"Dodd is up for election THIS YEAR! Who have we got in CT?"
We've got wealthy businessman Jack Orchulli:
http://www.jackforsenate.com/home.shtml I've been saying for months that our only chance of defeating Chris Dodd is to run RINO Congressman Chris Shays against him, and now that Dodd has put his foot squarely in his mouth, maybe Shays can be convinced to run. If Shays pulls off the upset, he would be a less liberal Senator than Dodd, so that would be an improvement. But the best part is that, irrespective of whether Shays wins or loses, at least it would get him out of the House and allow us to elect a better Republican in a district that is one of the two most Republican in the state (Bush got 43.4% even with Lieberman as Gore's VP candidate, and the district usually votes heavily Republican). While it is certainly possible that another RINO could get the GOP nomination and thus the House seat, what are the odds of him or her being more liberal than Chris Shays?
Another possibility is that former Congressman Gary Franks gets into the race. Now, I know that Franks suffered a humiliating defeat in his Republican-leaning House seat in 1996 and got shellacked in his underfunded Senate race against Dodd in 1998 (Dodd won 65%-32%). But as a black Republican, he might be better able to make hay of Dodd's racist statement than any other candidate. While Franks is not pro-life, he is in favor of some restrcitions, such as the PBA ban, and is fairly conservative on other issues; unlike Shays, Franks is no RINO. I know he's blown it in the past, but I would be willing to give him another chance this time around, especially given the dearth of quality candidates interested in the race.
But in any event, if neither Shays nor Franks runs, Jack Orchulli will be the GOP Senate nominee. I don't think he has much of a chance of unseating Dodd, but I sure hope he at least tries. This is Orchulli's press release regarding Dodd's stupid remarks about former Klansman Robert Byrd (not as strong as one would hope, but a good start):
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2004
CONTACT: JOHN HEALEY--(860) 209-4549
DODD REMARKS INSENSITIVE, DESERVE APOLOGY
Jack Orchulli, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Wednesday called upon Senator Chris Dodd to repudiate his remarks recognizing Democrat Robert Byrd’s record on Civil Rights.
“Chris Dodd is out of touch and his racially insensitive remarks show he doesn’t get it,” said Orchulli. “That is why we need change in Washington to rid ourselves of this get along-go along culture.”
This week, Dodd praised Byrd, an admitted former member of the Ku Klux Klan, for his years of service to the nation and the role he would have played in public debate no matter what era the West Virginia Democrat served.
"You would have been right during the great conflict of Civil War in this nation," Dodd said in remarks seen on C-Span and reported widely in national media.
Sen. Byrd was a member of the Ku Klux Klan prior to joining the Senate, and a vigorous opponent of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
"These foolish comments clearly illustrate that nothing changes in Washington unless you change the leadership,” said Orchulli. “Chris Dodd owes Connecticut an apology for digging up a painful chapter in our history and glorifying someone who symbolizes racial division and bigotry.”
Orchulli added, “These statements are just indicative of a larger problem-a career politician who has spent far too much time skulking in the halls of power and not enough time walking the streets of real life. It's time for change, and it can't come soon enough.”
You have it right -- only way to defeat RATs in parts of this Country are to run moderate Republicans. Conservatives cannot win in some states. Shays needs to get in this race IMHO!
Thanks for the info!
Unfortunately, Connecticut elects only 'Rats or RINO's. I hear that Orchulli has vast personal wealth to spend from. If so, perhaps he'll spend from that wealth to make himself a real contender. I certainly hope so, cause Dodd is the embodiment of the inside-the-beltway type.