Latest EntryAug 16, 2017 Elections 2017 Leave a comment
The latest polling shows incumbent Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown leading his Democrat challengers by a significant amount.
Mark Schroeder is looking for volunteers for his campaign. Here is the signup sheet.
Primary turnout is always low and with it being a three person race, it is possible for Schroeder to pull an upset.
Aug 13, 2017 Elections 2017, Politics, State Legislation Leave a comment
“… The chairman of the Erie County Democratic Committee has questioned why Assemblyman Mickey Kearns’s name appeared on the invitation to a Thursday night fundraiser for the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee … Democratic members of the Western New York delegation co-hosted the event – including Kearns …”
My guess would be because Kearns is a life-long registered Democrat who ran as a Democrat for Assembly.
“… ECDC Chairman Jeremy Zellner said that raises a conflict, because Kearns is currently running on the Republican ticket for Erie County Clerk, and is also in a primary for the Conservative line. “Whose side is Mickey on?” Zellner asked. “The Assembly Democrats are champions of … the SAFE Act … I hardly think Republicans and Conservatives feel that way. Where does Mickey truly stand on these issues?” …”
Given that Kearns voted against SAFE I think his position on that issue is quite clear.
It is also clear that Zellner does not like him and is trying to use gun control as a way to score cheap political points against Kearns. I do not see it having much of an effect.
Aug 13, 2017 Elections 2018, Moonbattery, Politics 4 Comments
Kathleen Rice has a long history of contempt for gun owners rights going back to her time as Nassau County District Attorney. She’s continued on with this in Congress.
Thanks to this Tweet, the rest of the country knows about her as well.
I'm just going to say it. #NRA & @DLoesch are quickly becoming domestic security threats under President Trump. We can't ignore that.
— Kathleen Rice (@RepKathleenRice) August 11, 2017
NRA responded with an effort using the #RemoveRice hashtag to get her booted from the Homeland Security Committee. I doubt that will work and it sure won’t stop her from continuing her campaign against gun rights in the future.
If NRA really wants to make a statement they should dump money on whomever her opponent is next year regardless of their position on guns because Tweetstorms won’t cut it.
Aug 13, 2017 Elections 2017, Politics, State Legislation Leave a comment
Daniel Squadron announced he is resigning his State Senate seat.
He is claiming his reason is that he does not have enough time to be in the legislature and “lend my hand to make a difference in states across the country, pushing policies and candidates that will create a fairer and more democratic future.” I think it has a lot more to do with the the mainline Democrats clown caucus being unable to form a governing majority in the Senate. Whatever the reason, it’s good to see him go.
What is not so good is Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh is eyeing the seat:
“… Kavanagh has been an increasingly influential member of the chamber and was among the Democratic lawmakers who negotiated the passage of the SAFE Act, a package of gun control measures. He was also briefly considered a potential candidate to replace Sheldon Silver as speaker of the Assembly …”
SD-26 is heavily Democrat so whomever the party chooses as their nominee is virtually assured of winning when a special election is held. It’s not a done deal for Kavanaugh as Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou also interested it. Better to have a younger, less experienced replacement for Squadron than a guy who has spent years in Albany and is moving up the political food chain with a hard antigun agenda.
Aug 8, 2017 Moonbattery, Politics Leave a comment
Moms Demand Action is attempting to create something more than just the astroturf gun control groups currently have now.
This past weekend in St. Louis they hosted “Gun Sense University” which at first inspection I thought was going to be an effort to encourage their supporters to engage in serious, creditable activities like letter-writing, phone-banking, volunteering for political candidates and other GOTV efforts.
Instead, there was this:
RT @PassyMissy: NY @MomsDemand are gonna #StopCCR with a chorus line at #GSU17 @MomsDemand pic.twitter.com/yOjtK7g5Qx
— Anna Manzo (@AnnaMManzo) August 7, 2017
I don’t think we have anything to worry about.
Aug 4, 2017 Federal Legislation, Humor 3 Comments
Rep. Chris Collins’ new bill H.R.3576 is getting some attention. I have seen it mentioned in newspapers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Hawaii.
