Connecticut Commentary: Red Notes from a Blue State

When bright-eyed reformists of the early 1900’s were making a stab at political reform, George Washington Plunkitt of Tammany Hall gave an interview with news reporter William Riordan and, making what he thought was a necessary distinction between “honest graft” and the usual garden variety, spilled the beans , as they say in the now smokeless filled rooms where political friends still scratch each other’s backs. “Everybody is talkin' these days about Tammany men growin' rich on graft, but nobody thinks of drawin' the distinction between honest graft and dishonest graft. There's all the difference in the world between the two. Yes, many of our men have grown rich in politics. I have myself. I've made a big fortune out of the game, and I'm gettin' richer every day, but I've not gone in for dishonest graft--blackmailin' gamblers, saloon‑keepers, disorderly people, etc.--and neither has any of the men who have made big fortunes in politics. “There...

In the single debate Blumenthal has had so far with Democratic challenger Merrick Alpert, the attorney general was not asked whether he thinks congressional ethics watchdogs were a little too gentle with tax scofflaw U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel, the reigning member of Congress' top tax committee who failed to report over $1 million in outside income and $3 million in business transactions as required by the House. Addressing his tormentors, Rangel quipped recently, “I recognize that all of you have an obligation to ask questions knowing that there's none of you smart enough to frame it in such a way that I'm going to respond.” Blumenthal is well known in the state for aggressively pursuing law breakers and regulation scofflaws. In addition, he has talent for writing eye popping press releases. Neglecting to put the question to the attorney general and senatorial hopeful would be a missed opportunity. Rangel is a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. In January...

We all know that after reading a news account of his own demise, Mark Twain advised, “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” In much the same way, reports that political parties are languishing on their deathbed may be greatly exaggerated – or not. In this talk, I’d like to take you to the early nineteen hundreds and back again to the twenty-first century, so that we might have a rounded historical view of political parties and how they changed over the years. I should begin by putting before you two propositions that few people here may disagree with. The first is that political parties are necessary. The second is that no party can be successful unless it can maintain itself – financially and organizationally. It will come as no surprise that there are dissenters to the first proposition. Some people believe that political parties are an encumbrance to good government. It may be an instance of advanced hubris, but there are political writers abroad in the land who believ...