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Connecticut politics is a contact sport

Archive for August, 2012

How “PC” is the Mohegan Sun? “Bow and Arrow Sports Bar” set to re-open, with cigar rolling (!?) and raffle giveaways

Friday, August 31, 2012 by:Ken Dixon
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As a fan of the Cleveland Indians whenever he visits his old college roommates there, the Blogster is kind of ambivalent about the Mohegan Sun’s use of archetype marketing, but figures the Bow and Arrow Sports Bar makes better sense than many other items associated historically with the Native Americans of Connecticut. Indeed, the Blogster is showing signs of being out of the loop, since the bar is reopening after being closed since late July for renovations.

Anyway, here’s the PR release that just arrived:

“You may have heard about the big re-opening of Mohegan Sun’s Bow & Arrow
Sports Bar, set to take place on the night of the Giants and Cowboys NFL
season opener on Wednesday, September 5th. A few additions have been made
to this Bow & Arrow Sports Bar Kickoff Party however. The biggest being a
special appearance by former NFL star and radio personality Steve DeOssie.
Mohegan Sun is asking guests to watch the game, enjoy $2 draft beers, a
chance at the raffle prizes listed below and of course a chance to meet a
true hero in the world of sports.

   Bow & Arrow Sports Bar Kickoff Party, 8:00pm on Wednesday, September 5th

   Special appearance by former linebacker of the New York Giants, Dallas
   Cowboys and New England Patriots, Steve DeOssie.

   Raffle for guests is set to take place as well. Prizes will include 12
   total:

            1. iPad2
            2. Sony Dash Personal Application Viewer (HID-C10)
            3. Samsung Flash Memory SD Camcorder
            4. Flip HD Video Camera
            5. iPod Nano
            6. Men’s Sector Watch – large face, brown leather strap
            7. Women’s Coach clutch
            8. Poker set
            9. Mark Bavaro autographed photo (former NY Giant) w/
            certificate of authenticity
            10. Phil McConkey autographed photo (former NY Giant) w/
            certificate of authenticity
            11. Tiffany’s necklace – Return To Tiffany double heart tag
      pendant
            12. Working on last item – hopefully will be a Blu Ray player

   2$ Draft beers
   Cigar rolling demonstration for guests.”

Malloy appoints non-profit veteran Terry Edelstein to cabinet-level liaison post

Monday, August 27, 2012 by:Ken Dixon
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Governor Dannel P. Malloy today appointed Terry Edelstein of South Glastonbury to be his Nonprofit Liaison, a cabinet-level post.

Here’s some of the release from the governor:

“For the past thirty years, Edelstein has served as President and CEO of the Connecticut Community Providers Association (CCPA), a trade association that represents organizations providing services and supports for people with disabilities and significant challenges including children and adults with mental illness, developmental and physical disabilities.  In that role, Edelstein directed CCPA operations and oversaw the overall public policy direction for the association.

 
“Nonprofit community-based providers in Connecticut provide vital services to so many residents and are an important partner in supporting the state’s safety net,” Governor Malloy said.  “By engaging the nonprofit community in a concerted, strategic way, we can ensure that services are maximized while costs are minimized.  Terry Edelstein has dedicated her career to tirelessly advocating on behalf of nonprofits and she has had a lasting, positive impact on human services in our state.  Her vast experience and knowledge of the nonprofit community will be a key resource in the state’s efforts to strengthen these services.”
 
The position was established by Governor Malloy last year and functions at the same level as a commissioner of a state agency. She replaces Deb Heinrich, a former House member from Madison who resigned earlier this year.

Westport’s popular Levitt Pavilion set to receive $500K

Friday, August 24, 2012 by:Ken Dixon
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It’s still a week away, but the State Bond Commission just posted its agenda for Friday August 31. Among the items up for longterm state bonding is a $500,000 grant to Westport to replace the current temporary stage at Levitt Pavilion with a permanent stage. The project will include better access to the Saugatuck River, a new permanent entry building with concessions, restrooms and hospitality terrace for the summertime destination, located downtown behind the Public Library. A spot on the monthly agenda, controlled by the governor, is usually a signal of overwhelming support when an issue comes to a vote.

 

Is that a no? McMahon rejects Murphy debate “stunt.”

Thursday, August 16, 2012 by:Ken Dixon
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This from Linda McMahon’s campaign manager Corry Bliss, reacting to US Rep. Chris Murphy’s reservation of three possible venues for a debate next week:

“Arguing about debates is the last bastion of campaigns devoid of ideas and scrambling for traction. It is the height of irony for Chris Murphy to be clamoring for debates about jobs, when he has failed to craft a plan to create jobs after thirteen years in elected office. Further, debates hidden in the doldrums of August do not hold nearly the weight that debates in the fall would. Were it not for the juvenile taunts of the Murphy campaign, we could have a serious discussion about when and where such debates will occur in the fall.

