Democracy In Albany

He is in constant pain, something I know about all too well.

David is the REAL DEAL!!!  The problem is that Voelker will pull votes away from David.

"Senator Neil Breslin said, 'Moving forward with our plans to build a world class convention center right in downtown Albany ... This is very good news for Albany.'"

http://www.albanycounty.com/_acca/NewsRelease20060801(2).asp

OK, right..  So, in a race where cool hats compete against complete lunacy.. I pick:

Cool Hats! ;)

Meanwhile, Charlie Voelker, the only other candidate opposing Breslin in the Primary who will still have a ballot line after next Tuesday, contiues to get treated like Rodney Dangerfield.

Charlie is intelligent, has been walking door-to door in every neighborhood (including West Hill) not just talking, but actually (Gasp!)listening to voters. He is the only one who has commited to being a full-time State Senator and has the background and experience to improve the local economy.

As for Breslin, the only pain keeping him from going door-to-door is the pain he suffers when he misses Happy Hour, followed by the next morning's hangover.

I for one don't think a vindictive, mean-spirited drunk is an ideal role model for aspiring public servants.

It's no wonder the photos on Breslin's campaign literature are all in soft focus, the photographer was probably as bleary-eyed as Neil.

So, if he knocks on my door or drops off some lit or mails me something, I might change my mind. Maybe you should link to his website so we might have a clue who he is?

Also, as someone who has lived the majority of my life in Albany County I can assure you that I don't consider lifelong residency as the top qualification for holding office.  

Jerry Jennings is a born and bred Albanian. A lifer.  Certainly didn't qualify him to run the city (unless of course you consider overseeing an easily avoided financial disaster as a good thing).

Any attacks I see on candidates saying they are from somewhere else and have moved here and thus are somehow not good enough to run for office in their new hometown/county make me wince.  Do we really want to send the message that we want people to move to our city and county, pay ever increasing taxes and just SHUT THE FUCK UP and TAKE IT?

I'm sure some do.  It's what i've experienced in my time in Albany over and over again.  It is one of the biggest problems we have.  I don't care where you are from, who your daddy was, what party you vote for and if you watch American Idol.  If you are good at what you do and are trying to make the city and county a better place, I'll listen to you.

Someone remind me one thing Breslin has done to help the people of the city of Albany?

I agree that being (or not being)a life-long Albany County resident doesn't necessarily make a person qualified for Public Office. Charlie Voelker is not a life long Albany County resident either. But the years he has lived here, he has shown a sincere, ongoing, and deep commitment to Community Service in this Senatorial District. David Weiss has been involved in activities in outside of the area, no real track record here.

David collected enough signatures himself to qualify for the ballot? Thanks to working Mayor Jerry's drunken crowd scenes at the Alive at Five shows.
Let's do a quick review of other people in recent public memory who "collected" enough signatures themselves to qualify for the ballot.

Prime examples? Joe Sullivan and Brian Scavo.
Conclusion? Singlehandedly Collecting enough signatures to qualify for the ballot doesn't mean you're "qualified" either. Certifiable maybe, but not qualified.

Facts supported by filing and publicly documented proof:

1. Voelker has a broader base of support in the District than Weiss -Based on signature count, financials and petition carriers.

2. Voelker has a ballot line through Election Day. David Weiss does not.

Conclusion: Voelker provides the best opportunity and the best qualifications to take Boozy Breslin down. Maybe not on Primary Day (though that would be nice) but we can do it by Election Day...with your help.

So who's this Charlie Voelker?  And who's this FrankieB?  I feel the need to set the record straight.  If you don't want to read this comment, head on over to my page on SD-46 on The Albany Project and tuned in soon for my interview with David, which I'll be conducting between doors tomorrow.

David Weiss is not from NYC, even if he has spent time there.  He was born and raised in Woodstock.  FrankieB's insinuation above has no basis in fact.

The ballot line that Charlie Voelker will still have is the Conservative line.  Not very attractive to us progressive Democrats.

If Voelker had been walking door-to-door in every neighborhood, than certainly we would have heard of him in every neighborhood.  Because we have indeed been to every neighborhood in Albany.  The comments from other posters confirm this.  And the response we are getting is excellent.  David has hit over 13,000 doors during his campaign.  He's a stronger campaigner than the Congressional candidates in my view, and those familiar with my handle here know that I've seen them all campaign.

Previously, the only primary candidate to recieve any coverage was Charlie on several occasions.  On Wednesday, the Times Union made mention of Weiss in a news story for the first time.  Previously, only columnist Charlotte Grimes mentioned him when I e-mailed her about the lack of coverage.  FrankieB has things flip-flopped.

David Weiss and Charlie Voelker both collected the requisite amount of signatures in order to gain access to the ballot.  As far as financial filings, people can head to David Weiss's and Charlie Voelker's state election filings to see for themselves that FrankieB is not being honest.  David Weiss has three times as many contributors and twice as much cash on hand according to the 11 Day Pre Primary Report.

