Westport is hardly a hotbed of hyper-partisanship (certain “06880” commenters notwithstanding).
Our civic discourse is usually civil; when it’s not, it’s less along Democratic or Republican lines than other, more personal issues.
Our RTM is non-partisan.
Our Congressional district has a history of electing good, hard-working, normal people — of both parties. And we’re proud of the job they do representing all of us.
But Westport is the site of an initial meeting of No Labels. That’s the grassroots organization working to end the toxic tone in Washington (and many states and districts).
The group’s “Declaration” explains:
We are not labels – we are people. We care deeply about our country. We are frustrated and concerned about the tone of politics. We are passionate about addressing America’s challenges.
We are Democrats, Republicans and Independents.
Most importantly, we are Americans.
We believe hyper-partisanship is destroying our politics and paralyzing our ability to govern.
We may disagree on issues, but we do so with civility and mutual respect.
We believe in the vital civil center — a place where ideas are judged on their merits.
We believe that together we can make the future better and brighter — and give us what we all deserve — a government and a political system that works — one driven by shared purpose and common sense.
We believe our politics can change, so that government will work again and produce better results.
The consequences of inaction have never been greater, because the issues we face have never been more serious, more complicated, or more dangerous….
We must put our labels aside, and put the issues and what’s best for the nation first. A promising future awaits us.
The 1st No Label organizational meeting for Connecticut is set for tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 7), from 6:30-8 p.m. on the 1st floor of the MetLife Building, 57 Green’s Farms Road.
The public is invited. No matter how you label yourself, you’re welcome to attend.
(For more information, click here.)
Bravo!
Don’t for a minute think the RTM is non-partisan. It is majority controlled by liberal democrats, and their political affiliations are very easy to see in their various special interests and pet causes. This “No Labels” movement is a cynical attempt by the majority party to declare “point game” when they clearly have an advantage. Don’t be fooled.
How do you know it is “a cynical attempt by the majority party (who is that anyway??)” to do anything? It seems to be a cynical eye of yours on anything new. I applaud any new fraction that breaks up the dysfunctional political system we have now.
If you have to ask who “that” is then you don’t live in Westport. Look at the party composition of ALL town boards and the RTM. Look at the composition of the State Senate and Legislature. Look at the Governor’s office. Or just look at your tax bill.
I thought you were referring to a national platform. Sorry. I still welcome any grass root efforts to change the status quo. We need a strong third party in this country. The Tea Party was not it. Sorry Mr. Raho.
If you read the statement of purpose carefully, it is clearly ideological. As to the assertion that the RTM is non-partisan…LMAO.
LMAO? That was Dan’s assertion and he is entitled to his opinion.
I am not familiar enough with local politics to comment. I do entertain its effort, however, but not enough to miss Jeopardy.
“Sorry Mr. Raho.” Is Anonymous really Raho
Nope.
If our elected leaders listened honestly and politely, there would be “civility and mutual respect.” But give the Dem’s their due… they stack the RTM and the Boards & Commissions with sincere talented folks willing to put in the long hours required.
Unfortunately, “going along” with the group (Dem) ideology then becomes more important than the desires of the voters they were elected to represent. It’s normal behavior. But after too many years (13+) of one party running our show, appointing the Boards & Commissions, and showing a disregard for the citizens, angst builds up and tempers flare.
Time for a change. No giveaway pensions. A downtown Y. No violating a deceased ladies will. A new Town Attorney. Maybe even some visible ethics.
Then you will see civility and mutual respect return. It’s starts at the top, where the tone is set.
Oddly, the only ideologues I have recently seen in Westport have embraced the Tea Party mantra…and lost in local elections. As for ethics, one should try to remember how bad it was from 1993 to 1997.
It is far worse now.
When you hold all the cards, all the power then there is no need to espouse ideology- you simply execute according to your ideology. Don’t tell me there is no ideology behind the plan to give away Barrons South, behind egregious pension and early retirement schemes, behind the plastic bag ban, behind the statement of one RTM member that “we don’t have a deer problem, we have a people problem.” But when you are trying to get a slumbering electorate to wake up, look and see what those in power are doing and how they are spending your tax dollars, then you are an ideologue. The Smugness platform might not play so well this November.
