Dan Malloy and Tom Foley had a pretty good give and take Wednesday night in their latest gubernatorial debate, this one in New London, over the budget, death penalty, job creation and state union employees.
What struck me most in the middle of the debate was the excruciating narcissism of Channel 8 veteran taking-head blowhard Mark Davis who decided his ego was far more important than posing a relevant question. Davis wanted to make the debate about Mark Davis. “Talk straight here,” Davis lectured the candidates, his face turning red, “both of you are not making sense.”
Really, Mark? How was Davis making sense? Is that for Davis to decide, or for the voters? Davis didn’t like the candidate responses to his questions so he drools over himself. Does Davis have the guts to place his name on the ballot? Instead, he makes the debate about himself. Such is life with some television talking heads. It’s all about me, me, me, me.
Moderator Ann Nyberg did a nice job jabbing her colleague Davis. Mark, she asked, do you have a question?
Both Foley and Malloy did an awful job pandering to Connecticut public-opinion polls. Foley cited polls on the death penalty; he’s for it, Malloy is against it. Malloy cited polls on campaign finance law; he’s for it, Foley’s against it. Can one of them say: “I’ll not govern by polling!”
Best line of the night from Foley: “If this legislature smells a revenue” they’ll spend it.
Best line of the night from Malloy, former Stamford Mayor: “Tom (you liked Stamford so much) your company moved to Stamford.”
Biggest crowd groan of the night came when Foley asked an intense Malloy, “Dan, have you thought about switching to decaf?”
*** He’s just as tired of the political B/S as the rest of us, go Davis! ***
Foley is a Frat Boy and Malloy is an Eddie Haskell.