Primary Day (August 8) is only three weeks away. Like the midsummer weather, I have a feeling that the 89th Republican primay is going to heat up.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
The July campaign fundraising reports have been filed with the Secretary of the State. I raised a whopping $1461. That's includes $1211 from me (as a loan, in case I ever decide to raise money) and $250 from my dad.
This particular issue is one of my biggest gripes with politics today... the undue influence that (without a doubt) goes with some of the campaign contributions (look no further than Jack Abramoff), particularly those from lobbyists. I recognize that "getting out a message" can cost money to a certain extent. But I have a real problem with people who focus on raising money to send out their mailers, all the while not really listening to the voters.
Nonetheless, I have had quite a few people offer to donate to my campaign. I'm just not sure that I want to do much fundraising yet. Although, if I get through my primary, I will definitely start asking for money.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
The NH Register (by Luther Turmelle) ran an article yesterday on the Rte 42 repaving project (Local section, p. 2) . The article mentions that nearby residents are upset about parts of the project. The reason is that a stretch of N. Brooksvale is being repaved... and it's the same stretch that was repaved fewer than four years ago and is slated to be completely reconstructed within two years. Hence... why spend the money on repaving that stretch now?
Some of Rte 42 is appropriately being repaved right now. But a significant stretch (probably more than 500 feet, out of more than a mile) is being unnecessarily repaved. It's just another example of our wasted tax dollars.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
With polls showing Republicans looking like they're headed for trouble this fall (AP, by Donna Cassata), if much of the discontent relates to Iraq... it may not be only bad news for the GOP. Joe Lieberman is not the only pro-war Democrat.
Unlikely though the possibility may be, Hillary may also end up with some problems of her own (AP, by Marc Humbert) with a Democrat coming at her from the anti-war left.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
What was only blogosphere chatter last night, is "real news" today. Schlesinger is being pressured to drop out (Courant, by Mark Pazniokas). Governor Rell & GOP Chairman George Gallo are urging the Alan Schlesinger to "reconsider" his Senate candidacy. Schlesinger says he won't do it, but I have to wonder. I'm not sure who would run in his place. But I imagine that there are several Republicans who would consider running in a three way race.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
I respect someone with persistence. And neither Chris Shays, nor his campaign finance reform counterpart in the House, Marty Meehan, will give up. Good for both of you! As this article (AP, by Jim Kuhnhenn) describes, some of this is very technical. But there is a general principle... that elections should not be about money. Bravo, Congressman Shays!
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
Despite being able to Reverse the Curse, I still have little faith in my Red Sox. So I want to take this opportunity to point out that they are up by 3.0 games right now. Unfortunately, it's the All-Star break. So this isn't all that surprising. But I just had to point out that things do look good... for now.
Tim White
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
I'm not sure if this is true, but two separate blogs are reporting that pressure will be coming for the Republican nominee for US Senate to step down. The Hotline and CT Local Politics are discussing this possibility. And frankly, it doesn't surprise me. I don't know much about Alan Schlesinger (although I have met him and he seems like a nice guy), but I imagine that as soon as Joe Lieberman announced he may go Independent, there were people thinking about trying to get the Republican Senate nomination... feeling that it's winnable in a three way race. Heck, even a sitting Republican state rep has (from what I understand) announced her intention to run for the Senate seat. And if there is a Libertarian candidate and a Green candidate and a Working Families candidate... our Senate race may easily have 6 or 7 people on the ballot in November.
Tim White
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
Cheshire's elected officials continue to make news (Courant, by Gregory Seay). The mother who allegedly threw a keg party for her underage son and his underage friends, has been jailed.
According to this Courant editorial, there is science behind the calls to end teenage drinking.
For info on underage drinking, visit CheshireCares.org. I was told there will be some new helpline info getting posted there soon.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
Gas prices (Courant, by Mark Peters) are definitely one of the hottest topics for people to mention to me. And I agree with Chris Dodd on this point... if gas remains this expensive, incumbents will pay a price for it this November. I don't know that it will be huge numbers of voters, but there will be voters who simply want change.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
Newtown's Board of Ed has authorized their Superintendent to write a policy that would allow the use of a drug sniffing dog in their schools (AP). I'm not sure where the Cheshire BOE stands on this, but I believe at least one member has mentioned this to me.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
Lieberman v. Lamont happened last night. I caught a bit of it. And from what I saw, it seemed as though Joe did marginally better... mostly because of policy knowledge. Here's the take of the Republican-American (by Paul Hughes), the Courant (by Mark Pazniokas & Chris Keating) and the AP (by Susan Haigh).
Looking for some hiking trails in Cheshire? Check out some of the town's open space (Cheshire Herald, by Kristen Malinowski).
