Connecticut governor says he was called by God

[T_i_B]

Oh dear.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/12/19/wgod19.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/12/19/ixportal.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=125887

The governor of the strait-laced New England state of Connecticut has rejected calls for his resignation over corruption allegations, saying he is in direct contact with God.

In a performance worthy of a fallen "televangelist" John Rowland, who has admitted accepting favours and gifts from powerful businessmen, defended his position by saying the Almighty had called to him "loud and clear" in his "adversity".

Mr Rowland, a Republican who faces a federal inquiry into the awarding of lucrative state contracts, spoke flanked by local soldiers recently returned from Iraq.

At the same public appearance, before a sympathetic audience of businessmen and lobbyists, the governor's wife delivered her own version of the poem The Night Before Christmas, in which she predicted that Father Christmas would deliver coal, rather than presents, to a local newspaper which unmasked her husband as lying about who paid for expensive repairs to their lakeside cottage.

[truthisfreedom]

1. how shocking!

more Democrats to be punished by God! how awful. we should just leave the rethugs alone... they are God's chosen ones. despite being lawbreaking mafiosos.

[La_Serpiente]

2. Shining example of the Republican party

:eyes:

[ozymandius]

14. Isn't it amazing?

Isn't it amazing how God intercedes in the lives of corrupt Republican politicians? One might think this God would have something better to do, like thwart the starvation of millions of children...or something like that.

[benfranklin1776]

65. That thought had occurred to me as well.

They appparently never hear those "calls" to help the poor and neediest or they choose not to answer the phone. Interestingly their divine voices usually appear after the dirty deeds but never before to warn them that "hey you are about to screw up big time and bust a whole bunch of commandments so don't do it!!"

[enki23]

75. chalk up one more shameless republican hypocrite fuck

am i beginning to sense a pattern?

this is the party that goes to great lengths to avoid even the *appearance* of propriety.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. do these wingers even know the meaning of

Separation of Church and State

Do they even know the meaning of... Secular state?

[Zero Gravitas]

36. They know the meaning of it

they just don't beleive in it. They want a Theocracy (with their particular sect interpreting "God's Law" of course).

[punpirate]

4. Hey, that ploy worked for...

... Bush. Why shouldn't Rowland give it a try?

I hope Connecticut disassembles him forthwith.

[Cronus Protagonist]

5. God called collect

And he used state money to pay for the call, apparently.

"Terminate Governor Gangbang" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[The Zanti Regent]

24. God did call him...

...a fucking idiot!

[Skidmore]

80. Methinks perhaps God has initiated a recall of the Gov. eom

[KansDem]

61. Caller ID...

Would the Caller ID read:

"God"
or
"Out of Area"
???

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. And the meek shall inherit the earth

that is, if there's anything left of it after the rePukes are done.

[PaDUer]

7. Not another one..

heaven help us..there's a bunch of looney tunes who are delusional!! Can you imagine the discussions over dinner?!

[Dhalgren]

27. Sure. Their dinner talk would go something like this:

Gov. - "God, could you pass those chick peas, please. Thanks."

Mrs. Gov. - "God, try some of this pork roast, it's just delicious! Our illegal immigrant cook, Condoleesa, made it especially for you, Lord."

Gov. - "Now, Lord of Hosts, if we could just talk about a little fire and brimstone for these heathen reporters... Excuse me? Oh sure, Lord Almighty, it's right down that hall, third door on the right."

[KissMyAsscroft]

8. Pathetic last ditch attempt to rile up the fundies..

He's hoping to get the useful idiots all hot and bothered.

It isnt going to work.

Sit back, eat some popcorn and watch the show!

[booniapolis]

9. great...

He's not just a corrupt bigot, but he's a lunatic as well?

[prolesunited]

29. My thoughts exactly!

Welcome to DU, booniapolis! :hi:

[xchrom]

10. damn

there is some serious lunacy out there...
i hope this fucker fights long enough and hard enough to land his ass in jail -- may he be so crazy, please.

[CMT]

11. is this guy for real?

too bad we didn't know all of this back in '02. He will be forced out somehow. Does Connecticut have a recall provision?

[MaineDem]

26. "Does Connecticut have a recall provision?"

