http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ct-news/ en-us Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:18:22 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051314/posts Republican presidential candidate John McCain's short list of vice presidential possibilities has been essentially narrowed to six, according to a source familiar with the search. Factions within the Arizona senator's campaign are pushing for their favored candidate, sources tell the Phoenix Business Journal, a Baltimore Business Journal sister publication. The Baltimore Business Journal, Baltimore, Md. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051314/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:18:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051154/posts Sweetheart mortgages given by Countrywide Financial, the nation’s biggest mortgage lender, to elected officials and government bureaucrats seem tailor-made for an ethics inquiry by Congress, especially as the country is seeing a rising tide of voter anger in this presidential election year due to the massive $300 bn bailout of the housing industry at taxpayers’ expense. The mortgages at issue were allegedly given to Congressional members and staffers championing this record bailout, a bailout that now surpasses the taxpayer cost of the S&L crisis in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. But Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Rep. Mark Souder... Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051154/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:15:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050711/posts New Haven (WTNH) -- The New Haven program that sparked protests and gained national attention is entering its second year. To date, about 6,000 people have signed up for the Elm City Residents Card program. With a snap of the camera Luis Pagan is on his way to getting a New Haven city Resident card. "I think it's good. The city is helping us ID ourselves, who we are," Pagan said. Hundreds lined up last year when the Elm City Residents Card program was launched. The card was controversial from the beginning because it allows illegal immigrants to get a... WTNH Television http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050711/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:27:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050623/posts Looks like Sen. Christopher Dodd needs to re-recast his story about his dealings with Countrywide Financial. In June, portfolio.com revealed he and other bigwigs got discounted loans from Countrywide under the "Friends of Angelo" program, named for and run by CEO Angelo Mozilo. Sen. Dodd initially denied getting the VIP treatment when he and his wife refinanced two mortgages in 2003. But he later changed his lie, admitting Countrywide had extended them VIP loans, not because he was on the Senate Banking Committee, but because they browbeat a flunky loan officer into lowering the rates. But that lie doesn't jibe... Waterbury Republican-American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050623/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:50:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2007151/posts In a ceremony in the Oval Office this morning, President Bush officially proclaimed April 25, 2008 to be Malaria Awareness Day (Transcript) America is a compassionate country that feeds the hungry and protects the vulnerable because we believe every human life has inherent dignity and matchless value. As the people of Africa continue their struggle against malaria, we offer our support and steadfast commitment. We call on all nations to join us in a great humanitarian effort. The president made a brief statement on the economy (Transcript) before boarding Marine One with First Lady Laura Bush for a day trip... WhiteHouse.gov & other sources http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2007151/posts#comment Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:00:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2049289/posts CESAR TORRES, right, spoke Monday in support of a proposed ordinance that would prohibit Hartford police and other city agencies from inquiring about a resident's immigration status. Torres, an illegal immigrant in 2002, was forced to return to Peru after he reported a crime he had witnessed. (RICHARD MESSINA / HARTFORD COURANT / July 21, 2008) Hartford Courant http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2049289/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:18:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2049253/posts Cesar Torres was having a good time at a late-night party at a Hartford apartment in 2002 when suddenly things turned horribly wrong. Before he knew what was happening, his friend Julio Caesar Unocc lay on the floor mortally wounded with seven stab wounds. Torres immediately called 911, setting in motion a series of events that changed his life. "I kept thinking, 'They have to get those guys,'" Torres said. "Instead, they got me.'" Torres, 33, said Monday he didn't hesitate to tell the police everything he knew. When they learned he was in the country illegally, they called immigration... Hartford Courant http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2049253/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:27:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048928/posts SURFSIDE - Democrat Joe Lieberman, campaigning among Jewish voters in South Florida for fellow senator John McCain, said today he won't be the Republican presidential candidate's running mate. "I had the opportunity to run in 2000," said Lieberman, a self-described "independent Democrat" from Connecticut. Lieberman, who was Al Gore's Democratic vice presidential running mate, said he's looking forward to staying a U.S. senator and working with McCain in the White House to build a coalition of Democrats, Republican and independents. The Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048928/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:27:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048888/posts The demolition of the makeshift Fenway Park, carved by young Whiffle-ball enthusiasts out of a vacant municipal lot in Greenwich, was inevitable. In contemporary America, the ball field, right down to the U.S. flag flying in the outfield, was as The New York Times described it: a "liability nightmare, inappropriate usurpation of green space, unpermitted special use (and) drag on property values." Traffic and drainage were issues, too. So were the NIMBY neighbors whose first impulse upon arriving home from work to the