Good day groundhogs, woodchucks and land beavers. I’m wondering what it means if city pols do not see their shadows today. Is it a cold, long winter or thoughts of a warm sun, cool breeze tickling their aspiring loins?
Then, again, could they envision the paranoid specter of someone else’s shadow? I mean in Bridgeport politics you never know who might ambush you with a stiletto poised. A groundhog is, after all, a rodent with sharp incisors that rip flesh from predators, a specialty of city politicians. Don’t get mad, as they say, get even.
Who’s after so and so’s job? Who wants to get even for reneging on a deal? Who’s at the top of the political hit list? Groundhog day is always a good time to take inventory. Just 26 days until March so it’s not too soon to think about spring training, especially now that the Super Bowl, a mighty good one, is over.
This is a day for some juicy gossip. So, cough it up. What are you hearing? What are City Hall Smoker and Bridgeport’s Finest hearing inside the building? An OIB friend called the other day to correct me about my suggestion that Mayor Bill Finch should run for Connecticut secretary of state. That was a load of hooey, I was told because hizzoner is shooting much higher than my prognostication: he’s actually thinking about running for governor!
Nah, he wouldn’t do that, he’s not that delusional, I replied, he’d be laughed off the Western Hemisphere. Bring on the rumors.
Well, this is no revelation, but ditch the rumor that Attorney General Dick Blumenthal’s running for governor in 2010. Dick announced this morning he’ll once again run for attorney general. That means the gubernatorial candidate season will begin in earnest led by, so far, Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz and former House Speaker Jim Amann. Others may jump in.
The only rumor I’ve heard on this Groundhog Day predicts that Mr. Barnum will poke his head into Only In Bridgeport and, seeing his own shadow, will not post again on this blog for six more weeks.
I predict that the accuracy of this prediction is predicated on the precision of the prediction itself. What a predicament.
PT
Bridgeport To Nowhere
www .bridgeportintheknow.com/wordpress
*** Imagine the cluster f. . . they would have up in the Capitol & this State with Finch as Governor & his think-green ideas that would come first, with everything else taking a back seat! He’s a good talker mind you, when it comes to B/S but lacks the balls to take complete charge! He’s better @ delegating authority to others to get things done & getting his advice from self-appointed committees. Also, none of the Democrats that are interested in Gov. other than Blumenthal or DeStefano seem to have what it takes to beat Rell. Hell, maybe Shays might throw in his hat for Gov. too! *** But remember, things are bound to get worse before they get better and with Finch @ the helm, no telling what can happen! ***
Bridgeport Birdie man won’t fly the coop to make a nest in Hartford, we wouldn’t have enough worms for the flight. Speaking of worms, the wormwood in his office is looking for another goose to lay some golden eggs. Seems he remembered that you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. But which basket; a failing City, State or Country? Jimmy turned him out on his ear.
Mr. Mojo, no offense to your insight, but another bug in my ear tells me Dan Malloy has the goods to beat Rell. However the smart money says The Democrats rip each other to shreds in the primary and leave a broken and bruised nominee to run against the vulturesque Republicans. Democrats are their own worst enemy. Whoever gets the nod needs to be on the right side of another bird. Swans are known to be mean and nasty birds and will peck your eyes out if you cross them.
Pound for pound, the White Swan is among the world’s nastiest birds. Even worse is a pissed-off Black Swan who can blend in the crowd and then–wham!–show its superior kill skills. If you wanna know where the wildlife goes, follow a swan. Nature’s deathwatch: a swan’s beak is designed to rip and tear flesh–don’t let it be yours.
I love how the whole Gov’s race in ’10 is already outshining the council races in Bpt this summer. Who is going to line up with whom in ’10? The Stafstrom wing of the party is with Malloy. The DTC will be with Amann along with the Caruso crew. Who will be with Bysiewicz?
Will they Primary Santiago, Ayala, Grogins, Hennesy and Caruso?
FYI – Not everyone from the “Caruso crew” is going to be with Amann.
I can’t predict whether Hizzoner will run for Secretary of State or Governor, but I can predict that he will be a one-term wonder as Mayor of the Park City. He appears to have a plan of some kind, but the agenda is more concerned with the dealings in the back room filled with cigar smoke. I can’t see that he’s doing anything substantive for the people of the city of Bridgeport. Let’s face facts: Finch was recruited by the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committe to prevent State Representative Chris Caruso from tearing down the playhouse. Finch was just what the DTC wanted–and needed: a Harvey Milquetoast sort of guy that would maintain the status quo and not rock the boat. The same can be said for Anthony Musto. The DTC must be giving him a clothing allowance to maintain his GQ poster boy image. Auden Grogins? Forget about it–she’s got her eyes on a judicial appointment. Who cares about the welfare of the people when you might be wearing a long black robe someday soon?
