I received several comments following my New Years blog 'Eyes Forward to 2011.' That was exactly the result I was hoping for. My intent was to start a conversation about how we can move forward as a Party in a very blue state. Now more than ever we need as many people involved in the process as possible. I am NOT advocating for change at the state party headquarters, but rather for change in how we as a party work together to win in the future.
Below are a few of the responses I received -- all wil be posted anonymously.
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Chris Healy has done an incredible job for our State and obviously you are one of the group who believe "blame runs down hill." We won 14 seats.
Chris is excellent with the press and can write very well. He got us back from red ink to black. He took on the secretary of state and won and he did it with a great team (lean and mean)
The state party is not there to run individual campaigns. The state party can assist on finding good candidates for offices, but they can't chose them. Enfield lost an open seat. We didn't do our job. So I guess you should blame me, I'm the chairman.
The candidate is the only person who can win a campaign. The rest of us are suppose to help and support. Candidates have their own game plan, and guess what happens when a chairman tries to "stick their nose in"...it will be cut off.
So before WE spend more time trying to find blame - how about support for what was accomplished.
I will be waiting to see how all shakes out in the upcoming election of the state party chairman. Interesting so many people are counting Chris Healy out, he has said nothing about his future intentions. I guess that is politics - I don't have to like it. The people's whose names are currently being "percolated" may not make the party better. We will have to review their resumes for the job.
Let's hope that leadership is what is matters and not political agendas.
Chris Healy has always had the party's best interests at heart and I will stand with him until there is a reason not to.
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On your web site you mentioned; "Please contact me with any questions or ideas and make sure that your voice is heard."
As a member of an RTC and also involved with Tea Party people; I'm hoping that the Republican party will entertain the thought of collaborating with the Tea Party in areas of common interest and purpose.
The Tea Party people are a tremendous resource, though they're independent; their goals and aspiration seem to line up with ours as Republicans.
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I am EXTREMELY disappointed with your message and could not disagree more with your conclusions.
(1) It is a cop out to suggest all of our candidates lost because they lacked a message. In the 4th CD, Dan Debicella ran on a clear platform of permanently codifying the Bush era income tax rates, stimulating the economy with a payroll tax, a signature feature of the recent tax bill, repealing and replacing Obamacare with a sensible, cost-effective free market alternative that contains costs while maintaining quality, and a strong national defense with unqualified support for our strongest allies such as Israel. Sam Caligiuri, Tom Foley and Linda McMahon ran on similar platforms that were clear and in stark contrast to those of their Democrat opponents. I would hardly suggest that these candidates lost because they lacked a clear message.
(2) I am OUTRAGED! at your suggestion that lowering taxes is a "kitcshy" message. Connecticut has added no new net jobs in 20 years and the ONE industry that is growing within this state, financial services, is an extremely tax sensitive one. Many private financial firms moved to Connecticut from neighboring states because of the relative tax advantage but could just as easily move to another state should Dan Malloy and Connecticut Democrats raise taxes as they are likely to do. The Wall Street Journal has run numerous articles documenting how business and income has left Oregon, Maryland, Maine, New York, New Jersey and California among others because of creeping increasing taxes on the upper income brackets. Given that many in the 4th CD are dependent on the jobs that these hedge fund managers make and the state budget is dependent on their tax revenue, I find it unconscionable that you find the tax issue "kitschy" and do not take it seriously!
(3) I find it puzzling that you spend so much time articulating why you hope Linda McMahon runs again. Not everyone makes a good candidate. The fact that she spent $50 million on her race yet lost by more than ten points to a guy who repeatedly lied about his wartime military service should inform you about her likely prospects the next go around. As someone who knocked on doors in the 4th CD, I never saw such visceral negative reaction as when I tried to hand out flyers for Linda McMahon. As an active political partisan, I cannot imagine you are unaware of the negative polling of women toward Linda McMahon. Unfortunately, not everyone makes a good candidate no matter how qualified. Considering that she got her hat handed to her in the last election, I would consider it an act of supreme selfishness if Linda prevented another qualified candidate from challenging Joe Lieberman.
(4) Finally, as someone who performed election monitoring in Bridgeport, I find unconscionable that the state party accepts no blame for the non-existent GOTV effort and the invisible anti-fraud effort, especially in cities such as Bridgeport. I have served on Republican election day anti-voter fraud efforts in other states and your lack of preparation was appalling. As someone who was in Bridgeport until 10pm when the polls finally closed, I can say with certainty that Tom Foley lost his race because you were unprepared to combat the rampant cheating that occurred. If I were you, I would man up and do some serious soul searching or I guarantee you will get your hat handed to you in repeated elections no matter what the rest of the country does. Feel free to contact me should you wish to discuss how to improve your election day monitoring.
