Ever Heard of Oz?

I received a phone call this morning from this fellow.

I've no idea if he's going to enter the race for governor or any other race for that matter; but I was impressed with his overall grasp of things.

Spiffy background too;
take a look:

R. NELSON GRIEBEL

BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

Oz Griebel has served since April of 2001 as President and Chief Executive Officer of the MetroHartford Alliance, which is the City’s Chamber of Commerce and the Region’s economic development leader. Immediately preceding his appointment, he consulted to the administration of Governor John Rowland and the Connecticut Legislature on the creation of a statewide transportation strategy. From February of 1999 through June of 2000, Griebel served as a Director and President and Chief Operating Officer of MacDermid, Inc., an international specialty chemicals company headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Prior to 1999, Griebel worked for over 22 years with the then BankBoston Corporation in various finance, legal, marketing, and operations positions, concluding his service as President of the Bank’s businesses in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts from 1993 through 1999. Griebel also served as a Director of Tallan, a Glastonbury based e-commerce company that was acquired by CMGI in 2000.

Griebel’s public sector involvement includes having served as Chairman of the Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board which developed a multi-modal, comprehensive, 10 year strategy for funding and implementing a modern transportation system for the State. He also served as an initial member of the Board of Directors of Bradley International Airport. Over the years, Griebel has been involved in a variety of organizations, many of which deal with the economic vitality of Connecticut and are listed on the attached page.

Griebel received an A.B. from Dartmouth College (1971) and a J.D. from Suffolk University School of Law (1977). Prior to joining BankBoston in 1976, he had coaching and teaching assignments at the high school and collegiate levels. His wife, Kirsten, is involved in a variety of area activities, including serving as a founder and Chair of the independent political party, Simsbury Citizens First, and as a member of the Board of the Connecticut Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

It gets better - he's been paying his civic dues for years:

CORPORATE BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

MacDermid, Inc. – Specialty chemicals company listed on the New York Stock Exchange
Tallan, Inc. - an Internet and e-commerce professional services company acquired by CMGI in 2000 for $1.2 billion
World Business Capital

OTHER BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

Current Affiliations

American Chamber of Commerce Executives
Connecticut Institute for the 21st Century (Chairman 1995-2001)
Connecticut Science Center
eHealth Connecticut
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston – Advisory Council
Hartford Hospital – Corporator
MetroHartford Alliance (CEO)
· Hartford Chamber of Commerce (CEO)
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center - Corporator
The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts (Chairman 2004-2009)

Past Affiliations

Ad Hoc Council on Regional Asset Districts (Past Chairman)
American Red Cross (Greater Hartford Chapter)
Bradley International Airport Board of Directors
Connecticut Business and Industry Association (Past Chairman)
Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board (Chairman)
The Hartford Club
Junior Achievement of Central Connecticut (Chairman)
The Mark Twain House
New Haven Leadership Council
Northwest Catholic High School (Chairman)
Riverfront Recapture (Chairman)
Transportation Summit 2000 (Co-Chairman)
United Way of the Central Naugatuck Valley (Annual Fund Chairman)
University of Hartford
Wadsworth Atheneum (Corporator)
The Waterbury Foundation
World Affairs Council
Yale-New Haven Hospital

HONORS AND AWARDS

Honorary Chairman of the Canon Greater Hartford Open, 1995
Hartford Courant Business Leader of the Year, 1995
Capitol Region Council of Governments Regional Leadership Award, 1996
Bridgeport Regional Business Council’s Regional Leadership Award, 1998
Distinguished Citizen Award of the Connecticut Rivers Council Boy Scouts of America, 1999
Hartford Business Journal Business Leader of the Year, 2001
Big Brothers/Big Sisters Gala Honoree Award, 2001


Whether this fellow enters politics at all is yet to be seen; but I'm sure most would agree he sounds like an interesting candidate for anything.

Chains We Can Believe In

Merry Christmas

Tiger Woods Mistress Plate Collection

Thanks Obama!

click for larger view

A message from Chris Coutu (R-47)

Representing the citizens of Connecticut is a great honor. I am proud to be an independent voice in a state with a legislative body that is addicted to deficit spending. This elected body is composed of a veto-proof Democratic majority that controls over 70% of the vote and the agenda. Seventy percent is a surprising number as our state is composed of 47% unaffiliated, 31% Democrat and 22% Republican registered voters. All this power in the hands of one party has resulted in a legislative representative body that is not representing our interests.

