Comments from Kuhl-aide Van Wicklin on Massa, VA and Iraq.
Did you catch this Saturday? Other obligations kept me from writing about it at the time but nice to see Van Wicklin is on the path to Scottie McCellan or Tony Snow. Now in fairness, the reporting of the D&C probably simply took some words and put them in the article but OK - they are his words.
On Massa running again
“If he (Massa) is going to be a career congressional candidate, then so be it,” he said. “I think a lot of people are excited not to hear anything about campaigning right now.”
Really? Career Candidate? a single run now second run makes it a career? Are we making assumptions that Randy Kuhl is going to be a Career Congressman? With Randy Kuhl supporting the President’s policies. Moving up in the party as Deputy Whip - There are a lot of motivated people out there that are looking for change. How about we are looking forward to the challenge.
On closing the VA hospital
Van Wicklin said Kuhl is opposed to the closing of the Canandaigua VA unit and has written to and discussed the issue with Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson.
OK, lets not forget that Randy supported this closing, knew about it and didn’t disclose it. Remember, the decision was made in 2004 to be implemented in 2007. Given the human cost of this war, does it make sense in 2007?  We wrote about it here and the of course the Fighting 29th has had it as well. look in the archives. Wrote and discussed is not the same and opposing. Sort of like this next blurb.
On the war in Iraq
On Kuhl’s support for the war in Iraq, Van Wicklin said the congressman “voted for the troops and not in support of the president.” He said Kuhl does not want to undercut the 20,000 new troops headed to Iraq by voting against war funding.
WTF? He is for the President before he’s against him? Sorry Randy, you can’t have it both ways. Yo, Mr Van Wicklin, You are making Scottie and Tony proud. I know you have difficult material to work with.
So, how does a non-binding resolution do anything about funding? All it does is validate that we have a lock-step Republican representing the 29th district and opposed to what we used to have or frankly, deserve now.
Of course when the going gets tough the tough get going - on to their next appointment. Exit stage left as We discovered at Randy’s Henrietta Town Hall meeting.
Randy - the President’s position on Iraq is wrong and you and your party are wrong on this issue. Running away won’t solve our problem in Iraq.
Related posts:
Listen: Unless Massa has bigtime funding, and sophisticated computer analysis of which precincts are the ones to target, it is useless to try for a second time. I hope both happen…
I don’t remember Kuhl ever supporting the closing of the VA hospital in Canandaigua. That would be political suicide.
What make you say that? “Big time funding” certainly helps but Massa lost by 6000 votes in a Republican district. I have to look up the math but I believe it is 1% was the difference.
Randy Kuhl had Big time finding and it was a close race. What does that tell you?
Never said hospital - the 22 bed psych unit. This issue of course as I’ve said in the past is not necessarily the closing but the inability to change.
The decision was made in 2004 to be implemented now, the Iraqi rose pedals never materialized and our rep in DC isn’t able to make a case to keep the 22 bed unit open? Of course not, that would be going against the administration which would amount to political suicide.
Inability to change - meaning Kuhl doesn’t change his positions? Sorry, I’m not getting your drift…
Massa has said that his new fundraising goal is $3 million. As for the “computer analysis”, I’m sure part of the 3 mil will go do that. So don’t fear, OG, I think the second try won’t be “useless”.
Someone should ask Mr. Kuhl exactly what actions he has taken to support the troops since he said: “I will continue to fight with every last bit of energy I have to make sure that our troops overseas are given everything they need to get the job done.â€ÂÂ
Hey, if you think it’s a winning strategy for a loser of an election to keep talking for the entire term, keep it up. I think it’s a little less irritating if losers actually shut up, for, say, at least half the term, before they start issuing press releases again.
Huh?
Who is the “You” in this comment? Me? Van Wicklin? Massa? They? (those people who hide under the stairs) The post was about Kuhl’s PR person and his quotes to the media. Only one of which was about Massa. Personally I thought Van Wicklin could do better. Let Kuhl run on his record. Why not something about that, like yeah, we are looking forward to the challenge and in the end our record will speak for itself.
Given what our fighting men and women are going through in Iraq and at Walter Reed hospital, isn’t it worth your irritation over a couple press releases if they help get those brave soldiers everything they need and deserve?
Inability to recognize the changing circumstances in his district or for that matter the conduct of the war and act accordingly with regard to this closing. Was there at least a press release expressing his outrage? I don’t remember one. All I recall was posts like on your blog where there was attempts to delay and push out “the closing” in the news cycle.
Hope that clarifies
Yes, I see what you mean. It’s interesting that Kuhl’s response (via Van Wicklin) in Fall 2006 was to push forward and to deny that there was going to be any loss of service, but his most recent response was that he disagreed with everything about the decision.
Too bad you get irritated by a citizen of this nation speaking out on issues that concern them. I happen to believe that any citizen, even one who has just lost an election, has right to speak up on issues that concern them. The suggestion that someone just shut up because they lost an election is offensive to me.
Kuhl has just announced that he is working with the VA Administration to keep the Canadaigua Psych unit open
Text of letter written by Kuhl available at http://waterbuffalopress.blogspot.com
Finally a response, an outrage, a change in direction.