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I think the Republican party in Ct. was interested in self preservation of the hierarchy, not in what was best for the citizens. You had a super candidate for Senator and you ignored him. You had a great candidate for Governor, but instead you let her run for the Senate. You lost both and you deserved to. There is a reason we get very little help from the National Party--they've written this state off as a lost cause. Perhaps the first thing you ought to work at is developing a strong TV station or newspaper that could cover the state that is not SO LIBERAL!
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Your email of earlier today was brilliant. I agree that the R message has not been clearly articulated or communicated. A point of real frustration. You make some very good suggestions.
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Simmons is a RINO and never had a real private sector Job. His wife is a union member. I agree with you on Linda, how she managed to get on the defensive is beyond me. How many jobs did Blumenthal createte? How about how many did he destroy? Answer; MANY Foley was good or great problem was Malloy is a whore to the unions and Foley has some other problems too.
I'm not sure what your other comments mean.
Ultimately the voters are the ones who selected these idiots. The problem lies with them.
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Sunday, January 9, 2011
Eyes Forward to 2011
My mother always advised me to move forward in life, focusing on the end result and overcoming adversity along the way. Her advice, to focus on the future and leave the past behind you, is incredibly appropriate for the Republican Party here in Connecticut. As we look to 2011 we must not only learn from the past, but focus on and work for the future. There is much to take away from our disappointing elections in 2010, the most important lesson, as Tip O'Neill wisely said, is that "all politics is local."
So, before we look to 2011, let us take a moment to quickly reflect on the past. In 2008 we saw the National spirit lurch to "hope" and "believe", in a grandiose campaign, with very little behind that positive and optimistic rhetoric; only to then have the tone two years later revert focus to the local scene with a message of individual responsibility and conservatism. While many, on both the left and right, chose to depict a larger National picture with the rise of a new "Tea Party", the truth is that no single party emerged victorious in 2010; rather the locality won as we returned power to the people. Despite the portrayals in the press and by many in the political media, for every Rand Paul there was a Carl Paladino, for each Marco Rubio there is a Christine O'Donnell and the differentiation between them lies solely in the local circumstances and candidates themselves.
As we examine the mistakes of the Republican Party in Connecticut this year, we must look to each individual race and every candidate because the lesson to learn is that counting on a National mood or backlash is taking the easy way out; we all deserve better. While we fielded some great candidates, we the voters allowed the political machine to make choices for us and often, each of us across the state missed our chance to set our own agenda and live by our choices. Let the coming of 2011 be the end of our passivity and trust in the political establishment, for at the end of the day that is the one lesson that is hard to ignore.
Lesson number one: Each candidate for every office must have a story, a narrative, to tell the voters which explain why their ideas and views are the best for all and why they are the candidate we should trust to represent us. In 2010 we failed on this count in practically every race. Where we were fortunate to have strong candidates, we lost control of the message. That is primarily the fault of each candidate, but also of the establishment, as it is their job to ensure there is a consistent message. Linda McMahon is an American success story and a role model for all of us who have daughters. She has built an incredibly successful company which employs women as well as men in it's most senior levels, and she has been involved not only behind the scenes, but also in the actual forefront of the branding of her company. Mrs. McMahon is a pillar of the community, personifies the spirit of charity, and strongly supports education in the community. Certainly she has nothing of which to be ashamed, and yet she lost control of the dialogue. Consequently, our Senator-Elect is a man who has lied to the public concerning his Service in Vietnam, certainly something of which he should be ashamed.
I do not want to postmortem any campaign, however, clearly the message got away from Mrs. McMahon and I only hope she decides to return to the fight and learn from this experience because she clearly is someone to admire, an individual who possesses great leadership skills. I will be thankful should she decide to run again. We must heed lesson one and demand a Chairman who is able to lead our party and promote a consistent, clear message. We have a very powerful and strong platform to take to the voters. In 2010 we lost touch with that, and thus, lesson two is to effectively take the message to the voter.
Living in Connecticut, all of the issues facing the nation are local for us due to our location, industry, business base and demographics. We need to stand up and be Connecticut citizens, not worry about what Nancy Pelosi or Sarah Palin says or does. We are impacted by homeland security, financial regulation, healthcare, and foreclosure; we have the nation’s best schools from liberal arts to service academies all right here in our backyard. We, in a very real sense, are America.
Connecticut republican politics in 2010 can best be described as rudderless. We were against the President, the democratic majority, and in a large way George Bush. Now that we have that covered, can anyone define the platform for which the Republican Party stood? Lower taxes and less government intrusion is kitschy, but as far as real issues and solutions went, we abdicated to the democrats. We have messages, we are the insurance capital of America and if we don't lead on that front then we deserve to lose. We have major urban cities and business from construction to foodstuff to defense and high finance. If we can't lead on the issues important to business then we fail. In 2011 we must demand that our leaders, of either party, clearly define their plan and their views. We need to pay attention and hold them accountable in 2012. Our political leaders must realize that not having a view or plan is not acceptable and it is up to each one of us to ensure that we have leaders that understand what it means to lead.
