Nothing

janet July 20, 2012 at 09:39 am

Back in the early 90's Chris Shays did not support US funding for the International Space Station in which many CT jobs (manufacturing and engineering) were created. He does not have my vote since I called his office to ask him to support of the funding, his office hung up on me. What kind of representative hangs up on their peers when they are trying to save and create jobs in their home state?

Luigi (the original) July 20, 2012 at 10:11 am

I just believe Linda's experiences in both life and business make her much more qualified to understand what we face here in our State. Saying she "exploited" women is a low and inaccurate statement. The women you claim she "exploited" all did what they wanted to be doing, they were not forced or coerced. People like to make it sound like this was some kind of slave trade.
While Chris has repeatedly proven himself out of touch in my opinion.

Sharon Pealer July 20, 2012 at 12:39 pm

Chris wants to support his constituents, really! Please explain the why when someone does not agree with him, they are wrong.. Mr. Shays wants your vote because being a politician is all he knows now. He has spent more time in Washington than in any other position. Like career politicians he knows how to pretend he is listening to your concerns. I strongly suggest that you actually look up his real voting record when in office. His votes helped bring about the financial crisis when he voted for Dodd-Frank. He also voted several times to support the governments failing green energy policies and for the foreclosure prevention act of 2008. Why should taxpayers foot the bill for people who should never have gotten a mortgage in the first place? He has voted to keep funneling money into Amtrack and other votes indicate a strong support for or lack of understanding of Agenda 21.

Andrew Ziemba July 20, 2012 at 12:58 pm

Well, speaking as a true Republican in the old sense of the word, 99% of politicians (including republicans) don't care at all about the debt. 99% of them are fiscal moderates! I believe it is possible that McMahon actually does care about her country and her state, but I don't have that much faith but I am willing to give her one term to mostly tell the truth. Anyone who votes to raise the debt ceiling is at best a fiscal moderate. I want to vote for someone who can make waves for doing the right thing. If I were as rich as her and I did not want to move to another country, I would probably be running for something too. After all, it would be in her best interest as well as ours to cut all of the garbage and especially the taxes.
I will say also though, that I don't think any politician has EVER gotten better with age to the exception of Dr Ron Paul.

Mari Jurczyk July 20, 2012 at 01:12 pm

Well said!!!!

Andrew Ziemba July 20, 2012 at 01:15 pm

Gregory, what am I joking about? What are you joking about?

Jenelle July 20, 2012 at 01:36 pm

Peter Hamm: excellent comments. Please come to the Wtfd Town Committee meeting (fro Repubs) Wednesday 7/25 at 7 pm at our headquarters....we need people like YOU.

Peter Hamm July 20, 2012 at 01:38 pm

"I want to vote for someone who can make waves for doing the right thing."
So wouldn't voting to raise the debt ceiling to keep soldiers safe, tarnishing the record of a fiscal conservative, fall into that category?

David Irons July 20, 2012 at 01:45 pm

Meanwhile the Democrats sit back and lick their chops hoping that McMahon will be the nominee.They know they can easily beat McMahon. No so with Shays.

Andrew Ziemba July 20, 2012 at 02:26 pm

I would not vote to raise the debt ceiling to "feed starving children" or "to support our troops" because the spending never ends, it never slows, and it never will end or slow. Call it what you want and call me heartless. Tell me I'm "abandoning" our troops all you want. If congress stopped funding the wars, the wars would end, and that is FACT. Please don't make it sound like they would be stranded there. Absolute worst case scenario, I would be the first to chip in to privately contribute to fund their return from overseas. Furthermore, anyone that supports raising the debt ceiling to continue our crusade in the middle east should be ashamed of themselves.

Marcie July 20, 2012 at 02:30 pm

Honestly, it probably was some volunteer aid that did that...and it probably was around lunch time. But I had a similar problem with contacting our current elected officials with an issue they were voting on in Congress. It wasn't until Chris stepped in that they actually contacted us back. In fact, Lieberman's office claimed they never got our emails, faxes and letters and that we needed to sign a release before they would speak to us. This is after Chris reached out to them on our behalf.

