Sunday, November 9, 2008

The Artful Doddger



Jack Dawkins was the young pickpocket who headed up a band of juvenile delinquents in London in the novel Oliver Twist. In Chapter Eight, Charles Dickens writes:


Mr. Dawkin's appearance did not say a vast deal in favour of the comforts which his patron's interest obtained for those whom he took under his protection; but, as he had a rather flightly and dissolute mode of conversing, and furthermore avowed that among his intimate friends he was better known by the sobriquet of 'The Artful Dodger,' Oliver concluded that, being of a dissipated and careless turn, the moral precepts of his benefactor had hitherto been thrown away upon him. Under this impression, he secretly resolved to cultivate the good opinion of the old gentleman as quickly as possible; and, if he found the Dodger incorrigible, as he more than half suspected he should, to decline the honour of his farther acquaintance.

According to Wikipedia, "the nickname 'Artful Dodger' is still commonly used to refer to someone who is good at avoiding responsibility or the consequences of his or her actions." Unfortunately for the citizens of Connecticut, and for the entire country, the senior Senator from Connecticut has earned this nickname.

As for me, I am just a Connecticut voter who has found the Doddger incorrigible, and I think Connecticut voters should decline the honour of of his farther acquaintance.

I don't know exactly where this blog will end up going, but it will begin by highlighting stories about Senator Dodd's questionable deal with Countrywide Mortgage and his refusal to release related records, as well as his role as Chairman (and previously, long-time member) of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and his relationship to the current mortgage crisis. Please email or leave comments with any related articles or links.

Thanks for stopping by.

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