Hartford's 2009 lowlights:
• Raised 2 billion in new taxes and fees
• Provided no unfunded mandate relief for cities and towns
• Amassed 1 billion in new debt to pay for last year’s deficit
• Raided future revenue streams with 1.4 billion in “securitization”
• Utilized 500 million in revenue to be determined to present a “balanced” budget
• Attacked our constitutional rights with bills removing legal gun owners rights and pushing for committees to run church finances

Consequences:
• New billion dollar deficit
• Businesses closing and jobs leaving Connecticut
• Fitch and Moodys negative outlook on our bond ratings
• 800% increase in general fund debt payment from 1991
• Large cuts in town aid, which will result in property tax increases

Worst of all, citizens do not trust Hartford and once again feel they have been misled.

To prevent Hartford’s veto proof majority from delivering even more chaos, we need to take back our state. We need to remove legislators who put political promises over the best interests of our citizens and communities.

In order to accomplish this goal I need 500 signatures and campaign donations by December 31st. To support our effort please complete the form at www.coutu2010.com and donate between $5 and $100. Your support will help make a statement that we are a strong grass roots movement in support of your interests, not the special interests.

With your help, we will take back our Connecticut.

Sincerely,

Christopher D. Coutu
www.coutu2010.com
860.857.5762

State Represenative Coutu has dedicated his life to public service.

Not Politically Correct

General Motors Gets It

But the UAW remains a problem

Europeans zip around in modern Diesels that last forever and don't run, sound, smoke, or smell like the one's we remember from Mercedes 20 or 30 years ago. Make no mistake, the older Diesels were legendary. For decades they were the only vehicles sold in the US that could be expected to hit or exceed 250,000 miles with any regularity.

Left:
2010 Opel Insignia wagon - we won't be seeing this wagon and I only posted the photo to annoy you.

With 0-60 times running under 8 seconds and top speeds well over 100 - all while producing in excess of 30 mpg, it's understandable why vehicles equipped with Diesels would sell well where fuel can cost over $12.00 US per-gallon and speed limits either don't exist, or are both ignored and unenforced.
(Which should make you wonder where our liberty went.)

This Opel will see our shores next year as the
American built 2011 Buick Regal.
Right down to the brass tacks it'll be the same car,
save for the Buick badge.

Here's the good news.
This re-badged Opel won't be your grandfather's Buick; it's quick, enjoys a firmer ride than some previous versions and has received accolades throughout the automotive press for it's tight handling characteristics, fuel economy, superb ergonomics and innovative safety enhancements.

So far so good.
Here's what we won't see in the United States - none of the Diesels despite GM's U.S. surplus engine plant capacity, in fact of the nine power-plants available throughout Europe and much of the rest of the world, we'll get exactly Two.

(Click photo for larger version)

But why no wagon and no Diesels for Americans?

The United Auto Workers won't allow it. (??)
Somehow they're quite convinced that allowing Americans to buy and drive fuel efficient vehicles is not in their best interest. This simply defies all logic as either way the vehicles would be built here and by UAW workers.

In Europe, there are 113 vehicles for sale that get a combined 40 mpg while as of last year we had 2.

Adding insult to injury is the fact that nearly two-thirds of the 113 highly fuel-efficient models that are unavailable to American consumers are either made by U.S.-based automobile manufacturers or by foreign manufacturers with substantial U.S. sales operations, such as Nissan and Toyota.

“These cars sold in Europe meet or exceed U.S. safety standards, so there is no reason why they shouldn’t be made available to U.S. consumers,” said CSI (Civil Society Institute) President Pam Solo.

Update in response to our Fredericksburg, Virginia visitor (comment #1):
Even the DNC's own cable network, MS/NBC has reported on this over 2 years ago:
U.S. ‘stuck in reverse’ on fuel economy

As if we needed more evidence that the Democratic Party and their allies hate America.

Tip Of The Hat to WTIC 1080

WTIC Radio AM-1080 has put up a new Storm Center site that should
stashed away in everyone's bookmarks.
Take a look! http://stormcenter.wtic.com/





We tip our hat to a job well done!

Canadian Police Chase

They've got to be liberals.

No one else is this dumb.

A Letter to President Obama

Dear President Obama,

My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year. People meeting me for the first time don't believe my age because I remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert.

I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and after WW II retiring as a Master Chief Bos'n Mate. Now I live in a "rest home" located on the western end of Pearl Harbor, allowing me to keep alive the memories of 23 years of service to my country.

One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct even to the head man.
So here goes.

I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do, but you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish.

I can't figure out what country you are the president of.
You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies like:

"We're no longer a Christian nation."

"America is arrogant." - (Your wife even announced to the world,"America is mean-spirited." Please tell her to try preaching that nonsense to 23 generations of our war dead buried all over the globe who died for no other reason than to free a whole lot of strangers from tyranny and hopelessness.)

