Angry, Hyper-partisan Democrat Laments Partisanship in Washington

Let's all say thanks to Chris Dodd. For retiring. One of the most odious, loathsome scumbags in the history of the United States Senate gave his farewell speech and to no surprise, whined about partisanship in Washington. This is the new mantra from the left. They run roughshod of the GOP and Americans while they've got solid majorities. Now that people are running them out of office, it's time for us all to come together.

Sorry, Chris, that dog don't hunt.

Sen. Christpher J. Dodd decried an era of corrosive hyper-partisanship in his farewell address Tuesday, saying the political system is "completely dysfunctional" and telling his fellow senators that they could be effective only by working together.

If Dodd had any guts he's have been a man and run for re-election. But he knew his days were numbered and took the cowardly way out.

In an emotional goodbye after 30 years in office, the Connecticut Democrat bemoaned the gridlock that he says has overtaken the Senate, where his late father, Thomas Dodd, had served for 12 years before him.

"Intense partisan polarization has raised the stakes in every debate and on every vote, making it difficult to lose with grace and nearly impossible to compromise without cost,'' Dodd said. "Americans' distrust of politicians provides compelling incentives for senators to distrust each other, to disparage this very institution and disengage from the policy making process.''

Whose fault is this? Republicans have spent decades bending over backwards trying to accommodate the Democrats, even when they were in the majority. As soon as Democrats run they show the GOP has zero rights, zero privileges, they're told "I won," and treated like shit. Oh, but now we're all supposed to work together?

Piss off, Dodd. And quite frankly, I'm tired of jello-spined Republicans making nice-nice with this lowlife.

In a departure from typical partisanship, Dodd received praise and a standing ovation from colleagues who sat listening on both sides of the aisle. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), after embracing Dodd, called his remarks "one of the most important speeches in the history of the Senate."

Does McConnell believe he'd ever be afforded such respect?

Buh-bye, Sandwich King. Say hi to your pal Angelo. Consider yourself fortunate you're not facing prosecution and please, just go away.

Chris Dodd Pal Mozilo Settles With SEC

This would make big headlines if he were connected with Republicans. But since he's pals with sleazy Democrats consider it part of the Friday news dump. Can't have bad news haunting Democrats 18 days out of a crucial election.

Former Countrywide Financial Corp Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo has agreed to settle a lawsuit with securities regulators, ending one of the highest profile enforcement actions to come from the financial collapse.

Mozilo, along with former Countrywide President David Sambol and former Chief Financial Officer Eric Sieracki, did not appear in the Los Angeles federal court on Friday morning where the settlement between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and all three executives was announced.

Mozilo will pay a $22.5 million civil penalty, plus $45 million in disgorgement, according to U.S. District Court Judge John Walter.

Good luck finding any mention of the the word "Democrat" or his cozy dealings with Dodd.

I guess the Friends of Angelo extend to the media.

Angelo picked his friends well. Dodd chairs the Banking Committee, and the $58,000 Countrywide saved him by giving him a below-market interest rate probably served the lender well in keeping their misdeeds below the radar screen. It went well with the $21,000 in campaign contributions Dodd received from Countrywide.

Conrad saved over $10,000 under the Friends of Angelo program with the deduction of a point on one loan. He got a second loan through Countrywide when Mozilo intervened to approve the loan against company policy, on the basis of his position as a Senator. Conrad can’t recall ever meeting Angelo, but the evidence of “friendship” looks pretty clear.

More on Angelo's friends here.

Maybe Darrell Issa can look into this come January.

'No One Will Know Until This is Actually in Place How it Works'

Yeah, why bother reading legislation before it's passed? A time-honored Democrat tradition. Naturally, the clown who said this will be out of office by then.

Key House and Senate lawmakers approved far-reaching new financial rules early Friday after weeks of division, delay and frantic last-minute dealmaking. The dawn compromise set up a potential vote in both houses of Congress next week that could send the landmark legislation to President Obama by July 4.

Lawmakers pulled an all-nighter, wrapping up their work at 5:39 a.m. -- more than 20 messy, mind-numbing hours after they began Thursday morning.

"It's a great moment. I'm proud to have been here," said a teary-eyed Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), who as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee led the effort in the Senate. "No one will know until this is actually in place how it works. But we believe we've done something that has been needed for a long time. It took a crisis to bring us to the point where we could actually get this job done."