If I lived in CT I'd have the papers out for signatures already! (Or whatever was required to start this ball rolling.)

Unbelievable!

[mobuto]

47. No recall in Connecticut

But Connecticut does have federal prosecutors. Rowland's a gonner.

[Dover]

12. God........Santa........no doubt a tough distinction

Both vengeful authority figures, apparently.

And I'll bet that Santa fellow is in the pockets of the coal lobbyists.

[Toucano]

89. That's what I love about this place.

And I'll bet that Santa fellow is in the pockets of the coal lobbyists.

That is so good! Here I though Santa was taking kick backs from Wal-Mart.

[Justice]

13. This Is Connecticut We Are Talking About

fundies are not prevalent. More like traditional protestants - who are yankee conservative and frugal on money. That coupled with wall street types in mini mansions in fairfield county.

I heard Rowland being discussed on Imus yesterday. Imus kept saying "that's not good" in response to almost everything the newspaper editor (from New Haven Journal Inquirer) was saying.

The stunt pulled by the wife was viewed as a stunt, and a retraction of the apology rowland had just given (which was his second apology).

The editor said every time you think you've heard the last whiff of scandal from Rowland, another piece comes out and it gets worse. There are state and federal grand juries investigating him and his administration - so me thinks the guy is going to be indicted.

Remember this is the guy that prepaid Enron like $200 million for a plant only to lose it all when Enron imploded. His staff has taken bribes, one has confessed (buried gold bars in his back yard).

[0007]

40. Kenneth Lay's wife and this governor's wife would get along great!

[Atman]

49. Ken Lay and Rowland are FRIENDS

That was one of the very beginning parts of this scandal. Years ago, just prior to a little thing called ENRON -- Rowland literally GAVE AWAY $230,000,000 to Enron, out of the waste recovery fund or some such nonsense. It was obstensibly to lock prices for future energy deals, or something they could never adequately explain. Then it was learned that the week after Rowland gave Enron the interest-free no-pay-back loan, Kenneth Lay contributed a huge some to host a big re-election party for Rowland. They swear it was all coincidence.

And why shouldn't we believe them? After all, they're both such fine, upstanding, honest guys.

[mobuto]

48. Mini-mansions in Fairfield County?

Let me take you 'round some digs in Darien and Westport. The mansions ain't mini by any stretch of the imagination.

Rowland is beyond belief. I thought only Rhode Island had politicians this shamelessly unsubtle.

[maxanne]

15. funny how God

enjoys contacting right wing nutcases.

Time for a good smiting here, God!

[dusty64]

16. Yikes!

Just when you thought he couldn't get any nuttier. Now it looks like besides being a criminal he is also certifiable.

[FlaGranny]

17. This story reminds me very much

of my tale in The Lounge nearly two weeks ago, especially, that last paragraph.

In case you didn't see it. I had an "encounter" with the mother of two kids who were stealing oranges - I later found out they, to quote a neighbor, belonged to a "crazy religious group." The mother insinuated that I was the one that would be punished in the hereafter - for chasing the kids off and telling them not to steal oranges!!!

I guess the "crazy religious" have a sense of entitlement. They somehow think that it is okay for them to take things that don't belong to them.

Edit: I absolutely know that woman voted for *.

[sendero]

19. Like someone said...

.....religion is the last refuge of scoundrels

[5thGenDemocrat]

55. Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels

Religion is the opiate of the masses.
John
Which tells me Rowland is a massive scoundrel.

[truthspeaker]

41. or maybe crazy people with a sense of entitlement

use religion as an excuse.

I'm not normally one to jump to the defense of religious belief, but in this case I think it's the jerks using their professed religious beliefs to excuse their misdeeds.

[ET Awful]

18. LOL . . I love when he talks about . . .

how capturing Saddam puts everything in perspective. . . what the hell is that supposed to mean? Is he saying "Pay no attention to my wrongdoings, after all . . . HEY LOOK OVER THERE, THEY CAUGHT SADDAM."

[devinsgram]

20. Unreal, be afraid, very afraid

these are the people who are keeping * in the white house, be very afraid. They are just not lunatics they are very dangerous. They will do anything. This is why I thank God everyday I'm a liberal democrat.

