Dodd, Dorgan to Retire; Won’t Seek Re-election

The 2010 mid-term elections are still months, but things aren’t looking good Democrats. Two long serving high profile Senators, Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota have announced that they won’t seek re-election:

Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and a Democratic Party stalwart in the Senate, is set to announce today that he will not seek re-election this year, according to a party strategist familiar with his plans.

Sen. Dodd’s decision was the latest in a string of big-name Democratic retirements revealed Tuesday as the party struggles to contend with a challenging political climate.

Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota said he, too, would retire after this year, unexpectedly saddling his fellow Democrats with a wide-open race that could be tough to win in a Republican-leaning state.

In addition to Dodd and Dorgan at least 5 other Senate Democrats are vulnerable, among them Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.

I wouldn’t breakout the Champagne yet, at least not in Connecticut… We may finally be free of Chris Dodd, but things just got a lot tougher for us, Chris Dodd was weakened and vulnerable and ultimately beatable. Now instead of facing a weakened Sen. Dodd we’re facing Attorney General Richard Blumenthal who has announced plans to run for Dodd’s seat. Say what you want to him, but there’s escaping the fact that he’s well known and well liked in this state… My guess is the Democrats will hang on to the seat.

Of course it won’t hurt to remind voters of Blumenthal’s remarks about Sen Dodd’s sweetheart mortgage deal:

Huh??? What??? Dodd was a victim??? It’s a rarity but I’m speechless!

Related

• Colorado’s Gov. Ritter Ends Bid for Re-Election – Wall Street Journal
• Massachusetts governor race another sign of Democratic weakness – Ed Lasky, American Thinker
• Culture of Corruption casualty: Chris Dodd bows out; CT AG Blumenthal to run – Michelle Malkin
• Dodd retiring – Ed Morrissry, Hot Air
• Will Blumenthal Be Sufficient Change for Connecticut? – Jim Geraghty

Senate Ethics Committee Clears Dodd, Conrand

As predicted the Senate Ethics Committee has cleared Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd of wrong doing in his dealings with Countrywide Financial:

The Senate Ethics Committee on Friday dropped yearlong investigations into two powerful Senate committee chairmen, Democrats Christopher J. Dodd and Kent Conrad .

The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington had filed complaints June 13, 2008, against the senators questioning whether they obtained mortgages from Countrywide Financial under more favorable interest rates than generally available because of their official posts.
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But the Ethics Committee, which has three Democratic and three Republican members, unanimously dropped its inquiry into the matter. In four-page letters to each lawmaker signed by all six committee members, the panel said it found “no substantial evidence” that the mortgages violated Senate rules after reviewing 18,000 pages of documents and interviewing witnesses.

The committee, however, said the lawmakers “should have exercised more vigilance” in their dealings with the company.

“There was no ‘sweetheart’ or special deal,” Dodd, D-Conn., said in a statement. “The allegations are and have always been false.”

Dodd has been hurt in his re-election campaign for 2010 by charges that he is too close to the financial industry, which he oversees as chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

“I’m confident the people of Connecticut will be glad to know that I’ve been cleared,” Dodd said.

Dodd has refinanced his properties to avoid dealing with Countrywide. On June 1, he got a 30-year loan for $400,000 at 5 percent interest for his home in East Haddam, Conn., through First County Bank. And on Aug. 3, he got a 30-year loan for $417,000 at 5.125 percent interest for his Washington residence from the U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union.

Pfft, who are they kidding, the only reason Sen Dodd or Sen. Conrad got the sweetheart deals they did is because they’re Senators… Birds of a feather flock together (and cover each others tail feathers).

Related

• House Democrat received Countrywide loans: report – Reuters
• Why are Democrats blocking inquiries into Friends of Angelo program? – Hot Air

AP: Dodd, Conrad Told Mortgage Deals Were Sweetened

The Associated Press is reporting that Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd was told from the very start that hes was getting a VIP mortgage discount:

Despite their denials, influential Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad and Chris Dodd were told from the start they were getting VIP mortgage discounts from one of the nation’s largest lenders, the official who handled their loans has told Congress in secret testimony.

Both senators have said that at the time the mortgages were being written they didn’t know they were getting unique deals from Countrywide Financial Corp., the company that went on to lose billions of dollars on home loans to credit-strapped borrowers. Dodd still maintains he got no preferential treatment.