I'd say shame on the both of you, but I don't think you like America, nor do I see an ounce of gratefulness in anything you do, for the obvious gifts this country has given you. To be without shame or gratefulness is a dangerous thing for a man sitting in the White House.

After 9/11 you said, "America hasn't lived up to her ideals."

Which ones did you mean?
Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British?

Or maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man, that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War?

I hope you didn't mean the ideal 470,000 fathers, brothers, husbands, and a lot of fellas I knew personally died for in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation push us around, because we stand for freedom.

I don't think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than discrimination. You know the one that a whole lot of white people understood when they helped to get you elected.

Take a little advice from a very old geezer, young man.

Shape up and start acting like an American.
If you don't, I'll do what I can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue. You were elected to lead not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves.

And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump to conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more. You mean you don't want us to do what you did when that white cop used force to subdue that black college professor in Massachusetts, who was putting up a fight? You don't mind offending the police calling them stupid but you don't want us to offend Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are, terrorists.

One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had to defend your country with your life, but you're the Commander-in-Chief now, son. Do your job. When your battle-hardened field General asks you for 40,000 more troops to complete the mission, give them to him. But if you're not in this fight to win, then get out. The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you're thinking of.

You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest challenge ever presented to any president. You're not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our bloated economy. That's not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now. And I sure as hell don't want to think my president is the enemy in this final battle.

Sincerely,

Harold B. Estes

Cousin Vinny Says...

Hey, you know me! I'm Joe Pesci, I played Cousin Vinnie in the movie!
Take it from me, if you want to get smarter you really ought to be reading what Don Pesci's writing; they don't call him "Don" for nothing you know!

This ACR guy gets it and he put a link over there to the right, right there where you can find it!

Besides, have I ever steered you wrong?

Look there's a link right on this page too! I mean how easy is that? And even a picture of the guy too!"


Don Pesci's Connecticut Commentary:
Red Notes from a Blue State.


Seriously folks, you should include Red Notes from a Blue State in your daily scan of what's new.

Don Pesci's an actual journalist not some kid blogger sitting in his mom's cellar pounding out weekly rants, which as you're no-doubt aware too often what we find.
Quite the contrary in fact.

Pesci writes long, well researched pieces and manages to do so with remarkable regularity.

Coming Soon?

Lord help you if you're over 55, are over-weight and smoke.

CT GOP Chair Healy is Intense

Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy
competes in 73rd annual Manchester Road Race (his 20th).

That's Chris 48 rows back at the start and the 33rd from the left.
(Healy's own report here.)

The Chairman works tirelessly everyday.
Chris Healy's too modest to release his schedule; however we have managed to come into possession of one days agenda from a few weeks ago in mid-October. Please note - this is incomplete as some items have been removed due to their sensitivity.


Everything here is true!
Except the stuff I made up; which is all of it.

4:13 - Uses Twitter to alert his minions he's on his way.

4:45 - Stops by state headquarters, gets coffee ready to make as a `courtesy' to his staff, slips in mild amphetamines.

5:00 - Composes, prints and signs various thank you notes from previous days activities.

5:20 - Sends off bulk email to rally the GOP faithful and encourages them to commit to a full 10% Tithe to the state party.

5:25 - Leaves headquarters for drive to breakfast meetings in Greenwich at 6:45 and Darien at 8:00

6:52 - Pulls into unnamed country club, counts 61 limos 1 Astin Martin and a Bugatti.

7:00 - Speaks to group of Evangelical Greenwich Republicans; has all 63 present on their feet in under 35 seconds chanting "Hey Obama! Keep the change." 59 write checks, 4 others hand over their American Express Cards.

8:15 - Darien Republicans pledge to beat whatever Greenwich group gave an hour earlier; 3 pass out when told the amount, others quickly scribble checks and promise to try harder in the future.

9:00 - Driving back to central Connecticut, takes call from Al Gore, explains Electoral College for the 57th time.

9:15 - Ponders changing name of state party to "The First Church of the Reformed Republican" so donations would qualify as charitable giving.

9:45 - Stops at gym, does 8 miles on treadmill and 250 sit-ups; running late skips usual 150 chin-ups.

10:20 - Leaves gym for meeting with legislative leaders.

10:27 - Conference call with Rove, Huckabee, and Bill O`Reilly. Approves their proposed remarks for broadcast later in day. Still has to write Sean Hannity's script.

10:28 - During conference call, allows call from Arlen Specter ring through and go to voice mail. (Wonders, "When will Arlen figure out that I'm not helping him anymore?")

