Democratic Congressional Hopeful Bill Owens of Plattsburgh made the media rounds today with a walk-a-bout of Public Square, kicking off what had been a moribund campaign.
Word from reporters though is Mr. Owens, a retired Air Force Captain and attorney, was very smooth and personable.
All of that makes sense because there must be something that led eleven county chairs to go outside their party for a nominee. Mr Owens is a non-affiliated voter and a former employee of longtime GOP State Senator Ronald Stafford's law firm.
Mr. Owens did not contact the Hotline and did not meet with top Democratic elected officials including Assemblywoman Addie Russell.
Mr. Owens faces a daunting task becoming politically viable in the expansive district. While well known and respected in Plattsburgh, even local Democrats scratch their heads at his selection.
What is yet to be seen is whether the DCCC plays heavy in this race. So far indications are no, but polling will drive those decisions.
Owens will face GOP candidate Diedre Scozzafava and Conservative Doug Hoffman.
Welcome to Watertown....Stop and say hi and don't miss the Hotline next time.....After all, I am only one vote but I am a talking head of some note.
33 comments:
"After all, I am only one vote but I am a talking head of some note."
If you call 17 listeners notable. Besides, he has no chance of getting your vote anyway, shy of an endorsement of Sarah Palin.
BaaaaaaWHAhahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
You obviously dont appreciate my wry sense of humor....
I caught Owens' interview and I have to say in all honesty as I have before, "He is NOT a Democrat."
Now, he's gonna try and run like a GOPer to win by saying he's a DEM while embracing most issues like a GOPer ... and that is "Conservative" with a captial "C" ...
What a deal - the DEMS should be ashamed of themselves.
The Owens Interview in Part
~ dmf
I like Alex.I avoid the hotline.the wry sense of humor is waaaaay over my head.
"What a deal - the DEMS should be ashamed of themselves."
Ashamed of themselves for not picking you? You have been kissing butt with the Political IVY crowd when you should have been directing your wisdom to the Democratic readers be they center or a bit to the left.
You were stroking the wrong crowd, Danny.
And, we are not ashamed of ourselves.
ReadingDannyinAlltheWrongPlaces 7:44: You totally misjudge me and misrepresent my views and I resent your feeble attempt
I am a loyal DEM and have been since I first voted in 1964 while still on active duty in the Marine Corps.
I caught Mr. Owens tonight on News 10 Now with Brian Taffe and the Q&A. I am more convinced that the DEMS should not follow through with their Wilson Pakula certification and instead turn Owens over to the INDIES to see how far he goes on that partyline - for sure, he is not a DEM and does not hold any or our party values or views on critical, very critical issues.
I know that view is also held by many others, but unlike me, they will not speak out - but I will.
I am a party loyalist, but I am not a lock-step blind follow the leader at any cost stonehead. I happen to think for myself. And, I always have despite the flak otherwise from the party insiders. To me, that's the way it has to be, but I may be alone in the view - but I still sleep well at night knowing that anyway.
But, thanks for playing and trying to paint me otherwise. You have failed in that regard.
The BL: I won't allow others to try and define me. I am quite capable of defining myself. I will always defend myself and my views - not others. Their opinion of me is theirs, and I respect their views - but they do not have the right to be wrong in those views.
— dmf
I saw the video and have to say could Owen sit on the fence anymore???? Every issue they asked on channel 7 he took both sides of. No gay marriage but some form just not the word marriage, I don't like abortion but roe vs wade so it is ok, Gays in the miltary umm I will have to talk to them first but I think what they are doing now seems to work. Are you serious. Stand for something please.
"But, thanks for playing and trying to paint me otherwise. You have failed in that regard. "
Sorry Dan. I was not representing or misrepresenting you on anything. I was not even trying to paint you. I was stating an opinion which of course you dismiss in your normal "scurry along now" fashion which is exactly why I think people with less patience than I give up on you so quickly.
Some of your ideas are great but your "only I know" attitude diminishes your chances. I would still love to see you take on a position in Watertown, though.
Speaking against the Democratic choice by you now will only be seen as sour grapes. A fact of political life.
I actually agree with Danny, this Owens choice is horrible. Is there a single Democratic issue he agrees with the party? What an insult to Dems.
Wow, Owens looks terrible in interviews. Like an old Republican. Which party is he from again?
This is a weird choice. He is so formal and stiff. Is this the best option they had? Not impressive at all, what a bad start to his listening tour. And is it me or does he have a Brooklyn accent?
I don't think we will be seeing one of us ads with this stiff. I wonder what John Sullivan thinks of all this?
I've relocated to the west coast, but my old friends there tell me Sullivan is pissed about this choice, as are all the loyal Dems. Owens is probably the worst pick they could have made I'm told. Not only will he lose badly, but they abandoned their party platform in the process.
They had one shot at getting this right and totally blew it. I'm also told by a really good source that the choice was NOT unanimous as was reported, and that Sullivan wasn't even the second choice!
7:44, 8:50, 9:09
dmf-- 7:44 doesn't seem to be ripping you as you evidently infer- the PIV comment happens to be accurate. I agree that you spend a lot of time there. You also have made about 25 posts about being baffled because you have been passed over by the Dem leaders and voters, and you have on occasion asked for comments.
The choice has been made and Owens is it; so the rest of the candidates pack up and go home.
You say "The BL: I won't allow others to try and define me", but voters have to define you somehow in their terms to decide whether you get their support or not. Happens all the time. If that's unacceptable, then maybe the popularity contest (election)
process isn't for you.
