2nd District, Republicans Daria Novak and Matt Daly are going to have to boost their fundraising totals if they hope to oust Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, who had $1.136 million in his campaign account at the close of 2009.

    Fourth District incumbent Jim Himes led the Connececticut delegation in the all-important cash-on-hand sweepstakes, with $1.276 as of Dec. 31. His closest competitor, Republican Dan Debicella, had $219,937.
    The pauper of the delegation was 3rd District U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, with just $59,382 in the bank — which was still about $55,000 more than Republican opponent Jerry Labriola Jr.
    However in politics, fortunes can change in an instant and the numbers will surely tell an important story.   

  • An accusation of Social Security scare-mongering in Salisbury

    A Republican town committee member in Salisbury says she got a call last week from someone affiliated with Linda McMahon’s Senate campaign. The caller wanted to talk about Social Security — specifically, McMahon’s rival Peter Schiff’s desire to “do away” with the federal entitlement. The caller also wanted to know if the RTC member received Social Security.

    Town committee chairman Chris Janelli said the call was “nothing less than scare-mongering.”

    Janelli, an ethusiastic Schiff supporter, dashed off a letter to the McMahon campaign, asking it to “please refrain from using this tactic when you speak with members” of the town committee.

    “It did upset one of our members,” Janelli said in a brief phone conversation this morning. “If they persist in that direction, it will drive a wedge between themselves and the RTC members around the state whom they are trying to court.’

    McMahon spokesman Ed Patru did not return a phone call seeking comment.

    The Salisbury RTC endorsed Schiff on March 23.

    Schiff has called for big changes to the Social Security system, which is projected to pay out more in benefits than it brings in in payroll taxes this year, according to the Congressional Budget Office. 

    He has called it a “Ponzi scheme” and a “giant ticking time bomb.”

    “If we don’t make real, meaningful cuts in that program right now, no one’s going to get any Social Security benefits because the money’s going to have no value,” Schiff said earlier this month.

     (Watch here: the topic turns to Social Security at about the 5 minute, 20 second mark.)

  • Peter Schiff schools Obama on student loans

    Schiff, the author, broker and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, doesn’t think the student loan overhaul signed by President Obama today is a good idea.

    The legislation, which was included in the health care reconcilliation package, essentially eliminates commercial banks from the student loan business, a move that proponents say will save taxpayers $68 billion over the next 10 years.

    Schiff disagrees. “Obama’s ‘solution’ to this government created problem will only make it worse,” he said in a statement.

    “Loaning directly to students while reducing the amount a student is required to repay will actually encourage colleges and universities to increase tuitions even faster, as students will be more willing to assume larger debts which they are not legally required to repay.

    “Not only will this bill cause tuitions to rise faster, but contrary to Obama’s claim, it will substantially increase the cost to taxpayers who will be forced to pick up a much larger share of inflated tuitions and absorb bigger losses on defaulted loans.”

     

  • Dodd’s advice to his successor: Pursue your passion

    Retirning U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd offered a few words of advice to the person who will occupy the seat once he’s gone.

    First, take two of three issues and make them your own. “Get involved in things you care about,” he said.

    That’s the strategy he employed when he came to the Senate in 1980. Children’s issues and Latin America became two of his passions, and he made his mark on each, with the landmark Family and Medical Leave Act and his expertise in foreign affairs.

    If Democrat Richard Blumenthal wins the election, he may try for a spot on the Senate judiciary committee, Dodd said, though he added that he was not trying to dictate Blumenthal’s committee assignments. 

    “You should also pay attention to what your state is interested in, whether you like it or not,” he said this afternoon, during a meeting with the Courant’s editorial board.

    And finally, Dodd said, don’t try and amend every bill.

     

  • Chris Dodd on life after the U.S. Senate

    In between overhauling the U.S. health care system and working on financial reform, Chris Dodd has been having lunch with ex-colleagues, who have been giving him advice on life after the Senate.

    He’s met with Sam Nunn, Chuck Hagel and George Mitchell, among others. Each has pursued a different path after leaving government but they all seem to be enjoying themselves, Dodd said Monday afternoon, during an interview with the Courant’s editorial board.

