McCain/Palin: The Original ELITISTS

by: Soundpolitic

Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 13:33:49 PM EDT

I haven't been focusing too much on the Presidential campaign.  I'm far too confident that Barack Obama and Joe Biden will be inhabiting the White House come January 2009.

I'm also pretty confident that neither Obama nor Biden would waste their money installing a tanning bed in the chief executive's mansion.  But follow the link, and you'll find that McPublican VP nominee Sarah Palin did just that in the Alaska Governor's mansion.

Now this has been blogged here on DailyKos earlier this week and a few angles continue.  My angle?  When you add the Palin tanning bed installment to the John McCain mulitple house fiasco, you get the perfect opportunity for the Obama/Biden campaign to come out with the response ad to end all response ads.  The McPalin ad in question is the recent "Original Mavericks" spot now playing in media markets across the fruited plain.

My proposal, below the fold, is a word-for-word reply...McCain/Palin: The Original Elitists.

NY-21: Paul Tonko on AIG: Politics of De-Regulation Have Failed

by: Soundpolitic

Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 23:39:54 PM EDT

Democratic candidate for Congress Paul Tonko reiterated his strong words from yesterday on the financial crisis in general, going specific today on the $85 billion bailout of fallen financial giant AIG.  In a nutshell, Tonko says what should be crystal clear by now:  the de-regulations that were supposed to "save" American money trumpeted by conservatives and Republicans have ended up costing us a lot more:

"The bailout of American Insurance Group last night and the resulting market turmoil is further proof that there is a place for regulations that protect consumers and workers from corporate greed and mismanagement.

"Because the American economy as a whole bears so much of the risk of Wall Street firms, it is absolutely necessary that we put responsible regulations in place to prevent these companies from exposing themselves, and us, to unnecessary risk.

"It has now become painfully obvious that the politics of deregulation have, again, failed to serve the best interests of both business and the American people. As a direct result of this crisis, it is becoming more difficult and more expensive for consumers and businesses to get home loans. In order to protect our economic future, we must enact responsible regulations of the financial industry that will prevent the widespread financial malfeasance that lead us to these problems in the first place."

Emphasis added

Yesterday, Tonko faced off in his first forum with his Republican opponent Jim Buhrmaster, who spouted the same old Republican line about that those with the ability to reason realize got us into this mess in the first place:

During questions from chamber members from Bethlehem, Guilderland, Colonie and Schenectady, Buhrmaster peppered his comments with digs at Tonko for what Buhrmaster called "RST" -- plans he says Tonko supports that call for too much regulation, too much spending and too many taxes.

If I had a nickel for everytime a Republican tried to tell me that "too much regulation" was a bad thing, I would have been able to bail out AIG myself.  But Paul Tonko had a better response to the Burgermeister's hooting and hollering:

"You can't always sit there and create drama," said Tonko, who defeated four Democrats in the Sept. 9 primary. "What you really need are results."

So instead of the Republican's "money for nothing, checks for free" plan, Paul Tonko states clearly "That ain't workin'". That's the way you do it.  We need someone in Congress who actually understands the failed politics of de-regulation, not someone who purports the same policies that resulted in these dire straits.

On the Web: Paul Tonko on ActBlue.

NY-21: Paul Tonko Weighs In On Financial Crisis

by: Soundpolitic

Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 11:06:32 AM EDT

Paul Tonko Statement on Financial Crisis

"In the last 24 hours we have seen several historic and troubling developments from the financial industry. Lehman Brothers, a firm with a 150-year history, collapsed and filed for bankruptcy on Sunday. Merrill Lynch, which was once one of the largest Wall Street firms, has been sold for only half of what it was worth just a few months ago. The American International Group has requested a $40 billion line of credit from the Federal Reserve to prevent that firm from imminent collapse. This comes only a week after the Federal Government took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in the largest government takeover in history.

"These developments will have far reaching repercussions that will be felt around the world and especially here in the Capital Region. These firms are a significant source of tax revenue for New York State, much of which goes to pay for education and healthcare. We must, as a matter of prudence, look at these failures in a context that provides insight on how to plan for the future.

"This crisis highlights the importance of forward thinking, responsible regulation that both protects investors and prevents the bankers from burning down their own house. Many are responsible for the current financial meltdown, from the mortgage companies that issued large loans with no proof of income to the financial firms that bundled them into securities to the rating agencies that gave misleadingly high ratings to mortgage backed securities. This is yet another example of how the politics of de-regulation has failed to protect both consumers and business."

