It’s probably time for Chris Dodd to go
”
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd (D) is in serious trouble in his 2010 race for a sixth term as a new poll shows him badly trailing former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) in a hypothetical general election matchup.
Simmons holds a 50 percent to 34 percent edge over Dodd in the latest Quinnipiac University poll released this morning, a rapid erosion in the Democrat’s numbers since last month when a Q poll showed Simmons at 43 percent and Dodd at 42 percent.
Dodd also trails two virtually unknown Republicans — state Sen. Sam Caliguri and former Ambassador Tom Foley in head-to-head matchups, a sign that voters seem willing to vote for almost anyone other than Dodd at this point.
Beyond the topline numbers, there is bad news for Dodd almost everywhere you look in the data. Just three in 10 voters hold a favorable opinion of him including just 50 percent of self-identified Democrats. A whopping 65 percent of independents have an unfavorable view of Dodd while just 22 percent view him favorably.”
Dodd’s a smart guy. He was once a good senator. But over time he did become a bought-and-paid-for tool of the finance industry, and he earned those bad poll numbers.
It’s a decision for the people of Connecticut, of course, but it wouldn’t break my heart to see him gone.
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127 comments Add your comment
PJ
April 2nd, 2009
2:16 pm
This is how our political system works. Throw out of office anyone who is not doing his constituent’s business. I just hopes he voluntarily decides not to seek re-election and leaves his seat open to another Democrat to run for.
I Report/ You Whine
April 2nd, 2009
2:18 pm
What about Barney Fwank?
Charlie Rangel?
Filthy Mouth Murtha?
Diane Feinstein?
Bruno Klinton?
Blinky Pelosi?
Hairy Reed?
(Geez, my arm is tired now.)
Chuck Schumer?
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
2:19 pm
Jay
You’re causing consternation to people who want to pigeonhole you, you know that?
Ratings halved in a year (at this rate he’ll be below Pres Bush’s final approval rating). Losing to an unknown Republican. In Connecticut. About the only hope Dems have is for Dodd to announce his retirement and have the party field another candidate.
He did some good during his career, then as you put it, got ‘captured’ by the guys who paid him. Too bad – seems to be a familiar story. Maybe this’ll give some impetus to the campaign finance reform legislation now under consideration (yeah, right).
Ever notice how so much of this comes down to money and power?
I Report/ You Whine
April 2nd, 2009
2:21 pm
Mary Jodi Rell (born June 16, 1946) is the 72nd Governor of the U.S. state of Connecticut on July 1, 2004 and a Republican politician.
Hehehehehehehehe
@@
April 2nd, 2009
2:21 pm
I don’t put just the AIG bonuses at his feet. I put Fannie and Freddie and his feet as well.
There’s no way of knowing, but would Dodd’s shenanigans have come to the fore without the help of conservative media? I doubt it.
When did we learn about McCain and Bush’s repeated calls to reform Freddie and Fannie? They raised the red flag starting in 2005, yet it wasn’t until the end of the presidential campaign that anyone was informed. Still, democrats would argue it was of no significance then or now.
@@
April 2nd, 2009
2:24 pm
Well we see where PJ’s attention is focused.
I just hopes he voluntarily decides not to seek re-election and leaves his seat open to another Democrat to run for
I kinda got the impression that was what jay hoped for as well.
Corporal
April 2nd, 2009
2:35 pm
Jay: Is that YOU saying this or an imposter ??
Joey
April 2nd, 2009
2:35 pm
Paul is wrong.
Jay still fits comfortably into the pigeon hole. All he is doing here is throwing a dead man under the bus. Why is he doing this? Lamb/Sacrifice.
Why would Jay not speak negatively by name of other Democrats with similar or worse behaviour? Because the others remain viable for re-election.
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
2:37 pm
Taxpayer
(from earlier today): “Then again, I’m not a fan of … the Republican party’s philosophies because they tend to put the interests of the greedy and power hungry ahead of the health, safety and welfare of we the people.”
