13 December 2008

A Vote of "No Confidence" In Senator Lieberman

The city's Democratic Town Committee approved a "resolution of no confidence" in Senator Joe Lieberman at its December meeting. The move came at the December 11th meeting held at City Hall.

The 12-point resolution, adapted from a more detailed censure resolution adopted by the Glastonbury Democratic Town Committee, won unanimous support at the New Britain meeting. It took issue with Lieberman's role in the 2008 campaign, including a speech at the Republican National Convention and months of campaigning on behalf of GOP nominee John McCain outside of Connecticut.

The statement went on to oppose Lieberman's position on a range of issues including:

- Missed votes on increased funding for Homeland Security despite public statements supporting additional resources. "His absence in a debate on legislation to potentially increase security funding to Connecticut's cities meant the difference between the bill passing and losing." said one clause of the resolution;
- The vote to confirm Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General (the only Democratic senator from New England to do so) "in spite of Gonzales' support of torture, rendition and eavesdropping on US citizens";
- Support for the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that denies prisoners the right to habeas corpus, sanctions torture and protects members of the administration from prosecution for war crimes;
- The only Democrat to support the president's idea of private accounts. "Once it was clear that the issue had no traction, Joe Lieberman joined Democrats in opposing the President's plan," according to the resolution;
- Support for NAFTA and CAFTA --the free trade agreements approved without a process to negotiate worker rights, human rights and environmental safeguards;
- Unwavering support of the Iraq war, the greatest contributing factor to the growth in the national debt.

Democratic Town Chair John McNamara said Lieberman's expected pro-Democratic votes in the next Congress will be welcome. And he acknowledged Lieberman's recent statements that he would be in lockstep with the Obama administration on a new economic stimulus package after Lieberman retained the chairmanship of Homeland Security from the Democratic Senate caucus.

"The point of these censures and no-confidence votes, however, should be to send a message to Joe that we are looking for a new senator in 2012," said McNamara. "Going back on your commitments while hiding behind the cloak of 'bipartisanship' or, worse, opposing the nominee of your own party, give politics and politicians a bad name. Senator Lieberman has repeatedly turned his back on Democrats who made it possible for him to serve in the U.S. Senate in the first place."

The no confidence vote from New Britain Democrats did not come as a surprise. In 2006, the New Britain Town committee sent 24 of 31 delegates to the Democratic State Convention in support of candidate Ned Lamont over Lieberman, the largest block of votes opposing Lieberman's re-nomination for U.S. Senate.

The New Britain Committee will be sending its resolution on to state party leaders and to Senator Lieberman to express its concerns on his voting record and role in the 2008 campaign.

Originally Posted By NBpoliticus to New Britain Community News at 12/12/2008

7 December 2008

Democrats To Hold December Meeting Thursday 12/11; Lieberman Resolution, Legislative Priorities for 2009 On Tap
The Democratic Town Committee will hold its last meeting of the year on Thursday, December 11, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at New Britain City Hall, 27 West Main Street. The agenda will include consideration of a resolution expressing no confidence in Senator Joseph I. Lieberman for his role in the 2008 presidential campaign and support of the Bush Administration. Resolutions may also be raised in support of universal health care and other issues expected to come before the state legislature next year. Member and friends are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for donating to local food banks. All Democrats and friends are invited to attend.

