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Confession​s of an ex-politic​al candidate …for a seat on the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council


Confessions of an ex-political candidate

by Lori Ann Potter

In 2003 I ran for political office.  I was a candidate vying for a seat on the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council, and  I learned s ome stuff about tribal politics that I’d like to share.  So without further adieu, I hereby dedicate this week’s post to tribal communities everywhere and their political candidate hopefuls.  Here is my top ten lessons-learned during the 2003 campaign season:

  1. “Big families” mean “more votes”.  The largest families typically hold the lion’s-share of strategic political power on our reservation.   This being the case, it didn’t take “rocket science” for me to realize the odds were considerably stacked against me.  With only seven direct relatives at proper voting age (at least 18 years old), I hail from the second smallest family line at Mashantucket. You can easily fit all of us into one mini-van.
  2. I did alright.  When everything was tallied I received 45 votes, landing somewhere in the middle of all the candidate vote totals.  It was not enough to win, but with approximately 20% of the overall vote, I have to admit it wasn’t bad for a first-time campaign.  And I can now cross “run for office” off my bucket list.
  3. 45 Votes may as well be 4 votes because they still won’t win an election.  From what I’ve observed, it takes between 80-120 votes to win a tribal council seat – depending on how many candidates are running, how many seats are vacant, and how many voters show up that first Sunday in November before polls close at noon.
  4. Every year, there are “secret deals”.  Alliances are commonly forged privately between one or more mid-sized family candidates and larger-family representatives.  Basically what happens is this: candidate “A” seeks support from council members representing the largest family line, offering his or her unequivocal political allegiance in exchange for whatever number of votes is needed to win.
  5. “Secret deals” aggravate me.  I just can’t bring myself to align politically with people in “power”.   A former chairman once confronted me about it privately when he was still in office. “We don’t support placing you in a leadership position because we don’t know where you stand politically,” he declared, matter-of-factly.  I quipped right back: “If you or anyone else wants to know ‘where I stand’ on any political matter, all you need to do is ask me and I will tell you.”  He wasn’t fond of my abrupt honesty.  I simply doubt that it’s in my tribe’s best interest for any candidate to promise their unwavering support to a dictatorship without regard to the potential outcome such support may b ring.  I believe doing so lowers one’s standard of ethics considerably, focusing instead on power brokering, scoring titles or raking in a much higher paycheck.  When such “deals” are done, their outcome always points to a manipulative, fear-based style of leadership. Frankly, I’d rather sleep at night.
  6. People who feel threatened by you will do really stupid things.  I paid way too much for ten double-sided campaign signs, only to discover that all but one were completely destroyed by the vandalism of strategic knife-slashes, burn marks, tire treads, and the sharpie-inflicted “enhancements” of mustaches, F-bombs and smatterings of other colorful expletives.  Mind you, that’s in addition to all the wildly half-baked gossip that kept bumbling its way back to me.  It’s amazing how inventive lies can become.
  7. Campaigning can be hazardous to your health.  Yes, the rumors are true.  Some candidates have indeed received “threats”.  A few have even dodged potentially harmful or even fatal “accidents”.  For instance, in 2003 one candidate shared with me a threatening hand-written note she received.  It was tied to a rock that shattered her living room window, warning her to drop out of the race …or else.  Another candidate walked out to his vehicle one night after a long meeting and discovered his severed brake-line with the fluid trickling down to the moonlit pavement below.  I know because I was there.
  8. Half of the people who promise to vote for you actually will.  If you are a hopeful candidate this season, please heed these words of advice.   When people shower you with smiles, compliments, shoulder-pats and hugs, promises to “have your back” in the voting booth and other random “feel-good” fluffy stuff… For the love of all common-sense and decency don’t fall for that crap!   And to all of the folks out there who get their kicks from pumping candidates’ heads full of sanctimonious euphoric nonsense – stop it!  Have enough courage to represent the real you.  If you cannot commit, then do not promise that you will.
  9. Losing an election can be the best thing that ever happened to you.   In my situation, I went right back to school and finished two degrees that I might never have achieved had I won that election.  And with the added perspective gained from several years working with my tribe’s constitution review team, I can see that the root of our political problems is directly linked to the governing foundation spelled out in my tribe’s constitution.  At Mashantucket, all powers of government are centralized into one branch – a tribal council of seven people.  Because they hold this magnitude of power, the tribal council can do whatever they want with whatever funds or resources they choose whenever they feel like it.   So just imagine for a moment what would happen if a tribe had no checks and balances on its government power, while hundreds of millions of dollars filter down from their casino through one group of seven leaders every year for 20 straight years.  Would those seven leaders have the strength to uphold integrity rather than yield to fear and temptation?
  10. You don’t need a leadership position in order to make a difference.  Some of the most powerful leaders in world history have been those who were not holding leadership positions when they wielded the most influence, overcame unbelievable odds, and radically disrupted the status quo of dictatorships.  Moses contended with Pharaoh and won freedom for Israel.  Martin Luther challenged Catholicism and the Protestant church was born.  Rosa Parks rebelled against racist laws by not moving to the back of a bus. Helen Keller was so influential with advocating women’s rights that she was placed on the FBI’s “watch list” despite being blind, deaf and mute.  And a boy named David once hurled a small stone at a giant warrior, killing him instantly in front of  his own army cowering in fear, decades before he was crowned King.   All of them “underdogs”.  All of them championed their values no matter what the cost.  And all of them were history makers.
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The end of the Iraq war


