Some quick thoughts on Lou DeLuca’s resignation:
1. What took so long? If what was on those tapes and transcripts was so terrible, why wait? He had to know it would come out eventually. Also, resigning was the right thing to do–that should have been obvious as soon as he plead guilty.
2. Bravo to the Bipartisan Commission on Stalling For Time! Your goal of out-waiting DeLuca was accomplished today–with no problematic decisions made. Well played.
3. The Senate here had a chance to send a strong message about ethics and conduct–and failed to do so. Depressing.
4. At least there’s a special election I can get excited about?
41 responses so far ↓
The tapes should still be released!
I wasn’t going to comment on this, but I think the comments on this issue are WAY off the mark.
1. Lou clearly, along with his attorneys I’m guessing, didn’t think the Senate would find and/or utilize their subponea power on the FBI. The Committee tried it when it was first convened and the FBI laughed, but the FBI wouldn’t laugh if the Senate itself subponeaed the tapes/transcripts.
2. The Committee, I believe, actually did exactly what it was supposed to do. We have become so quick in Corrupticuit to find problems with people, go digging, prove people aren’t perfect and then tear their life down so they can never do anything worth a salt again, that we lose sight of the fact that something like a bi-partisan committee has an obligation to itself, the Senate and most importantly, the electorate to get their findings correct. I think the Committee’s investigation led them to those tapes, and, in order to make a final decision needed to listen to them – had they done that, it’d be a different story – I do believe.
3. What is the Senate’s message? We don’t condone thinking about taking bribes – or – asking reputed mobsters to beat up your granddaughter’s a-hole boyfriend? No shi*. Of course they don’t and they don’t need to continue to waste taxpayer money to go say that out loud. Voting or ruling on something as fragile as this, with the knowledge he was already resigning would’ve been nothing but sour grapes and kicking a man while he’s down – which is something we’ve become very good and accoustemed to in this state.
4. I agree with the Special Election thought – who doesn’t like Special Elections?
But this all leads me to a question — How in the world did the State, namely the Senate, the media, the blogs, etc come down soooooo hard on Lou DeLuca, but haven’t said a word – not a blip – about the misgivings of Mayor Perez? How does this happen?
[quote post="1192"]But this all leads me to a question — How in the world did the State, namely the Senate, the media, the blogs, etc come down soooooo hard on Lou DeLuca, but haven’t said a word – not a blip – about the misgivings of Mayor Perez? How does this happen?[/quote]
I’m not sure what your definition of a blip is, but this blog has talked extensively about Perez’s ethical shortcomings…
I wasn’t talking about a specific blog, but rather blogs in general. The Deluca situation has, by far and large, carried a lot more coverage than Eddie’s new kitchen. I’m not saying anything illegal or unethical happened without review and ruling, and we know that Lou has pleaded guilty, just saying the coverage seems to be slanted – a bit. My definition of “blip” is the same as yours – general coverage.
What happens legally if Lou runs and takes his own seat back?
(I suspect he could win pretty easily)
Where would that leave everything?
The Dem[quote comment="22372"]What happens legally if Lou runs and takes his own seat back?
(I suspect he could win pretty easily)
Where would that leave everything?[/quote]
The Dems would self-destruct.
>>The Dems would self-destruct.
Sounds like a plan then!
[quote post="1192"]come down soooooo hard on Lou DeLuca, but haven’t said a word – not a blip – about the misgivings of Mayor Perez? How does this happen? [/quote]
mob intrigue, “decks” being built, family secrets, FBI wiretaps.
vs.
new kitchen.
i think thats probably a big part of why the deluca thing gets talked about more.
[quote comment="22365"] the media, the blogs, etc come down soooooo hard on Lou DeLuca, but haven’t said a word – not a blip – about the misgivings of Mayor Perez? [/quote]
A word from Mr. Curry
A word from Mr. McEnroe.
[quote comment="22372"]What happens legally if Lou runs and takes his own seat back?
