Inspired by World War II-era victory stamps, the 2012 incarnation is a special supplementary stamp that has no postal value, but may be purchased by Americans interested in engaging in a patriotic initiative to benefit three important causes.  Priced at $.21, proceeds from the stamp will be split between funding for veterans employment and training programs, paying down the national debt and supporting the operations of the United States Postal Service, which is one of the largest employers of our nation’s veterans.

Whether it’s merely an aging state that never had so many young folks to start with or that the youthful residents we have are a beating a path to Brooklyn and Brookline, we’ve got a crisis that isn’t being addressed, The Center For Economic Analysis concludes:

And because Connecticut has failed to create net new jobs for more than two decades, leaving it unable to retain many of its own young adults or toattract significant new population, it now confronts a rapidly aging population, with the age 65 and over cohort doubling, its working age population shrinking, and its dependency ratio (the ratio of the working age population to the those under 18 and over 64) soaring. If the state does not change its demographic trajectory, it faces a bleak future.

The economists recommend using tax credits to target industries that would hire young, educated workers:

If the $2.5 billion in tax credits currently sitting unused and unusable on balance sheets could be redeemedex post against the cost of major capital projects—effectively converting what is now a liability against state tax revenue into an investment fund— this approach would create nearly 10 million square feet of new advanced manufacturing, pharmaceutical, biomedical and other facilities, creating upwards of 100,000 net new jobs (including multiplier effects). Even more exciting, if the credits were transferable (sold to qualifying enterprises), firms like Genentech might acquire them to build a major facility to colocate with JAXX or at Yale’s West Campus. This aggressive initiative also creates a unique strategic opportunity for Connecticut—given the anemic national labor market and historically low labor force participation rates, the job opportunities it opens up in Connecticut would surely draw in those new workers and younger population the state must attract to secure its economic future.

 Come to Connecticut, young fella! 

Here’s the latest Mitt Romney campaign ad:

Weingarten on Twitter last night:

Roberti is also a student of Connecticut politics and unexpected victories by young candidates. The Kent resident pointed to Chris Murphy’s victory over Nancy Johnson. He also noted that the district is unpredictable: John Rowland won at the tender age of 27.

Roberti is 30. The seat is up for grabs. So who knows?

He faces Chris Donovan, who has the party endorsement, and Elizabeth Esty, a Cheshire Democrat, in the August primary.

Here are a few words from him:

From the Murphy camp:

“I am proud that CCAG is joining UAW in endorsing Chris for U.S. Senate,” said Bernie McKinnon, CCAG Board Member and retired Political Director of Region 9A United Auto Workers. “Chris is the only candidate who shares our values and fights for them every day, and now we need to help him win so he can be an even stronger voice for us in the Senate.”

 Listen to his pitch:

