Justice Gorsuch

On: By: admin

The Senate just confirmed Neil Gorsuch to SCOTUS by a vote of 54-45.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell finally had enough of Charles Schumer’s crap and eliminated the filibuster for judicial candidates.  Considering the penchant for Republicans to preemptively surrender to Democrats this is a dramatic shift and hopefully a sign of good things to come.

First, there have been repeated rumors of another SCOTUS justice retiring this year.  With longer any need to pander to Democrats we may get the opportunity to get another originalist justice on the court.

Second, while the legislative filibuster remains intact, Democrats may think twice about blocking popular bills just for the sake of being obstructionists. The reciprocity bill S.446 currently has 36 sponsors and probably more than 50, but less than 60, Yes votes.  If allowed to the floor it will be a huge will for gun rights.

NYC opposition to H.R.38

On: By: admin

Video from today’s press conference with NYC officials expressing opposition to reciprocity legislation H.R.38/S.446.

Effects of population outflow

On: By: admin

People are fleeing the state in droves:

“… More than 1 million people moved out of the New York area to another part of the country since 2010 … The number of people leaving the region — which includes parts of New Jersey, Connecticut, the lower Hudson Valley and Long Island — in one year swelled from 187,034 in 2015 to 223,423 in 2016, while the number of international immigrants settling in the tri-state area dwindled from 181,551 to 160,324 over the same period, records show …”

The means, as of right now, the state will loose at least one, possibly two votes in the electoral college after the 2020 redistricting.  It also means shifting one or two Senate seats and at least three Assembly seats closer to New York City.

That should be the end of the Republicans as a major party in the state.

Protesting Astorino

On: By: admin

Astroturf-in-training are planning on protesting Rob Astorino this weekend:

“Mamaroneck High School’s Young Democrats will be protesting at 2 p.m. Sunday outside the County Office Building, 148 Marine Ave., White Plains. Co-sponsored by WESPAC and Westchester for Change, the rally will focus on the policies of “controversial” two-term Republican County Executive Rob Astorino … Scheduled speakers at Sunday’s event include … Chuck Bell of Resist Gun Violence Westchester …”

Their protest is going to bomb.  County offices are closed on the weekend so nobody will care about this.

Funding for the SAFE Act

On: By: admin

Every year since it’s passage, a group of people, egged on by some Republican legislators, bring up defunding SAFE Act enforcement in the state budget.

While that tactic might work in Congress, New York state does not operate that way.  All bills originate in the legislature except for the state budget which comes from the Governor.  The legislature can make some adjustments to spending amounts, but ultimately the Governor decides how appropriated funds are spent.

It’s tiresome going over this same crap over and over.  Fortunately, I no longer have to thanks to the Empire Center.  See their excellent article, “Defund push misfires.”

Blumenthal admits Gorsuch opposition about guns

On: By: admin

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal admitted his opposition to Neil Gorsuch is about guns (among other things):

“… Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Brian Schatz of Hawaii became the latest Democratic senators to announce their opposition to Gorsuch … “We must assume that Judge Gorsuch has passed the Trump litmus test — a pro-life, pro-gun, conservative judge,” Blumenthal said in a statement. “In question after question, Judge Gorsuch had an opportunity to distance himself from right-wing groups. His refusal to answer only deepens the doubt that he is not a neutral follower of the law — an umpire who just calls balls and strikes — but instead an acolyte of hard-right special interests.” …”

Challengers for Astorino

On: By: admin

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino will be running for a 3rd term this November.  He’s being coy about taking a second shot at Governor Cuomo next year.

The Journal News reports that Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano won’t be challenging him.  As a general rule, Westchester residents should not vote for any candidate with the last name Spano.

His one declared opponent is County Legislator Ken Jenkins.  Jenkins does not support gun rights:

“Westchester County’s Board of Legislators narrowly passed legislation Monday night that bans gun shows on county property … Legislator Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers, the original sponsor of the bill, was joined by his Democratic colleagues in the passage of this measure which was first proposed after the school shooting which took place in Newtown, Conn. “To profit from this is just not the business Westchester residents want to be in,” Jenkins said …”

Two state legislators are reportedly considering seeking the Democrat nomination as well.

  1. Senator George Latimer. Supported the SAFE Act.  Voting record shows he does not support gun rights.
  2. Assemblyman Tom Abinanti. Sponsors and votes for antigun legislation. During debates on the SAFE Act he said (paraphrased) that he didn’t believe guns should be able to hold more than one round.

Suffolk sheriff’s race

On: By: admin

With the possibility of the Suffolk Co. Sheriff’s seat opening this fall, two state legislators have come forth in hopes of getting the GOP nomination.

First is Assemblyman Al Graf who has a law enforcement background and appears to have support from the county party.  He is an NRA member and a supportive record in the Assembly.

Next is Senator Phil Boyle who has no police background and has the backing of the county Conservative Party.  His record on guns is awful and he is shamelessly dishonest about it.  He has switched sides on the issue at least three times.  He voted for the SAFE Act then sponsored a bill to repeal it.  What he is claiming to be now I don’t know.

Incumbent Democrat Vincent DeMarco has announced his intention to run for re-election, although his name has been mentioned as a possible Trump appointment.  DeMarco signed onto the New York State Sheriffs’ Association amicus brief calling for the courts to overturn the SAFE Act.

With no clear way of getting rid of Boyle, the next best thing would be to make him look stupid by voting against him in a R or C primary.  If he gets past that, vote for DeMarco or whomever his Democrat opponent is in the general.

Microstamping memo

On: By: admin

Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee has reintroduced the microstamping bill A-5826.

She has circulated a memorandum looking for co-sponsors:

A-5826

Democrats for Gorsuch

On: By: admin

NRA is running ads in four states in an attempt to pressure Democrat Senators to vote for Neil Gorsuch. That’s good.

In addition, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has indicated he will vote for cloture on the nomination.

This concerns me:

“… Serious question: What leverage does the GOP have, really, over Joe Manchin? I know, I know — West Virginia’s one of the reddest states in the union and voted overwhelmingly for Trump, so in theory Trump could swoop in there next year and demand that Manchin be ousted. Realistically, though, Manchin’s going to end up voting with Trump and the GOP on a bunch of legislation over the next 18 months, which will put him back in the White House’s good graces no matter what he does on Gorsuch … On top of all that, Manchin has a strong electoral history in WV … The guy has never seriously been threatened back home …”

Here is the reason for my concern:

“… According to the NYT Mag, Manchin appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on December 14, 2016, the 4th anniversary of the heinous attack in which 20-year-old Adam Lanza stole guns, killed his mother, then went to Sandy Hook Elementary and killed 26 more innocents. While on air, Manchin again voiced support for his pet gun control item — an expansion of background checks in response to the Sandy Hook attack. Within an hour after his segment ended, Manchin received a phone call from Donald Trump. And while he did not divulge details of the call, he told NYT Mag reporter Robert Draper that he believes he has “a complete opportunity” to secure gun control under Trump …”

This is probably just hot air from Manchin, but I would not put it past the Republicans to offer him something in exchange for his Gorsuch vote.