I've lived in Connecticut since 1969, married a local girl, fathered a child and had a career in the state. I'm a homeowner and certainly a taxpayer. To be candid, I gave up on Connecticut some time ago. I may not have had your hands-on experience in Connecticut politics but I have eyes and ears and can see that the political spoils system is alive and well in Connecticut and that the GOP is deeply involved in it, rendering it useless.
Frankly, I blame the citizens of the state for their apathy that allows the state to drift into bankruptcy and chaos while they dutifully vote 'Democrat' election after election and elect RINO governors that are almost identical to Democrat governors in policy but sometimes veto the more egregious Democrat bills, knowing that the veto will likely be overturned by the Democrat legislative majority. Roland and Rell were big disappointments and soured many conservatives on the Connecticut GOP, even without having your 'inside' political experience.
As former and present Connecticut residents we both know that a true conservative politician has zero chance in Connecticut politics and with the state electorate apparently uninterested in making any changes or demanding that accountability I referenced, nothing will change until everything collapses; the state workers fat salaries can no longer be paid and their coveted gold-plated retirement benefits disappear, the welfare checks stop coming and the many 'programs' supposedly to 'help the poor' are closed down for lack of funds as taxes rise exponentially. Then, perhaps, a conservative may have a chance at being nominated and elected. By then, who would want to even try?
However, I doubt even this dystopian future will be enough to shake Connecticut politicians and voters out of their conditioned lethargy. I consider Connecticut to be a (political) lost cause for conservatives. That noted, I still have only two real choices on the November ballot; Obama or Romney. Not voting is never an option for me. Voting 'third party' isn't an option I chose because it doesn't accomplish anything. Yes, Romney is a quasi-liberal that will very likely govern 'to the left'. However, Obama is dangerous and must be replaced. That the Electoral College system will render my Republican vote moot is something I cannot use as an excuse to shirk my voting privilege. For the sake of my conscience I must vote.
I disagree that electing a politically conservative congress is not realistic but I acknowledge that it would take years to get rid of the corrupt, entrenched GOP 'leadership' in Washington. That can only happen if Americans vote for conservatives on a consistent basis. Will that happen? Probably not but it doesn't mean that I simply throw up my hands and refuse to vote until the 'right' Republican candidate comes along. Frankly, I haven't got that much time and I concede the fact that some things may never change in my lifetime, no matter how I vote. So be it. I have to do what I can, while I can.
Like you, I'm looking to move out of Connecticut as soon as its feasible. North Carolina is looking good right now but wherever I end up, it will be an improvement, both politically and financially.
Here in Illinois, we have mere public skewel teachers, getting pensions that exceed annual salaries at the end of careers by far, some in the $200,000 to $250,000 range. Then there are school superintendents making as much as $300,000 per year but retiring or being fired by multiple school districts and getting extreme pensions from each employer. We have teachers' union officials (employed only by the pension-paying unions until ONE DAY before retirement) who go to work for that ONE DAY as substitute teachers and get full teacher's pensions as well (by actual state statute) as though they had worked as long as teachers as they had on the union payroll and had earned teachers' pensions accordingly. Double dipping and then they whine about not being eligible for Social Security, poor dears! They pay (to the extent that they pay anything at all) only the pension premium for the ONE DAY. These sweetheart deals abound all over Illinois. In the City of Joliet, a recent survey showed average HOUSEHOLD income of $48,000 but that each municipal employee (many of whom marry each other) getting pay and perks worth an average of $125,000 per year. Then they do even better when they stop working (if ever they actually did anything fairly called work) and start collecting those golden pensions and perfect medical coverage and get replaced by the next generation of spoiled brats. How long can this last??? The Demonrats are funded lavishly by the government employee unions. The House Speaker is Michael Madigan of Chicago whose total corruption and 40 year tenure as a state rep, most as Speaker, have given Illinois its nickname: Madiganistan. He is a rarity in avoiding indictment for that long. The Senate Demonrat leader John Cullerton is also from Chicago. The governor of the moment, pending any likely future indictment, is Pat Quinn, an ummmm, confirmed bachelor from (where else? Chicago) who eagerly signed the "gay marriage" bill and makes Dannell Malloy look like a tight-fisted taxpayers' pal while making Forrest Gump look like a nuclear physicist by comparison. Did I mention that Obozo is from Chicago as is Moochelle, that Rahm Emmanuel (aka Tiny Dancer) is Mayor of Chicago and is actually calling for reductions in public spending an indicating that the apocalypse must soon arrive. As Redd Foxx used to say: It won't be long now, mama! I know that former governor George Lyin' Ryan (R-Kankakee) is in federal prison, and former governor Rod "Elvis" Blagojevich (D-Chicago) is in federal prison for 14 years, and that former governors Otto Kerner (D) (3 years in federal hoosegow and had to resign his federal judgeship) and Walkin' Dan Walker (D) (sentenced to 3 hears and served 18 months for bank looting) did stretches in the federal hoosegow. I only wish that Lowell Weicker had been governor of Illinois instead of being prosecutorily ignored as governor of Connecticut. It would have been so nice to see him off to federal prison for the rest of his days. Ahhhh, but how do I really feel about LoLo???
So much for the entertainment portion of our program. Now, down to business. I have one positive suggestion as I am sure you will agree whether you do what I ask or not. Do whatever you can to help Len Suzio in his re-election bid for State Senator in his Meriden-based district. He is a good friend and a very fine man and has already made a mark on the Connecticut State Senate by lowering one of your gas taxes over Dannell's nearly dead body and Martin Looney's and Chris Donovan's. Money, volunteer time, organizing, whatever you can do. Probably meet Tom Scott in the process. Tell Len I suggested that you help. If he tells you my actual name, keep it to yourself.
Second, and more controversial. I quite agree that Romney will never carry Connecticut unless the Demonrat convention nominates Charles Manson instead of Obozo in which case it would be cliff hanger. Why vote for Romney? Vote for a 3rd Party conservative candidate, keeping your conscience intact and let the party know you are fed up with corruption as usual. And, of course, vote for any conservative on the underticket. I am not going to nag you on that one. We all have free will and must use it each in his/her own way.
BTW, in what area of CT do you live?
BTW, nothing I have posted to you, whatever it may sound like, is a criticism of you. I just have a tendency toward sarcasm without it being personal. Judge me accordingly.
I am actually less cynical than I sound and than you may think. I suspect that we are of similar age since I graduated college the year you arrived in CT. Whatever you decide, God bless you and yours!