TPM Cafe’s Election Central has an amusing story about a man named Richard Goodstein who showed up with a gaggle of Lieberman supporters to heckle Great Lefty Hope Ned Lamont when the Senate hopeful made an appearance at a local diner recently. As it turns out, he’s a registered lobbyist in D.C.—though he hung up on EC before they could ask him about his connection to the Lieberman campaign.
Still, we can try a little dot-connecting of our own, no? Goodstein seems to make his living off just a couple major clients: the printer company Lexmark and Pennsylvania-based Air Products and Chemicals, which among other things is a major supplier to the semiconductor industry. Air Products’ former chairman, Howard Wagner, now sits on the board of Lieberman’s second largest donor, Connecticut-based United Technologies (though boards are such a musical-chairs affair that this probably doesn’t mean much in itself). More to the point, Joe Lieberman has been one of the most vocal supporters in the Senate of government subsidies to and partnerships with the semiconductor industry, which (through its trade association) gave the Senator an award for his efforts on their behalf back in 2001. The company has also been expanding its nanotechnology division, another hobbyhorse of Lieberman’s. The top press release on the front page of Air Products’ site right now is an announcement of a profitable licensing deal with the University of Connecticut for a technology that will help in the development of next-generation video displays. So it certainly makes sense that Goodstein’s main client would have an interest in keeping Lieberman, whose pet issue happens to be their industry, in office
5 responses so far ↓
1 Adam Holland // Aug 4, 2006 at 9:04 pm
This is one of the most interesting things I’ve read about this entire, very interesting, election. Well done!
2 LanceThruster // Aug 4, 2006 at 10:22 pm
What a -bag (D or C), this Goodstein is. It’s probably not PC to speculate on his tribal affiliations. That never has any bearing. From here on in I’m swearing off Lexmark, though I’m not sure I can go cold turkey on air or chemicals.
What I’m truly afraid of is that Diebold will snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for old No-mentum. They’re already putting out the meme that Joe’s come from behind win will be because Mr. Dazzle so masterfully energized his silent majority base. (Yeah right!)
Heckova job Julian (the way it used to be meant – sincerely)
3 Phelim Kelly // Aug 5, 2006 at 8:42 am
Great work!
It seems to me that the Lieberman campaign reeks of desperation. Lamont might have to get the Local Steamfitters up from Groton to provide security.;)
pjk425
4 c // Aug 6, 2006 at 9:32 am
Hey Lancethruster,
What do his “tribal affiliations” have to do with anything? Either Goodstein’s a self-serving corpo-whore or not; this stands regardless of his “tribal affiliations.”
“I guess it’s not PC” to suspect that you’re mentally deficient. I’m going to do anyway.
5 LanceThruster // Aug 9, 2006 at 4:14 pm
To c:
Suspect what you want. I think it is relevant and worth noting. He operated in the manner of a hired goon. Joe has shown all the loyalty of a fifth columnist. AIPAC money went heavily to Cynthia McKinney’s challenger from 7 different out of state orgs. They both operated a smear campaign that included race baiting while being silent about the Israeli interests that they shill for and profit from publically and privatelly. Abramoff is deeply into his tribal affiliation, so to examine that in terms of his motivations are valid. As Jon Stewart remarked, “at least he would only screw us 24/6.”
Joe’s “independent” run only proves he has no qualms about twisting the knife in the back of the Democrats. That Goodstein was so enthusiastically a part of that could be for any number of reasons, but it could also be what’s good for the GOP is good for the tribe. It’s no coincidence that Joltin’ Joe has been carrying the water for a corrupt Team Shrub.
Think of it as the “0” and “00” on a roulette wheel; it only has to shift the odds just a bit to ensure that in the end, it always comes up in the house’s favor. War is good in many ways for the supporters of the War party, and to work the tribe’s angle in fomenting chaos and conflict is not unreasonable, your phony outrage notwithstanding. I do the same with xians that think pushing their invisible buddy is good for everyone.
If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. I won’t let twits like you try to ‘shame’ me from asking the question.