We are lucky to have a slate of qualified people ready to step up. Rob Simmons is extremely qualified and is a man who understands not only politics but why we are doing all this. Mr. Simmons has fought for us and understands what all those in the trenches of the war on terror are facing. He is truly a great American and I am sure would be a great Chairman. Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele knows the politics of this great state better than most and has served all of her constituents tirelessly for years. He could bring a unique perspective to the office and an understanding of each district and every race. Chris Munger understands what it takes to win, while not well known across the state; he is the one of the few local Chairmen to have a string of winners under his belt. As head of the Stamford RTC, he worked tirelessly to get Mayor Michael Pavia elected and has built an organization that thrives and serves as a model for the rest of the state.
As we look forward to 2011, let us all accept a bit more responsibility tackling the landscape we face next year. As one of our resolutions, I hope we all try to be a bit more involved since these tough times will require everyone to contribute. I hope each of us learns to take a bit more personal responsibility to make sure we are doing all we can. Our politicians need to work harder to have and convey a message. Our party leaders need to be less stubborn and less egotistical and we need to all get a little more involved. My resolution for 2011 is to remember that politics is local, and that all good things begin at home.
I wish all of you the best. May 2011 bring you happiness, health and your families closer together. God willing, all those serving abroad will be safe and our leaders wise. Into the future we all plunge, eyes forward.
Happy New Year,
Chris Meek
So, before we look to 2011, let us take a moment to quickly reflect on the past. In 2008 we saw the National spirit lurch to "hope" and "believe", in a grandiose campaign, with very little behind that positive and optimistic rhetoric; only to then have the tone two years later revert focus to the local scene with a message of individual responsibility and conservatism. While many, on both the left and right, chose to depict a larger National picture with the rise of a new "Tea Party", the truth is that no single party emerged victorious in 2010; rather the locality won as we returned power to the people. Despite the portrayals in the press and by many in the political media, for every Rand Paul there was a Carl Paladino, for each Marco Rubio there is a Christine O'Donnell and the differentiation between them lies solely in the local circumstances and candidates themselves.
As we examine the mistakes of the Republican Party in Connecticut this year, we must look to each individual race and every candidate because the lesson to learn is that counting on a National mood or backlash is taking the easy way out; we all deserve better. While we fielded some great candidates, we the voters allowed the political machine to make choices for us and often, each of us across the state missed our chance to set our own agenda and live by our choices. Let the coming of 2011 be the end of our passivity and trust in the political establishment, for at the end of the day that is the one lesson that is hard to ignore.
Lesson number one: Each candidate for every office must have a story, a narrative, to tell the voters which explain why their ideas and views are the best for all and why they are the candidate we should trust to represent us. In 2010 we failed on this count in practically every race. Where we were fortunate to have strong candidates, we lost control of the message. That is primarily the fault of each candidate, but also of the establishment, as it is their job to ensure there is a consistent message. Linda McMahon is an American success story and a role model for all of us who have daughters. She has built an incredibly successful company which employs women as well as men in it's most senior levels, and she has been involved not only behind the scenes, but also in the actual forefront of the branding of her company. Mrs. McMahon is a pillar of the community, personifies the spirit of charity, and strongly supports education in the community. Certainly she has nothing of which to be ashamed, and yet she lost control of the dialogue. Consequently, our Senator-Elect is a man who has lied to the public concerning his Service in Vietnam, certainly something of which he should be ashamed.
I do not want to postmortem any campaign, however, clearly the message got away from Mrs. McMahon and I only hope she decides to return to the fight and learn from this experience because she clearly is someone to admire, an individual who possesses great leadership skills. I will be thankful should she decide to run again. We must heed lesson one and demand a Chairman who is able to lead our party and promote a consistent, clear message. We have a very powerful and strong platform to take to the voters. In 2010 we lost touch with that, and thus, lesson two is to effectively take the message to the voter.
Living in Connecticut, all of the issues facing the nation are local for us due to our location, industry, business base and demographics. We need to stand up and be Connecticut citizens, not worry about what Nancy Pelosi or Sarah Palin says or does. We are impacted by homeland security, financial regulation, healthcare, and foreclosure; we have the nation’s best schools from liberal arts to service academies all right here in our backyard. We, in a very real sense, are America.