11:00 - Coffee with CT Republican legislative leaders.

11:30 - Calls Ann Coulter and asks that she email him proposed Hannity script for days broadcast.

11:54 - Ignores call from Arlen Specter.

12:00 - Returns to party headquarters to find entire staff working feverishly (see 4:45) Smiles, encourages them, makes more coffee.

12:11 - Returns calls to state central members and others; 17 calls in all.

1:00 - Puts finishing touches on 3 press releases; none his own.

1:12 - Takes call from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, understands every 3rd word. Thanks Arnold for calling; neither has any idea what call was about.

1:30 - Tweeks Coulter's proposed Hannity script, forwards to Sean via Blackberry, blind copies Ann.

1:32 - Ignores call from Arlen Specter.

1:35 - Calls Coulter, thanks her for her help.

1:41 - Takes call from citizen, explains to said citizen that he lives in district with both state rep and senator from Democratic Party which is why neither ever call back. Recommends calling nearby adjacent district Republican state representative. Provides contact information including cell number.

2:00 - Non-profit group arrives to seek Healy's help. Chairman agrees to run in charity race (23rd this year), attend annual dinner and to encourage his minions to do the same. Writes check for 100, hands it over to group.

2:20 - Runs off thank you notes to those attending breakfast meetings earlier; personally signs all 112.

2:37 - Sends message via Twitter encouraging followers to support non-profit road race and dinner.

2:48 - Ignores call from Arlen Specter.

3:00 - Undisclosed location. Encourages prospective candidate to run for state assembly, and assures him that 2 Masters, Ph.D., 5 patented inventions, 20 years as a Little League coach, 15 as a Boy Scout leader, not to mention the prospects active membership in 3 fraternities, 4 civic groups, and as chairman of his church council might lend itself to electability.

3:45 - Closer to Providence than Hartford, speaks to group of Teen Age Republicans. Endorses their plan to follow Don Williams around with camcorders; discourages use of Photoshop in their efforts but acknowledges that Williams head on Marilyn Monroe is really well done.

3:46 - Sends email via Blackberry thanking prospective candidate and further encouraging him to run.

4:10 - Posts photos and comments regarding fine young group of Teenagers (see 3:45) on Facebook via Blackberry. Considers but declines to include the Willams/Monroe shot despite it being really well done.

4:22 - Ignores call from Arlen Specter.

4:34 - Calls headquarters, asks staff to run off thank you notes to Teen Age Republicans, and prospective candidate; leave on his desk for him to sign in the morning.

5:00 - Early arrival at town committee pasta supper outside New London. Mingles, does usual encouraging speech.

5:45 - Updates both Twitter and Facebook via Blackberry

6:11 - Ignores call from Arlen Specter.

7:00 - Keynote speaker at dinner near Danbury. Crowd on their feet 12 separate times in what should have been 14 minute speech but ran to 21 due to applause and chanting.

9:00 - Heads for home, an hour away.

9:21 - Ignores call from Arlen Specter.

10:12 - Mrs. Healy inquires as to what kind day he's had, to which Chris reply's "Nothing unusual, but tomorrow I've got a busy one!".

10:15 - Sean Hannity calls to thank Healy for his help.

10:19 - Quickly hand writes thank you note to Coulter for her help with Hannity script earlier in day.

10:29 - Ignores call from Arlen Specter.

10:30 - Sets Blackberry to "silent".

A 388 Year Tradition

THE 53 PILGRIMS AT THE FIRST THANKSGIVING

4 MARRIED WOMEN : Eleanor Billington, Mary Brewster, Elizabeth Hopkins, Susanna White Winslow.
5 ADOLESCENT GIRLS : Mary Chilton (14), Constance Hopkins (13 or 14), Priscilla Mullins (19), Elizabeth Tilley (14 or15) and Dorothy, the Carver's unnamed maidservant, perhaps 18 or 19.
9 ADOLESCENT BOYS : Francis & John Billington, John Cooke, John Crackston, (2d), Samuel Fuller, Giles Hopkins, William Latham, Joseph Rogers, Henry Samson.
13 YOUNG CHILDREN : Bartholomew, Mary & Remember Allerton, Love & Wrestling Brewster, Humility Cooper, Samuel Eaton, Damaris & Oceanus Hopkins, Desire Minter, Richard More, Resolved & Peregrine White.
22 MEN : John Alden, Isaac Allerton, John Billington, William Bradford, William Brewster, Peter Brown, Francis Cooke, Edward Doty, Francis Eaton, [first name unknown] Ely, Samuel Fuller, Richard Gardiner, John Goodman, Stephen Hopkins, John Howland, Edward Lester, George Soule, Myles Standish, William Trevor, Richard Warren, Edward Winslow, Gilbert Winslow.

