Over at Pete's on a Friday night there was the usual assortment of politicos...including the Florist, a former Senator and the chairman of the Jefferson County Legislature, Ken Blankenbush.
A rumor swept the room that Blankenbush was to announce this week a challenge to Assemblywoman Diedre Scozzafava. He denied it and I was more than happy to accept the denial.
In fact I had turned off the laptop and eaten dinner and the conversation had turned to other subjects....Then Mr. B...while on his way out the door approached to talk about it topic again...like he wanted my opinion on it and making a point to tell me about the positive feedback he was getting.....
I was stricken by a bout of candor and told him I didn't think he could win.
I know in politics everyone routinely gives you attaboys and its hard to get a true appraisal because no one wants to bruise the exposed ego of a politician.
Maybe he can win..Maybe there is still resentment over Scozzafava's horrific bid for Congress that led to a 5% tally on the GOP line last year.
I just figure folks in the 122nd still like her and view last year as one of those occasional benders where an otherwise likeable person puts a lampshade on their head and for a night is not so likeable.
Time will tell, since a candidacy has to be announced soon. Chairman Blankenbush is a nice guy and works hard at his county gig.
Maybe I don't have enough blind ambition anymore, but doing a good job locally is fine for me.
UPDATE- Today (Sunday) another prominent Republican told me Chairman Blankenbush is running in the 122nd and is announcing this week.
25 comments:
He is all mouth and wont run.. She would win in a landslide anyway
How about this one 2011 Joe Butler Jr. is running against you thats not a rumor thats what it is and I hope you crush him...
Ken could win if he puts a good hard working campaign team together,and a strong message. She's a train wreck, but still has her lefty backers. She was the epic center of a national revolution that is growing against her intrusive liberal form of goverment.
Is Joe Butler Jr. accepting campaign contributions yet?
Ken could win if he works at it. Dede is a lazy candidate who is never on time for anything and Ken could tap people's apathy toward Dede. On the other hand Ken likes the Watertown Golf Club more than anything during the summer so how hard will he work?
On the mayor's race while Mayor Graham certainly has his short comings as we all do he works for the people of this city, Butler would never get my vote he would be a disastrous mayor just like his father. They do not respect the common folk.
Jeff Smith over Butler any day.
Is she a part of the GOP get to know you shindig in Oberg soon..Patti will be there handing out flyers, Nick will be there handing out flyers for Addie , Doug will be there handing out flyers for Owens and Doheny will be there handing out 100 dollar bills... What will DeDe hand out.. The CO and Teachers Union will be well represented there.Paying their members to go.
The woman I watched in the debate last year was the best informed of the three Congressional candidates and was the most knowledgeable and articulate on the issues. She participated in every forum that she was invited to. She is far from a train wreck...she is intelligent and informed and has provided assistance to many in the North Country. Mr. blankenbush should not underestimate her.
I guess he has bragged that BFW will finance his campaign.
Assemblywoman Scozzafava appeals to a lot people because her career in office has earned her a reputation of being a fiscal conservative, yet, she's also a maverick who was willing to buck the two party establishment to make sure her region and neighbors were represented by the best of the viable candidates.
I think she's great and has the kind of guts that is lacking in a lot of our leaders these days. Keep giving 'em hell, Dede. :-)
6:37 "intrusive liberal form of government"???? What are you talking about..or are those the talking points you have been given??? Give me a break and at least know what you are talking about.
Is this the same Blankenbush that asked her to carry the home rule legislation to raise the Jefferson County Sales Tax? The same Blankenbush that has raised the salaries of County Legislators several times since being in office? The same Blankenbush that sold out 80% of the county in a PILOT deal??The same Blankenbush that is Chair of the Jefferson County Legislature that is critical of Scozzafava for standing up for Fort Drum , the economic engine of our area??
1:02 Ken Blankenbush actually served his country in the military. I think his experience their is a great asset to Fort Drum and our area. He has also managed in the private sector not a long line of government jobs. Being successful in today's economy is tough.
1:16 "a long line of government jobs"??You are not quite ready for prime time. She worked 20+ years in Watertown in private industry. Yes she was a mayor and a village trustee... Her family has had a business in Clayton for years.
1:22 "Her family" What are some of her current business dealings?
1:16 The point in question has nothing to do with his military service...it has everything to do with protecting the funding for the economic engine that creates jobs in the tri-county area. We need to have a more diversified economic base but it takes time . He basically criticizes her for trying to protect that asset.
1:27 Her brother runs Seaway Valley Corp that owned Hackett's that filed bankruptcy. I think there was a story about what her involvement was. I think that's the family business 1:22 is talking about.
This thread is ripping up the blog world.I think its gunna heat up in here.Mr.Grahm do you go under Anoymous every once and awhile just to let some steam off or maybe ruffle some feathers,I have to admit Im guilty of it I try to keep my name on every post its just hard to do that.....
Hey 202, Don't forget County Legislators also get mileage and raises every year, Same ole govt.
1:02 , I will stand by you in your comments about Mr. Blankendon'tgiveacrapaboutanyone.Just because he was in the military, doesn't make him any smarter on subject matter.He gave away our county,our money,our taxes to a multinational corp.,which will end up costing us folks even more.1:16, there is one thing that you must learn about people;they say that people do resemble thier pets,so must be Mr. B, has a weasel for a pet. P.s., before he makes a decision to run, he must first scope out the district to see which way the "wind will blow".
131.. Whats your point? Sounds like you are doing a little mud slinging.. Her involvment in that Comapny was little to nothing but even if she was the principal owner whats your point.. DeDe S had the guts to do the right thing last year and you obviously didnt agree with it.. You are begining to sound like Nick VAugh.
DeDE Addie and Darrell saved the prison in Ogdensburg temporarily anyway but are not recieveing the credit they deserve. Nelson walked around during Ogdensburgs Expo and told everyone what a great job he and the task force did.. Nelson Vaugh and Powers put on a good show while Chuck Kelly and Pat Kelly did the work..
9:24,
The state budget has not been adopted yet. I think it's too early to say that Ogdensburg has been saved.
I like Dede, but I think she could struggle in a primary. All the negative advertising tarnished her image and GOP primary voters are disproportionately conservative.
Ya you should be carefull about tooting that horn of its saved..... remember Lee Memorial Hospital not saved.I do like the bill put forth to help making it easier for big buisness or the common man to donate food and not be worried they are gunna get sued for it..it allows people to donate more...I always hated to see places I worked that just dump food becouse N.Y said so..Good job Mr.Aubertine thats what I call helping the people..
The OBurg prison is saved for now, hey maybe the BRAC folks could reinvent themselves, call it PrisonClosurecommittee, well anyway the OCS office said close it, The local elected officials say keep it open. Good thing the State govt. is on hiatus AJR got a deck and stairs to finish.
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