Even in blue Connecticut, the politics of criticizing a commander in chief during a military crisis are complicated.
Iraq
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers reject Trump’s new travel ban
Updated at 7:50 p.m.
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s federal lawmakers – all Democrats – unanimously rejected President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, which his administration hopes will survive any challenge in court. The new executive order, signed by the president Monday, targets travelers from six majority-Muslim countries and no longer restricts travel from Iraq, one of seven listed in the original order.
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Obama puts CT accomplishments on national ‘to do’ list
WASHINGTON — In his State of the Union speech, President Obama’s “to do” list was much like Connecticut’s “already done” list. “I’ll keep pushing for progress on the work that still needs doing,” the president said. “Protecting kids from gun violence, equal pay for equal work, paid leave, raising the minimum wage.”
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Murphy pushes Senate vote to bar ground troops from ISIS battle
Washington — Sen. Chris Murphy Monday pushed his campaign to bar American ground troops from the U.S. fight against ISIS by pressing for a Senate amendment that would prohibit the Pentagon from putting boots on the ground.
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Murphy’s query prompts Kerry to harshly condemn GOP letter to Iran
WASHINGTON – When Sen. Chris Murphy asked Secretary of State John Kerry Wednesday about a letter sent to Iranian leaders by a group of GOP senators, the answer he received added fuel to a firestorm over the Republican move.
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For a second time, Tom Foley works to close the deal
It’s a simple question that executive search committees ask. The query is meant to test whether the desire to be a chief executive can be crystallized into a single concrete act: OK, let’s say you have the job, what do you do first? It’s a question Tom Foley has no answer for. Second of a two-day series.
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Murphy, Blumenthal split on authorization to arm Syrian rebels
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s Democratic senators split Thursday over legislation that would give the Obama administration authority to arm and train Syrian rebels, but the measure won approval in the Senate on a bipartisan, 78-22 vote.
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Blumenthal unsatisfied after questioning Hagel on ISIS mission
WASHINGTON– Sen. Richard Blumenthal was one of several lawmakers who tried to pin down top Pentagon officials Tuesday on the administration’s new campaign to target Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria, and were not satisfied with the answers.
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CT Sen. Murphy at odds with Obama’s plan to arm Syrian rebels
WASHINGTON – President Obama hopes Congress votes this week to allow the Pentagon to arm and train Syrian rebels, but Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is absolutely not on board.
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Connecticut lawmakers react warmly, warily to Obama speech
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers reacted with both wariness and praise to President Obama’s plan to “degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL” and to commence U.S. airstrikes on Syria.
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Murphy warns of ‘slippery slope’ in Syria
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said President Obama does not have the authority to wage a military operation against Islamic militants known as ISIS in Syria who beheaded an American journalist and are trying to destabilize the Iraqi government.
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Larson says Congress should cut its break to deal with Iraq
WASHINGTON – Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, said members of Congress should stop second-guessing President Obama’s strategy toward Iraq and return early to Washington from their summer break to debate the issue.
Posted inPolitics
Connecticut lawmakers skeptical of Obama’s engagement in Iraq
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers are skeptical of President Obama’s decision to approve “targeted” airstrikes on militants in Iraq and to drop food, water and medicine to civilians trapped by fighting in the mountains in the north of the country.
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Lieberman says he’s seen 3rd-party politics from both sides
Joe Lieberman isn’t voting for Dan Malloy. But that’s not news. He’s not voting for Tom Foley, either. Or independent Jonathan Pelto. The man who represented Connecticut in the U.S. Senate for 24 years no longer lives here.