The Courant has the details. Here is his statement in full also via the Courant.
“After careful consideration, and out of respect for this institution and for my caucus, I have decided to step down from my leadership position. I promised from the beginning that I would not allow the mistake that I made interfere with my public office. By stepping down today, I am making sure that my personal issue does not overshadow all of the good work we’ve done and will do as a caucus.”
“I want to say thank you to my friends, colleagues and constituents for the support they’ve given me and my family throughout this difficult time, and I apologize to anyone I’ve let down. It has been my pleasure to have served as Senate Minority Leader and I look forward to continuing to be a productive member of our caucus.”
DeLuca hasn’t resigned his Senate seat and my best guess is that he doesn’t plan to. For now John McKinney is the Acting Minority Leader. The Republicans will caucus and elect a permanent successor but I suspect McKinney will be their man. Never a dull moment around here is there?
H/T to CTBlogger at MLN.
Source.
“DeLuca Resigns from Leadership Role”. Hartford Courant. 6/13/07
44 responses so far ↓
An unfortunate fall for a good man, but a wise decision.
Damn. DeLuca was a gift from the gods. There was nothing so sweet as to have a homophobic fuddy-duddy (with mob ties) as the face of the Republican Statehouse.
But a win at least, for the Fourth Estate. Kudos to all those newspapers who can still tell right from wrong.
ps– KEEP HEALY CHAIR!
He deserves a third chance…
I think it should have looked like this:
“After careful consideration, and out of respect for this institution and for my caucus, I have decided to step down from my position. I promised from the beginning that I would not allow the mistake that I made interfere with my public office. By resigning today, I am making sure that my personal issue does not overshadow all of the good work we’ve done as a caucus.”
“I want to say thank you to my friends, colleagues and constituents for the support they’ve given me and my family throughout this difficult time, and I apologize to anyone I’ve let down. It has been my pleasure to have served as Senate Minority Leader and I look forward to retirement.”
Same reasons he gives in the actual statement seem valid with only a few changes.
Also Headless- if by “good man” you meant…
“associating with alleged mobster who you asked to threaten a family member then lying about it to an FBI agent and later trying to throw your friend the police chief under the bus when your story has holes in it”…
then I agree, Deluca is one of the best.
Agreed, a wise decision…
Yet, nonetheless, we will see many posts below saying it’s not good enough. Surely, DeLuca can spare blood for his crimes…
Let the partisan nonsense flow.
Oops, I didn’t see that bluedog already started.
Would you folks like a pint, a quart, or more?
And in memory of CTKeith, CNN reports, “Mid-East Explodes”.
Lebanon deteriorating:
Lebanese lawmaker killed in Beirut blast.
Gaza in chaos:
Hamas bombs, declares control over Fatah compound.
Civil war in Iraq:
Sunni mosques targeted after blast at Samarra shrine.
Does anyone feel like this is remotely similar to a funeral? Deluca’s actions were respectable at best. Should he resign from his Senate seat – I think that should be left to his constiuents – note: he is not my State Senator……
By most accounts, Lou DeLuca is a good man who made a (very) bad decision. He has accepted responsibility and stepped down as leader, as he should have done. It may even be more “punishment” for him to have to serve out his term in virtual anonymity as a rank-and-file member of the state Senate than if he resigned his seat all together. I hope we can get back to the issues – namely agreeing to a $17 billion state budget – now that he has done the right thing.
[quote comment="12958"]And in memory of CTKeith…[/quote]
True. How dare we think of state politics when there is the war in Iraq and Bush to rant about?
This isnt the end of the story, I’m sure. There will be more…
Good.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he quietly finishes out his term in what passes for back benches in the Senate and retires.
There are no Back Benches in the esteemed CT Senate circle where all are Equal GC.
[quote comment="12968"]There are no Back Benches in the esteemed CT Senate circle where all are Equal GC.[/quote]
True enough. I wonder if he’ll get a leadership position like everyone else in the Senate has? Deputy Assistant Minority Leader? It would be fitting for him to be the only person there without one.
[quote comment="12968"]There are no Back Benches in the esteemed CT Senate circle where all are Equal GC.[/quote]
Ha ha ha! Actually DeLuca will be the only Senator that does NOT have a leadership title. Even the lowest ranking senator gets to be a Deputy Senate President Pro Tem at Large or something like that…
I’m sure the Senate will look into censuring him, too, as they should.
Why not make him an Special Assistant Deputy Minority Leader Pro Tem at Large?
Or Maybe the deal has been made he’ll just switch positions with McKinney?
There’s nothing in the statement that would preclude that.
My favorite title is Senator Crisco’s: Deputy Caucus Leader and Federal Relations Liaison. Jeesh…. you have to be kidding me. Of course… there is Sen. Tom Gaffey’s CHIEF Deputy President Pro Tempore. That must be a hard post.. keeping all the smaller Deputy Presidents Pro Tem in line… wel worth the extra $5,000 a year he gets for that title.
Well, at least Headless has a sense of humor. Any bets as to how long he lasts as a front-page poster? Based on the past, I’d have to guess three months.