(I suspect he could win pretty easily)
Where would that leave everything?[/quote]
Apparently, ACR thinks voters in the 32nd district are idiots.
>>thinks voters in the 32nd district are idiots.
Not at all – and what does that tell you about what I think about those castigating Lou?
When do we start a thread about Larson’s accepting a 250K insurance commission after ramming a bill through that affected *one* nursing home operator who immediately dropped his current coverage and gave it to Larson?
How about we drag former FBI agent David M. Spruance in to explain why his resignation from the agency squashed the actions pending against Larson?
Seems to me getting paid a quarter of a million bucks should trump looking out for one’s grandchild.
Oh…I forgot – Larson’s a Democrat so we might as well just skip the whole thing.
[quote comment="22382"]>>thinks voters in the 32nd district are idiots.
Not at all – and what does that tell you about what I think about those castigating Lou?[/quote]
Hmmm… walked right into that one, didn’t I?
You think we’re anti-Italian bigoted idiots?
FYI- Most voters are idiots.
BUSH received million more votes in ‘04 than ‘00, while botching a war.
John Rowland would win mayor of Waterbury tommorrow if ran.
I wish the political bloggers would stop overestimating the intelligence of the American public.
tutti gli miei amici sono italiani
>>FYI- Most voters are idiots.
That explains Jimmy Carter
Look at Jodi:
Still no accomplishments and she at 77%
[quote comment="22387"]FYI- Most voters are idiots.
BUSH received million more votes in ‘04 than ‘00, while botching a war.
[/quote]
The election was the Democrats to lose … and they found John Kerry to do it for them. (Nationally) the democrats were idiots.
[quote comment="22393"]Look at Jodi:
Still no accomplishments and she at 77%[/quote]
Isn’t that an accomplishment in itself? Maybe someone should nickname her “the Teflon Governor.”
Yeah … No accomplishments, unless you count ethics reform, campaign finance reform, contracting reform, transportation, education … other than that minor stuff …
[quote comment="22402"]Yeah … No accomplishments, unless you count ethics reform, campaign finance reform, contracting reform, transportation, education … other than that minor stuff …[/quote]
RedFive, I’m not sure how much you know about how government works, but those things can’t happen by coming strictly out of the executive branch. You just listed accomplishments of the legislature that Jodi is great at attending ribbon cuttings for and not vetoing.
[quote comment="22402"]Yeah … No accomplishments, unless you count ethics reform, campaign finance reform, contracting reform, transportation, education … other than that minor stuff …[/quote]
You ask Joesixpack about these issues and he/she will tell you they think CT is worse off not better.
Ethics= DeLuca?
Campaign Finance=Taxpayer money?
Contracting=Just Passed who knows yet?
Transportation= Alot money but what is the end goal, they cut congestion study out of bonding bill?
Education= Alot money the same failing schools and no property tax relief except for 1 out of 169 towns.
I have worked with Lou DeLuca for a number of years and always found him to be an honorable man. I am deeply disappointed at what has happened and certainly don’t condone the events that transpired. But I truly believe that he his motivation was out of concern for his grandchild and not personal profit. Of all the leaders I have had the opportunity to work with, Lou was always the most upfront, the most sincere and the most cordial. It was never about ego or personal interests but always about policy and his personal convictions. I respected that about him and I continue to respect him for this. Yes, he erred, very seriously in this case. I’m not going to get into whether he was justified or not, given the circumstances. I just hope that those who are applauding his resignation remember also that he was and is, essentially, an honorable man, and he deserves our thanks for serving the state as Minority Leader and State Senator for so many years. He also deserves our forgiveness.
for reals: I think you’d be surprised. In any event, I know enough to know those things would never have happened without real leadership from the executive branch — take campaign finance reform, which the legislature had to be nagged, cajoled, scolded, humiliated and shamed into actually passing, despite all their protestations of civic-mindedness. Or consider transportation funding, which they would have gladly studied and committeefied until Metro-North trains rusted clear through if Rell hadn’t proposed an actual plan AND a way to pay for it. Same for increasing ECS, and si on and so on. Rell’s hallmark is taking issues people SAY are important and actually trying to DO something about them.