Republicans Descend Into Personal Attacks Over Board of Education Seat
A Common Council vote to appoint Republican Leslie Jacobs to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education has prompted a veto by Mayor Timothy Stewart and a torrent of attacks by Republicans. In his veto message, Stewart referred to Jacobs as "flippant" and "arrogant" but cited no votes or actions by Jacobs as a school board member to oppose her nomination. Jacobs has previous experience on the BOE but has long since fallen out of favor with her party's leadership. Dismayed that the GOP's hand-picked recommendation, Jamie Giantonio, was not accepted by the Council, Republican leaders have denounced the Council move to replace Marilyn Kraczkowsky, a controversial Republican member of the BOE, who resigned earlier this year. Jacobs and Council Democrats have been the target of personal attacks and harsh words from Republican Chair Paul Carver and others. Derogatory comments have been posted anonymously on local blogs, including one threat of violence against City Alderman Phil Sherwood. Democratic Town Chair John McNamara criticized the Mayor's veto message for claiming Democrats are putting partisanship ahead of city schools and children. He also faulted the tone and content of the Republican attacks as "mean spirited", "divisive" and nothing more than the tactics of "schoolyard bullies." The Council is exercising its judgment and responsibility in accordance with the city charter, according to McNamara. "The Mayor and Republican Chair Carver should make their arguments on the merits of their candidate, and not engage in partisan attacks on members of the City Council and Ms. Jacobs," said McNamara. "This is the same Republican Party that nominated as their local standard bearer this year Tom Bozek for State Senate, a candidate who suggested that New Britain should downsize its schools by reducing the number of school children by 4,000 through draconian anti-family policies." McNamara said the record of the Mayor and Carver on education and addressing the school district's fiscal challenges has been "abysmal" over the last two years. "If I were a member of the the City Council concerned about the quality of education the last person of either party that I would pick would be a rubber stamp for the Mayor," said McNamara.


Hearing Is Tuesday For New Britain-Hartford Busway:
Officials Criticize DOT For Delay, Higher Costs
The Department of Transportation is holding a series of public hearings throughout the area on the long-awaited busway that would start in New Britain at the former Greenfield's store along a railroad right of way. The New Britain hearing will be held Tuesday, December 9, at New Britain City Hall (27 West Main Street) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A Monday December 8 meeting will be held in Newington at the same time at the Newington Town Hall (131 Cedar Street) in the Helen Nelson Room.

According to the DOT announcement of the hearings: "When the busway opens for operation, bus routes in New Britain, Newington, West Hartford, and Hartford will change. The public is invited to come and share what is important to them and to help the Department of Transportation design a bus system that more efficiently serves their needs. During these meetings, the public can review work in progress, view a brief presentation of the project, ask questions and provide feedback, and meet the project team."

State Representative David McCluskey (D - West Hartford), House Chair of the Transportation Bonding Sub-Committee and an advocate of using public transit for economic development criticized a DOT official last week for saying that the earliest commuters could ride a proposed New Haven-Springfield commuter rail service is “optimistically, 2015-16”.

Said McCluskey: “This coupled with the long delay in the 11 year-old proposal to operate Bus Rapid Transit Service between New Britain and Hartford clearly demonstrate that the Department really does not want to increase public transportation in Connecticut. DOT just doesn’t get it. Connecticut residents want alternatives to cars now. The New Haven to Springfield commuter rail service would operate on an existing active rail line. This idea has been languishing since the early 1990s,” Rep. McCluskey added. “The fact that DOT cannot figure out how to add this service quickly demonstrates their lack of interest and seriousness about providing public transportation to Connecticut residents.”

Similarly, New Britain officials including State Senator Don DeFronzo, Chair of the Transportation Committee, State Representative Tim O'Brien and Mayor Timothy Stewart have expressed concerns about the delay in the New Britain-Hartford busway and the escalating costs of what would appear to an uncomplicated re-use of a railroad right of way for the single bus lane. Said O'Brien: "Connecticut, especially the greater Hartford area, has been hurt economically and in terms of quality of life, by the sorry state of our public transit system. New Britain has been especially harmed because the highways that went up in decades past have largely cut New Britain out of our regional economy. Having New Britain as the primary starting point for a new, regional public transit system can be a major development in the economic renewal of our city. Plus, especially in as global warming and other environmental concerns become more pressing, public transit is important for a low-pollution future - and if it needs to happen anyway, it should be done so that New Britain benefits from it." Estimated costs for the busway have gone form $80 million to $600 million. "I consider this to be an enormous failure on the part of the state DOT, and I can find no excuse for it," said O'Brien. "I agree with Mayor Timothy Stewart that there needs to a change in "the culture of the DOT, which is to mire these projects in bureaucracy." O'Brien urged Stewart to press the issue with Gov. Rell and to work with the city's legislative delegation to accelerate the public transit alternatives.

