Most of you probably heard about the ruling by Judge Jim Brands on election night that all college students in Dutchess County must vote by affidavit ballots, even if everything was completely in order. This was just one part of an effort to systematically harass, intimidate, and suppress the student vote orchestrated by the GOP across Dutchess County.
Some background information is in order. Up until 2000, Dutchess County was one of very few counties, possibly the only county in the entire nation, to deny college students the right to vote where they resided nine months out of the year. About two or three years prior to that, a group of students attending Bard College and Vassar College filed a class-action lawsuit against the County Board of Elections to process the registrations of students without subjecting them to discriminatory practices designed to prevent their registration from being accepted. While the case was tied up in the courts, a bipartisan committee was formed by the County Legislature to review the issue of qualifications and procedures for college students who wish to vote in Dutchess County. It concluded that "As a society we should encourage every class of citizen to vote, and remove every impediment to voting for every class of citizen." Then Republican election commissioner Bill Paroli disagreed. Paroli, however, found himself preoccupied after he was arrested for fraud, extortion, and several other charges relating to corruption, and resigned in disgrace. Republicans chose current commissioner David Gamache (last seen refusing to do his job) to replace him, who eventually relented and began to process the registrations of students without discriminatory practices.
I am a student at Bard College, located in the Town of Red Hook. Like a lot of Dutchess County, and indeed, like much of rural New York in general, Red Hook is a traditional Republican stronghold which is rapidly trending Democratic. Bard routinely ranks as one of the most liberal colleges in the nation; as you might expect, we aren't exactly popular with the Red Hook GOP. Me and about a dozen other students volunteered our spare time on election day to coordinate campus GOTV, keep track of student turnout, make sure that people can get to the polling place, etc.
This sounds too crazy to be true, but a very reliable source informs me that Judge Jim "Pizza Stain" Brands (You remember him, right?) in Dutchess County has ruled that all college students must vote by afadavit even if they are registered and in the book. I'm also told that the challenges to the students came from none other than our old pal, GOP lawyer John Ciampoli, the guy who ran Jim Tedisco's disenfranchisement effort in NY-20.
I hear that this is being appealed and I hope to have the ruling shortly.
UPDATE: Source says ruling now reversed.
Reversed. Not in writing yet but college kids can vote on machine if in book.
This should surprise no one as this ruling was completely insane. That said, I think it is high time we had a much, much closer look at the Ciampoli/Brands alliance here. It stinks to high heaven and has gone on for far too long. Sunshine, please.
Jim Tedisco's campaign is employing an unconventional way of getting out the vote on the final day of the election.
Dozens of the volunteers working to canvass and make phone calls for the Republican Assemblyman this afternoon in his Clifton Park headquarters didn't know anything about him or his campaign - and only one volunteer (out of the dozen or so I interviewed) could name his Democratic opponent, Scott Murphy.
The volunteers were predominantly Hispanic and African-Americans in their 20s from the Bronx and Queens. Tedisco campaign spokesman Josh Fitzpatrick said he believed they were bused into the district by the New York Republican state party committee to help get out the vote.
He said that none of the volunteers were paid to work for the campaign - they were just helping out with much-needed tasks.
...
I interviewed about a dozen of the volunteers, many of whom knew each other from back home. Many of them spoke little English. None of them knew much about the campaign - certainly not enough to persuade a voter to go out to the poll for Tedisco. No one offered any specific reason for supporting Tedisco.
"He seems like a very big candidate and from all the calls I've been making, he has many supporters," said Gayle Saunders from Rockaway Beach. "From what I understand, he's a good candidate."
Asked how she ended up several hundred miles from the city working on a Republican Congressional campaign, she said a "fixer" helped set her up with the opportunity.
Polls close in exactly 4 hours and there's still plenty of work to do. But, here's a place for you to take a minute and make your predictions for tonight.
I've been getting anecdotes from around the district emailed and texted all day. I'll be posting about that shortly. They (perhaps foolishly) lead me to believe that Murphy is going to win this thing by a slightly larger margin than what the CW has suggested. I suck at this, but I'm going to say:
Murphy - 53%
Tedisco - 47%
Who you got?
Oh, and for those in the district, what are you seeing and hearing today?
The special election to fill the 20th Congressional District seat vacated when Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed to the U.S. Senate from New York will be decided today. And despite neck-and-neck poll numbers, one candidate has put clear distance between himself and his opponent through a Senate-worthy campaign - namely, Democrat Scott Murphy.
