House Republican Press Release

September 2, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

CONNECTICUT CAUSE AND EFFECT?

By State Representative John J. Ryan

That editor fellow seems to think that now that Presidential politics is heating up, we should be doing a column about ‘real politics’. Well since I am still here in Connecticut continuing to catch up at my ‘real job’ (so where did the summer go?) and not partying in Minnesota (I am obviously not much of a real politician) maybe we can take a look at how Presidential election results this November could affect the happenings here in the ‘Land of Steady Habits’.

And to make it interesting, let’s assume that this is now a competitive race for the White House this fall; it has to be true because the polling folks tell us that now that football season is here and both candidates (as well as their choices for Veep) are in place, it is no longer a matter of a media coronation of Obama, but an actual election, and what if McCain wins?

Now I am not talking about the ensuing rash of mass hysteria in Hollywood and at the New York Times, is there an effect on the political landscape here in the Constitution State? Unless I have not learned a thing in a quarter-century+ in the government business, there are some interesting possibilities to consider here, starting with:

- does a President McCain appoint his long-time friend and supporter Sen. Joe Lieberman to an important post (e.g. Secy of Defense ? ) and does Sen. Joe accept ? One might posit, why not? Having started in the Connecticut State Senate in 1970, serving ten years there, becoming the Atty. General and then winning his Senate seat in the much publicized 1988 election and now in his 4th U.S. Senate term, would it be surprising if Lieberman, who raised zillions for Democrats for more than 3 decades and must have resented how all of his longtime party 'friends' deserted him in his successful campaign to keep his seat in '06, jumped at chance to close out his career as a Cabinet member for his friend now President McCain?

- and if the Lieberman Senate seat opens up, it would be the first open Senate seat in Connecticut in 2 decades, and doesn't the present Atty. General Dick Blumenthal immediately announce a run for the U.S. Senate ? And since Blumenthal would, by the conventional wisdom watch, become the prohibitive favorite, then Blumenthal is not the Democrat candidate for Governor in 2010.

- And if Blumenthal is not the Dem's gubernatorial candidate in 2010, then what?

(Note: if Gov. Rell runs for re-election again, end of discussion - Rell wins.) Now if you do not have a scorecard for this stuff, go to your Stamford Advocate website and read the 8.19 story "Malloy: I might run for governor ( but only of Blumenthal doesn't)" which gets around to the point that if Blumenthal isn't running for Governor, then every other Democrat is !

- now just for the sake of having too much fun here, let's assume that Gov. Rell opts to ride off into the sunset at the top of the ratings and spend time with her grandchildren, and like Rocky Marciano, retire undefeated, leaving a wide-open 2010 race for Governor. Then there is Mayor Malloy running (again), Mayor DeStefano running (again), House Speaker Jim Amann already announced for Governor, Senate leader Don Williams likely to jump in, Secy. of State Susan Byciewicz lusting to run for Governor, maybe a member of Congress....in short, a Democrat bloodbath with lots of fighting and no prohibitive favorite.

So under that crazy scenario, would a Republican candidate for Governor, under the right circumstances, have a shot in what has become the bluest state in the country?

- and as long as we are having a lot of fun prognosticating for free ( and we are every bit as 'clued-in' as those overpaid, yappy TV types ), what does our Congressman Chris Shays do if his close, longtime friend Sen. McCain becomes President McCain ? Considering that Shays started as the State Rep. from the 147th District more than 30 years ago.....you get the idea.

Could be interesting.....As we say often, you can't make this stuff up.

As always please feel free to contact me with your concerns and issues. As your state representative, it is my job, and my priority to represent you and to make sure that your needs and concerns are addressed at the capitol.  You can write to me at Room 4200, Legislative Office Building, and Hartford, CT 06106-1591, send me e-mail at John.Ryan@housegop.ct.gov or call my office toll-free at 1-800-842-1423.