Marcie July 20, 2012 at 02:31 pm

Just because someone "chooses" a career of violence and exploitation and another is allowed to legally profit off of it...doesn't make it morally right.

Andrew Ziemba July 20, 2012 at 02:35 pm

Freedom, the most incredible, revolutionary, idea in the history of our planet. Apparently people like Marcie would like to stomp it out like a cigarette butt. I'm still waiting for someone to tell me who was exploited.

Marcie July 20, 2012 at 02:43 pm

Wow Andrew. I guess all that time I spent in the military as an Army Officer doesn't support freedom in any way. I suppose all the time I spent away from my family I was just intending to STOMP out freedom. Geesh. I think I was quite clear that people are FREE to choose what career they want. And people are FREE to make millions off exploiting them. Freedom again doesn't make it morally right.

Andrew Ziemba July 20, 2012 at 03:22 pm

Still waiting to hear about who was exploited. And I will make myself very clear. Being in the army does not make you patriotic, nor does it make you a believer in freedom. The gestapo thought they were being patriotic too. Most serving in the armed forces overseas are good people who care about our country, and signed up because they care about our country. They know that they are not fighting a patriotic cause to defend the homeland, freedom or liberty. They know they are engaging in genocide, but short of suicide, they don't have any way out. This is a tragedy and incredibly disrespectful to anyone who serves. I am incredibly sympathetic for our servicemen and servicewomen who are being victimized by our corrupt government which is controlled by the military industrial complex. I am grateful for those who serve in the name of freedom and patriotism, and they have my full support. But if you want to end the wars and you want to end the genocide, then you have to oppose a debt ceiling increase. I hate it when people use the "I served" card to nullify anyone who has any negative opinion about anything that they say.

WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot July 20, 2012 at 03:28 pm

OK what I want to know why are these 2 shelling out millions of dollars to get elected to an office that pays $200,000 a year? What's wrong with this picture? Wall Street? They don't care about any of us. There all in it to fatten their wallets and purses. Wake up people!!

Marcie July 20, 2012 at 03:29 pm

Okay, I am no longer going to participate in a discussion with you. Thanks for your input and good luck!

Peter Hamm July 20, 2012 at 03:46 pm

A quick Google search turned up this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTCYE72ZKbk
I know there's another interview with a former ring boy who was raped when he was 16 that I saw in 2010, but I don't feel like searching. But Andrew, I think Marcie's main argument is not that the WWE should be illegal. In fact, I personally think it's actually amusing in small doses. I just don't think the person who runs that organization - one that actively degrades women/retarded people/minorites in front of thousands of people - should represent my values in Washington. There's a video of Linda's daughter walking into the ring while a stadium of spectators chant "Slut! Slut! Slut!" I'm not even a father and I could never envision myself letting (let alone telling) my daughter do that, especially for my business. Linda McMahon has all the freedom of speech she can handle. That's how she uses it. What she's doing is very legal. It's protected under the Constitution. I would never in a million years challenge her right to do it. But I'm voting for Chris Shays.

Peter Hamm July 20, 2012 at 03:50 pm

Thank you! Not really close to Waterford, but I might stop by some time :)

Daniella Ruiz July 20, 2012 at 06:49 pm

McMahon is offering some token 'spending cuts' ?? now thats a grand idea! and a good chunk of change for the business side in the form of MASSIVE tax relief for them??? then, shes the one in La La land, to think she will ever get that to happen as one person among the throngs of 'spend/steal it as fast as they can' in Htfd!
what this state needs is a choke hold put on the unions and their entitlements from generations of spineless negotiators! all the blab about 'safety this, safety that' and some notion that public servants are making our state 'safe'? safe for them, but not for the financial situation of those paying income taxes, sales taxes, guzzoline taxes, property taxes, and being GORED by health care costs! lets see her wrestle with the cost of broken health, broken homes, broken job stability, lost futures, and the cost of welfare/addiction support!. is partisan ignorance the only exportable product in this state?

Daniella Ruiz July 20, 2012 at 06:55 pm

YES! follow the money trail!