When this short, closely watched campaign began six weeks ago, most observers gave Republican Jim Tedisco, the minority leader of the state Assembly and a longtime force in state politics, a decided edge over his far lesser known rival. But an energetic campaign by Mr. Murphy, a businessman from Glens Falls, rapidly narrowed the gap, and a recent poll had him slightly ahead in the race.
One reason may be that Mr. Murphy is a moderate Democrat in a time when President Barack Obama is in the White House overseeing massive federal efforts to right the sinking economy. Another is that his calm, confident, personable manner is reminiscent of the president's unflappable resolve and fits the public mood.
The minority leader, in contrast, is a veteran New York politician who often sounds, for better or worse, as if he were being careful to hit his politician points when he speaks. While both are obviously "playing politics" as they campaign, Mr. Murphy has been able to appear above the common fray of this struggle and, in that sense, more senatorial.
He also has come across as someone, who, like the president, is more interested in getting things done for his constituents than in constantly making political points and grinding down the opposition in advance of the next election.
Assemblyman Tedisco, on the other hand, launched into a typical Karl Rovian attack ad campaign, which apparently has prompted many voters to desert him. This has not made him look as though he were ready to serve on a bigger stage in Washington, nor has his confused opposition to the president's stimulus plans, which are an attempt to overcome budgetary and economic mismanagement under his predecessor.
Voters of the 20th Congressional District would be well served by Democrat Scott Murphy and should give him their support in today's election.
President Obama has just sent a brand new email to folks in the 20th urging them to get out and vote for Scott Murphy and even providing a polling place finder link. The message was sent to those residents of the 20th who are on the Organizing for America and DNC lists.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, is the day to vote in New York's 20th Congressional District special election, and I need you to go vote.
I wrote to you last week to announce my endorsement of Scott Murphy because we need his kind of leadership and experience in Washington. It's going to be a very close race, and your vote could make all the difference.
Our movement for change has come this far because supporters like you stood up and made your voices heard every time it mattered.
With Scott in Congress, we'll work together to bring about solutions to our economic challenges and create new jobs in Upstate New York and across the country.
Having created over 1,000 jobs by starting successful businesses in clean energy and high-tech industries, Scott understands the potential we have to rebuild our economy and create a new foundation for prosperity.
That's the kind of partner I need in Washington. Please look up your polling place and vote tomorrow:
This diary contains loads of info for those looking to get involved with the race over his final weekend. There's links to phone banks for those outside of the district and opportunities for good, old fashioned canvassing for those in or near the 20th.
(Lots of great info here. GOTV will win this thing. - promoted by phillip anderson)
All right people, it's time to really step it up. The Siena poll today shows Murphy up by 4, but this election will still be won on the ground. If we get our supporters out to vote, WE WILL WIN. If they don't vote, well, let's just not even think about that. Repubs have been saying all along that this race would be a referendum on President Obama's job so far (assuming that their guy with huge name recognition would crush the fresh face). Well, when we win this, we get to tell them to STFU. All right, enough chit-chat. On to business. The following locations are the regional Scott Murphy for Congress field offices:
Kinderhook
15 Broad St, Kinderhook
518-392-2487
Red Hook
31 E. Market St, Red Hook
845-758-3317
Glens Falls
178 Maple St, Glens Falls
518-761-2009
Now, you can pick which of those is closest to you and just walk right in over the next four days and they'll put you to work. Hours are as follows:
Saturday the 28th - 10AM to 8PM
Sunday the 29th - 12PM to 8PM
Monday the 30th - 10AM to 9PM
Tuesday the 31st - 10AM to 9PM
If you're outside of the district, can't make it to one of the above offices, or just want to make a few phone calls in your spare time, follow me below the fold for online phonebanking info.
I've been cautiously calling around the state to see if what I am seeing right here in Brooklyn and hearing about elsewhere can really be happening. It appears that it is indeed. This morning at 8 am there was a line out of the building and halfway down the block at my polling place in Williamsburg. In 2004 I was in and out in less than 5 minutes. In fact, I have never waited to vote here. Ever. 10 minutes ago, the line smaller, but still there. Apparently, other polling places in my neighborhood are experiencing waits of an hour or more.
On Long Island, the turnout as of noon was called "extraordinary".
Extraordinary turnout on a historic day.
Long Island poll watchers are seeing signs of record turnout in the 2008 presidential election, with especially long lines in minority areas, officials say.
In Suffolk, more than 30.5 percent of registered voters had turned out to vote by noon, substantially more than in 2004, according to Democratic elections commissioner Anita Katz.
