Joy Haenlein

In introducing our new congressman in South Norwalk last night, Stamford Mayor Dannel P. Malloy talked about the decision Jim Himes made two years ago to run for Congress based on his strong opposition to the Iraq war and concern over the economy.

 I agree with Jim on most of the issues and voted for him on Tuesday. That was a huge change for me. I have voted for Chris Shays in every election until this year, going back to 1990. Although I disagree with Chris, especially on his support for the war, I admire him personally and I am grateful for his dedicated service and his independent example. He is among the last of an incredibly successful breed — the moderate Republican. I hope Jim is as independent a Democrat as Chris was an independent Republican. (If he’s not, Jim might be a short-termer in Washington.)

 But back to Mayor Malloy’s introduction. It reminded me why I am so high on Jim:

* Washington needs his background and experience. Jim’s success on Wall Street and his work to increase affordable housing and energy independence are tailor made for the country at this point in its history. And his personal story is one of hard work, dedication and respect.

* And let’s not forget this: Jim stepped forward when no one else would. I could admire that most of all.

 After Diane Farrell lost her second tough contest against Chris two years ago, plenty of Democratic pundits suggested that Chris just might have the 4th District seat for life. There was no candidates’ rush to battle Chris Shays in 2008, I can assure you. When Jim raised his hand and said “I will,” it was if he was the only guy sitting on one of those cold folding chairs in a very big room.

 A number of people — yours truly, included — thought he ultimately would be a place-holder for a bigger Democratic name who would enter the race late in 2007 or early 2008. But I was wrong. Jim didn’t do that. He started learning about the district and its concerns — and he kept on going. Good for him. And I think it will be good for the rest of us here in the 4th District.

 Congratulations, Jim.

  There were high points aplenty during last weekend’s toast-and-roast testimonial at the Hyatt in Old Greenwich for Joe Pisani, my friend and colleague. The turnout was strong, with guests from various parts of Joe’s life over the last 25 years, and many of those through his work with The Advocate and Greenwich Time.

 (I’m always shocked to see Joe’s four daughters. They are so gorgeous — each could be a super-model tomorrow. They also look like Joe. How is this possible, I always wonder? Then comes the aha! moment: Sandy Pisani, Joe’s gorgeous wife.)

 There were a number of good lines. Speaker Hugh Mulligan, the legendary AP reporter, had me on the floor with his observation that he hadn’t seen this many bowties “since the Alger Hiss trial” (guests were encouraged to wear bowties, Joe’s trademark). Joe himself drew the biggest laugh with his reference to the problem with working toilets at The Advocate’s home on Stamford’s East Side under the regime of the now (and deservedly) infamous MediaNews.

 But you didn’t have to be a media insider to be intrigued by comments by two of the better-known guests — Stamford Mayor Dannel P. Malloy and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal — and maybe dream for a second about what could be….

 Mayor Malloy followed Peter Tesei, our Greenwich first selectman, on the program. Mr. Tesei did a terrific job, presenting a great proclamation for Joe to strong applause.

 It’s fair to say that, in public, Mayor Malloy generally portrays a love/hate relationship with Stamford’s neighbor to the west. So from was in that spirit that the Mayor seemed to admonish First Selectman Tesei for failing to acknowledge Lin Lavery, a Greenwich town selectman who also was in the audience, as Mr. Tesei spoke. (I told you, it was quite a night!) I don’t know if it matters, but Malloy and Lavery are Democrats and Tesei is a Republican.

 Then it was Mr. Blumenthal’s turn. He also is a Democrat. He has lived in Stamford and now lives in Greenwich. And he is mentioned as the leading Democratic contender for governor in 2010, should he decide to run.

 Connecticut has been waiting for our attorney general to run for the state’s top office for several years now. He is first in line to be the party standard-bearer; it’s his whenever he wants it. But he’s not exactly one to rush to judgment. He waits to the last minute to announce whether he will run for governor and, to date, has consistently decided not to do so.

 That decision suits Mr. Malloy just fine, because Mayor Malloy wants to be governor. He ran a credible Democratic primary campaign in 2006 but lost at the polls to John DeStefano, who ultimately lost to our current governor, M. Jodi Rell.

 While Mayor Malloy hasn’t shared his plans (his mayoral term expires next year, among other factors to hash out), I think most people expect that he will run for governor again in 2010 — if Mr. Blumenthal draws his usual conclusion. But Mr. Malloy no doubt would like Mr. Blumenthal to make up his mind early, so Mr. Malloy can get out in front and lead the parade.

 There is enough political tension between these potential Democratic rivals from time to time to make it amusing. I’ll see the two of them at the same event, or hear them take a subtle swing at each other. I imagine some of this is good-natured ribbing, though I have no idea what they really think of each other, or how much of this ribbing is joke and how much is jab. (A part of me thinks they don’t even know how they feel about each other.)

 In any event, I find myself every once in a while wishing for a primary fight between them. It’s not likely to happen. But it would be big fun. Both are smart and quick on their feet.

  I had those feelings again last Sunday, when Mr. Blumenthal followed Mr. Malloy at the podium and admonished the mayor — for failing to recognize in the audience the venerable Christel Truglia, the Democratic state House member from Stamford and senior member of the city’s legislative delegation who is retiring at the end of her term in January.