The CHS roof project (Cheshire Herald, by Shannon Becker) is underway. It was delayed a year, but is finally happening. And to think that this project may very well have been done quite easily, if we had simply done a proper coring (sp??) sample of the roof back in Summer '04. Oh well. That's neither here nor there.
For a team that just won 12 in a row, the Sox sure let the Rays beat'em up this week. As usual, thank goodness for Big Papi.
Word of the day: codependency. It's a disease where people get into bad, hurtful relationships, and never get out. It seems to impact far too many people.
Anything else happening?
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
Several US Senators are coming to CT to stump for Joe (AP, by Andrew Miga). And while I have no problem with that, it does reinforce my feeling that the US Senate is basically interested in maintaining comity. The Super 100 don't like newcomers. They like to keep their club closed. And they (along with many other political bodies) will do whatever they can to return incumbents to office... damn conservative or liberal values. Incumbency is what is important.
And this blog isn't intended to reflect poorly on our Senator. It's intended to reflect poorly on the body politik. And it's why I respect Senators Tom Coburn and Russ Feingold. They're clearly not in DC to make other Senators happy.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
I'm not sure how it will go. But at this point, I'm assuming that Lamont will be able to talk issues. I think Ned needs to avoid the details in the debate, else Joe will clobber him. Lieberman is good. I remember walking away from the 2000 VP debate thinking he knew his stuff. Joe just has way too many years of experience for Lamont to be able to compete on the details. But if Ned manages to stay high level (anyone know the time limits on responses? Longer is better for Joe.), he may hold his ground.
As for who will win the debate, if Lieberman brings his game tomorrow... including one of his most powerful weapons... the standup comedy routine... he wins. I've heard our junior Senator too many times on Imus. He always has a one-liner ready. And that's tough to beat. I realize that has absolutely nothing to do with substance, but I wouldn't be surprised if his standup routine makes a difference tomorrow (for November). Of course, that's contingent upon Joe keeping his composure. But this can't be anything next to the VP debate. Although, regardless of what happens at the debate tomorrow, I still think Lamont wins in August. While this primary has to do with lots of issues, it got traction because of Iraq. And within the Democratic party, supporting most of our recent wars is going to be a loser.
UPDATE
And just thinking about this now... I bet Lieberman concedes tomorrow's debate. That is, I bet he speaks only slightly liberal... assuring moderate dems that he is a liberal and a dem, but not an "extremist." At the same time, he makes Lamont out to be the "extremist" that neither moderate dems, nor independents can support. Hence, tomorrow's debate becomes a showcase for Joe for November. (Please understand... I really don't know anything about Lamont... I'm just talking about the politics, not the policy. And Joe is a master politician, even if he's gone too far this time within his own party. Heck, imagine if he wins as an independent... Then John McCain gets the Republican nod in '08 and picks Joe as his running mate. Is it really that far-fetched? McCain would just about guarantee himself the Presidency with a duly elected Independent Senator as his running mate... Joementum may yet be POTUS.)
Tim White
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
While Joe is grabbing all the headlines and Ned is putting up all the lawn signs, Alan Schlesinger is quietly doing his thing (Courant, by Brian Lockhart). Alan's plan makes sense: win a plurality. And that's certainly possible in a 3-way race.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
230 years and counting. It's truly amazing what our Founding Fathers created. The Declaration of Independence included some of the most moving words ever written. For me, I think the most powerful are in the last sentence.
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
- The Declaration of Independence
And for a CT-related history of the Declaration, check out CT Local Politics, then scroll up. It's a short, but very interesting, account of CT and America's "First President."
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman is going independent. From what I can tell, the Courant (by Mark Pazniokas) broke the news. This really doesn't surprise me though. I think Joe can win in November, but would lose in August.
Tim White
They have a debate scheduled for (NH Register, by George Hladky) this Thursday @ 7pm. I may watch it. I am curious about it, although I have no say in their primary. I think the most interesting thing though is by reading the national and international news media, it seems as though all eyes are focused on CT... (oh wait... that must be due to the Republican primary in the 89th district, right? haha.)
According this article (AP, by Susan Haigh), the Nedhead bloggers are really giving their man a boost.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
New Jersey's Governor Jon Corzine has decided to shutdown the NJ state government. Sounds to me like a repeat of Lowell Weicker's summer of... was it 1993?
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
Eminent domain is here to stay. Susette Kelo agreed to move (AP, by Susan Haigh). It's too bad. I'm sure there are lots of reasons that led to this, but I think one simple fix is possible: a new law banning the use of eminent domain, unless the property will be for public use... not private use.
Tim White
State Representative candidate (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