Ain’t that the truth!
When was there civility and mutual respect? This town has always been a hotbed of dissent. It is one reason why it is so wonderful.
When people whine about the lack of mutual respect and civility, what they really want is their critics to just shut up and go away.
Ain’t that the truth too!
Ugh, I felt so hopeful reading the Declaration (I’m still an optimist), but by the time I read some of the curmudgeonly comments, I just want to go have breakfast and forget about the nasty comments!
Prune juice?
Just for the record – I’ve never commented here or on WestportNow under any aliases or pseudo names. I’m proud of my comments/opinions and stand behind them regardless of how unpopular, inarticulate or sarcastic they may be (to some). They represent what I believe and if nothing else, I am consistent.
Second – Some here may dismiss the Tea Party and Sarah Palin, and granted both didn’t do too well in Connecticut this past November, however, they both cleaned up nationally and that cannot be dismissed. And that’s no opinion just fact!
As far as this No Labels group being ‘non-partisan’, well that all depends on your definition of partisan. The link below sheds some light on this group and it’s founders. It’s sort of the ‘Coffee Party’ with a new label (remember them?)
http://michellemalkin.com/2010/11/24/centrist/
You tell them John! I do believe, however, “cleaned up” is overstated. Sarah is drowning. Tuscon was a major game changer and 13 of the Tea Party elected representatives have hired former lobbyists as their chiefs of staff. The rules have to be changed, not the players. And the name of the game is $$$$.
Here we go again: anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous II. Hey, let’s get a little more creative!
Got it.
Westport is literally one of the most rude towns for no reason…a lot of rudeness with nothing to show for it.
Nothing to show for it? I don’t know about that.
A first rate school system, great country club (with ice skating in the winter), excellent beach, strong home values (comparatively speaking), passionate community activism (on both sides), excellent after school programs, nationally recognized student achievements, Splash, most fit soccer moms dressed from LuLuLemon in Range Rovers and the list goes on.
In all fairness, Fairfield has some good restaurants with outside dining (Martels, Molto & Centro), parking meters, higher crime rate, rowdy beach community with college rentals, a movie theater (with last year’s movies), Borders, cheaper gas, Isabelle & Vincent’s, Fairfield Porsche (or is that Bridgeport?), Chef’s Table and Southport (which I always thought should really be a part of Westport).
I’m going to have to give it to Westport.
Trust me, no one says they live in Fairfield when the actually live in Westport, however, you do hear people say I live in Fairfield, ‘but on the Westport border’.
Jeez, with all the labels flying around, I wonder where the “No Label” party got their idea?
Hey, II, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it will get you nowhere 🙂
Fairfield with a high crime rate? Inflation of grades at Staples High School to get a better academic standing…Fairfield has a lower crime rate than in Westport…Westport discriminates and Fairfield has been on the Top 10 places to live 2 times in the past 5 years…get your facts straight…Fairfield a much better place to live…Westport “big houses with no furniture” aka you have no money its all fake, temporary rich…stand down.
Facts are stubborn things –
Crime rate comparison between Fairfield and Westport (you win in every category, if higher crime is the goal). You’ve had 5 murders in the past 5 years, we’ve had 0 in the past 10.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Fairfield-Connecticut.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Westport-Connecticut.html
“Westport discriminates”? I’m not even sure what you are referring to here. Trust me, politically correct Westport is the Berkley of the east.
As far as your town being listed as “Best Places to Live”…well, Seymour was 1 notch above you on the same list, so I would put too much stock into that article.
And your comments about, ‘homes without furniture’, ‘Westport is the next Bridgeport’, ‘we’ll all be on welfare in 10 years’…yeah, okay.
Southport part of Westport? Nobody respects Westport…all temporary rich people…guaranteed to be on welfare in the next 10 years…I have about 20 people working for me and I live in Fairfield, and those who work for me live in Westport. Westport is on the downfall and you’re in denial…have fun being the next Bridgeport
What happened to civility? Stop the town comparisons. They are merely generalities regardless. What you decribe as the downfall of Westport is found throughout Fairfield County. It is a called a recession. Westport has an unique flavor of celebrity and charm while Fairfield has drunk college students on the beach every weekend and J.J. Henry who actually is a Texan now.
The rationale for the “No Labels” cabal is inherently incoherent. To be a member you must first identify all labels and then claim that none apply to you. The process of identifying labels is divisive. The null set is itself a set, and as such, exclusionary.
To a worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish. You are writing like the math genius that you are. Be careful.
James Blake, multiple movies shot in our town…Fairfield U isn’t Fairfield…Southport, Greenfield Hill is…haven’t seen Westport on a top place to live because it’s not worth it unlike Fairfield where it is expensive but has a charm Westport can’t have
1958 Top All-American cities(?). The wonderful world of Westport. The late Mr. Newman overshadows Phil & Marlo. Fairfield Beach on a Saturday night? Ouch! James Blake? Was better with hair. Speaking of which, Imus got out of Fairfield and moved to Westport. Smart dude.
Westport “big houses, no furniture” temporary rich…enjoy maybe you’ll be privileged enough to live in Fairfield one day…btw Imus doesn’t live in westport anymore…always astonished Beachside ave is in westport…way too pretty for westport
Imus hasn’t sold yet. Moving to Santa Fe soon. You live at the beach and you don’t think Westport is pretty?? Maybe not in Feburary but certainly the rest of the year. Wait until you move to Florida. Ug!
No Westport is pretty…just there seems to be this Westport, Fairfield hating which is unnecessary.
If you think there is disrespect between Fairfield and Westport, go to a New Canaan-Staples football game some time. Lordy, one year the entire New Canaan bleachers were screaming “Westport Sucks” until, of course, Staples came back to win the game in the last minute. At a tennis match, the Rams players were throwing quarters at the Staples team. Apparently in reference to the large number of Jewish players. Nasty, gastly.
Agreed. I especially like your little par 3 course after a round at Longshore.
Play at the Country Club of Fairfield, Smith Richardson…nicer than Longshore in my opinion..Longshore gets run down in the summer.
Didn’t you just say, “there seems to be this Westport, Fairfield hating which is unnecessary.”
And then go on to say how the C.C. of Fairfield is better than Longshore.
What’s it going to be?
CC of Fairfield is a private course, so any comparison to Longshore is not apt. Sort of like comparing Andover to any public high school. I have owned businesses in both Fairfield and Westport. The towns are clearly very different, but I don’t see any obvious advantage to living in one town or the other.
Not a big fan of Smith and the Mayflower genes don’t run amuck in
my pool so never played Fairfield CC but imagine it is like Weeburn:
nobody ever plays it. Longshore doesn’t get “run down” unless they top dress the greens. It does get crowded. Fairfield may have some nicer beaches and it does have a great funeral home but still like the small town charm of the Port of West.
Either or, doesn’t matter.
How are the towns different at all other than one having only 20,000 people and one having 50,000. I give the advantage to Fairfield and the more desirable place as well. Lived in Westport and truthfully nobody knew where it was. Now I mention Fairfield and everyone knows where and what it is all about. Ill back my fellow Fairfielder up here.
I bet you would rather drive a Ford because more people know it then they do an Aston Martin.
Me?…I’ll take the AM.
You live in a place because others recognize its name? Now, George, that is shallow.
Can they even afford Aston Martins in Westport?
Wow, I never knew there was such animosity between Westport and Fairfield! I’ve lived in Westport for more than 20 years, and while it was initially a bit of an adjustment coming from the midwest, you seek out decent folks, keep a sense of humor about the entitled ones, and find that it’s a great place to live. And with all of the snow this year,to me it feels like home! For those Fairfielders putting down Westport, why can’t you just be grateful that you live in a town you find more desirable, and stop making such hateful comments. “Civility and mutual respect?” Hmmmmmmm……….
This got immature, apologies.
This got immature, I apologize.
In a gesture of apology, can you get us on Country Club of Fairfield??