Roadrunner: I don’t know about Mr. Sixpack, but Larry Lunchbucket, John & Jane Doe and 77 percent of people in the latest Q Poll seem to disagree …
In particular, DeLuca thanked Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell for her support “through these long five months of having a trial after a court case has been resolved.”
But that list didn’t include any current member of the Senate. DeLuca pointedly refrained from mentioning state Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, and several other GOP senators present for his announcement.
http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19021101&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=590581&rfi=6
House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, who stood with DeLuca at the news conference, said afterward the ordeal has taken a toll on his “dear old friend” and on DeLuca’s family.
“He’s a very good and decent man who made a very, very serious mistake,” Cafero said. “This situation began with him looking out for family, and that’s how it ended as well.”
But DeLuca’s story about his granddaughter’s abuse has been called into question.
Waterbury Police Chief Neil O’Leary provided the Senate committee with a sworn statement saying neither DeLuca nor his family reported his granddaughter was being physically abused.
O’Leary also gave the committee a statement that DeLuca’s granddaughter made to Waterbury detectives in June disputing the allegations against her husband.
“There has never been a time when Mark (Colella) hit me, pushed me or even threatened to hit me,” it read.
http://www.norwalkadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-nor.deluca4nov14,0,3717342.story?coll=nor-news-local-headlines
DeLuca acknowledged recently that the FBI had given his attorney copies of the tapes, but he had refused to voluntarily release them to the committee, setting the stage for a showdown with the Senate. On one tape, according to excerpts made public as part of his guilty plea, he refused an offered bribe of $5,000.
—–
Last week, in a private conversation described by political sources, DeLuca angrily and profanely rejected the urging of McKinney and a top deputy, Sen. Leonard Fasano, R-North Haven, to quit.
http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hc-deluca1114.artnov14,0,529132.story?coll=hc_tab01_layout
The party’s state chairman, Chris Healy, also volunteered a list of Democratic elected officials who have been entangled in scandal, including Sen. Ernest Newtown of Bridgeport, who went to prison for bribery
http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=340e90eb-78c8-4b37-bd58-7d91ee7a839d
His resignation, which DeLuca termed “retirement,” takes effect Nov. 30.
http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19019162&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6
DeLuca said he would devote his time to advocating for victims of domestic violence.
—-
“Domestic violence and its impact on families across Connecticut tears at the social and emotional heart of society,” DeLuca said in his statement to reporters.
—-
I harbor no ill will or anger toward those who think poorly of my conduct or my actions that have brought us here today,” DeLuca said. “I believe in my heart that my actions were designed to protect my family and to keep my family whole and safe from the horrible nature of domestic violence.
http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_7454992?source=rv
“I did not — ever — violate the public trust,” DeLuca said in his resignation statement.
——
In the transcribed portion of the tape released by U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Connor and Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Kane in June, DeLuca promised that, ” any time (Galante) needs anything, anything within my power I can do, I will do.”
—-
Roraback also said with the DeLuca matter behind it, the Senate can again focus on the issues of the state.
“Any time we spent on it was time spent not serving our constituents,” he said.
http://www.newstimes.com/ci_7458311
The letter to Rell revealed other problems at the 549-bed Connecticut facility that have also been found at DPC, such as a lack of reviewing or “trending” data, and the overuse of seclusion and restraints, often for the convenience of staff members, which federal regulators described as a “gross departure from accepted practice.”
speaking of the great job Jodi is doing for the state,; these people don’t get surveyed by the Q-Poll!!!
