This guy is a genius!

House Speaker Jim Amann obviously has all the answers.

He must be smart; just look at that picture!

Amann can tell that Joe Lieberman is a better politician than Ned Lamont, because he carefully researched the two candidates.

In this article from the Conn Post, KEN DIXON (dixon.connpost@snet.net) wrote:

HARTFORD — Speaker of the House James A. Amann on Monday endorsed U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, breaking from other statewide Democratic leaders to support the three-term incumbent over upstart challenger Ned Lamont.

BTW, thanks a lot ConnPost for labeling Lamont an "upstart". Jeez, you guys just can't stand the fact that he's the properly selected Democratic nominee, can you?

...Amann said that he doesn't know Lamont beyond the fact that he's against the Iraq war and he's a multimillionaire with inherited wealth from Greenwich.

Wow, I hope your impressive millivolt intellect didn't overheat your brainpan figuring THAT ONE out!

Would it have killed you James, to actually TALK to Lamont and learn about his positions on the issues, before running home to Daddy? Oh yeah, that's right, I almost forgot...Ned didn't CALL you personally. You'd think with all the spare time he has right now, the very first thing on the rightful Democratic Nominee's list would be to call a lifelong Democrat and BEG for his support.

After four telephone conversations with Lieberman — the loser by 10,000 votes of last week's primary — Amann, D-Milford, decided to stick with him.

Holy shit! Four phone calls is all it takes to get your endorsement?

The telemarketers must have a big gold star next to your listing in their calling directories; all they have to do is phone you a few times, and suddenly you're getting your carpets steam-cleaned, your kitchen cabinets refaced, and your house stuccoed. Sheesh!

Amann said Lieberman has a good record protecting Social Security,

Flirted with privatizing Social Security

working for the elderly,

Takes money from Big Pharmacutecal companies and is against lower prescription drug laws

children,

No Child Left Behind...

veterans

Iraq is the single biggest cause of disabled veterans this century

and working men and women.

against raising the minimum wage.

Yeah Jim...you're a genius alright!

It was Groucho Glasses!

To Ben Smith at the NY Daily News....
Nice to see you noticed us in the Bloggers' war room, but I was wearing GROUCHO glasses -- please use the corret term in the future.

The sign on the door of the bloggers' room at Ned Lamont's Primary Night election party in Meriden, Conn., read "No filming of this room without authorization." When a local television crew appeared at the door, a woman sitting in back with goofy glasses and a false nose called out, "Mainstream's not supposed to be in here." But the lines were a little blurred. Bloggers filmed one another, and a BBC cameraman roamed free.

Because I blog as well as write for "mainstream," I got a seat at one of the round tables there, rather than in the identical, but desolate, pressroom.

Ben's column continues here

Who Said This?

But today the voters have rendered their verdict, and I accept it. And let me say this: I am ready to support our party's nominee and do whatever I can to deny George W. Bush a second term and give the American people a fresh start.

Give up?

Just When I Thought it was Safe to Watch The Game

You.must.read.this.immediately.

Then watch the video.

Ned's Other Sunday news

Scott Pelley was subbing for Schieffer this week. What a breath of fresh air Lamont was after the Beltway Bloviators! Video clip, courtesy Crooks & Liars

Reliable Sources?
Howie, Howie, Howie. Hey guy, we're here for you if you want to portray Bloggers in a reasonable light so viewers can make up their own minds -- there are even some right-leaning political blogs in CT. So, what's up with the LGF guy?

Here's just a taste:

HUFFINGTON: ... And it was very, very significant that the grassroots and the Net roots came together, as well, as the liberal bloggers, as you call them, as well as mainstream, middle-class Americans, as well as independents.

KURTZ: Let me -- let me just interrupt this commercial for Ned Lamont to ask you this ... let me read you something from "TIME" magazine's Joe Klein just out today and let you respond, Arianna. "There isn't much point in detailing the chest-thumping of the various blog nut extremists. Their reach is miniscule, largely limited to the left's upper crust, and their angry spew is beginning to seem so six months ago." Your response?

HUFFINGTON: You know, Joe Klein is really, really out of touch with what is happening. It was not liberal nuts or extremists or whatever he wants to call them who elected Ned Lamont. He should look at the exit polls. He should look at the demographics. There were many independents. There were 28,000 people who either have never voted before only registered as Democrats to vote in this election. Many middle-class Americans, many moderates. So to try to dismiss this
incredibly significant election is actually to miss what is happening.

Thank God for Arianna!

Full "Reliable" [cough,cough] transcript

Feingold on This Week explaining that Lieberman doesn't get it

Howard Dean on MTP with David Gregory sitting in

Videocast Podcast Transcript

Iif you can carve out the time, you should watch the interview with Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton, chairs of the 9/11 commission. Remember, Lieberman takes credit for creating the Department of Homeland Security. Check out Chertoff (first) then the commissioners (second) then Dean (third) Ken Mehlman brings up the rear.

House speaker Jim Amman stands by Lieberman

OK, this is not only amazingly stupid, but it reeks of the sort of awful treachery that exists only in 18th-century Scottish literature and terrible spy movies.

James Amman has BETRAYED the Democratic Party in Connecticut.

From WTNH-8 TV (Hartford-AP, Aug. 14, 2006 1:35 PM)

Not all Connecticut Democratic leaders are turning their backs on Senator Joe Lieberman and his independent bid for re-election.