And, oh yeah, the bulk of Voelker's money comes from this $25,000 loan to himself.  That just doesn't seem very grassroots to me.  And David Weiss has raised the most of any of the three candidates on ActBlue, whereas Mr. Voelker has raised $0 on ActBlue.

Why someone would lie about information available to the public is beyond me...unless FrankieB has some sort of vested interest in putting forth such lies.  No conspiracy theories here, just the facts.  And I hope I was nicer about it than FrankieB has been to both the other candidates.  That's no way to run a campaign, either.

Going door-to-door with Weiss, you find all sorts of campaign lit from Brooks, Tonko, Darius, and Steck discarded.  And not just discarded...mangled, torn up, stomped upon, etc.

Put blunty, Albany County is Voter Fatigue U.S.A Exhibit A.  People are fed up and sick to death of these politicians, man.  Of course, candidates wouldn't have to rely on paid communications and advertising if we had a decent newspaper in Abany that covered Federal and State level politics.  As it stands, the best newspaper in the county (and the entire state of New York) is The Altamont Enterprise by leaps and bounds.

So not putting out commercials is probably the only smart thing the Breslin camp has done, because it's a waste of money...and it's what Voelker has spent the bulk of his money on.  Go figure.  And by the way, the Breslin cards are getting discarded just as quick as everything else, and the photos are getting inexplicably fuzzier and orangier with each successive mailing.  With nearly $150K for his run, it's baffling they couldn't afford to brush things up.

Just goes to show that the candidate spending time and money wisely is David Weiss, who's canvassed all but a handful of side-streets of the city of Albany.  By the way, his robo-call went out yesterday and today, and the response at the doors was that people actually liked it, despite the fact that voter fatigue is incredibly high.

I won't rule out the possibility that Voelker has been to houses that David Weiss hasn't.  But like I said:  David has hit over 14,000 doors.  Himself.  No county-wide candidate has ever done this according to several old hands (believe me when I say I have my sources...talk to the Congressional campaigns for that one).  So I can say for a fact that there a thousands of houses that Weiss has been to and nobody else has, not even the Congressional candidates.

I really think you should come off the unconfirmed rumors of Breslin being mean to women or drunk and what-have-you.  That kind of banter has no place in politics.  It's mean, dude!  This is a race that should be won based on hard work like David Weiss is doing, not on mean spirited and suspect talking points by blog commenters with zero credibility.  Just be nice...you'll go much farther in life :-)

And if you feel I have no credibility, head over to the front page of The Albany Project or, like I said, contact the Congressional camps.

Voelker's strategy consists of loaning himself thousands of dollars and spending it all on poorly designed and placed signs and television commercials that get washed out by the Congressional candidates.  And have you at least compared Voelker's and Weiss's websites?  How can someone vote for an associate athletic director with zero political experience spouting out the same "no taxes" and "public-private-partnership" talking points as the Republican Party when your other option David Weiss: president of the only community-owned wind energy company in the country, someone who's worked with U.S. Senators and Presidents, organized some of the largest political action events and organizations not only in the country but around the world, etc...

??

It's quite obvious that Voelker is only running because he foolishly believes he can win with the Conservative Party line in November (in Big Dem Albany County?) and is only staying in for egotistical reasons.  This shows in the clear signs of desperation in his camaign.  Like how he pays one volunteer a ton of money week after week (again, look at the filings above, man) and like this story:

Two days ago, David and I knocked off two wards in Cohoes by ourselves.  We placed signs on an island outside of town.  Then we saw Charlie and his paid "volunteer" drive past...he even beeped his horn to foolishly alert us to his presence.  We drive back to the island when we're done, and whaddya know?  Weiss sign is down, and two "I'm running too!" signs are up.  What a freakin' coincidence, wouldn't you say?

An open statement to Mr. Voelker:  you can't fool me, man.  I know it's you.  And it's uncool.  Sign wars?  That's no way to run a campaign, much less win one.  Ask Tracey Brooks about that one.  But keep on going...we'll just keep on replacing them.  We can not be worn down with something as lame as sign wars.  And we will not take down any of yours.  David Weiss is asking to be your State Senator; why break the laws to get to make the laws?  Yeesh...

The truth is that if you want Breslin out and a real representative in his place (who will shake up not only Albany County government but New York State and the Federal government as well), then you must vote for David Weiss on Tuesday.

To save your simple and clearly deluded mind time and trouble, I'll say this using small words.

I am not three quarters. Don't know who he or she is, but they sound reasonable to me.

You are nothing more than A Steck/Weiss shill.

Your accusations against Charlie Voelker are unfounded, pathetic, and a discredit to any candidate you claim to support.

Your self-important rantings on this board and others show you as nothing more than the type of troll and puppet you accuse others of being.

