Genghis Conn Appreciation Night!

After nearly five volunteer years of pretty much daily content updates, Genghis Conn (a.k.a. Chris Bigelow) is retiring. His creation, CTLocalPolitics had become a must-read for not only CTs hyperinformed policy wonks (the bloggers), but also for the pols.

With guest live-blogs from people, such as Congressmen Chris Murphy and Jim Himes... to Lt. Governor Mike Fedele... and non-regular commenters, such as State Reps. Mike Lawlor and Tim O'Brien... and countless lurkers who work Under the Gold Dome... Genghis created a masterpiece in open government. He created a place where conservatives and liberals gathered to keep'em all honest.

Tonight we showed our appreciation with a pretty good turnout from across the CT blogosphere:

On the right we had:

Heath
Don Pesci
ACR

On the left we had:

Gabe
Jonathan Kantrowitz
AndersonScooper

and of course, the organizer of the event... and one of the best bloggers I read... ever-funny with his biting sarcasm... CTBob.

Here's a brief show of appreciation from Bob to Genghis:



And also offering a thank you during his visit tonight, an exploratory candidate for Governor in the Democratic field - Dan Malloy:



I wished Mayor Malloy the best of luck as he explores the possibility of running for Governor.

A few others attended. There was a representative from the Rob Simmons campaign, Raj. And most surprising to me was seeing Dennis House:


I actually met Dennis once before. It was about ten years ago and he was doing "man-on-the-street" interviews in Hartford. I didn't talk much to him then, but did speak with him tonight. He was a really nice guy who clearly knows CT politics.

But I think the most fun of the night for me was talking shop with some of the most active activists in the state.

Last, but certainly not least, thank you Genghis Conn! And even more important... thank you Mrs. GC for having shared him with us!!

Tim White