“Linda has committed to four televised debates. Two of them must be focused primarily on job creation, with one of those to be held in or near Groton, home of Electric Boat. We have already agreed to one hosted by WFSB-TV, and another co-hosted by the Hartford Courant and Fox Connecticut. Just this morning, we agreed to another debate hosted by The Day and WTNH-TV to be held in New London, very close to the shipyard. A fourth is yet to be determined.

“Rather than spend his precious time issuing sophomoric press releases, perhaps Chris Murphy should spend his time putting pen to paper and coming up with an actual plan to improve the economy. As it stands now, Linda McMahon is the only candidate who proposes a real plan to create jobs, beginning with a tax cut for the middle class.”

Murphy looks to force issue on debate next week. He reserves three venues.

Thursday, August 16, 2012 by:Ken Dixon
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Here’s the release from US Rep. Chris Murphy:

ROCKY HILL—Chris Murphy is challenging wrestling mogul and two-time Republican nominee Linda McMahon to stop hiding behind her handlers and immediately debate the number one issue in Connecticut—jobs. Murphy has secured venues in New London, Stamford, and Hartford for Tuesday, August 21st at 7pm.

“Why isn’t Linda McMahon prepared to publicly debate jobs right now?” said Murphy spokeswoman Taylor Lavender. “Since Linda McMahon is ducking a debate on jobs, we figured we’d make it easy on her and give her the choice of three venues for next week. Can’t she just spare 90 minutes to try to defend her store-bought jobs website against Chris’s plan to invest in the middle class?”

Hearing nothing from the McMahon campaign on her willingness to debate jobs next week, the Murphy campaign took the initiative today and reserved space and time at three different venues for 7pm on Tuesday night. They are:

1. New London High School
2. Stamford Center for the Arts
3. Polish National Home in Hartford

Murphy has proposed eight debates beginning with Tuesday’s debate—one in every major region of the state: northeastern Connecticut, southeastern Connecticut, Hartford, Waterbury, New London, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford.

“If these venues don’t work for Linda’s schedule, we’ll go anywhere,” added Lavender. “People across Connecticut should be able to see McMahon publicly explain why her so-called jobs plan gives her a $7 million tax break and guts critical funding for veterans programs, education, and job training.”

Sen. Ed Gomes can’t accept public financing if he pursues Working Family Party candidacy

Wednesday, August 15, 2012 by:Ken Dixon
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Joshua Foley, staff attorney for the State Elections Enforcement Commission, answered a semi-tough question from the Blogster this afternoon.

Since Sen. Edwin A. Gomes lost the Bridgeport Democratic primary last night, could he accept the active Working Family cross endorsement for an independent run and still be eligible for public funding?

Nope.

It seems that state lawmakers anticipated this back in the 2005 enabling legislation, enacting a “sore loser” provision for primaries. Gomes, in his filing documents declared himself a Democrat in a Democratic-dominated district.

“He can’t get any more money,” Foley said. Gomes and anybody else who lost a primary and took Citizens Election Program money, are shut off from further funds.

Gomes’s Democratic declaration is listed on a Form 10 filing in the SEEC online records.

Jerry Labriola, state GOP head, on Tuesday’s elections

Tuesday, August 14, 2012 by:Ken Dixon
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Jerry Labriola, chairman of the Republican State Central Committee:
                                                                   
“I would like to commend all of our outstanding Republican candidates for participating in a spirited primary season that focused on the issues facing Connecticut voters. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the candidates who prevailed today and will be our nominees in the general election.
 
“As a party, we must now unite behind our nominees and work as a united front to defeat the Democrats in November. The families of Connecticut deserve better than the same failed policies and rhetoric of the Democrats in Hartford and Washington. They deserve jobs and an expanding economy — not record-high unemployment and stagnant growth.
 
“Between now and November, our Republican candidates will continue to offer common sense reforms to get America back on track, in sharp contrast to the oppressive high taxes and job killing policies of the Democrats.”
 

Malloy comment on US Rep. Chris Murphy’s victory in US Senate primary

Tuesday, August 14, 2012 by:Ken Dixon
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Statement by Governor Malloy on Outcome of US Senate Primary

“Chris Murphy won tonight and he’ll win in November because people know he’s not like a lot of politicians in Washington.  Chris doesn’t spend his time posturing or playing politics; he spends his time working to advance the interests of the middle class, especially when it comes to job creation.  And while Chris is willing to work across the aisle, he’ll also stand up to Republican attempts to destroy programs that are vital to the survival of the middle class, like Medicare.  Chris knows that while we’ve made progress over the past couple of years, we have a lot more work to do.  And if there’s one thing Chris knows better than just about everyone else in Washington, it’s how to work hard.”

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