[HarveyBrooks]

30. I thank God everyday...

that I'm an Agnostic. I have a friend who swore he had a direct pipeline to God. Used to talk to God everyday.Then the doctors found out he's bi-polar.

[devinsgram]

64. Oh I have to remember that one. LOL

[buddhamama]

21. he was called by *god* all right

the god of greed.

[aquart]

79. But what, precisely, did God call him?

Cheat? Embezzler? Thief? Republican?

And in how many languages did God say it?

[Amaya]

22. Ah yes, he talks to God too!

These republicans are truly certifiable :crazy:

[Gman]

23. Transcript of phone call to Karl Rove:

Rove: Ok... here's what you do. Get a bunch of soldiers just back from Iraq on the stage with you... and remember. Its all about God... Don't worry. It'll be ok. This works like a charm.

[Spentastic]

25. Actually

I wouldn't want someone hearing voices acting on my behalf. Is there a mechanism for removing someone from office due to mental impairment?

[snippy]

28. This is so very, very republican. How can normal people vote republican?

[mac56]

31. They can't.

Normal people can't vote Republican.

[yellowcanine]

32. Well ok then

I for one am glad the good guv cleared that one up. Otherwise we might have thought he was just stealing and lying about it on his own. But if God told him to do it then it is certainly all right by me. Maybe we should allow the pubbies to post the 10 Commandments in state buildings so they could be reminded of that pesky one that talks about stealing and also the one about lying. Or we could just show them the door and try our luck with somebody else.

[kayell]

34. Those commandments have pubbie exceptions

Just like there are exceptions to "Thou shalt not kill", where the wingers think that only means "Thou shalt not murder someone you know, unless you have a REALLY good reason, like say your woman is foolin' around on you, or you need to bomb the hell out of a whole pile of people 'cause you don't like their leader".

"Thou shalt not steal, unless of course, you need that money for a really good cause like a new Lexus, and you haven't already proven that you are unworthy to have money by not actually having any"

"Thou shalt not bear false witness, unless of course you really need to in order to convince the country into letting you do something really righteous (see second exception under thou shalt not kill), that you know your God would really like you to do"

[iam]

33. I had a talk with god

last night and god hasn't ever heard of this "Rowland" fellow.

[davidinalameda]

35. why not just commit his ass

he's obviously gone round the bend

[Oreegone]

37. Another John Ashcroft

Next thing ya know they will be annointing him with oil.

[David__77]

38. perhaps it's best for him to remain in office...

He can be the poster child of the GOP in CT. Why make way for another GOP governor? Let me taint the whole party... Of course we should call for him to resign and never let up, but maybe it's best for him to remain...

[T_i_B]

39. Oh I dunno

Maybe some Connecticut DUers can tell us exactly what a moran this guy is from past experience?

First Lieberman, now this idiot. :eyes:

[David__77]

45. My concession to Lieberman.

I'd rather have Lieberman as my governor than this guy Rowland. I'm sure Lieberman would be an acceptable governor, firmly isolated from the ramifications of foreign policy.

[skippysmom]

50. he's been a moran since forever

got elected the first time promising to get rid of Weicker's income tax. CT bought it...yet surprise, the income tax is still there!

There were also some shady stories about the cops coming to his home to answer a call of domestic violence...that was later covered up.

The city he's from, Waterbury, is one of the most corrupt towns in the state, not to mention the home of the child molester Giordano.

CT is a Dem state, but for a while they had 3 parties (including Weicker's Connecticut party) which split the vote. Weicker was a repuke, but a maverick. The people they've run against Rowland have been pretty weak -- the leading Dems haven't gotten into the ring, like AG Blumenthal.

I think he will ultimately resign. The Repukes in the congressional delegation are on his case.

(from a CT native, who doesn't live there anymore but gets an earful from her lefty parents who do!)

[T_i_B]

59. AG Blumenthal?

Any relation to Sidney Blumenthal by chance?

[JPace]

42. I'm confused.....

I thought it was bush who was in direct
contact with God, now it seems Rowland
has the inside contact. Is this the same
God that Osama says directs him and if
so is that the same one that directs
bush?

It's really getting hard to figure out
who has the REAL God anymore....