The only candidate from southwestern Connecticut swept into office on Obama’s coattails that will make any effort on the people’s behalf is Jim Himes. He used his own money to campaign, which cuts down on the number of insiders knocking on the door claiming he “owes” them.
I hope to God that Andres Ayala campaigns for the Democratic Mayoral endorsement next time around. He appears to be his own man.
Bpt Kid hits the nail straight on the head.
There will be no primary of the state delegation this year as they are not up for election. I predict there will be several primaries for council seats and that’s a good thing.
My prediction for Finch is that he will not finish his term as mayor. He knows he is a one-termer especially with the backloaded contracts he has signed with the city unions. Here again we have a temporary fix that is going to bite the taxpayers in the ass in 2 years. Finch has limited employable skills and I am sure that he is already looking for employment. I was hoping Finch and Wood could land jobs in DC. It could still happen!!!
*** What a waste in D.C. that would be! *** And yes, Malloy probably will run however has his issues & skeletons to deal with too. Also like last time & especially now with Himes in D.C., it seems Malloy by also being from southern CT Fairfield County has the consensus feeling that it would be a better-suited race for all, including Bpt. with a Malloy ticket! We shall see come June ’09. ***
The DTC is too smart to go with Amann. He has loser written all over him. The Lamonties will make sure he stays buried, as I believe Ms. Gobbler alluded to. He hasn’t even officially announced and has made self-serving, rookie decisions. I don’t know how anyone hitches themselves to that runaway wagon.
If the City were smart they’d support someone who understands the plight of the Cities and towns in Connecticut. I think Finch is doing whatever he can to keep the City from drowning. It’d be nice if someone taught that office about PR. Lincoln was a master at it. He’d go from department to department introducing himself, spending time with people who were experts in their field and where he lacked knowledge. He knew nothing about war but made sure he became an expert in that area. You can’t lead people by forcing them down a path, you have to make them want to follow. The young and inexperienced with inflated egos, they think they can blow through anyone who comes their way. All that exploding leaves nothing but wreckage.
Finch needs to clean house (both of them) a bit, show some good faith try to heal the party. Go have a dish of Pasta with Mario, man to man, ALONE. Sometimes no matter how much you give, it will never be enough for some people. He needs to cut his loses and do the right thing.
Finch was a huge Lieberman supporter, Caruso was a fence-sitter, and that all doesn’t mean anything because Lamontites don’t figure into shit in Bridgeport.
Finch has no redeeming qualities. Sure he has reduced spending dramatically by cutting staff. Now let’s cut the pork too. He’s not smart enough nor does he have the vision to cut operating costs from the budget.
Neither does Caruso.
Keep looking Bridgeport. There’s someone out there who can do it.
Stone- Finch just needs to make a few changes “here” and “there”. Finch is in a tough spot because he took over the S.S. Bridgeport right before they hit really troubled waters.
Finch can always thank Mojo who was Co-Chair of the Budget & Approps who “Crafted” 3-4 shit budgets in a row.
ouch!!!
*** When you’re on the outside looking in, you tend to either believe or make up your own rumors about city issues. 1 man can’t make up a city budget by himself 4 times in a row. Also, the budget has to be accepted and passed by the majority of 7 members of the B&A committee, the majority of the 20-member city council & accepted by the sitting Mayor @ the time! My first budget if memory serves me right we lowered the mil rate from 62.9 to 42.9! My last year sitting on the B&A committee the mil rate was raised 1.5 mils & Councilman Curwen & myself took some of the council members’ recommendations & with the approval of the B&A committee and full council, an independent legal accountant’s firm was hired to help assist, recommend changes, review the budget & process, work with the budgets committee, submit a report on the entire budget process after it was accepted and passed by the city, etc. So if certain things changed after the final passage due to the economy, developer cancellations, inability to sell bonds, mismanagement of monies, Finch’s $16million gap from Dec.’07 to a $20million gap today in ’09, etc. ’cause it’s not due from any of my work while on the Council! Maybe the “SHIT” you’re smelling is coming from your mouth from talking what you don’t know! ***
and … ouch again.
I think I see what led to the deficit inherited by Finch.