[quote comment="12973"]I’m sure the Senate will look into censuring him, too, as they should.[/quote]
Wow ,
Wouldn’t that be something if CENSURE LOU AND MOVE ON .ORG became a Republican Movement.
Is Headless a new frontpager?
I suggested it last week, not sure if offer extended.
Was I asleep?
[quote post="634"]I suggested it last week, not sure if offer extended.[/quote]
No one has been selected yet. Deadline is this Friday if people are still interested.
All I ask is that you don’t up and disappear like Quinn and Sean did.
DINO Dude.
No one else in the CT Republican blogosphere is even remotely up to the task, ergo it will be Headless.
Simple logic. Like Chris Healy taking a year or two off to get his life in order, (so MADD doesn’t have to weigh in on the lack of leadership in Hartford). Or like DeLuca being pushed aside in favor of McKinney. (Since Lou was so god-awful.)
[quote comment="12982"][quote post="634"]I suggested it last week, not sure if offer extended.[/quote]
No one has been selected yet. Deadline is this Friday if people are still interested.
All I ask is that you don’t up and disappear like Quinn and Sean did.
[/quote]
GeekGirl–
Shouldn’t you be searching for two front page righties? Disgruntled has disappeared, — if he was ever here!?!
[quote comment="12983"]DINO Dude.
No one else in the CT Republican blogosphere is even remotely up to the task, ergo it will be Headless.
Simple logic. Like Chris Healy taking a year or two off to get his life in order, (so MADD doesn’t have to weigh in on the lack of leadership in Hartford). Or like DeLuca being pushed aside in favor of McKinney. (Since Lou was so god-awful.)[/quote]
OOOF! Another ringing endorsement from the left. I shall need a scrapbook for all the niceties being tossed my way.
I think there are other Republicans up to the task. But I’ll be pleased to do it if the offer is extended.
And TBCT, you wish I’d last only three months.
oh, and no Geek Girl… I won’t up and disappear. Unless an Italian legislator puts a hit out on me.
Headless, bring it on. And yes, I think you’re remotely up to the task!
Too funny TBCT!
If I am chosen and fail, I can be made an Assistant Deputy Minority Frontpager Pro Tem at Large. I think that’s Sean’s new title?
Whatever happened to him anyhow? He asked me to help him out at CT Conservative and then just bolted…
[/quote]
GeekGirl–
Shouldn’t you be searching for two front page righties? Disgruntled has disappeared, — if he was ever here!?![/quote]
I agree.. we should replace Disgruntled to… for balance.
Any suggestions?
Tony Stark and Headless Horseman.
They would really shake things up around here …
Oh Good lord TBCT… let’s enjoy the peace of having at least ONE THREAD go without war stuff
Stark is a great suggestion!
Tony or LenS as frontpagers — just to PO toucan!
Sorry RedFive, but again, Headless is the only rightie even remotely up the task. (Unless someone brings True Gent out of retirement.)
Why was my previous post removed? It included no profanity and simply expressed an opinion. Was it the fact that I referred to LittleBoyBlue as a “mouth-breathing half-wit”? All he really does is launch personal attacks and the guy spews far worse invective than that on an hourly basis, so that can’t be it.
I seek clarification.
Nutmeg–
Whine much? (And it gives me great pleasue…
)
LittleBoyBlue, the only thing about you that is even remotely impressive is that you are somehow able to bang out 250+ posts per day despite one hand being stuffed down the front of your pants at all times. You’re a “Dateline” episode waiting to happen.
So save it.
[quote post="634"]I’m sure the Senate will look into censuring him, too, as they should. [/quote]
Actually, there is an intermediate step that could still happen. The caucus could give him a slap on the wrist. It’s covered in the CT POst today but that particualr story isn’t up on line yet.
Thank god Deluca resigned. I am not so sure about the “good man” comment. Bottom line is he has ties to the mob and this is not the guy I want with any remote ties to my party.
DeLuca has called for state referendums on everything from taxes to gay marriage to plan b. Maybe he should show a little integrity and call for a referendum on whether the state feels that the should be allowed to stay on as a Senator.
juju – In fact there will be a referendum on just that very issue in November 2008. Now, if we can just get the others on the ballot we’ll be all set.
>>Maybe he should show a little integrity and call for a referendum on whether the state feels that the should be allowed to stay on as a Senator.
Good idea.
Aside from the lefties in here I haven’t encountered anyone who has any real problem with his actions. (Several have taken issue with the Waterbury Police Chief however)
Stop by any diner and have a coffee and see what the mood is among normal, non-political people.
I live in his district and folks are appalled. Even the Waterbury Republican-American has sided with the police chief, not DeLuca. So I don’t know where you’re getting your info from or where these diners are, but they’re not in Southwest Connecticut my friend. When O’Leary came out and pretty much shot holes through all of DeLuca’s excuses, Lou lost a lot of his base, because the area is hardcore Republican and they feel he is only doing more harm to the seat and Sean Williams or Art O’Neill’s potential run for the Senate seat.
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