Author: admin

IDC rising

On: By: admin

More evidence that Republicans will not have a majority in the State Senate next year:

“… Marisol Alcantara … is seen by many in her Uptown district as a liberal firebrand … Alcantara’s candidacy is also backed by the Senate Independent Democratic Conference, or IDC, which she has pledged to join if elected, a scenario that may enable Senate Republicans to keep control of the chamber in a year when mainline Democrats believe they have the best chance to take power and see all major parts of state government run by the party …”

Other than campaign money, the only reason to join the IDC would be if she believes they are going to be in a more advantageous position next year than the mainline caucus.  That happens if the Republicans don’t pick up seats or lose a few they currently hold.

Bloomberg jumps in

On: By: admin

Bloomberg goes on the attack against Trump:

“One of the most powerful moments at the Democratic National Convention last month was when gun-control proponent Mike Bloomberg unloaded his verbal assault weapon on Donald Trump … On the apparent theory that any friend of his enemy is an enemy, too, Bloomberg is going after Republican politicians who are supporting Trump — and he is also getting behind those who have declined to endorse their party’s nominee … On Friday, the Bloomberg-funded Independence USA PAC began running TV ads against incumbent Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire … On the flip side, Independence USA is backing incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania …”

I think this is less about Trump and more about gun control.  Ayotte jumped on the Democrats phony terrorist watch list gun ban bandwagon while Toomey supported mandatory background checks.

Martins in trouble

On: By: admin

Jack Martins is one of the Long Island Republicans who screwed us over the SAFE Act.  Things have not been going well for him since then.

Martins had to give up his Senate seat for a Congressional bid in CD-3.  His attempt to block a primary with Philip Pidot failed with a judge ordering one in October.  While he’ll probably easily win it, polling shows he behind Democrat Tom Suozzi.

The poll is likely biased, but I do believe Martins is in trouble given the Democrat enrollment advantage in the district as well as the down-ballot Trump effect.

Smart guns, dumb politican

On: By: admin

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams is putting up $1 million (in taxpayer dollars) in a “smart gun” design competition:

“Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams kicked off his Smart Gun Design Competition, calling on teams from colleges and universities in New York City, such as the New York City College of Technology, the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, and Pratt Institute, to create the technology that will prevent unauthorized users from firing a gun. At the conclusion of the competition — held in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV), and the Smart Tech Challenge Foundation — Borough President Adams will award a $1 million prize from his capital budget to the institution that has designed the best smart gun …”

If this is such a good idea then why aren’t private investors putting up the cash? Probably something to due to the fact that numerous people have been messing around with the idea for like 50 years with not much to show for it.

“… “We expect every other product, from cars to children’s toys, to include safety features that protect the safety of authorized users,” said Borough President Adams. “We need to start applying the same basic principle to firearms, which kill tens of thousands of people each year, often in suicides or accidental shootings that smart gun technology has the potential to prevent. Additionally, as a former police officer, I know from personal experience the deadly consequences of illegal guns on the streets of New York City …””

He loves bringing up the fact he is a former police officer, like that makes him an expert on firearms.

Here’s a video from awhile back of our expert demonstrating his skills by having a finger on the trigger while pointing the muzzle at his own face, 4:05 mark.

Fallout boys

On: By: admin

With the latest polls showing Hillary crushing The Donald in New York, both Republicans and Governor Cuomo are worried about the fallout.

First is Senator Jack Martins:

“Republican Jack Martins, running for Congress in a battleground Long Island district, is among the Republicans this year who are not endorsing Donald Trump, but still voting for him this year.  In an interview with Bill Samuels’s Effective Radio on AM 970 this weekend, Martins acknowledged both Trump and Hillary Clinton are “flawed candidates.” … “Thankfully, I’ve always run as an individual. I’ve had the opportunity through elective office to take stances of different things and people know who I am, so I’ve been able to use that and show through experience that I listen, I work across the aisle, I get things done,” Martins said …”

This mealy-mouthed answer is the best he could come up with running against a guy who has been busy registering the dead?

Next is Cuomo:

“Gov. Cuomo’s new commitment to Democratic control of the state Senate after years of backing Republicans is a direct result of Donald Trump’s sinking presidential campaign and the possibility it will take GOP senators down with it, senior Democrats told The Post. They also said Cuomo’s new stance … results from his fear that anything short of genuine support for fellow Democrats this year could blow up in his face in the form of a primary campaign against him in 2018 …”

The possibility that Cuomo could get knocked out by the Trump train is one of the few positive aspects I can think of about his campaign.