Are we sure Dodd’s a Democrat?
@@
Interesting question on Turkey and NATO last night. I still see western Europe, for all their liberal image, as still having some difficulty with the idea of a central European Moslem nation as a partner. Maybe not. But…. a secular Moslem country operating in the US/European military alliance. The mind just goes off in so many directions at that one thought..,
Rush Limbaugh for President
April 2nd, 2009
2:37 pm
Jay,
That’s the beauty of our system. Vote’em out if you don’t like what they are doing. He seems to have been nodding off at the wheel.
I am a big believer in term limits for senators. One 6 year term. The they don’t have to worry about raising money and can focus on the people’s business.
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
2:39 pm
Joey
You sure you’re not talking about a different pigeon hole?
Jake
April 2nd, 2009
2:47 pm
The seemingly easiest solutions for what we have now, huge, pewerful and corrupt governement are term limits (1 for Senators, 2 for Congressmen) and a balanced budget amendment, which makes it certain we’ll never see either of those in our lifetimes.
Taxpayer
April 2nd, 2009
2:48 pm
Paul,
Are you trying to claim that the Democrats are in favor of all things Ayn Rand. I think it more appropriate to admit that both parties have their bad actors but only the Republican Party is in favor of the failed laissez faire approach.
@@, I left you a little message downstairs.
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
2:55 pm
Taxpayer
Naw – just having a bit of fun with the similarities Sen Dodd shares with some of his Republican counterparts – you hit the nail on the head – getting bought and paid for and putting self above constituents is not the sole province of either party.
Now you’re gonna start some flames about whatever failed approaches only the Democratic Party is in favor of. You do know how to liven things up, don’t you?
Corporal
April 2nd, 2009
2:59 pm
OFF TOPIC:
Just for you libs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIZpCLvXsoM&feature=email
Taxpayer
April 2nd, 2009
3:00 pm
Me! Liven things up! Have you taken a closer look at some of the right fringe posters today. They have me beat by a country mile with their rants about secession and just not getting a fair shake. Yet, what does the Republican ‘leadership’ offer up. MORE tax cuts for the wealthy to be paid for by MORE borrowing leading to BIGGER deficits and debt. What is this nonsense and are you buying it!
RW-(the original)
April 2nd, 2009
3:02 pm
Paul,
I agree with Joey. This is just a push to get rid of Dodd before he actually loses to a Republican.
@@
April 2nd, 2009
3:03 pm
Paul:
You’re probably right about the EU and Turkey. For the most part and especially now, with the economic crisis, Europe’s interests are self-serving.
A gathering of global powers draws Stratfor to write a free-flow of articles. At the G20…
The G-20 summit has generated two primary outcomes. The first is roughly a trillion dollars in resources to combat the recession directly. I think that went into the IMF and…
The second is the creation of international regulations to help prevent the confluence of factors that caused the current recession from ever happening again. But these regulations are not any firm regulatory structure; instead, they are “international standards of good practice” that are both voluntary and to be implemented at the national, not supranational, level. which will be used to address tax havens. For example…
There is now a gentlemen’s agreement that it would be acceptable for Switzerland to close its border with Liechtenstein, or for the United States to bar airport traffic that originates in the Cayman Islands, or for Australia to slap trade restrictions on Vanuatu.
We expect the biggest clashes over this agreement to fall into one of two categories. First, many consider some long-established states such as Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to be tax havens. As the fight to reclaim money heats up, there could be some very interesting twists and counteractions. Second, the Chinese insisted on the exemption of “their” tax havens — Hong Kong and Macau. That exception, hardwired into the base agreements, is sure to muddy the waters in the months to come.
Unfinished business — isn’t there always?
On Turkey — Azerbaijan announced April 2 that it could cut off natural gas supplies to Turkey if Ankara opens its borders with Armenia before Yerevan and Baku — locked in a dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region — reach an agreement of their own. Turkey, which has high hopes of becoming a regional and international player, wants to resolve issues with Armenia so that Ankara can focus on larger matters. However, this would leave Azerbaijan without its traditional ally against Armenia, and Baku does not want to be left out in the cold.