GregoryRobertSamuels July 22, 2012 at 04:13 pm

Andrew- serving in the military does make you patriotic. Serving as an officer in any one of the branches of the military is the highest form is patriotism there is.

Andrew Ziemba July 22, 2012 at 04:25 pm

I personally know 6 people who have joined the armed forces so that they would 1) have a place to sleep at night 2) have food in their stomach 3) Get healthcare coverage 4) Get a job when they were done with their service.
None of these should be reasons for joining the armed forces, but they are now the driving force for doing so. Obviously this is a tragedy, but whats better working at a gas station 30 hours a week and Mcdonalds 30 hours a week... or joining the armed forces and then being hired for a decent paying job after your service? Say what you want, think what you want, but the facts about the 20-30 year old age group shows this glaringly. War should not be a for profit business as it is today. It is dishonorable to all serving past, present, and future. End the military industrial complex. Most important of all, bring back the draft. That way, you youth of a nation will decide if the war is worth fighting, NOT the politicians who are simply padding their bank accounts by helping out their pals at Haliburton.

Andrew Ziemba July 22, 2012 at 04:30 pm

"Truth is treason in the empire of lies." Patriotism is fighting for what is best for your country, not yourself and not for politician's best interests. Patriots are the ones out there like Ron Paul speaking the truth and attacking the most powerful forces against our country. Patriotism is demanding that we keep the rights that this country was founded on. Patriotism is telling the truth, no matter how unpopular it is. Patriotism is fighting the lies, corruption, and propaganda, while being marked a kooky nutjob by those who couldn't care less about their rights

Steve Bristol July 22, 2012 at 07:05 pm

Andrew
I would rather have people serve their country as a job than have people with no desire to serve their country at all be drafted. I'd bet their fellow soldiers would feel the same way while on patrol or in a firefight. God Bless Our Troops! Steve

Andrew Ziemba July 22, 2012 at 07:29 pm

By your logic, why don't we just have a military that is made of entirely contractors (mercenaries) ? That is what it is becoming now anyway.
I'll tell you the reason. It's because wars should be fought only when absolutely necessary, and they should be won, and the troops should come home immediately. All we have now is strategically started Vietnam wars FOR PROFIT. War has become a for profit business, just as Eisenhower warned us. How soon we forget... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Gt1bhKLhs

Steve Bristol July 22, 2012 at 07:50 pm

A chain of command is necessary. "Contractors" do not allow for that and I couldn't agree less that that's what we have. However, in some cases, 'contractors' ARE necessary for private concerns/entities.
I DO agree that you fight to win. However, when you essentially have to get notes from your mother--in triplicate--to fire upon the enemy, you extend a dangerous situation. Take the politicians out of things beyond declaration of war/aggression and let the military do the job they're trained to do. That's all I have to say on this matter as it is so far OFF-topic.

GregoryRobertSamuels July 23, 2012 at 01:51 pm

"Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea." Samuel Johnson

GregoryRobertSamuels July 23, 2012 at 02:26 pm

Andrew seems to think that only recent wars have ones of profit. The rich always get richer during war that's why we had a war profit tax back in the old days before the Republicans went crazy and decided that no one could ever be taxed at a higher rate and cutting taxes during war was a great idea.

Andrew Ziemba July 24, 2012 at 10:25 pm

Sorry, you are mistaken. I'm not sure what would lead you to believe that. Those who control the money control everything. They are the ones who get rich off of war. Politicians are peons compared to them.
"Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea." Samuel Johnson Not sure what the quote has to do with anything. I would never take pride in shooting up houses filled with children and mowing down unarmed civilians with a tank. If that makes me a coward, or jealous, then so be it. You know in Vietnam they didn't have a choice. Bring the troops home in one piece so they can be with their families. Many of them did NOT sign up for this madness. If you oppose public education, you hate children. If you oppose food stamps, you want people to starve. If you oppose section 8 housing, you want people to be homeless. If you oppose social security, you want the elderly to be left sick and dying helplessly. If you oppose for profit genocide in the middle east, you are not only not patriotic, but jealous of those who serve. If there is a god, then please, god help us all if this is the "common sense" of 2012.