Poll: Dodd's approval numbers drop to new lows [in the midst of a financial quagmire]

AP ^ | 2009-04-02

[rabscuttle385]

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd's standing with Connecticut voters continues to plunge as a new poll released Thursday shows only one in three people approve of his job performance.

The Quinnipiac University survey says the five-term veteran's approval rate is at a career low, and that he would lose his seat to either of two declared Republican challengers if the election occurred today.

That's even though many people admitted they don't know much about either challenger.

Slipping below a 50 percent approval rating is often considered a red flag for incumbents, and Quinnipiac Poll Director Douglas Schwartz said the "anybody but Dodd" sentiment could be very difficult for him to overcome.

Dodd's new 33 percent rating, a dip from 49 percent in a March 10 poll, is "especially devastating" considering he is a longtime incumbent Democrat in a solidly blue state, Schwartz said.

[freespirited]

Dodd's new 33 percent rating, a dip from 49 percent in a March 10 poll, is "especially devastating" considering he is a longtime incumbent Democrat in a solidly blue state, Schwartz said.

I'm not devastated one bit. I'm delighted. Only thing that would make me happier is when it hits the teens and single digits.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Any chance of our slipping a real conservative into the primary to oppose Simmons, or would that even do any good in CT?

[St. Louis Conservative]

Let’s not get our hopes up. If Dodd is showing this kind of vulnerability for much longer, the CT Dems will just force him into retirement or they will primary him out of there. A generic D will keep this seat.

It’s possible we may have U.S. Senator Ned Lament after all.

[abigailsmybaby]

"five-term senator"

That's obscene.

[Plumres]

Just like Christmas morning to me!

[Liz]

Dodd's new 33 percent rating, a dip from 49 percent in a March 10 poll, is "especially devastating" considering he is a longtime incumbent in a blue state..............

Oh happy day ping............

[scottinoc]

His approval rating could be 1% and he could commit mass murder the week before the election. He’d still win re-election, just like Murtha.

[mrsmel]

Yes indeed it is. I was one of those who didn't used to believe in term limits, citing the “experience” and ‘seniority” factors. No more, I'm a convert, and it's not just because “my guys” aren't the ones in power. They all need to be term-limited. Politics was never meant to become a career, and being in power that long will just corrupt anyone. It would have corrupted the Founding Fathers, I think, if they hadn't had the integrity and character to limit themselves. They stay in power, and especially these days, acquire unheard-of powers and perks, and become distanced from those they are there to serve. I believe that now the concept that men acquire political power in order to serve the public, not rule them and feather their own nests, has been forgotten-many many years ago. It's nothing but corruption from the top down to the lowest bureaucrat. And the big government leviathan ensures it will get worse.

[Liz]

Wonder if Angelo's campaign contributions
are being converted to Dodd’s personal funds??

How does Countrywide's Angie Mozilo get into his
$170,000 Lamborghini with Sen Dodd in his back pocket?

===============================================

Internal Revenue Service Reportedly Challenges AIG's Tax Deals
RTT News | 3-24-2009 | RTT staff writer
FR Posted Wed, March 25, 2009 by nyconse

EXCERPT The Internal Revenue Service is reportedly challenging certain tax deals structured by AIG Financial Products Corp., a unit of American International Group Inc. Citing court records and people familiar with the business, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that some banks that received government-funded payouts to settle contracts with AIG turned to the insurer for help cutting their income taxes in the US and Europe. Read more at rttnews.com

DODD'S WIFE A PAID BOARD MEMBER OF AIG SUBSIDIARY (Dodd says bringing that up is a "cheap political trick")

While Dodd rigged the laws to benefit AIG, his wife Jackie Clegg was compensated by a company managed by a subsidiary of AIG in 2003, according to a proxy statement, Clegg received $1,000 per month and an additional $1,000 for each Directors' and committee meeting she attended. Clegg served on the Audit and Investment committees during her final year on the board. IPC paid millions each year to other AIG-related companies for administrative and other services.

Clegg was a diligent director. In 2003, the proxy statement reported, she attended more than 75% of board and committee meetings.

Clegg served on the board while she was managing partner of Clegg International Consultants, LLC, which she created in 2001, the year she joined the board of IPC.

=======================================

HOW THE DIRTY DODD DEAL MIGHT HAVE DONE DOWN

The Nov 9, 2008 Hartford Courant reported federal agents are investigating deals mortgage giant Countrywide Financial's co-founder Angelo Mozilo made to Dodd. Since the Dodd story broke in June, the five-term senator has offered contradictory fragments of explanations and intentions. Dodd gallops the gamut from calling the allegations of special treatment "outrageous" to pledging repeatedly and specifically to release documents related to the $800,000 in sweetheart deals he got from Countrywide.

Still claiming "there's nothing there," Dodd refuses to say whether his Senate campaign committee's payments of $60,000 last summer to a Washington law firm----- which has a history of representing Democratic senators in trouble-----were for his defense in the Senate ethics investigation of his dealings with Countrywide.