sounds of kids playing outdoors — getting exercise, learning valuable life lessons, having old-fashioned, unsupervised fun and... Waterbury Republican-American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048888/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:53:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047558/posts Add another quote to the litany of idiocy issued by Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., over the years. "To suggest somehow that (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) are in trouble is simply not accurate," Sen. Dodd said during CNN's "Late Edition" Sunday. "The facts are that Fannie and Freddie are in sound situations. They have more that adequate capital, in fact more than the law requires." Recall the scene in the film "Animal House," in which the character played by Kevin Bacon attempts to block a stampede of panicked citizens by crying, "All is well!" Sen. Dodd performs a credible... Waterbury Republican-American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047558/posts#comment Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:38:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046659/posts Several Democratic insiders are now saying Sen. Joe Lieberman, D- Conn., will be kicked out of the party's caucus and lose his Senate chairmanship next year if he addresses the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., as planned. Lieberman, the four-term senator from Connecticut who was elected as an independent in 2006 after losing the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 because of his support for the Iraq war, is supporting Republican nominee John McCain for president. According to The New York Times, Lieberman's Democratic colleagues are upset over his openly campaigning and traveling with the senator from Arizona during... NewsMax http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046659/posts#comment Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:15:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046305/posts Joe Lieberman is enemy number one in the Democratic Party, at least among the netroot base which now appears to pull the strings. The netroots rounded up more than 45,000 signatures on a petition to strip him of his position as chair of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees. As Robert Novak reported, Harry Reid is mulling over whether to kick Lieberman out of the Democratic caucus entirely if he speaks at the Republican convention on John McCain’s behalf. By championing the surge, advocating for a robust national security, warning of the dangers of Iran’s state sponsorship of terror and... human events http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046305/posts#comment Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:31:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045312/posts U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) has remained largely unhurt by the controversy over his “sweetheart” deal with mortgage lender Countrywide. But CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla finally bucked the media trend of ignoring the scandal and brought the loan up in an interview with the former Democratic presidential hopeful July 14. Dodd, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, appeared on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in the wake of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s July 13 announcement that the federal government would take actions to prevent the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) from failing. “Squawk Box” co-host Quintanilla asked Dodd... businessandmedia.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045312/posts#comment Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:51:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045203/posts Joseph Lieberman, the lapsed Democrat from Connecticut, strolled into the weekly lunch of the Senate Democrats, unaccompanied by a food taster. He greeted his colleagues, including some who felt he should not have been there last Tuesday. He ate his lunch (salad, eschewing the macaroni and cheese) and sat through a discussion about gasoline prices and Medicare. Then the conversation veered into the danger zone, the presidential election - specifically, Senator John McCain's recent votes, or nonvotes, on energy policy. At which point Lieberman walked out. "I just didn't feel it was appropriate for me to be there," Lieberman explained... ITH http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045203/posts#comment Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:08:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044525/posts WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Despite assurances to the contrary from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democratic insiders are certain Sen. Joseph Lieberman next year will be kicked out of the party's caucus and lose his Senate chairmanship if he addresses the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., as planned. Lieberman's Democratic colleagues willing to accept his support of Sen. John McCain for president consider speaking to the GOP convention as the last straw. Lieberman was re-elected from Connecticut as an independent in 2006 after losing the Democratic nomination because of his support for the Iraq war. realclearpolitics.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044525/posts#comment Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:03:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044336/posts WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Despite assurances to the contrary from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democratic insiders are certain Sen. Joseph Lieberman next year will be kicked out of the party's caucus and lose his Senate chairmanship if he addresses the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., as planned. Lieberman's Democratic colleagues willing to accept his support of Sen. John McCain for president consider speaking to the GOP convention as the last straw. Lieberman was re-elected from Connecticut as an independent in 2006 after losing the Democratic nomination because of his support for the Iraq war. After his 2006 election,... TownHall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044336/posts#comment Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:04:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044451/posts If the government takes money from you and gives it to somebody else, that's known as a "tax." But is it still a tax when the government delegates a third party to take your money