CHRISTOPHER MORLEY, a.k.a. “White Boy Chris, 33, of New Haven,
GREGORY ACCETURA, a.k.a. “Leg,” 50, of Boynton Beach, Fla., formerly of Connecticut,
BERNARD BYRD, a.k.a. “BB” and “Chip,” 25, of New Haven,
JASON DAURIA, 35, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., formerly of Connecticut,
MICHAEL DELUCA, 35, of East Haven,
CHRISTEN EDWARDS, 24, of Branford,
WILLIAM FITZGERALD, a.k.a. “Quay,” 31, of New Haven,
JESSIE HOPKINS, a.k.a. “Wes,” 28, of New Haven,
KAI JACKSON, a.k.a. “Killer Kai,” 30, of New Haven,
RICHIE JONES, a.k.a. “Slick,” 24, of New Haven,
BRITT MARTIN, a.k.a. “Big Baby,” 28, of Northford,
ANDREW MELILLO, 26, of Meriden,
MICHAEL MELILLO,
ANTHONY MICARELLI, 61, of North Haven,
ROBERT MORRIS, 20, of New Haven,
JOSEPH RAO, 52, of New Haven,
MICHAEL THOMPSON, of New Haven,
TYLON VAUGHN, a.k.a. “Bucky B,” 34, of New Haven,
MARQUIS WINFREY, a.k.a. “Quisy,” 22, of New Haven, and
ANTWAIN YOPP, a.k.a. “Skeletor,” 29, of  New Haven.
MICHAEL SMITH, a.k.a. “Smitty” and “Fingers,” 41, of Hamden,
ANTHONY BROWN, a.k.a. “Rassconi,” 45, of New Haven,
FRANK DOUGHTY, a.k.a. “Fresh,” 41, of East Haven,
CARNELL EDWARDS, a.k.a. “Kerm,” 42, of New Haven,
MARTY EDWARDS, a.k.a. “Slim,” 43, of Hamden,
TYRELL GARY, a.k.a. “T-Buggy,” 27, of New Haven,
YOLANDA GIBSON-HOLLAND, a.k.a. “Candy,” 24, of New Haven,
MAURICE HAMMOND, 37, of New Haven,
SHIRROD HENDERSON, a.k.a. “Rizz,” 32, of New Haven,
MELVIN JAMES, 40, of New Haven,
NIGEL JONES, a.k.a. “Kool Nike,” 30, of West Haven,
ROBERT LEE, a.k.a. “B.O.,” 34, of West Haven,
SHAWN MENTION, a.k.a. “B.M.,” 41, of New Haven,
ANTHONY MOORE, a.k.a. “Freak,” 31, of New Haven,
STEVEN NESMITH, a.k.a. “Debo” and “Country,” 36, of New Haven,
KARRIEM PETERS, 38, of New Haven,
MEGGY RENTAS, 39, of New Haven,
ZARKEE SANDERS, a.k.a. “Dark Night,” 35, of New Haven, and
AARON YORK, a.k.a. “A.C.,” 43, of New Haven.
KEVIN WILSON, a.k.a. “Nature” and “Nate,” 27, of New Haven,
RICHARD ANDERSON, a.k.a. “Mayut” and “Porter,” 25 of New Haven,
LYNWOOD BACOTE, a.k.a. “Max,” 32, of New Haven,
BRAD BRANNIC, a.k.a. “Cracks,” 29, of New Haven
PATRICK BATCHELOR, a.k.a. “Diddy,” 29, of New Haven,
TOMMY BATTLE, a.k.a. “Twin,” 32, of New Haven
JEFFREY BENTON, a.k.a. “Fresh,” 27, of New Haven,
CHOLOE BRIGHT, a.k.a. “Chi-Chi” and “Chello,” 27, of New Haven,
EZEL BUCHANAN, a.k.a. “EZ,” 33, of New Haven,
PHILIP BRYANT, a.k.a. “Phat Phil” and “Fizzy,” 25, of New Haven
