Where Do We Go From Here?

Well, the budget failed, not surprisingly, by a 2-1 margin.

I say "not surprisingly" because saying no is always easy; and in a climate where many local towns are slashing budgets and even closing schools and our First Selectman made the careful choice to exert no political capital on behalf of his budget, and in a circumstance where people are upset about the building department and the Dems just want to hand Mr. Freda a defeat . . . well, you get the point.

Way to stem the tide of populist anger, Mr. Freda - both in your budget presentation and in your handling of the budget's promotion.

So, now, we're going to see the ugly game of limbo, and you all know the rules and expectations of limbo.

People can just keep turning out to vote no now. It's easy. It's easy to oppose. It's easy to say no.

Now, Mike, it's time to figure out how to produce a budget that retains as much town value as possible that the people can and will say YES to. You'd better get to work, sir.

Fascinated to See This Play Out

Forgive the source here, but if this, in fact, stands up to scrutiny, this will prove fascinating.

If, in fact, rank and file NRA members disagree with their leadership, that is fascinating. If, in fact, a majority of NRA members believe that individuals on the Terror Watch List should NOT be able to buy guns, I have found an easy point of agreement with them.

As you can tell, I am no gun-lover and would not have one in my home with my children now or when they're grown and out. I'm sure that many people believe my fear is out of proportion. I welcome the debate.

Is ID, in fact, DOA . . . finally?

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science."

Intelligent Design

Do You Know What This Is?

North Haven Welcomes P.C. Richard & Son

But I have to wonder who will be able to shop there, given our economic straits.

Strangely, we've had a vigorous debate about the ability of residents to afford their tax increase for next year's budget, but the shopping plazas on Universal Drive are always hopping, and all of the restaurants are packed on evenings and weekends, so far as I can tell.

Here is a short piece on the opening.

Arizona, Immigration, Backlash

A majority of Americans may support the recent Arizona immigration law, but that's not making things easy on the state.

Apparently, tourism has been suffering significantly, and it is beyond telling that the RNC has opted NOT to hold its 2012 convention in Phoenix, but rather in Tampa.

Elena Kagan's Nomination

I spent several weeks last summer watching every minute of the hearings for Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court. Looks like I'll pass my summer in a similar fashion this year.

It seems that I, like everyone else (her friends included), know very little about Ms. Kagan's temperament, legal philosophy, and Constitutional leanings. I'll admit that makes me very nervous.

One thing I do know is that the opposition is engaging in the kind of selective memory and judgment that is par for the course for all politicians, but especially for their side.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Is a Referendum a Poll?

In today's North Haven Citizen* article Mike Freda's words speak for themselves . . . or rather they don't.

“I support this budget if people want to retain their services,” Freda said. “But if the budget is voted down, then I have no problem going back to the drawing board.”

“I want the people to tell me what they want,” Freda added.

Is that leadership?

I said it before, and here you have specific evidence. Mr. Freda is not standing behind his budget. He has made it clear that he will expend zero political capital on its behalf.

As a matter of fact, he talks about it as though it were a dip-stick, a test of the waters. Should we treat the vote on the budget as a weather vane, just to see which way the wind is blowing?

Does anyone think this approach improves the odds that his budget will pass?

I am stuck with my original position (which I've explained here and at North Haven Way): I will vote "yes." But it is disturbing in the least to see Mr. Freda and his team put forth a budget they don't feel passionately about.

I am highly disappointed and more than a little irked.

* The original post incorrectly cited the source as the New Haven Register.