The new town committees are set to elect new chairmen soon.
Truthfully, I've paid remarkably little attention to the whole thing, mostly just listening quietly to rumors.
But I did ask Elliott Nelson a few days back if he was interested in the Democratic Party chairmanship. He confirmed that he is, indeed, seeking the unpaid position.
I don't know if Dean Kilbourne, the current chairman, wants to stay on or if anybody else is vying for the slot.
On the Republican side, there's lots of talk, but the only sure thing is that Art Mocabee is moving on. He's pitching in on the district level instead.
I wouldn't be surprised if TJ Barnes is willing to be GOP chairman again, but that's mostly a guess. A few insiders have told me he might do it. I haven't asked him.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
90 comments:
Who's Elliot Nelson?
Dean is seeking to keep his seat.
Elliot only sent letters to the people that he knew he would have a chance at possibly supporting him. You would think that if he thought he was going to do a good job that he would send letters to everyone voting and not just a select few. His assumptions at who will and who won't support him will end up hurting him in the end.
Playing politics within the very party you are asking to unite and support isn't a good way to start off your campaign for chairmanship.
TJ Barne$ for sure!
March 20, 2008 9:58 PM:
What kind of Dem is this guy? Is he a Obama-type (neo-hippie)liberal or a union hack? Or is he both?
I imagine those are the only two variations (or are they the same). I'm just curious, no smear intended here.
T.J. Barnes hmm isn't he the republican that ran the Bobroske campaign. The campaign that falsely accussed drug dealers of supporting Colapietro ? The ....you know DIRTY campaign. But who really should expect anything decent to come from these nasty republicans. Might as well be T.J. .
Awwww don't go Art. We won't have only one left to answer back at. Well I'm sure you'll find somebody.The Democrats will surely miss you !
Why don't the Republicans smarten up, select a chair that knows how to and what it takes to win?
It isn't money, it is people.
But then, they would much rather have individual "power" than get the party going in the right direction.
Barnes will set us back: surely theer is someone else.
Elliot is a union hack and the cornerstone of the Artie Party, whose only vision for Bristol is to harass Zoppo's former supporters and undermine anything she started (they haven't gotten the memo: she lost!). So look for a continuation of the cold war between Ward and the Zoppo-istas if Elliot gets elected. Also Ward and his supporters were going to bolt from the Democratic Party if he lost the primary, which tells you where their commitment is, and it ain't to the party. Dean is the current chair and has done very little to strengthen the party but he did not take sides in the Ward-Zoppo war so he would be a calming influence. Don't expect anything dynamic or progressive from either of them. I think most DTC members would rather stay home and not vote at all, but they can't.
Any of you naysayers what to voluteer or get involved?
Didn't think so.
All talk and no action.
The word 'naysayer' should be banned.
how do you know none of these posters are volunteers? because you automatically assume that volunteers are happy with the way things are?
It is fine to be unhappy or happy for that matter. When I use the term naysayer it for the folks that just take pot shots at everything. NEVER offering a solution but sure as ____ whining and complaining.
They add no value to the blog.
Lead, follow or get out of the way.
Barnes is just a rich Art Mocabee.
He too is out of touch.
westconn:
If you study today's Democrat priamry you see two different types of Democrats congregating towards either candidate.
The Obama type in my opinion and that of many others (pundits especially) many times is a higher income, college educated liberal. That person feels guilt because of the economic plight of minorities, is against an aggressive national defense and is generally for an increased welfare state and a larger public sector.
The older more conventional possibly more conservative Democrat is his father's Democrat. FDR and JFK made them Democrats. They are weary of "big business", are pro-union but are realists as well.
Many Obama supporters probably don't even understand or care about the influence organized labor has on the Democrat Party. They just listen to Katie Couric too much and see this relatively handsome young black man, and they support him because of his claim to make change.
March 21, 2008 6:49 AM:
If I was a drug dealer I wouldn't be too concerned about being falsely accused of supporting Colapietro.