Dodd suggested, before he fled to his third home in Ireland in August, that Countrywide was not cooperating in providing information.

Dodd still claims there was nothing unusual about the $800,000 in mortgages he got from Countrywide in 2003, but records refute that, too. Documents indicate that Dodd was getting a mortgage of $276,150 on his second home in Connecticut on July 3, 2003. The amount was reduced to $275,042 and the mortgage he was refinancing was paid off.

Dodd and his wife also got a home equity loan on their Connecticut property in East Haddam from Countrywide that day.

But the course those loans took was very strange.

============================================

For nearly a year and a half, Countrywide failed (or declined) to secure its interest in Dodd's home by taking the ordinary and essential step of presenting the documents to the local town clerk and recording them in the land records.

The standard routine is for the homeowner to sign the loan documents, the borrowed money is sent to the lender being paid off and the new mortgage is recorded on local land records within a few days.

Dodd, however, signed some (but not all) of his loan documents himself.

Agents of Countrywide signed his $275,042 Connecticut mortgage. His previous mortgage with Countrywide was paid off but the new mortgage did not appear on the local land records for an astonishing 16 months.

For nearly a year and a half, Countrywide failed (or declined) to secure its interest in Dodd's home by taking the ordinary and essential step of presenting the documents to the local town clerk and recording them in the land records. This is exceedingly rare in the mortgage business. Too bad for Dodd mortgages leave detailed paper trails.

===========================

Now, it's likely that Dodd is on his hands and knees pleading with Obama to call off the Feds. That's why we need to take other routes to see that justice is done.

For example----Dodd (and his wife and family) are probably enrolled in high-roller comp programs at Conn casinos (and/or in other gambling venues). These programs show every nickel high rollers bet---including wins on which high rollers may not have paid taxes.

Casinos are very tightly regulated. They are more than happy to cooperate with authorities---to protect their licenses.

Casinos would also have records on the amount of untraceable casino chips Dodd (his wife and his family) received-----maybe gifts from AIG, Cassano, or Dodd's pal Angelo.

Authorities should also inquire if Dodd, Cassano, Angelo or AIG wire-transferred monies into Dodd's casino account, and if taxes were paid on these monies.

Connecticut Division of Special Revenue (Gaming Control Board)
WEB SITE http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:EPdMRVRy8g8J:www.ct.gov/dosr/

Mailing Addresses:

Division of Special Revenue (casino control)
555 Russell Rd.
Newington CT 06111-1523

Division of Special Revenue (casino control)
P.O. Box 310424
Newington CT 06131-0424

Another possibility: Dodd, AIG, Cassano, and Angelo, may have used NETeller Plc to illegally convert monies that were then transferred offhore---to overseas gambling companies, for their personal use later. NETeller is an Isle of Man-based payment processor for gambling Web sites (suspected of having operations in the US Virgin Islands---a notorious money-laundering bank haven).

[abigailsmybaby]

I used to be in the same boat...plus I was a democrat. But since I'm such an open-minded person I, too, saw the light.

[lone star annie]

Dodd will win reelection. No way will CT elect a GOP.

[Gaffer]

"Dodd Democrats will cheat and steal the win reelection. No way will CT Democrats elect a GOP

[freespirited]

I guess they still remember Lowell Weicker.

What a schmuck he was.

[Ditto]

Only thing that would make me happier is when it hits the teens and single digits.

What would make me happy would be to see this crook outfitted with handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit doing double digits in the Federal Pen.

[Ditto]

Dodd will win reelection. No way will CT elect a GOP.

The current governor is a Republican and so was her predecessor. I'm sure they are Rinos, but still, it's not a total D state.

[Daffynition]

I think Dodd is done.

Rick Green of the Hartford Courant who is normally in the bag for any "D":

A new Quinnipiac University poll out this morning shows that Sen. Dodd is far behind former U.S. Rep. and CIA agent Rob Simmons in a possible match-up for the 2010 senate race.

This is more evidence that it is time for Sen. Dodd to make way for new Democratic leadership. Dodd has become a daily target for right wing bloggers and pundits.

The poll shows Simmons leading Dodd by a 50-34 percent margin. The poll estimates that just 33 percent of of voters approve of the job Dodd is doing as a senator.

The poll reveals some alarming trends for Dodd, a five-term senator, including eroding support from Democrats. Incredibly, the poll suggests that Dodd also trails two political unknowns as well -- former Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley of Greenwich and state Sen. Sam Caligiuri of Waterbury, who announced his candidacy this week

Two weeks ago week I wrote that Dodd should not run again. Others are talking about this too.

[mrsmel]

I was even worse, just see my profile page, LOL. One of the uniformed stupids whose vote years ago helped lead to this mess. But just once, never again after I made it a point to inform myself.

[kenmcg]

Have faith in the illiterate CT. electorate....they'll still vote RAT!!

[surrey]

Mrs. Dodd better watch out he may decide he wants to “spend more time with his family”. We can only hope.