Dodd got two Countrywide mortgages in 2003, refinancing his home in Connecticut and another residence in Washington. Conrad’s two Countrywide mortgages in 2004 were for a beach house in Delaware and an eight-unit apartment building in Bismarck in his home state of North Dakota.

Robert Feinberg, who worked in the Countrywide’s VIP section, told congressional investigators last month that the two senators were made aware that “who you know is basically how you’re coming in here.”

“You don’t say ‘no’ to the VIP,” Feinberg told Republican investigators for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, according to a transcript obtained by The Associated Press. Read the rest…

It’ll be fun to see how Sen. Dodd tries to spin this… My guess is the Senate Ethics Committee will give Dodd and Conrad a pass. California Sen. Barbara Boxer, the committee chairman, asked Mr. Feinberg if Sens. Dodd and Conrad received VIP treatment because they were senators. Feinberg replied that was not the case; they received breaks as other influential people in Countrywide’s “friends” of Angelo VIP program… That’ll be the loophole committee members use to vote against sanctions for Dodd and Conrad.

Regardless of what the Senate Ethics Committee decides Sam Caligiuri is right, if the allegations are true it’s time for Chris Dodd to resign. The people of Connecticut deserve better.

This and That: Dodd Trails, Obama Falls, Boxer Struggles, Perry Ready for Showdown

It’s Saturday, the weather is gorgeous and I have a date with a grill and some steaks so rather than spend my afternoon in front of the computer I thought put together a political blotter of sorts.

First up, Chris Dodd trails likely Republican challenger Rob Simmons by 9 points in the latest the latest Quinnipiac poll:

Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd trails former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, a likely Republican challenger 48 – 39 percent in the 2010 Senate race, but he is inching up in his job approval to a negative 42 – 52 percent approval rating, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

The matchup compares to a 45 – 39 percent Simmons lead in a May 27 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

In this latest survey, Simmons leads 87 – 7 percent among Republicans and 56 – 27 percent among independent voters, while Sen. Dodd takes Democrats 74 – 16 percent. The incumbent has gained among Democrats, but lost independent support since May 27.

Dodd’s negative 42 – 52 percent approval compares to 38 – 53 percent May 27 and this was up from a negative 33 – 58 percent April 2.

Second, the latest Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll show Pres. Obama’s poll numbers have slipped again:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 30% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -9. (see trends).

The number who Strongly Disapprove of the President has increased slightly following the prime time press conference on Wednesday night. That figure—39%–is now at the highest level yet recorded. As a result, the overall Approval Index has fallen to the lowest level yet recorded for this President.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens over the next few days as the full impact of his last prime time press conference starts to show up in the polls.

Third, Polling shows California Senator Barbara Boxer has narrow 4 point lead over likely Republican challenger Carly Fiorina:

Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer leads former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina in an early look at California’s 2010 race for the U.S. Senate.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that Boxer attracts 45% of the statewide vote while Fiorina, her best-known possible Republican challenger, earns 41%. Seven percent (7%) say they’d vote for some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.

In March, Boxer led Fiorina by nine, 47% to 38%.

Any incumbent who polls below 50% early in a campaign is considered potentially vulnerable. However, a Democrat running in a heavily Democratic state like California is often able to overcome weak poll numbers.

As Rasmussen notes the conventional wisdom says any incumbent who falls below 50% this early is potentially vulnerable but that Democrats running in heavily Democratic state like California should be to overcome weak poll numbers…  I’m not convince the conventional wisdom applies in California these days. California is an economic basket case, the voters there are frustrated by high taxes, high unemployment, hugh deficits… If Sen Boxer is perceived as being part of California’s economic problems she’s vulnerable regardless of how Democratic California leans.

Lastly, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, suggested Thursday that he would consider invoking the States’ 10th Amendment rights to resist the president’s healthcare plan, which he said would be “disastrous” for Texas:

Gov. Rick Perry, raising the specter of a showdown with the Obama administration, suggested Thursday that he would consider invoking states’ rights protections under the 10th Amendment to resist the president’s healthcare plan, which he said would be “disastrous” for Texas.

Interviewed by conservative talk show host Mark Davis of Dallas’ WBAP/820 AM, Perry said his first hope is that Congress will defeat the plan, which both Perry and Davis described as “Obama Care.” But should it pass, Perry predicted that Texas and a “number” of states might resist the federal health mandate.