During the primary campaign, Paul Tonko had to respond to several charges about the de-regulation process of New York's energy industry while he was Chair of the Assembly Energy Committee.  Now that Democrats are in general election mode, whether one agrees or disagrees with his stance on the energy de-regulation is a moot point; Tonko knows a thing or two about de-regulation, and his experience in this field will go far in Congress.  Also, as 20% of state revenues come from Wall Street, the crunch is likely to hit state workers rather hard, and there are more state workers in the 21st Congressional District than any other district.  

Tonko's Republican opponent Jim Buhrmaster released a laughable chart trumpeting de-regulation, saying Buhrmaster "Will bring real-world business experience and private-sector management principles to Washington to fight for permanent tax relief and less burdensome regulations."  Right...the kind of Bush tax "relief" and de-regulation of businesses that go us into this mess in the first place.  It should also be noted that for all the chatter in the blogosphere about the historic nature of the primary, other more Republican-leaning blogs have said in the past that Republicans are excited about this open seat as well, saying it's the first time in 50 years that Republicans have a chance to recapture this seat...

...and leave us with only one of the big five investment banks, I reckon.

The 21st needs a Democrat who understands this issue, and may end up needing more help than we realize.

On The Web: Paul Tonko's ActBlue Page.

NY-21: Sen. Schumer: "Tonko For Congress!"

by: Soundpolitic

Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 15:34:44 PM EDT

Schumer wasted no time in endorsing the party's nominee and cited Tonko's years of experience in the State Assembly on jobs and energy policy as his main reasons for supporting the Tonko campaign for Congress:

"I enthusiastically endorse Paul Tonko for Congress," Senator Schumer said today. "Paul has built an impressive record as a New York State Assemblyman for the Capital Region. He has fought to preserve and bring new jobs to the area by working with local lawmakers on projects such as Metroplex for Schenectady County. I am also proud to have worked with him to keep Beech Nut from leaving Montgomery County and in developing the nanotechnology center in Albany."

Schumer continued: "Paul's experience as chair of the Assembly Energy Committee and as President and CEO of NYSERDA will help him hit the ground running as a resource for Congress on energy issues. I look forward to working with Paul to help the people of the 21st District and New York."

Paul Tonko said: "I really appreciate Senator Schumer's support as we move toward Election Day in November. Senator Schumer has been a tireless advocate for the people of the Capital Region and all of New York State. In Congress, I will work with him to strengthen the upstate economy, protect the jobs that are here and help create new jobs.

"We need a comprehensive energy policy focused on efficiency, conservation and investment in renewable resources," added Tonko. "This investment will spark a new innovation economy, creating a new green collar workforce. We have already laid the groundwork in the Capital Region to be a leader in green collar workforce training and technology."

Paul Tonko is the former President and CEO of NYSERDA and served in the New York State Assembly from 1983 to 2007. He announced his bid for the 21st Congressional District on May 20, 2008 among friends, elected officials and union members.

On September 9, Paul won the Democratic primary, and on Election Day, November 4, Paul will appear on the Democratic and Working Family Party lines.

Earlier, Senator Schumer just couldn't decide who to endorse, but now that Tonko is the only Democrat left standing, the endorsement is timely and well-placed.  Paul Tonko racked up a slew of endorsements for his primary campaign anyway, and this is an excellent first addition as he moves on to victory in the General Election.

On The Web: Paul Tonko's ActBlue Page

NY-21: By the Numbers - The Vote

by: Soundpolitic

Sun Sep 14, 2008 at 14:09:39 PM EDT

Last Tuesday, Paul Tonko won the five-way Democratic Primary to replace retiring Representative Mike McNulty with 39% of the vote in one of the most heavily contested campaigns in New York State.  The final results for the entire district were as follows:

Tonko, Paul 14,827 39%
Brooks, Tracey 11,329 30%
Steck, Phillip 7,046 19%
Shahinfar, Darius 3,879 10%
Sullivan, Joseph 657 2%

But as in most elections, these numbers don't represent the full spread.  A county-by-county analysis, as well as information from the largest township in the seven-county-district, reveals that Paul Tonko owes his victory to stronger-than-average support in the western portion of the district and a split vote in the county where over two-thirds of the votes were cast   The end result produces a victory map for Tonko that looks like this:

Full analysis of the spread below the fold...

How competitive is NY-20?

by: Sean

Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 21:26:13 PM EDT

On Closing the Deal, Or, Preaching Beyond The Choir

by: fake consultant

Fri Sep 12, 2008 at 07:18:43 AM EDT

We have succeeded in motivating our base, and Republicans have, as of today, done the same.

What we are not doing very well is bridging that gap and effectively spreading the discussion to the other side...which is the point of today's conversation.