Never let a good crisis go to waste.

Lying Dick Busted Again

You get the feeling it'll be another lie exposed every day with this lowlife scumbag.

US Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal has been caught yet again insinuating he served in Vietnam when he never set foot there.

The latest embarrassment to the once-soaring Connecticut Democratic hopeful comes from the archives of the Milford Mirror, a weekly paper.

While addressing a crowd at a 2007 Memorial Day parade -- which included the family of a Marine killed in Iraq -- Blumenthal said, "In Vietnam, we had to endure taunts and insults, and no one said, welcome home."

The Democrat added, "I say, welcome home."

In fact, Blumenthal had never served in Vietnam.

So naturally the Democrats last night endorsed this pathological liar.

Despite the revelations, state Democrats gave Blumenthal their endorsement last night to run for the seat vacated by Chris Dodd, who is retiring.

The White House also never met a serial fantasist they wouldn't embrace. After all, there's one playing the role of president these days. We'll be sure to remind them of this when eventually Blumenthal becomes a liability and is thrown under the bus.

The White House is standing by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who admitted this week to having misstated his military service on some occasions, but insisted he never intentionally meant to claim he had served in Vietnam.

The controversy had threatened to derail Blumenthal’s campaign for U.S. Senate to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd.

When asked about Blumenthal today, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Blumenthal had “our continued support.’’

Sandwich King Hanging Up His Apron

The announcement Tuesday that North Dakota Democrat Byron Dorgan was retiring caught many Democrats by surprise. Well, today's new that Chris "Sandwich King" Dodd has cut and run will be a mighty blow to Democrat prospects this November.

Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, a five-term Democrat whose political stock began falling after the financial meltdown and his failed 2008 presidential bid, has decided not to seek reelection in November, Democratic officials said early today.

Word of Dodd's retirement came hours after North Dakota Democrat Byron L. Dorgan, 67, announced he would not run for reelection. Republicans stand a good chance of taking Dorgan's seat, but Dodd's could stay with the Democrats. Although Dodd was personally unpopular, President Obama won Connecticut handily in 2008.

Dodd was expected to make an announcement today. The officials who disclosed his plans would speak only on condition of anonymity. The Washington Post first reported his decision on its website.

Dodd, 65, is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, which was at the center of efforts to deal with the economic meltdown. He also has played a prominent role in the healthcare debate.

Dodd has taken heat for a discounted VIP mortgage loan he got from a subprime lender and has consistently trailed potential GOP challenger Rob Simmons in Connecticut polls. Simmons, a former House member, has his own challenger in World Wrestling Entertainment co-founder Linda McMahon, who is also seeking the Republican nomination for Dodd's seat.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is expected to quickly announce he'll seek the Democrat nomination.

Given Dodd's bad poll standing, other Democrats have gone out of their way to give him the spotlight in hopes he could recover before November.

With Dodd stepping aside, Democrats can now try to recruit a more popular candidate to run in the Democratic-leaning state, bolstering the prospects of thwarting a Republican victory. Among the early favorites to replace Dodd is longtime Connecticut state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who is seen as one of the state's most popular politicians.

"Republicans thought they might steal this seat, but now they should probably look elsewhere," said Roy Occhiogrosso, a veteran Democratic strategist in Connecticut and a Dodd supporter. "This is Dick Blumenthal's race. People in Connecticut know who he is. They know the work he's done. They know he can go to Washington and continue the same kind of work."

It's quite possible nutroots darling Ned Lamont may give it another shot although he may now be facing spending restrictions in Connecticut.

Conencticut is a reliably blue state and Dodd's quitting may actually enhance their chances of keeping the seat considering Simmons has more garnered support out of disgust with Dodd while McMahon carries more than enough baggage considering her background.

With Dodd and Dorgan running for the hills, what other longtime Democrats facing problems might consider retirement? Might the passage of ObamaCare give Dingy Harry a convenient reason to call it a day?

Our National Nightmare Continues: Dodd Set to Unveil Financial Reform Bill

You would expect to see something like this in The Onion. Sadly, the corrupt hack from Connecticut, Countrywide Chris Dodd, the Friend of Angelo, has his grubby paws on our banking system and plans "financial reform" for us. What could possibly go wrong?

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd will unveil long-awaited draft legislation on financial regulation reform on Tuesday, his office said on Monday.