Connecticut republican politics in 2010 can best be described as rudderless. We were against the President, the democratic majority, and in a large way George Bush. Now that we have that covered, can anyone define the platform for which the Republican Party stood? Lower taxes and less government intrusion is kitschy, but as far as real issues and solutions went, we abdicated to the democrats. We have messages, we are the insurance capital of America and if we don't lead on that front then we deserve to lose. We have major urban cities and business from construction to foodstuff to defense and high finance. If we can't lead on the issues important to business then we fail. In 2011 we must demand that our leaders, of either party, clearly define their plan and their views. We need to pay attention and hold them accountable in 2012. Our political leaders must realize that not having a view or plan is not acceptable and it is up to each one of us to ensure that we have leaders that understand what it means to lead.
We are lucky to have a slate of qualified people ready to step up. Rob Simmons is extremely qualified and is a man who understands not only politics but why we are doing all this. Mr. Simmons has fought for us and understands what all those in the trenches of the war on terror are facing. He is truly a great American and I am sure would be a great Chairman. Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele knows the politics of this great state better than most and has served all of her constituents tirelessly for years. He could bring a unique perspective to the office and an understanding of each district and every race. Chris Munger understands what it takes to win, while not well known across the state; he is the one of the few local Chairmen to have a string of winners under his belt. As head of the Stamford RTC, he worked tirelessly to get Mayor Michael Pavia elected and has built an organization that thrives and serves as a model for the rest of the state.
As we look forward to 2011, let us all accept a bit more responsibility tackling the landscape we face next year. As one of our resolutions, I hope we all try to be a bit more involved since these tough times will require everyone to contribute. I hope each of us learns to take a bit more personal responsibility to make sure we are doing all we can. Our politicians need to work harder to have and convey a message. Our party leaders need to be less stubborn and less egotistical and we need to all get a little more involved. My resolution for 2011 is to remember that politics is local, and that all good things begin at home.
I wish all of you the best. May 2011 bring you happiness, health and your families closer together. God willing, all those serving abroad will be safe and our leaders wise. Into the future we all plunge, eyes forward.
Happy New Year,
Chris Meek
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Giving Thanks and Looking Ahead...
As we move past the election of 2010 and towards the new year of 2011, it is only right that we take a minute this week to reflect and be thankful. While many of us in Connecticut are upset at our election results in what was otherwise a national story, we still have much for which to be thankful. It is critical that we turn towards the future right now, that we do not become cynical, and that we learn from our mistakes and strive to improve in the future.
While our party suffered setbacks at home, we still should be thankful for the work and service of those around us. We are lucky to have business leaders and entrepreneurs, public servants and military heroes amongst the ranks of those willing to serve and work for the values that we hold dear. While it is upsetting that many of these individuals will not be representing us in Hartford or Washington in 2011, they will be here to work with us as we look towards the future, and specifically 2012. The experience and dedication of these individuals is truly something to be thankful for, and something we need to learn from and work with. Wouldn't it be tragic if we blamed our broad setbacks on the individual candidates that participated, rather than on the underlying problems we are all facing?
As we move towards 2011, we should stop and be thankful for the host of new young people that are realizing that the GOP is not a party of the rich, old, white man; but rather one that offers a broad platform with a wide range of ideas and views for shaping a better, stronger, safer tomorrow. These young republicans are the future. They are the energy that will push our ideas to the forefront and they will be the votes that ensure a strong and resilient party in the days to come. It is important that we embrace them, and use the network of schools and universities that call Connecticut home, to reach out and connect with them.
We should also be thankful that the national party has done well. They are continuing to push forward, and we should follow their example. While the Democrats have chosen to stick with the leadership of the past, we are having a vigorous debate centering on changing our party leadership. As we discuss who will run our party apparatus, our elected leaders are making changes to the system from the onset, and that is a good thing. The new Speaker has said he will fly commercial. This seemingly small gesture carries immeasurable weight as our nation looks to take a firmer hand at controlling spending. While this gesture may largely be symbolic, if this sets the tone for how our new Congress leads, I am thankful for it. Congress has also moved to ban earmarks, which is an often maligned process overall, but one that will be ultimately embraced when the money comes to our state. While we enjoy the direct benefits, the larger picture simply makes this process not workable at this time. Making difficult decisions such as these are what set leaders apart and following these examples, among others, will go a long way towards our success as a party and a state in the future.
As we sit with our families this holiday, let us all take a moment to give thanks to those who can't be with theirs because they are fighting for us. Thank each of those who put party and politics aside, who always find the positive, and never stop fighting for the ideals in which they believe. They set examples and that is the beacon for which we should aim in our own lives, service to ones country, an unfailing resolve, and a love of family and friends.
While 2010 hasn't gone exactly as we had hoped, if we learn from our mistakes, recognize our missteps, and work together, 2011 can go wherever we take it. This year has marked the first step towards a brighter future. The next step must come from Connecticut and our ability to reach out and embrace new plans. Stronger methods and wiser policies will take us forward in 2012, and for that let us all give thanks.