Coming Soon to a Drug Store Near You!

Click on graphic for larger version.

A Litmus Test for GOP Candidates?

Without a call for a Constitutional Amendment requiring lethal injection for those convicted of hogging the left lane, this proposal could have trouble gaining enough support to pass.

The Republican National Committee could be on the verge of imposing a strict purity test on GOP candidates and officeholders, if a proposed resolution passes at their upcoming meeting in January:
If you disagree with the party line on three or more out of a list of ten key issues, no money or official party support for you.


The resolution, officially called "Proposed RNC Resolution on Reagan's Unity Principle for Support of Candidates" draws its standard through a literal interpretation of an old saying of the Gipper's -- that someone who agreed with him 80% of the time is his friend, not his 20% enemy. Thus, this resolution sets 80% as a floor for support of GOP issues.

Below the photo of Connecticut's members of the Republican National Committee is the proposed 10 point list.

I'm not about to second-guess the three below all of whom are probably smarter than I am anyway.
Chris Healy, CT GOP Chairman; Patricia Longo, RNC National Committeewoman; and John Frey, RNC National Committeeman.


(1) Smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill

(2) Market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run healthcare;

(3) Market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;

(4) Workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check

(5) Legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;

(6) Victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;

(7) Containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat

(8) Retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;

(9) Protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and

(10) The right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership

Matisyahu

Now for something totally different....


This is Matthew Miller,
better known by his Hebrew name
Matisyahu
American Hasidic Jewish reggae musician.

Apparently he's been around for a few years, but only made my radar yesterday when a link to this song was sent out via Twitter. Ironically, it came from one of our country's warriors.

Recognizing that it's our warriors that protect our peace, and no group wishes for world peace more than those who put their lives on the line; I created a different music video.
The original is embedded from Youtube below this one.

Class

Thank You
Governor Rell





"What's Governor Rell really like?" A fairly common question.




The two photos here illustrate as well as any, the Jodi Rell I know.

The Governor is holding her grandson Tyler Rell O’Connor in this now three year old photo.


Unlike so many public figures where stories abound of behind the scenes fits, temper tantrums, and worse, the Jodi Rell you see on TV, or have encountered at some event, is the only Jodi Rell I ever met; and I met her some time ago. She has the intellectual integrity to have never bothered, or needed, to develop a "Public Persona" - she's comfortable with who she is, and judging from her stratospheric popularity numbers, so are we.

Jodi Rell arrived in Hartford in 1985 as a freshman member of the general assembly as did several of my friends, and others wound up there in short order as constituent workers for the new Republican majorities we had in both chambers.

Self employed at the time, I could be where I wanted, and frequently found myself "on call" bringing this or that to various friends at the Capitol, more so as they became busier.

It was during this time I made the acquaintance of then state rep. Jodi Rell; you couldn't help but to notice her, she was unusually classy.

Just a few years older than me, she always acted like a grownup which in itself was a little unusual; always dressed well, not showy at all, and carried herself with grace, smiling at those she encountered and calling most, including me by name.
Considering I was simply some politico wandering around the capitol and thus of no value to her at all, I found that surprising especially considering the inflated egos I ran into throughout the entire grounds.
Jodi Rell was clearly a lady and conducted herself accordingly.

The Capitol was a bit of a mad house and the lack of decorum behind the scenes occasionally surprised me, which made Jodi from Brookfield stand out even more as I never saw or heard of her breaking character; no-doubt because there wasn't one to break. She simply didn't slip into a stream of foul language or throw fits as that isn't who she is then or now.

Funny, witty, likes to laugh and doesn't take herself too seriously unless she has to, in which case she'll lapse into grownup mode and can do so in a millisecond when required.

She has decided that she would rather spend her time with her husband and the rest of her family than run for what would be an easy re-election. Now that grandchildren are arriving, who can blame her?

Make no mistake; M. Jodi Rell is the most popular governor over time in the history of the nation; and would easily win re-election regardless of the Democratic opponent.
(No governor in the history of the United States has ever maintained positive poll numbers like hers for as long as Governor Rell has.)


Well Done! Thank You Jodi!


What's next? We'll have to wait and see.
Will she and Lou finally buy that Mercury Grand Marquis they've always dreamed of, and drive back and forth to Florida, (or occasionally out to Branson) with one of the blinkers on?
Only time will tell.

Massive Improvement in Southington

The Good News

Southington's Back on Track!
Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy made time on election day to stop in Southington and give his best wishes to Southington's Team Republican.