“New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened to file a lawsuit Tuesday if Congress passes pro-Second Amendment legislation that would roll back the state’s major 2013 gun control law known as the SAFE Act. “If they try to overrule the State of New York we will sue because this state has rights too,” Cuomo told reporters. “And especially with this federal government, it is very important that states represent their rights and assert their rights and I will assert my rights to the fullest extent of the law.” …”
Collins’ response:
Rep. Collins, on @fud31's show, taking delight in needling Cuomo: "I think it's safe to say I continue to get under Governor Cuomo's skin."
— Jon Campbell (@JonCampbellGAN) August 4, 2017
Congress has gone into recess so we’ll have to wait and see how much support it receives from the New York delegation.
Aug 1, 2017 Elections 2018, Politics Leave a comment
Two more names have come up as possible challengers for Governor Cuomo next year.
First is Democrat Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner:
“… [Stephanie Miner], who is term-limited out of her current office at the end of the year, said she’s been approached by different people about running for governor, Congress or state Senate. “I’m taking everybody’s phone calls,” she said. The inquiries to run against Cuomo as a progressive alternative have come from a mix of the “professional left, some advocates, consultants and just the public in general,” Miner said …”
I believe she would be a stronger challenger to Cuomo than Terry Gipson would be.
Next is Republican Senator John DeFrancisco:
“… [Senator John DeFrancisco], said in an interview Friday that he began traveling around the state to attend Republican events and float his name as a potential gubernatorial candidate … “I think it’s just prudent to go around and see what level of support there is,” he said. “And if there is, then I’ll seriously consider it.” …”
His level of supports peaks at about the same as a generic Anybody But Cuomo candidate.
“… DeFrancisco said he was “instrumental” in helping [George] Pataki in central New York …”
I would not bring this up in an interview.
“… “Quite frankly, the rallying cry was not a great movement for George Pataki but the rallying cry was ‘Anybody but Cuomo,'” DeFrancisco recalled. “I just think that’s the same situation we’re in now …””
That’s the way he’s selling himself? That is just as bad as the Democrat’s, “I mean, have you seen the other guys?“
People want to vote for someone, not just against an incumbent. Does DeFrancisco seriously believe this is going to motivate people to get behind him?
Jul 31, 2017 Federal Legislation, State Legislation Leave a comment
Congressman Chris Collins has introduced a bill to undo much of the SAFE Act:
“… “This legislation would protect the Second Amendment rights of New Yorkers that were unjustly taken away by Andrew Cuomo,” said Collins. “I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and have fought against all efforts to condemn these rights. I stand with the law-abiding citizens of this state that have been outraged by the SAFE Act and voice my commitment to roll back these regulations.” …”
The Governor is not amused:
“… “Chris Collins is turning his back on New Yorkers and putting millions of people at profound risk,” Cuomo said. “By fighting to roll back vital legislation that protects the people of the Empire State, Collins is demonstrating once again that he is beholden to no one but the gun lobby and entrenched special interests.” …”
The bill H.R.3576 would prohibit states and municipalities from regulating rifles and shotguns beyond what is in federal law. It has no co-sponsors at this time. It would affect all states, not just New York. It reminds me a bit of an old bill Assembly bill A-6698 from 2003 that I really liked that would have prohibited any sort of licensing, registration or taxation of firearms in New York. It predictably went nowhere.
Collins and Cuomo hate each other so this is clearly aimed at pissing Andrew off even though I do not believe it will be going anywhere in the House.
Jul 30, 2017 Elections 2018, Politics Leave a comment
“After losing re-election in 2014 and then a rematch last year, former Sen. Terry Gipson appears to have a new target: Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The former Democratic senator from the Hudson Valley recently wrote to progressive groups in New York saying he is considering a primary against the governor in 2018, when Cuomo plans to seek a third term. “I’m a former NY State Senator (D) and believe that New York deserves a real Democratic governor that will lead our party and move true Democratic policy forward,” Gipson wrote in an email July 19 to the group, NY Progressive Action Network …”
It is no secret that a lot of Democrats are unhappy with Cuomo and would like to see him primaried. However, no big name candidates such as Eric Schneiderman have stepped up to the plate. If Gipson did make a run he would likely receive a sizeable amount of money from far-left groups, but unlike Zephyr Teachout, Gipson isn’t well known outside Dutchess County and his credentials largely consist of him bitching about Cuomo on Twitter. It would take much more than that to pose a serious threat to the Governor’s re-election plans.