Today is the
Greenwich fundraiser, proving to be an embarrassment for all Republicans (see continuation). President George W. Bush is scheduled to make a fund-raising stop in Greenwich Thursday night, but
Rowland, the chairman of his re-election committee, will not be in attendance.
In the meantime I received this surprisingly sharp form letter from Nancy Johnson, showing where repubs stand:
Thank you for contacting me on this important matter to the State of Connecticut.
The governor's conduct is clearly indefensible. I strongly support the decision of the state legislative leaders from both parties to establish a bipartisan special committee to investigate the governor's conduct and determine if impeachment is warranted. This committee should move swiftly and forcefully to learn whether state laws and regulations were broken. If this committee concludes that Governor Rowland's actions warrant his removal from office, then the governor should resign immediately and spare the state the crippling experience of a formal impeachment process.
Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future on this or any other issue.
Very truly yours,
Nancy L. Johnson
Member of Congress
Bonus P.S. for faithful readers: Joe Trippi interview on Deborah Norville (MSGOP 9 P.M.)
Rowland Invite Unnerves Republicans
Usually the night before the state of the state address, Governor John Rowland invites a small group of Republican leaders to preview his speech. This year, they're going to have to get a bigger room, or maybe not. The New York Times reports this morning that Rowland has invited the entire Republican caucus to the Residence, and the unusual move has unnerved some legislators. "I haven't received this kind of call from the governor in nine years," said George L. Gunther, a state senator who has also said the governor should resign. "He hasn't done this before, and to do it now, it isn't too bright. It's highly inappropriate." The Times reports House Majority leader Bob Ward asked Rowland to hold the meeting at the State House instead. Ward, who said he will not attend the Tuesday night meeting, said he has not heard back from the Governor on his request.
Finally, although about JoeMentum and not Rowland, I couldn't resist (see CT Political report):
"When Ya Comin' Home, Joe?
" 'JoeMentum'? 'Liebermaniacs'? At least this time it wasn't 'Sore Loserman," writes Waterbury Republican-American senior editorial writer Steve Macoy. "When ya comin' home, Joe? Though he was foolish to ever leave, former Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-America, should be home in plenty of time to be a spectator for the Democratic presidential primary in Connecticut on March 2. By then, with any luck, he finally will have begun serving the six-year Senate term that he won in 2000 and earning the congressional salary he has taken under false pretenses for three years." The Hartford Courant, in an editorial slugged "Joe-mentum: Going, Going . . ." writes "At some point soon, the campaign that became a cause could turn into an indulgence. Before that happens, Mr. Lieberman should return to his job as U.S. senator from Connecticut." And then there's The San Jose Mercury News who reports Lieberman "claimed the Granite State had 'put him in the ring.' Sure, he's in the ring, but what he has to realize is that he's lying on the mat." ABC's The Note, muses "Lieberman will be out by Friday or Wednesday."
