Comments for CT Progressive

Comment on Bad Math by catdance

catdance — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:34:05 +0000

The Starwood deal doesn’t seem all that great a thing. I don’t understand how moving headquarters 15 miles results in job creation for Stamford. Won’t most of the Starwood employees simply commute? I’d imagine those making over $100k will be heading north on I-95, with those lower on the ladder hopping MetroNorth. Maybe they’ll be hiring 813 cleaning people.

Stamford has a long history of giving the bank to lure companies to the city, only to see those companies move on as soon as the welfare runs out. Why would Starwood be any different? On a positive note, maybe Stamford government will move into another municipal building in 11 years.

Comment on Dodd’s Amendment by admin

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:54:14 +0000

Actually, unions and businesses already do work under the same rules — they did before CU, and continue to after. Before, neither could spend directly in support or opposition to candidates; after, both can.

Union activity tended to be in the “hire a bunch of people to knock on doors and ask people to vote for pro-healthcare candidates” category; businesses tend to run commercials and mail glossy mailers to voters asking them to “Thank Representative X for his support for our troops by calling his office” or similar.

Unions are, in the main, also corporations. Don’t believe it? Go to the CT business filing page and search for “*Union” (no quotes).

Comment on Dodd’s Amendment by Slag

Slag — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:14:32 +0000

It’s a start, especially if it will be applied to all organizations equally, not just corporate ones.

Of course, having seen how SOME unions work, they’ll get around it the same way that they always have - cowing members by whatever means are available. When you can look up on the internet which of your neighbors donates to what political party or candidate, that starts becoming a dangerously likely ability.

Comment on A Bunch of Mindless Jerks who were the First Against the Wall when the Revolution Came by Slag

Slag — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:49:45 +0000

So are these guidelines going to be applied Constitutionally (ie, to EVERYONE)?

Especially to the Entertainment and Sports industries.

Is Congress limited to 16x what a page makes, or 16x what the lowest-paid government worker makes?

Serious questions remain about this legislation.

Comment on Like Pet Rocks by MikeCT

MikeCT — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:07:56 +0000

It’s about time you started blogging again! Sheesh! :) Keep it up.

Comment on Blogrolling by Jon Kantrowitz

Jon Kantrowitz — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:41:08 +0000

Thanks for the plug!

Comment on More Inside the Tent by catdance

catdance — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:53:55 +0000

re: the Hoyer Henchmen letter, did Congressman Himes have any concrete suggestions about funding the public plan other than increasing taxes on the wealthy?

He’s against a lot of things, but I don’t yet know what he’s for.

Comment on Letters from Inside the Tent by catdance

catdance — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:55:47 +0000

That Himes signed both these letters smacks of having his cake and eating it too. He can point those in favor of a public option to his signature in support, and he can point those who use a tax increase as an excuse to oppose a public option to this letter.

While you are taking a rather blase view of the inherent dishonesty of the misleading wording of this letter, I find this playing fast and loose with the “facts” pretty sickening.

As for “Steny’s Angels” — someone should point out to Congressman Himes that when one lies down with dogs, one is apt to get fleas. I’d hoped for a lot better from Jim Himes, but it seems he’s just business as usual.

Comment on First Against the Wall, cont’d by iBlog

iBlog — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:17:13 +0000

While the intentions are noble, I have to say that I believe these attempts to limit corporate salaries, bonuses, etc. are feel-good distractions AND doomed to fail. As we learned from the “campaign finance reform” dance - in a corrupt, profit-driven system, money will ALWAYS find a new way to reach the powerful and greedy - and THEY will always find a new way to get all the money they believe they deserve (or can steal).

Short of much more dramatic system-change, I don’t know the answer - but this ain’t it.

Comment on “Or Does He” by shelly sindland

shelly sindland — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:34:58 +0000

I can’t tell if you are making fun of me or mean the “fearless Journalism” thing. Please explain. I watched the execution of a man. I can assure you, I am no fading violet.