[young_at_heart]

43. It seems God favors Republicans

Far more of them have direct communication.

[smirkymonkey]

90. Then wouldn't that make God

a total A**hole?? Another good argument to make the case for separation of church and State.

[tlcandie]

44. I don't claim to be religious but I do try to follow spiritual

principles and as much as I believe in the sacred connection of all beings this just turns my stomach and makes me want to ask for a garlic mojo necklace for Christmas.


Religion being used as a crutch to further a person's excesses and abnormalities...gotta love it!

No wonder we have problems in our society...puritanicals yelling religion down our throats while doing this crap! Enough to make you :puke:

[kodi]

46. well, i just heard from God, and God told me Rowland's lying

and I have my conversation on tape.

[librechik]

56. The Mother of God called me and told me God was using her cell

without permission when he spoke to Rowland. . . God can't give that kind of blessing without her permission, so she just wants Rowland to know he got snookered and he's going to burn in hell for sinning against his own people.

[classics]

51. Oh my.

Schizophrenia in office.

[GoBlue]

52. He's lying

GOD

[havocmom]

69. ding ding ding... we have a winner!

I always think of a line from the movie Ladyhawk in instances like this: "No offense, sir, but I talk to God all the time and he never mentioned you."

[damnraddem]

53. But did God call collect? Did the state end up paying for the call?

Maybe God should check out this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=555712.

[monobrau]

54. Jesus loves me, but he can't stand you

-nt

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KamaAina]

58. He picked up the phone, and God said, "Resign NOW!"

Connecticut was such a sane, reasonable state when I lived there... :(

Edit: Why would God use a made-up word like NOW1? Because She can?

[coda]

60. Last month's approval polls had him at 37%, last Wednesday was 30%.

Can't decide which is more sickening, using the "God card" or the flanking of his corrupt ass with soldiers (just back from Iraq, no less :puke: ) . I guess doing both is worse. Anybody notice if he was wrapped in the flag? (Trifecta!)



Connecticut's Republican Gov. Rowland faces talk of impeachment and growing corruption scandal

SUSAN HAIGH, Associated Press Writer


Rowland has served as head of the Republican Governors Association, is a friend of President Bush and was repeatedly rumored to be a potential cabinet nominee.

snip

Two years ago a Quinnipiac University Poll showed Rowland with his highest job approval rating ever -- 78 percent. (He was

The scandals and investigations, combined with the recession and budget deficits that led Rowland to issue 2,800 layoff notices, have driven that number sharply lower. Last month his approval rating was 37 percent; new polling results were expected Wednesday.

A University of Connecticut poll released Tuesday shows 55 percent of Connecticut residents believe Rowland should resign over gifts he took from state employees and a government contractor. If he does not step down, however, 75 percent of residents surveyed said state lawmakers should not impeach Rowland until an investigation is completed.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/12/16/national0149EST0417.DTL

[FlaGranny]

63. These corrupt public "servants"

have learned their lessons well. Rip everyone off in any way you can and if you're caught, USE GOD. And, oh my, what was that Jesus said about self righteousness?

[coda]

68. LOL! Amazing how bad they have to screw up

for people to finally see through them.

I guess 30% still aren't there yet.

[jamesinca]

62. let us not miss the "flanked by local soldiers" part

he really pulled out the stops on this one.
1) Talks directly to God
2) flanked by local soldiers returning from Iraq.

Did they have an image of the newspaper superimposed on the French flag?

He is really trying every single thing that the right wing uses, seems like an act of desparation to me.

[benfranklin1776]

66. Good point.

Talk about your shameless, utterly craven political exploitation. That one takes the cake.
He is in effect saying "well hey because US soldiers are fighting and dying in Iraq that makes what I did just peachy keen and something you should not trouble yourself with in the least"

Really "supporting the troops" there gov, using them as window dressing to save your political ass.

:puke:

BTW did Junior who is known for his feeble attempts at "poetry" (http://www.peterhansen.com/a_poem_by_bush.htm)
write the poem for the governors wife? Sounds like his third grade style.

[Seldona]

67. Called by god to accept free renovations from State

contracters?

God almighty, just when you think the have seen them sink as low as possible...

Excuse me while I go vomit.