Chris Meek
While our party suffered setbacks at home, we still should be thankful for the work and service of those around us. We are lucky to have business leaders and entrepreneurs, public servants and military heroes amongst the ranks of those willing to serve and work for the values that we hold dear. While it is upsetting that many of these individuals will not be representing us in Hartford or Washington in 2011, they will be here to work with us as we look towards the future, and specifically 2012. The experience and dedication of these individuals is truly something to be thankful for, and something we need to learn from and work with. Wouldn't it be tragic if we blamed our broad setbacks on the individual candidates that participated, rather than on the underlying problems we are all facing?
As we move towards 2011, we should stop and be thankful for the host of new young people that are realizing that the GOP is not a party of the rich, old, white man; but rather one that offers a broad platform with a wide range of ideas and views for shaping a better, stronger, safer tomorrow. These young republicans are the future. They are the energy that will push our ideas to the forefront and they will be the votes that ensure a strong and resilient party in the days to come. It is important that we embrace them, and use the network of schools and universities that call Connecticut home, to reach out and connect with them.
We should also be thankful that the national party has done well. They are continuing to push forward, and we should follow their example. While the Democrats have chosen to stick with the leadership of the past, we are having a vigorous debate centering on changing our party leadership. As we discuss who will run our party apparatus, our elected leaders are making changes to the system from the onset, and that is a good thing. The new Speaker has said he will fly commercial. This seemingly small gesture carries immeasurable weight as our nation looks to take a firmer hand at controlling spending. While this gesture may largely be symbolic, if this sets the tone for how our new Congress leads, I am thankful for it. Congress has also moved to ban earmarks, which is an often maligned process overall, but one that will be ultimately embraced when the money comes to our state. While we enjoy the direct benefits, the larger picture simply makes this process not workable at this time. Making difficult decisions such as these are what set leaders apart and following these examples, among others, will go a long way towards our success as a party and a state in the future.
As we sit with our families this holiday, let us all take a moment to give thanks to those who can't be with theirs because they are fighting for us. Thank each of those who put party and politics aside, who always find the positive, and never stop fighting for the ideals in which they believe. They set examples and that is the beacon for which we should aim in our own lives, service to ones country, an unfailing resolve, and a love of family and friends.
While 2010 hasn't gone exactly as we had hoped, if we learn from our mistakes, recognize our missteps, and work together, 2011 can go wherever we take it. This year has marked the first step towards a brighter future. The next step must come from Connecticut and our ability to reach out and embrace new plans. Stronger methods and wiser policies will take us forward in 2012, and for that let us all give thanks.
Chris Meek
Monday, January 18, 2010
Young Republicans time to step up
Fellow Young Republicans,
As we approach the one year mark of this administration, our nation is forced to look at the individuals we voted for and the issues we hoped would be addressed. As a young Republican, I am both concerned and optimistic about the direction of our great country The high unemployment numbers, the Christmas terror scare, the bribing of votes for health care reform - these are just a few of the recent situations which have created concern for all Americans - concern about effective economic policies, the stimulus package, national security and defense. These aren't small concerns, either; economic stability and national defense are safeties we cannot afford to jeopardize any further.
Fortunately, this is the time for young Republicans to step up. Our generation will soon have the chance to lead the nation, and it is the responsibility of the youth to influence the direction toward which our country is moving. As Americans realize that fiscal responsibility is necessary and oversized government destructive, there is a chance for our generation to lead the government back to a healthy state - of the people, by the people, for the people. I maintain a lot of optimism for the 2010 and 2012 elections as Americans turn to responsible governmening to work through the challenges we face.
That said, there are no guaranteed victories and the younger members of the GOP must take the initiative to create real, effective, and beneficial change in Washington. As a College Republican, I feel that it is our responsibility to watch the mistakes and the successes in government, foresee the unique issues which face our generation, and understand the necessary actions to perpetuate the freedom and strength enjoyed by America for many generations before ours.
I am very excited about Our CT Grand Young Party as the organization facilitates communication between young people and encourages involvement of young conservatives. I think the organization has a great future in keeping post-college grads involved as well. As they begin new jobs and start to encounter some of the actual issues facing Americans today, the College Republicans can learn from them and collaborate in working toward a better future. I hope that through this organization young people will understand and value the impact they can have in volunteering, voting, and taking unique approaches to the conservative effort.
So, in all of this, I hope that we, the youth in society, can maintain an optimistic outlook on the future of our nation while understanding the issues facing us. I sincerely hope that as a member of the Board of Advisors for Our CT GYP, we can create an open dialogue which will allow young people to voice their concerns and suggest innovative approaches to spreading responsible and effective government.
I'd like to also extend a thank you to Chris Meek for this wonderful opportunity and for being one of the few politically active adults who listen to both the concerns and the ideas of young people. Congratulations to all other members of the Board - I look forward to working with you on this great endeavor!
Happy new year!
