Posted on 06/21/2004 6:26:18 AM PDT by jern
Regards, Ivan
I've been following this in the local press, and I'm not so sure. I think the most favorable interpretation for Rowland, and giving him every benefit of the doubt, might be that he might not have crossed the line into illegality, but was so close to it that his shadow was well over into it. There was surely the appearance of impropriety. Neutral or less sympathetic observers might reasonably conlude he crossed the line. I think it's that close.
Greenfield Hill, the Fairfield neighborhood in which I live, still has the air of a New England village about it. The Congregational Church on our green is magnificent, and most of the residents seem to be somewhat reclusive, eccentric WASPs. (They are also very Republican. When I entered my zip code into one of the campaign finance sites, Bush showed up as far and away the largest recipient of funds from locals).
"....was not a wealthy man before becoming governor."
Does this imply - elect only the wealthy because they won't steal? Nice message & gives support to Kerry & his ilk - he's wealthy enough & patrician enough to be trusted not to steal - right?
Z
Our real RINOs are Shays and Johnson. But considering that only parts of Connecticut bear any relation to New England traditional ways, one should not be surprised. It is not possible for a conservative Republican to be elected to Congress or statewide office in Connecticut.
I have always liked Governor Rowland, but I don't think he's the victim of a lynch mob. He was up to no good, and he has brought the state Republican Party into disrepute. It's tragic.
Regards, Ivan
"...seized upon Rowlands faux pa..."
Interesting, stealing can now be defined as a faux pas. Great, just the kind of message the GOP wants to send - when our guys steal from you - it's a faux pas (wink, wink).
Z
Pondman88 has it exactly right..this was a hatchet job, trumped up all the way...still Rowland should have know better..and Hartford is such a cesspool that it makes Albany look like Poland Springs...however, the Rats usually screw these things up...the LG might be a surprise..CT is perhaps the quinticential soccer mom state...
I agree, and he should have resigned much sooner than this.
As would we.
My thoughts exactly, regardless of Rowland's guilt or innocence in this matter.
Republicans (Nixon, Gingrich, Livingston, Packwood, et al) resign; Democrats tear the country to shreds and make millions writing books about it.
Trivia: Rowland had a deal with New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft to build a new stadium for the team in Hartford but there was a backout clause (Kraft would pay $1 mil., IIRC, if he changed his mind). When it became apparent that there was a lot of toxic waste to clean up and the stadium would not be ready in time for Kraft's deadline, he used the backout clause.
At a press conference afterwards, a furious Rowland
immediately declared himself a NY Jets fan. The stadium
wound up being built next to the Pats' previous stadium,
in Foxboro, Mass. The team has won 2 Super Bowls in 3 years and got to unveil the new stadium just after the
first of these.
Kraft wound up financing the stadium himself, with the state kicking in only some funding for access roads, IIRC.
Later Rowland jumped on the Pats' bandwagon again (oh,
those politicians...a flip-flopper in the spirit of
Kerry?):
I don't doubt there are still neighborhoods, such as yours in Fairfield, that retain their WASP character. They are becoming few and far between. I have always considered Fairfield pretty much a Gold Coast town, although it does have a signficant ethnic population and is wedged between Bridgeport and Westport, both of which are decidedly not WASPy, though for different reasons.
About time. Guess he tired of damaging the state GOP....
Since both Bush and Kerry are wealthy enough not to need to steal, or let themselves be bought, I think the comment is neutral viz. a viz. this election. A more sensitive reading of Kerry's personal financial history, however, would be that he is not personally wealthy, and has let himself be bought by wealthy women as well as well as wealthy constituents in between wives.
It seems sad to say, but for the last century, a yankee is just a member of a ball team.
>>She is the first Republican Female Lieutenant Governor in Connecticut’s history
Well at least Conn. apparently isn't like Vermont, where the Gov and Lt Gov can be from different parties--which is how, when Gov. Richard Snelling (R) died, a Dem. wound up taking over. Howard Dean, yearrrcccgggghhhhh!
I spent a few days in Conn. last year, seeing things like
the Mark Twain house in Hartford, some old-fashioned
railroads; nice scenery near the coast, etc. Hope things turn out well down there. Isn't CT where W was born?
In New Haven, IIRC.
About time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.