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Subscribe to RSSAfter 30 years of service in the United States Senate, Democrat Chris Dodd used a farewell speech to the chamber Tuesday to issue a plea for civility in government and to warn against major reforms to the Senate’s filibuster rules.
Throughout his career, Dodd, who was first elected to the House in 1974 and the Senate in 1980, played a major role in legislation that changed the landscape of American life, including the Family and Medical Leave Act and mortgage and financial reform laws.
Watch the whole speech here:
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Dodd, himself the son of a senator, chose not to seek re-election last December after his poll numbers showed a serious decline in his popularity.
Earlier this year, NBC’s Ken Strickland sat down with Dodd as part of a week-long Web series about the departing members of the Senate. Read a transcript of that interview here.
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If FMLA had remained as it was originally passed that would be an argument for being something good. Because it was modified a few years later it is now worthless. Being charged both your vacation time and FMLA at the same time was not in the original act. In addition it was meant for time off to assist a family member (hense the name). They now can charge you FMLA time for being sick/hospitalized yourself. Doesn't anyone even remember the original act? They said it would give fathers time off to help mom take care of the little one when you first brought the kid home and give give you time off to help your sick and ailing parents. It didn't take businesses long to figure out a way to change all that and get their political payrollees to kill the original concept in a way that was better for them. For someone who pushed to get the original act through he sure caved when it came time to protect it.
Dodd should have been led out in cuffs...
Nice speech. Now don't let the door hit you in the a__, you worthless piece of crap.
Bob Randall;
I think he HAS a "Pat down job".
There must be away to stop the retirement pay for all politicans and let them pay into their own 401k's like the rest of us have to.Maybe then they would have everybody's interest at hand instead of only their own. Dodd's wife worked for AIG and he wrote into the stimulis AIG bonuses,that alone should have been enough to get him jailed.
Just leave you corrupt thief.
Too bad he wasn't leaving for jail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thirty years of sacrifice in the service of our country, whew!!!!!!!!!! Now it's time to go into lobbying and make some real frigging money.
Dodd is and always has been fluent in B S. He should be in jail for his role in Fannie and Freddie.
Why isn't the wonderful Mr. Dodd widely stating that he wants to finally spend some time with his family ???
Despite his advanced age, I believe he's got one or two small children...and I mean "young"...toddler-style.
Dodd should spend time with the family now, so his kid(s) can remember him fondly when playing on the high school basketball team and having 'Dad' sitting in the bleachers with a drool cup, rooting for the Red Sox.
With the exit of Dodd, Connecticut voters elected Attorney General Dick Blumenthal to the Senate. Blumenthal has built his career politician status on being tough on business, fighting for the little guy, blah blah blah. Blumenthal's squeaky clean image took a major plunge when he was caught in his words (mis-speaking) about his military service record, stating that he had served in with the USMC in Viet Nam. Truth be told he was in the reserves, never left the U.S., and was granted 5 deferments during that time period. Anyone who served in Viet Nam did not get confused if they were there or not. Blumenthal never served, he stole the valor of those that did, and the man is a blatant liar who did not accept responsibility for his riding on the reputations of those who served honorably. Connecticut voters who backed Blumenthal should hang their head in shame over the selection of this creep as their Senator.
Why isn't Dodd being charged with tax evasion and taking special favors from the loan company he got his morgage from? Why aren't congress men held to the same legal standards as the rest of us? Are these politicians really like Pelosi said better than us little people. The seem to think we are all Astro Turf and they can live by special rules because they are sooooo special. Congressional ethic committee, what a farce.