Josie Amendola
As we approach the one year mark of this administration, our nation is forced to look at the individuals we voted for and the issues we hoped would be addressed. As a young Republican, I am both concerned and optimistic about the direction of our great country The high unemployment numbers, the Christmas terror scare, the bribing of votes for health care reform - these are just a few of the recent situations which have created concern for all Americans - concern about effective economic policies, the stimulus package, national security and defense. These aren't small concerns, either; economic stability and national defense are safeties we cannot afford to jeopardize any further.
Fortunately, this is the time for young Republicans to step up. Our generation will soon have the chance to lead the nation, and it is the responsibility of the youth to influence the direction toward which our country is moving. As Americans realize that fiscal responsibility is necessary and oversized government destructive, there is a chance for our generation to lead the government back to a healthy state - of the people, by the people, for the people. I maintain a lot of optimism for the 2010 and 2012 elections as Americans turn to responsible governmening to work through the challenges we face.
That said, there are no guaranteed victories and the younger members of the GOP must take the initiative to create real, effective, and beneficial change in Washington. As a College Republican, I feel that it is our responsibility to watch the mistakes and the successes in government, foresee the unique issues which face our generation, and understand the necessary actions to perpetuate the freedom and strength enjoyed by America for many generations before ours.
I am very excited about Our CT Grand Young Party as the organization facilitates communication between young people and encourages involvement of young conservatives. I think the organization has a great future in keeping post-college grads involved as well. As they begin new jobs and start to encounter some of the actual issues facing Americans today, the College Republicans can learn from them and collaborate in working toward a better future. I hope that through this organization young people will understand and value the impact they can have in volunteering, voting, and taking unique approaches to the conservative effort.
So, in all of this, I hope that we, the youth in society, can maintain an optimistic outlook on the future of our nation while understanding the issues facing us. I sincerely hope that as a member of the Board of Advisors for Our CT GYP, we can create an open dialogue which will allow young people to voice their concerns and suggest innovative approaches to spreading responsible and effective government.
I'd like to also extend a thank you to Chris Meek for this wonderful opportunity and for being one of the few politically active adults who listen to both the concerns and the ideas of young people. Congratulations to all other members of the Board - I look forward to working with you on this great endeavor!
Happy new year!
Josie Amendola
Saturday, December 19, 2009
US Rep. Jim Himes... Your Time Is Up.
Standing in Hartford alongside members of our state government I was moved while
listening to people speak of the sacrifices our men and women serving abroad are making, especially this time of year. Unfortunately, reality intruded when someone showed me a letter that Congressman Himes recently sent out. It was then that I realized that for once I really did understand the saying: "the silence is deafening."
listening to people speak of the sacrifices our men and women serving abroad are making, especially this time of year. Unfortunately, reality intruded when someone showed me a letter that Congressman Himes recently sent out. It was then that I realized that for once I really did understand the saying: "the silence is deafening."As members of both parties stood together our Congressman was one of the few people of prominence to ignore the request to stand together for our brave soldiers. When I read his email I was shocked at the callous way he spoke of taking a trip to Afghanistan after he rolled up his sleeves to get back to work on financial regulation. He spoke of the wonders of being with old friends and that is family is growing up so fast. At the same time, Washington is making the decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. That's in addition to the hundreds of thousands that are already there that haven't had the privilege of spending the holidays safe at home with family and friends.
While the Congressman was relaxing, members of both parties were working right here in Connecticut to bring some assistance to those that truly serve. Most importantly, while the Congressman was eating his turkey, those soldiers were risking their lives while waiting for their government to decide if they would get the help they needed to get the job done.
How much rolling up of the sleeves will Congressman Himes be doing on financial regulation while he is in Afghanistan under the protection of those he works so hard to ignore? I can only hope the Congressman decides to break his silence and explain to those risking their lives why it took so long to decide? Or why he chose not to stand with us and support them in Hartford or anywhere else. Perhaps as a member of the homeland security committee he can explain why they are risking their lives to pull terrorists out of caves so that we can ship them to NY for trial as if they were common criminals. Somehow, I doubt he will do any of those things. My money is on a trite tweet and nice photo of the Congressman eating an MRE and comparing it to M&M's from Air Force One.
The really sad part was reading the ending of Congressman Himes' letter. As he spoke of the Holiday Season and the trip to Afghanistan, he had the gall to ask for a donation to his campaign. While most of us see this time of year as a chance to give to others, Congressman Himes feels no shame in asking for 10 dollars for himself. That money can buy a pack of ten pair of socks for those soldiers he is visiting. Jim Himes speaks of walking 6 miles a day at work and using a pedometer to measure them. Try walking in someone else's socks and measuring distance in villages and mountain tops. I challenge the Congressman to take only one pair of socks on his trip, I will even give him his ten dollars is he does.
