Though it's hardly surprising that the Waterbury Republican-American would have harsh words for state Sen. Tom Colapietro, it's a little odd to see an editorial there assailing the Bristol Democrat for showing "callousness toward the downtrodden."
In this editorial, the paper blasts Colapietro for wanting to impose a "sucker tax" with a special lottery aimed at pumping up gambling revenues for the state.
The senator's bill, which is now in committee, would "require the Division of Special Revenue to set a prize payout of 65 percent or more for one or more special lotteries to be offered by the Connecticut Lottery Corp." in order "to increase ticket sales and increase state revenue."
The Waterbury paper's editorial board see the lottery as a way of fleecing the poor -- which is pretty much true -- by snatching money from those who can't afford to lose it.
*******Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
27 comments:
Man - this Colapietro guys does not really sound like a smart man at all. When are elections again? Now I see why the state is in the mess it is in...!
This will be the sinker for him.....
Only IF the Republicans put up a legitimate candidate, and run on teh issues!
Highly unlikely!
"Though it's hardly surprising that the Waterbury Republican-American would have harsh words for state Sen. Tom Colapietro...."
Steve, why is it "hardly surprising?"
12:10 -- Because Sen. Colapietro has told me many times how much the Waterbury paper hates him.
A better answer to the question would be, "because the Waterbury-Republican is owned by an ultra conservative wing nut who hates all Democrat politicians".
Re: Odlin 12:20
So, would it be fair for me to say that the New York Times is owned by an ultra left wing family who hates all Republican Politicians?
What's fair in this discussion is to say why is the Republican suddenly showing its concern for the poor when all this time the state's has been allowing the sale of lottery's like Powerball (which is run by Rhode Island if I remember correctly)?
I don't know. Can you prove your claim? I can.
Published on Thursday, August 17, 2006 by Editor & Publisher:
"A Connecticut Yankee in Joe Stalin's Court: Painting Ned Lamont 'Red'"
"The editorial page of Waterbury's Republican-American, stuck in a 1950s time warp, suggests that blueblood U.S. Senate candidate Ned Lamont is actually a Marxist whose 'true color' is Red". By Greg Mitchell
"In case you thought McCarthyism in the press died out in the late-1950s, consider this past Sunday’s editorial in the daily newspaper in Waterbury, Connecticut. At least Ann Coulter, an avowed fan of Sen. Joseph McCarthy, has moved on to current threats (terrorists and other liberals), while the aptly named Republican-American, Sunday circ 60,000, is still obsessed with Communists."
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0817-30.htm
Re: Odin
As a life long Republican, I subscribe to the New York Times to insure that I have an ample dose of the other side. I have received it (dose) every day and Sundays in particular in the editorials, op-ed columns and most letters to the editor during the last 8 years. What was the name of that Administration?
I cannot argue that the WR is right leaning in its editorials, but please, at least admit that the opposite is true with the Old Grey Lady. I think even they would admit to that.
wasn't there a fellow a few years back that got sooo upset with the corruption @ the lottery and the fact that govt. leaders refused to investigate the crimes , that he ended up shooting a bunch of the criminals himself ??
did anyone ever investigate the criminal actions of the lottery after that event ??
Every paper is biased one way or the other. The Waterbury paper is a little less biased than most, even endorsing some Democrats at election time. They are right on the money with this editorial, though. It's a stupid idea.
That's what the lotter is in the first place....a way to suck money from the vulnerable and poor people who are either addicted to gambling and the State is enabling them, or are at their financial wits end and are looking for a "miracle".
Hey Mocabee, here is your chance to be center stage and be a hero!
The Waterbury-Republican American's editorials are usually much more conservative than all of the rest of Connecticut's newspapers. That isn't saying much because the Courant, etc. are liberal, with many more liberal regular columnists than conservative and they almost always side with the liberal point of view. The NYT and the Washington Post are wings of the Democrat Party as are the three TV networks (NBC, CBS and ABC, as well as CNN and MSNBC).
I agree with the Republican-American's opinion on Senator Colapietro's wrong-headed way to pump money back into the pockets of his supporters.
Oh and yes, let's take Greg Mitchell's word on the Waterbury paper (Mitchell recently wrote a column for The Huffington Post entitled "How George Bush's Penis Made It to Broadway").
And Steve, if Colapietro told you to jump in a lake would you?
(I'm calling him now for a special favor right now)
The odds of winning the Powerball are 167 million to 1. It is a tax on stupidity when you think about the odds of winning.
Besides this would be more work for the small Mom and Pop liquor store owners who will be selling the majority of these tickets. We have already heard from Tom that these people don't want to spend any more money on their business and this would just add to their burden.
I think we should figure out how to actually shrink the State budget. Why has the state budget gone from 12 Billion in 2000 to over 18 billion in 2009? That is the true question in my mind, where has all that money gone?
Gee I thought that Sunday sales came out in the Republicans proposal! Maybe they think we can booze our way out of this mess they created. How come none of these geniuses don't have any ideas? Seems like this blog opened the doors for these so-called concerned citizens to bash Colapietro. They're a lot of help. I see this blog is business as usual.
11:22 This Colapietro guy ? You don't know him? Ha !
To Tired Taxpayer....So what's you're ideas?
I think we should cut spending across the board by 15 percent. Seeing as nobody really wants to give up what they have recieved over the years, then just make it fair across the board. The fact of the matter is we CAN NOT afford this Government!!
The state budget has grown by 66+- percent in the last 10 years, but the average state income has grown nowhere near that rate. I find it funny that when we hear about cutting this budget , the opponents say we can't at this time because more people are using those services. So their arguement is this is actually the time to grow our government beacuse people NEED us!! I have news for you, what people really need are JOBS!!! What creates JOBS? Business and economic activity, and Connecticut is at the bottom of that chart on a national basis. Maybe we should concentrate on growing our state economy and less about protecting the rate of growth of the state budget.
A super lottery doesn't do anything, but prey on dreams of easy money. Money is not made easily, you actually have to work for it!! I look at the state legislature and I think they all miss this point.
Stop picking on Colapietro! He might cry!!
Steve he's going to ask you to take this blog down....AGAIN!
I see a lot of discussion on here against his proposal, but not much of the name calling that Tom was so upset about. If he doesn't like people disagreeing with him, then he has no business being in politics. The name calling is not productive to the discussion on hand, but he has to expect people to disagree with his proposals and be ready to defend them!
The Republican-American's bias depends on the reporter. The guy who covers Plymouth is hugely pro-Democrat. He's totally ignoring the charter violations by the Democrat mayor and council there. No coverage whatsoever.
"The fact of the matter is we CAN NOT afford this Government!!"
That's your opinion. My opinion is that we can't afford NOT to have this government. Less government = fewer opportunities for our kids, fewer services for our seniors, and fewer reasons for good families and businesses to come to Bristol.
Somebody tell the Waterbury paper they're not supposed to pick on Colapietro.
12:27 How does a bigger government produce more opportunities for people? Government is funded by taxes, it doesn't create wealth or jobs it takes wealth away. Private business creates jobs and wealth, not government. What is the biggest attraction to bring business into an area: LOW TAXES!!
The larger the State of CT government gets the more expensive it becomes and the people who do not work for the state loose their jobs or get hurt by a recession, but the state workers don't!! So I loose my job and still have to pay more tax to support the size of the state government.
You watch as more and more people leave this state for more prosperous areas of the country we will be in a continuous budget crisis. But at least we will have this wonderful government as long as you work for it. Give me a break!!!
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