Natural gas shipments are vital for Azerbaijan, which has diversified its energy transportation away from its Soviet-era routes through Russia and now transports is natural gas (approximately 7 billion cubic meters annually) across Georgia to Turkey and then on to Europe. This route has played a large part in Azerbaijan’s breaking away from its former master, Russia, and developing the ability to reap great profits from tapping the Turkish and European markets.
But from Baku’s perspective, the threat of cutting off natural gas is one of the only tools it has to use against Turkey, even if it would hit Baku’s coffers. However, since the natural gas also goes to Europe, Azerbaijan is gambling on the possibility that Europe could pressure Turkey in turn. It is not a particularly strong threat, but it is one of the only moves Baku can make in hopes that its longtime ally will not abandon it and ignore Azerbaijan’s demands in striking a deal with Armenia.
Corporal Punishment
April 2nd, 2009
3:07 pm
I agree with Joey and Corporal. This is just a big democrat conspiracy to keep power by the proven strategy of voting against an incumbent.
Brilliant insight!!!
@@
April 2nd, 2009
3:09 pm
@@, I left you a little message downstairs.
Why thank you, Taxpayer. If I thought it was worth reading, I’d initiate a mouse click here and now, but after reading so many of your posts, I choose not to waste my index finger.
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
3:12 pm
RW-(the original)
Well, his ‘retiring’ would be a lot less embarrassing than getting defeated by a Republican. It’d be even more embarrassing than Tedisco beating Murphy. How quickly things change.
Taxpayer,
Well, from my brief look, I’ll say Sen McCain’s budget proposal (does his count as the Republican plan) calling for a freeze on discretionary spending looks good. Except I’d include Defense. The tax cuts on the top tier? I think that’s a problem right now. Weren’t they supposed to be temporary? Then again, I think it would be wonderful for credibility and leading by example if Pres Obama, he of the 5 mil or so earnings last year, would file his taxes at the proposed rate. AND pay Social Security tax on all his earnings over $250,000, like he’s proposed.
Same goes for Spkr Pelosi. and Sen Boxer. And (you get the idea).
@@
Thanks for the reminder to check my other email. That’s a lot of thought-provoking reading.
@@
April 2nd, 2009
3:14 pm
Criminey!
“and” should be “at” in my 2:21. There’s probably more. I’m too tired to look. Can it be any more obvious that
IHB?
AHI!!!!!
Taxpayer
April 2nd, 2009
3:17 pm
Flap those little chick wings, @@.
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
@@
Relax. Most people can figure out the gist of what you meant. Those who can’t or who key in only on that aren’t going to get the big picture anyway.
You do realize it’s simply the result of your mind racing ahead and considering several paths of thought simultaneously and your fingers just don’t keep up, don’t you?
Taxpayer
April 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
Paul,
McCain’s proposal! What’s that. As I recall he said that he knows nothing about economics and has to rely on his close pal, Phil Gramm for that stuff. Yes, THAT Phil Gramm — the father of the unregulated and unmonitored derivatives.
As for the Republican plan, I am obviously referring to the one that the Republican party presented on April fool’s day. What other one is there.
As for our President paying his taxes, I expect he does and I suspect that he will be pressuring many more folks to do the same, regardless of where they try to hide their income.
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
22 comments and no defense of Sen Dodd. Hmmmmm……….
Hillbilly Deluxe
April 2nd, 2009
3:24 pm
Whomever is elected Senator from Connecticut is up to the people of Connecticut by I do hope they see fit to send Chris Dodd packing.
hryder
April 2nd, 2009
3:25 pm
The bizarre statements that some people offer, as fact or even just as their opinion, causes those capable of logical reasoning and the ability to consider others views to wonder how those people have survived to whatever their age without being permanently institutionalized. Oh, yes, I know, we closed the insane asylums because it was deemed being cruel to the patients. What about the cruelty to the public which suffers their physical crimes as well as their idiotic rantings?
