There are a number of reason why I am endorsing Rob Simmons for the Senate, but they point to one overriding factor.  Rob has made a career of serving his country and not himself.  The perilous situations this country is facing require this kind of service.  We can ill afford to elect a candidate who one has to question their motives.   In the post-Dodd era, motive becomes a litmus test that will be used by the vast number of unaffiliated voters that will have more sway on this election than either party can overcome.

The voters –not to mention the Blumenthal Machine– are sure to question Linda McMahon’s motives in spending $50 million to gain a seat.  Can she claim this as her patriotic duty to the residents of CT?  If that is the case, it is more likely to fall on the deafened ears of those struggling in this economy. As a dedicated conservative, I also have to question what was her motivation in donating money to Rahm Emanuel’s campaign.  It escapes me what it took to clear that tid bit from the memories of the delegates at the Republican Convention.

Peter Schiff’s motivations are laser focused on the economy.  Something he has made a career of as a prognosticator and investor.  There is no doubt Schiff knows the workings of a healthy economy.  But he also has a penchant for going it alone.  The outsider’s outsider, if you will.   His management skills and steadfastness would better be served in an executive position.  In the Senate, he needs to be able to work alongside 99 other colleagues.  This may not be one Schiff’s strengths.  I would be wholeheartedly behind Schiff for governor.  A cerebral Chris Christie is what this state needs now.

Rob Simmons has served his state and country well.  His only mark was being on the wrong side of the anti-Bush sentiment in 2006.  He has ran a shrewd campaign by not campaigning.  You can’t attack what you can’t see.  The fact that he hasn’t dropped in the polls shows the voters are fed up with money and backroom deals that have decided too many elections.  Not to mention the ridiculous number of glossy mailers we all received.  It’s a sentiment showing up in grassroots activism everywhere.  The people are questioning motives. Rob’s motives have secured my vote.

While I only speak for myself, I’ve debated long and hard about my vote for Republican Candidate for Congress.  I’ll be honest, there are two highly qualified persons running for a very ungrateful position.  Both want what is best for our nation, our state, and our big slice of the state.  Doug Dubitsky and Daria Novak are both good people.  Both are hard working family people.  Both know the issues and will serve us well in Washington.  While I won’t have a hard time voting in November, making this decision was difficult. 

Doug brings lawyer’s skills, hard working farmer’s ingenuity, and experience.

Daria brings small business ingenuity, real reform mentality, and experience. 

Neither served in the military like I did.  Both have faced challenges in life.  Both have families.  Both have a dedicated staff that really believe in them.  Either would be a credit to our part of the state, and would serve our country well. 

God willing, one of these two will be our next Representative from the 2nd District in Connecticut.

That being said, this is a primary, and while I like both candidates, I’m putting my nickel down.

Of two great Eastern Connecticut citizens working to gain the Republican nomination for Congress , I select Daria Novak.

Shop them yourself -

Daria Novak – http://novakforcongress.com/

Doug Dubitzky – http://www.dubitsky2010.com/

The winner receives an additional campaign donation of $300.00 from me and my continued support. 

Good luck to you both…Lord knows Courtney needs to go.

According to The Day Rob Simmons is running TV ads saying he is “still on the ballot” and will spend as much as $350,000 on the campaign.

Rob Simmons ad hints he may be reviving Senate campaign

By Ted Mann

Publication: TheDay.com

Rob Simmons’ U.S. Senate candidacy might not be so over after all.

The former Republican congressman announced Wednesday that he will begin running a television ad “in the nature of a public service announcement” that urges primary voters to consider small business, national security and trust when choosing among Simmons, Peter Schiff and Linda McMahon in the Aug. 10 primary. Simmons announced he would cease campaigning but remain on the ballot earlier this year, after McMahon defeated him for the party’s endorsement at the Republican convention.

Since then, Simmons has publicly toyed with the notion of resuming his candidacy, but the TV ad would be the boldest move yet toward reviving a campaign. A spokesman for Simmons, however, said that Simmons has not hired new staff and doesn’t planned to resume “proactive campaigning,” but will attend events when he is invited.

Simmons is due to appear on WNPR radio’s Where We Live on Aug. 3, as part of its “Where We Vote” series.

The Simmons ad, which is still being edited, will run on cable and broadcast TV statewide, beginning later this week. A spokesman for Cashman and Katz, the public relations agency that produced the ad and is handling Simmons’ media buy, said the campaign would spend about $350,000 on the spot.

In a statement, a spokesman for McMahon scoffed at Simmons’ wavering on whether or not he would resume his campaign.