Where can our conservative friends be found?
What do we need to know about the culture to be found there?
What should we say when we get there?

Your friendly fake consultant has been on a mission...and I have some answers.

SD-46: Senator Breslin Holds Off First Primary Challenge

by: Soundpolitic

Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 01:44:42 AM EDT

Unnofficial reports from 100% of 345 Albany County precincts show that Neil Breslin will hold his line and his seat as two challengers split a contested anti-incumbent vote in the September 9 primary.

STATE SENATOR 46 DEM

Neil D Breslin
15,796 (76%)

David N Weiss
2,750 (13%)

Charlie Voelker
2,310 (11%)

Senator Neil Breslin will be up for re-election to on the Democratic, Working Families, and Independence Party lines in November. There, he will face off against Charlie Voelker again, who has the Conservative Party line, too.  David Weiss will not be on the ballot.

Senator Breslin is the brother of both County Executive Mike Breslin and Albany County Judge Tom Breslin.  The 46th Senate District is entirely and exclusively Albany County.  Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 80,000 in Albany County and are are expected to win all races in the 2008 General down the ticket.  

Senator Breslin will likely recieve his seventh term in office after his first Democratic primary challenge, and return to the Senate in 2009.  The big question facing Senator Breslin, and all Senate Democrats, is whether he will begin to serve in the majority next year.

On Making A Statement, Or, The Revolution Will Be Downloaded

by: fake consultant

Mon Sep 08, 2008 at 10:57:04 AM EDT

Along the way, I have some "don't miss" video for you to see-including a 1960s classic that is utterly and completely disconnected from politics in every way...but is still the perfect thing for a Monday.

And just to show what a help I can be, I'm even going to leave you with a story idea you can run with that has been almost entirely ignored by the larger media.

NY-21: The Soundpolitic Voter's Guide

by: Soundpolitic

Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 22:21:28 PM EDT

I had a hunch instantly that Rep. McNulty's decision not to make any endorsement for a possible successor that a wide-open primary would ensue, and also figured it would be very heavily contested and highly competitive.  Looking at the history of the district, I also realized that no primary campaign for Congress of the type that has indeed developed had taken place in at least half a century.

And I also figured that the mainstream media would be strapped or resources in covering the nuances that would appear between the many candidates, and I decided to start blogging because this is a historic race and I felt I could provide more information to voters than other outlets had space for.

Currently, the five Democratic candidates are Tracey Brooks, Darius Shahinfar, Phil Steck, Joseph P. Sullivan, and Paul Tonko.  While the mainstream media has indeed covered the race and the candidates have sent out a slew of mailers and robocalls, the space devoted and the limited resources of both outlets have still left many voters undecided and unsure of what the differences between these five candidates are with only hours to go before polls open on Primary Day, September 9th.

Well, there are major differences between these candidates.  And in order to make an informed choice, people need more information to supplement what has been available in the mainstream media and the paid communications of the campaigns.  After spending the past eight months blogging, I have interviewed the four of the five major candidates and attended the most definitive debates between them.   This also includes weekly news-wraps summarizing press releases sent to me by all the campaigns, most of which were not covered in manstream media outlets, as well as editorial pieces in support of one particular candidate.

For the purpose of providing that information as the polls get closer to opening, I link to the all the interviews and the major debates so that readers can learn more about the candidates in their own words, as well as make my own endorsements of candidates in the most historic primary ever to take place in the Capital Region in this final blog on New York's 21st Congressional District.

Just click "There's more..." for the most comprehensive and informative coverage of the race available.

On Small Business, McCain Doesn't Get It

by: alexSBM

Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 17:30:51 PM EDT

But for all of the party's anti-establishment bluster, small businesses were treated to more of the same Republican pandering they've heard for the past 30 years.

McCain listed a host of rosy ideas that might have worked for Cindy McCain's father's nascent beer distribution company in 1955. But they don't work for the small businesses of today.

McCain said:

[Obama's] plan will force small businesses to cut jobs, reduce wages, and force families into a government-run health care system where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor. My health care plan will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep good health care insurance.

McCain argued, and will continue to argue, that any Democratic Party plan will harm small businesses, create unemployment, and further the outsourcing of American jobs to foreign shores. But his policy prescriptions offer no relief from the real factors that are driving the surge in operating costs and dragging the growth of small businesses.

It's no news flash that our nation's Byzantine health care systems are plagued by inefficiencies and inequalities. But it's rarely acknowledged that our current, flawed system reflects the wide disparity in negotiating strength between big corporations and small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Just look at the facts. Health care premiums for small businesses rise faster than they do for big business. As a result, 98% of full time employees for large companies have health insurance while only 55% of employees working for small businesses have coverage. For businesses with fewer than 10 employees, the rate of coverage falls to 45%.  

