Comments on: All Roads Lead to Moody http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/ Connecticut politics and elections: discussion, analysis, opinion, news and maps Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:17:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: TrueBlueCT http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7655 TrueBlueCT Fri, 04 May 2007 01:05:44 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7655 RedFive-- I hate your guts, but comment #20 gets my vote for Best Snark of the Week! (oh yeah, I do happen to love KK, honest I do....) RedFive–

I hate your guts, but comment #20 gets my vote for Best Snark of the Week!

(oh yeah, I do happen to love KK, honest I do….)

]]> By: thesea http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7653 thesea Fri, 04 May 2007 00:50:20 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7653 Back to the topic at hand -- Rell's ethics. She ran on it and was elected on it. When she took over from Rowland the creation of an "ethics' czar" was her executive order number one. But ethics czarina Rachel Rubin and Rell's legal counsel Kevin Rasch are long, long gone. Now -- according to Lender's story -- Rell is relying on the legal/ethical advice of Anna Ficeto re: this arts and culture extortion list. Anna was in DAS when Linda Yelmini leaned on her for a contribution to Rell's Marco Polo fund raiser. Anna duly contributed. Then Anna was moved from DAS to be -- hold on to your chairs -- Lisa Moody's assistant in the governor's office. Then Anna was promoted to Rachel/Rasch's old job, now rolled into one, because who needs outsiders messing up your campaign operation running out of the governor's office? Better to go with those who have shown their fidelity and can be controlled, rather than those with true moral character, like Rachel and Kevin. Phony from the word go. Lender proves it time and time again. The people of CT have been entirely hoodwinked on ethics and money matters by grandma Rell. I know the Lt Gov. is posting on another thread here -- maybe he'll take some time to wander around and learn that not everyone is fooled by the Mary Jodi's and Mary Lisa's of the world. Count me out of the 74 percent approval rating -- I've got a brain. Back to the topic at hand — Rell’s ethics. She ran on it and was elected on it. When she took over from Rowland the creation of an “ethics’ czar” was her executive order number one. But ethics czarina Rachel Rubin and Rell’s legal counsel Kevin Rasch are long, long gone.

Now — according to Lender’s story — Rell is relying on the legal/ethical advice of Anna Ficeto re: this arts and culture extortion list. Anna was in DAS when Linda Yelmini leaned on her for a contribution to Rell’s Marco Polo fund raiser. Anna duly contributed. Then Anna was moved from DAS to be — hold on to your chairs — Lisa Moody’s assistant in the governor’s office. Then Anna was promoted to Rachel/Rasch’s old job, now rolled into one, because who needs outsiders messing up your campaign operation running out of the governor’s office? Better to go with those who have shown their fidelity and can be controlled, rather than those with true moral character, like Rachel and Kevin.

Phony from the word go. Lender proves it time and time again. The people of CT have been entirely hoodwinked on ethics and money matters by grandma Rell. I know the Lt Gov. is posting on another thread here — maybe he’ll take some time to wander around and learn that not everyone is fooled by the Mary Jodi’s and Mary Lisa’s of the world. Count me out of the 74 percent approval rating — I’ve got a brain.

]]> By: Al http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7648 Al Thu, 03 May 2007 22:11:01 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7648 Tim, Jack Your post #18 and Jack your post #12.....This is why we must require the state to use GAAP acounting methods.... The surplus you hear about is smoke and mirrors...We are not paying all our bills... The teachers finally caught on... But the state workers pension's are in worse shape than the teacher's pension fund is, and the retiree health care benefits fund, is billions (about 21 billion) worse. Far more than both those put together. Ask yourselves a simple question.... Why would both Democrats and a Republican Governor be looking to increase our taxes if we really had a surplus?......Well I guess we do, just as long as we don't pay all our bills, and expect our kids will do, that job for us. Tim, Jack

Your post #18 and Jack your post #12…..This is why we must require the state to use GAAP acounting methods…. The surplus you hear about is smoke and mirrors…We are not paying all our bills… The teachers finally caught on… But the state workers pension’s are in worse shape than the teacher’s pension fund is, and the retiree health care benefits fund, is billions (about 21 billion) worse. Far more than both those put together.

Ask yourselves a simple question…. Why would both Democrats and a Republican Governor be looking to increase our taxes if we really had a surplus?……Well I guess we do, just as long as we don’t pay all our bills, and expect our kids will do, that job for us.