That tally did not include some of the areas where inspectors were too busy to call in their totals, like the Northeast Elementary School in North Amityville, a polling place where nearly 8,000 voters are registered and where lines this morning stretched all the way down Albany Avenue to the Rite Aid on the corner of Great Neck Road.
The lines are long in Nassau, too.
"Turnout is through the roof" in minority areas of the 18th Assembly District, said Nassau Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs. That is the enclave of voters whom Democrats hope will help them unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Kemp Hannon. Nassau Democratic election commissioner Bill Biamonte said voting in minority areas of the county was on track to reach turnout percentages in the "mid to high 80s." Normally, these neighborhoods see turnouts in the mid 50s, he said.
And Biamonte said when he signed in to vote in Oceanside this morning at 6 a.m. he found 20 people in his election district had already voted before him.
"I've been voting here for 30 years and I've never seen that," he said.
What does this all mean? What it very well may mean is the end of the GOP majority in the state Senate. The three major battlegrounds in the battle for the majority are Long Island, NYC and Western New York.
On Long Island, massive turnout is very good news for Brian Foley and Kristen McElroy. If people are still waiting in line to vote in NYC, Serph Maltese is in deep doo doo and Frank Padavan is probably sweating bullets right now. Out west, an Obama wave could knock off Joe Robach, Jim Alesi and could help folks like Joe Mesi, Paloma Capanna and Kathy Konst. I haven't heard much about turnout in the middle of the state (If you have some info, please let us know), but if it tracks with what we are seeing in other parts of the state, things could be looking pretty good for folks like Don Barber and Mike Russo.
The long and the short of it is that the last thing the Skelos gang wanted to see was historically large turnout on E-Day. Well, here it is. It doesn't mean that we are going to win all of these races by any means, but what it does mean is that a number of races that haven't been much on anyone's radar could very well be in play now.
There seems to be a surprise or two every cycle. In 2006, it was Maltese barely hanging on against someone few people had ever heard of in a race no one was watching. There is sure to be a surprise or two this year as well. If turnout continues to be this high through 9pm, we may just a few more surprises on our hands.
Wear a button.
Smile at people wearing buttons.
High five and cheer strangers with buttons.
...
GOOD LUCK - GET OUT THERE
Vote, Do More Than Vote (and pray a little bit too)
Take a picture of your ballot. Savor the moment. Bring your children. Tell them what is happening and why they should remember this day.
And just have a blast today. Work hard, but make today a joyous occasion.
Because it is.
UPDATE: Interesting anecdote: My awesome girlfriend reports that after arriving at her Cobble Hill, Brooklyn precinct at 6:10 am this morning, she waited over an hour to vote. She reports that old ladies were complaining that they had been voting there for 40 years and never had to wait before, let alone over an hour. She also reports that folks are indeed bringing their children to the polls.
100 volunteers are waiting in line to get into our phone bank at 52 Broadway (where 1000 New Yorkers are making calls to swing states from their personal cell phones).
As I wrote yesterday, we here in NY have a vital role to play in turning out the vote not only here at home, but around the country. Our phone calls to swing and even red states are freeing up resources on the ground to engage voters face to face. The Obama campaign in NY is looking for folks to place 200,000 calls TODAY and those calls don't make themselves. It's up to us.
You can find a phonebank by putting your zip code into that widget at the top right side of the page. You can also find one by clicking here. It's all hands on deck time, folks. Let's bring this sucker home.
Also, there's a party on Wed that folks in and near the city might want to check out. DFNYC is throwing a big one with special guest Jim Dean. DFNYC dynamo Heather Woodfield writes in an email:
Looking for a place to celebrate after the results have come in, after you have made many, many, many phone calls, and after you have polished off a lot of champagne?
Join me on Wednesday for...
DFNYC Linkup: The Election Party - After Party
President Obama's Going to Need Your Help...Find Out How.
Calling all Obama supporters! Join Democracy for NYC and Democracy for America coalitions groups across the country (via a live conference call) for our 2nd post-presidential election Big Linkup. This time we plan to be celebrating!
Special Guest: Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America
FREE - Friends and hangovers are welcome! Come for the celebration, the camaraderie, and the cheap drinks. Stay to learn how we can help President Obama and a Democratic Congress bring about the "Change We Need."
