Change in spite of ourselves

Change is going to come to Connecticut politics — Land of Steady Habits.

Generally speaking, two things are true about Connecticut politics. One is that voters are loathe to throw the bums out. Hence, Joe Lieberman, man without a party, gets re-elected senator running simultaneously as a Republican, an independent and a Democrat.

Second, because it is so hard to get rid of an incumbent, there is always a class of young turks who grow old waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting for an opening. Dick Blumenthal, Dan Malloy, John DeStefano and Bill Curry have waited a generation.

And it is worse for Republicans. If you are a promising Republican in Connecticut, you’d better have a solid second career, such is that party’s registration and organizational disadvantage in this state.

But suddenly the two big jobs in state politics are open. The two gems.

We shall have change in spite of ourselves.

Chris Dodd is going to retire from the Senate.

Jodi Rell has already announced her retirement as governor.

So Bloomie can run for senator at long last.

Malloy and Ned Lamont have a real shot at governor.

And Rob Simmons, once the most moderate of moderate Republicans, has a chance at being a senator when he could not hold on to a House seat.

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“Change is good,� they say.

Not always. Sometimes.

But it is usually a constant in politics, sports and life. Stuff happens.

The waters are never still for long.

So Connecticut’s rather extreme tendency to resist change is being upset here, and that may be a healthy thing.

It will be if the politicians in question use this election to get away from the cliches and out of the ideological boxes and really think and act anew.

The test of change will be change — in rhetoric, proposals and policy in office.

Simmons may now be the frontrunner in the Senate race. But he has been a different Simmons this year. He has been the worst sort of Mr. Pander to the right-wing fringe. He thinks it will help him win a Republican primary in a year of GOP lunacy, apparently. But debasing himself does not make Simmons look senatorial.

Blumenthal is sometimes depicted as a man so politically cautious that, after 20 years of hanging around, the public sees him more as a walking infomercial than a leader. But he does have an identity. He is decent and professional. If he comes across as that, and as thoughtful rather than calculating, he can win.

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As for Dodd, he has miles to go before he leaves public life altogether. It is said he could not have won, and that’s why he quit. But he could have won. He was simply tired. And maybe just a tad disheartened by all the incivility and the passing of his friend Ted Kennedy. He will find a new way to contribute.

And his legacy? He was a leader on child welfare policy in the Congress; he was the Senate expert on Latin America; he may yet push through some banking reform. He was the most eloquent spokesman in Congress for something no one talks much about — international law. That was a homage to his father as well as our Founding Fathers.

Politics, like baseball, is a game of personalities and comparisons. Dodd benefits by comparison. He always knew who he was — an old-fashioned, pragmatic, FDR-Kennedy liberal. He didn’t blow with the wind and the labels of the hour. He was an old-fashioned pol, too, who liked to slap backs and tell a good story. Dodd was a happy warrior who loved the game, took pride in it and never hated his opponents. He was an eloquent spokesman for the institution of the Senate and its traditions.

Two moments are emblematic of Chris Dodd. One was recent. He chastised newer members of the Senate for violating its sense of comity, fraternity and respect. He reminded them that the institution has a long history before them and would have a long history after. It needed to be said.

The other moment was in a presidential debate in 2008. Asked for a slogan or ethic to live by in politics, he suggested The Golden Rule.

A reputation for comity, charity and good cheer is a pretty good way to go out.

Keith C. Burris is editorial page editor of the Journal Inquirer in Manchester.