Weicker Officially Endorses Lamont

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-18205326.apds.m0986.bc-ct--weicjun18,0,5436010.story?track=rss

CHESTER, Conn. -- His opposition to the war in Iraq brought former Gov. Lowell Weicker back to state political scene on Sunday.

Weicker appeared as the honorary chairman at an outdoor fundraiser for Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman for the Democratic nomination. It was Lieberman who unseated Weicker from his Senate post some 18 years ago and who has backed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq. Lamont opposes the war.

"My presence here today has to do with the war, the war, the war. I am not a Democratic activist. I am an anti-war activist," Weicker said. "I am not some left-wing nut or liberal crazy. I am an American of common sense who can recognize failure and pigheadedness."

Weicker dismissed claims that he's backing Lamont out of personal bitterness toward Lieberman.

"Don't forget, after he beat me, I was accorded the highest honor the people of the state of Connecticut can accord, to become their governor," Weicker said in an interview after the fundraiser. "There's no sour grapes."

violated half-a-dozen Gateway Commission laws regarding the protection of the Valley's natural character.

And he ran for Governor based on a LIE: That he would never institute a state income tax. And what was the first thing he did after being elected? Instituted an income tax, that's what.

He has an abiding hatred for the citizens of Connecticut for voting him out of office as a Senator.

Fuck him.

Redstone

And Lieberman has innocent blood on his hands!

just so I can vote against Lieberman in the primary.

But Weicker is still an asshole. He hates us Connecticut residents.

Redstone

But a state income tax is always better than a state sales tax, imho. Sales taxes tend to harm local buisnesses and it hits lower income folks hardest.

Over and over.

Redstone

About the only taxing ability that counties and townships have are property taxes, and those are really skewed in who they affect. A better method is to have the state fund a "local government fund" with state sales or income taxes, as Ohio has been doing for a long time.

so the county option of taxation isn't possible. That leaves state and local towns and cities.

The posts on this thread about the animosity toward Weicker for the state income tax are a reflection of how lingering this distaste for Wciker actually is. I gave up long ago trying to tell folks they were better off with a lower sales tax and a progressive income tax but people take the income tax personally and they don't listen to Econ. 101 about progressive vs. regressive taxes.

One less layer of bureaucracy.

I agree that the income tax is a better option; I just dislike how much the son of a bitch lied about it.

Redstone

employees there are. They don't realize that without county government, there has to be some accommodation made to fill the needed jobs.

Jeez. You can't win.

and I think if we hated it that much, surely the string of R governors from 1994- to present would have tried to get rid of it.

You must live near Essex or another river town, and, if so, you obviously know that a person doesn't have to be well-connected to circumvent the protections supposedly provided by the Gateway Commission and various local boards. Just look at all the private docks that have been allowed to be built up and down the river.

As for the income tax, it was inevitable. I really believe that Weicker was sincere in his opposition to it before he became governor. Once he really understood the problems associated with funding the state by the sales tax and various other regressive taxes, he was extremely courageous in accepting it rather than merely pandering to the opponents.

up, but haven't done anything on it for a while. If you want to check it out, go to http://ourriver.home.att.net

Redstone

So this is a kick, from a West Coaster. I want more information.

b_b

in his home state.

I've always admired him from afar, and actually felt bad when he was defeated by Lieberman. That's just my impression as an out of stater though. I honestly can't speak to how he's veiwed in Conn.

he does look a little bit pregnant in that picture.

who saw the light and asked the questions he needed to on the Senate Watergate Committee. He is a hero today, because we don't have any heroes in the Republican party any more. They are gone.

Of course, we have nostalgia for the Weicker types of the past. But that has gone.

I hope we get it back, but I don't think it will be soon.

Too bad.

I don't know anything about CT politics, but as a Republican, Weicker really didn't like Nixon.

At least that's how he sounded on the PBS program.

The way Lieberman acts/votes, maybe he would have let Watergate slide.


on edit: spelling/clarity

:bounce:

That'll show the Democrats of Connecticut who the REAL playa is.

It will be soon, while Bush is hovering in the mid 30's approval!

Red flag! Red flag! I don't care if he is not a Repuke anymore or how moderate he is, I do not believe it's a good thing he's endorsing this Lamont. Take caution, CT DUer's.

Sean Hannity,
Bill O'Reilly,
Chris Shays,
Bill Buckley (or was in 1988)
The New Republic(an).

than Lieberman's have EVER been! Read up on the man. I think of him as an "Independent" in the best sense of the word. And, best thing -- Republicans HATE him. They wanted Lieberman over Weiker when they ran against each other. The Democrats said it was a stunning show of bipartisanship, but THAT should have been the red flag. Lieberman is more "Republican", and I will stand by that belief.

TC

Turned Independent eons ago.

It was a really odd Senate race between Lieberman and Weicker back in 1988 - Lieberman, the dem, was slightly to the right of the pretty liberal republican Lowell Wiecker (both were left of center at the time.)

there were such creatures as decent honest and liberal Republicans. They got driven out a long time ago, and Wiecker was one of the last. Lieberman ran well to the right of him in '88, and I'm pretty sure that I remember him actually being endorsed by Jerry Falwell.

We shouldn't forget that the Republican party was actually founded by Abe Lincoln. I'm pretty sure that I would have voted for him, had I been around and in a position to vote at that time.

why didn't us liberal crazies think of that line?

:shrug:

hearts during the Watergate years.

Nixon's counsel Chuck Colson met with Weicker to "secure" his vote on the Watergate Senate Committee and Weicker, who was not predisposed to being pressured to support an increasingly suspicious administration, reportedly told him to "kiss my ass and get the hell out of my office."

He is a good man with a clear head, unlike 98% of his fellow Republicans. And I feel he is backing the best candidate in the CT Senate primary, too.

I find any Dem in the Senate who supports Joe's reelection is only worthy (maybe) to clean the chewing gum off the gallery chairs, not hold public office.

They're lucky dogs.

For whatever it's worth to hear from this non-Connecticut Democrat, I hope Ned Lamont prevails.

Recent trends say he's doing even better now than last week, and last week wasn't bad.