When: Wednesday, November 5, 6:30 - 9:00pm
Where: The Tank @ DCTV, 87 Lafayette St, between White St and Walker St, 1 1/2 blocks south of Canal (accessible)
Closest Subways: 6, N, R, Q, W, J, M, Z to Canal or a 6 block walk from the 1 to Franklin or A, C, E to Canal
So, phonebank today and tomorrow, then come recuperate from all the hard work with DFNYC on Wednesday.
There's so much work to be done between now and then, but I sure hope to see lots of you Wed night here in NYC.
One of the overlooked aspects of the 50 state strategy implemented by Howard Dean and beautifully executed by Barack Obama is the role that those of us in the blue states play. New York's 31 electoral votes are not in play, but we still could swing this election. Sara Haile-Mariam has a fantastic article describing this over at the Huffington Post:
You see in the office, at three am, the printers are buzzing, call sheets are printed and logistics are nailed down as volunteers and staffers prepare to launch another weekend of "Last Call For Change." Taking a lead from the city that never sleeps, the individuals who maintain the campaign office have proven themselves to be incredibly resilient and dedicated. Polls, newspapers, and blogs, have been put on hold as the NY campaign continues to focus on the immediate task at hand, ensuring that our "blue state" does everything it can to help elect Barack Obama as the next President of the United States of America.
The energy and activism displayed by NY volunteers is incredible even for this Democratic stronghold. Understanding that New York is "safe" volunteers have put their lives on hold to travel to a battleground state or to spend their weekends and even weekdays calling battleground states. To date, records have already been shattered; the number of calls made, the number of volunteers recruited, the number of volunteers sent out of state, all of these numbers indicate that New Yorkers understand that although they might not be discussed in the national news, they have the potential to make a national impact.
David Pollak, the Obama campaign's NY State Director elaborated on the potentials of this impact.
"Never before has New York been able to play such a critical role in helping to win the Presidency. But this year we will be making millions of calls to get out the vote in battleground states."
In spite of the resounding activism, Mr. Pollak emphasized that more was needed from New York.
"We can't do it without the help of every single Obama supporter in the state. If we don't do it, no one will."
Mr. Pollak's point speaks to the underlying theme of the Obama campaign's 50 state strategy. As the Obama campaign aggressively pursues swing states, operations in safe states remain a central piece of the campaign's overall Get out the Vote effort. Every state has a role to play in this final push.
Fliers on the walls of the office address this role and read "Yes We Can Phonebank" and "America Needs New York." The volunteers who fill the office are passionate and eager. From the Grandmother who has been campaigning since McGovern to the 7 year old who pleaded with her father to take her to Pennsylvania "New York is Democrat, duh" she piped in when discussing where they would their spend their weekend. High School students come in after class and on weekends, full time employees come in on their lunch breaks. Even Sarah Jessica Parker spent several hours of her afternoon last week making volunteer recruitment calls and effusively thanked everyone for their hard work on her way out.
Yesterday, the day after Halloween, thousands of volunteers throughout the state helped make phone calls cell phones in hand they arrived at staging locations and received training and support. Some who were uncomfortable on the phone supported data entry efforts or joined visibility teams to help spread the word for the last "Last Call for Change" of the election.
Over the next three days the focus will probably on Florida, Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania, New York has the opportunity to surprise the nation. Please remember that polls don't win elections, votes do.
While the Obama campaign has expanded the playing field deep into red territory - even into McCain's home state and as far south as, gulp, Georgia - they are using their paid staff as efficiently as possible by putting them on the streets. The volunteers in those states are out talking to voters face to face where they live and work.
And that is where we come in. Our job this cycle is to work the phones into those swing and red states so that folks on the ground can get out and exploit every possible opportunity. The Obama campaign is looking to have their statewide phone banking effort, "Last Call NY", place 890,000 calls a day this weekend and another 200,000 calls on Monday.
Those calls aren't going to make themselves. It's up to us. The staff and volunteers in those states still in play are working their hearts out to bring real change to this country. We've got out part to play as well. Click the widget to tour right and find a phone bank and then get over there and pick up a phone.
TODAY: City Comptroller William Thompson to Phone Bank at 40/40 Club
New York City Comptroller will make calls to undecided voters and encourage other New Yorkers to do the same
With grassroots enthusiasm for Barack Obama at an historic level in New York, the Obama campaign today announced that New York City Comptroller William Thompson will attend its phone bank at 40/40 club in Manhattan at 3pm TODAY, Saturday, November 1, 2008.