Marking another step forward in a bid by the Obama administration and congressional Democrats to tighten bank and capital market rules, the Dodd bill has been under development for months behind closed doors.

Behind closed doors. Perfect. So much for the vaunted transparency we were all promised.

Building from a mid-June Obama bill, Dodd is expected to back creating a government watchdog for financial consumers; stripping the Federal Reserve of bank supervision and consumer protection duties and setting up a systemic risk regulatory council with more power than Obama has proposed.

Yes, just what we need: More government regulation and control over our lives.

More here.

Now more than ever we need to dump this corrupt hack.

Your Government In Action: Four-Year-Olds Now Qualify for Homebuyer Credit

Not only can your pre-schoolers now qualify for a first time home-buying loan, but if you've got some more kids in the pipeline they too may be qualify thanks to a helping hand from Senator Christopher Dodd.

They may not be able to cross the street on their own or color within the lines, but many kids qualified for the first-time homebuyer credit.

Due to a loophole and some odd reporting criteria, children as young as 4 received the first-time homebuyer credit that Congress passed last year, according to PoliticsDaily.com. The credit is worth $8,000 and was created to encourage first-time buyers to purchase a home.

More than 500 people have used their children to sign up, with one parent using a 4-year-old to get the credit, the site reported.

These types of claims are among the myriad cases of fraud that have cost the government nearly half a billion dollars, federal investigators told Congress.

Fraudulent claims include people who received the credit but have not purchased homes, who already owned homes, or who were in the country illegally. More worrying, numerous IRS employees have applied for the credit who should not have.

Chalk up another success for big gubmint.

Meanwhile, on the heels of this news comes word this program will likely be extended. Wonderful.

The temporary program was created by Congress in 2008 to jolt the weakened housing market and was renewed and expanded in 2009 by the $787 billion stimulus bill. This week Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) began a push to expand the credit to all homebuyers and extend the deadline, now set for Nov. 30th, to July 2010.

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), chairman of the subcommittee, said that 1.4 million families have claimed nearly $10 billion in credits, but that the speed of implementing the program meant policing fraud was at first unacceptably poor. "We want to and we need to stop this fraud and abuse," he said.

Good luck with that. Really instills confidence these idiots can run our healthcare system, doesn't it?

I wonder how deep the tentacles from ACORN are into the scam?

Connecticut Senate Race Set to Become Clown Show

Memo to the Conencticut GOP: Put the kibosh on this one right now. While the obvious goal is to rid us of the odious and corrupt Christopher Dodd, the last thing you need is to have a woman with a cattle car of baggage such as Linda McMahon, who as recently as 2006 was giving money to Democrats. If she's anything like her husband you need to distance yourselves as fast as possible.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) CEO Linda McMahon appears primed to run for Senate in Connecticut and should make an announcement very soon, according to sources with knowledge of her deliberations.

“A decision is imminent, and she will likely make a decision over the next couple of days,” said a Republican strategist. “It will be made sooner rather than later.”

One well-placed source said McMahon is “99 percent” in. Another said the announcement could come as early as Wednesday.

The second source noted that she has done polling on the race and hired consultants Mike Slanker and Patrick Sullivan. She has also brought on former National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesman Ed Patru to help with early communications.

Patru said McMahon hasn’t made a decision yet.

“She is taking into consideration a number of factors, including resources and the time commitment it would take to win,” he said. “She plays to win, so if she gets in, she’s in all the way. She has the capacity to bring considerable resources to the race, and she has an established record.”

McMahon, the wife of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, would throw a big wrench into the race against Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) simply by virtue of her ability to spend potentially tens of millions of dollars of her own money on the race.

The absolute last thing the GOP needs is to have some political neophyte buy herself a nomination and then watch the media and Dodd pose this basic question to her: Why do so many of your employees drop dead at such a young age after rampant steroid abuse?

Is this an image the GOP needs? If that's not enough, consider this:

No stranger to Connecticut Republican politics, McMahon has been an active supporter of GOP causes and politicians. But she has also given to Democrats over the years, including to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in 2006 when it knocked off two Connecticut Republicans in the House.

Sounds like a committed Republican, no?

'Sandwich King' Dodd Calls for Civility

One of the nastiest, angriest men in politics is now delving into stand-up comedy, apparently.