[PurityOfEssence]

70. Ya know, ah...Junior's from Connecticut...

Just thought I'd say that again...

[Lori Price CLG]

71. Here is Mike R's quip on the CLG website, commenting on this article:

Corruption claim governor says he was called by God --The governor of the strait-laced New England state of Connecticut has rejected calls for his resignation over corruption allegations, saying he is in direct contact with God. In a performance worthy of a fallen "televangelist" John Rowland, who has admitted accepting favours and gifts from powerful businessmen, defended his position by saying the Almighty had called to him "loud and clear" in his "adversity". (The CLG, in an exclusive interview with God Almighty, can confirm that God says Rowland is an asshole and a thief who belongs behind bars, and that his wife is a terrible poet, a deluded child and a moron. God added that Rowland is also mentally ill as evidenced by his burying gold in his own backyard.)

Lori R. Price
Receive the CLG Newsletter every day!
Address to subscribe: [e-mail] or [e-mail]

[Tansy_Gold]

72. ROFLMAO!!!

"The CLG, in an exclusive interview with God Almighty, can confirm that God says Rowland is an asshole and a thief who belongs behind bars. .. " gave me the biggest laugh I've had in a looooooooooong time!

[Spider Jerusalem]

73. This is one scary motherfucker.

They need to remove him from office, get him some Thorazine, and keep him under observation until he's no longer delusional. ANYONE who thinks he was "called by god" to do anything is suffering a rather serious mental illness and is obviously unfit to perform his duties, unless he is a member of the clergy, where such insanity is encouraged and even required.

[proud patriot]

74. Get this man out of the State House

He's Crazy :crazy:

[mbperrin]

76. If God called, shouldn't he go meet

him? Give him some Kool Aid!

[zls44]

77. GREAT NEWS!!!!!!

CT's largest paper- OWNED BY MURDOCH- is calling on him to resign tomorrow!

[Guaranteed]

78. Well, on the bright side,

if he's so close to God, maybe he's on the same road as Jesus!


Wouldn't that be nice? You know, people shouldn't be making these kinds of comparisons, because it's way too easy to relate them.

[T_i_B]

81. Kick

:kick:

[salin]

82. So accordingly... God now is pushing for lying, stealing, cheating, etc?

who knew? Maybe he should start taking notes - form a new religion on these new views from God. :eyes:

[salin]

83. and the wife... Leona Helmsly in denial?

In the poem, which drew gasps from the audience, Mrs Rowland compared staff at the Hartford Courant newspaper to "grinches who have stolen our tree". Her parody went on to describe a Christmas wish "for the man next to me: a new year that is peaceful and refreshingly free of rumours and hearsay that do nothing but smother the positive works we should do for each other".

Er lady... so cheating, stealing, lying, to the tax payers of Connecticut is cool. But it is those awful people who report about it and make such a big deal ... those mean grinches. Guess she isn't terribly strong on that acting with quiet dignity thing.

[Rainbows]

84. God, Republicans, and Country ...

hope he Fallswell off his throne into his pool of religious hypocrisy.

[snippy]

85. Nothing says "republican" like corruption approved by God.

I want Rowland to become the poster child of the republican party. I want him likened to Bush and Cheney. I want people to start talking about Rowland for the 2008 republican presidential nomination. I want him to drag Shays, Johnson, and Simmons down to defeat in 2004.

Democrats should defend Rowland by saying:

Why should Rowland resign or be impeached when Cheney hasn't?

Why should Rowland resign or be impeached when he is such a close, personal friend and ideological twin of Bush?

Why should Rowland resign or be impeached for corruption when Tom DeLay and Denny Hastert haven't?

Why should Rowland resign or be impeached when nothing says "republican" like corruption approved by God?

[rman]

86. Called by which god, the god of corruption?

That would be the ancient and evil eastern diety named Mammon; 'god of riches ill gotten', which has Republicans fawning at its feet.

[myomy]

87. Why is it that only Repugs have GodÕs 800 number?

.

[stevedeshazer]

91. You can get it, too

For a donation of only $2000 a plate....

[Skittles]

88. SANCTIMONIOUS REPUBLICAN ASSHOLES

GEE, THERE'S A STRETCH.

[pinto]

92. sorry, wrong number.