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/NEWS/711140349/1006/NEWS
[quote comment="22405"]I have worked with Lou DeLuca for a number of years and always found him to be an honorable man. I am deeply disappointed at what has happened and certainly don’t condone the events that transpired. But I truly believe that he his motivation was out of concern for his grandchild and not personal profit. Of all the leaders I have had the opportunity to work with, Lou was always the most upfront, the most sincere and the most cordial. It was never about ego or personal interests but always about policy and his personal convictions. I respected that about him and I continue to respect him for this. Yes, he erred, very seriously in this case. I’m not going to get into whether he was justified or not, given the circumstances. I just hope that those who are applauding his resignation remember also that he was and is, essentially, an honorable man, and he deserves our thanks for serving the state as Minority Leader and State Senator for so many years. He also deserves our forgiveness.[/quote]
An honorable, upfront man, who was never about ego would have not resigned and let the FBI tapes come out if he was “so upfront”. If he is honorable, he will pay back the money to the taxpayers for what the special committee and the special election will cost the citizens of this state. Now that would be honorable.
The prove my point read this:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1107/6892.html
I-pods are the priority to these kids not nitwit pols.
Alas, Roadrunner, I don’t think any of the shallow sh*theads at NYU were polled by Quinnipiac. Not that it matters anyway. The fact is that SEVENTY-SEVEN PERCENT — an absolutely unprecedented, unheard of, off-the-charts percentage, no matter how much it makes you grind your teeth and bang your head against the wall — LOVES this governor.
The question you have to ask yourself is WHY?
More to the point, why do they reject the whiny politics of “everything sucks in Connecticut” and believe — as I and SO many others do — that we actually might be able to accomplish something if we stop PLAYING BULLSH*T GAMES and try to DO what we SAY we think is important for the betterment of our state?
When Rell became governor it ceased to be about who got credit and became about actually doing things. The legislature — and more specifically, the so-called “progressives” — still haven’t recovered from the titanic paradigm shift.
My guess is they never will.
Redfive, Rell is anything but proactive. She could possibly be the most reactive politician I have ever seen. Make a list of her major issues. Then do a check on press release dates. You’ll notice they all FOLLOW the dates of news stories of whatever tragedy/problem she is hoping to address. She works less than 40 hours a month. Hell, she even changed her budget last year twice, all for the sake of reacting and following polls.
Also, don’t be naive as to assume she doesn’t play party politics. Just yesterday she called on Finch to step down I believe, yet………Deluca on the other hand she never muttered a word. That just about says it all.
[quote comment="22447"]Redfive, Rell is anything but proactive. She could possibly be the most reactive politician I have ever seen. Make a list of her major issues. Then do a check on press release dates. You’ll notice they all FOLLOW the dates of news stories of whatever tragedy/problem she is hoping to address. She works less than 40 hours a month. Hell, she even changed her budget last year twice, all for the sake of reacting and following polls.[/quote]
How do you know she works less than 40 hours a month?
I’d give her a big kiss for vetoing that bill that would give illegal immigrants in-sttae tuition rates at state schools. Spitzer probably wishes he caller Jodi for advice before offering to give illegals driver licenses and then doing a 180.
I think it was the courant that ran that story a few months ago about her hours per month.
[quote comment="22449"]I think it was the courant that ran that story a few months ago about her hours per month.[/quote]
I seem to recall that given period they reviewed she had few hours of scheduled appointments.
Doesn’t mean she wasn’t working.
They used to say that about Reagan, too.
Ask those 77% what rell accomplished. They will be dumbfounded.
Believe me it hurts to be a Registered R and have Rell in the Captain Kirk seat.
Last years across the board income tax proposal ended any chance.
Cafero and the House R’s are the Republicans I can look up to.
[quote comment="22452"]Ask those 77% what rell accomplished. They will be dumbfounded.[/quote]
So how do you explain 77% approval?
LMFAO
Reminds me of Dodd’s comment recently that his hair turned white due to all the hard work he has done in the senate. Ask the 56% who approve him (or 1% who support him for prez) what he has accomplished.
I think about two things when its comes of Dodd.
He forced Suzie B. to get rid of our lever machines passing the HAVA bill. And his father stole money as a Senator.
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