CT Obama Group To Hold "Celebrating our Victory Going Forward"
Meeting December 13th

Connecticut volunteers for Barack Obama plan an organizing meet on Saturday Dec. 13th to keep the grassroots organization together for future political action. "The conversation in America has changed on many levels, revitalizing the hope and potential of a great nation. This movement has opened the door to immeasurable possibilities and laid those possibilities at the feet of the people," says Val McCall, a leader of the CT Obama campaign this year. "We will discuss the issues that are important to us in the communities where we live and how we can change them." The meeting will be held from 10 am to noon on the 13th at the Afro-American Culture Center of Yale University in New Haven (211 Park Street). More information at 860-995-3364.

28 November 2008

New Britain Will Consider "No Confidence" Vote On Lieberman


The Democratic Town Committee will consider a "no confidence" vote against Senator Joe Lieberman when it meets on December 11th amid growing calls and resolutions by local and state party officials opposing Lieberman's role in the 2008 Presidential Election.

Lieberman, the 2000 Democratic nominee for Vice President and a 20-year incumbent elected to the Senate in 1988, endorsed Republican John McCain and spoke at the GOP national convention. He pointedly criticized President-elect Barack Obama during the campaign and defended the Bush Administration's Iraq policy. Connecticut's junior senator, however, remains a member of the Senate Democratic Caucus, which has voted to return Lieberman to the chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee. Throughout his Senate career Lieberman has steadily moved away from his progressive roots by embracing and chairing the Democratic Leadership Council, a corporate-lobbyist financed group founded in the 1980s to push a right of center viewpoint in the Democratic Party. An early indicator of his rightward drift occurred barely two years into his first term when he backed a pension for convicted Iran-Contra figure, Col. Oliver North. His unceasing support of militarism over diplomacy and affinity for President Bush were the catalysts to his defeat in the 2006 Democratic Primary

The decision by the Senate Caucus to return Lieberman to a Chairmanship is drawing heavy criticism in the state Democratic Party despite Senator Chris Dodd's support for his colleague. The news that Lieberman used his "Reuniting Our Country" PAC to support some GOP candidates in addition to Democrats (including $10,000 to the CT Democratic Party over the last year) may help to advance a censure resolution at the state central committee in December. It is clear that Lieberman was playing it both ways in contributions from his political action committee in this past election cycle -- $10,000 to Republican Susan Collins of ME, $5,000 to Republican Peter King of NY, $5,000 to Republican Gordon Smith of OR and $5,000 to McCain for President. (More information on PAC and candidate giving is accessible at www.opensecrets.org)

The counter argument to ousting Lieberman from his Chairmanship is that he will continue to caucus with Democrats, further weakening Republican influence in the upper Chamber. Some observers point to what Lyndon Johnson said of the late J. Edgar Hoover in keeping Lieberman happy: "It’s probably better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in." And in his comments this week, Lieberman has also let it be known that he will be in lockstep with the Obama economic plan for job creation and economic stimuli that will be pushed in the first days of the new administration. He no longer says much of anything about the costly Iraq war.

That being said, however, Lieberman may face an insurmountable task to convince many Connecticut Democrats that he should be welcomed back by the rank and file Democrats after his transgressions against Obama and Democrats on the campaign trail. It won't be enough to buy off support using his past practice of giving thousands of dollars to the state party. Leading the charge for state party sanctions against Lieberman is State Central Committeewoman Audrey Blondin -- a backer of Lieberman's failed 2004 bid for the Presidential nomination.

Democratic Town Chair John McNamara, who supports a no-confidence vote from the New Britain committee, said Lieberman's expected pro-Democratic votes in the next Congress will be appreciated. "The point of these censures and no-confidence votes, however, should be to send a message to Joe that we are looking for a new senator in 2012. Going back on your commitments while hiding behind the cloak of 'bipartisanship' give politics and politicians a bad name. Senator Lieberman has repeatedly turned his back on Democrats who made it possible for him to serve in the U.S. Senate in the first place."

