U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd’s campaign for President has always been viewed with puzzlement from the start. It is clear he could raise enough money to keep him well stocked and fed as he plodded around the country, spreading a liberal message long past its import.

Connecticut Democrats rolled their eyes, wrote out their $2,300 personal checks and gamely attended his announcement at the old State House with the type of nervous smiles last seen when former Congressman Barbara Kennelly decided to take on Governor John Rowland.

You remember that one?, where the very nice Mrs. Kennelly stood next to a sign that had one word emblazoned with an exclamation mark - “Yes!”

Well, $7 or $8 million later, Dodd is still behind none of the above and the margin of error. He looks like Hell trying to pull off a task reserved for those a few years younger and a few pounds lighter. He is puffy and slit eyed in many pictures and no one really knows why he is still doing it - except to show Joe Lieberman that he can.

Now the missed in the U.S. Senate are catching up with him, according to today’s Hartford Courant. Dodd has missed a third of the votes on the Senate floor, including many that are critical to the country’s financial operation. Not that we mind that he isn’t part of the Democratic ineptitude in Washington, but clearly the people of Connecticut elected him to do a job and that is U.S. Senator.

When Bob Dole began to evolve into a front runner in 1996, he realized he couldn’t be a U.S. Senator for Kansas and Majority Leader. Dole stepped down and allowed the people of Kansas to have a full-time Senator working on the issues they care about.

Connecticut deserves no less. Dodd has been somewhat sketchy about whether he is running again in 2010. Sen. Dodd owes it to us, the people who voted for him or didn’t vote for him, to choose - either give up the ghost and come home, or file for his pension. No hard feelings no matter what you do, Senator, just end this quixotic request before Englehardt really goes to town on you.

Good content abounds this Monday as we go, for the first time in quite some time, down the blogroll.

Don Pesci has an excellent post up, remembering the finer points of former Governor William A. O’Neill.

cttaxed.com is leading today with a thoughtful piece about the implications of a weaker U.S. dollar on Airbus and one of its prime suppliers, Pratt & Whitney.

Danbury Republican Mayor Mark Boughton explains why he is backing former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Headless Horseman bids farewell to Gov. Bill O’Neill.

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Former Governor William A. O’Neill died today at age 77 after a long illness. He died at his home in East Hampton with his wife of 45 years at his side. Bill O’Neill, a conservative Democrat who rose through the ranks and became the longest serving Governor is modern history, brought a working man’s perspective to politics.

He did it all and never put on any airs or thought much about the trappings of power. Bill O’Neill served his country in Korea with the Air Force, came home to Connecticut and operated a popular tavern in East Hampton. He ran and won a seat in the Legislature and made friends easily. They in turn made him their Majority Leader where he also won election as chairman of the state Democratic Party.

Bill O’Neill knew how to count votes and it was a talent that came in handy. It always does in politics and while liberals and Republicans would often decry his policies, Bill O’Neill often had the last laugh. He had the votes.

When he ran for State Party Chairman, he opposed Hartford lawyer and national big wig Peter Kelly, who was also the candidate of then Governor Ella Grasso. Many thought O’Neill had no shot, but he knew where the votes were, not in the Governor’s office but with the State Central Committee and the town chairmen He won.

Within a few years, O’Neill was plucked by Grasso to be her running mate at Lt. Governor when the incumbent, Robert Killian, took on Grasso in a primary and lost badly.

In two years, terminal cancer forced Grasso to step down shortly before dying. O’Neill was suddenly Governor and he was immediately underestimated by friend and foe. But O’Neill knew to succeed, you needed smart, loyal people. He hired young, aggressive whiz kids like Tim Bannon and Dave McQuade and kept close counsel with his old pals, Jack Mahaney of Waterbury, George Hannon, Chad McCollum, his chief-of-staff and the sly fox, attorney Jim Wade.

O’Neill beat Lew Rome in 1982 and slaughtered Julie Belaga in 1986, sweeping the Democrats back into power in the Legislature two years after the 1984 Reagan landslide.

Bill O’Neill did many good things for the state - he rebuilt the roads and bridges, kept the income tax off the table and began to rebuild the state’s higher education system. He was tight with the buck and was in no mood for the liberal social agenda.

He was tough but never cruel. He was always deferential to those who disagreed with him and he never forgot a face or name.

When Bill O’Neill left office in 1990, he left without fanfare. He fit effortlessly into private life along the banks of Lake Pocotopaug in East Hampton, offered his counsel when asked, kept his sense of humor and always had time for old friends or colleagues.

He was from the old school when old school was a good thing.

Republicans from across the state mourn the loss of a good and decent man who served his state and country with distinction. We send our love and prayers to Nikki O’Neill during this time of loss.

Chairman Chris Healy completed the Manchester Road Race on Thursday, finishing the race in 43:42:00.