President Obama announced that by the year’s
end, our servicemen and women currently in Iraq will all be home, and
the Iraq war will end. This is a historic moment that so many have been
working toward for years. Watch the video of the President’s message—and
then pass this news on.

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mild Monday &Some News


just another rant … not just mine

A comment came in to respond to an article i posted written by Cecil re: McConnell & his Party. I admit i am very cynical about the majority of us being fixated on or off of FOX news  enough to assimilate info and or fact check enough to have opinions or make informed decisions – the mid-terms were a great example of how FOX  helped create , push and elect a group of extreme conservatives whose agenda is to take their country back    https://justanother2cents.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/what-im-reading-guy-cecil-13/

HER:Tired of snarky McConnell comments.  The majority of us are not fixed to FOX news, can assimilate information and fact check before forming opinions.  Fact: Congress has used the filibuster to stall progress now more than at any other time in history.  If Obama could make strides here/without Congress/as he has in war policy….people would be back to work!  Nov. 2010 GOP newbies, worst mistake ever…………vote!

ME: Actually, I am in total agreement with your facts about Congress, the filibuster and the new low Teapublicans have shown Americans because they have decided to use the filibuster more than any other time in history to stall progress and defeat a President. I am not so sure that was the primary reason for the act of a filibuster. It is not protecting the American People at all and those Senators who are abusing the spirit of the filibuster should be held accountable.  I am an Obama supporter.  I get divided government but what we see going on in Congress led by Teapublicans is beyond anything We the People should accept and or allow. I have not lost the audacity of hope and or change. In my opinion, we need a Congress that functions For the People& By the People and works with the President of the United States not a Congress that filibusters at the expense of ALL the People. We also need our center left people to open their eyes. I want them to take a hard look at how Teapublicans have chosen to control the House of Representatives. I need them to compare and contrast just what President Obama has done given he became the captain of ship already sinking, has tried to be bipartisan as any President should but given the cold shoulder by an extremely conservative group of people who say they want smaller Government but ask them about social issues and they freak out. I believe this group I call Teapublicans if given the opportunity with or without McConnell want to make President Obama a one-term President.  I believe the Midterm elections were no fluke and indeed FOX had a lot to with it. I feel their scare tactics have always been directed to targeted people like the poor working class, older people, those on the edge of equaility and those against immigration under any circumstance. The info coming from FOX was scary enough that our Older people voted right of center, some gays voted right of center in protest and even more decided to stay home which was pushed by both sides of the political meme. Yes, i too am tired of the silly, offensive and questionable McConnell comments but they are getting airtime on both conservative and liberal media. It is my hope that with proper vetting the truth backed with a whole lot of facts will be brought forth over the next few months with an overwhelming number of people voting for President Obama2012 and sanity prevails.