RAYMOND CARSON, a.k.a. “Dirt,” 37, of New Haven,
VINCENT CLARK, a.k.a. “Nu-Nu” and “Duke,” 30, of New Haven,
FREDRICK COX, a.k.a. “Boot,” 21, of New Haven,
FREDRICK COX, SR., a.k.a. “Bama-Lama,” 41, of New Haven,
DARRELL DAVIS, a.k.a. “Baller,” 33, of New Haven,
JOHNNY DE LOS SANTOS, a.k.a. “Na-Na,” (AGE), of New Haven,
JOSE DEJESUS, a.k.a. “Flaco,” 28, of New Haven,
JOSHUWA DIAZ, a.k.a. “Fot,” 21, of New Haven,
ERIC DURANT, a.k.a. “5-8,” 39, of New Haven,
DANIEL EVANS, a.k.a. “D-Nice,” 30, of New Haven,
GILBERT GALAN, JR., a.k.a. “G” and “Skittles,” 30, of New Haven,
PIERRE GALAN, a.k.a. “PLO,” 27, of New Haven,
JERMAINE GALBERTH, a.k.a. “Maine,” 26, of New Haven,
CARL HAILEY, a.k.a. “Squirt,” 47, of New Haven,
WILLIAM HINES, a.k.a. “Gunz,” 28, of New Haven
EMORY JAMES, a.k.a. “Emmo,” 40, of New Haven,
LAMAR JONES, a.k.a. “Cream,” 28, of New Haven,
COREY MADDOX, a.k.a. “CL,” 35, of New Haven,
JAMES MOORE, a.k.a. “Coolie D,” 32, of New Haven,
JESUS MORALES, a.k.a. “Cano,” 40, of New Haven,
RICKY NEWTON, a.k.a. “Sup,” 28, of New Haven,
CHRISTINA PALLUOTO, 27, of New Haven,
AMAURY P’DILLA, a.k.a. “Audi,” (AGE), of New Haven,
QUIYON REED, a.k.a. “Gutter,” 30, of New Haven,
ROY REID, a.k.a. “Jamma,” 24, of New Haven,
NELSON RIOS, a.k.a. “Pito,” 35, of New Haven,
MICHAEL SANTANA, 26, of Hamden,
ROBERT SANTOS, a.k.a. “Scoot,” 30, of New Haven,
ALEXIS SUTTON, 21, of New Haven,
JOSE TORRES, a.k.a. “Lethal,” 28, of West Haven,
JUAN VARGAS, a.k.a. “Juan Chiefy,” 25, of New Haven,
JACQUELINE VALENTINE, 22, of New Haven,
TYRESE WHITE, a.k.a. “Ears,” 36, of New Haven, and
MARCUS WYLIE, a.k.a. “Wally Don” 22, of New Haven.
JAMEEL WILKES, a.k.a. “Biggs,” 33, of New Haven,
RONALD BIDON, a.k.a. “Kiki,” 28, of New Haven,
MARK FULLER, 48, of New Haven,
JOSE JIMENEZ, a.k.a. “Vincent Mescrea,” 44, of New Haven,
KALIF KIERCE, a.k.a. “Leaf Buck,” 24, of New Haven,
JOSE NEGRON, a.k.a. “Bebe,” 33, of New Haven,
KEVIN THOMPSON, 34, of New Haven,
CARLOS TORRES-CORPES, a.k.a. “Papo,” 39, of New Haven, and
EDWARD WATERS, a.k.a. “Trigger Tre” 23 of West Haven.
JAMES BOWMAN, a.k.a. “Jimmy-Jam,” 33, of New Haven,
EARL BANKS, a.k.a. “E.J.,” of 21, of New Haven,
THOMAS CARR, a.k.a. “Tommy Love,” 24, of New Haven,
THOMAS CROCKER, a.k.a. “Stuffy,” 26, of New Haven,
LEWIS FREEMAN, a.k.a. “Free,” 30, of New Haven,
DEION MANUEL, a.k.a. “Brother D,” 26, of New Haven,
TIFFANY MARTINEZ, 23, of New Haven, and
DAVID THOMAS, 28, of New Haven.