 Back at his table, Mayor Malloy smiled and laughed, as the audience laughed and clapped. Or was it a grimace on his face?

 With these two, you never can tell. And it had me wanting more.

Support a great cause and enjoy a beautiful fall day at Greenwich Point — no park pass required — by participating Sunday, Oct, 19, in the Walk in the Park for Abilis. The one-mile, all-accessible Walk benefits Abilis (formerly ARC), lower Fairfield County’s community service and support network for people with developmental disabilities and their families. 

The nonprofit organization is based in the Glenville section of Greenwich, but serves most of the communities in the region. About half of the services are provided to Stamford residents, for example, but few people in Stamford know about it. 

 Abilis is what is called a lifespan agency. It can meet a newborn in the neonatal unit, support a child and his or her family in childhood and the school years, teach young adults the life skills they need to make their own choices, help adults find appropriate housing and employment, and provide social support and encouragement through to retirement — and beyond. 

Like other state-funded agencies in Connecticut, Abilis faces budget cuts this year — quite possibly, substantial ones. This work is so important not only to the people Abilis serves and their families, but to our communities, which benefit by having developmentally disabled individuals become productive participants in society. Abilis deserves your support and involvement!

Walk with us on Sunday! Register online at www.abilis.us, or in person at Greenwich Point on Sunday. Collect your donations ($50 gets you a pretty gorgeous Walk Tshirt in a color we’ll call Abilis blue!) and join the fun!

 Registration and activities begin at 10:30, featuring face-painting, a magician, live DJ, crafts, Mums, food and a visit from the NY Rangers Road Tour, an interactive experience featuring a bouncy stadium for kids, slapshot booth, video games and more!

The one-mile Walk begins at noon.

Stop by the “About Abilis” table at say hello!

 I was an admirer of the late William F. Buckley, not because I agreed with everything he wrote, but because he arrived at his conclusions in ways that were thought-provoking and, frequently, surprising. The best columnists do that. He also was what I considered a local guy. Along with his late wife, Pat, Mr. Buckley owned a house in Stamford and was a very enthusiastic resident of that city. He wrote about Stamford from time to time, sometimes as a means to comment on what was happening elsewhere in Connecticut or the metropolitan region, but sometimes out of interest in the city itself. I’ve never lived in Stamford, but I worked there for more than 20 years and I love it. 

 I’ve read the occasional essay by Christopher Buckley, Pat and Bill’s son, but I don’t know a lot about his work. That might change. The self-described conservative/libertarian has written about his decision to vote for Barack Obama in a piece for The Daily Beast, Tina Brown’s latest (terrific!) Web venture. It’s a good read. Christopher Buckley doesn’t bust. He doesn’t love everything about Obama. But that only makes his support seem more honest — and, to my mind, persuasive.

Here’s the link:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-10/the-conservative-case-for-obama/

The Advocate and Greenwich Time reported this morning that Editor David Warner has resigned after about four months at the helm.

I have no insight to offer about Mr. Warner, whom I’ve not met. Like most editors, he probably brought some good ideas to the papers, which we’ll hear less about now that he’s gone.

But clearly, some serious miscalculations were made under his leadership. Exhibit one would be the tabloid-style headlines in The Advocate. Big mistake. When the point size of your jellyfish-alert headline approaches the size of the ones published on Sept. 11 and 12, 2001, you’re in trouble. Content also suffered. The local flavor of both newspapers dwindled as staff was cut and cut and editors were stretched thin.

In this market, you can’t replace solid local content and grassroots community news with overwrought generic fluff. Readers notice. And readers don’t like.

What works in Philly or the Quad Cities or, yes, even my beloved hometown of Detroit, doesn’t work here. Times-Mirror Corp., Tribune Co., Media News — all three claimed to have learned that lesson in Stamford and Greenwich when they owned our local papers. Yet all three turned around and made the same mistake. When will they learn? Let’s hope Hearst Newspapers, which assumed operations of The Advocate and Greenwich Time after Media News practically ran them into the ground, will finally get it right.

I left the newspapers nearly a year ago, after more than 20 years at The Advocate and Greenwich Time — editing, writing, reporting and supporting. It’s been an interesting year for me personally. But I’ve kept in touch with a number of my colleagues at the newspapers over these last months, and something I heard on CNBC the other day about the crisis on Wall Street seems very applicable to our local newspapers.

A commentator observed that two decades-worth of change has occurred in the financial markets over the period of two weeks. That’s how the changes at The Advocate and Greenwich Time have felt to me. They might not have happened over two weeks, but the last year has been a watershed. There have been a lot of changes. Most have not been for the better. And it’s tough to know when the newspaper industry as a whole will recover. Further advertising declines are forecast for 2009 on top of an already dismal 2008.

Yet this local reader has cause for mild optimism. New bylines are showing up in The Advocate and Greenwich Time, though both newsrooms remain understaffed in key areas. The daily drumbeat of tabloid headlines has been silenced in The Advocate, for which most readers are grateful.

Hearst will take another positive step if it hires the next newsroom editor from within The Advocate/Greenwich Time family. There are a few talented, experienced people who have worked at both newspapers, understand Greenwich and Stamford, and would bring the passion and commitment readers and the newsrooms deserve. I have no idea who is interested in the job, so I won’t name names. But Hearst ought to do everything it can to be persuasive — and to hire from within.