    The temptation upon leaving the seat of power that is the U.S. Senate is to bite at the first offer that comes your way, Dodd said. “You think no one will call,” he said.

    But his friends counseled against that. They urged him to take his time in charting the next chapter, with one former colleague jokingly telling him that it took him years to get out of the commitments he made in those first few months.

    Dodd said he will not lobby, but, like Hagel and Nunn, he may teach.

     

     

    Dodd said he is at peace with his decision to leave the Senate.

    In the waning days of 2009, with his political future uncertain, he asked himself if he wanted to spend the next seven years doing the job he’s done for the past 29.

    The Senate is a different place than it was in 1980 and “the people I was closest to and friendliest with have moved on,” Dodd said.

    And, he said, as much as he loves being a U.S. Senator, the decision not to run for reelection “the right decision.”

     

  • Linda McMahon at Wrestlemania?

    Linda McMahon apparently took some time off from chatting up Republican Town Committee members this weekend to travel to Phoenix for Wrestlemania.

    That’s according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, who also says that he was told McMahon avoided the camera for fear of violating the Federal Election Commission’s “equal time provision.”

    McMahon was “at the [pay per view] last night,” Johnson reports. “I was told by one source she likely didn’t appear on camera at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremonies out of concern for “equal time” violations, since she’s in the midst of her run for the Connecticut Senate.”

     

  • Women for Simmons

    More than 100 Republican woman have turned their back on Linda McMahon’s bid to become Connecticut’s first female U.S. Senator.

    Instead, they are lining up behind her intra-party opponent, Rob Simmons.

    “Rob Simmons has been a true and loyal friend to Republican women,” Kathleen McCarty, president of the Connecticut Federation of Republican Women, said a press release circulated by the Simmons campaign. “He has voted to end the marriage penalty and expand the child tax credit and supported efforts to reduce violence against women,”

    Simmons is a moderate Republican who has long supported abortion rights and received top grades from NARAL Pro-Choice America, although the press release issued by the campaign makes no mention of the issue.

    A recent Q poll showed a significant gender gap between the two candidates: McMahon enjoys a 22-point lead among Republican women. 

    The list of women supporting Simmons is below:

    President of the Connecticut Federation of Republican Women Kathleen McCarty of Waterford

