Democracy In Albany

Brooks and Shahinfar have held the same number of elected positions: none.  Both Brooks and Shahinfar have experience working for elected officials, Clinton and Gillibrand, respectively.  Yet somehow, Brooks is preferable to Shahinfar for the TU.  Can't say they've won me over with that argument.

Brooks will supposedly be bipartisan as a representative, because supposedly Clinton is bipartisan as a representative.  This supposed bipartisanship is preferable to Steck, because Steck will supposedly be partisan.  That's a lot of supposing.  But even setting aside the supposing, I am not persuaded by this argument.  

Bipartisanship is one of those mushy concepts that editorial boards love, but which has little or no meaning in the real world.  The policies are what matter, not some feel-good, bogus hand-shaking-across-the-aisle scene that editorial boards dream about.

I have a problem with so called democrats who take the current line of attack against the republican president and use it against their fellow democrats.    

And when i say "fellow democrats" I use that in the polite sense.

Joseph P Sullivan, of Albany, one of five candidates in the September 9 Democratic Primary to fill the seat of retiring Representative Mike McNulty has received a number of calls from concerned Democrats in the City of Albany, informing Sullivan that calls are being made to City Democrats alleging to be a poll to determine which of the four Democrats the voters favor: Darius, Tonko, Brooks or Steck. NO mention is made of Sullivan the  fifth Democrat in the primary.

When voters enquire what about Joe Sullivan? The callers say, Sullivan has dropped out of the race.

I received a call Wednesday night, from a not very professionally scripted polling service, asking me "If the Primary were held today, which of the four democrats would I support. I told the lady I was supporting Paul, she said she would note it, and I informed her that there were actually five running and mentioned Joe Sullivan's name.

She emphatically stated that Sullivan had dropped out of the race. I told her she was mistaken. She insisted she was not. I corrected her again and she said that was "their information"  and she saw no need to make a correction.

You say you're for honesty.  Well, to bad you don't practice what you preach.  

"Looking out for my fellow citizens".  What a joke.  Name me one thing in your life that you have done that can back that statement up.  And I mean somthing with substance, writing this blog doesn't count because the only thing you do here is state your opinion and tell everyone how great you are.   Unless of course, you are a "community organizer".  Community organizers, the liberals answer for doing nothing.  But it sure does sound good, doesn't it?  Hell, I think I'll run for President. Last weekend I organized my neighborhood so everyone cut their lawn.  

And finally. let me make this perfectly clear.  People like you and your progressive (its really liberal but you haven't got the balls to call yourselves that) buddies will be the reason that Obama loses.  The far left think they help him, but in reality they hurt him.  

No phone calls, no fliers, not a single one, no knocking door to answer. These are the uspside of primary season for us indies.  However, once Tuesday has passed I'm sure to get litter sent to me by the reprobate Republicans and Democrats after the majority of them decides who our candidates will be.

The downside of remaining independent is, of course, that we have no say in in choosing who those candidates will be. At least that's how it works in New York. And that's why we work in the background to try to see to it that you guys do the right thing and pick the very best candidate for office.

Haven't seen hide nor hair of Brooks nor anyone else contending for election to office.

Frankie B. - If what you say is true about the pollster's questions, which is the same as Sullivan's comment, this only serves to confirm why polls are unreliable. Talk about a push poll!

But then, you could be old man Sullivan hisself. You are supporting Tonko, after all. Everybody out there happy with your electric rates? Tonko's NYSERDA experience, limited as it may be, and some of his policy goals like a national carbon cap & trade (which already exists) are flawed. The Carbon Cap & Trade credits that are auctioned reaps NYSERDA great profits while allowing large polluters like power companies to pollute even more. Cui Bono??

And while I'm on Tonko, nice of him to get out to all the voters his "comprehensive plan to reduce the price of gasoline and fuel" before the primary. We're all waiting and waiting...

And look who's back... Flewy! I thought he migrated with all the other bird brains and we wouldn't be hearing from him again till next spring. Boy, you do have a big set, calling DIA an "arrogant pompous prick, just like the rest of your spineless Democratic party".  You come on his site and insult all the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients who were registered Democrats. You must feel very proud of yourself.

DIA is arrogant, self admittedly. So what? You don't like it, take flight.

"Community organizers, the liberals answer for doing nothing." Without community organizers we'd still have redlining, women would not have a vote and there would be no unions to protect workers, all things you probably detest and would love to see done away with. I could write a book on all the good work accomplished by "Community organizers". Several, in fact.

Oh, btw, there's this thing called email, birdy. I suggest you use it to privately lodge your complaints to DIA directly and not hijack another thread, as you have this, for no other reason than to sate your own overblown ego.

Your reading comprehension is poor, too. How do you get DIA said that he knows why Al Newman no longer posts here? He did no such thing.

Obama will win, thanks to cute Sarah's vast experience in practicing Republican "Family Values" at home. Funny how were not hearing them use that term any longer, isn't it?

Just for your information, I am a union member but I vote against my self interest in every election.  Unlike you, I just don't talk, the talk.  

And wasn't it you who lectured me about how you spent so much time in Arbor Hill and West Hill.  I guess you didn't see all the pregnant teenage girls while you were there.  I'm sure they would be happy to hear that they no "family values" either.  

And the only thing you can say about McCain is that he is a "reject".  You're a perfect example of why the Democrats lose elections.  Like you, they have no game.  

Some day you'll have to explain to me why you are so against these radical ideas."

Ever heard this one, What do you call a spineless democrat/republican/conservative/liberal?

An independent.

Casting aside for a moment your juvenile rantings about "one flew east" who, just for the record, I rarely agree with,the idea that I must be old man Sullivan because I support Paul Tonko, pretty well sums up your ignorance, lack of knowledge of Joe Sullivan (who I despise), and lack of knowledge about me.

Unlike you Jimmy boy, I am registered with a political party (Democrat with a Capital D) because I recognize that the primary is frequently where the tone of any political season is decided and actively participate in the process.

Sometimes I agree with DIA, sometimes not. Actually, Paul's energy proposals are available. How about Phil Dreck's?

Paul Tonko just got endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign - the largest organization (725,000 members) working to protect the rights of the LBGT community.  

Why would they do that when a giant of the progressive community like self-sacrificing civil rights attorney Phil Stuck-in-the-mud is running?

Hmmmm. Could it be because Phil was defending civil rights for (Gasp!) considerable hourly fees while Paul Tonko has been standing up and pushing legislation to protect the rights of working men and women even when he wasn't being paid lawyer's rates to do it?

Finally Jimmy boy, there is only one candidate in this primary who has actively gone negative (a Republican, not a "Progressive" tactic) with an incredibly skewed use of half-truths and outdated Fox News style "facts" -- your buddy Phil.

Personally, I'm not surprised. I have said all along that Phil is nothing more than a whiny bully sufering from a serious case of "small man" syndrome and that despite public protestations to the contrary, he would eventually revert to type-which he has.