Behold the power of mockery. Social media would become a more congenial universe if the targets of abuse responded like this.

Look forward to New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart’s Christmas photo this year.

Certain NBA players and others have suggested they need to educate themselves on China and mankind’s yearning for freedom. Here’s a vivid lesson on the difference between tyranny and liberty from the BBC. Tunnel 29 is a podcast on the risks Germans took to liberate others from the prison that was East Germany.

The series comes in 10 short episodes. You will want to binge. Start here on the BBC site or download it on your podcast app. Tunnel 29 is part of the Intrigue series of compelling storytelling.

Southbury Republican Ruby Corby O’Neill continues her public support for Southbury Democratic first selectman candidate Rich Boritz by adding her name to an ad for him. O’Neill and her husband, state Representative Arthur O’Neill, appeared at a Southbury Democratic event. The battling O’Neills were on the losing side of a local Republican primary for first selectman last month.

O’Neill, whose training is in psychology, so it must have occurred to her that local Republicans will not soon forget the breach among party members that she is making wider. O’Neill lost a 2018 primary bid for the Republican nomination for Congress in the 5th CD. She was defeated by Meriden Republican Manny Santos by a margin of nearly 2-1.

Arthur O’Neill, the longest serving Republican in the House, will face voters next year, should he decide to seek another term. He can expect considerable local party opposition.

Federal campaign finance reports continue to tell the tale of Republican decline in the northeast region of the nation.

Jonathan Riddle, who recently launched his campaign for the Republican nomination in Connecticut’s 4th CD, reports contributions of $100 for the third quarter of the year when Riddle began his campaign, a $7,127.91 loan, $7,485.45 in cash on hand, and $27,770.69 in debts and loans a little over a year before Election Day. The 4th CD is in the nation’s priciest media market, which can makes a competitive campaign expensive.

Robert Hyde, who appears to have switched from running for the U.S. Senate in 2022 to seeking the Republican nomination in the 5th CD, has not reached the $5,000.00 fundraising threshold that would require him to file a full quarterly campaign finance report.

Dear Ructions,

Many people seem to be aware of acidic strife causing trouble among Republicans in a western Connecticut town. The situation threatens to defeat local Republicans this year and next. With two weeks left before the town election, would you suggest a way to bind the wounds?

Sign me,

A House Divided

Dear Divided,

Take a lesson from the New Haven Democrats. They have rallied around the winner of their September primary for mayor, Justin Elicker. Embattled incumbent Toni Harp, who is on the Working Families Party line, wants to revive her dormant campaign for a last ditch lunge at victory. State Democratic leaders and Attorney General William Tong appeared along with local officials at a Sunday rally for Elicker, sending a message of unity to Democratic voters. Those leaders know that bitter local divisions can endure for many destructive election cycles.

One of the many challenges for Connecticut Republicans is that they have no elected leaders in statewide office. You’ll need to need to be creative. Invite as many Republican office holders as you can find to headline an event next weekend. Ask your guests to make calls to both factions to ask them to attend. State Senator George Logan knows how to inspire a crowd. The beloved Nancy Johnson can still argue a brief. Maybe Jodi Rell has not left for Florida and could make an appearance. Make it a child-friendly event (who does not enjoy a bounce house?) because adults cannot be too hard on each other with children in the room.

Reminders of the consequences of handing the common adversary a victory always help. While defeating their intra-party nemesis may please the leaders of the revolt, others will bear the chill of the wilderness. Handing a win to the other side will mean people enjoying making a contribution to community life will be tossed off boards and commissions because their party lost control of town government. 

If you are impaled on the horns of a dilemma and want to risk receiving advice, send a message to kfr@dailyructions.com. Identities will be protected. Messages may be edited.

State Representative Arthur O’Neill, the longest serving Republican in the House, has issued a statement aimed at explaining his presence at a recent local Democratic event. Arthur O’Neill and his wife, Ruby, have been at the center of one warring Southbury Republican faction. Some of the trouble dates to Ruby O’Neill’s unsuccessful 2018 bid for the 5th CD Republican nomination. Some locals feel they were seen by the O’Neills as insufficiently supportive of Ruby O’Neill’s surprise campaign.

The O’Neills found themselves on the losing side of a Southbury primary this summer and seem not to have accepted defeat with even grudging grace, but remain determined to prolong what the veteran legislator casts as “discord.” This struggle appears destined to continue far into 2020.

State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) is leaving his post at the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) this month. Slap, who also served as a state representative, is a former chief of staff for the Senate Democrats. He also worked for the University of Connecticut Foundation while serving in the legislature.

Slap, who announced his resignation in an October 9th email, “will pursue a new opportunity in the non-profit/social service sector.” No word on if that will be with an organization that receives funding from the State of Connecticut.

Here’s Slap’s message:

Dear board members,

I hope you’re doing well and enjoying the beautiful fall weather. I do want to share some news with you.  I will be leaving the Tech Council later this month to pursue a new opportunity in the non-profit / social service sector.

Change can mean opportunity – and in this case the chance to build on the strategic decisions & collaboration that we embarked on this Spring with CCAT. Discussions with CCAT surrounding CTC’s alliance with them are continuing and I’m sure you will be fully updated at the next board meeting on Nov. 4^th, if not sooner. 

I have greatly enjoyed our work together and am grateful for your partnership. Connecticut is a small state so I’m confident and hopeful that we will have other opportunities to connect.  

Yours,

Derek

Details of Brexit can be a muddle for Americans to follow. No one will have trouble understanding this mess of an interview as a Liberal Democrat member of the European Parliament tries to popular interviewer explain to popular and informed interviewer Iain Dale why her party opposes the agreement reached by the United Kingdom and the European Union Thursday.

As Governor Ned Lamont prepares to unveil a renovated transportation plan, this interview provides a reminder that officials need to know their brief.

The Federal Elections Commission wants some answers from Connecticut Democrats. The state Democrats’ campaign filings have been a mess and the FEC noticed. The commission has contacted Connecticut Democrats and expects explanations.

Updates as events require.

State Representative Arthur O’Neill and Ruby O’Neill continue to be at odds with a wide tranche of Southbury Republicans in the aftermath of Ruby O’Neill’s 2018 congressional bid and a battle over the Republican nomination for first selectman this year. The O’Neills were on the losing side of that contest. They appear to have moved their battered tanks to the Southbury Democrats.