This will be airing on Monday, but found this preview on youtube and due to my great affinity for Les Mis, I felt compelled to share:

Hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Endorsement? No, it’s not an endorsement. I mean, it if was or if Mayor Duffy actually did - it would come with words like “I endorse Rick Dollinger”. As I posted earlier, this isn’t an endorsement.

I suppose the mailer is better than nothing and I’m sure it will be viewed as an endorsement by some people who receive it but it isn’t.

The question is what does the Robach Mailer with pictures of Mayor Duffy look like?

dollinger-flyer1

dollinger-flyer2

Did anyone see the debate between Tom Hasman and incumbent clerk Dinolfo on WHAM 13? It’s an interesting example of what happens when you speak truth to power. Reader Monroe Dem has an interesting psychological take on it:

I watched the debate video on his website. She’s really a poor actor. You can see that she get agitated not only in her voice but in her demeanor and posture. My wife deals with such things all the time on her job. In fact she brought it to my attention only moments into the video, she said, “Dinolfo is hiding something serious and lying”.

She told me that Cheryl was showing the common clinical signs of someone who not only is trying to escape the truth but knows more than she is saying. My wife said its quite common in psychology patients (her forte).

What happens is a person cannot get their mind off other things they are not saying and thus get upset while trying to keep their cool. She told me had they hooked a lie detector up to her it’d be spiking considerable and to any Psychologist she was clearly displaying this distress.

Now when you think about that (which I had not my wife pointed it out and I told her to hush as I was watching) shes right!

Dinolfo said that Hasman did not know process and that in 2006 she began process to get the funding from the legislature to start working the problem. Ummm… so in 2006, 2 YEARS AGO, she goes and says, “We have social security numbers online”… I CANNOT IMAGINE the Legislature going, “Well, ok… Take two years to get them removed”.

I’ll bet what they did was make it APPEAR insignificant, JUST LIKE THEY DID WHEN THE STORY BROKE IN 2008. “Oh we have a few hundred numbers online”… Umm, 17,000+ is more than a few hundred. 17,000 is CNN news.

Notice as well that she said, “Of 17 million documents”. That again is COMPLETELY insignificant. She did NOT put it in real terms, she tried to diminish it. 17,000 .vs. 17,000,000 = 1%. Not much. But its NOT 17 MILLION thats the issue. The documents identities are not what is stolen.

When one says, “17,000+ Monroe County Residents Social Security Numbers are sitting out on the Internet waiting for thieves, illegals, terrorists to obtain easy as pie… ummm, EASIER THAN PIE” now it strikes of EMERGENCY.

So… The news story broke and it became, “Oh crap we need redaction software NOW”… Why create it in house? Again… ANOTHER excuse was given I’d guess. “We wanted to keep that work in NY!” or some such crap was given… Ummm, so we’ll outsource the intial database work to Texas but the redaction software not. Ask yourself why?

Ok, I’ll tell you why.

Read the rest of this entry »

Actually it was a real treat - check this out.

sarah

Any other good costumes out there?

Re the SD-56 Dollinger v Robach - Duffy is officially neutral. Either candidate can use photos of him. He is endorsing no one.

So if/when he shows up at a GOTV rally for Democrats tomorrow, remember he really isn’t concerned with winning the SD-56 seat. In his mind - Dollinger, Robach - who cares.

Look - This is politics isn’t it. I mean isn’t there an expectation here? I see this as endorsement of Status Quo.

Via the D&C

Mayor Robert Duffy said today he remains neutral in the Robach-Dollinger race, despite recent campaign mailings that imply the contrary.

[snip]

Dollinger has used Duffy’s image in two recent mailings, one showing a large picture of the two men together under the heading, “Democrats United.”

Duffy said both campaigns had photos with him, and he OK’d — or did not forbid — the use of the photos in the two candidates’ campaigns. He said he did not see the “Democrats United” mailing until today.

“I have not come out and endorsed either candidate in that race,” Duffy said, describing himself as a “proud Democrat” but explaining he knows and respects both men.

There is a difference between respecting the person and the position. It’s sad that Mayor Duffy can’t distinguish between the two (person and position). Or he already has and as a “proud Democrat” that’s too bad too.

Found this in the Elmira Star Gazzette 10 minutes ago and am still sitting here with my mouth open wide-WTF??

It seems to me that all components of a candidate’s record — including officially diagnosed medical conditions influencing performance and future assignment and/or restrictions — should be given highest-priority exposure whenever national public office lies in the balance.