If I was a crack dealer though I would be happy that the legislature made dealing smaller quantities of crack less punishable. Wouldn't you?
Elliott sent out letters? I'm voting on Monday and I didn't get a letter from him.
Guess he made up my mind for me.
If you naysayers don't like to be called "Naysayers" don't call other people names. And volunteers don't mind people knowing who they are. I doubt that any naysayers volunteer for anything,
"Naysayers" about what? If you don't think anyone here has volunteered or been involved in the process you're wrong. Sounds like you're just a lackey.
...Sorry 11:27, they got the memo...Bristol spoke...Zoppo lost. She even got a job and moved on. Why don't you try and follow her example. The "cold war" is over. Seems the only ones trying to perpetuate the hard feelings are a few remaining "Zoppo-istas." ... Try to get over it, the rest of us already have...
The Republicans have a few good people out there, but the King Makers don't want them.
Guess they feel that they would lose their "power" if they took over.
You talk like you are already on crack
12:59 pm Your hate for Colapietro is showing again. Must be the typical loud mouth Republican
AND YOU 4:53 sOUND LIKE A REPUBLICAN NAYSAYER. GOOD FOR NOTHING, NOT EVEN CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISIZEM.
"If I was a drug dealer I wouldn't be too concerned about being falsely accused of supporting Colapietro."
Looks like Bev Bobroske is on this blog. This was her smear campaign against Tom. It didn't work two years ago, Bev sweetie, and it still won't work.
Poor TJ (in a non-literal sense). He just minds his own busine$$. But Collins mentions him (for no appearant reason) and he gets hammered by the Dumb-o-crat hacks.
Welcome to the "Nastiest" blog in Bristol. Caused by the republicans. They like to have names to call, so welcome to the venom pit T.J.
Don't be fooled by TJs seemingly nice boy image.
He has his nose and foot in much of the rep goings on-- he just avoids getting his hands dirty.
4:53 You must be in la la land or on drugs if you can't see any naysaying in this blog.Read it !!!
I think that TJ would had a sense of credibility to the Republican party, even if it is a fake sense of credibility - it's a way to get the public to start listening to you again.
Those of us that are voting on the Dem side on Monday have nothing to be proud of. Elliott is not as well supported as he thinks he is because his dishonesty and the fact that he's so far up the Mayor's butt that it's scary - and Dean is too passive and can't be bothered.
Nelson running the DTC would be the worst thing that could ever happen to us.
Behind Closed Doors would have to be the new motto.
Odin:
You need to read better. The poster beforehand said that we "accussed" (sic) "drug dealers of supporting Colapietro". Does anyone really care who drug dealers support? I mean, do they even vote? It was a joke!
But I did seriously state, "If I was a crack dealer though I would be happy that the legislature made dealing smaller quantities of crack less punishable. Wouldn't you?".
I did not agree with the way in which the issue was brought forward by Republicans in Hartford on behalf of the Bobroske campaign. I'd be surprised if Beverly approved of that type of rhetoric too much herself.
She is and always has been an ou-standing pillar in this community. The majority of people know this and your ignorance in such matters shows.
ignorance runs rampant on this blog because no one is held accountable nor does anyone have a sense of right and wrong - I guess one could say that it really seems somewhat - "moccabeeish".
So was Governor Rowland !!
Maybe we should have Colepietro pass an ADHD bill to help those of you that can't stay focused....
Back on task here -
Between Dean and Elliot, Dean is the obvious choice. He isn't playing the Mayor's "stack the deck" game and he is much more intelligent. (Forming a logical sentence should be a requirement.) Dean won't stoop to Mocabee's antics - Nelson can't wait to "ready, fire, aim".
TJ Barnes is a good guy, has a great deal of integrity which the party needs in a leader, and his name won't hurt either. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, Mocabee has been a damaging force for this party for a number of years. Voters don't like to see his angry, accusatory, "bad dem" letters. They don't find them informative or beneficial, they find them embarassing and humiliating.