    RTC Member Nancy Ahern of New Haven

    Small Business Owner Floresia Allen of Meriden

    RTC Member and Former Chair Karen Arnold of Orange

    State Representative Penny Bacchiochi of Somers

    RTC Member Kathleen Bach of Tolland

    RTC Member Nettie Bartocetti of Orange

    Small Business Owner Katerina Begetis of Norwalk

    Healthcare AdminstratorLynne Besescheck of Shelton

    Susan Bessette of Pawcatuck

    RTC Member Kathy Bilodeau of East Windsor

    RTC member and member of the Board of Finance Margaret Bratton of Avon

    RTC Member Susan Brault of Burlington

    RTC Member Lisa Bull DiLullo of Milford

    RTC Member Debby Butler of Killingworth

    Business Development Coordinator Jacqueline Cafero of Norwalk

    RTC Member Linda Camelio of Stonington

    Debrah  Ceccarelli of Ansonia

    Katherine Cerow of New Canaan

    Lili Chapman of New Britain

    Janet Cianci of Redding

    RTC Member Val Conroy of Old Saybrook

    RTC Member Marlene Cook of Sterling

    Nicole Cosentino of Norwalk

    State Central Committee Member BonnieCuprak of Norwich

    RTC Member Jane Dauphinais of Groton

    RTC Member Linda Davis of Ledyard

    Janelle Dussault of Norwich

    Kourtney DeArchangelo of Nagatuck

    RTC Member Shonnie DelloRusso of Orange

    State Central Committeewoman Margaret Jane DeRisio of Old Lyme

    RTC Member and Registrar of Voters Mary DeVito of Orange

    RTC Member Jessica Dussault of Norwich

    Mary Ann Ferguson of Danbury

    MarissaFerguson of Danbury

    RTC Member Paula Ferrara of Westbrook

    Former State Representative and RTC member Jo Fuchs-Lubscome of Westport

    Durham First Selectman Laura Francis

    Amber Gagne of Prospect

    State Central Committee Member Diane Generous of Sprague

    RTC Member Danelle Godeck of East Windsor

    RTC Member Vicki Grande of Orange

    State Representative Marilyn Giuliano

    Suzanne Guidera of Weston

    RTC Member Lynn Hamlen of Darien

    Maryann Hanrahan of Danbury

    Trading Analyst Corrie Harrison of Norwalk

    State Central Committee Member Jen Harvey of Bolton

    RTC Member Erin Henry of Coventry

    Susan Dussault of Norwich

    Sarah Holbrook of Westbrook

    RTC Member Randi Hutton of Redding

    RTC Member Doris Isbrecht of Plymouth

    RTC Chairman  Lori Jeffers of Windham

    BrittanyKeith of Middlebury

    State Representative Themis Klarides of Derby

    RTC Member and State Central Committee Member Doris Knight of Orange

    RTC Member and Representative Town Meeting MemberRoseanne Kotowski of Groton

    Mallory Krupa of Seymour

    Kristen LaFleur of Westport

    Cecile Larusso of Fairfield

    RTC Member Patricia Logiocco of Orange

    RTC Member Janet Lynn of Salisbury

    JenniferMaloney of Simsbury

    RTC Member Veronica   McDonald of Orange

    Former President of the West Hartford Taxpayers Alliance Theresa McGrath

    RTC Member Sharon McLaughlin of Ellington

    Cindy Monroe of New Haven

    Marybeth Nardella of Watertown

    RTC Vice ChairNancy Nastri of Orange

    RTC Member Dolores Nastri of Orange

    RTC Member Linda Nolfof Westbrook

    RTC Member Mary Nork of Haddam

    Michelle O’Brien of Naugatuck

    RTC Member Lynn Plaskowitz of Orange
    State Central Committee Member Mary Porter of Derby
    Kiersten of Radke of Naugatuck
    State Representative Rosa Rebimbas of Naugatuck
    State Central Committee Member Joi Reiner Gallo of Darien
    RTC Secretary Nancy Rivera of Windham
    RTC Member Peggy Roberts of Rocky Hill
    RTC Vice-ChairMary Robertson of Sharon
    RTC Member Myra Rochow of Hamden
    Donna Rovack of Seymour
    RTC Member Bonnie Ryder of Durham
    State Representative Pam Sawyer of Bolton
    Marie Schweitzer of Bristol
    Ashley Sheen of Norwalk
    RTC Member Marjorie Shenk of Orange
    Jane Simmons of Stonington
    RTC Member Linda Sinisgallo of East Windsor
    Chlora Smarth of Shelto
    Marion Smith of Norwalk
    Miriam Smith of Stamford
    Samm Stadniczenko of Wolcott
    City Councilwoman Mary Teisholz of Danbury
    Marilyn Thomas of Stamford
    Mary Tinsley of Brookfield
    Nora Verespie of Bridgeport
    Susan Voccola of Shelton
    Kaitlyn Voccolaof Shelton
    RTC Member Betty Wagner of Colchester
    RTC Member Carol Walter of Clinton
    Janet Wieliczkaof Ellington
    RTC Member Shelby Wilson of Orange
    Jacquline Wolfram of Danbury
    Carol Yanosy of Monroe
    RTC Member and former Chair Patricia Zeoli of Orange

  • Peter Schiff launches first TV Ad; takes aim at Washington’s “one-trick ponies”

    Linda McMahon’s television monopoly will end Monday, when Peter Schiff launches his first TV spots.

    The new, 30-second Schiff ad will run statewide for two weeks at a cost of $250,000 per week, said spokeswoman Jennifer Millikin.

    The television ad buy comes on the heels of Schiff’s introductory radio ad, which just completed its two-week run.

         

  • Speaking of John Larson…

    Steve Collins over at Bristol Today reports that the powerful 1st District Democrat has a Republican challenger: His name is Mark Zydanowicz and he lives in West Hartford.

    According to Collins, Zydanowicz has making the rounds at Republican Town Committees. He is slated to appear before the Bristol RTC on Monday.