chris shays (R-CT) endorses lieberman...

[WalterMitty]

...but joe endorses shay's opponent.

discuss.

[nini2287]

Interesting...I strongly support both Shays and Lieberman, however.

[WalterMitty]

Interesting...I strongly support both Shays and Lieberman, however.

so do i.

but im still a little disappointed lieberman didnt return the favor.

[Q]

These endorsements make the most sense for the candidates.

Shays needs to appeal to Dems; Lieberman needs to appeal to Dems.  Both are more popular among Repubs than Dems, so this makes perfect sense.

[Gabu]

I suppose an argument could be made that it would have been the right thing to do, but Lieberman cannot be considered "safe" in his race, and the main group that he has trouble with is Democrats, really, so as Q said, these endorsements make sense.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

The CT Republican party is considering supporting Lieberman. They already did it in 1988. Time to get a real Democrat.

[Moooooo]

Probably because Shays is one of the most endangered Republicans in the country. 

Its all about numbers...

[Q]

If GOP Joe had endorsed Shays, it probably would have been the last straw for a lot of Dems.

I met Ned Lamont, his Dem primary challenger, last week, and I was extremely impressed.  He'll give it a good run, and would have a shot if Lieberman does stupid things like endorsing Repubs.

[Lincoln Republican]

Perhaps Chris Shays has his eye on becoming a Republican Senator from Conneticut some day, and is trying to win the favor of Democrats without alientating Republicans, many of whom support Lieberman anyway.

[Democratic Hawk]

The CT Republican party is considering supporting Lieberman. They already did it in 1988. Time to get a real Democrat.

Lieberman votes liberal where it matters - on economics

Dave

[dazzleman]

Probably because Shays is one of the most endangered Republicans in the country. 

Its all about numbers...

True, he has steadily lost ground, and if some heavily Republican areas hadn't been added to his district (in which I live) after the 2000 census, when CT lost a congressional seat, he probably would have been defeated in 2004.

He has little to lose in endorsing Lieberman, as I see it.  The Republicans are not going to put a credible challenger up against him, and many Republicans are supporting Lieberman anyway.

It's been said that there's only one political party in Connecticut -- the incumbents.  There's a lot of truth to it.  State level politics is just not that partisan here, in my observation.

[Alcon]

Probably because Shays is one of the most endangered Republicans in the country. 

Its all about numbers...

True, he has steadily lost ground, and if some heavily Republican areas hadn't been added to his district (in which I live) after the 2000 census, when CT lost a congressional seat, he probably would have been defeated in 2004.

What areas were added?  They obviously weren't heavily Republican on the national level, wherever they are, since your area voted Kerry, if I ercall correctly.  I don't know much about the congressional adjustments in Connecticut.

[dazzleman]

Probably because Shays is one of the most endangered Republicans in the country. 

Its all about numbers...

True, he has steadily lost ground, and if some heavily Republican areas hadn't been added to his district (in which I live) after the 2000 census, when CT lost a congressional seat, he probably would have been defeated in 2004.

What areas were added?  They obviously weren't heavily Republican on the national level, wherever they are, since your area voted Kerry, if I ercall correctly.  I don't know much about the congressional adjustments in Connecticut.

Certain northern Fairfield County towns that voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 were added to Shays' district from the now-defunct former 5th district.  These towns are more heavily Republican, on average, than the rest of the district, since the district as a whole voted for Kerry, narrowly, IIRC.

This district epitomizes the old, but severely declining, brand of country club Republicanism, and Shays has to walk a tightrope to hold onto his seat.  We'll see what happens.  I really don't like his challenger, Diane Farrell.  She's a typical limousine liberal who was first selectman of a town full of obnoxious New York transplants.

[Alcon]

Probably because Shays is one of the most endangered Republicans in the country. 

Its all about numbers...

True, he has steadily lost ground, and if some heavily Republican areas hadn't been added to his district (in which I live) after the 2000 census, when CT lost a congressional seat, he probably would have been defeated in 2004.

What areas were added?  They obviously weren't heavily Republican on the national level, wherever they are, since your area voted Kerry, if I ercall correctly.  I don't know much about the congressional adjustments in Connecticut.

Certain northern Fairfield County towns that voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 were added to Shays' district from the now-defunct former 5th district.  These towns are more heavily Republican, on average, than the rest of the district, since the district as a whole voted for Kerry, narrowly, IIRC.

This district epitomizes the old, but severely declining, brand of country club Republicanism, and Shays has to walk a tightrope to hold onto his seat.  We'll see what happens.  I really don't like his challenger, Diane Farrell.  She's a typical limousine liberal who was first selectman of a town full of obnoxious New York transplants.

Ah...I see.  The area around Oxford and Prospect in New Haven County would be the heavily Republican addition, I'm assuming?  Bush hovered around 60% in those parts.

[dazzleman]

Probably because Shays is one of the most endangered Republicans in the country. 

Its all about numbers...

True, he has steadily lost ground, and if some heavily Republican areas hadn't been added to his district (in which I live) after the 2000 census, when CT lost a congressional seat, he probably would have been defeated in 2004.

What areas were added?  They obviously weren't heavily Republican on the national level, wherever they are, since your area voted Kerry, if I ercall correctly.  I don't know much about the congressional adjustments in Connecticut.

Certain northern Fairfield County towns that voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 were added to Shays' district from the now-defunct former 5th district.  These towns are more heavily Republican, on average, than the rest of the district, since the district as a whole voted for Kerry, narrowly, IIRC.

This district epitomizes the old, but severely declining, brand of country club Republicanism, and Shays has to walk a tightrope to hold onto his seat.  We'll see what happens.  I really don't like his challenger, Diane Farrell.  She's a typical limousine liberal who was first selectman of a town full of obnoxious New York transplants.

Ah...I see.  The area around Oxford and Prospect in New Haven County would be the heavily Republican addition, I'm assuming?  Bush hovered around 60% in those parts.

Oxford is pretty strongly Republican, as I understand it, but I was actually thinking of towns like Ridgefield and Redding, which I believe were added to the 4th district after the 2000 census.

[WalterMitty]

dazzleman, do you live in shay's district?

[dazzleman]

dazzleman, do you live in shay's district?

yes

[Cubby]

Probably because Shays is one of the most endangered Republicans in the country. 

Its all about numbers...

True, he has steadily lost ground, and if some heavily Republican areas hadn't been added to his district (in which I live) after the 2000 census, when CT lost a congressional seat, he probably would have been defeated in 2004.

What areas were added?  They obviously weren't heavily Republican on the national level, wherever they are, since your area voted Kerry, if I ercall correctly.  I don't know much about the congressional adjustments in Connecticut.

Certain northern Fairfield County towns that voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 were added to Shays' district from the now-defunct former 5th district.  These towns are more heavily Republican, on average, than the rest of the district, since the district as a whole voted for Kerry, narrowly, IIRC.

This district epitomizes the old, but severely declining, brand of country club Republicanism, and Shays has to walk a tightrope to hold onto his seat.  We'll see what happens.  I really don't like his challenger, Diane Farrell.  She's a typical limousine liberal who was first selectman of a town full of obnoxious New York transplants.

Ah...I see.  The area around Oxford and Prospect in New Haven County would be the heavily Republican addition, I'm assuming?  Bush hovered around 60% in those parts.

Oxford is pretty strongly Republican, as I understand it, but I was actually thinking of towns like Ridgefield and Redding, which I believe were added to the 4th district after the 2000 census.

And Monroe (about 16,000 people, Republican bedroom community) and Shelton (about 35,000 people, slightly more Democrat methinks.)