Connecticut House Speaker James Amman of Milford is sticking by Lieberman. He says Lieberman has called him three times since last Tuesday's primary asking him for support. Amman says he has not heard anything from Ned Lamont, the Greenwich businessman who won the primary.

Awwww, so did Ned hurt your widdle feelings because you weren't at the top of his speed-dial list, James? Are you saying that you're the kind of politician who will give your endorsement to whichever candidate sufficiently strokes your overblown ego?

Is THAT what you're saying here, James?

Amman says he understands some Democrats who are now backing Lamont may take issue with his endorsement of Lieberman. But he says there are times when you stand with a friend no matter what the political costs are.

Gosh James, it's kind of sad the way you're willing to throw away the will of the Democratic Voters of Connectict, (a group of people who have treated you fairly well and allowed you to climb to heights you probably never dreamed of) simply for what you call "friendship".

What a guy. I'd really like you to back me up if I get into a bar fight; or if you're playing on my softball team and you make a game saving play. That's being a "friend". A good friend.

But to actively BETRAY the WILL OF THE VOTERS, that's not being a friend. That's being a PROBLEM.

Jim, could it be that you're so bold because you AREN'T being challenged for your seat this year here in our district? You are pretty much assured of another two years of living high on the hog, courtesy of that very Democratic Party that you so casually tossed aside today.

I guess you're feeling pretty confident, aren't you, Jim?

He says he's not going to be alone. He believes there will be other Democrats, town chairmen and union leaders who will come forward to back Lieberman.

Hey, I'm sure Benedict Arnold wasn't the ONLY guy to shift his loyalties during the American Revolution, but we sure know how well THAT turned out for them!

Jim, as a voter in your district, and someone who's given his support to you several times over the years, I'd just like to say one thing.

You're no longer welcome.

Because James, your behaviour will encourage Joe Lieberman to continue his doomed campaign to hold onto his Senate seat as if it was a God-given right, and will further fracture our DEMOCRATIC party and severely harm the chances we have here in Connecticut to gain THREE ADDITIONAL HOUSE SEATS.

But you go ahead and take care of your friends, Jim. That's what REALLY counts; not the will of the voters.

And if you don't remember your actions today Jim, don't worry...we will.

"You're on notice!"

Tip o' the Hat to the fabulous Maura!

Make your own sign HERE.

Ned on FNS

Here’s your Ned Lamont Sunday roundup, courtesy of CTBob Blog: FNS

Chronologically here in CT, Ned was on Fox News Sunday first. Interviewed by Chris Wallace, Ned gave as good as he got. Mr. Kirby noted that this is a man that actually answers the questions posed to him. Amazingly refreshing. He also makes declarative statements such as

WALLACE: Mr. Lamont, does your victory show that at least some Americans are weakening in their will to fight the War on Terror?
LAMONT: No, I think on the contrary. What this election showed is that a lot of people in Connecticut think that the invasion of Iraq has nothing to do with our War on Terror. It's been a terrible distraction.


Read the full FNC transcript
Listen to the FNC podcast of the Lamont interview

WALLACE: When Vice President Cheney said that your victory encourages the Al Qaeda types, did you find that offensive?
LAMONT: Yeah, I did find that offensive. I find that terribly harsh and wrong. Look, what's going to — what we ought to be doing is fighting the War on Terror in a serious way. I think we've gotten a little bit complacent, to tell you the truth. Maybe we've had a wake-up call in the last couple of days.
We ought to be focused on homeland security. We ought to be focused on our ports, on our airports and public transportation, a lot of which you were talking about here today.
We also are much stronger when we work in concert with our allies, when we have shared intelligence. And I think that we've taken our eye off the ball there a little bit, and I think it's time to focus.

WALLACE: Mr. Lamont, what do you think happens to Iraqis who trusted us to protect them from the insurgents? What do you think happens with all the sectarian violence if we pull all of our troops out in less than a year?
LAMONT: Look what's happening now. We've been there three years. We've gone from greeted as liberators to just a few dead-enders to some sectarian violence to civil war. You know, unlike Senator Lieberman, unlike President Bush, I think we've got to look at the facts on the ground.

Things are getting worse, and our very visible front-line presence is making the situation worse in many ways. So let's be clear with the Maliki government. Let's say we have no permanent intentions upon your military bases. We're going to not be here on a permanent basis. It's not unconditional. We're going to start bringing our troops home, and we ought to have them home within a year. I think that's reasonable, gives them time, their 200,000 troops to step up.

But it's a basic message. I mean, President Bush says we'll stand down as soon as the Iraqis stand up. I turn that on its head. I think the Iraqis won't stand up until we stand down. So let's negotiate a phased withdrawal. Chris, we'll be there. We'll be there for humanitarian support. We'll be there for reconstruction. But now's the time to get the very American face off of this
perceived occupation.

Reporter and Photog Captured in Gaza

Two Fox News journalists have been taken captive in Gaza: reporter Steve Centanni and photojournalist Oalf Wiig. With the series on Jill Carroll's captivity in Iraq starting today, we pray that any journalists captured while reporting are safe and returned to their families as soon as possible. Out of respect for the journalists (not FNC) we will keep the snark toward FNC to a minimum today.

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