If TJ doesn't want it, maybe Bob Merrick should run. He did well in the last election and seems to have some integrity. He wasn't a mud slinger which is also important.
We need leaders for these parties. Not followers. Elliott would be a Ward Follower, not a DTC Leader.
Sorry, Bev. Connecticut's drug penalty laws that mandate stiffer punishment for crack cocaine than powder cocaine are racist, and everyone (even your fellow Republican Governor) knows this. That's why even the Republicans supported changing them. But that didn't stop you from making Colapietro look like he was soft on crime in a cheap shot attempt to get elected. The Bristol voters saw through this and were not fooled by it.
Hmmm I think the law says "and I approved this message" So it is your ignorance that is showing !
I have a copy of the Bobroske card and it doesn't at all say what you say. Lying again ?
Tom c is a big time union flunkey helping to take care of his union friends and thats it. He is a 75 year old man trying to look 25. You need more help than that hair.
I agree that TJ is a nice guy, but I do not believe he has what it takes to get the party straightened out.
He really is not in touch with the people.
Bob too is a nice guy, but he clearly proved that he has HIS OWN IDEAS, and refuses to incorporate the will of the people into the mix.
The R's should be looking for some one who relates to the public and someone that the public relates to, also.
To 5:41
I agree.
The Republican Committee is going to have to get some one that has standing in the Community, political acumen, and is willing to put in the time and effort.
The current administration is vulnerable, but it will take the right person to capitalize on their weaknesses
Your hate mongering is showing again. We already know you hate Colapietro and Unions. Remember without some union members money you don't have your Bleeding business that likes to use other peoples money. You don't have any of your own.
At least you children know what Tom Colapietro looks like. Must be nice to shoot off your lonely unhappy mouth when you don't even know his age. I told ya your credability is zilch !
Just goes to show you this blog has nothing to do with Colapietro but we know already you hate unions and Colapietro so what ? Your biases are showing again. Besides your ignorance that is .
I thought Bob Merrick was already chairman of the Lincolnian Party.
alright...first of I hate to say it but these TC's (whoever has control) really run the city. All agendas and ideas start there. Yes some sway away like Bill S. and the whole dem issue with Ward and Zappo but mostly it all starts with the TC's We really should pay attention to what they do...Also the press should cover the meetings more (steve I know you go when you can)
Bottom line is over 60,000 plus people are governed by what a 100 or so people?????
Grow up Colapietro hater and talk some sense (if you can )Republican hate mongers are at it again!
The TC's aren't the only "movers" on here get it ? Movers ?
Gee 9:41 you don't pay attention to what they do ? I guess you naysayers just make up stories.
I find it interesting that two of the most active, hard working people, in and out of office over the past few years (6-10 and more), the ones you mentioned, Zoppo and Stortz, have been shunned by their own Town Committees.
THey worked hard, they had the citys interest in mind, but apparently ruffled a few of the king makers feathers.
Hopefully they will get back in the picture, SOON!
March 21, 2008 4:53 PM
Sounds like you are a NAYSAYER.
Go away!
This has nothing to do with colapietro...move on and lay off the naysayers stuff. It's getting old.
Bob would be good for the republicans and dean would be far better than eliott in the dtc. Too bad ellen isn't running for chair of the dtc. That would be better than anything.
Eliott just doesn't know how to think without Ward telling him what to think.
I agree:
each party, and the city would be better off if Zoppo and Stortz stayed involved.
Any possibility?
I agree, we need more good people involved.
We should, even as non-active people, support the good people so that they stay involved.
Ellen has gone to meetings and appears to be involved at some level although I don't think she is a voting member so she definitely has not disappeared. She has put in a lot of time and she was very much embraced when she came to DTC and there were not problems with Art supporters. I don't know if Stortz has stayed involved in the RTC.
Stortz has not stayed involved at all with BRTC.