“I think you’ll hear states and governors standing up and saying ‘no’ to this type of encroachment on the states with their healthcare,” Perry said. “So my hope is that we never have to have that stand-up. But I’m certainly willing and ready for the fight if this administration continues to try to force their very expansive government philosophy down our collective throats.”

I suspect Gov. Perry is right, Texas won’t be the only State to challenge ObamaCare. A number of states have already passed “sovereignty resolutions” asserting their 10th amendment rights.

That’s it for now, have great weekend folks.

Chris Dodd Hates Lobbyists But Not Their Cash

What I’m about to say should come as no surprise… Chris Dodd is a populist hypocrite. Just days after his campaign manager Jay Howser was sending e-mail to Dodd’s supporters proclaiming, “But what about the forgotten victims of Chris’s efforts? What about the lobbyists? The lobbyists can’t get meetings with Chris. He won’t return their phone calls. He even yells at them during hearings. Whether they’re lobbyists for the financial industry or health care companies, Chris just isn’t giving them the time of day.” Chris Dodd at a DSCC sponsored retreat on Martha’s Vineyard with several high-powered lobbyists:

Facing the toughest re-election fight of his nearly 30 years in the Christopher Dodd boasts about snubbing lobbyists.Yet even as he touts his independence, the embattled Connecticut Democrat is still cashing lobbyist campaign checks and rubbing shoulders with them at fundraisers and party gatherings.

Dodd, perhaps the most vulnerable Senate Democrat in 2010, has driven home his message in fundraising pitches and campaign videos.

“The lobbyists can’t get meetings with Chris,” Dodd’s campaign manager Jay Howser said in a recent e-mail to supporters. “He won’t return their phone calls … Chris just isn’t giving them the time of day.”

The videos even suggest Dodd has been so hard on lobbyists that he’s made them cry.

But the tough talk hasn’t stopped Dodd from raking in tens of thousands of dollars in lobbyist campaign contributions this year. It hasn’t prevented Dodd from letting lobbyists host his fundraising events.Or kept Dodd from schmoozing with lobbyists at places like Martha’s Vineyard,a favorite summer getaway spot for the rich and famous off the Massachusetts coast.

A few days after Howser’s e-mail, Dodd trekked to Martha’s Vineyard for a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee weekend retreat where about 30 senators joined major party donors, including lobbyists.

That email was accompanied by a campaign video featuring a baby’s voice wailing behind the words: “He made them cry.”

According to statistics compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics 27 percent of the money raised by Sen. Dodd’s campaign committee during the 2005-2010 election cycle comes from Political Action Committees… Chris Dodd, may rail against lobbyists but hes perfectly willing to take their cash.

It’s time to send Chris Dodd and his sweetheart mortgage for extended vacation at his Irish Cottage.

Related

• Dodd Still Lags in Latest Poll – Wall Street Journal
• After bashing K Street, Dodd mingles with lobbyists – The Hill
• Reinventing Chris Dodd – Wall Street Journal
• Dodd, Opponents Compare Local Vs. PAC Money Received – Hartford Courant
• Dodd rails about lobbyists, rakes in their cash – Hot Air

Chris Dodd Flips on Gay Marriage

Remember the anti-gay marriage stance Chris Dodd took during his presidential bid? It’s apparently become a liability in his senate reelection bid so he’s now in favor of gay marriage:

Public officials aren’t supposed to change their minds. But I firmly believe that it’s important to keep learning. Last week, while I was in Connecticut meeting with members of the gay and lesbian community from across the state, I had the opportunity to tell them what I’ve learned about marriage, and about equality.

While I’ve long been for extending every benefit of marriage to same-sex couples, I have in the past drawn a distinction between a marriage-like status (“civil unions”) and full marriage rights.

The reason was simple: I was raised to believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. And as many other Americans have realized as they’ve struggled to reconcile the principle of fairness with the lessons they learned early in life, that’s not an easy thing to overcome.

But the fact that I was raised a certain way just isn’t a good enough reason to stand in the way of fairness anymore.

The Connecticut Supreme Court, of course, has ruled that such a distinction holds no merit under the law. And the Court is right.

Say what? No one has ever argued that public officials can’t “change their minds”… Public officials can and do change their mind all the time. That’s not the issue, as Jim Geraghty says:

It’s the craven, sudden about-faces, taken in response to shifting poll numbers, that spur the cynicism and the snickering.