Other News …

Week Ahead on Capitol Hill

Deficit “Super Committee” Meets, House Works on Tax Changes

Campaign 2012

Romney Holds NH Rally, Obama in the West

GOP candidates in Iowa over the weekend

Monitors Discuss Global Financial Regulation

Black History

Congress: -the Republican led House – – the Senate -in pro forma Sessions back on 10/31


The Senate will convene on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:45pm and on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 11am for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted.

Following the pro forma session on Thursday, October 27th, the Senate will adjourn until 3:00pm on Monday, October 31, 2011.  Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #249, Stephen A. Higginson, of LA, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit with one hour equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

The next roll call vote will be at approximately 5:30pm on confirmation of the Higginson nomination.

The next roll call vote is expected to occur on Monday, October 31st in relation to a nomination.  The details of the amended consent agreement with respect to H.R.2112 is below.

Cloture having been invoked on the Inouye substitute amendment #738, the substitute amendment is agreed to and it is now considered original text for the purposes of further amendment.  The remaining amendments which were scheduled for votes today remain in order notwithstanding cloture having been invoked; when the Senate resumes consideration of H.R.2112 on Tuesday, November 1st, the Senate will proceed to votes on the remaining amendments; and all other provisions of the previous order remain in effect.

The following amendments were agreed to by voice vote, en bloc:

– Portman #859;

– McCain #892;

– Cantwell #893, as modified, with the changes that are at the desk;

– Cochran #805, as modified, with the changes that are at the desk;

– Burr #890;

– Inouye #918; and

– Kyl #912, as modified.

The following amendments remain in order under the previous order and are expected to be voted on on Tuesday, November 1st:

– Coburn #800;

– Paul #821 (60-vote threshold);

– DeMint #763;

– Crapo #814 (60-vote threshold);

– Lee Motion to Recommit.

Following the disposition of the amendments above, the Senate will proceed to votes in relation to any remaining germane pending amendments in the order they were offered; further, upon disposition of any pending germane amendments, the bill, as amended, will be read a third time, and the Senate will proceed to vote on passage of the bill with no intervening action or debate; when the Senate receives a message from the House with respect to H.R.2112, the Senate will insist on its amendment, request, or agree to, a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses; and the Chair will be authorized to appoint the following conferees – Kohl, Harkin, Feinstein, Johnson (SD), Nelson (NE), Pryor, Brown (OH), Inouye, Murray, Mikulski, Blunt, Cochran, McConnell, Collins, Moran, Hoeven, Hutchison and Shelby.

———————————————————————-

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF OCTOBER 24, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