The callous tone and clearly out of touch message speaks volumes to the need for change in our representation. Congressman Himes may be playing fireman, and hitching a ride on the President's plane while waiting to take a junket to a war zone for a photo op, but he is clearly not doing work for our State. We need a leader that doesn't brag about walking 6 miles at work before drinking a glass of wine. Instead we need one that sticks around and actually gets something done. Connecticut, it is time to declare our resolution for the New Year, we resolve to elect someone that will get things done.
Chris Meek
Stamford
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
NEVER FORGET...
There are transcendent moments in history that define a generation – for many, it was the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 or the day World War II ended where people rejoiced at the end of long, and devastating war and cities celebrated. For others, it was that November day in Dallas when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and the dream of Camelot ended, or when families huddled in front of the television in July of 1969, and watched in awe as man walked on the moon.For my generation, a defining moment was the explosion of the Shuttle Challenger in 1986 when all seven crew members were killed seconds after take off. Fifteen years later on that sunny September morning, a new moment occurred and changed the lives of so many in profound ways – when Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
These moments define us – unite us, give us courage, change the course of lives, the way a country shapes its policy. While some of these events become memories, we must never forget; we must never forget the lessons they teach us.
As a society we all shuddered the moment the South Tower toppled, and each of us felt the tremors through our entire being. But we survived; we moved forward, we pushed on as time heals all wounds, even ones as deep and raw as this one. We have progressed from the shock of having missed the seemingly obvious signs to anger about why we didn't take more notice as terrorists attacked our interests abroad in Kenya and Tanzania? How did we not see this coming after watching the attacks on the U.S.S. Cole or more importantly, the first attack on the World Trade Center itself? How did we not notice people attending flight schools in Florida who weren’t concerned about learning how to land the planes? Everyone came together and the nation refocused. We reworked our intelligence agencies and created the Homeland Security Department We passed the Patriot Act and other laws in an attempt to ensure that we would not miss similar signals again. We all rallied around our flag, and cheered when our government agreed to take the fight to our enemies to ensure that no nation was allowed to grant sanctuary and solace to those seeking to terrorize anymore. We warned the Taliban. When they didn’t heed our warnings, nor fully comprehend our resolve, we showed them that this time was different. We were serious, and again the world learned that it is not a good idea to stoke the fires that burn in all of us as Americans.
The repressive, fundamentalist and terrorist supporting Taliban Regime came tumbling down as a coalition of forces joined together to hunt those responsible for the attacks on our soil. We sent the message that these terrorist regimes were no longer something that we would turn a blind eye towards. As the focus of our attention shifted to Iraq (and now back to Afghanistan again) we have seen both ups and downs in our attempt to stabilize and liberate this historically difficult region. What hasn't waned, however, is the dedication and resolve of the men and women who seek to serve their nation and participate in this fight. They believe in the goals and understand the stakes better than any of us, as they have been the on the ground in all of the places we discuss in the safe confines of our local Starbucks.
These mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters are all out there fighting in conditions we can’t even imagine. They put their lives in danger every day to ensure that we never have to watch as our friends and families, colleagues or neighbors face the unimaginable choice of either dying in a burning building or jumping from the top of a sky scraper. To them, we all owe a sincere thank you.
Today many of us at home are questioning why and how we are fighting, Are we winning or losing? As a society this is a good thing as it shows that we are moving through the stages of grief post 9/11. As a nation I have to question; are we glossing over the hard learned lessons? Healthy debate is a good thing and should be encouraged, however there
are universal facts that are still being debated and its time we accepted them. The goal of terrorists is to terrorize and no matter what happens there will always be some people that feel this is a viable way to achieve their goals.
As a nation, it is the job of our leaders to ensure that our citizens are not targets of this method and any attempts at it at are met with painful reminders that this is not to be tolerated. People want to live in an open society but when the stakes are raised by the availability of more sophisticated weapons the importance of diligence, thorough examinations of intelligence and effective means of gathering intelligence are more important than ever.
As Americans, we are now looking to recover from the economic collapse and put in place measures to protect us from a similar occurrence in the future. Let us not forget we have had other even more expensive lessons and renew our efforts to learn from them. Economics and healthcare are today’s buzz words. We need to ensure that we don't focus
solely on the issues that affect our lives today; instead we need to focus on everything that can affect our lives tomorrow. While we have been spared any other attacks in the last 8 years, does anyone doubt that should we become victims again it would be more painful? How many of the lessons we should have learned in 2001 will we be able to say that we are still being vigilant with in 2009 or 2010? After all, there are still men and women risking their lives 8 years later for this cause. How sad would it be if we weren't willing to at least remember why they were risking their lives by fighting for something that history has already moved past?
