Eight years into his failed presidency Bushy got a swift boot in the teeth Monday–not from Dems–but from GOP House members that want to avoid campaign cooties.
We’re all in uncharted waters here, and no doubt who could blame John McCain if he’d want to throw some of his campaign advisers overboard, even if it was his thick head that conjured brilliant images of suspending his campaign, soldiering to Washington to broker an economic deal and save the day.
His Republican pals said, hey John, here’s a shit sandwich for you. Another campaign stunt by McCain produced another humiliating kick in the crotch. And who knows what his running mate Missy Moonbeam will say in her debate Thursday night against Joe Biden.
Speaking of Biden, have you noticed that Joe and Congressman Chris Shays look more alike every day? Maybe the congressman from Bridgeport can secure a few extra votes in the state’s largest city morphing an image of Uncle Joe. Shays supported the failed package against overwhelming constituent calls urging his vote the other way. I guess you can argue it is better to vote for a $700 billion bailout than watch a single-day trillion loss with possibly more to come.
Meanwhile, campaign handlers of Shays’ Democratic opponent Jim Himes must be loving this (though not the financial hemorrhaging of their retirement accounts) strategically. The financial fallout plays right into their argument that Shays is disconnected from economic reality. Monday afternoon a Himes mail piece reminded me that just a few weeks ago Shays proclaimed the fundamentals of the economy are strong, although in fairness to Shays he clearly sounded the warning bell during the past several years about the potential failure of mortgage giants. As an OIB poster suggested on Monday that depends on your interpretation of strong fundamentals. One thing is for sure, consumers do not think the fundamentals are strong.
So, what does this mean for the congressional race? The chaos helps Himes.
If Shays can be defeated this is the scenario for it – a massive Bridgeport turnout to overwhelm Shays popularity in suburban districts. City registration is just about at 65,000. Suburban turnout during presidential years historically is 85 percent. City turnout for a presidential year is traditionally 20 points below that. But city registration (thank you, Barack) is now much higher. Himes is looking for a 20,000-vote plurality in Bridgeport. The key here is making sure voters inspired by Barack just don’t fill in his oval and bail out. Historically in Bridgeport the drop-off from presidential voting to the next in line (in this case candidates for congress) is several thousand votes. The battle cry in front of polling places election day will be don’t forget about us!
Call Me Tonight
If you want to throw vegetables at your picture tube tonight at 8, I’ll be a guest on Rob Foley’s Bridgeport Now program, Cablevision public access channel 77. We’ll talk about the state of things Bridgeport, including the city budget, cop layoffs and the Shays and Himes race. The call-in number is 345-0103.
News release from Shays
Shays Introduces Legislation to Increase FDIC Insurance
Washington, D.C. – On Monday, Congressman Christopher Shays (CT-4), a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, introduced H.R. 7235, a bipartisan bill to raise the amount of deposits insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act from $100,000 to $300,000. This legislation raises the amount of deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) from $100,000 to $300,000.
This legislation mirrors an amendment he offered Sunday night to H.R. 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, but unfortunately no amendments were allowed to be offered by the rule reported out of Committee yesterday.
“Deposits are the cornerstone of our banking system,” said Shays. “The more we can do to reassure people that their money is secure, the better off we are.”
“This is a common-sense piece of legislation, and it seems to me if it was included in H.R. 3997, the bill may have passed,” Shays continued.
On Tuesday, Senator Barack Obama proposed lifting the current limit on federal deposit insurance from its current limit of $100,000 to $250,000. In a statement, Obama said it’s a “step that would boost small businesses, make our banking system more secure, and help restore public confidence in our financial system.” (ABC News, 9/30/08)
Lennie! Lennie! Lennie! It’s amazing to me as millions of people are losing their money in their 401Ks and businesses are having trouble getting credit you decide that it’s time for more partisan BS. I would have thought that you would have written something meaningful that showed how we got into this mess in the first place. Maybe an interview with one of the local economical professors would have helped. Maybe we could have learned of alternative ways to save the economy as I am sure that there are other ways better than dumping $750 billion into failed mortgages and the like.
Speaking of Cablevision — I live in Trumbull, work and shop in Bridgeport. Am involved in the Bridgeport community. BUT my cable service is from Newtown/Brookfield. I cannot get the local area news. Now, my sister, who lives in Orange (ie, the greater New Haven area) has Cablevision from Bridgeport. What’s wrong with this picture?
Whatever happened to breaking these monopolies and giving us choices?