]]> By: Tim White http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7645 Tim White Thu, 03 May 2007 21:19:43 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7645 "delaying paying vendors would certainly prop up the so-called surplus" may make for an interesting news story if any of the newspapers look into it. again though, I don't know if it is true. “delaying paying vendors would certainly prop up the so-called surplus”

may make for an interesting news story if any of the newspapers look into it. again though, I don’t know if it is true.

]]> By: RedFive http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7639 RedFive Thu, 03 May 2007 20:01:41 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7639 Somehow - and maybe it's just me, but I don't think so - somehow I just don't think there's all that many people sitting around this afternoon wishing they had voted for Cliff Thornton after all. Somehow – and maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think so – somehow I just don’t think there’s all that many people sitting around this afternoon wishing they had voted for Cliff Thornton after all.

]]> By: toucan http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7637 toucan Thu, 03 May 2007 19:12:08 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7637 Don't know about that Tim but delaying paying vendors would certainly prop up the so-called surplus and the sorry cash flow situation that often has to be bailed out with the selling of short and even long term bonds. What I do know on the Q-Bridge issue is: 1) reputable highway builders - and they are nationwide for such a job - don't want to deal with ConnDOT becasue they know whatever happens they'll get the finger so they consistently take a pass 2) the bid docs were realy bad and, for example, didn't allow for escalator casues for things like petroleum based asphalt so the contractor was supposed to buy petoleum futures or something 3) the contractors DOT hires are just reincarnations of the smae old people they've used for twenty years that go belly up and then reorg, etc. Don’t know about that Tim but delaying paying vendors would certainly prop up the so-called surplus and the sorry cash flow situation that often has to be bailed out with the selling of short and even long term bonds. What I do know on the Q-Bridge issue is:
1) reputable highway builders – and they are nationwide for such a job – don’t want to deal with ConnDOT becasue they know whatever happens they’ll get the finger so they consistently take a pass
2) the bid docs were realy bad and, for example, didn’t allow for escalator casues for things like petroleum based asphalt so the contractor was supposed to buy petoleum futures or something
3) the contractors DOT hires are just reincarnations of the smae old people they’ve used for twenty years that go belly up and then reorg, etc.

]]> By: Tim White http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7636 Tim White Thu, 03 May 2007 18:25:16 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7636 Someone told me that the state is six mos behind in paying vendors. And that was one of several factors why the DOT isn’t getting anyone for the Q bridge. Is that true? I really don’t know, so wanted to ask. Someone told me that the state is six mos behind in paying vendors. And that was one of several factors why the DOT isn’t getting anyone for the Q bridge.

Is that true? I really don’t know, so wanted to ask.

]]> By: toucan http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7635 toucan Thu, 03 May 2007 18:03:17 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7635 Whoooops, and I forgot that no decent contractor is willing to bid on DOT work these days and there hasn't been any for a very long time - does the Q Bridge ring a bell? Maguire had long time ties to Tomasso and DeFelice was just another reinvention of the same characters that consistently screw the state. Whoooops, and I forgot that no decent contractor is willing to bid on DOT work these days and there hasn’t been any for a very long time – does the Q Bridge ring a bell? Maguire had long time ties to Tomasso and DeFelice was just another reinvention of the same characters that consistently screw the state.

]]> By: toucan http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7634 toucan Thu, 03 May 2007 17:59:00 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7634 Oh Jack, there's also a concept of discounted cash flow (compound interest) that you are forgetting about in your rosey cost recovery scenario. Oh Jack, there’s also a concept of discounted cash flow (compound interest) that you are forgetting about in your rosey cost recovery scenario.

]]> By: toucan http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7633 toucan Thu, 03 May 2007 17:53:23 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7633 OH Jack, I didn't say anything about a tax increase - Rell's or the Dems - as you tried to spin my posts - try reading #11 again. As for the I-84 debacle, the bottom line issue - if only it were an issue - is that it never should have happened in the first place if Rell had competent bosses in place instead of an old Rowland hack (Korta) and now her own hack (Carpenter) as the Commish - you can only blame the unions and the contractors so far unless you don't beleive that old one about the buck stopping somewhere at the top. And on the bucks issue, you'll never fully recover the costs becasue it costs time and money just to recover them that can't be collected. And the <i>current </i>surplus is an illussion as others have pointed out becasue 1) the state doesn't use GAAP - Rell, Nappier and Wyman can't even agree on what the surplus is and 2) the state ain't paying it's long term bills like teachers' pension funding and not to mention 3) CT has Keynsian debt levels. OH Jack, I didn’t say anything about a tax increase – Rell’s or the Dems – as you tried to spin my posts – try reading #11 again.

