Ego Booster for Danger Dem

Danger Democrat has run a lot of politic races and never won one, so this will be a ego booster for him. Ted, have you been holding out on us?

State Senate Obameter

The Capital has produced what they call the Obameter.

Obama is the Democratic nominee in waiting, but just four years ago he was an Illinois State Senator. The Capital was interested to find out; how do New York State Senators compare.

Obama ran his first State Senate campaign on fixing government and restoring voter's trust, a message that can only be delivered by a non-incumbent (not someone part of an Assembly majority for 5 years). During his career in the Illinois State Senate he sponsored more than 800 bills, but many never made it out of the rules committee. Even in his last year, when he had seniority, 99 of 147 of the bills he sponsored died in committee. Yet, today he is the party's nominee for President.

They gathered 10 "experts" from both sides of the aisle to review the Senators and arrived at 15 of the most promising Senators.  The Senators were rated in three categories on a scale of 1-5 for; Style, Substance and Savvy. Top score for each category was 50 points for a total top score of 150.

So who did the panel find some parity with New York State Senators?

The list is here

• Joseph Griffo, R  made the list with a 98 and had a very good score of 36 on substance. 
• John Flannagan, R  made the list and did well in all categories scoring 119
• Eric Adams, D  freshman legislator made the list with a 105, scoring very high in style.
• Jeff Klein, D  thought by many to overtake Senate Minority leader Malcolm Smith, scored a 108
• Craig Johnson, D  one of Aubertine's moral caucus partners made it with a 98
• Catharine Young, R  another good upstate Senator, former Assembly member, made it with a 101

No mention ANYWHERE of Darrel Aubertine, not even a whisper of style, substance or savvy, BUT they do mention David Renzi, under "...and more may be coming, Up and Coming State Senate candidates to watch for." There were 4 Republicans listed and 5 Democrats on that honorable mention list.

• David Renzi, an attorney and member of a prominent North Country family, who is running against freshman Sen. Darrel Aubertine

Not sure whether to offer "Condolences or Congratulations," but it was probably just a "misunderstanding" that Aubertine did not make the cut. 

"Condolences" to the Hammond Girls Basketball Team

Renzi Opens Oswego Office

 

Dave Renzi opened his Senate Campaign office in Oswego this past Saturday.

Renzi brought his "Change Albany" to the people of Oswego, an effective message for Renzi, while opponent Darrel Aubertine has been a player in the dysfunctional Albany atmosphere for the past 5 years as a member of the majority in the Assembly.

Renzi brings a fresh perspective that will encourage action. “I want to be a strong voice for the communities and residents of Oswego County, and I’ll deliver change and results — not excuses,” he vowed.

Photo from article in Oswego County Today

Obama Once Opposed, Now Supports

Obama, who adamantly opposed the full seating of Florida and Michigan delegates when the vote counted, during the primary against Hillary, now wants them fully seated.

Absolutely shocked over Obama changing a position would be one way to describe it (insert sarcasm). Obama brushed off the notion of counting the delegates when Hillary proposed it, which she then said his stance was an insult to millions of Democrats.

As Obama told the St Petersburg Times

"In all these races if I didn't campaign at all and this had just been a referendum on name recognition, Sen. Clinton would be the nominee. It's pretty hard to make an argument that somehow you winning what is essentially a name recognition contest in Florida was a good measure of electoral strength there."

Maybe Obama should have won California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Massachusetts or Ohio before he used that line. 

Here is the letter from Obama.

August 3, 2008

Hon. Alexis Herman, Co-Chair

James Roosevelt, Jr., Co-Chair

Eliseo Roques-Arroyo, Co-Chair

Dear Credentials Committee Chairs:

In just a few weeks, our Party will convene in Denver for our National Convention. This will be an historic event that will showcase our vision for changing the direction of our country.

The delegates and alternates who gather on Monday, August 25 will reflect the talent, energy and rich diversity of our Democratic Party. The delegates will come from all 56 states and territories. As these delegates go about the important business of the Convention, I believe Party unity calls for the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be able to participate fully alongside the delegates from the other states and territories. Accordingly, I ask that the Credentials Committee, when it meets on August 24 to approve the delegates for the National Convention, pass a resolution that would entitle each delegate from Florida and Michigan to cast a full vote.

As a candidate for the nomination, I supported the DNC’s efforts to establish and enforce a schedule for primaries and caucuses that would broaden the opportunity for Democrats from all regions of the country and all backgrounds and walks of life to have a meaningful voice. An unprecedented number of voters participated in our Democratic nominating process. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Governor Dean for his principled leadership during this long and challenging process.