Chris Meek
Stamford, CT
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Rep. Hwang Opposes Largest Tax Increase in Connecticut History
State Representative Tony Hwang (R-134) yesterday stood in opposition to another budget proposal which was unveiled today by legislative majority Democrats, again resulting in the largest proposed tax hike in state history. Hwang opposed the measure before the Appropriations Committee on July 30th in a meeting at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Hwang noted that the legislative session ended two months ago, and that the fiscal year had ended last month with no budget being acted on by the legislature. Governor Rell and legislative Republicans called for making all possible cuts to state spending before enacting tax increases. Following six months of fruitless budget negotiations where the Democratic majority leadership refused to make significant cuts or give up on massive tax increases, Governor Rell announced that she would reluctantly agree to some tax increases to move the process forward.
“I understand the dilemma Governor Rell is in,” said Rep. Hwang. “Democrats in the legislature have simply been unwilling to consider significant cuts. There is a veto-proof majority of tax-increase advocates in the legislature, so she has little recourse. However, I do not believe that tax increases during these rough economic times is a good idea. It only serves to hurt the people who are already hurting the most, your neighbors and mine.”
The Democratic proposal raises taxes by $1.85 billion including a huge increase in the income tax, and a hefty new tax on businesses that will likely lead to more job losses in the state.
Hwang also noted that the Democratic plan relies on billions of “one shot’’ revenues such as the $1.4 billion Rainy Day Fund, $3 billion in federal stimulus money and “securitization’’ of $835 million in unspecified state assets that have to be replaced within two to three years. Hwang said that the state will have to raise taxes on more taxpayers to cover a projected $5 billion deficit in the future, and would have to borrow to cover the immediate shortfall for last year’s budget caused by the delay and inefficiency of the Democratic majority leadership.
The revised Democratic plan also includes a new 15 percent surcharge on all business profits, a 75 cent increase on cigarettes and a 30 percent surcharge on estate settlements.
“I think this Democratic majority leadership budget takes the easy way out,” said Rep. Hwang. “There is no effort here to make structural changes to the state’s spending habits, and no consideration given to the potential loss of jobs in a state that has already hemorrhaged 65,000 jobs during this recession. In addition we will be committing future generations to bail us out of the problems we are in today which will lower the quality of living for them.”
Hwang joined House Republicans which twice proposed No-Tax-Increase budgets that are balanced and spend nearly $1 billion less than the Democrats’ latest version. Hwang expressed frustration that diligent debate and consideration of those budget proposals still has not occurred in Appropriation Committee and General Assembly sessions. “The people of Connecticut deserve a more transparent and sincere effort to resolve our financial budget crisis,” he noted.
Hwang noted that the legislative session ended two months ago, and that the fiscal year had ended last month with no budget being acted on by the legislature. Governor Rell and legislative Republicans called for making all possible cuts to state spending before enacting tax increases. Following six months of fruitless budget negotiations where the Democratic majority leadership refused to make significant cuts or give up on massive tax increases, Governor Rell announced that she would reluctantly agree to some tax increases to move the process forward.
“I understand the dilemma Governor Rell is in,” said Rep. Hwang. “Democrats in the legislature have simply been unwilling to consider significant cuts. There is a veto-proof majority of tax-increase advocates in the legislature, so she has little recourse. However, I do not believe that tax increases during these rough economic times is a good idea. It only serves to hurt the people who are already hurting the most, your neighbors and mine.”
The Democratic proposal raises taxes by $1.85 billion including a huge increase in the income tax, and a hefty new tax on businesses that will likely lead to more job losses in the state.
Hwang also noted that the Democratic plan relies on billions of “one shot’’ revenues such as the $1.4 billion Rainy Day Fund, $3 billion in federal stimulus money and “securitization’’ of $835 million in unspecified state assets that have to be replaced within two to three years. Hwang said that the state will have to raise taxes on more taxpayers to cover a projected $5 billion deficit in the future, and would have to borrow to cover the immediate shortfall for last year’s budget caused by the delay and inefficiency of the Democratic majority leadership.
The revised Democratic plan also includes a new 15 percent surcharge on all business profits, a 75 cent increase on cigarettes and a 30 percent surcharge on estate settlements.
“I think this Democratic majority leadership budget takes the easy way out,” said Rep. Hwang. “There is no effort here to make structural changes to the state’s spending habits, and no consideration given to the potential loss of jobs in a state that has already hemorrhaged 65,000 jobs during this recession. In addition we will be committing future generations to bail us out of the problems we are in today which will lower the quality of living for them.”
Hwang joined House Republicans which twice proposed No-Tax-Increase budgets that are balanced and spend nearly $1 billion less than the Democrats’ latest version. Hwang expressed frustration that diligent debate and consideration of those budget proposals still has not occurred in Appropriation Committee and General Assembly sessions. “The people of Connecticut deserve a more transparent and sincere effort to resolve our financial budget crisis,” he noted.
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