Thinking Citizen Blog — Connecticut (Part One) Governor (D) Ned Lamont (1954 — ), Senators (D) Richard Blumenthal (1946. — ), Chris Murphy (1973 — )
Thinking Citizen Blog — Sunday is Political Process Reform, Campaign Strategy, and Candidate Selection Day
Today’s Topic: Connecticut (Part One) Governor (D) Ned Lamont (1954 — ), Senators (D) Richard Blumenthal (1946. — ), Chris Murphy (1973 — )
This is the twenty first stop in a cross country tour of the US political landscape that began with Michigan on December 10, 2023.
The goal of the tour is to be a little less ignorant when the November election rolls round than I would otherwise be.
What do you know about politics in Connecticut that the rest of us should but probably don’t? What do you know about Governor Ned Lamont? Senator Richard Blumenthal? Senator Chris Murphy?
Experts — please chime in. Correct, elaborate, elucidate.
THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: Biden 59.2%, Trump 39.2% -
1. Biden’s margin of victory compared to the national vote of 51.3% to 46.7%.
2. All five members of the Connecticut delegation to the US House of Representatives are Democrats.
3. Party registration: 36% Democratic, 20% Republican, 41% unaffiliated.
NB: “In the early days of the United States, Connecticut was known for supporting the conservative Federalist Party. In the Second Party System, Connecticut leaned towards the anti-Jacison candidates. Following the Civil War, Connecticut was a swing state for a long time until 1896. Thereafter until 1932 Connecticut was a Republican stronghold….During the Great Depression Connecticut began to pivot in support of the Democratic candidates. After that, , although the Republican Party won Connecticut several times in the presidential election, its advantage was no longer as significant as it had previously been. Since 1992, the state has voted consistently for the Democratic candidates.”
GOVERNOR NED LAMONT (D) in office since 2019 — has legalized cannabis, sports betting, and online gambling
1. Graduate of Philips Exeter Academy, Harvard College (1976), and Yale School of Management (1980). Served as Greenwich selectman from 1987–1989. Great great grand son of Thomas Lamont, chairman of JP Morgan.
2. 2018 gubernatorial election: Lamont, 49.4%, Bog Stefanowski, 46.2%.
3. 2022 gubernatorial election: Lamont 56.0%, Bob Stefanowski, 43.1%.
NB: (from his website) “Governor Ned Lamont put Connecticut’s fiscal house in order, cut taxes, and invested in our schools, infrastructure, and public safety. And worked tirelessly to make sure that Connecticut lives up to our values — protecting our rights and ensuring everyone has an opportunity to succeed.” Agree? Disagree?
SENATOR RICHARD BLUMENTAL (D) — in office since 2011, previously Attorney General of Connecticut, 1991–2011
1. One of the wealthiest US Senators with an estimated net worth of $100 million.
2. Graduate of Harvard College, where he was editor of the Crimson and of Yale Law School where he was editor of the Yale Law Review. Served in the US Marine Reserve (1970–1976) which kept him out of Vietnam.
3. 2010 Election: won by a margin of 55% to 43%. 2016: 63.2% to 34.6%, 2022 57.4% to 42.5%.
NB: (from his website): “Richard Blumenthal’s #1 priority? Standing up for people and making a difference. He never backs down from a fight or fails to put Connecticut first. No matter how big or powerful the special interest or lawbreaker, protecting Connecticut’s people is always his top priority and purpose.” Hmm… Specifics: fighting big pharma, big oil, big tech and supporting women’s right to choose.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY (D) in office since 2013 (at the time, the youngest US Senator at age 39)
1. Previously member of the US House of Representatives, 2007–2013; and before that in the Connecticut Senate (2003–2007), and the Connecticut House of Representatives (1999–2003).
2. Graduate of Williams College (1996) and University of Connecticut Law School (2002).
3. 2012 election: 54.8% to 43.1%, 2018: 59.5% to 39.4%
NB: (from his website) “Chris Murphy…has dedicated his career to public service as an advocate for Connecticut families. Senator Murphy has been a strong voice in the Senate for job creation, affordable health care, education, sensible gun laws, and a forward-looking foreign policy.” Agree? Disagree?
He is chairman of the Senate Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism Subcommittee. “I’m committed to making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself, and that innocent people and children inside Gaza are protected from harm.”
Is he striking the right balance? Is that job possible? What would you do differently?
Political party strength in Connecticut — Wikipedia
2020 United States presidential election in Connecticut — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Lamont
Richard Blumenthal — Wikipedia
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/
Emergency Israel | U.S. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
My spin — then periodically review, re-rank, and exchange your list with those you love. I call this the “Orion Exchange” because seven is about as many as any human can digest at a time. Game?
LAST FOUR YEARS OF POSTS ORGANIZED THEMATICALLY
PDF with headlines — Google Drive
ATTACHMENTS BELOW:
#1 A graphic guide to justice (9 metaphors on one page).
#2 “39 Songs, Prayers, and Poems: the Keys to the Hearts of Seven Billion People” — Adams House Senior Common Room Presentation, (11/17/20)
NB: Palestine Orion (Decision) — let’s exchange Orions, let’s find Rumi’s field (“Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field. Meet me there” Rumi, 13 century Persian Sufi mystic)
YOUR TURN
Please share the coolest thing you learned in the last week related to political process or campaign strategy or 2020 candidate selection or anything else for that matter.
This is your chance to make some one else’s day or change their thinking. Or to consolidate in your own memory something worth remembering that might otherwise be lost. Or to clarify or deepen your own understanding of something dear to your heart. Continuity is key to depth of thought.