  -The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on October 25, 2011.7:30:42 P.M. -On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.7:30:28 P.M. -Mrs. Christensen moved that the House do now adjourn.7:15:26 P.M. -SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.7:01:55 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.7:00:19 P.M. -H.R. 1160Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.7:00:18 P.M. -H.R. 1160On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 395 – 0 (Roll no. 802).6:54:14 P.M. -H.R. 1160Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1160 — “To require the Secretary of the Interior to convey the McKinney Lake National Fish Hatchery to the State of North Carolina, and for other purposes.”6:54:06 P.M. -H.R. 320Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:54:05 P.M. -H.R. 320On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 – 1 (Roll no. 801).6:31:37 P.M. -H.R. 320Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 320 — “To designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.”6:31:30 P.M. -UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.6:31:03 P.M. -Mr. Bishop (UT) filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 444.6:30:57 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of October 24.5:30:26 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for  6:30 P.M. today.5:30:17 P.M. -H.R. 2594Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.5:30:15 P.M. -H.R. 2594On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.4:52:25 P.M. -H.R. 2594DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2594.4:52:24 P.M. -H.R. 2594Considered under suspension of the rules.4:52:07 P.M. -H.R. 2594Mr. Petri moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 2594 — “To prohibit operators of civil aircraft of the United States from participating in the European Union’s emissions trading scheme, and for other purposes.”4:51:26 P.M. -H.R. 320At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.4:45:43 P.M. -H.R. 320DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 320.4:45:42 P.M. -H.R. 320Considered under suspension of the rules.4:45:08 P.M. -H.R. 320Mr. Young (AK) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 320 — “To designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.”4:44:52 P.M. -H.R. 818Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.4:44:50 P.M. -H.R. 818On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.4:39:17 P.M. -H.R. 818DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 818.4:39:15 P.M. -H.R. 818Considered under suspension of the rules.4:39:02 P.M. -H.R. 818Mr. Young (AK) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 818 — “To direct the Secretary of the Interior to allow for prepayment of repayment contracts between the United States and the Uintah Water Conservancy District.”4:38:48 P.M. -H.R. 461Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.4:38:45 P.M. -H.R. 461On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.4:32:12 P.M. -H.R. 461DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 461.4:32:09 P.M. -H.R. 461Considered under suspension of the rules.4:32:00 P.M. -H.R. 461Mr. Young (AK) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 461 — “To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal features of the electric distribution system to the South Utah Valley Electric Service District, and for other purposes.”4:31:40 P.M. -H.R. 1160At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.4:25:55 P.M. -H.R. 1160DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1160.4:25:54 P.M. -H.R. 1160Considered under suspension of the rules.4:25:37 P.M. -H.R. 1160Mr. Young (AK) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1160 — “To require the Secretary of the Interior to convey the McKinney Lake National Fish Hatchery to the State of North Carolina, and for other purposes.”4:25:34 P.M. -H.R. 295Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.4:25:29 P.M. -H.R. 295On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.4:21:38 P.M. -H.R. 295DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 295.4:21:36 P.M. -H.R. 295Considered under suspension of the rules.4:21:20 P.M. -H.R. 295Mr. Young (AK) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 295 — “To amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 to authorize funds to acquire hydrographic data and provide hydrographic services specific to the Arctic for safe navigation, delineating the United States extended continental shelf, and the monitoring and description of coastal changes.”4:21:18 P.M. -H.R. 441The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.4:21:17 P.M. -H.R. 441Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.4:21:13 P.M. -H.R. 441On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.4:16:52 P.M. -H.R. 441DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 441.4:16:50 P.M. -H.R. 441Considered under suspension of the rules.4:16:15 P.M. -H.R. 441Mr. Young (AK) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 441 — “To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits for a microhydro project in nonwilderness areas within the boundaries of Denali National Park and Preserve, to acquire land for Denali National Park and Preserve from Doyon Tourism, Inc., and for other purposes.”4:15:56 P.M. -The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.4:15:47 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of October 24.2:08:58 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.2:08:23 P.M. -The House received a communication from John Abney Culberson, Member of Congress. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Culberson notified the House that he had been served with a deposition subpoena for documents and testimony by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to appear as a witness in a pending civil lawsuit and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he had determined that compliance with the subpoena was inconsistent with the precedents and privileges of the House.2:07:50 P.M. -The House received a communication from Brittany Seabury, District Director for U.S. Representative John Abney Culberson. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Ms. Seabury notified the House that she had been served with a deposition subpoena for documents and testimony by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to appear as a witness in a pending civil lawsuit and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, she had determined that compliance with the subpoena was inconsistent with the precedents and privileges of the House.2:02:40 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.2:02:21 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. McKinley to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.2:02:11 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.2:00:55 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Avelino Gonzalez, Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, Washington, DC.2:00:37 P.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Adrian Smith to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.2:00:26 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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