Skelos doesn’t get it

On: By: admin

Dean Skelos just doesn’t get it:

“… “I think we’re going to look at the size of the clips, a number of other issues, protection within your home,” Skelos, R-Long Island, told reporters.  “But we also have to live within the reality of what the governor feels is appropriate or not.  I believe the governor is going to be pretty firm about the seven bullets, unless it’s in the home, and he’s going to be firm on the so-called assault weapons.” …”

Bullshit.  This preemptive surrender policy is why Republicans keep losing elections.  He doesn’t have either the brains or the balls to admit he screwed up and is clearly hoping the issue will blow over, which it won’t.

Chipping away

On: By: admin

Gun control continues to work against the Governor:

“Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s job approval rating remains high at 56% among voters statewide, but his support has eroded upstate after passage of sweeping new gun laws, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC NY/Marist Poll … “What we’re seeing is largely steady in terms of the overall picture of how New Yorkers are assessing him,” said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.  But there was “a major shift below the radar” as a result of issues including gun control … Mr. Miringoff said …”

Well, that wasn’t supposed to happen.  What other good news is coming his way today?

“Today in news from a future that will likely never happen, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie leads Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a hypothetical 2016 presidential matchup in the Garden State, a Quinnipiac University poll found.   Christie, who walked back yesterday the claim that he agrees with Cuomo on “98 percent” of the issues, would top Cuomo in New Jersey in a potential 2016 presidential race, 54 to 36 percent …”

Like father, like son.  His old man made the same mistake jumping on the gun control bandwagon in the 80s referring to gunnies as “NRA hunters who drink beer, don’t vote and lie to their wives about where they were all weekend.” Former NRA rep. Richard Feldman talks about his dealings with the elder Cuomo in his book “Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist.”

Feeling the backlash

On: By: admin

As I stated yesterday, the only reason for Shelly to talk about changing the 7-round magazine rule is if his conference is being hurt by the issue. Apparently it is doing some damage.

Case #1 – Al Stripe loses his shit when protesters visit his office:

“Assemblyman Al Stirpe confirmed he “lost it for a brief second” and directed an “f-bomb” at several pro-gun constituents during a heated moment in his Albany office last week.   It occurred during a late morning meeting Thursday at a time when the capital was flooded with protesters for a rally protesting the state’s new Safe Act, which puts into place the toughest gun control laws in the country …”

Case #2 – Didi Barrett tries to intimidate her constituent by reporting him to the local police:

Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided.
]

More pangs of regret

On: By: admin

You know things are really starting to stink when Shelly speaks:

“… Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, indicated he may be open to changing a major piece of the state’s gun-control law that limits the number of bullets in a magazine to seven.  Silver suggested today that because manufacturers do not make magazines with seven bullets, lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo may need to revisit the restriction … “From a practical matter, we’re discussing it.  I’m just saying I’m open to it,” Silver continued.  “Everything in this state will better and does move better when people are open to compromise.” …”

The only reason he’d say this is if he feels the backlash is starting to hurt Democrats in his conference.

Pangs of regret

On: By: admin

Some Republicans are beginning to think that voting for the SAFE Act was a bad political move.

First up, Senator Phil Boyle releases this statement:

“… “The so-called SAFE act was a mistake. Its passage lacked transparency and public input and its wording was ill-conceived and of questionable legality,” said Senator Phil Boyle.  “Lawmakers like myself might have caught these mistakes if we were given more than two hours to read the bill.  A good leader admits a mistake and works to rectify it.  That is what I am doing.” …”

Translation: my constituents are pissed and I’m trying to cover my ass with this bullshit statement.

Next, freshman Assemblyman Bill Nojay tells Fred Dicker what he thinks of Dean Skelos:

“… In a rare break with party unity, Nojay described Skelos to The Post as “a failed leader” and declared, “He has to go.”  “Dean Skelos has repeatedly failed to defend Republican values and assist his fellow Republicans running for office, whether it’s his supporting a $2 billion tax hike, how he handled gay marriage, and now the gun issue,” Nojay said …”

Now Dean Skelos comes out of hiding to issue a statement:

“Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said today that he expects significant changes to the gun-control law passed in January, specifically targeting the provision that lowers the number of bullets in a magazine from 10 to seven.  Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo has indicated that the law passed Jan. 15 might face just some minor changes. Skelos, the Republican from Nassau County, said he would hope there would be more substantial changes.  “I think they are going to be more than technical,” Skelos told reporters of the changes. “I think we’re going to look at the size of the clips, a number of other issues – protections within your home.” …”

Yeah right.  He knows that neither Shelly nor Andy are likely to go along with that.  Like Boyle he’s looking for some political cover.

Bill Nojay’s radio show

On: By: admin

Audio from yesterday’s Bill Nojay Show where he talks about lobby day and the rally. Good commentary on getting the permit and Gov. Cuomo’s efforts to undermine everything.

Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided.

Legislative Report #4

On: By: admin

Legislative Report #4 is now online.

Rally aftermath

On: By: admin

Media coverage:

How many showed up:


Largest gun rally ever

On: By: admin

Approximately 12,000 people showed up for lobby day today.  Capitol Park was overflowing and people were waiting up to 1.5 hours to get into the Legislative Office Building.  It was the largest political gathering of gun owners anywhere.

Gov. Cuomo made it a point to be as far away from Capitol as he could be.  He was doing something on Long Island today.  However, there is no way he could have missed it with all the local and national media coverage it received.  It’s going to be hard for him and his media allies to keep saying the public overwhelmingly supports him on this issue.

Hooray for Hollywood

On: By: admin

Nothing short of total repeal is acceptable.