RW-(the original)
April 2nd, 2009
3:27 pm
Paul,
He hasn’t done anything blasphemous like saying GWB isn’t always wrong so they probably won’t go the primary route, but if chooses to run in the general look for the same playbook the Dems used to dump Torricelli in 2002.
Brad Steel
April 2nd, 2009
3:29 pm
Whiner,
Nice enemies list. You should add Daniel Schorr and you come even closer to your dream of being just like Nixon.
your pal,
B. Steale
Kamchak
April 2nd, 2009
3:30 pm
I am always amazed when I hear those advocating term limits. We do have term limits–they are called elections.
IR/YW:
If you dont’ like Nancy Pelosi, then move to California and vote her out, or better yet, put your name on a ballot and challenge her. Talks cheap; whiskey costs money.
ByteMe
April 2nd, 2009
3:31 pm
Paul: What’s to defend? That’s like trying to defend Duke Cunningham as being someone concerned with bringing more defense jobs to his district.
On the other hand, there’s a good 8 months before it’ll matter, and that’s an eternity in politics. Anything can happen between now and then, including Dodd getting a death-bed conversion.
@@
April 2nd, 2009
3:31 pm
Taxpayer:
Look upon your 3:17 to justify my thought as to why you’re not worth the effort.
To be honest, I went back to see if there was some discussion I found interesting. I probably would have seen your post except for the fact I couldn’t stop laughing at what was taking place.
They’re discussing which ride is the most fun at Disney World…the Pooh Bear somethin’ or other or Mr. Toad’s somethin’ or other. If you made “a deposit”, I missed it.
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
3:37 pm
Taxpayer
McCain’s proposal was up on the screen when I was at the gym this morning. Freeze in discretionary spending except for Vets and Defense, provides a permanent fix to the alternative minimum tax (which hits a lot of middle class households), and would set up a special commission to reduce entitlements.
So from the sounds of it, it’s probably not the Rep leadership’s proposal. But when you have someone of McCain’s stature pushing stuff the Rep leadership may consider it. I know some here (conservatives and libs alike) don’t think much of him but I will say he’s shown more of Pres Obama’s spirit of bipartsanship than the Dem leadership. Maybe that’s why Pres Obama hosted a dinner honoring him.
My point about paying taxes was not paying only what’s required by law. If the Dem leadership is pressing and pressing and pressing for fair rates, isn’t it a moral position to voluntarily pay the rates they’d like to see written into law? Remember what I said the other day about laws and regulations being necessary for business leaders? That without them, the business leaders would not do the ‘right’ thing? So, if the Dem leadership won’t do the ‘right’ thing regarding paying their fair share without a law telling them to, aren’t they on the same base level as those AIG-type business leaders?
The econ quote – if you check, I think you’ll find his comment was along the lines of “there’s always more to know – I can and do need to learn more.” I think that’s called honesty and a touch of humility. What’s the alternative? “Hey Pres Obama, is there anything about which you couldn’t learn more?”
ByteMe
April 2nd, 2009
3:38 pm
@@ Re: Disney World takeover of other thread:
Best.Damn.Discussion.Ever.
Corporal
April 2nd, 2009
3:40 pm
Well, well now ………. :
HEADLINE: White House ‘Fact’ Misfires …
“Administration wrong when it says 90% of weapons used to commit crimes in Mexico come from U.S.”
I Report/ You Whine
April 2nd, 2009
3:41 pm
How did it happen that the only exemption offered in a bill to raise the minimum wage benefited Del Monte foods corporation tuna canning operation on American Samoa? Del Monte, whose corporate home is in the new House Speaker’s San Francisco district?
duh
Taxpayer
April 2nd, 2009
3:45 pm
@@, I knew you could not resist even after claiming that you don’t read my posts. You are as predictable as ever. By the way, how are you secessionist plans coming along. Have you and your other secessionist picked out a fortification yet. Excuse me while at laugh for a while.
