Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A Republican Headache for Lieberman?
New York Observer ^ | 8/11/06 | Jason Horowitz

Posted on 08/11/2006 9:40:56 AM PDT by BlackRazor

A Republican Headache for Lieberman?

No one is happier about Alan Schlesinger, the hapless Republican candidate in the three-way race for Joe Lieberman's seat in Connecticut, than Joe Lieberman.

The incumbent senator, after all, is counting on the support of Republicans as well as independents and moderate Democrats to beat Ned Lamont in the general election. And having credible Republican in the race -- which Schlesinger, forgive us for saying, is not -- could siphon a serious number of votes from Lieberman's "independent Democrat" candidacy.

So... remember Jack Orchulli?

He's the well-connected multi-millionaire and former partner of the fashion designer Michael Kors who ran and lost against Chris Dodd in the 2004 Senate race. Orchulli did manage to draw a third of the vote in that Senate campaign two years ago -- a handy number to keep in mind in a three-way race-- and has the ability to raise a lot of money very quickly.

Orchulli told us late yesterday that he's already been approached by state Republicans about replacing the hapless Alan Schlesinger as the G.O.P. nominee in the Connecticut Senate Race -- and that he'd "make himself available" to do it.

"Should the party decide that they want me, and should Mr. Schlesinger decide that he wants to step aside, I would make myself available to them," said Mr.Orchulli. "If I was in it, it would undercut the perception that Mr. Lieberman has the Republicans, and it would change the dynamic of this whole race."

And though the Times wrote after the election that Republicans hadn't much idea about a credible alternative candidate, Orchulli, at least, sees it differently.

"The funds would be there," he said. "There is personal money, and people have expressed interest in raising money."

So can Orchulli possible be the guy? Or does all the praise of Lieberman by the Republican leadership, including Karl Rove, suggest that they have something else in mind?


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Connecticut
KEYWORDS: election2006; electioncongress; joementum; lamont; lieberman; orchulli; senate
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-39 next last

1 posted on 08/11/2006 9:40:56 AM PDT by BlackRazor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BlackRazor

the left is insane.


2 posted on 08/11/2006 9:44:35 AM PDT by GeronL (http://www.mises.org/story/1975 <--no such thing as a fairtax)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlackRazor

I think the Republicans will do well in the fall, nationally. Connecticut, of course, is one of those states where Republicans never have a chance. But if the scenario discussed in this article were to play out, and if CT were to elect a Republican senator, on top of doing well nationally -- boy that would be hard for the media to spin as a rejection ofPresident Bush (but they'd try shamelessly).


3 posted on 08/11/2006 9:46:58 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy ( “I'm the Emperor, and I want dumplings!” (German: Ich bin der Kaiser und will Knödel.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlackRazor
So the thinking is, maybe we don't win but we keep Lieberman from winning either? Jeeze. When it comes to fighting the WOT and our efforts in Iraq I'll take Lieberman over Lamont any day. Yeah, I know Lieberman's going to support the rest of the left-wing causes, but so will Lamont. And the Pubbies play the spoiler at this? No thanks.


4 posted on 08/11/2006 9:49:55 AM PDT by CedarDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlackRazor
So... remember Jack Orchulli?

No, actually, I don't - and I believe that I must have voted for him at the time. He must not have run a very memorable race, and merely benefitted from the "anybody but Dodd" vote...

5 posted on 08/11/2006 9:50:46 AM PDT by The Electrician ("Government is the only enterprise in the world which expands in size when its failures increase.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlackRazor

Glad to see the Republicans will find a credible opponent for Liberal Joe.


6 posted on 08/11/2006 9:52:59 AM PDT by youthgonewild
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nutmeg

PING!


7 posted on 08/11/2006 9:53:03 AM PDT by CedarDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlackRazor
He's the well-connected multi-millionaire and former partner of the fashion designer Michael Kors who ...

Does PARTNER, in this instance, mean bidness partner? If not, then how conservative is this guy, really? Lieberman may still be the best, issue for issue.

8 posted on 08/11/2006 9:55:59 AM PDT by admiralsn ("How do you get a ceasefire with terrorists?" - - UN Ambassador John Bolton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

I road to the polls with my Democrat friend up here in CT. As I waited outside, a Lamont supporter was pushing within 75 of the front door. He had a fanatical look in his eyes like you see in Hollywood films of a lunatic nut. It was scary to think that this is Lamonts base.


9 posted on 08/11/2006 9:59:39 AM PDT by IndyinCT (IndyinCT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BlackRazor
From this thread and NRO online:

On Tuesday, Democrats in Connecticut showed the door to Senator Joe Lieberman, a patriotic adult who happens to be a liberal, and ushered in an antiwar Left opportunist who, until about five minutes ago, was a Lieberman supporter.