Democrats evoked memories of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy on Sunday in calling for a civil debate over plans to overhaul the nation's health care system. A key Republican said Kennedy's death leaves Democrats without a leader capable of forging a bipartisan compromise.

Kennedy was long known as a personable senator who could engage in a blistering partisan debate one day and strike a deal with his adversaries the next. The liberal Democrat repeatedly worked with conservative Republicans to pass major legislation, including programs to expand health care coverage for children and add a prescription drug benefit for older Americans on Medicare.

His absence, Democrats said, would be felt as lawmakers struggle to craft legislation aimed at cutting costs while providing coverage to the nearly 50 million Americans who lack it.

One longtime Kennedy friend and ally, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., said lawmakers who want to honor the late senator should "put behind us the blistering days of August, enter the cool days of September, and start acting like senators again."

A real cut-up, that Sandwich King.

Robert Bork was unavailable for comment.

To the left civility means shutting up and going along with what they say.

Not the kind of civility I'm looking for.

Chris 'Sandwich King' Dodd Vows to Carry on Ted Kennedy's Work

I guess from here on out Connecticut sleazebag Chris Dodd will only be doing open-faced waitress sandwiches.

Desperate to maintain his standing as one of the most corrupt members of the U.S. Senate, the oily Democrat promises to keep carrying out the legacy of his now deceased drinking buddy. So I guess he now plans on driving off bridges, slandering judges, guzzling copious amounts of Chivas Regal and groping drunken women. All that while getting favorable mortgages from shady lenders and helping run our financial system into the ground.

In other words, business as usual.

Sen. Christopher Dodd says he'll push hard to win the far-reaching health care overhaul championed by Sen. Edward Kennedy, whom Dodd viewed almost like a brother.

Dodd's dedication to carrying on Kennedy's career-long quest for universal health care is not surprising. Dodd, D-Conn., and Kennedy, D-Mass., were friends since Dodd arrived in the Senate nearly 30 years ago and served together for years on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that Kennedy chaired. Tapped by Kennedy himself, Dodd filled in for his ailing friend this summer as Kennedy's committee tackled, and approved, a bill to expand health insurance coverage, the first time a congressional panel has approved a health care overhaul plan.

In a voice choked with emotion, Dodd recounted for reporters his final months with Kennedy, 77, who died Tuesday after battling brain cancer.

"I don't remember not knowing him," said Dodd. "It's like losing a brother."

Of course Dodd may not realize it in his moment of grief but Barack Obama is now the last Kennedy brother. Move over, Chrissy.

It's funny, but if universal health care was Kennedy's life goal, why did he oppose Richard Nixon's plan back in the 1970s?

Ted Kennedy often said his biggest political mistake was turning down a health care deal with Richard Nixon, and Kennedy's old lament had Democrats yesterday thinking again about compromise on reform.

Kennedy said he turned down the universal health coverage plan offered by the Republican President in the early 1970s because it wasn't everything he wanted it to be. He later realized it was a missed opportunity to make major progress toward his goal.

So-Called 'Ethics Committee' Dismisses Charges Against Corrupt Dems Dodd and Conrad

Hey, they're Democrats running the committe. You expected anything different?

The Senate Select Committee on Ethics is dismissing complaints against two Democrats, Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota, over allegations that they received improper discounts on home mortgages from Countrywide Financial, the home lending giant.

The ethics committee is also planning to propose legislation that would require mortgage information to be included on the financial disclosure forms that senators are required to file annually.

Of course this doesn't mean Dodd didn't get himself a nice discount.

Heck, we'd all love the kind of courtesy that would have saved Mr. Dodd $75,000 over the life of the two loans he refinanced to the tune of $800,000, according to an analysis by Portfolio magazine. The savings came from rock-bottom interest rates and a free "float-down" -- the right to borrow at a lower rate if interest rates fall before you've closed on the loan.

Then, of course, there's that Irish cottage...

But hey, who are we to complain? They're Democrats. They can do as they please.

Horror in Connecticut: Congressman Accosted by Angry Reese Witherspoon Lookalike

Lincoln Griffiths of Windsor Locks, bottom center, points his finger while talking to Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5th District, far right, during one of Murphy's "Congress on Your Corner" sessions outside the Super Stop and Shop on Bushy Hill Road in Simsbury on Wednesday. Griffiths said he thinks Murphy is "totally out of touch with the public," and that Murphy takes all his cues from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on health care and other political issues. (BETTINA HANSEN HARTFORD COURANT / August 5, 2009)

This is officially out of control. Angry mobs assemble outside a Super Stop & Shop in blueblood Brooks Brothers-clad Connecticut and now they're being infiltrated by Hollywood lookalikes. Check out the woman in the middle with the Jackie O shades. OK, she may be a bit older, but she could be a passable Reese Witherspoon impersonator. Oh, and can someone please report the obviously out-of-control finger-pointer Lincoln Griffiths to the White House Snitch Line? That man looks very angry.

How low can these mobs sink?

Chanting "Dump Chris Dodd" and "No national health care," scores of angry constituents confronted U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy at a meet-and-greet outside the Super Stop & Shop Wednesday afternoon.

Murphy, a Democrat who represents the 5th District, routinely holds informal office hours at supermarkets and strip malls, but such gatherings are generally uneventful. This time, many of the 150 or so attendees were so boisterous that Stop & Shop management called the police to ask that the crowd be moved from the store's entrance.

The scene in Simsbury is being replayed throughout the nation this week as congressional Democrats convene town hall forums and other public get-togethers to win support for the Obama administration's plan to overhaul the health care system.

One conservative group critical of the plan has put out a call to members, encouraging them to attend these gatherings and voice their opposition to the member of Congress hosting the event. U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, a Democrat and a leading architect of the health care overhaul, has become a chief target.

Democrats pointed to the rowdy, sometimes vicious tone of some of the comments and said that the protests were part of a well-funded and organized effort to derail the health care plan. Wednesday's protest drew activists from the Tea Party movement and the so-called Dump Dodd campaign.

A well-funded and organized effort? Perish the thought. Of course, that's total nonsense, though it's nice of the reporter to regurgitate Think Progress talking points.

When the "manufactured" outrage the Left is trying to demonize lines up so inconveniently with public polling, it's sometimes necessary to create evidence for the "manufactured" storyline.

Enter Think Progress, which unearthed this shocking, secret memo from the leader of a small grassroots conservative organization in Connecticut, which allegedly instructs members on "infiltrating town halls and harassing Democratic members of Congress."

Right Principles PAC was formed by Bob MacGuffie and four friends in 2008, and has taken in a whopping $5,017 and disbursed $1,777, according to its FEC filing.

Doesn't seem quite as well-funded and organized as, say, Think Progress, ACORN or any number of the myriad leftwing groups well-funded and organized by George Soros and assorted other Democrat frontgroups. But a group with 23 members is now some threat to democracy.

Meanwhile, despite the efforts of desperate Democrats to portray legitimate protests as some out-of-control mobs, they're anything but.

But many who attended were not affiliated with an established group. Maryann Culkin, a stay-at-home mother from Avon, said she represents no one but herself. She went to Stop & Shop simply because she wanted to have a word or two with her congressman.

"For the first time in my life, I'm embarrassed and scared of where my country is going," Culkin told Murphy. She is worried about how the government will pay for Obama's health care policies.

Look out, Mrs. Culkin, someone may be adding you to the new White House enemies list.

Simmons Increases Lead Over Dodd

A primary target for the GOP next year trails badly in a new poll released today. Oh, how sweet it would be to see this corrupt hack sent into retirement.

Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd trails former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, a likely Republican challenger 48 - 39 percent in the 2010 Senate race, but he is inching up in his job approval to a negative 42 - 52 percent approval rating, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

The matchup compares to a 45 - 39 percent Simmons lead in a May 27 poll by the independent Quinnipiac University.

In this latest survey, Simmons leads 87 - 7 percent among Republicans and 56 - 27 percent among independent voters, while Sen. Dodd takes Democrats 74 - 16 percent. The incumbent has gained among Democrats, but lost independent support since May 27.

Dodd's negative 42 - 52 percent approval compares to 38 - 53 percent May 27 and this was up from a negative 33 - 58 percent April 2.

Simmons dominates a Republican primary matchup with 42 percent, while no other Republican tops 5 percent, with 45 percent undecided.

Dodd leads businessman Merrick Alpert 52 - 18 percent in a Democratic primary.

"Sen. Christopher Dodd is rebuilding his approval rating, but he is still in negative territory. He has moved the needle from 25 points down April 2 to 10 points down today. He still is losing to Rob Simmons," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.

The Quinnipiac poll also shows Barack Obama's approval slipping eight points, although he still has a 61% favorable rating, far superior to Dodd.

Dodd Bashes Lobbyists, Then Spends Weekend With Them on Martha's Vineyard

Chris Dodd ought to be a charter member of the Hypocrisy Hall of Fame. The oily Democrat from Connecticut has zero shame.

After distancing himself from lobbyists in campaign ads, Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) was on Martha's Vineyard this weekend meeting with some of the most well known names on K Street.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) hosted its annual retreat this weekend at the high-class getaway. Designed for candidates to meet with senators for campaign advice and policy guidance, several high-powered lobbyists also attend and network with lawmakers during the retreat.

Dodd's attendance at the retreat follows a series of web videos his campaign released promoting his populist credentials and highlighting the frustration some lobbyists are feeling with the senator, including quotes from anonymous lobbyists in news reports.

Facing a tough campaign, Dodd has been aggressive in running on his recent legislative moves — such as passage of the credit card reform bill and his support of a consumer financial products agency.

"You almost have to feel sorry for the poor lobbyists. They just can't get Chris Dodd to listen to them," says Dodd's campaign website introducing one of the videos.

So I guess Dodd doesn't listen to his wife.

Influential senators working to overhaul the nation's health care system have investments and family ties with some of the biggest names in the industry. The wife of Sen. Chris Dodd, the lawmaker in charge of writing the Senate's bill, sits on the boards of four health care companies.

Members of both parties have industry connections, including Democrats Jay Rockefeller and Tom Harkin, in addition to Dodd, and Republicans Tom Coburn, Judd Gregg, John Kyl and Orrin Hatch, financial reports showed Friday.

Jackie Clegg Dodd, wife of the Connecticut Democrat, is on the boards of Javelin Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cardiome Pharma Corp., Brookdale Senior Living and Pear Tree Pharmaceuticals.
...
Other publicly available documents show Mrs. Dodd last year was one of the most highly compensated non-employee members of the Javelin Pharmaceuticals Inc. board, on which she has served since 2004. She earned $32,000 in fees and $109,587 in stock option awards last year, according to the company's SEC filings.

Mrs. Dodd earned $79,063 in fees from Cardiome in its last fiscal year, while Brookdale Senior Living gave her $122,231 in stock awards in 2008, their SEC filings show. She earned no income from her post as a director for Pear Tree Pharmaceuticals but holds up to $15,000 in stock in Pear Tree, which describes itself as a development-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the needs of aging women.

Yet this clown pretends he has nothing to do with lobbyists.

Ironic how the Democrats flocked to Martha's Vineyard on the 40th anniversary Ted Kennedy going into the drink and killing Mary Jo Kopechne.

Aww, Poor Chris Dodd Is Offended

No discounts for snakes

You would think a guy up to his eyebrows in ethical problems would know better than to whine about alleged unfair treatment. Then again, we're talking about Chris Dodd, the man who keeps snakes supplied in oil. Knowing Dodd, it's a good bet the snakes pay above-market rate.

Sen. Chris Dodd, the dubious Democrat from the Nutmeg State, told a recent interviewer that it was "offensive" that the media would suggest that his wife, Jackie Clegg Dodd, has potential conflicts of interest because she sits on the boards of four pharmaceutical firms.

With Sen. Ted Kennedy ailing, Dodd is the Democratic point man for upcoming health-care legislation.

Of course, this is the 21st century. Spouses of powerful pols have their own -- often quite successful -- careers.

Of course, everybody knows that Mrs. Dodd received no special consideration because of her powerful spouse -- because Sen. Dodd says so.

That's the same Chris Dodd who "just happened" to get sweetheart mortgage loans as a "Friend of [Countrywide Financial founder] Angelo [Mozilo]" -- a relationship that is the subject of a Senate Ethics Committee probe.

That's the same Dodd who "just happened" to buy out a friend's share of an Irish cottage -- for well below what should have been the appraised value.

Only after a public-interest group raised questions did the Dodds finally have the cottage re-appraised -- whereupon the property's value jumped to $660,000, from between $100,001 and $250,000 just last year.

How about that: In the midst of a worldwide recession, his vacation home doubles in value in just one year -- as property values across Ireland plunged 40 percent.

If it weren't for that protective shell of having the (D) after his name, Dodd not only would have been booted from office long ago, it's a good possibility he'd be cooling his heels in a federal penitentiary.