The BRTC does not want anything to do with Stortz, or at least their inept leadership has indicated that to him and a few others who were good hard working Republicans.
The Town committees loss.
If the Dems accepted Zoppo back, it clearly shows why continually they win and the R's don't
Odin AKA Rev. Al Sharpton:
If you can't prove (which you can't) that crack cocaine is a drug exclusively used by blacks and hispanics, then YOU ARE THE RACIST.
Do I have to list the reasons why crack is more damaging to people and society than powdered cocaine, again?
Instead of lowering the penaltiy, why not just RAISE the penalty for powdered cocaine then?
Why make this a race issue? Don't the blacks want to clean up their ghettos? I mean are there half the murders anywhere else like there is in those neighborhoods?
Please don't call Beverly a racist. Leave that to the nasty hacks. Please don't race-bait like Reverend Al and Jesse Jackson.
Ellen going to DTC meetings is definately a sign of class considering what the primary was like but then again she has been involved since she was a little girl so I am not surpruised. Good for her - would hate to see her shunned or bitter. Good for the Dems that they have gotten past it.
1:17
Stortz has been very active with RTC over the years as chair a number of times, and a member, going back into the 70's.
His main focus has been Government and Bristol first.
Obviously that has bothered some people, but ironically, that is one of the reasons that he was elected so many times.
If I remember, he won all precincts in 2005, against an incumbent.
His strength and attraction was/is government, not politics.
Hopefully we havn't lost that.
Odin et al:
They were trying to make him look soft on crime? I just thought they were trying to make him look out to be an idiot. What ever the reason I agree that the ad was stupid. It just wasn't done right.
I think they could have metioned his vote and the issue without making a ridiculous statement about the "support" of drug dealers. As I asked before, do drug dealers vote?
I think they could have (and rightfully) made the issue of how the Democrats pander to race-baiters. We lowered the penalty on a dangerous, deadly, extremely problemactic drug in the name of political correctness. I heard of the issue (on the radio) when it was in the legislature and I was outraged (by the reduction).
Zoppo does not go to DTC meetings anymore.
March 22, 2008 8:18 PM;
He's national/world chairman. He was elected unanimously (one vote, his).
The headquarters is between his ears. You don't want to visit there.
Odin who pretends once in a while really doesn't know what he is talking about . Just talking as usual. You can tell he is biased bscause he lies and thinks people are too stupid to research the statement. He also likes to prejudually dwell on fake and twisted trash !!
The House voted 93 to 52 to approve it, so it couldn't have been as whacky as Bev wanted voters to believe. Unfortunately Gov. Rell was more concerned with looking soft on crime than doing the right thing.
OLR Bill Analysis
HB 6635
AN ACT CONCERNING THE ILLEGAL SALE OR POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SELL OF COCAINE
SUMMARY:
This bill eliminates the disparity in the minimum amount of crack and powder cocaine that a person must possess to be guilty of selling or manufacturing, distributing, prescribing, compounding, transporting, or possessing cocaine with intent to sell. It accomplishes this by increasing the minimum amount of crack cocaine from one-half gram to one ounce, the current minimum for powder cocaine.
By law, the penalty for selling or possessing with intent to sell at least one-half gram of crack cocaine or one ounce of powder cocaine, heroin, or methadone is five years to life in prison. The five-year sentence is a mandatory minimum, except a court may suspend the mandatory sentence if it finds that the defendant was under age 18 or mentally impaired at the time he committed the crime.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2005
COMMITTEE ACTION
Judiciary Committee
Joint Favorable Report
Yea 24 Nay 13
TOP
Don't worry the republicans will make something out of it. To Odin
So your saying Bobroske accused Tom of being the drug dealers friend because he voted to increase the mandatory sentence for crack? I dont get it.
It takes so much cocaine to make so much crack. The penalty is now the same . Thats for you uneducated republicans.....you guys know everything how come you didn't know this ?
You're right, it doesn't make any sense. Welcome to the sleazy world of negative campaigning, Bobroske-style.