@@
April 2nd, 2009
3:49 pm
ByteMe:
I appreciate anything that makes me laugh. I was visualizing the new Disney commercials where the adult is hanging out with his/her inner child.
I wasn’t criticizing. I was enjoying it.
ByteMe
April 2nd, 2009
3:52 pm
@@: glad you enjoyed it!
Taxpayer
April 2nd, 2009
3:56 pm
Paul,
I’m sure the President would be honored to voluntarily comply with our tax code. In fact, I bet he does. Now, if he could only get voluntary compliance out of everyone else, why just think of the tax burden that would be lifted off of the shoulders of us that do voluntarily comply. Who knows, we might even be able to lower tax rates simply due to the fact that we would not be spending so much to get people to obey the law. And, please don’t insult me with more talks of cabinet members that did not properly claim some income — they filled out their tax forms and filed them and some of them pushed the limits and had to pay some small, insignificant amount. That pales in comparison to people that deliberately evade their duty under the laws of our land to file their returns and pay their taxes while living here and taking full advantage of all this land has to offer. They are scum.
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
3:58 pm
Lessee, Dow’s at 8,000… somebody has confidence in…. someone…..
@@
April 2nd, 2009
3:59 pm
Better questions Taxpayer.
Would you fear or support such a plan?
If you fear it….why?
If you support it….why?
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
4:07 pm
Taxpayer 3:56
I wasn’t talking about following the law. I wasn’t talking about expanded enforcement of existing law. I wasn’t even remotely addressing cabinet nominees with tax difficulties.
I specifically said it wasn’t about complying with the tax code, it’s about doing the right thing even if there’s not a law telling you what to do. As the Pres and Dem leadership have stated quite clearly what the fair, right and moral thing to do is (pay social security taxes on income over $250,000, increase the top tier rates), the question was:
“isn’t it a moral position to voluntarily pay the rates they’d like to see written into law? Remember what I said the other day about laws and regulations being necessary for business leaders? That without them, the business leaders would not do the ‘right’ thing? So, if the Dem leadership won’t do the ‘right’ thing regarding paying their fair share without a law telling them to, aren’t they on the same base level as those AIG-type business leaders?”
I suppose we could save some time if it’s one of those questions you don’t want to answer. I do think it’s kind of an interesting question, though.
Taxpayer
April 2nd, 2009
4:07 pm
Better yet, @@. Explain why you think secession is the solution to all that ails you. I stuck it out through the Bush years. What’s wrong. Are you scared to tough it out yourself. Are you afraid of something like majority rule. If you have such a great master plan, then you should have no problem selling it to the majority, right. So, start selling. We’re ‘listening’.
Shawny
April 2nd, 2009
4:09 pm
PROBABLY time for him to go? ya think?
Dodd has surpassed Murtha as public enemy #1
Taxpayer
April 2nd, 2009
4:10 pm
Paul,
I hardly see a need in talking about going beyond the law until we get the tax cheats to catch up with the law. And, as for the talk about cabinet members and their trivial (relatively speaking) tax issues, I was just preempting you. You see, I’m trying to learn to take advantage of those Republican skills, just in a non-imperialist way.
MChammer
April 2nd, 2009
4:14 pm
Great point Taxpayer. @@ is the typical republican crybaby. And when they start talking secession you know what kind of nutcase you’re dealing with. Remember those “Freemen” morons?
saywhat?
April 2nd, 2009
4:15 pm
Paul at 3:58. There will be those who say that the Dow only went up because a certain somebody is out of the country. Mark my word.
Paul
April 2nd, 2009
4:16 pm
Taxpayer
I try to stay on point and not excuse bad behavior by citing other bad behavior.
Hey, I thought you didn’t believe in preemption?
So, you hardly see a need in talking about going beyond the law…
I’ll bet that’s the same idea the AIG execs had while they were cashing their bonus checks. Or the hedge fund derivatives guys used… So Democratic leadership won’t set a moral example. They’ll do just that required by the law.
Too bad. Really.