Anyone know which way Himes said he would have voted?
librarian- I believe that cablevision allows non subscribers access to their online www .news12.com/CT. It is fee based, but I believe will keep you in the loop for Bridgeport scoops.
Pretty sure Himes and Shays were on the same page on this one. Just a little partisanship sniping going on in the blame game.
I would be interested in how our local government, state rep and state senate candidates would be on this issue.
Lennie–This entire mess has ample Democratic and Republican legislators to blame. There are ample stories in the NY Times, Roll Call, backing this up. It is not all the evil, rascally, rich Republicans as 99% of your readers ridiculously rant about.
Knowing what the stakes are, the Republicans should have swallowed their bile at Pelosi’s speech and voted yes because it’s what the country needs asap.
By exactly the same logic, I am flabbergasted that Pelosi took the opportunity to blast the Bush administration and Republicans prior to the vote when she needed them.
Are there any adults down there?
A pox on both parties!
Denis, no argument here.
If anyone truly believes this is the year for change and truly believes that Obama/Biden/Himes represent that change, how do you justify returning dems to power in Hartford?
And as for Bridgeport…well, it may be too late to save, but hopefully next time around we’ll see some change here and boot the hell out of office this democratic (ha!) bunch of hooligans who are ruining (not running) things.
I still say Shays is going to kick Himes’ hiney. Name one thing Himes will do for Bridgeport? Yeah that’s what we need, a millionaire from Greenwich rubbing his bank account in our faces. Screw Himes, screw the Democrats and Lennie screw you too!
Just so people know many of Himes’ workers coming into Bpt are workers that were there for Lamont.
Summer Wind, I’m trying to quit.
I never would want to be downwind from Summer Wind.
Summer Wind: I am unimpressed with your ability to predict the future, but when you start badmouthing our intrepid blog master, I have to ask a simple question: are you having a bad day or a BAD LIFE? The answer is important because we all have bad days but a bad life is a chronic condition requiring years of remedial work and simply put (shaking my head), I don’t think you’re up to the task.
Wondering,
I have been in the Himes HQ at least once for the past three weekends and I have not seen a single person who was associated with the Lamont campaign. So who are you referring to?
And furthermore, Lieberman was a disgrace to the Democratic Party back then and continues to be today. So what’s your point?
This makes me like Himes even more!
Wow 65k registered to vote I’m expecting a turnout of 50k or more and in the last three weeks expect registration to keep climbing ’til October 21. Two of my friends registered to vote today.
Hey Lennie are you going to go around the precincts on Nov 4th and take pictures and stuff about how things are going??? This is a historic election.
Grin not being a far-left liberal but being a democrat I just found it interesting that a left-leaning liberal from Greenwich was involved in this race. I never mentioned Lieberman. Believe me they are not running ’round with Lamont pins on.
Here are the Democrats crushing the Republican attempt to avoid the Mortgage crisis.
www .youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
Omg here we go again with Joel’s crap. Go move to Darien or something, I’m tired of you.
I’m a hardcore radical liberal. I’m the guy who told Obama – he’s my homeboy – to jump on the “change” bandwagon (well, not REALLY). Interesting fact: 2.5 years ago, Obama held one of his first fundraisers in – get this – Greenwich! It was attended by many Wall Streeters and held at the posh home of Allan Houston, former guard for the N.Y. Knicks. He raised beaucoup bucks!
Local Eyes, are you a Republican?
donj, is Bush a Democrat?
Here is one of the men that created the environment that gives them “The Cooties”.
This is from: www .theobamafiles.com
Sources point to Obama as a possible starting point to the domino effect that led to the housing crisis we are now facing. Check the provided links and judge for yourself.
“In a 1995 case known as Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank, Obama and his fellow attorneys charged that Citibank was making too few loans to black applicants and won the case. As one commentator noted in May 2008, legal “successes” such as this were probably responsible for the sub-prime mortgage crisis of 2007 AND 2008. That is, banks were not loaning to blacks whose credit was poor. When the law forced them to lend money anyway, the inevitable collapse occurred.”
Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank Fed. Sav. Bank
Obama’s Early Legal Career: Heavy on Advocacy for Blacks
A trillion here, a trillion there, pretty soon we’re talking about real money
Obama had a part in the lawsuit that started the government on a course of forcing lenders to give more loans to those who had poor credit. Lending companies were forced to come up with imaginative ways of fulfilling the quota that was required. Sub-prime lending was born as a result. The mortgage crises was forecast by many who were able to look beyond the quota.