Instead, he'll be the point man on a potential multi-trillion dollar boondoggle we'll all be saddled with in the name of change.

Not a comforting thought.

Instapundit links. Thanks!

Former Gore Aide Challenging Dodd

The increasingly unpopular Connecticut Democrat Senator Christopher Dodd now has a primary challenger to worry about.

Mystic businessman Merrick Alpert will challenge Sen. Chris Dodd for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2010, the most direct internal threat yet to the struggling incumbent senator.

Alpert, who founded a medical software company called E-Ceptionist, announced his intention to challenge Dodd on his campaign Web site, merrickforachange.com.

”Like many of you, I've lost faith in Senator Dodd,” Alpert says in a video posted on his Web site. “While he served the state well in the past, that's not so lately. He's become part of a culture of corruption in Washington. He's beholden to the very special interests that we sent him there to protect us from.”

The video includes a number of jabs seemingly aimed at Dodd's recent political woes, including references to campaign contributions Dodd has received from individuals connected to the financial services industry.

Dodd has “gotten a lot of favors from them,” Alpert says, referring to unnamed special interests, later adding that his election would represent “a fundamental change from the culture of corruption in Connecticut.”

You know you've got a serious problem on your hands when someone in your own party is talking about the culture of corruption.

Alpert, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force who served in Bosnia in 1998 and 1999, has held numerous jobs in Democratic politics, including as an aide to former Vice President Al Gore - the candidate's Web site features a photo of Gore and Alpert synchronizing their watches - and on Clinton-era health care reform efforts in the early 1990s, from which Alpert moved on to work for David Walters, then governor of Oklahoma.

The desperate Dodd is trying to latch on to Barack Obama.

”Chris Dodd is focused on his job, working with President Obama to usher through historic change and fighting every step of the way for Connecticut families,” campaign manager Jay Howser said in an e-mail message. “This week he's working to pass an historic crackdown on the credit card industry, protecting Connecticut consumers who've been ripped off and taken advantage of. This is something he's been fighting to pass for years, and now with seniority in the Senate and Barack Obama in the White House, Chris Dodd will win this important fight for Connecticut families.”

If Dodd, thinks latching on to the credit card issue is going to save him, well, let him remain delusional.

Chris Dodd: 'Fighting for Consumers' While Taking Cash From Pawnshop Owners

The hits just keep on coming for the odious Democrat from Connecticut.

U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, who has won praise from consumer groups for taking on credit card providers over predatory lending practices, has collected thousands of dollars in donations from people affiliated with the so-called payday loan industry.

The Democratic senator raised more than $44,000 from pawnshop owners and other businesses that provide high-interest loans, often to those with bad credit, according to campaign finance reports. The amount, while a fraction of the $1.05 million that Dodd brought in during the first quarter of 2009, nevertheless raises questions among those who scrutinize the link between fundraising and public policy.

Dodd is chairman of the Senate banking committee, and a bill being fought by the industry that would cap the annual interest rate on consumer loans at 36 percent has been referred to the committee.

"It's not surprising to me that he would be receiving money from payday lenders and others," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks the influence of money in politics.

Naturally, his spokesthing says he's fighting for consumers.

"Sen. Dodd has spent his career fighting for consumers against abusive lending practices, including passing the credit card act he recently passed out of committee," DeAngelis said in an e-mail Friday. "He will continue to stand up for consumers as the banking committee considers additional legislation in the coming months."

Dodd is facing a tough political fight as he heads toward the 2010 election. A poll by Quinnipiac University released earlier this month found that 54 percent of respondents did not believe he was "honest and trustworthy," and showed him losing to the two Republicans who have announced their intent to challenge him, former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons and state Sen. Sam S.F. Caligiuri.

Dodd has been accused, among other things, of being too cozy with powerful Wall Street financial firms. In particular, he has faced sharp criticism for his role in the legislation that protected bonuses for executives at American International Group, a giant insurer receiving federal bailouts.

How Unpopular is Chris Dodd in Connecticut?

If the number of contributors from his home state is any indication, he may want to seriously consider retirement.

U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd appears to have looked everywhere but his home state to fuel what pundits anticipate will be one of the most hotly contested races in the nation in 2010.

The five-term incumbent reported raising just $4,250 from five Connecticut residents during the first three months of the year while raking in $604,745 from nearly 400 individuals living outside the state.