You know, like when a senator runs for president and takes a position on gay marriage that’s designed to get him into national office — you know, opposing it, but insisting that the same “traditional view of marriage” that stirs him to oppose it leaves a loophole for civil unions — and then throws it away when he faces a tough reelection campaign in his home state.

And there in lies my problem with Sen Dodd’s flip-flop… I’m pretty much an agnostic on the issue of gay marriage but I don’t believe a minute Chris Dodd’s change of position has anything to with fairness or principle. It has everything to with political expediency, he’s facing what maybe the toughest reelection fight of his political career so he’s pandering to every interest group he can in effort to garner their support.

Simply put Chris Dodd is the embodiment of everything that’s wrong with our political class… When it was in his political interest to be opposed to gay marriage he was. Now that it’s in his political interests to be a supporter of  gay marriage he is. The man is nothing if not a profile in political courage!

AP: Key Health Care Senators Have Industry Ties

I meant to post the story on Friday but I wasn’t able to get to it so figured I’d lead off with today… The Associated Press reported last week on the ties between several key Senators and the health care industry. Among them Connecticut’s own Chris Dodd.

Sen. Dodd’s wife Jackie Clegg Dodd sits on the boards of four pharmaceutical companies, Javelin Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cardiome Pharma Corp., Brookdale Senior Living and Pear Tree Pharmaceuticals.

Mrs. Dodd last year was one of the most highly compensated non-employee members of the Javelin Pharmaceuticals Inc. board, on which she has served since 2004. She earned $32,000 in fees and $109,587 in stock option awards last year, according to the company’s SEC filings.

Mrs. Dodd earned $79,063 in fees from Cardiome in its last fiscal year, while Brookdale Senior Living gave her $122,231 in stock awards in 2008, their SEC filings show. She earned no income from her post as a director for Pear Tree Pharmaceuticals but holds up to $15,000 in stock in Pear Tree, which describes itself as a development-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the needs of aging women.

The annual financial disclosure reports for members of Congress are less precise. They only require that assets and liabilities be listed in ranges of values.

Dodd sought a 90-day extension to file his report covering last year, giving him until mid-August to submit his report, but released his report Friday to The Associated Press.

Bryan DeAngelis, Dodd’s spokesman, said, “Jackie Clegg Dodd’s career is her own; absolutely independent of Senator Dodd, as it was when they married 10 years ago. The senator has worked to reform our health care system for decades, and nothing about his wife’s career is relevant at all to his leadership of that effort.”

DeAngelis said that Mrs. Dodd has hired a personal ethics lawyer to avoid any conflicts of interest and is not a lobbyist.

In addition to Sen Dodd. Democrats Jay Rockefeller and Tom Harkin and Republicans Tom Coburn, Judd Gregg, John Kyl and Orrin Hatchn are mentioned in the AP story.

I’m not going not to draw any conclusions, my advice is to read the entire article and draw your own conclusions… I have fundamental problem with Sen Dodd, or any Senator for that matter,  authoring legislation that may directly effect companies on whose boards their spouse sits.

The the bigger story within the story may be the APs passing mention of Sen. Dodd’s magically appreciating Irish Cottage… Michelle Malkin has the deatails on that here.

Help Rob Simmons Retire Chris Dodd

Rob Simmons needs your help… He’s looking for 400 donors by midnight to help him send Chris Dodd into retirement 2010.

If you can chip in a few dollars, click here.

Reminder: We’re Done with Dodd Rally This Saturday

Just a quick reminder… The We’re Done with Dodd Rally sponsored by by Connecticut Resistance is this Saturday, May 16th from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. outside Senator Dodd’s Office at 30 Lewis Street, Hartford, CT 06405

Town Hall Meeting on Health Care Reform

Senator Chris Dodd and Congresswoman Rosa Delaura will be holding a town hall meeting on health care reform at Griffin Hospital in Derby from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.

The meeting is RSVP only so if call Sen Dodd’s office at 860.258.6940 or email CTRX...@DODD.SENATE.GOV to RSVP if you’d like to attend.

Chris Dodd Likens Bush Administration to Nazis?

Umm, Senator do you really believe that water boarding is the equivalent to the systematic persecution and genocide of roughly 11 million people?

You know what… Don’t get mad, get even.

(H/T : Melissa Clouthier via Red State.)

Related

• Presidents Don’t Prosecute Their Predecessors, David Shribman, Real Clear Politics
• Dodd: We prosecuted the Nazis so let’s prosecute Bush, Hot Air

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