On Wednesday, al Qaeda reminded us that it will gladly kill opportunists of any political stripe.

The Democrats need to hold on to their patriots. The nation needs to hold on to the Democrats’ patriots.

This is going to be a very long haul.

10 posted on 08/11/2006 10:00:00 AM PDT by CedarDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: youthgonewild

Do you really think a Republican has a chance to become Senator in CT??? Come on!!! We would be better off not risking splitting & siphoning votes from Lieberman so that Lamont can squeak by as an anit-war far-left wing nut senator. At least Lieberman is Pro-America, Pro-Israel & Pro-Defense!!!


11 posted on 08/11/2006 10:09:43 AM PDT by rjmeagle (The Sword IS Mightier than the Pen!!! The UN uses the Pen all the Time!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: CedarDave
So the thinking is, maybe we don't win but we keep Lieberman from winning either? Jeeze. When it comes to fighting the WOT and our efforts in Iraq I'll take Lieberman over Lamont any day. Yeah, I know Lieberman's going to support the rest of the left-wing causes, but so will Lamont. And the Pubbies play the spoiler at this? No thanks.

I couldn't agree more, Dave! And thanks for the ping... I'll alert the Connecticut ping list.

12 posted on 08/11/2006 10:09:50 AM PDT by nutmeg (National security trumps everything else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: All
Who is the republican candidate that will be running against Lement and Loserman in November?

Alan Schlesinger, former mayor of Derby, CT. Here's some recent news about him:

Source: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

July 21, 2006

In Connecticut, Bombshell Hits Schlesinger Campaign

The Hartford Courant sent a bunker bomb in to Connecticut Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Alan Schlesinger’s flagging campaign today with revelations that the former legislator was successfully sued for thousands of dollars in casino debts he ran up in Atlantic City venues. Schlesinger’s campaign was rocked last week by the news that, among other things, he had gambled in a Connecticut Indian casino under an assumed name, Alan Gold. His luck will have run out now.

Word of his gambling debts will renew calls for Schlesinger to abandon his tattered candidacy...

Hardly a viable GOP candidate, IMHO...

13 posted on 08/11/2006 10:10:40 AM PDT by nutmeg (National security trumps everything else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RaceBannon; scoopscandal; 2Trievers; LoneGOPinCT; Rodney King; sorrisi; MrSparkys; monafelice; ...

Connecticut ping!

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.

14 posted on 08/11/2006 10:11:12 AM PDT by nutmeg (National security trumps everything else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IndyinCT

Its the Soros-MoveOn base


15 posted on 08/11/2006 10:12:27 AM PDT by GeronL (http://www.mises.org/story/1975 <--no such thing as a fairtax)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: BlackRazor
No conservative Republican is going to win in the Northeast for at least a generation. There's a choice between ultra-left Democrats and RINOs. As much as I loathe RINOs, I'll take 'em - even Lieberman - over a Democrat like Ned Lamont any day. They can be counted on to put America first.

(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)

16 posted on 08/11/2006 10:12:41 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlackRazor
No one is happier about Alan Schlesinger

The NY Observer attempts damage control and fails miserably here. Schlesinger is damaged goods. He has no chance of winning. Which means pubbies will cross over in droves to vote for Lieberman - something the wingnuts didn't plan upon.

Lamont is gonna get trounced.

17 posted on 08/11/2006 10:13:08 AM PDT by dirtboy (Why does Israel take border security seriously but we do not, when Islamists wish us both harm?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IndyinCT
As I waited outside, a Lamont supporter was pushing within 75 of the front door. He had a fanatical look in his eyes like you see in Hollywood films of a lunatic nut. It was scary to think that this is Lamonts base.

That's a perfect description of a fairly typical Lamont supporter. I'm sick of seeing them "all over the place" here in CT, and I'm really sick of Lamont's hateful ads, which were absolutely blanketing the TV and radio airwaves this spring and summer. Now we're going to have to endure it all over again from now until November... *groan*

18 posted on 08/11/2006 10:15:10 AM PDT by nutmeg (National security trumps everything else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: dirtboy
Schlesinger is damaged goods. He has no chance of winning.

Absolutely. See #13 for a small example...

19 posted on 08/11/2006 10:16:20 AM PDT by nutmeg (National security trumps everything else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: dirtboy
The NY Observer attempts damage control and fails miserably here. Schlesinger is damaged goods. He has no chance of winning.

I don't see where you're coming from. That's exactly the Observer's point. They're saying if the GOP is able to recruit Orchulli as a credible replacement candidate for Schlesinger, it's bad news for Lieberman.

20 posted on 08/11/2006 10:17:31 AM PDT by BlackRazor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-39 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson