We need you to help beat cancer.

by: Adama D. Brown

Mon Aug 23, 2010 at 17:49:39 PM EDT

Almost as importantly, and thanks in part to your contributions, Nicole has raised a couple thousand dollars for her father's ongoing treatment. But that's only enough to pay the costs of his treatment for the next few weeks, let alone the months or years that he'll need.

For those who don't know, small cell cancer is an extremely aggressive and lethal form. Many nonprofit organizations that help fund cancer victims won't do anything for those with small cell cancer, because other types of cancer are easier and less costly to "cure," so they'd rather spend their limited resources there.

All this means that small-cell cancer is usually treated as a death sentence. I know what you're all thinking--I'm thinking the same thing, that it's utterly shameful that this situation should arise where someone's life can be ransomed over their ability to pay for treatment. But this isn't about that--it's about keeping Nicole's father alive.

Nicole has set up a website for her fundraising drive, where you can see the people that you're helping--and gain an understanding of how hard it is for her to imagine losing her father less than a year after the death of her younger brother at the age of 21. Please visit, and if you can spare the money, make a donation. I know as well as anyone that money is tight right now, but nothing compares to the life of one good person.

http://billbarryfightscancer.w...

Why should I give the NY Dems any of my money?

by: Steaming Pile

Mon Dec 07, 2009 at 23:11:51 PM EST

I blew it.  I could have asked the poor hapless phone bank guy why the New York Democrats, after capturing the State Senate for the first time in forty years, let Pedro Espada steal it by blackmailing the Democratic caucus.  I might have also asked why it is that Democrats cannot do with 60 members what Republicans manage to get done with 55, but that's not anybody's fault in Albany.

The Five Percent Solution: Brothers and sisters, can you spare a nickel?

by: Adama D. Brown

Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 04:07:32 AM EDT

Eleven million dollars spent on upkeep in an off year. And that's just for the campaign, not for their Congressional office, staffers, etcetera. That bill goes on the federal rolls.

Now from the perspective of these campaigns, that's not necessarily a ton of money. It's just what they have to spend to keep running. Maybe they'd like to spend less, maybe not. But I'd like to offer them a different perspective.

I am, obviously, a rural Democrat. What's more, I'm a rural Democratic activist. That means that like all my fellow party members out here, I have learned the fine arts of survival the hard way. Some people may scorn us, or disregard us, since the population centers are where you find Democratic votes. But rural Democrats are among the toughest and most persistant group of activists that you'll ever meet. We've learned how you remain effective with next to no money. We've learned what battles to fight, and what ones to walk away from. And we've continued chipping away at the Republican edge day by day, like a man digging his way out of prison with a belt buckle.

Most of all, not having money to waste has taught us the value of making every dollar stretch. President Obama proved that on the national stage last year, showing that small donations can have very big results. And I'm here to tell you there's a way that that upkeep money could stretch a whole lot farther.

If the Democratic members of the New York congressional delegation were to dedicate five percent of their off-year expenditures--not even their fundraising, just expenditures--to grassroots party building via organizations like the Democratic Rural Conference, I don't think I'm exaggerating in the least to say that it would revolutionize the political landscape in New York State, to the great benefit of the Democratic Party as a whole.

Five percent of those expenditures is $45,500 per month. To judge from the expense reports, many of those campaigns probably spend as much on sticky notes and ball point pens. The Democratic Rural Conference has 41 member counties: the 41 counties in which Democrats are most in trouble in this state. If they cut every member county a check for $1000, every month, and used the rest for their own discretion... Well, it's not going to give anything away about the financial status of the Wyoming County Democratic Committee to say that $12,000 a year would dwarf all previous funding that we've ever had.

It would be hard, if not impossible, to overstate the impact of that kind of money on rural Democratic committees. That $1000 a month may be a mote of dust as far as a congressional campaign goes, but used properly, it's a potent weapon to change the face of this state. It's weekly voter registration drives on the streets of Warsaw and Oriskany Falls. It's "meet the candidates" events in Machias and Westfield. It's mailing fliers about healthcare in Coventry and Prospect.

It would be, in short, a massive shot of adrenaline to party building in the rural areas of this state. With a large and growing area of upstate represented by Democratic congresscritters, it's in their best interest to make their seats as safe as possible. And "safe" downstate representatives reap the other benefits of party growth: such as a more stable and functional state legislature, safer statewide races, and upstate goodwill for any future campaigns they might want to run. A large and fractious state party is bonded more closely together, and all the citizens of New York are better served by being given a genuine two party system even in the most rural of regions.

For one small investment, those are some big rewards.

NY-26: Looks like somebody's popularity is waning.

by: Adama D. Brown

Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 15:19:47 PM EDT

That's bad for him, since his cash on hand is now the princely sum of $390,000, minus the $250,000 worth of debt his campaign still owes from the election last year. Generally speaking, fundraising for incumbents is supposed to get better as you get closer to the election.

The list of disclosed donors is nearly as fun to look at. $1000 from Wal PAC, which is the lobbying arm of Walmart. $1000 from the American Council of Life Insurance PAC. $1000 from the American Bankers Association. $4800 from the president of Rettner Management, a "brokerage services" company in Yonkers, the president of which also donated $48,000 last year to committees supporting John McCain. $2000 from "Securities Industry & Financial Markets," a lobbying group based out of DC.

He also got $500 from the campaign of Lynn Westmoreland, a Republican congressman in Georgia. You may remember Mr. Westmoreland for his remarks calling President Obama and the First Lady "uppity," then denying he'd ever heard that term used in a racist way.

Unfortunately, OpenSecrets.org hasn't updated their numbers yet to reflect the new filings, so I can't give you an exact percentage of Lee's contributions from PACs versus individuals. I can tell you though that from looking at the donor list, it's not likely to get any better than it was last quarter, when 46% of all Lee's money to date had been gotten from PACs. Mostly PACs representing the financial industry--a whopping $90,323, about 20% of ALL his fundraising. Not surprising since he sits on the Financial Services Committee, which regulates those industries. Must be nice to have Wall Street as a piggy bank.

Gillibrand: Use $$$ to scare off opponents

by: Hudson

Tue Mar 03, 2009 at 13:15:04 PM EST

In her latest email pitch, Kirsten overtly suggests that by raising lots of money, she can deter others from challenging her in the upcoming primary:

This is an incredibly important event for my first quarter and the 2010 election. The political calculations of my opponents will be made based on the support I show this quarter.

As a lifelong Democrat who believes that campaign finance issues are a root cause of our political problems, this is not exactly my idea of how the democratic system should work, or how reform-minded Democrats should talk to supporters.

NY-Gov: Paterson Raises Nearly $3.6 Million

by: robert.harding

Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 18:56:49 PM EST

Governor Paterson's campaign finance filing shows that Paterson raised nearly $3.6 million during the last six months and has nearly $4.9 million cash on hand.

Here is a breakdown of his filing:

CONTRIBUTIONS: $3,598,653.17
MISC. RECEIPTS: $85,190.74
TOTAL RECEIPTS: $3,683,843.91
EXPENSES: $1,812,039.69
CASH ON HAND: $4,888,229.66

These numbers are impressive. Raising $3.6 million in six months is no easy task, so if Paterson can keep raising money at that rate, he is going to be very difficult to primary in 2010.  

More On Golisano's 527

by: robert.harding

Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 23:48:56 PM EDT

Rochester-area billionaire Tom Golisano plans to make a "major announcement'' about his involvement in this year's elections next week, an aide said today, and a published report said it's going to be good news for Democrats trying to win control of the state Senate.

Golisano, who has run unsuccessfully for governor three times and owns the Buffalo Sabres, may spend $1 million on each of several Democrats seeking to capture seats now held by Republicans, according to The Capitol, a magazine that covers state government.

Golisano aide Stephen Pigeon said today the announcement will be next Tuesday in Albany involving ''New York State government and politics.'' He wouldn't comment further and Golisano didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

Democrat Richard Dollinger of Brighton, who is challenging Republican Joe Robach of Greece, as well as challengers for two Erie County seats now held by Republicans, could be beneficiaries of Golisano's largesse, according to the magazine, which cited an unnamed source.

First, some background on "Golisano aide Stephen Pigeon." Pigeon is said to be behind-the-scenes of the Joe Mesi campaign. So there is no surprise that once this 527 group comes to fruition, Mesi will be a beneficiary. That's big money for Mesi.

I have nothing against Golisano, especially as a Buffalo Sabres fan. I also like a lot of the business decisions he has made and his work with charities and his own foundation have been great for Western New York.

One of the more interesting things from The Capitol piece was this about Harry Konst, Kathy Konst's husband and campaign manager.

Harry Konst, who is managing his wife's campaign, claimed he has not discussed the Senate bid with her and said he did not know who Golisano is.

Wow. He's from the Buffalo area and doesn't know who Golisano is? Really?

Anyway, more candidates could be targets according to The Capitol. Dan Squadron could be a target. Other candidates - Democrats and Republicans alike - could be beneficiaries as well. Assembly candidates could be targeted too.

I must add this: As great as this may sound, it shows why the system is flawed. In reality, one man could buy three or four senate races (possibly more) for candidates in November. That is a scary thought. It's a great news story, but if we are going to push forward a clean money, clean elections platform in this state, we can't have candidates accepting up to $1 million from one of the richest men in New York.

NY-21: Q1 Fundraising Report

by: Soundpolitic

Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 19:53:31 PM EDT

Brooks Fails To Live Up To Top-Spot Hype; Shahinfar, Kossacks Engage the NY-21 Netroots

In the packed Democratic primary for Congress, the first fundraising numbers are in.  Nearly $575,000 was raised between the candidates who started fundraising before the March 31 deadline.

NY-21 Democratic Primary 1st Quarter Fundraising Totals

                                 Funds Raised        Spent        On-Hand
1.  Phil Steck               $205,807          51,942         153,864
2.  Tracey Brooks           177,860          24,875         153,498
3.  Gary Mittleman          104,352           52,743          51,605
4.  Darius Shahinfar          83,212                354          83,108

Note:  Lester Freeman did not raise more than the $5,000 necessary to require filing.  John Aretakis and Arthur Welser did not begin their fundraising efforts before March 31.

The numbers present a surprise in that Tracey Brooks has long been the mainstream media favorite.  Since the local coverage of this continues the pattern and because of netroots movement, a discussion of these first numbers is warranted, and I hope you join in below

Balboni's parting gift in $$

by: am

Fri Jan 19, 2007 at 10:21:40 AM EST