This could be good news for established resorts such as Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

More on Boston.com

Photo credit: Joseph Darrow and East Haddam-Haddam Patch

As a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Federal Reserve Jaime Dimon provides advice on oversight of the financial industry to the Federal Reserve … As the chief executive of the nation’s largest bank he is expected to deliver profits to shareholders … Dimon should not be both a referee and player. Dimon should resign from the Board of Directors of the New York Federal Reserve to show the country that he understands the need for responsibility and real accountability on Wall Street.

I’m not so sure what Dimon has to do with the U.S. Senate campaign here or the state of Connecticut, but I wonder what she will think when his bank emerges as one of the owners of the Courant when the Tribune Corp comes out of bankruptcy later this year.

The Romney campaign — and Obama backer Cory Booker, mayor of Newark — was responding to this:

 Team Obama put out this yesterday:

 A new poll out today shows the two candidates are virtually even.

The infamous $567 million busway has a ceremonial groundbreaking today at the corner of Francis Avenue and Park Street in Hartford. It is now called CT Fastrak, which sounds more European than revolutionary.

Here’s a promotional video from the Busway Fastrak folks at the state DOT:

1. Party conventions tell us very little, even in a year of two hotly-contested Congressional races. It will be August before more mainstream party members reveal who Republicans they prefer running in the most winnable races. More than ever, this convention was a reminder that these central party-controlled events are little more than reminders of what once was.

2. In a rare show of political practicality, 5th District delegates endorsed state Sen. Andrew Roraback. He’s not just the convention favorite, he could be the best chance the party has at cracking the Democrats’ stranglehold over our representatives in Congress. As more than one Republican insider told me, “Andrew can win in the general election.” That’s if he gets there — at least two opponents are planning a primary.

3. Chris Shays is still alive, but it’s still not clear whether he can make a race of it. It was no surprise that Linda McMahon steamrolled to the convention endorsement. This time, she cut a low-key presence at the convention, even casually greeting delegates at the door. Shays won the roughly one third of the delegates to show he was viable, but McMahon has launched a savvy campaign designed to peel off those women who refused to support her in the past. At his modest pre-vote party, supporters told me of plans to get ugly with Linda, reviving her WWE past and questions about her rags-to-riches narrative. It’s worth nothing that strategy failed with Rob Simmons. Democrats, meanwhile,  prefer a race against Linda, which would accentuate Chris Murphy as a moderate and experienced candidate. It will be hard for McMahon to look like something fresh running against the youthful Murphy.

4. Tote bags seem to be the most popular swag items. Linda McMahon also thinks that “Women for Linda” T-shirts may be the thing to crack that block of female voters who have no interest in supporting her.

5. Insiders advising Shays and McMahon say both candidates must spend more one-on-one time with voters. For McMahon, it means breaking out of the robotic image her handlers created in 2010 when she stuffed our mailboxes with glossy narratives that fell flat. She’s out to show voters — affluent Republican women who vote in Fairfield County, mostly – that she’s got a heart and soul not forged in the crass camp of the wrestling ring. At this point, McMahon looks like a candidate who learned something in 2010. Strangely, she also appears not ready to mix it up with the media. That won’t be a problem for Shays, who sought out reporters and shook hands like a candidate at the factory gate. Ironically, Shays must remind potential supporters that he’s not some unpredictable RINO but the savvy GOP playmaker he was during the mid-1990s.

We ought to make sure we convicted the right man in the infamous 25-year-old Lapointe case.

That’s the essence of the question that came before the Connecticut Appellate Court on Friday morning as lawyers continued a long struggle to get Lapointe, now 66 years old, a new trial. Over the two decades of appeals since Lapointe’s conviction in 1992 a string of lawyers – backed by a hardy, dwindling group of supporters – have failed to convince any court that the former dishwasher from Manchester deserves a new trial.

Read on.

The Friends of Richard Lapointe, and his two lawyers in the back.

 From WTNH:

You’ll find it here.

Lawyers and supporters say Lapointe, sent to jail for life in 1992 for the rape and murder of his wife’s grandmother, say the state supressed critical, exculpatory evidence about the crime. The evidence, an investigator’s notes about how long a fire set at the crime scene may have burned, would support Lapointe’s alibi that he was at home when the murder occurred.

An essential question, never fully explored, is how the state believes that Lapointe, physically disabled and with a low IQ, could have committed the crime in such a short time frame. The killer disrobed the 88-year-old Bernice Martin, tied her wrists and neck, stabbed her more than 10 times, raped and strangled her and set fire to apartment. Just minutes after the crime Lapointe was watching television with his wife, showing no signs of a bloody struggle.

Chris Donovan lives in Meriden. Elizabeth Esty lives in Cheshire. Dan Roberti lives in Kent, but no longer at his father’s house.

Three pictures are correct. One is a candidate’s former address: