West River Health Care - Milford strike

Our friends and neighbors



Take some water to them - Walk the Line for an hour - Bring snacks to share - Hang out in Support

(It will make you feel good to do so)

It Gets Better USA-PSA

San Francisco General Hospital video

Best advice: "Be Authentic." - Nate Sharon

 

 

h/t Thank you to Kiren Jolly Leeds, one of my many Nice Nieces.

The Trevor Project is the leading national
organization providing crisis intervention and
suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.

Absentee Ballots available, Unaffiliated can re-register to vote in Primaries

Secretary Merrill Reminds Connecticut Voters that Absentee Ballots are Now Available for August 14^th Primaries

Secretary of the State also Reminds Unaffiliated Voters They Can Enroll with Democrats or Republicans by August 13^th in Order to Cast Ballot in Primary

Hartford: Secretary of the State Denise Merrill today announced that absentee ballots are now available for any Connecticut voter who will be out of town or otherwise unavailable to go to their polling place and cast a ballot in statewide primaries on August 14, 2012.  At the same time, Secretary Merrill is also reminding unaffiliated voters across the state who wish to cast a ballot in the primary they must enroll with the Democratic or Republican Parties by August 13^th at 12:00 p.m., since only registered Republicans or Democrats can vote in the primary Tuesday August 14^th. 

“Some of the most closely watched Congressional primaries in the country are taking place in Connecticut on August 14^th,” said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut’s chief elections official. “I urge all registered Democrats and Republicans to take part in choosing who you believe will best represent you in Hartford and Washington D.C. Anyone who wants to cast a ballot but may be on vacation or cannot be present at their polling place on Primary Day can apply for an absentee ballot as of today.  You can apply for an absentee ballot by going to your town clerk’s office or by visiting www.sots.ct.gov  and I want to remind eligible voters that the deadline to register to vote for the primary is August 13^th at 12:00 at noon at your Registrar of Voters office. Unaffiliated voters wishing to cast a primary ballot face the same deadline to enroll with a major party.”

To receive an absentee ballot, registered Connecticut voters can fill out a simple application at their town clerk’s office or download the application on their town’s website.  Applications for absentee ballots are also available on the Secretary of the State’s website www.sots.ct.gov. Once an application is completed and turned in, the ballot will be sent to the voter in the mail within days.  Absentee ballots can be returned by mail or in-person to town offices up until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday August 14, 2012 and still be counted in the statewide primary. 

Secretary Merrill is also reminding Connecticut’s more than 800,000 unaffiliated voters – the largest group of the state’s nearly 2,000,000 active registered voters – that if they wish to cast a ballot on Primary Day they must enroll with either the Democratic or Republican Party.  To be eligible to cast a ballot in the August 14^th, 2012 Connecticut Primary Elections, an unaffiliated voter must enroll as a Democrat or Republican in person at his or her local Registrar of Voters office by Monday, August 13^th at 12:00 p.m.  Since the beginning of the year, more than 6,100 unaffiliated Connecticut voters have enrolled with a major party, making them eligible to vote in the August 14^th primary (3,407 have enrolled as Republicans while 2,705 have enrolled as Democrats).  Mail-in registration forms must be postmarked no later than August 9^th. New voters face those same deadlines if they wish to register with a party and vote in the primaries. Connecticut law also allows 17-year-olds to register and vote in the primary if they will turn 18 by the general election on November 6, 2012.

On Primary Day August 14, 2012 polls will be open statewide from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. for registered Republicans and Democrats.  Secretary Merrill encourages everyone to visit www.sots.ct.gov to see if they are registered to vote, find their polling place, view candidate lists, and download absentee ballot forms.

Crazy

Willie Nelson is the cure for the Crazy


Worry/Why do I let myself worry?

Is EMILYs List the new Komen Foundation?

The Visible Woman - has nothing to hide.