Democrats wishing to join a censure move against Lieberman may link to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Dump_Joe/signatures.html


House Speaker To Be Donovan Credits New Britain's Michalowski As His Mentor In Public Service

In a profile in the Nov. 16 Meriden Record Journal, House Majority Leader Chris Donovan (D-Meriden) cited his early work as a community organizer and crossing paths with the late Laddie Michalowski of New Britain in putting him on a path to politics and public service:

In the 1970s, a young Donovan was a graduate student of social work at the University of Connecticut, interning with the Connecticut Citizens Action Group. He found inspiration in a fellow community organizer, the late Ladislaus Michalowski.

Michalowski, who died in 2006, was a union guy from New Britain and the greatest influence in Donovan's life. His activism was not limited to Connecticut. He participated in the 1962 March on Washington and the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.Michalowski struck Donovan as someone who cared about people and treated individuals with respect. "He dedicated his life to helping people out," Donovan said.

Donovan was elected incoming Speaker by his Democratic Caucus this month. He will assume the gavel when the biennial session of the Legislature opens early next year.

Democratic Justice Nominees May Visit Clerk's Office for Swearing In

The Town Committee nominated all incumbent Justices of the Peace at its May endorsement meeting. All Democratic JPs are urged to visit the Town and City Clerk's office now to be sworn in for the new term that begins in January.

The Town Committee will resume filling vacancies for Justices of the Peace in January. Interested Democrats are asked to contact the Town Committee and to demonstrate they are volunteering a minimum of two hours per month in the community.

End Quote for Thanksgiving

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

President John F. Kennedy

9 November 2008

Election Day In New Britain: Poll Standing At Vance School
(photo by Frank Gerratana)

72 Days Until 1-20-2009: Inauguration Information Available

The Democratic Town Committee has received several inquiries in the aftermath of Tuesday's election about attending the 2009 Inauguration in Washington, D.C. when President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President and U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy (D-5) will begin his second term representing New Britain and the 41-town district in Congress.

Individuals interested in obtaining tickets to inaugural events need to contact their Congressperson and Senators. Democratic Town Chair John McNamara said he would be recommending a short list of New Britain individuals to Cong. Murphy for consideration based on their hard work during the campaign. Among them will be Ward 3 Alderwoman Shirley Black, the President of the Black Democratic Club, who helped run the headquarters and campaigned out of state for Barack Obama over the course of the year.

For more information you can contact the Town Committee or visit the Inauguration site at http://inaugural.senate.gov

Election Night in New Britain: Eight out of 10 Favor Democrats

Voters in New Britain gave Democratic candidates overwhelming support in last Tuesday's election election, providing Obama-Biden with a 75% share, Cong. Murphy with 79% and similar margins for State Senator Don DeFronzo and State Representatives Betty Boukus, Tim O'Brien, John Geragosian and Peter Tercyak.

The dominance for Democrats stemmed, according to Senator DeFronzo, from the party's issues-oriented messages, get-out-the-vote organization and the diversity of people involved in the Democratic campaign, reflecting all segments of the community.

Congratulations to our candidates for attaining a clean sweep.

Democratic Justice Nominees May Visit Clerk's Office for Swearing In

The Town Committee nominated all incumbent Justices of the Peace at its May endorsement meeting. All Democratic JPs are urged to visit the Town and City Clerk's office now to be sworn in for the new term that begins in January.

The Town Committee will resume filling vacancies for Justices of the Peace in January. Interested Democrats are asked to contact the Town Committee and to demonstrate they are volunteering a minimum of two hours per month in the community.

Lieberman And The Democratic Caucus: Who To Call To Be Heard

A meeting last week between Senator Joe Lieberman and Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid has spawned considerable speculation that Lieberman may be stripped of his Committee Chairmanship for endorsing and campaigning for Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain.
Lieberman was sharply critical of President-elect Barack Obama, acquiescing and joining the GOP's attacks on Obama's background and experience at the Republican convention and in numerous campaign stops.

This extraordinary break with the party follows Lieberman's efforts to move the party steadily away from his and his party's progressive roots via leadership of the right-of-center Democratic Leadership Council and other actions over most of his senate career. Lieberman's drift to the GOP was evolving long before his 2006 Democratic Primary loss to Ned Lamont.