Healy and incoming Town Council Chair, Eddie Pocock (E-3).

The Bad News

Minority representation rules prevented some of our candidates from being seated on the board or commission for which they ran; plus we had one of our six council candidates simply not make it which, especially considering which Democrats won, will prove to be worse news for the community at large than it was election night for him.

Sadly, Southington lost the services of Chamber of Commerce President Art Secondo on the Town Council. Secondo's one of those few public figures who's lifetime of public service and genuine altruism, totally transcends partisan politics even while serving on the council.

Below is Connecticut Republican Party Chair Chris Healy with

"Mr. Southington", Democrat - Art Secondo.

Secondo's well known and widely respected by good people throughout the entire northeast as someone who put the interests of the town ahead of his party's political boss system.
Southington's Town Council became a decidedly politically charged environment during the past few years due to the constant petty partisan actions of the outgoing Council Chair.

Scott Brown for US Senate in Massachusetts.

Note to my 6 or 7 regular readers:

While I am an "Authentic Connecticut Republican" and this blog is about Connecticut, I was born in Massachusetts.
We need to help our neighbors to the north.






Please donate to State Senator Scott Brown, the Republican in the race running in the special election on January 19th for US Senate in Massachusetts.
As a 30 year member of the National Guard, Scott Brown has traveled to Kazakhstan, Taiwan and Paraguay to meet with foreign government leaders.

Scott Brown will not need to call his sister for advice on foreign policy matters.

Scott Brown needs your financial support to build a strong movement in Massachusetts.
With your help, we can win the special election on January 19th 2010.

Please donate what you can right now.
Contribute to a better America here.

Corey Brinson

Corey Brinson for Secretary of State

This man's candidacy is more important than you might think.

Consider this:

Without the Republican Party, the entire free world is in jeopardy.
To that end the Republican Party needs to recapture what we fought (and in some cases died) for all the way back to our Abolitionist roots.

Corey Brinson is a REAL Republican.
In fact he's probably to my political right on several issues.

Further he's made out of the right stuff and has succeeded without any suburban advantages, like money, or even a dad who he lost at the tender age of 2.

Brinson has despite overwhelming odds, "winner" written all over him and has the track record to prove it.

Quite simply, Corey Brinson represents the finest this nation can produce and while he'll modestly tell you otherwise, he has accomplished much with little save for his unwavering faith in his Creator which gave Corey the inner strength to fight the good fight everyday and lo and behold look at the man he has become!

Brinson is one upright man worthy of anyone's respect, and Brinson is the candidate we must endorse.

Republicans are the oldest Civil Rights organization in the United States and it was THE REPUBLICAN PARTY that fought for and won Women's Suffrage, and make no mistake - the percentage of Republican votes passing the Civil Rights Act far exceeded the party of the KKK

The Democrats have brainwashed generations of minority members and painted the Republican Party to be guilty of exactly what the Democrats *are* guilty of!!!

It's quite incredible, but what's more amazing is that we've tolerated the lies, slurs and smears.

Republicans have let this happen because we haven't shouted down the lies when we should have literally assaulted those that dare to refer to *us* as racists or bigots.

White natural-born WASPy Republicans can not allow anyone to get away with smearing our party or our families proud Abolitionist histories anymore.
I for one have had enough of it.


Without running qualified candidates of color we look ridiculous.
Check out Corey's resume, his resume is longer than he is old.

We simply can not entertain other candidates for this nomination, should they appear they jeopardize the party's reclamation of our proud history, and considering those consequences isn't something any of us want to do.

Any Republican who fails to "get it" should be simply run out of the party. Better yet let's deport `em!

Any Republican who fails to recognize why it's imperative to help & support the Brinson campaign is too dense to deal with and should seek a mental health professional because they must surely be crazy.

State Representative John Frey

I wish all 151 members of the Connecticut Assembly had even half the common sense, wits, sense of duty and class as State Rep. John Frey. A few do; most don't.

The voters in the 111th district evidently agree: In 2008, he received nearly 3,000 more votes than his opponent and garnered the most votes of any contested House candidates.

Thursday October 22nd, Frey will receive the coveted Fred Biebel Award.
Representative Frey has earned it the old fashioned way - he works for his constituents in the 111th district, and the Republican Party (in that order) tirelessly.
I follow Frey on Twitter @johnfrey and can attest that the man doesn't sit at home, quite the contrary he shows up all over and unless it's literally impossible, NEVER misses any sort of youth award events (IE: Eagle Scout ceremonies) as he recognizes the importance of encouraging and promoting our young people.
To that end; Frey has requested that young Republicans (any Republican under 30) be admitted at the reduced rate of only $50
It's not too late to reserve a seat!