and then give it to whomever the government designates? A whole lot of people in Connecticut are trying to pretend that it isn't. Operation Fuel is proposing that seniors and low-income residents be given a mandatory discount on energy costs. Under the plan, those who qualify would pay a fixed percentage of their total income. Utilities, such as electricity providers, and suppliers, such as heating-oil... Waterbury Republican-American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044451/posts#comment Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:05:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044346/posts Twenty years ago today (March 24, 2005), Army Major Arthur D. "Nick" Nicholson drove into East Germany to survey Soviet military activity. It was a bright Sunday morning, and he was about to become the last American to die in the Cold War. Relatively few people have heard of Nicholson, even though his killing dominated newspaper headlines around the world for several tense days two decades ago. A handful of people won't ever forget him: A small band of former comrades gathers at his Arlington National Cemetery each spring... I wrote about Nicholson's story in National Review last year. Since... Arlington National Cemetery Website http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044346/posts#comment Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:18:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044011/posts Chris Dodd is trying desperately to change the subject, but it isn't working. After a year on the presidential campaign trail, he returned to his Senate duties this year only to find his approval rating had fallen to 51 percent. So he did something uncharacteristic: He made several appearance in the state so the soiled masses might get close, but not too close, to him again. Confident he was back in their good graces, he returned to the Capitol to close the sale of his office to subprime lenders. After ignoring the mortgage meltdown for months, he filed legislation to... Waterbury Republican-American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044011/posts#comment Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:57:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043974/posts MASHANTUCKET, Conn. -- State police said they had to use a stun gun on a New London man while arresting him for allegedly exposing himself to a 12-year-old girl inside Foxwoods Resort Casino. WFSB Channel 3 - Connecticut http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043974/posts#comment Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:41:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043808/posts Will there be a MORTGAGE-GATE controversy in the 2008 election? Judicial Watch has filed a complaint against the sweetheart deal that Senator Obama Barack has received in terms of a mortgage. So has Senator Christopher Dodd, D-CT, who is chair of the Senate Banking Committee. One must ask the question are these two Democrats: are they Dumb, Dishonest, or both -- to have accepted these sweetheart mortgage deals for their personal life? Should the US Justice Department start investigating these politicians and others for such deals to receive favorable treatment in legislation now that the mortgage industry is in serious... Various http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043808/posts#comment Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:00:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043416/posts New Haven (WTNH) _ It seems the controversy surrounding the New Haven ID cards is far from over. But after 30 hours of testimony, ID card holders information, for now, remains secret. Thanks to a three-to-one vote by state Freedom of Information Commissioners, thousands of names registered under New Haven's resident identification cards will be kept secret for now. Advocates of the program call this a major victory for illegal immigrants who worry about becoming targets. "The Freedom of Information Commission recognized what we've been saying all along," Kica Matos, the Community Service Administrator, said. "Releasing the records of the... WTNH Television http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043416/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:13:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042261/posts As the Senate prepares to vote on its mortgage bailout this week, one part of Banking Chairman Chris Dodd's bill deserves more scrutiny. It's a section called "affordable housing allocations," and while it sounds innocuous, in practice it amounts to a new tax to create a permanent subsidy for state governments and political activists. Like the bailout that has already passed the House, the Senate bill features a special new tax on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We have long urged reform of the two mortgage giants, which operate with an implicit government guarantee and therefore a license to endanger... The Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042261/posts#comment Tue, 8 Jul 2008 07:22:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041884/posts WINSTED — This is the only town in America this year where you could have found, on a recent Monday evening, a presidential candidate out for a walk with a lone reporter. Eschewing entourage or fanfare, dressed in a plaid shirt and gray slacks with sensible walking shoes, renowned consumer advocate Ralph Nader, a Winsted native, briskly strode past milestones of hometown memory, stopping now and then to chat with passers-by. "Hey, Ralph," one woman hailed, extending her arm in a friendly wave. Several fans approached for handshakes and in one case, a hug to embrace Winsted's most famous son,... Waterbury Republican-American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041884/posts#comment Mon, 7 Jul 2008 16:22:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041280/posts A bomb-laden van found on a Brooklyn street by a car thief was wired to detonate by remote control, and had likely been sitting there for more than five months... Investigators believe the homemade explosives found Thursday night in the Ford Econoline belonged to Yung Tang, 39, a Chinese national. He has been behind bars since he was caught Jan. 29 in Wallingford, Conn., with nearly identical bombs in his Mazda MPV minivan. Also found in the MPV were two silencers, four hollow-point bullets and two radio-controlled detonators. Days after that arrest, the NYPD searched his Brooklyn house and found... NEW YORK POST http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041280/posts#comment Sun, 6 Jul 2008 00:41:48 GMT