Look what I found
""Healthcare Decisions Day
WHEREAS, Healthcare Decisions Day is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for healthcare decisions, related to end of life care and medical decision-making whenever patients are unable to speak for themselves and to encourage the specific use of advance directives to communicate these important healthcare decisions. WHEREAS, in Alaska, Alaska Statute 13.52 provides the specifics of the advance directives law and offers a model form for patient use.
WHEREAS, it is estimated that only about 20 percent of people in Alaska have executed an advance directive. Moreover, it is estimated that less than 50 percent of severely or terminally ill patients have an advance directive.
WHEREAS, it is likely that a significant reason for these low percentages is that there is both a lack of knowledge and considerable confusion in the public about Advance Directives.
WHEREAS, one of the principal goals of Healthcare Decisions Day is to encourage hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and hospices to participate in a statewide effort to provide clear and consistent information to the public about advance directives, as well as to encourage medical professionals and lawyers to volunteer their time and efforts to improve public knowledge and increase the number of Alaska’s citizens with advance directives.
WHEREAS, the Foundation for End of Life Care in Juneau, Alaska, and other organizations throughout the United States have endorsed this event and are committed to educating the public about the importance of discussing healthcare choices and executing advance directives.
WHEREAS, as a result of April 16, 2008, being recognized as Healthcare Decisions Day in Alaska, more citizens will have conversations about their healthcare decisions; more citizens will execute advance directives to make their wishes known; and fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the state of Alaska, do hereby proclaim April 16, 2008, as:
Healthcare Decisions Day in Alaska, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
Dated: April 16, 2008 """
from
State of Alaska > Governor > Proclamations > Proclamations Archive
Its very interesting to read... thanks for sharing....
___________________
rozy
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Anon 5:07. I don't know who you are, but anyone who hides behind an Anonymous moniker is not worthy to offer a view and/or attack on others unless they do it in a civil fashion - you sir, or madam or NOT civil and not worthy of political dialogue - attack all you want - I won't.
You don't know me, you may think you do - but you do not.
I stand by everything I've ever said or written - and Owens IS NOT a Democrat, but now he has to act like one - that is phony and not real, and the DEMS should be ashamed of themselves.
The more Owens speaks out (WDT today has a nice piece) - he is more and more sounding like a GOP candidate. And that is a receipt for failure.
He obviously has a hard time supporting just about anyting President Obama puts forth - how's that gonna play in the all-majority DEM House - bucking them like the GOP does at every turn (health care now)? Like I said, he is not a Democrat. I know, I sat and spoke with him for 30 minutes last Monday... I am good at assessing people in a short period of time.
Sure I'm disappointed - who wouldn't be. But, the fact remains that the DEMS should NOT have invited anyone except a DEM to the DEM nominee "convention."
— dmf
Re: me at Ivy - I enjoy dialogue with many different views and opinions from anyone - just like here.
If that is wrong, then those say it are wrong, just flat out wrong.
~ dmf
I am not attacking anyone, and I never have. I am merely pointing out how voters can arrive at their own perceptions. If that's a problem, well so it goes.
5:07
I leave this for anyone's viewing - my Blog - where I discuss critical issues and lack of and need for leadership.
Dan Francis Blog S.W.A.G.
~ dmf
Wow! After reading some of this crap I am actually ashamed to say I live in the North Country. What a bunch of narrow-minded, biased, naive people.
Bill Owens has changed his enrollment to become a Democrat. Due to election law requirements, it won't be official till the day after the election. Happens all the time.
He spent all those years not registered with any political party. Working in Ron Stafford's law firm it would have been very easy for him to be a Republican. Therefore, methinks he has been a 'closet' Democrat the entire time. Many in the North Country can relate to that back in the day when the GOP controlled everything.
There has not been a Democrat representing any part of this congressional district in Washington since reconstruction. Don't you think it's about time to give it a try? Send Bill Owens to Washington to work with the President and be part of the majority party?
Or, maybe you all are happy with things just as they are. If so - by all means keep drawing unemployment (initiated and extended by the Democrats), food stamps, and barely scraping by each month.
Don't know who you will support once Dede succumbs to the pressure from the right and either withdraws or isn't nominated by the 11 county chairs in the fall.
Bill Owens is the best chance the democrats have had to take this seat. We are ready for real change.
With all due respect to the previous post, wake up. That is exceptionally naive. Once you start learning more about Republican, I mean, Democrat, Bill Owens, you will be able to make your own mind up as to whether he is on the side of the working people. All signs point to no for me.
Owens will run as a GOP (to gain the votes here) by projecting a "moderate/mainstream GOP view" but that is so phony and not transparent...
Elections are about choice, diferences and consequences of not changing or changing, take your pick.
One stands on and runs on principles and values and character - not acting like you have principles, values and character as a GOPer while saying you are a DEM while seeking GOPer support - that's the duty of the GOPer; not the DEM...
That does not sit well with me.
Dan, it wasn't you. Get over it. Maybe the seat will be eliminated next redist. so you woulda gotten burned anyway.
Anon 10:48 - If your aim is to shut me up or put me down, you
missed the target with both shots.
Reload and try again - your score is suffering greatly, btw. Try more calm breathing (control) next time...
~ scurry on now.
* Insult to injury: If this were a DEM primary, Owens couldn't even vote for himself - he's not a registered DEM - whatever registration he makes will NOT take effect until after the next General Election. ...
If this were a primary, nobody would have ever heard the name Owens, period. Your nominee would have been Brian McGrath, he had the money to run and had made serious inroads with the base I hear. Just check out the Oswego Democrat blog today - the base loves this guy. Watch out in 2010.
You wouldn't hear the name owens unless it was T.O., the football player.
Agreed, T.O. has as much chance of winning this race as B.O. does.
The selection is a large amount of BS.
When will Dede come clean on her involvement with Tom. How many folksgot screwed with reverse splits on the stock.
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