Don Pesci on John Brown

Don Pesci is a "real" writer as opposed to a political hack loose with a keyboard, such as myself.
Don's so good people actually pay him to write! There's no danger of that happening to me.

The six or seven of you that make up my regular readers are already aware that I'm huge fan of Torrington, CT born, Abolitionist John Brown.

Brown's memory has been part of this blog from the very first post:
Who are these characters calling themselves Republicans?

Pardon John Brown
___________________________________
Pesci has a post up commemorating the 150th anniversary of Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry; you won't want to miss it!

John Brown 150th Anniversary Of The Raid On Harper's Ferry





Well done Don and a tip of the hat to you!

Stop the Feathering

Tired of watching trusted elected officials
feathering their own nests at our expense?

Elect Eagles

Here's a couple of Eagles I know of running for office right now:

You'll want to support both;
Bernier & Baker


Justin Bernier for Congress

Justin's running in Connecticut's 5th district.
Proven Service to the Country and Connecticut
An intelligence officer in the Navy reserve, Justin served a tour in Afghanistan in 2007. He was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his service. After he returned to Connecticut, Governor M. Jodi Rell named Justin as Executive Director of the Office of Military Affairs. The state legislature unanimously confirmed him in early 2008.

Follow Justin on Twitter!




Bryan Baker for Alderman
(City of Waterbury, CT)

"The most important thing is making sure that Waterbury has the best future possible."

Follow Bryan on Twitter!


To almost no ones surprise, many votes from a local Board of Aldermen, up to Congress are unanimous or nearly so.
That's because most issues tend to not be left or right, but simply right or wrong.

We're all trying to get to Utopia!
Further, even most of our political opponents want the best for their town, state and nation; we disagree on the route we'll take to get there - not the actual destination.

Honest people agree more often than those with their own agenda, or who have some personal motive which occasionally includes their own self-gain. Those who have slithered into public office seeking to feather their own nests so to speak.

Imagine a government, any government local, state or federal, filled with drop-dead straight office holders.
A fantasy we'll grant you; but how else could we collectively steer our votes towards those individuals who we could logically expect to hold themselves and others to a higher standard?

When possible, elect those who have proven records of altruistic accomplishment; and never ever miss a chance to vote for an Eagle.

Another Blumenthal Blunder

Legal News Line is reporting that AT&T has had enough of AG Blumenthal campaigning against their decision to reduce their workforce and now pointing out some serious inaccuracies in the AG's argument.

AT&T called Blumenthal's Wednesday statement regarding the company surplusing 75 Connecticut jobs "unfounded and already discredited." It also criticized Blumenthal for railing against a business deal, one which already has been made - nine years ago.

"Awash in money as it stands ready to spend $60 billion to purchase MediaOne, AT&T is hanging up on Connecticut families and consumers," Blumenthal said Wednesday.

AT&T spokesperson Walt Sharp said that is not accurate.

"MediaOne was, in fact, an acquisition by AT&T Corp., one of the predecessor companies of AT&T Inc. in 2000, or nine years ago. You can easily validate this on the Internet," he said.

"This information is totally bogus and it is laughable that the AG of the state of Connecticut would include such inaccurate information as an example of AT&T being 'particularly pernicious because the company is investing billions in new ventures.'

"This is a serious matter of jobs and the Connecticut economy. Having basic information like this wrong should impugn the credibility of everything that's said."

Perhaps Mr. Blumenhal should check his facts before launching his next campaign against job creating business in our state.

An introduction to Linda McMahon

"Interesting" choice of associates.

U.S. Condemned For Pre-Emptive Use Of Hillary Clinton Against Pakistan

Chairman Healy Made Me Do It!

Connecticut Republican Party Chair Chris Healy surrounds himself with bright young talent and as result misses nothing. Not long ago he emphatically told state central members to get with the program and utilize the new media.

New Media
A term meant to encompass the emergence of digital, computerized, or networked information and communication technologies in the later part of the 20th century.

Dutifully I signed up on Twitter and Facebook.

Once on Twitter thought I'd look to see if any of my cousins were already there found none, but stumbled across James Hageman, a Lutheran Minister from Montana and began following his "tweets".

In messages of 140 characters or less I've gotten to know the man. He's fairly conservative with a good sense of humor, nice fellow.

He expressed dismay that he could not attend the Ashcroft event, graciously held in Cheshire at the home of Joe & Marilyn Bartoli so I thought I'd try to bring it to him.

With the help of Cheshire Town Council member, Tim White here's John Ashcroft and ACR the evening of September 17th 2009.