PS: Anyone remember who her campaign manager was?
March 25, 2008 12:40 PM:
No he voted to DECREASE it...because according to some the fact that carck-coacaine carried stiffer penalties then powdered coke was a racist law.
Understand?
So the people saying that the stiffer penalties for crack is a racist policy are also saying that only minorities do crack. But they're too dumb to realize that.
Really? This is from the General Assembly's website:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/vote/
s/2005SV-00275-R00HB06635-SV.htm
Vote for HB-6635 Sequence Number 275
Taken on 5/19 PASS
The following is the result of the vote at 5:39 p.m.:
Total Number Voting 36
Necessary for Adoption 19
Those voting Yea 21
Those voting Nay 15
Those absent and not voting 0
The following is the roll call vote:
Y 31 THOMAS A. COLAPIETRO
Yes, really. He voted to decrease the penalty. His comments are in the paper. Why are you having trouble conprehending this?
Thanks to the Democrats the black people smoking crack can rest assured that they will not get a stiffer penalty than their white cohorts who supposedly only sniff coke.
And the world rests easier.
That stuff is old why do you have trouble finding something positive to contribute instead of constantly whining ? People didn't listen to you before they aren't going to listen to you this time.
You really should do a little research before spouting off. The law would have INCREASED the amount of crack cocaine needed to invoke the mandatory five year sentence from half a gram to a full ounce, so that it was equal to the amount of powder cocaine that invoked the mandatory sentence. Too much math for you? Sorry.
Public Act No. 05-83
AN ACT CONCERNING THE ILLEGAL SALE OR POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SELL OF COCAINE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 21a-278 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2005):
(a) Any person who manufactures, distributes, sells, prescribes, dispenses, compounds, transports with the intent to sell or dispense, possesses with the intent to sell or dispense, offers, gives or administers to another person one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing an aggregate weight of one ounce or more of heroin, methadone or cocaine or an aggregate weight of [one-half gram] one ounce or more of cocaine in a free-base form or a substance containing five milligrams or more of lysergic acid diethylamide, except as authorized in this chapter, and who is not, at the time of such action, a drug-dependent person, shall be imprisoned for a minimum term of not less than five years nor more than twenty years; and, a maximum term of life imprisonment. The execution of the mandatory minimum sentence imposed by the provisions of this subsection shall not be suspended except the court may suspend the execution of such mandatory minimum sentence if at the time of the commission of the offense (1) such person was under the age of eighteen years, or (2) such person's mental capacity was significantly impaired but not so impaired as to constitute a defense to prosecution.
Gee Odin you sure do know a lot about drugs. Do you do them too? That's all you seem to have any knowledge or talk of.
Ti Odin plenty of research was done on this in the last election. People didn't by your biased spin then and they won't now. It's old stuff just like your thinking ! Oh and wasn't it a republican that signed the bill? You are to blind to see the truth or you are just a lier and mean spirited.In other words "useless"
No, she vetoed it on June 2, 2005.
Odin: Why doesn't this compute for you? The penalty is decreased because the mandatory amount in increased. Now that if you get caught with less than 1 ounce of crack the mandatory penalty is not in play.
So this is a good idea why? Crack is a more powerful drug and has proven to be more destructive to society than powdered cocaine. So changing the law is wrong and it favors the small time crack dealers. Perhaps that's you?
Betcha TJ"S Grampa is happy.
Obviously these are the experts on drugs. They sure know how to spin don't they ?
Betcha his wife isn't!
Who was Bobroske's campaign manager, anwyay? Wasn't it someone high up in the Republican town committee?
TJ was Bobroske's campaign manager
TO 8:20 poster, are you sure?
Which election?
Yep !! Check it out. Gauranteed
The last one!
Maybe that is why Barnes ran for the chair: he is still after Colopietro.
Why doesn't he run?
No, Barnes wanted to be chair so he could support Ken Johnson: watch out Art W.
Who cares? We know what he and they are.
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