As for the I-84 debacle, the bottom line issue – if only it were an issue – is that it never should have happened in the first place if Rell had competent bosses in place instead of an old Rowland hack (Korta) and now her own hack (Carpenter) as the Commish – you can only blame the unions and the contractors so far unless you don’t beleive that old one about the buck stopping somewhere at the top. And on the bucks issue, you’ll never fully recover the costs becasue it costs time and money just to recover them that can’t be collected.

And the current surplus is an illussion as others have pointed out becasue 1) the state doesn’t use GAAP – Rell, Nappier and Wyman can’t even agree on what the surplus is and 2) the state ain’t paying it’s long term bills like teachers’ pension funding and not to mention 3) CT has Keynsian debt levels.

]]> By: Al http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7632 Al Thu, 03 May 2007 17:31:39 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7632 Ken, I do agree with your post # 9.... Clearly there is something wrong with this system because you would think in general, we could get far better candidates than we do. This is one reason I strongly wish we had term limits. I do think the difficulty in unseating an incumbent in the General Assembly while certainly not impossible, is very hard for any political new comer to do. Governors at least do come and go more frequently. Toucan, IMO your post # 11 is right on. I agree with every word you wrote. I just cannot understand how so many of us can just totally ignore what goes on around us as if it has no impact on our lives. I'm already dreading the thought of another election cycle with the same people telling us all the good they are going to do us as if we can get everything for nothing, and so many of us just saying.....sounds good to me!!!! Just as long as someone else pays.... Of course in the end the cost of this appathy to us all is staggering. Ken,

I do agree with your post # 9…. Clearly there is something wrong with this system because you would think in general, we could get far better candidates than we do.

This is one reason I strongly wish we had term limits. I do think the difficulty in unseating an incumbent in the General Assembly while certainly not impossible, is very hard for any political new comer to do. Governors at least do come and go more frequently.

Toucan,

IMO your post # 11 is right on. I agree with every word you wrote.

I just cannot understand how so many of us can just totally ignore what goes on around us as if it has no impact on our lives. I’m already dreading the thought of another election cycle with the same people telling us all the good they are going to do us as if we can get everything for nothing, and so many of us just saying…..sounds good to me!!!! Just as long as someone else pays…. Of course in the end the cost of this appathy to us all is staggering.

]]> By: Jack Dobb http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7631 Jack Dobb Thu, 03 May 2007 17:17:34 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7631 Explain how the surplus is nothing but an illusion. Then try and explain why we need a 10% budget increased, balanced on the backs of 1% of our population. Also, we've already recovered 75% of the costs of the I-84 repairs from the surety on the project and we are going after the bad guys for the other 25%. This could end up not costing taxpayers a dime. Explain how the surplus is nothing but an illusion. Then try and explain why we need a 10% budget increased, balanced on the backs of 1% of our population.

Also, we’ve already recovered 75% of the costs of the I-84 repairs from the surety on the project and we are going after the bad guys for the other 25%. This could end up not costing taxpayers a dime.

]]> By: toucan http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7630 toucan Thu, 03 May 2007 16:21:45 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7630 Need I point out that even Cafero and his gang want to either maintain or increase spending across the board - they just don't propose increasing taxes to pay for it becasue they spin the surplus that is nothing but an illusion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Need I point out that even Cafero and his gang want to either maintain or increase spending across the board – they just don’t propose increasing taxes to pay for it becasue they spin the surplus that is nothing but an illusion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: toucan http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7629 toucan Thu, 03 May 2007 16:18:51 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7629 Every single department in the state of CT wastes a ton of taxpayer money every year and every two years those who oversee that waste get re-elected with the help of the complicit media. The I-84 drains should be an issue, the outrageous state employee benefits that are enjoyed by unions and political appointees alike should be an issue and many other things should be issues BUT they never are when election time rolls around. Every single department in the state of CT wastes a ton of taxpayer money every year and every two years those who oversee that waste get re-elected with the help of the complicit media. The I-84 drains should be an issue, the outrageous state employee benefits that are enjoyed by unions and political appointees alike should be an issue and many other things should be issues BUT they never are when election time rolls around.