Note: The Republicans were able to look beyond the quota and attempts made to avoid the Mortgage crisis were crushed by the Democrats as you could see in the next posting.
The following news release is from ACORN’s website: www .acorn.org
Did you notice ACORN only points out how the 95 Democrats voted? They don’t mention that 65% of Republicans voted against it and why. Why was ACORN the only such Organization to be included specifically to get money in the Bailout? If the Government wanted transparency in regards with Businesses and Organizations dealing with Mortgages, why not start with ACORN? Since the early ’90s ACORN in Bridgeport has been assisting people through their homebuyers Program. When will they open their books for the public to see whether they deserve to be the exclusive organization to handle the Mortgage or homebuyers program. How many of the people losing their homes were participants in the ACORN Homebuyers Program?
They picketed Chris Shays office and when he votes against the bailout along with the 95 Democrats they point out, he gets no mention by Party or name.
Unquestionably, this market/economy situation is getting drastic. People fear for their jobs and their life savings and with due cause. While I agree that Pelosi was out of line with the politically motivated jabs at the Republicans/Bush administration, the Republicans behaved liked jackasses when they retaliated by voting down the bailout. Nothing like cutting off your nose to spite your face! I’d personally like to see what other options are on the drawing board, because we certainly do need a remedy. Denis O’Malley – good posting!
Joel (#19)
That video is very revealing, and yet, if you watched yesterday’s House debate relating to the the bailout, those same Congressmen (and women) were laying the crisis at the door of those who failed to regulate Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac when they clearly opposed regulation at those hearings and in fact, were congratulatory of the representatives of both lenders at the hearing, telling them that no regulations were necessary and that they were doing an extraordinary job.
Con Filardi on #27:
They are trying to “Con” us all.
Wondering, my friend – You stated that you are a Democrat and from my point of view that’s great. Now, could you please tell us what Democrats you are supporting in this year’s crucial election?
I love reading some of the blogs here that keep changing their opinions on who is exactly to blame for the economic mess America’s in! It’s gone from Wall St. to the government, then the GOP to Dem’s. Also certain politicians like McCain, Obama, Pelosi, etc. Now it’s shifting to poor people that can’t get a fair loan & blacks as well. Wow! Who will be blamed next I wonder? How about the Muslims or N. Korea, maybe the war on terror in general? Or how about everyone that’s overspent money on things they really didn’t need or could afford? “$-Mismangement in general”, by a greedy bipartisan goverment & its people for the last #8yrs. when whispers of a possible recession could be heard! Does history repeat itself when no one listens or remembers? If this bailout fails, is it nothing more than prolonging the inevitable if business continues as usual, and who will get the blame? Inquiring Minds would like to know!
John from BR I normally don’t discuss who I am voting for but I find you an intelligent poster and will answer your question. First let me state the following: I am a registered Dem and have worked for the last 30 years for State and Local Dems.
I will never vote for a down-state Dem as I don’t think they really care or understand what is happening in Bridgeport. The only time we see or hear from them is at election time. So this year I am voting for Shays.
I will in all probability vote for McCain and not Obama. I do not like Obama’s stated intentions on spending; his proposals will cost $800-plus Billion. I don’t believe that he can raise that money by just taxing the rich. I do not like his association with William Ayers the admitted bomber of Federal buildings. I do not like his association with Acorn or with the Rev. Wright.
So the one Democrat I am supporting and have actively worked for is Anthony Musto.
Wondering – I asked. You answered. Fair enough.
Thank You.
Any bill that cuts taxes increases deficits and deficits are b-b-b-bad for America. Death & Taxes: they can’t be avoided. Make the switch and become pro-tax. Proponents of a tax-free lifestyle are engaged in a popular – yet futile – new sport called extreme dreaming. Concentrate on producing and hope to pay a huge amount of taxes – you’ll find yourself outperforming your peers.
Mojo (#29) If you would watch the video that Joel referred you to, you’ll have documentary proof on whom to lay the blame for the economic crisis.
Here it is AGAIN!
www .youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
Hey folks …
GREAT NEWS!!!
Keith Rodgerson is a Democrat … again.
#33- Again, seems like it’s back to blaming a few Democrats on a committee for the “entire” economic breakdown on Main St., Wall St. & America in general, for not calling for restrictions, etc. on Mac. & Mae! That’s what you’re implying due to this here video on “you tube” right? It looks like to me, they’re just “one” of the pieces to the puzzle, Signori.