Alpert Can't Catch A Break

Merrick Alpert must feel like the team, facing an umpire that works for his opponent. Alpert, you may recall, is the man, who cleaned the clock of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, in the one and only debate, between the two candidates for the Democratic Party nomination for U.S. Senate. In reality, he's nothing more than a pest to the Democratic Party establishment.

Nancy DiNardo, the state party chairman, wishes he would just go away. So much for a chairman, who is above the fray, allowing the candidates to battle it out for the nomination. Blumenthal is the handpicked candidate of the Obama administration and DiNardo isn't about to do anything to upset the party apparatchik.

Alpert wants more debates with Blumenthal, but the AG won't give him any. You can understand why. Alpert looked like the New York Yankees playing the Bad News Bears in their Mar. 1 tete-a-tete. Alpert was vibrant, articulate and elucidated his positions on the issues. Blumenthal looked tired, stumbled and generally appeared uncomfortable from out behind his Attorney General's desk, before his quick getaway after the event, eschewing the media.

Now, thanks to some great reporting by the Norwich Bulletin, comes word Blumenthal has been allowed to set up a Senate candidate's office at state party central headquarters in Hartford. But how much is he paying for the space? When the Bulletin reporter asked, party officials said they'd get back. Turns out they could not find any documentation. Then, after some more stumbling, they called the reporter back, stating there was a verbal agreement between Blumenthal and party officials.

Hmmmm. This sounds like an arrangement the Attorney General should be investigating. It's right up his alley. Favoritism. No written contract. Except, this time, Blumenthal is on the accusing end. The Federal Elections Commission is even probing into the matter, although methinks nothing will happen, because the case involves the party establishment.

Meanwhile, DiNardo continues to take potshots at Alpert, who has the unmitigated gall of placing trust in the democratic system. He says he will battle Blumenthal right to the convention and might even seek a primary, if he doesn't receive the nod. Here's hoping democracy prevails.