At issue now is whether Lieberman's ability to serve his Connecticut constituents within the Democratic Caucus has been irreparably harmed by the campaign of 2008. Continuing to curry favor with Lieberman to get closer to a 60-vote cloture may be more trouble than help for the Democratic agenda.

Connecticut Democrats should immediately contact Majority Leader Reid, Conference Secretary Murray and Senator Dodd by telephone to express their views before the Caucus decides on Lieberman's status.

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)
Democratic Majority Leader

528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542 / Fax: 202-224-7327

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
Democratic Senate Caucus Secretary
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 224-0238


Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)
Toll Free: (866) 481-9186 448
Tel: (202) 224-2823 | Fax: (202) 224-1083

End Quote

"If there is any political justice at all, Joe the Bummer will be shown the door by the Democratic leadership for his exuberant, unending and unreserved hostility to the Democratic party. He can do that if he likes but he has zero right to expect to retain his powerful rewards from the Democratic party after working so hard to destroy the party’s chances. Wrong as is he, he should be gone — and good riddance."

from Denis Horgan at www.denishorgan.com November 6

2 November 2008 2 Days

The Ballot Questions: The Right Wing and Special Interests
Promote A Constitutional Convention

Vote No on Question 1; Vote Yes On Question 2

by John McNamara
Democratic Town Chairman

In 1959, the state legislature officially designated Connecticut the "Constitution State" because of a state constitution based on the "Fundamental Orders" of the 1600s. Historians recognize Connecticut for an enduring constitution that served as the basis for the U.S. Constitution and that has been adapted most of the time only through specific amendments and changes that have been put to the voters for approval.

This year's state referendum would authorize the Legislature to create a constitutional convention with no clear agenda, a Cart Blanche re-opening of a document that has served our representative democracy well. If there is an agenda for Question 1 it can be discerned from heavily funded proponents who have a hodge-podge of extreme positions: opposing gay marriage and a woman's right to choose and instituting draconian and regressive tax systems that would only add to the burdens of working and middle income people. Put simply, these pseudo-conservatives have nothing in common with a conservative movement that respects American traditions. Particularly disturbing to progressive Catholics in this campaign has been the Catholic Conference. The group has pumped six-figure donations into the referendum to fight their church/state wars as it aligns itself with forces that are antithetical to the Catholic tradition of economic and social justice.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is one of the groups opposing Question 1 and its views should be heeded by voters on Tuesday. Said Jara Burnett, CT League President: "The League believes that our Connecticut Constitution, thoroughly reviewed and revised in 1965, works well as our state's basic framework of government. We do not need a convention to change the constitution. The legislative amendment process, with its public hearings, its televised sessions, and its system of checks-and-balances, has served our state well in developing sound constitutional proposals for specific issues. In fact, the second question on this November's ballot relating to 17 year-olds voting in a primary if 18 by the general election is an example of a proposed change to the Constitution via this process of deliberation.

"Special interest organizations are working to convince voters to vote "yes" to a Convention in order to pursue their hot-button issues like banning a woman's right to choose or gay marriage. These supporters wish to change the Constitution to enable direct initiative and referendum to become an accepted way of making laws and amending Connecticut's Constitution. The League opposes initiative and referendum. With initiative and referendum, it's too easy for well-funded special interests to sway public opinion on controversial issues. It took us decades to pass a law to provide a system of campaign finance to eliminate special interest money. Let's not let special interest money back into our system again! If voters are dissatisfied with the actions of the General Assembly, they should make their views known during the legislative process or elect new legislators."

More information available at
http://www.lwvct.org/issues/resources/league_says_no_to_constitutional.htm

Election Day is November 4th. It's Time To Get Out The Vote.

YES we can if you can help on Election Day

Volunteer for Election Day (Poll Standing, Calling, Rides To Polls from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

1 November 2008-- 3 Days

Dear Voter:

With hope in our hearts and a change in the national government on our minds, the leadership and members of the New Britain Democratic Town Committee urge city voters to set a record turnout Tuesday in support of the Obama-Biden slate on Line B -- including Chris Murphy for Congress, Don DeFronzo for State Senate, Betty Boukus (District 22, Diloreto School), Tim OBrien (District 24), John Geragosian (District 25) and Peter Tercyak (District 26) for State Representative.

With Democratic voter rolls topping 18,000 Democrats and a 3000+ voter surge since January, let's make every effort to vote and get those who need assistance to the voting booth in support of Line B.

Every election, the politicians and pundits say, is the most important that we've ever had. You don't need that cliche to feel that 2008 is a watershed year. Parallels to 1932 and FDR have been made because of the current financial crisis that will now hit the rest of the country harder as Wall Street is bailed out. Democrats need a mandate to rescue the working and middle class and to restore effective government action and regulation.

For Democrats of a certain age, it's also a watershed because of a nomination fight that came down to a woman and an African American serving in the U.S. Senate. The hoped for Obama victory will be a culmination of what Democrats, pushed by the civil rights movement, accomplished in the 1960s with the passage of voting rights and equality laws. It would strike a near fatal blow to the politics of division and intolerance used and perfected so well by Republicans over the last generation and co-opted by too many Democrats In Name Only.

The McCain-Palin campaign, keeping to their low-information, lowest common denominator strategies, has conducted an often vile and divisive campaign that has further diminished the Republican Party, a sharp contrast to Obama-Biden's inclusiveness and responsiveness to economic, health care and foreign policy problems emerging in the wreckage created by the Bush Administration. As New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson noted in endorsing Obama last March: "Senator Obama has started a discussion in this country long overdue and rejects the politics of pitting race against race.He understands clearly that only by bringing people together, only by bridging our differences can we all succeed together as Americans. His words are those of a courageous, thoughtful and inspiring leader, who understands that a house divided against itself cannot stand."

Let New Britain's turnout be the highest ever for this watershed election.

John McNamara, Town Chair

New Britain Resources and Information for volunteering and voter information

New Britain Democratic Headquarters, 385 West Main Street, New Britain. Telephone 827-9704 newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com

Obama Connecticut www.ctobama.org

Murphy for Congress www.murphyforcongress.org

Don DeFronzo for State Senate www.dondefronzo.com

End Quote

"When you become part of something, in some way you count. It could be a march; it could be a rally, even a brief one. You're part of something, and you suddenly realize you count. To count is very important." Studs Terkel, the Chicago author (Working) and activist who died this past week at age 96.

27 October 2008 Calling All Democrats

A message from New Britain Democrats and Jon Carson, National Field Director, Obama for America.

How you can help nationally and locally........

Ask your Boss. Ask your Professor.

Take Election Day off and volunteer to make history.

This election will be decided by what this grassroots movement can accomplish on Election Day.

We have volunteer shifts to fill throughout the day -- make calls, knock on doors, and make sure your fellow voters get to the polls.

No previous experience is required. Sign up now to take the day off and make history on November 4th:

http://my.barackobama.com/taketheday


P.S. -- This Wednesday, October 29th, supporters are gathering in homes across the country to watch Barack's 30-minute primetime presentation and make phone calls to voters in battleground states.

Sign up to host or attend a Last Call for Change house party:

http://my.barackobama.com/lastcallparty

New Britain Democratic Rally & Dinner
compliments of New Britain's State Legislative Delegation
Sunday November 2 1 to 4 p.m.
VFW Hall 19 Veterans Drive
For a free ticket e-mail newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com

Election Day is November 4th. It's Time To Get Out The Vote.

YES we can if you can help in one or all of Five Ways..

1. Make phone calls to get out the vote
2. Register unregistered voters
3. Put up a lawn sign for Democratic candidates
4. Canvas, distribute literature in your neighborhood

5. Volunteer for Election Day (Poll Standing, Calling, Rides To Polls from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

Information
New Britain Democratic Headquarters
860-827-9704
E-mail: newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com




Labor donated. This has been approved and paid for by the New Britain Democratic Town Committee
Post Office Box 2112 New Britain, CT 06050
John McNamara Chairman
John Valengavich, Treasurer

http://newbritaindemocrat.blogspot.com
www.newbritaindemocrat.net