“an independent legal accountant’s firm was hired to help assist, recommend changes, review the budget & process, work with the budgets committee, submit a report on the entire budget process after it was accepted and passed by the city, etc.”
So the accounting firm hired by the city submitted their findings and recommendation after the budget was accepted and passed by the City Council. Why bother hiring the accounting firm if the council was going to approve the budget before the firm finished?
“So if certain things changed after the final passage due to the economy.”
The Economy had no impact on the deficit you and others left behind for Finch to deal with. When you came on the Council, there WAS $51 Million in the rainy day fund. During your tenure, the tax collection rate was above 95% and City-owned properties were being sold like never before. What happened Mojo? Where is the Money now? Can’t pin it on the Police Department for going $1.4 Million over budget on their overtime.
“Finch’s $16-million gap from Dec. ’07”
You got the date and the figure correct. Wasn’t Dec ’07 the end of your tenure as City Councilmen and the start of Finch’s term? It sure was! This means that when Finch (poor guy) started his term, he picked up where you left off.
OH SNAP!!!
*** You know for someone that thinks he’s so smart & goes up to Hartford to get media attention for cutting his trigger finger in the name of Gun rights when you weren’t an NRA member or couldn’t have a gun legally, you’re not very bright! Let me walk you through my last blog again, obviously the independent firm not only sat through the whole budget process, but reviewed the entire budget before it was voted on! Is it a bit clearer now? Good, now bore us with all the great things you did while on the council. *** Also, the only Dick riding I might do would be in your mouth there Dewars. You PUNK-ASS M/F! ***
You sound like you were caught between a Dewars on the Rocks and Joel’s face.
WOW, Mr. Mojo, looks like Dewars is calling you out! I tend to like reading your blogs but have to ask you to answer the question … were you part of the problem?
This newbie to B’port politics needs a program and a scorecard. I’m still waiting for the Obama trickle-down and get some REAL change in B’port!!!
Independent Soul- if anyone on this entire blog is a product of town committee politics it’s MOJO. He worked his way up and became a councilman. The moment he went off the “Reservation” he was jettisoned like elroy.
He got heart and tried to run against Mitch and he could only muster up a very poor amount of votes. He gives Bpts Finest crap about being an Ayala fanboy when Mojo was dick-riding Curwen night and day.
Mojo was and still is part of the problem just like everyone else on this blog. Has anybody seen the article on the City Council Stipends?
“The big spenders were council members James Holloway, D-139; Carlos Silva, D-136, and Richard Paoletto, D-138, all of whom spent their entire $9,000 stipend.”
Shame on these dopes and kudos to AmyMarie Vizzo-Paniccia and Bob Walsh who used $0.
Who on god’s green earth spends $3500 on Cell Phones??? Rich Paoletto does. Where is he calling, Saturn???
It’s also no surprise that Holloway spend his whole stipend at Testo’s and drinks liquor.
Another OH SNAP … and an ouch!
… how come my mind is wandering to a story about glass houses???
Here is the ctpost link to the stipend article:
www .connpost.com/ci_11609945
This is the kind of stuff Lennie should be posting and looking into. Take a page from Cummings’ book. Lennie could you get the complete stipend numbers from Bill at the Post and show it to us?
What the HELL is this? Are you trying to be funny Mrs. Jimmy?
Dear Joel,
The dust is settling! I’m back from the incredible Inauguration of President Obama, and Jim is hard at work in Congress. He is really excited about the prospect of working with the President to turn this country around and deeply conscious of the trust and hopes that you have for him. I can’t thank you enough for your hard work and generous support during the campaign.
I have included some pictures of Jim on the road to Congress.
Now, as Jim begins working hard as your advocate in Washington, it is important to remember that in order for President Barack Obama to deliver on his vision for America he needs to maintain a Democratic Majority in Congress. Whether it be implementing an economic stimulus package that reaches everyday Americans, a global climate policy that moves us towards energy independence, or keeping our country safe from attack–it is your grassroots support that will make the difference.
I know you have invested a tremendous amount in my husband and the future of this country. But right now, your continued participation in the political process is more important than ever.
It’s hard to believe, but it’s time for us to make sure Jim’s campaign for reelection comes out of the box looking strong.
A contribution of $1000, $500, $250, or even $50 today will go a long way to ensuring we reach the end of the path this historic election has set us out upon.
Please help Jim come out of the box looking strong by contributing today.
Sincerely,
Mary Himes
Paid for by Jim Himes for Congress
This email was sent to: joel1964@optonline.net
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