]]> By: theeble http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7628 theeble Thu, 03 May 2007 16:14:58 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7628 How is the 84 debacle a non-issue? It's wasting a TON of taxpayers' money! How is the 84 debacle a non-issue? It’s wasting a TON of taxpayers’ money!

]]> By: ken krayeske http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7627 ken krayeske Thu, 03 May 2007 15:56:11 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7627 The problem lies with the system that promotes lousy candidates. The problem lies with the system that promotes lousy candidates.

]]> By: Genghis Conn http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7626 Genghis Conn Thu, 03 May 2007 15:34:43 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7626 Rell was the best of the candidates who were presented, and the only one advocating fiscal discipline. I stand by my vote. Rell was the best of the candidates who were presented, and the only one advocating fiscal discipline. I stand by my vote.

]]> By: toucan http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7625 toucan Thu, 03 May 2007 15:34:26 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7625 The Rell team have spun it well with the rationaliztion that "the list is public", which nobody has ever denied. This is a non-issue for the CT populace just as the I-84 drain debacle is a non-issue. The bottom line remains that Rell, Amman and Williams are together on raising taxes and all of them including Cafero and his gang are together on maintaining the status quo in CT as long as they get to tweak to their core constuencies. The Rell team have spun it well with the rationaliztion that “the list is public”, which nobody has ever denied. This is a non-issue for the CT populace just as the I-84 drain debacle is a non-issue. The bottom line remains that Rell, Amman and Williams are together on raising taxes and all of them including Cafero and his gang are together on maintaining the status quo in CT as long as they get to tweak to their core constuencies.

]]> By: ken krayeske http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7624 ken krayeske Thu, 03 May 2007 15:32:33 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7624 Genghis - Ethics? How do we equate what Rell does with ethics? I've already mentioned the Mustang in the garage? The Marco Polo fundraiser? A long time ago I made a list on this board, and this just adds to it. Spare us the "but she seemed like such a nice woman." The problems have been apparent. How do we deal with them in a way that is reasonable, when the illusion of electoral democracy has failed to produce legitimate executive leadership that can deal with the tremendous problems facing our state? Peace, KK Genghis –

Ethics?

How do we equate what Rell does with ethics?

I’ve already mentioned the Mustang in the garage? The Marco Polo fundraiser? A long time ago I made a list on this board, and this just adds to it.

Spare us the “but she seemed like such a nice woman.”

The problems have been apparent. How do we deal with them in a way that is reasonable, when the illusion of electoral democracy has failed to produce legitimate executive leadership that can deal with the tremendous problems facing our state?

Peace,
KK

]]> By: ken krayeske http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/comment-page-1/#comment-7623 ken krayeske Thu, 03 May 2007 15:27:21 +0000 http://ctlocalpolitics.net/2007/05/03/all-roads-lead-to-moody/#comment-7623 Yeah, I'm pretty much on board with what Keith said. And that applies to other 600,000 people who voted for Rell and now are sitting there wondering why and what for. We have known about this all along. I keep saying to myself "They did all this stuff to hold onto power, but they're not doing anything with their power that's obvious or apparent." So I wonder why they want to stay there so desperately? Don't know what else to do? Finishing college doesn't pack the same thrill of Machiavellian operations? Grandmothering just lacks the kick of suppressing civil rights? What are we going to learn in a few years? What is waiting to be discovered? Are there more I-84s? Mustangs in the garage? Custom built pine cabinets for the lake house? When we stand in the middle of the road in front of an oncoming Mack truck, it's disingenuous to say, "But I didn't see it" after we've been smooshed like bugs. Yeah, I’m pretty much on board with what Keith said.

And that applies to other 600,000 people who voted for Rell and now are sitting there wondering why and what for.

We have known about this all along. I keep saying to myself “They did all this stuff to hold onto power, but they’re not doing anything with their power that’s obvious or apparent.” So I wonder why they want to stay there so desperately? Don’t know what else to do? Finishing college doesn’t pack the same thrill of Machiavellian operations? Grandmothering just lacks the kick of suppressing civil rights?

What are we going to learn in a few years? What is waiting to be discovered? Are there more I-84s? Mustangs in the garage? Custom built pine cabinets for the lake house?

When we stand in the middle of the road in front of an oncoming Mack truck, it’s disingenuous to say, “But I didn’t see it” after we’ve been smooshed like bugs.

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