While incumbents often turn to special interests for early campaign fundraising, Dodd's out-of-state total seems unusually high and comes at a time when he has been plagued by poor approval ratings among state voters.

Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks federal campaign contributions, said Dodd's low percentage of in-state funding strikes him as unusual.

"Historically, there is no shortage of campaign money that comes out of Connecticut," he said. "In 2008, Connecticut ranked 14th, contributing $53 million to all federal candidates and parties." Ritsch also noted during his last re-election campaign Dodd, a Democrat, raised 30 percent from within Connecticut's borders.

The meager state fundraising effort also seems antithetical to a campaign strategy to rebuild confidence among Connecticut voters that he is on their side.

It would be interesting to know who those out-of-state donors are.

He took in $90,795 from Massachusetts residents, $81,550 from Texas, $56,150 from Maryland, and $53,400 from New York.

Dodd also collected $437,407 from political action committees, including two based in Connecticut that contributed $7,000. He took in $2,271 from individuals contributing less than $200 each.

Overall, Dodd's campaign reported ending the first quarter of 2009 with nearly $1.4 million cash on hand, according to campaign finance documents filed Wednesday.

The $1.4 million gives Dodd a leg up on a growing field of potential Republican challengers who have yet to file financial reports on their campaign fundraising efforts.

The war chest, however, comes at some political cost.

"Normally, it doesn't matter where the money comes from, but Chris Dodd is in a peculiar situation," said Larry Sabato, a professor of politics at the University of Virginia. "Dodd would be much better off raising as much money as possible from residents of the Nutmeg State. Everyone knows he's powerful in Washington, but that's what has gotten him into trouble. He needs to reconnect with the people in Connecticut and in-state contributions are a good way to do that."

Dodd's job approval rating -- as measured by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute -- sank to a historic low of 33 percent last month in the wake of the AIG bonus scandal. Many voters surveyed blamed Dodd, who is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, for allowing taxpayer money to be handed out as bonuses to the AIG executives.

Desperate DSCC Unleashes Attack Ad on Dodd Challenger

Think the Democrats aren't worried about Chris Dodd's Senate seat?

Well, considering Republican Rob Simmons is already crushing Chris Dodd in the polls, they've already unleashed their first attack ad against Simmons.

Pretty weak.



Paid for by the DSCC, which still apparently hasn't returned Bernie Madoff's contributions. Savor the irony of defending Chris Dodd with some Bernie Madoff money. Can it get any sweeter?

Here he is on with Sean Hannity tonight. Seems like a standup guy. Considering how sleazy Dodd is, any mud thrown at this guy should slide right off.



At the end he advises viewers to visit robsimmons.com.

He might want to check that one.

The .net and .org variations don't prove any better.

From all indications Simmons appears to be a RINO, no surprise given we're dealing with Connecticut, but he certainly appears to be a decent human being, unlike Dodd.

He should definitely look into improving that web presence (hint: I come cheap) and gird his loins for a nonstop 21-month onslaught that is surely headed his way. The Democrat hate machine is heading his way.

I wonder if he's ever listened to Rush Limbaugh?

Dodd Approval Hits New Low

Gee, I wonder why?

U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd has reached a new low in statewide approval and is 16 points behind former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons in a hypothetical matchup for the 2010 Senate race, according to the latest Quiinnipiac University Poll.

Dodd's 33-percent approval rating is a cliff-like drop from his 49-percent rating last month.

Dodd would lose to Simmons 50-34 percent and to state Sen. Sam Caligiuri, R-Waterbury, 41-37 and even Tom Foley of Greenwich, a former ambassador, 43-35 percent, according to poll results released this morning.

Simmons, who represented the state's Second Congressional District from 2001 until 2007, would get great support from Connecticut Republicans and even a two-to-one backing from unaffiliated voters, the Q Poll found.

Even though 80 percent of Connecticut voters say they don't know enough about Caligiuri or Foley to form an opinion, both would beat Dodd. Caligiuri announced his candidacy last week and last month Simmons formed a campaign committee.

"A 33 percent job approval is unheard of for a 30-year incumbent, especially a Democrat in a blue state," said Doug Schwartz, director of the Q Poll. "Sen. Christopher Dodd's numbers among Democrats are especially devastating.

Even Democrats are sick of this buffoon.

Time to retire, Chris.