If you are the model of a "progressive" democrat, "regressive" would be a more apt description.

The comments made about Neil Breslin regarding his behavior, treatment of women, and his work for the most egregiously anti-union law firm in the State are all documented facts.

If you are such a darling of the "progressive community" and so in touch with movers and shakers, How come you couldn't secure Weiss or Steck the Working Families Party line?

I'll tell you why. Because like your hero Phil, at the end of the day you're just a sad little man, all alone in the dark, drunk on a few drops of power, trying to  smear the good names and reputations of hard working people more experienced, dedicated, and qualified then you.

Weiss has the support of the STATE WFP.  But because Neil staffers as well as Mike, his brother's, staffers are straticly placed in Citizens action/WFP its a given that they support Neil.  Even though he works for a UNION BUSTING law firm.  It's no accident!  The WFP Statewide liked Weiss and his platform but told his STRAIGHT OUT that they can't help him locally.

I do not know anything about Voelker.  He seems like a nice guy.  But reading the voter questionairre in the TU, Weiss gave thoughtful, detailed answers to the questions asked.  make up your own mind on who has put the most effort into this race.

http://a2.thevoterguide.org/a-albany/?sfr

what Brelin can offer is...well frankly nothing.  We need a fresh face with Innovative ideas.  Weiss thinks out of the box and he has delivered on a national level.  He is passionate and intellegent. and if the TU had given the coverage to this race that it truly deserved, Weiss and Voelker might have had a shot.  But by inaction, the TU has relected the disfunction.  Because there are too many people afraid of the Breslin's very few will stand up and fight for change.  it's really too bad.  

My assertations that Charlie Voelker has hit but a three-digit decimal point fraction of the doors that David Weiss has is absolutley true.  If he had, then I would have heard his name at the over 2,000 doors I hit for David with my own raw knuckles.

I stand by my proven allegation that Charlie Voelker has spent the bulk of his money on television advertisements and road signs.  And the links I provide to his public-information campaign filings proves that most of his money is on loan from himself.  Again, I do not see why someone would try to refute information that is available to public in black and white.  Also, after replacing hundreds of signs for David Weiss that have either been smashed up or disappeared entirely with brand new "I'm Charlie Voelker and I'm runnng too!" signs in their place, it's quite clear to my own eyes and to DIA readers that Voelker's main campaign strategy is to smash the signs of his primary opponent instead of going out and talking to voters.

If I truly was self-important, a troll, or a puppet, I do not believe the administrators of The Albany Project would have added me to their ranks as a front-page poster.  That status, while I don't like to toot my own horn, was earned, not asked for, and signifies that I have spent long hours of hard work checking my facts, honed my writing skills, and certainly gives me at least a slightly higher degree of integrity on these boards than you, sir.

I won't call myself the "model" of a progressive Democrat, because we progressive Democrats are as diverse as any other wing of our party.  Of course, that is entirely your own opinion, and you are entitled to it.  I'd advise you that you will get much farther in life, and gain more respect on these boards, if you start to disagree without being so disagreeable.

The comments about Senator Breslin regarding the law firms of Girvin & Ferlazzo and Hiscock & Barclay are indeed documented facts and relevant to the campaign.  But calling him a drunk is very disrespectful in a public forum.  If it is well-documented, then you should learn how to use the power of the Internet by linking to proof of your allegations.  Kind of like I did with Voelker's filings.  Until then, your allegations have no place in politics, especially in the Year of Obama.

I believe mailer daemon does an excellent job below regarding your WFP claims, but I'd like to add something:  having mutliple lines truly doesn't add much weight in primaries as they appear in general elections, not primaries, unless the nomination for the party line is contested.  In this case, it is not.

Finally:  calling me names won't get you anywhere.  I'm quite happy with my life as it is, yet strive to improve it each day.  I'm here with my brother, and it's actualy getting a bit sunnier out than it was this morning.  I am not  drunk presently, but will make no guarantees that I will remain in my sober state at tonight's victory party for David Weiss at McGeary's (all Weiss voters and supporters are invited to attend) and I have just as much power as any other American citizen, including yourself.  I am not smearing anybody's reputation.  Speak for yourself, man...you're the one calling Breslin a drunk and a wife-beater.  Now that's talking out both sides of your mouth.

But I'd like to congratulate you on your attempt at sharpening your wit, here.  That "gnome" thing was actually pretty funny, and I take it in stride.  Again, look around on the many blogs I've posted and look at the fact that I'm not the only one coming to my defense here.  I've been called a shill before, but it's clear that probably 90% of the people who read my stuff statewide do not believe that to be the case.

And after all, ya jes cain't pleez ev'ry buddy.  Especially those that don't have their facts straight and become insulting of others in desperation because they feel their candidate is going to lose an election.  Which is what will happen tonight.  I won't predict a Weiss win, I just hope for it.