There's a new widget over on the right. It makes it extremely easy to find opportunities to get involved with the Obama campaign no matter where you live. Just type in your zip code and you'll get a list of phone banks, etc along with maps and all kinds of other good stuff.
Years from now you'll be able to tell your grandkids that not only did you vote for an historic president and presidency but that you rolled up your sleeves and worked like hell to make it happen.
Governor Paterson headlined a large rally for Senator Bill Stachowski and SD-61 challenger Joe Mesi in Buffalo today. I believe that Robert was there (and I'm sure more than a few other TAPpers as well) and he'll have a report back later this afternoon. For now, here's some pics and a release from the Stachowski campaign.
Governor David Paterson spoke before an overflow crowd at the UAW Region 9 hall in Williamsville today urging local voters to help get out the vote (GOTV) for Democratic candidates like Bill Stachowski, who is running for the New York State Senate.
For the first time in more than 40 years, Democrats are likely to take the Majority in the Senate. The ideological shift as a result will better serve economic development and job growth initiatives Upstate and statewide, which have floundered under a failed economic agenda of Senate Republicans. The election of Stachowski is recognized as key to that changeover in power in Albany.
"Bill is one of the most dedicated public servants I have ever had the pleasure of working with," said Governor Paterson. "He has an uncommon understanding of the communities of his district and the concerns they face. New York is in some tough times. We cannot afford to lose Bill's experience, knowledge and vision. Democrats have the first opportunity in more than 40 years to create real change with Bill's election-to grow the upstate economy, bring new green jobs and industries to our state, and ensure every New Yorker gets the education and affordable healthcare they deserve. Anyone who cares about these issues can be proud to cast their ballot for Bill Stachowski on Tuesday."
Speaking to hundreds of supporters, Governor Paterson spoke about the importance of this year's election and why Democrats have earned the chance to lead Congress and the State Legislature. He noted that people who want to see real change cannot stop at Barack Obama for President-they need to vote right down the ballot.
"People should not underestimate the importance of this election and how every race on every level of government can make a difference," said Democratic State Senator Bill Stachowski. "Governor Paterson has provided incredible leadership during hard economic times. It is nice to have a partner in the Executive Chamber who is committed to Western New York and the health of our economy. Western New Yorkers deserves better than what the Republican legacy has left us. There is a lot of hard work to get things back on track. I look forward to joining with the Governor as a member of the Democratic Majority in the Senate, focusing on the issues that matter most."
Looks like a great event and I'm looking forward to hearing from Robert and others who were there.
Where are you today? What's going on where you are?
On the web:
I started blogging a few days after the midterms in 2002. It was a truly dark time in our nation's history and very dark time for progressives. The nation had seemingly just ratified an insane march to a war that would prove to be both an utter disaster and a profound tragedy. We had lost seats in both the House and Senate. It was just a really ugly time. Late in the night of the election, I found a site called "Daily Kos" through a google search. I've been nothing but trouble ever since.
That long night of the national soul was made all the worse by the knowledge that we had lost one of the great progressive voices of my lifetime days before election day on October 25, 2002. Paul Wellstone was the real deal. He was fearlessly liberal. He was unabashedly progressive. You always knew where he stood on any particular issue because he always stood with the little guy. He was on our side no matter what. One of my favorite quotes from Wellstone, delivered back during the debate over welfare "reform", reads as such:
You could stick a gun to my head, and I'm not going to vote for a bill that will hurt children.
When he voted against the AUMF Iraq War resolution, in the middle of a maelstrom of war fever and national vengeance seeking, Dick Durbin said to him, "I hope this doesn't cost you the election."
He replied, "It's OK if it does." They don't make them like Paul Wellstone very often. Check out this video, the same video I posted a year ago today:
Think about and remember Paul Wellstone today. Think about him as you leave your house to pick up a walk list or head off to the phone bank. Remember his passion and his unwavering belief that politics is about people. Real people and the betterment of us all. This isn't about polls or who raised how much money or lines on a map. This is about the nation and the communities we are building for our children and grandchildren. This isn't a game and it isn't about us vs them. This is all about making a better and more just world for all of us. Think about that as you have your morning cuppa and contemplate the day.
Then put on some comfy shoes and hit the damn streets. Walk until you can't any longer. Knock your knuckles raw. As Markos says, "leave it all on the road."
Because this is serious business and Paul Wellstone would expect no less from us. The power to change your neighborhood, your town, your state and your country - the power to change the world, friends - is in your hands, in our hands. No one is going to do this for us. We have to take the responsibility and make things happen ourselves. Let's get to it.