The entire evening was fabulous and this will not be the only post about it.
John Ashcroft's a self-effacing, humble, quick wit enjoyable man who I've held in high regard since before it was fashionable.
For many of us John Ashcroft is a rock star.
Lest anyone continue to labor under the delusion that Ashcroft ordered Justice Department statues covered (see poorly written USA Today article here) he did not. A staffer did, thinking she was making points, Ashcroft is too much a gentleman to embarrass a subordinate so he never uttered the truth. (He never told me that, but an `in-the-know' relative of his did.)

John Ashcroft to Visit Cheshire

This Thursday

An authentic American patriot - such a patriot that in fact there's even an act named for him! The Patriot Act.
Yes - we're quite aware that there are those who exercise their 1st amendment rights criticizing the very Act that protected the nation so they could do so.

A huge supporter of an individuals' right to possess a firearm, the former Attorney Generals' position was ratified in last years Supreme Court decision; his stance had earlier driven the New York Times to distraction.

Well known singer.
Here Ashcroft is seen with fellow members of the legendary quartet,The Singing Senators.







Hat tip to Cheshire Town Councilman Tim White upon whose blog more information is available.


A special guest for a Cheshire GOP fundraiser this fall?



The event will be on Thursday evening, September 17th.

Should you be interested in attending this once in a lifetime event, please contact via email at: ashcroft_visits_cheshire@ctgop16.com

After "Cash for Clunkers" comes ...

Click on graphic for full screen

How to properly execute campaign signs

Get over it - they're not reading our junk mail. 


Print's out, because no one subscribes to most newspapers anymore.
So unless you're prepared to do a ton of television we'll have to get what marketing vehicles we can afford, right.


We can afford to do signs correctly - but most don't give it enough thought and thus fail miserably. 


It's time we realigned our campaign budgets.

• Back off on junk mail.


• Reduce the number of signs we buy.


• Dramatically increase the caliber and sophistication of the signage we do place.

Here's a 7 minute video that will explain how to do it correctly.

Above is a WMV file mounted on Blogger, this link will take you to the Youtube version (it's "public" but won't show up in searches).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAL7Fbq4Umw

Note the bogus publish date; that's so the whole world is less likely to stumble on to this but we can send those that might find this useful a link without passwords etc.
-ACR

The Government Can!

Mrs. and Mr. Joseph Kopechne

Mrs. and Mr. Joseph Kopechne, parents of Mary Jo,
visited her graveside here on the first anniversary of her death.

Mary Jo was their only child.

The Disappointed Bride

A woman, married three times, walked into a bridal shop one day and told the sales clerk that she was looking for a wedding gown for her fourth wedding.

"Of course, madam," replied the sales clerk, "exactly what type and
color are you looking for?"

The bride to be said: "A long frilly white dress with a veil."

The sales clerk hesitated a bit, then said, "Please don't take this
the wrong way, but gowns of that nature are considered more
appropriate for brides who are being married the first time - for
those who are a bit more innocent, if you know what I mean?
Perhaps ivory or sky blue would be nice?"

"Well," replied the customer, a little peeved at the clerk's directness,
"I can assure you that a white gown would be quite appropriate.
Believe it or not, despite all my marriages, I remain as innocent as
a first time bride. You see, my first husband was so excited about
our wedding, he died as we were checking into our hotel.
My second husband and I got into such a terrible fight in the limo
on our way to our honeymoon that we had that wedding annulled
immediately and never spoke to each other again."

"What about your third husband?" asked the sales clerk.

"That one was a Democrat," said the woman, "and every night for
four years, he just sat on the edge of the bed and told me
how good it was going to be, but nothing ever happened ...."

Decaf is the Enemy

A decaffeinated America
can not compete in a global economy

A Communist plot?

Lenin explaining his plan of convincing the west of the virtues of decaf.










How can you help combat this insidious threat?
Start your day with a pot of healthy delicious coffee!












Buy a good coffee maker. This Cuisinart DCC-1200 is the Cadillac of home brewers, and well worth the premium price.

no decafe bad bad bad no decafe bad bad bad no decafe
NEVER buy evil communist decafe coffee.



Stop several times a day for booster-cups.




Avoid Dunkin franchises without Tip Cups, such as those owned by Great American Donuts as they appear to rarely maintain franchise regulations such as dumping coffee after 18 minutes, their service tends to be sub-standard and in the early afternoon (after you've had a few quarts of coffee no-less) their restrooms tend to be "out of order".

Christian readers might find it interesting to note that those franchisees that refuse to allow a Tip Cup violate this Biblical tenet:
Matthew 20:15
Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money?