Rough Start for Big Name in Conn. Senate Race

The New York Times ^ | 4/15/10 | David M. Halbfinger

[moose2004]

HARTFORD — Richard Blumenthal’s campaign for the Senate was supposed to be a glide. Nothing and no one could stop him.

[moose2004]

Looks like we might have "Martha Coakley II" in Connecticut, great news for Rob Simmons, or Linda McMahon or Peter Schiff.

[Frantzie]

The state is hugely broke due to unfunded liabilities for pensions. 175,000 current and retired govt and muni workers and 3 million residents = potentially $51 to 81 billion in unfunded liabilities. Where was Blumenthal when this MASSIVE fraud was occurring in state and local govt?

[Gay State Conservative]

Where was Blumenthal when this MASSIVE fraud was occurring in state and local govt?

In Greenwich....New Canaan...Darien...sipping a fine brandy.

[Frantzie]

LOL! I mentioned in my post but was not clear. I read about this on National Review. CT may have $51 to 81 billion in unfunded liabilities (golden retirement packages for state and local govt workers).

How are 3 million residents going to pay that off?

I guess it is paltry compared to CA probably $500 billion but CA has 30 to 40 million residents??? Many are leaving.

[moose2004]

I hope the Repubs make a big deal about those CT unfunded mandates, plus focus on Blumenthal’s longtime relationships with Chris Dodd and the banking and insurance industries in the Nutmeg State.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[moose2004]

“In Greenwich....New Canaan...Darien...sipping a fine brandy.”

LOL!

[Clemenza]

Blumenthal always struck me as a Westport kind of guy, but I’m sure he spent many an evening sipping spirits with the hedge fund nouveau riches that have conquered Greenwich over the past 15 or so years.

[COBOL2Java]

How are 3 million residents going to pay that off?

Easy! Just soak the rich! ;-)

[Frantzie]

The freaking hedge funds who got rich shorting and manipulating stocks - many of them HQ’ed in Greenwich, CT. Where were the inevstigations Blumenthal?

The article says Blumenthal sucks in debates. Peter Schiff (R) would rip him to shreds. Schiff’s web videos and speeches are entertaining and he knows his stuff.

Vince McMahon’s wife sounds like a bull dog too.

[keepitreal]

Asked if he would have voted in 2008 for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, he dodged several times by saying he would have tried to amend it, then turned to an aide and said, “Have I taken a position on this?” (Three hours later, he sent word that he would have voted against it.)

(snip) And in the debate, when asked about normalizing relations with Cuba, he said he would consult Connecticut’s “Latino people, of Latino heritage, to learn what our policy should be.”

Reminded of that, he said on Thursday: “The honest answer is I hadn’t thought about it. And I was the first one to take the question. If he’d been the first one to take the question, I would’ve had a different answer.”

"I have no idea where or why I stand on issues. I just want to be a US Senator (D)"

[Clintonfatigued]

Here’s an excerpt:

“But signs of trouble have quickly emerged.

Mr. Blumenthal flopped in his first televised debate against an obscure primary opponent, and he is ruling out any possibility of a rematch.

He appears almost incapable of offering concise answers to even the most predictable questions, like why he is running for the Senate.”

Wow, I wouldn’t have guessed.

[buccaneer81]

I’m willing to bet he’s never set foot in places like Vernon, Willimantic or Enfield. Far too pedestrian for his type.

[surroundedinCT]

Couldn’t even pay me to vote for Blumenthal or McMahon.

[nutmeg]

Interesting excerpt:

...signs of trouble have quickly emerged.

Mr. Blumenthal flopped in his first televised debate against an obscure primary opponent, and he is ruling out any possibility of a rematch.

He appears almost incapable of offering concise answers to even the most predictable questions, like why he is running for the Senate.

And his reliance on prosecutorial parlance and legal arcana has raised unflattering comparisons to another attorney general in a Senate race who seemed a sure winner only to lose in spectacular fashion. Some Democrats are calling him “Martha Coakley in pants,” referring to the candidate who lost the Massachusetts Senate election in January.

Thank you for the heads up on this one, fieldmarshaldj and Clintonfatigued.

[Jim Scott]

Richard Blumenthal is a poor but inevitable choice to replace the corrupt Chris Dood as Connecticut's senator.

Blumenthal has zero charisma and it's hardly a secret that his endless lawsuits against businesses have hurt the state financially by driving off employers, including, most recently, Marlin firearms and Pratt & Whitney. The New York Times piece clearly shows that the Attorney General is hardly ready for prime (political) time. He's not much of a campaigner and like the late Teddy Kennedy during his infamous 1979 TV interview with Roger Mudd, can't articulate why he wants to hold the office he's seeking, which should be the very first thing any candidate has down cold before starting a political campaign. That's lame.

The New York Times article emphasizes Blumenthal's popularity among those he's perceived to have helped in some way but that won't get him enough votes to win the election, even in small, dark blue Connecticut (my home state). There is a distinct anti-incumbent, anti-politician mood in the nation and even though Blumenthal was supposed to be a shoo-in to replace the corrupt Christ Dodd, even the hard-left New York Times sees trouble ahead for Dick Blumenthal,and that is telling. The Republican that opposes Blumenthal in the race should rhetorically handcuff him to Chris Dodd and challenge Blumenthal to as many debates as possible; every week, if necessary. Blumenthal can't hold up under pressure because he hasn't had any for years. He's run the Attorney General's office like the fiefdom it is and has been given nothing but air kisses by the leftist, compliant Connecticut media (with the notable exception of the excellent Waterbury Republican-American newspaper).

The days of arrogant liberal hacks like Dick Blumenthal being handed high public office because they have the 'right' party affiliation is drawing to a close, thanks to the national disgust with the current administration and congress. November 2nd, could be a 'two-fer' for Republicans in Connecticut. We get rid of the business-hating Blumenthal and we get a Republican senator to replace the odious Chris Dodd.

[Impy]

Interesting. He hasn’t had a real race in a long time. He’s rusty.

[Maelstorm]

All it takes is effort. Just start calling him Martha Coakley in Pants. Throw them off. This is the same kind of thing the Dems did in Mass. They put forth a candidate that is popular only because the people are not familiar with their flaws. I hope a real fighter wins the primary. I hope Peter Schiff wins.

[taildragger]

The days of arrogant liberal hacks like Dick Blumenthal being handed high public office because they have the 'right' party affiliation is drawing to a close, thanks to the national disgust with the current administration and congress.

Thank You Jim...

I have been saying for eons (the only other one saying it Laura Ingraham) that is yuppie poor imitation of Thurston Howell the 3rd is ripe for a fall and that he is not the heir to be and is not invincible.

[moose2004]

Schiff is great, I also like Linda McMahon (pledged to spend $50 million of her own money to win) and, to a lesser extent, Rob Simmons. Blumenthal has to be one of the most boring robotic politicians I’ve ever seen, I think he’s definitely vulnerable if he’s pitted against a charismatic outgoing opponent.