You know what Paul Streitz's U.S. Senate announcement lacked?

Pie.

I've always thought "pieing" was a bit dopey, but I'll say one thing about the banana cream number hurled at the side of Streitz's head in September during one of his anti-immigrant diatribes: It made the affair memorable.

No such luck Tuesday, as Streitz read a six-page, single-spaced announcement that could have easily been summed up in two words: Mexicans bad.

Pie!, I thought as I watched him deliver the speech with as much charisma as a kid reading his "What I did last summer" essay. For the love of baked goods, somebody get me a pie!

You wouldn't have guessed that just days before, Streitz had met with Republican Party Chairman George Gallo, who had strongly suggested that he broaden his platform.

Economics, Gallo suggested. Health care. Taxes, even. Anything that might, say, appeal to the non-xenophobe types.

And I suppose, technically, Streitz made an attempt - though all roads eventually led back to Mexico. The economy would improve - if we just got rid of all the Mexicans. The heath care mess would be cleared up - if only we could bid adios to the free-loading Mejicanos.

"If the United States is economically destroyed tomorrow, the Mexicans will rejoice," he declared.

Gallo didn't seem surprised when I reported back Wednesday that Streitz had failed to take his advice.

"I guess he's a disciplined candidate," Gallo politely offered. "But that's not how you win elections."

Asbestos found in 5th floor science wing of DHS. Area has been blocked off and all health agencies have been notified. No school tomorrow so it will be taken care of and retested for safety.

A worker drilled through an asbestos desktop Wednesday at Danbury High School, releasing enough toxic material to close the room.
The city had the room and the immediate area tested for asbestos Wednesday, and the room must be cleaned, said Jack Kozuchowski, director of environmental and occupational health for the Danbury Health Department.
Right now the room is closed.
Kozuchowski said the worker was scheduled for training in asbestos issues within the first 60 days of starting his job, but he hadn’t yet received the training.
"He hasn’t been on the job 60 days," Kozuchowski said.

The first Republican willing to undertake the daunting task of unseating Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, D-Conn., will formally announce his candidacy Tuesday in West Hartford.

Paul F. Streitz, a Darien businessman who unsuccessfully sought his party's nomination for Senate in 2004, will challenge Lieberman on a platform primarily opposed to immigration from Mexico.

"It is time to get the troops out of Iraq and put them on the Mexican border," Streitz said in a statement. "Thousands of Mexicans and other illegal aliens from other countries come into this country every day. This is an invasion, not immigration."

Streitz, who calls Lieberman one of "the most traitorous U.S. senators" because of his support for policies like the North American Free Trade Agreement, will have a tough time beating the incumbent senator.

According to its most recent federal campaign filing, the Lieberman campaign has so far raised more than $5.9 million for Lieberman's re-election.

Streitz, who is trying to raise $20 contributions from 1 million Americans, has so far netted $80 in the effort, according to his Web site.

Republican State Chairman George Gallo said the party would field a candidate against Lieberman, but Streitz is the only Republican to put his name forward so far.

Gallo could not be reached for comment today, but Streitz's name is not on the party's list of 2006 candidates featured on its Web site.