Call EMILYs List (202-326-1400) and tell them that they would have been better off not endorsing a candidate in Connecticut, rather than supporting lesser candidates.

Explain that Elizabeth Esty, their candidate in the 5th Congressional District, voted against Paid Sick Leave, a bill that had a major effect on women and families. Her leading opponent, Chris Donovan, Speaker of the House, endorsed by the Democratic Party, has a much longer and more solid record of votes and leadership for issues related to women, girls, and children.

As for the EMILYs List endorsement of Susan Bysiewicz over Chris Murphy for US Senate...   This is simply bone-headed.

They plan to start their postal attacks tomorrow.

Give EMILYs List no more donations until they get it together, or their support of pro-choice female candidates will be so tainted that it becomes meaningless.

Alas Alack - EMILYs List still on Wrong Track

It is all over the Blogs and facebook, but here is what I want to make sure is said about EMILYs List's latest misfire. To recap: EarlyMoneyIsLikeYeast is an organization that hopes to increase political representation by women in DC politics.  According to their press releases:

In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY's List raised more than $38.5 million to support its mission of recruiting and supporting women candidates, helping them build strong campaigns, and mobilizing women voters to turn out and vote. With a community of more than 1.5 million members across the country, EMILY's List is one of the largest political action committees in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has worked to elect 87 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 16 to the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices. In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY's List had the largest number of members and donors in our 27 year history.

Unfortunately, they are burning their brand here in Connecticut with blind gender-based support of several less than stellar candidates. Today's information concerns Elizabeth Esty, female candidate for Congress against Democratic Party endorsed Chris Donovan  [duh]Murphy.

For Immediate Release
WOMEN VOTE! To Educate Women Voters in Connecticut

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, today announced a new WOMEN VOTE! project in Connecticut’s fifth congressional district.

The press release goes on to explain that, starting this Thursday, EMILYs List will mail five mailing pieces (one every 3 1/2 days) to women who are registered Democrats older than 45.

If I lived in the 5th CD instead of the 3rd CD I would be one of these targeted women. And I would sure as heck be annoyed if I got a mailing piece every 3 - 4 days. I would be pissed that money sent to Emily's list was used to promote someone based on gender equipment and not the facts of qualifications. And I would still be voting for Chris Donovan for Congress.

"Three of the mailers will also showcase Elizabeth Esty’s commitment to Connecticut taxpayers: returning 10% of her own salary and working towards responsible budgeting in the state legislature."

It is worth pointing out that Elizabeth Esty's salary as a State Rep would have been about $40,000, so 10% is $4000 returned to the state. She is a wealthy person to begin with, and without any information on the impetus to tithe back to the state some money that would have been taxable as income, I am not clear what this gesture was intended to accomplish.

Perhaps EMILYs List would care to "Educate" me on this matter. (Pretty insulting language, that.)

Also, the "responsible budgeting" referred to by EMILYs List would have cut tens of millions from health care for children, the elderly, and the poor, as well as closing a magnet in school in her own district, all while making sure that rich didn't have to pay a teeny bit more of their fair share. 

Spoiler Alert: That's not responsible budgeting. 

Esty sided with Republican Governor Rell instead of Speaker of the House Chris Donovan -- who got a budget passed that protected families and the programs that matter to them, and asked millionaires to pay their fair share!

The choice here is pretty clear, unless, apparently, you are EMILY's List. 

Along with their wrong-headed endorsement of Susan "What? Me Worry?" Bysiewicz, EMILYs List has gone all wrong on Connecticut.

People in other states need to re-examine endorsements handed out by this ill-informed group. 

PS: "Vagina right or wrong" is not Feminism.

New Pro-Romney video

Irresistible

Hat Tip to Matt Browner-Hamlin
Spelling Tip thanks to Jon Kantrowitz

Crowds for the Best in a Crowded Field

Chis Donovan  (ICYMI) is absolutely the Best candidate for US Congress from the 5th CD

Electoral Bandwagon

There is an interesting thread of commonality occurring in the Chris Donovan campaign.

Traditionally, in the closing weeks prior to an election, you see a hunkering down. People prepare for all inevitabilities, although you (superstitiously) don't discuss it.
You say "When we win..."
Never "If we win..."
and there is an understanding that the careers of those in the campaign are on hold. No resumes go out and none come in. 

You wait, and breathe without noise.

The intriguing shift in the Congressional campaign of Chris Donovan seems to be an influx of people.

People from other states, even from across the country, heading into Connecticut to help during these final days and prep for the general election.

Photo of Cute Kid - not attributable

There are new members in the Chris Donovan for Congress campaign, true believers moving to Connecticut.

Bribed by Ice Cream. Photo from the Avon Patch.

And I don't mean the per diem hires of Dan Roberti   

 <

Oh Wait...That is Etsy Headquarters...

nor the unemployed students with free time helping out at Esty Headquarters     >

It turns out there are people driving their families and possessions into Connecticut like a reverse dust bowl migration. 

Nobody does that on a whim. Nobody does that on a dream. They do that because they heard of a promised land. 

They join in a movement they believe will win and go on to win more and win for the entire state of Connecticut.  

They are joining up so they can be on the team of a Progressive, Modern, Honest, Funny (very funny, actually), Hard Working champion of working people and the poor.

This is not your normal campaign. This is Your campaign.

Hop on the Fairness Dignity and Respect Bandwagon?
Yessirree. Count me IN!

 

Clip = CT Resident Nile Rogers and the fabulous Nick Lowe.

 

I have been out of the writing action, mostly door-knocking and doing phone banks in my spare time,  reminding people to Vote for Chris! - Chris Donovan...Chris Murphy...Anyone named Chris as far as I am concerned - even Chris Shays!

Television is bad, no real news, huge numbers of people are protesting in Mexico City and elsewhere and we don't hear nothin'.

I am not writing this to complain, but to remind everyone that People Matter. The character of people and our dreams of equality and fairness matter. Older people matter. Check on your neighbors today. Ask them how they feel. Do they have food, fans, friends?

Our responsibility is to keep our communities good and getting better. This July we talk. This August we vote.

Shoot Out The Lights

Richard Thompson

Dirty Tricks in Connecticut Elections?

While walking door-to-door in Stratford this weekend I got some partial news.

A gentleman (that means he was over 80) told me that he had received a mailing piece about the

 "2 million Mexicans who will get a raise in their Social Security payments while we won't"

Okay, where to start?

At first I was inclined to back away - slowly, down the steps to the sweltering street. Away. Away. But then I became both curious and angry. The gent couldn't find the mailing piece but his daughter appeared from the laundry room and confirmed the flyer existed and said what he claimed it said.

Further discussion revealed that the piece came from an organization, not a candidate or political party.
This is a 100% Democratic household. The issue to me is who sent it and why.

Seems like this is intended to alienate (sorry) and suppress the vote. So, does anyone have any info on this matter?

Excellence in Advertising

My vote goes to Chris Murphy

Very natural.

Donovan for Congress! Report Confirms What We Already Knew

As promised: Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Democratic candidate Donovan cleared in fundraising scandal

Ex-US Attorney: No evidence of involvement

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Former U.S. Attorney Stanley Twardy says he found no evidence that Connecticut House Speaker Chris Donovan had any involvement or knowledge of a fundraising scandal involving his congressional campaign.

Twardy said in a summary of his report released on Thursday that he "found nothing to indicate" there were any illegitimate contributions made to Donovan's race other than the $20,000 under scrutiny by federal authorities.

[...]

Donovan is the Democratic Party's endorsed candidate in the 5th District race.

Less Hot Today

But not for this guy:

Image du jour
From the LinkedIn page of Tom Mayfield, President of Mayfield Infrared in Dallas/Fort Worth

Cool, eh?