Large businesses have access to more and cheaper credit, likely have dedicated benefits managers, buy health care plans in bulk and don't have the cash-flow issues that small business owners have.  

Does John McCain's "plan" address this?  No, he does not because it isn't really a plan or a Republican priority. He offers nothing to protect small businesses from their lopsided competitive disadvantage to address rising health care costs. It's just more of the same GOP rhetoric from a slightly more appealing mouthpiece.  

NY-21: Tracey Brooks Lies In Her Latest Mailers

by: Soundpolitic

Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 01:46:09 AM EDT

The basic gist of the mailers is that, as an attorney, Phil Steck has represented illegal arms dealers, as well as that Paul Tonko and Darius Shahinfar either have a terrible record or no record on standing up to the gun lobby.  The front of the mailers, one of which quotes former Albany County Sherrif Jack McNutly (the father of the current Congressman, Mike McNulty) framing Tracey as "the only one" who will stand up to the gun lobby.

But there's much more to the story that reveals that Tracey Brooks has been stuffing outright lies about her opponent in women's mailboxes below the fold...

On A New School Year, Or, The Sarah Palin Drinking Game

by: fake consultant

Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 11:42:01 AM EDT

BBQ smoke hangs thickly in the air, the rain is getting cooler than it usually is in the summertime, and the Mariners are securely in last place.

And it is also time to return to school. For the new voter about to enter (or return to) College, all the crazy living can make you forget about important things, like...oh, I don't know...maybe an election or two.

To make sure this does not happen I'm going to put College and Politics together to create this year's first...wait for it...synchronized Sarah Palin drinking game.

So start pairing up your shotglasses, find the Scotch tape, and when you get back I'll tell you how it works.

NY-21: Interview with Phil Steck

by: Soundpolitic

Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 00:35:47 AM EDT

Absent from the early pundits' list of future representatives was Albany County Legislator Phil Steck, who actually became the first candidate to announce his bid to go to Washington in December of last year.  At the time, I wondered whether someone holding such a small office could actually make it to the endgame.  Nine months later, Phil Steck is still around and is on many a pundits list of most-likely-to-win, yet the primary is still five days out.  When I first met Phil to volunteer for his unlikely campaign, he told me that he enjoyed being the underdog in a field of well-known opponents.

Below the fold, he tells much more about his life, his politics, the race he is running in, and the issues of the campaign in the final issue in a series of diaries interviewing the four major contenders for New York's 21st Congressional District in a year that has become synonymous with the word "change."  Of that one little, powerful word, Phil Steck had this to say:

"You can't get change by going along and getting along simply with the accepted ways of doing business, and that's what I've always been doing."  

--Phil Steck, candidate for Congress, 21st District of New York

NY-21: Final Forum, Part VII

by: Soundpolitic

Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 22:46:04 PM EDT

The full transcript of the final forum between the four serious contendors to replace retiring Rep. Mike McNulty, held Sunday August 24, concludes below the fold with their final case before a shared audience as to why Democratic primary voters in New York's 21st Congressional District should nominate them for the general election in November.

NY-21: Final Forum, Part VI

by: Soundpolitic

Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 22:44:14 PM EDT

The full transcript of the final forum between the four serious contendors to replace retiring Rep. Mike McNulty, held Sunday August 24, continues below the fold...

NY-21: Final Forum, Part V

by: Soundpolitic

Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 22:42:53 PM EDT

The full transcript of the final forum between the four serious contendors to replace retiring Rep. Mike McNulty, held Sunday August 24, continues below the fold with the candidates' answers to questions on energy policy.

NY-21: Final Forum, Part IV

by: Soundpolitic

Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 22:42:07 PM EDT

The full transcript of the final forum between the four serious contendors to replace retiring Rep. Mike McNulty, held Sunday August 24, continues below the fold with the candidates' answers to questions they ask of each other.

NY-21: Final Forum, Part III

by: Soundpolitic

Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 22:41:21 PM EDT

The full transcript of the final forum between the four serious contendors to replace retiring Rep. Mike McNulty, held Sunday August 24, continues below the fold with the candidates' answers to questions on domestic policy

NY-21: Final Forum, Part II

by: Soundpolitic

Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 22:38:48 PM EDT

The full transcript of the final forum between the four serious contendors to replace retiring Rep. Mike McNulty, held Sunday August 24, continues below the fold with the candidates' answers to questions on foreign policy.