During Watergate, Richard Nixon’s political fate was uncertain until he lost his fellow Republicans. Once the congressional GOP turned on him, and began to support impeachment, he was toast.
In Connecticut, Gov. John Rowland’s scandal-plagued administration has hoped to stave off impeachment by profusely apologizing and begging the state GOP to stick with him. Even if Connecticut Republicans did back Rowland through his troubles, it may not be enough, with Democratic majorities in both the state House and state Senate.
But as it turns out, it’s a moot point. The state GOP knows a sinking ship when they see it and Connecticut’s Republicans have little interest in letting Rowland bring them down with him.
Rep. Rob Simmons, one of the state’s three Republican members of Congress, announced Saturday that he wants Rowland to resign, saying he “can no longer be trusted.” Rep. Christopher Shays, another Republican congressman, will hold a press conference today in which he’s expected to do the same thing.
Even more importantly, Connecticut’s Republican state senators have unanimously endorsed a proposal to launch a corruption investigation into Rowland’s administration.
It’s a good thing Rowland has all those contacts with private contractors in the state; maybe one of them can give him a job when he’s thrown out of office.