“For eight months, Rob Simmons promised Connecticut Republicans that he would not primary if he lost the convention,” said the spokesman, Ed Patru. “He lost the convention, then immediately announced he would primary. Hours later, he dismissed his staff and announced he wouldn’t primary. Over the past two months, he’s been engaged in a very strange and erratic effort to reconcile his promise not to run with his desire to return to Washington. Today, we are as confused as everyone else.”

The McMahon campaign will be prepared if Simmons launches a full-scale campaign, Patru said, adding, “until that happens, following Rob Simmons’ on-again, off-again campaign is a little like trying to keep up with an Abbott and Costello routine…Who’s on first?”

When people run out of meaningful dialogue they resort to labels. The colonists were labeled traitors for believing in self-determination.  Today’s announcement by the NAACP branding the Tea Party movement as racist is another label cast because they have abandoned participation in the national debate.  This is a characterization we flatly reject as having no basis in fact.

The people that make up the Tea Party movement are taxpayers. They are the shrinking majority that are providing the tax dollars that fund schools, roads, police and fire protection, national defense among other necessary services that make this the greatest, most secure, country on earth.  The Tea Party believes this is a country of opportunity for those willing to work for it.  We have run businesses that hire other taxpayers.  We know that not everyone will succeed and there needs to be safety nets available.  All of us have had setbacks in life–we believe our struggles serve as learning experiences, rather than excuses to give up.

This isn’t merely a protest movement against the President, but more so of the Congress that controls the purse strings of America.  Our elected representatives have ignored the will of their constituents for the purpose of adjudicating a political path that we feel is unsustainable.  This is a Congress that voted for an ill-conceived economic stimulus bill and rammed through health care legislation–the contents of which are still a mystery.  Yet, this Congress still hasn’t made a dent in unemployment, but has increased the costs of health care for those of us who sought different options.  Options that fell on deaf ears and earned us another label: “The Party of No”.

Many of us in this movement have served in our country’s armed forces.  When you serve, you are entrusting your life to your brothers in arms–be they white, black, brown, green or yellow. You can’t afford to make distinctions based on race because the only one that matters is if the guy next to you has your back or not.  To call us racist for demanding that our government “have our backs” is a slap in the face that we won’t tolerate.

We were founded because enough like-minded people saw the policies our elected officials were promoting would not fix the path generations of apathy led us down.  The situation has not improved and we are now burdening our children and grandchildren with these failed policies. This only serves to increase our ranks.  Whether through vocal protests or the silent ones that will take place in voting booths all across the country this November, we will be heard. Brandishing us racists will not cover up the fact that our government has failed us.

We’ve been contacted by interested parties over the last two weeks. Against our better judgement, we intend to invite the GOP Senate primary candidates to Eastern CT to battle it out. 

This could be interesting.  Simmons is the local favorite, McMahon is the convention winner and Schiff is gaining popularity.  For the record, Simmons previously gave an interview to Free Norwich while McMahon was “too busy with other media outlets” and my emails to Schiff’s campaign went unanswered.  Since then I’ve met Linda and Peter (at the convention) and the latter’s friends contacted us.

This time, whoever shows shows.  No more BS from “professional campaign staffs” or the like.  WE decide who serves us, not the other way around.

We’ll make the calls on Tuesday, but in the meantime, you can email us at rich@freenorwich.com or paul@freenorwich.com

If it happens, great, if not we tried.  Whoever shows up can get some good exposure.

FreeNowich would like to take this opportunity to thank those who made this event a success.

The staff at Three Rivers Community College were professional and very accommodating to our last minute changes.  Particular thanks goes to Susan Moore from Dean Joe Smith’s office, Bob Martineau- head of security and to the maintenance staff.

Lee Elci was an adept moderator. He kept the evening flowing as well as lightened the tone on occasion. He was very gracious with his time, freely talking with anyone who had questions or merely just wanted to meet him.

We would also like to thank Julia O’Brien and Kathy Smith from CT-N network for keeping us on their radar screen and seeing that our label of  “E. CT’s right wing extremist HQ” is tongue and cheek. ( Yes a certain press release was sent to them within 10 minutes of us receiving one- think someone might have not wanted us to have TV )

Doug Dubitsky and Daria Novak did great jobs with the debate and in working with us on making a format all could live with. They both also have a full understanding of the issues which is quite refreshing in today’s political environment.

Thanks to the volunteers for manning the tables, collecting the questions and keeping those “radicals” in the audience in line!

Jen Ezzell from the 2nd District Tea Party Patriots and FreeNorwich. This woman can mobilize people like no other I have seen.

I would especially like to thank my partner in crime, Rich Curtis. Rich has management and organizational skills as one of the candidates mentioned was “presidential level.”

Lastly, I would like to thanks our wives. This took substantial time away from out families and without their support none of this would have come off as well as it did. Thank You Ladies!

June 16, 2010

FreeNorwich.com is hosting a debate for the Second Congressional Republican Candidates on Wednesday June 16, 2010 at 7:00 PM at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich CT. The debate will feature Doug Dubitsky of Chaplin, Daria Novak of Madison. Janet Peckinpaugh from Essex has withrawn. Lee Elci of WXLM radio in New London will serve as the moderator.

The format for the debate was described by some of the campaign staff as interesting, will feature questions sent in by readers of FreeNorwich.com and is completely issues oriented. The candidates will have 2 minutes to answer the questions and have 5 one minute rebuttal cards that they may use to challenge any other candidates position. There will be an audience participation question and answer session following the structured debate.

Last minute attempts to gain Peckinpaugh’s appearance were unsuccessful.

***Update below at bottom 11:54PM

***Update at bottom 10:46PM

Janet Peckinpaugh’s campaign press release follows: 

2nd District Congressional Candidate Janet Peckinpaugh Welcomes a Fair, Balanced and Non-Partisan Debate 

Essex-CT. June 14, 2010 – The Peckinpaugh for Congress campaign will not to take part in a candidate forum scheduled for June 16 sponsored by Free Norwich, which describes itself as “Eastern CT’s Right Wing Extremist HQ since 2007.” 

“It is clear the organizers of this forum are biased in this race and therefore cannot be fair and balanced.” said Campaign Manager Mike Gionta.  “Following a teleconference set up to develop the rules for the event, we found out the two organizers are supporters of Daria Novak’s and one of them has written an article critical of one of the candidates.  It is clear to us this has evolved into a campaign rally for Novak and not a real forum to discuss the issues.” 

The Peckinpaugh for Congress campaign has also discovered that one of the two organizers of the debate wrote just last month asking the delegation from Canterbury “to join us in a concerted effort to make Daria Novak our nominee.”  Both organizers of this forum joined their Canterbury delegates who all voted for Ms. Novak at the May 21^st statewide Republican Convention in Hartford. 

“We invite any non-partisan group, such as the Chamber of Commerce or the League of Women Voters to hold a true debate for all of the candidates to share views and discuss issues important to the 2^nd District.”  Said Gionta. 

Janet Peckinpaugh (R-Essex) a former television journalist in Connecticut has already earned the support of many current and former officeholders even though she is the newest candidate in the race.  

For further information please contact Ed Munster at (860) 345-2225. Paid for by Peckinpaugh for Congress.  Approved by Janet Peckinpaugh  

————————————-

I’ll let the other organizers speak for themselves, but for me (Rich), I’m a supporter of both Doug and Daria (can’t consider Janet now), and I pledge to support the primary winning candidate financially and through physical effort.

————————————–

UPDATE 6/14/2010 10:46PM

Doug Dubitsky’s campaign responds -

As you will all see below, Janet Peckinpaugh’s campaign has decided that she not participate in the debate on Wednesday night at Three Rivers Community College.  The reason offered is that the ‘organizers’, Free Norwich, are too biased (and favor Daria Novak).  As a participant (for the Doug Dubitsky campaign) in the very conference call referenced below, let me offer the following:

First, if Free Norwich was so offensive to Janet Peckinpaugh’s managers, why bother participating in a call that lasted for two and a half hours.  And why wait almost three days to make this decision?

Second, both of the ‘organizers’ are entitled – just as you and I – to support any candidate they wish.  On the call, they were clear that only issues would be central to the debate.  They were upfront about their support (and criticism) of candidate(s) participating in the debate.  In fact, one recused himself from a particular topic due to a (personal) conflict. The debate rules and execution of the process were designed objectively and agreed upon by majority among the three campaigns – not the organizers.

You may interpret this candidate’s withdrawal announcement any way you wish.  From my point of view, this is just another indication of more politics as usual – the same old game playing and saber rattling good Republicans are trying to detach ourselves from in Washington. 

Please make every effort to attend the debate between Doug Dubitsky and Daria Novak on Wednesday night.  The issues before us are real and serious.  It’s a fair guess that both Joe Courtney and Janet Peckinpaugh will be watching with interest about what these two candidates have to say.

If you have any question, please feel free to phone me.
Margaret Jane DeRisio

***I deleted her phone number as everybody doesn’t need to see that – Rich

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UPDATE 6/14/10 11:54pm

Daria Novak Campaign responds -

Daria Novak remains excited about this debate and welcomes the opportunity to answer questions from the people of the 2^nd District that she pledges to represent in Washington.   It is unfortunate that Janet Peckinpaugh felt the need to withdraw from this debate when the people of the 2^nd District deserve to hear from each candidate and gain a solid understanding of where each candidate stands on the critical issues.

This is important viewing for every American. Parts 2-7 are available online, for free here.

“Congress OF THE United States
begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesday
the Fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.:

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.”