As we prepare to come together in Denver, however, we must be – and will be – united in our determination to change the course of our nation. To that end, Democrats in Florida and Michigan must know that they are full partners and colleagues in our historic mission to reshape Washington and lead our country in a new direction.

With warmest personal regards,

Barack Obama

McHugh: Legislation Enhances Border Efforts On Drugs

Congressman John Mc Hugh introduced legislation that will enhance federal law enforcement as well as funding an effort to combat drug trafficking at our borders. The NY/NJ High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Expansion Act will extend the area to include; Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence Counties into the existing HIDTA program.

 "Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties are literally on the front lines of our nation's efforts to combat drug trafficking.  The vulnerabilities that exist along the northern border are readily apparent and cross-border drug trafficking poses a very serious threat to our local area and, ultimately, throughout the country.  Through extensive contacts with good leaders like Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne, I have determined that the incorporation of these four counties into the NY/NJ HIDTA is one of the best things we can do to effectively meet that threat," said Congressman McHugh.  "Our local leaders and law enforcement are doing tremendous work combating the drug trafficking coming through our counties, and I will continue in my efforts to help them be even more effective by securing this designation and the accompanying additional federal resources."

The program is designed to enhance local efforts to combat drug trafficking and facilitate cooperation among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. The program coupled with McHugh's announcement early this week of $3.71 million in homeland security funding for the same counties will improve efforts for a secure northern border.

In that announcement, the following funding awards were made for enhancing law enforcement.  

• Jefferson County - $1.63 million
• Franklin County - $1.47 million
• Clinton County - $330,000
• St. Lawrence County - $280,000

The One

48th Senate Race Updates

Politics on the Hudson is reporting the Senate Republicans are feeling good at this point about some of their races, including Renzi vs. Aubertine as well as the Dunno vs. Johnson race on Long Island and Feld vs. Oppenheimer in Westchester.

The Post Standard sends up a warning flag for wind development, calling for closer scrutiny and rightly points out the potential conflict with public officials and makes specific mention of Darrel Aubertine's inappropriate vote.

Some elected officials have voted to allow wind turbines in their municipalities even though they personally had negotiated or signed lease agreements with wind developers.

When he was an assemblyman, state Sen. Darrel Aubertine voted to give farmers with wind turbines on their land a property tax break. Trouble is, a wind developer had already approached Aubertine about putting turbines on his own farm.

I'm sure there is a good explanation for that vote though, maybe just another "misunderstanding" which frequently occurs.

Governor David Paterson, R-New York

It seems there are only a couple of people in New York who are willing to face reality; one is David Paterson. His performance so far dissolves any party label such as; Democrat, Republican, Liberal or Conservative that are affixed to people, the Governor gets a new one and it is an "R", as in he is a realist. 

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is showing his true mindset and is fine with an ostrich type approach. His style of leadership has plagued New York State for too long, he has to go and every candidate running for state office in the 118th Assembly or 48th Senate district should rebuke this type of thinking.

This is a quote that Silver made during a radio interview. 

"Let's sit around for a few more weeks and analyze a little more data before we act precipitously."

The solutions to the problems are not higher taxes on anyone either. Proposing to raise tax on high income earners or Indian reservations does not solve the problem. The epicenter of the fiscal woes for New York State are on Wall St. how would piling more problems onto them help solve the long term fiscal problems.

Raising taxes, passing the burden of programs onto lower level governments, selling state assets or encumbering taxpayers with more debt are not solutions to the problem. Spending cuts are the short term solution, while slowing the growth of spending is the long term solution. Spending growth in the last five years is 45% with another 5% growth expected for next year.

At this point, by his words, the Governor is talking in terms of a realist, while others want to avoid rankling special interest, if the Governor backs up his words with actions, then he can claim he serves all New Yorker's regardless of any party affiliation.   

Increased Transparency In Government Is A Good Thing

Any time transparency in government is increased, it is a good day for the taxpayers. The Empire Center of New York State Policy did just that yesterday with the announcement of SeeThroughNY, a website design to present a clear view of how taxpayer's money is being spend.

The site, which is being dubbed as "a window on your money," has a number of searchable databases that contain the following information.

• the entire payroll of more than 263,000 state government employees, cross-referenced by name, title, branch of government and agency;
• current teachers’ union contracts and superintendent of schools’ contracts for nearly all of New York State’s 733 school and BOCES districts;
• operating expenditures by both houses of the New York State Legislature; and
• the Legislature’s pork-barrel “member items” spending for 2008-09.
  

The site should be a model for public organizations such as; DANC, school districts, county, towns and villages to follow, far more accountability and disclosure is necessary in government. The public deserves to know how their money is spent.