Steve Israel: in it to win it?

Exile... (0.00 / 0)

Congressman Israel has been in it for awhile. He met with the GLOW Democratic chairs and he has met with some other upstate leaders already. So this isn't new. He has been in it for quite awhile.  

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by: robert.harding @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 18:58:34 PM UTC

I should have spoke more clearly (0.00 / 0)

I know he's been in it for a while, but look for some reasonably big news on this soon.  

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by: Exile on Ericsson St. @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 20:56:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Indeed.... (0.00 / 0)

He was VERY impressive at that meeting as well.

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by: daniel.jones @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 02:10:51 AM UTC

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that's what I've heard (0.00 / 0)

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by: Exile on Ericsson St. @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 03:01:17 AM UTC

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I'm surprised (0.00 / 0)

no one has yet pointed out he's a member of the Blue Dogs.

I don't have a problem with it, but I found many in the blogsphere do.

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by: nrafter530 @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 19:48:34 PM UTC

Yes, he's a member of the Blue Dogs... (0.00 / 0)

But he has been known not to vote with the Blue Dogs as much as representatives like Arcuri and Gillibrand have. I find being a Blue Dog is Israel's biggest flaw. This is a progressive state. We should have senators that reflect that.  

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by: robert.harding @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 21:18:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

how would you compare his Blue Dogness (0.00 / 0)

With that of Higgins?  

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by: Exile on Ericsson St. @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 22:04:52 PM UTC

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My advice Exile... (0.00 / 0)

Would be to not take notes on Blue Dog Democrats from Matt Stoller. Stoller believes anyone to the right of a progressive is a Blue Dog, apparently. I certainly wouldn't label Brian Higgins a very progressive member of the House, but he certainly isn't a conservative one.

I would say Higgins is to the left of Israel. Higgins is moderate-to-progressive on most issues. Israel is more moderate-to-conservative. I would classify Israel as a fiscal conservative, while Higgins isn't too conservative when it comes to fiscal matters.

Higgins is pro-choice and he is very pro-environment. He supports universal health care and strongly supports stem cell research. DMI gave him an A+ for his middle class voting record. But he is also pro-gun rights.

So he isn't a full blown progressive, but he isn't a Blue Dog either. He would be more progressive than Israel would be. He would more progressive than Gillibrand would be. But there are other candidates (Cuomo, Kennedy, Maloney) who would be more progressive than Higgins.  

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by: robert.harding @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 23:40:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree with you (0.00 / 0)

About not taking Blue Dog notes from Matt Stoller.  I didn't mean my link to be an endorsement of his post.  

Thanks for the low down (which is about what I thought).  

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by: Exile on Ericsson St. @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 01:55:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

After the two big dogs (4.00 / 2)

that everyone polls and blogs about, Israel is probably next likely, especially given his recent trip to Iraq and Germany with Paterson.

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by: devtob @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 22:15:44 PM UTC

Steve Israewl is the best for the job (0.00 / 0)

  Steve Israel is the by far the best candidate-as more people know him more people will agree-ive never attend a speech he gave without coming out of it with something i learned about goverment.

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by: bill samuels @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 22:44:13 PM UTC

If we have to go south of Orange County... (0.00 / 0)

Israel is my favorite.

3 reasons:

1) I think he's good people.

2) I think he's deliberative

3) I think he's not an automatic vote for anyone; I detest automatic votes of all sorts.

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by: Amherst Guy @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 23:09:00 PM UTC

Do not make the mistake (0.00 / 0)

I know Israel and I have seen him at work and he is awesome. Do not underestimate his abilities.  

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by: Socrates @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 00:10:17 AM UTC

NY's senators (0.00 / 0)

Two from NYC?  What do these guys know about Buffalo? Rochester? Syracuse?  Better yet, what can/will they do to help the aforementioned communities?

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by: hawkny @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 03:31:33 AM UTC

Israel (0.00 / 0)

Seems to be developing strong support upstate.

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by: Exile on Ericsson St. @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 05:30:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Israel Not NYC (0.00 / 0)

Israel represents central Long Island, and any New York City dweller will tell you that central L.I. is not NYC.

Moreover, I think geography has little to do with how well one does representing various parts of the state. Clinton lived downstate (after hardly being in-state at all) and won over upstaters.

On the merits, Israel is passionate about energy issues--one of the defining problems of our time, and in a way I think most progressives would agree with.

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by: dsimon @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 05:34:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

As far as upstate is concerned, Long Island might as well be NYC. (4.00 / 1)

And it's not just geography, it's whether the person cares about local issues.  

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by: Adama @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 18:53:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

energy (0.00 / 0)

On the merits, Israel is passionate about energy issues

Here's an upstate-downstate question then:  What is his view on NYRI and other energy-transmission related problems?  How does he reconcile downstate energy needs (energy guzzling?) with Upstate energy costs and the environmental costs of power transmission?

This is definitely an issue for a senatorial candidate to have an opinion on, since it's federal policy that opened the door to NYRI in the first place.  What are his views on the federal designation of NIETCs?  After all, most of Upstate was in fact declared a potential NIETC (National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor), not just the NYRI route.

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by: NYCO @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 20:00:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Guzzling? (0.00 / 0)

I can't speak to the NY energy issues cited because I don't know about them. My comment was directed more towards national policy, most notably our oil consumption and its impact on our military, foreign policy, and the environment. I suspect Congressman Israel knows far more about upstate-downstate energy issues than I do.

However, I don't think it's correct to characterize downstaters as "guzzling" energy. Yes, NYC uses a lot of energy; that's because there are a lot of people here. But apartment-dwelling is far more energy efficient than detached housing. So I'd suspect NYC-ers use less energy than the rest of the state on a per capita basis.

That's not to dismiss the concerns about how to get energy to where there is the most local demand. But that demand is due to the concentration of people, not because of inefficient "guzzling" by individuals.

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by: dsimon @ Fri Jan 09, 2009 at 15:35:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

As a commenter states above... (0.00 / 0)

Israel isn't from New York City. I would also say that Schumer, while from New York City, made it a top priority to get to know the upstate region. I have seen Schumer speak on a number of occasions and he always tells a story about encountering his first farm and first cow.

I would not be disappointed, as an upstater, if Israel was picked. He attended last year's New York State Democratic Rural Conference convention in Saratoga Springs. I'm assuming he would be there again this year too. He genuinely cares about all of New York.  

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by: robert.harding @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 14:49:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]