Just got a call from a candidate upset over a blog. It was a reprint of the kind of beneath the radar "newsletters" used to spread negative stuff. I get 'em...Newzjunky gets 'em, I assume all media gets 'em.
I identified it as such, but of course people repeat it as gospel, which it may or not be.
I jokingly said in the intro I am an influential blogger which is of course tongue in cheek. A commenter quickly wrote in that I am an a--hole.
The lesson I am learning is that while blogging is a free form method for sharing observations and views, getting in the middle or even near the edges of the Congressional shootin' match is dangerous.
There is some hard core, scorched earth politics coming our way. Beware.
BY THE WAY- The polls we have taken on the Congressional race are just about up and it appears Dierdre Scozzafava is favored over Darrel Aubertine while her fellow Republican Matt Doheny trails Aubertine. Electability is the issue Scozzafava and Doheny are competing on prior to Wednesday's big vote of the county chairs.
19 comments:
The blogosphere, now in its infancy, threatens mainstream media as a news source for consumers confused by cable's opinion journalism.
We will miss Walter Cronkite's journalism and objectivity in this Age of Instant Communications.
The problem is that mainstream media creates a vacuum by not covering the tick-tock of say, the Congressional campaign.
That leaves bloggers to muse and speculate and the standards vary.
Those who criticize "Bloggers and Blogs," in my view, have a jealous streak of sorts. That is they probably lack the language and writing skills, or just plain talent, to put together two coherent thoughts in a sentence. They may not know how, or where to place commas.
The real Ä-hölës, Jeff, are the ones who always complain - from the safety of the sidelines at no risk to anyone except themselves - while they sign in as Anonymous.
IMHO.
~ dmf
I hear the Democrats met in Alex Bay last night to discuss their nominee for the Congressional race and apparently discussed a Brian McGrath, an attorney and native of Lowville who has apparently done quite a bit of homework on the race under the radar (seems smart), has had personal meetings with all the county chairs, apparently has an A-list campaign in place already, and has seed money. Sounds like a Dem version of Doheny. Could get more interesting on the Dem side than was assumed...
So, it is the money?
Issues, in the final analysis don't matter - um ... that is until the proverbial shït hits the proverbial fan and we end up behind the 8-ball?
Big money and another lawyer in the House. Just what we need - reminds me of a few other two- word phrases:
* John Yoo (Lawyer); Jay Bybee (Lawyer); Steven Bradbury (Lawyer); Alberto Gonzales (Lawyer); Michael Mukasey (Lawyer), et al.
Any of those names ring a bell? (* Hint: torture memo/policy, secret wiretapping, domestic spying, etc.)...
* Let's wait and see.
— dmf
I had heard the McGrath name and mentioned it on the Hotline after a tip from a prominent Dem. There is also chatter about an attorney from Plattsburgh.
It is hard to vote in these polls since all the relevant conversations with the candidates have been behind relatively closed doors. At this stage, 'joe voter' has to base his decision on reputation and past political performances. I am surprised Doheny has a single vote at all since no one really knows him yet. Hopefully he will do some more public addresses if he gets the nomination so people know what and who they are actually voting for.
Doheny clearly doesn't have the temper to be a member of Congress. He is angry at the world. If you look at his website all you see if a collage of him playing sports in high school. It's like some kind of awkward self-adulation thing he has going on. Besides the Dems could take him to task for working for Wall Street instead of Main Street (whether it is true or not preception is reality.
Beyond that no one knows where he stands on any of the issues. Lets go with Dede. She would work with Obama to help pass his agenda for our country.
A neighbor friend of mine was called this past week by a pollster asking questions about Dede, Doheny, Aubertine and this McGrath guy who keeps popping up. Apparently the questions revealed a bit more about McGrath. She was also asked whether she wanted a fresh face in Congress or an Albany insider. That;s not a tough choice foe me- Albany insiders suck. I'd vote all the bums out these days. When are the Dems planning on surfacing this McGrath guy? And what is their selection process anyway. I thought that Friday was the deadline for submissions. Is Aubertine in or out?
Does Darling Darrel have any idea how nasty this race would become? He is gonna get swatted hard if he runs, and he has so much to get swatted on.
I hope Darrel runs so I can vote against him. And I look forward to a complete airing of his slime. Go Dede go!
Just curious why you think Doheny is angry. Because he played sports or is there something more? I am just trying to get a feel for the candidates. I can't get a read on anyone so am relying on these blogs a bit more than I care to admit. Thanks.
You better hope Darrel doesnt run folks. Which one of these candidates is battle tested like Aubertine? They wont be able to hold up versus the Aubertine machine. Like him or hate him, if he decides to run he will win.
Apparently nobody cares about the disgusting display in the state senate? Darrel was right in the thick of that and is wed, again, to that dirtbag Espada and the rest of those thugs. Don't pretend that voters won't hold him accountable. Albany politicians like Darrel are about as popular as Wall Street bankers right now. Battle tested or not, voters are aching to send a message to Albany, and if Darrel runs, he is how they send that message. Battle tested or not, he will bear the brunt of that message and I wouldn't bank on him winning.
Aubertine is a machine, I agree. But I think the machine could die out in an election at this level. It is hard to argue that he wouldn't be eaten alive in Washington. He knows the local issues and is "one of us", blah blah blah, but he would be in way over his head when it comes to foreign policy, health care reform, banking regulations, etc. The dairy farmer background fits well with a state-wide position, but not a national one. The Washington folks would find little value for the knowledge he brings to the table and thus he would garner next to no respect down there. It is kind of like putting a pick-up truck on a NASCAR speedway - it may be a great a truck, but it would be left in the dust among the racecars. Presumably the GOP would be all over that. If the voters understand the role the House plays in government, he should get trounced.
I agree, Darrel should be VERY worried - just look at this Sienna poll...
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Voters angry at Senate, vow to remember in '10, Siena poll says
Monday, July 20, 2009
COLONIE — More than three-quarters of New York voters say they are “angry” that the Senate wasted a month “accomplishing nothing,” and 62 percent said that most voters will remember the Senate fight on Election Day 2010, according to a new Siena (College) Research Institute poll of registered voters.
A majority of voters believe Gov. David Paterson acted appropriately in appointing a lieutenant governor, although they do not have the same level of support for Richard Ravitch as the governor does.
“Voters from every party and every region overwhelmingly reject the notion that it was good that Senators took the time to resolve their differences,” Siena New York pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement. “Rather, there is real anger at senators – regardless of the voters’ party affiliation or region. Although voters have long demonstrated particularly short memories, most feel that their fellow voters will remember the Senate fight next November and a plurality are already prepared to vote out incumbent senators.”
By a 78-11 percent margin, voters say the Senate fight will make it harder to pass important legislation this year. Voters do not believe, by a 36-55 percent margin, that the Senate fight will lead to significant reforms to the way the Senate conducts business.
“Senators have a lot of work to do to win back the support of voters,” Greenberg said. “Voters don’t see reform coming from this fight and they strongly believe that important legislation will be harder to pass. More than half of voters don’t want to see either the Democrats or Republicans control the Senate, preferring to see a coalition of both parties in control. And 71 percent of voters say the last month has made them even less confident in state government to solve the problems facing New York.
8:31, Darrel would be more effective with dairy industries because in DC. Dairy is a federal issue. If you want a representative in DC who knows that issue Darrel is exactly who you want there.
8:31, you say Darrel was in the thick of the Senate mess. You are right he was the only one making noise bringing compromise solutions to the table. Go back and read the news when the stalemate was in progress. Aubertine was in the news statewide for being the only Senator on either side with reasonable compromises.
Let the partisan attacks begin.
I hate to be rude, but I want someone in the House who knows about a lot more than just dairy. The economy is a disaster, foreign relations are tenuous at best, Obama is proposing socialized health care, the list goes on and on. An expert in dairy farming is not going to help much. DC politics is all about respect, and nice guy or not, no one down there is going to respect what Aubetine brings to the table (or in this case, doesn't) so no one will listen to him. We will have a lame duck representing us in the house who can't influence anything. What is the point.
Nobody cares about the State senate thing, It's how much "pork" did we get to keep various enities alive untill the next infusion of cash, look at "Great Lakes" farmers can't ge a decent price for milk, but the processor gets 2 million, It's what's wrong with the planet.
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