“… Another prominent Democrat said private polling data showing Trump’s support in New York state sharply declining over the past two weeks convinced Cuomo “that the Democrats have a good chance to take the Senate anyway, so he might as well get on board.” “The polls indicate that several Long Island Republicans may be swept out to sea because of Trump’s unpopularity,’’ the Democrat continued, naming Sens. Kemp Hannon and Carl Marcellino (R-Nassau) as being especially vulnerable …”

Not just on the Island.  There are ~4000 newly registered Democrats in Bill Larkin’s district so he could go.  Plus he turns 89 soon.

Republicans have a chance at a pickup in Buffalo with Chris Jacobs, who is popular and wealthy, but SD-60 is still nearly 2-1 Democrat.  Even if he wins, right now I expect Republicans down 1-2 Senate seats.

One bright spot

On: By: admin

With the boat anchor that is the Trump campaign dragging down candidates across the country, there appears to be a bright spot in CD-22.  According to State of Politics, the DNC is concerned enough about 3rd party candidate Martin Babinec to start following him around.

This is one of the districts I had thought the GOP would lose because Claudia Tenney had some problems getting the party to back her.  If the DNC is worried about Babinec siphoning votes away from Kim Myers I am more optimistic Tenney will go the distance.  There is a small Republican majority in the district.

Definition of “winning”

On: By: admin

Politico reports:

“A week after Democrats held their national convention in Philadelphia, Gov. Andrew Cuomo hosted a mini-summit with several fellow Democrats in the state Senate to discuss winning strategies in November … One source briefed on the gathering said the group discussed “winning” the chamber for Democrats …”

They already have “won” the chamber having a majority of 32 seats.  They just do not have organizational control.

“… Cuomo also asked Democrats to pipe down with charges that he has hitherto done little to dislodge Republicans from the leadership of the chamber …”

That is because the Republican “leadership” is in title only.  The person running the Senate is Gov. Cuomo.  The problem (for Democrats) lies in the difference of opinion on what winning means to each of them.  For the mainline Democrat caucus, they would consider it a win if they were in charge.  Gov. Cuomo on the other hand wins when the people he wants hold leadership positions and do what he says.  That is what is happening now and what he will be working on maintaining this fall.

Time to endorse

On: By: admin

Ed Cox is not happy with Congressman Katko:

“Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) still hasn’t publicly endorsed Republican Donald Trump for president, and state party officials aren’t too happy about it … New York State Republican Party Chair Ed Cox says he understands Katko’s reluctance. “Circumstances are different in Onondaga [County] than they are in a national election this and that. And that’s basically a discussion of policy issues, things like that. But the bottom line is, you’re a Republican, you endorse a Republican candidate.” …”

Where were you Ed when the Senate Republicans screwed over Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino back in ’14?

Regret

On: By: admin

The NRA is probably starting to regret the decision to endorse The Donald:

“… “Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment,” Trump said during a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday.  “By the way, and if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know.” …”

I don’t believe Trump wants to encourage violence against Clinton, however his poor choice of words makes it easy to see why some people are upset over these remarks.

If this were simply a gaff I’d just write it off, but Trump keeps on doing stupid shit like this when there is lots and lots in Clinton’s past, policies and position statements, that could easily be used against her.

Now he’s trying to spin the uproar as media bias:

“… “Media desperate to distract from Clinton’s anti-2A stance,” he said on Twitter Tuesday evening. “I said pro-2A citizens must organize and get out vote to save our Constitution!” …”

No, that is not what you said.  If that is what you meant you could have said something like this:

“Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment if she gets to pick her judges.  That won’t happen if Second Amendment people turn out and vote for me in November.”

Was this hard?  No.

Here’s my offer to the Trump campaign:  Hire me and I’ll be your point man on gun issues.  Just pay in cash, no checks or Trump steaks.

What Klein means

On: By: admin

State of Politics reports:

“There has been a lot of happy talk lately from the so-called “regular” state Senate Democrats about making inroads towards a reconciliation with IDC Leader Jeff Klein in advance of what they hope will be a successful election season that results in their winning back control of the chamber … But IDC Leader Jeff Klein threw cold water on the idea of a peace agreement during a Capital Tonight interview last night, saying any speculation of a reconciliation, or about who might be in the majority come January 2017, is “premature.” …”

This tells me that Klien thinks as I do that the Republicans will lose a couple seats in the Senate and with the IDC will form a governing coalition like before.