THE WEEK THAT WAS


MANY SAID THE GUV WOULDN'T DO IT


(SORRY, SORRY, SORRY: I thought I had uploaded this post late Friday night. It wasn't until I got a few emails from folks asking me when I was going to post something new that I realized something had gone wrong.)

(DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS BLOG ARE MINE AND NOT THOSE OF MY EMPLOYER FOX 61)
THE SPEECH
Had to take a few days off to catch my breath after a hectic week. But if you like politics, (and soap operas) this was a week to remember in Connecticut. Let's start with the State of the State Address. The past six State of the State addresses I've covered I've always stood in the back of the House chambers to take in the guv's speech. Standing in the back made it easier to get lawmaker reaction after the speech as they reps and senators would always make their way to the back of the room to be interviewed. Not this year! I got a front row view, (well actually a side row view next to the speakers podium in the area usually reserved for print media....there was even a shot of my head in Thursday's New Haven Register) I wanted to see close up how the governor was going to hold up, AND I wanted to look directly into the eyes of the legislators as they listened.
There was NO applause for Rowland until he was literally four steps on the Speaker's riser (By comparison Lt Gov. Jodi Rell got a rousing ovation). I sensed a slight quiver in the governor's voice when he began his speech, but that quickly disagreed and he went on to deliver one of the longgggggest State of the State addresses he's ever given. Hell, why not, who knows if this will be his last major address before the legislature he might as well go out with a bang!
As for the speech itself, eh! Nothing really spectacular. He touted his accomplishments from the past, offered up modest tax increase (boy I'm glad I no longer smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol) Folks sitting in the audience as guest of the governor included war vets (he proposed free college scholarships for the children of vets killed in Iraq and Afghanistan), an elderly faith-based provider, and inner city school kids from a successful charter program. The governor also proposed a variety of legislation that should make a variety of constituency groups happy...in fact Bridgeport Rep. Chris Caruso(D) got in a good line saying the guv promised something for everybody except the janitors that clean up the building.

FALLOUT
But that type of biting sarcasm from Caruso and a few other legislative democrats may ultimately turn the up until now bipartisan impeachment process into a very partisan battle. Rowland would love for the investigation into his ethical conduct morph into political warfare. Up until now the dems and "r's" have been playing nice with one another as it related to the forming of the inquiry panel. But I'm getting a sense from a number of republicans, maybe not a majority quite yet, but a growing number hope Rowland survives this crisis. Just looking at a few of them as they watched Rowland speak, you could see a few almost saying 'now that's the Johnny Boy I love.' But jumping out in front of the Let's Save the Governor" campaign isn't politically viable right now. However, if they can get those mean old Democrats to start taking political jabs at Rowland that go beyond the politically acceptable "we think he should resign" rhetoric, republicans may have a political opening where they could accuse the dems of conducting a political witch hunt instead of an investigation. I'll go out on a limb and predict that scenario will eventually happen. Here's why: The State of the State address is really one of the last big "things" that is going to happen for awhile. Yes the impeachment committee still needs to hire a law firm and that story will get big coverage. So will the terms the committee sets on what exactly they have determined what an impeachable offense is. And Friday's Ethics Commission ruling on whether the governor has broken any ethics laws.
But as the daily "death watch" of the governor lessens, and the daily grind of the legislative session gets going, it's likely more than a few democrats not directly involved with the impeachment panel will get bored and begin to mix it up with reporters and make public comments and negative pre-judgments about the guv's guilt. Those statements, I predict, will be used by the guv and his supporters to make their case that much of this investigation has been more about political revenge then about investigating his admitted ethical mistakes. Because dems hold a majority in the house, and since only a simple majority is needed to impeach it's quite possible that Rowland might be impeached. However four Republican Senators (assuming all of the democratic senators vote to convict) would have to vote to convict and remove the governor from office. If this process tumbles down the road of political, partisan bickering, then that might just be the out the governor needs to stay in office. But as I have said in the past, all bets are off if the feds come a calling with an indictment.

JOE-MENTUM IS DEAD

It would be easy to sit back and lampoon the Joe Lieberman presidential campaign, but I won't. From a selfish standpoint I was hoping he would make it at leas tot the Democratic Convention in Boston. That way I would be guaranteed a great media spot at the convention. Bottom line: Democratic primary voters just weren't feeling CT Joe....no doubt Lieberman's unwavering support of the War in Iraq probably did a lot more harm than good. Yes Lieberman criticized the President's handling of the war, but primary voters apparently didn't want to support someone who was often dubbed Bush-lite for his moderate to conservative views. Now that he is back to being a full-time senator, it has to be a let down. At his homecoming at Hartford City Hall democratic supporters say despite missing plenty of votes because of his presidential activities he has nothing to be sorry about and Ct voters will continue to support him overwhelmingly. Maybe, maybe not, CT Joe will have to once again show the passion for his new, old job as he did on the campaign trail for president if he truly wants to regain the adulation he enjoyed in the past. Don't be surprised to see State Republicans to mount a fairly serious challenge against Lieberman in 2006 if Lieberman looks the least bit vulnerable. And I'll give a Potpourri shout-out to the first person that emails me with the name of the republican that ran against Lieberman in 2000 for his U.S. Senate seat.

Posted: Fri - February 6, 2004 at 07:56 PM      

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