For the moment, we don’t know if Massa is either experience- qualified or medically-capable of holding public office, based only on his military career. Until he produces such information for public consumption, these questions will linger.

With the probability that they will linger beyond election day, my support for John R. Kuhl Jr. will continue indefinably.

Sure, let’s put that information up there, right next to Randy Kuhl’s arrest records for DWIs if we’re looking for full exposure. There are other records, I’m sure, documenting Randy’s psychological/mental illness history, which under this criteria should be out there in the public view, yet this Kuhl-aid drinking zombie supports Randy, who never served a day in his life?? On what basis? Do these people really exist, or is this just another paid staffer ghost writing a letter for a retired army guy?

We asked the question if Mayor Duffy was going to weigh-in on the State Senate race Between Rick Dollinger and Joe Robach - with, say, an endorsement?

per Jeremy over at City News, looks like he is in, at least for a little bit.

The question is - Is it too little, too late?

First, the good news: Mayor Bob Duffy has finally thrown his backing behind Dollinger, via a campaign mailer that hit the streets yesterday. That seems a natural since both are Democrats, but Duffy has stayed neutral in the race until now. Chances are that Duffy was pressured by his party to get behind Dollinger. That puts him in the company of Governor David Paterson and Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer, who have already backed Dollinger.

Anyone see the mailer? If so, send us a scan and we will post it.

More importantly - has anyone seen an endorsement by our Mayor?

The plan was to do a retrospective beginning from his re-election to Congress in 2006, but there is such a plethora of posts related to the foibles of Randy Kuhl, that 2008 was all I could manage. So, starting in January of 2008…..

Randy begins the year by attacking the Democrats in congress for something that he was taking credit for a year before, naming post offices. His mailers are hypocritical, as is his blog and Randy proves to be an obstructionist in congress.

In January, Randy also endorses McCain aboard the Double Talk Express:

Rep. John R. Kuhl Jr. endorsed Arizona Sen. John McCain for president today, calling him the right person to lead and unite the country.

(I know-what did we expect?)

In February we learn that the money spent on his Brazil trip has not been filed when Evan Dawson, at Channel 13 interviews him:

He said the trip was worth the cost to taxpayers, even though he still doesn’t know what the cost is.

Dawson: “Do you know why the information wasn’t filed?”

Kuhl: “I have no idea.”

Final cost estimate:

The total cost is $4,000 for hotels and per diem expenses and a whopping $28,000 for air travel. Military aircraft typically cost about $10,000 per hour.

Hypocrisy continues as Randy invites all to drink the Kuhl-Aid - a press release, as per Randy’s usual, saying one thing, while meaning another. He claims to place his votes in support of those who made this country great while he votes against seniors, veterans and children (well, yes, of course, children)

Next, Randy tries to undermine the constitution with his FISA fear-mongering. Kidnapped soldier’s rescues were compromised while waiting for a warrant to wiretap. Sure, Randy.

In March he votes against the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.

Why is it more important to Kuhl to protect big business at the expense of the very families that have voted him into office? Furthermore, Kuhl has great coverage as a member of Congress yet he votes to deny it to his constituents.

A MPN LTE linking Randy’s votes to W’s policies and an article in the Watertown Times, claiming that Randy is a Moderate (? they site his support by labor which is all, but gone) stand in direct contradiction to each other.

In April the two faces of Randy Kuhl emerge (and on September 8th, they’re caught on film), but again. Randy votes against the Energy Bill when tax breaks for Big Oil are removed and then votes for it when they are restored. And then, of course, It’s Nancy’s fault, because she talks about her “common sense plan”, but according to Randy, she does nothing to implement it. Randy’s rubberstamping of Bush’s stem cell policies become personal, btp writes:

How many times has Randy Kuhl voted to support Bush on this? To protect embryos from fertilization clinics that are simply thrown away?

In May Randy gets a new Honorary Campaign Chair in the person of Maggie Brooks and Randy comes out with his, “Fix Washington”, program. He seems to think if he comes up with a snappy slogan the voters will forget about the carnage which has been the Republican administration’s hallmark for the last 8 years (oh, and, by the way-no press showed for that impressive press conference). May is also the month that Randy voted, “Present” on bill 2642 (expanding veteran’s educational benefits).

Randy’s passion for drilling our way out of the energy crisis is the theme for June and July and Randy has a plan for $2.00/gal gasoline. He calls it the “No more excuses energy act”, HR3089. (I’m thinking Randy has to get out of the Representative business and get into the slogan business-you have a gift, my friend!). Randy files a discharge petition to force a vote which would repeal a ban on use of alternative, more polluting sources of energy for government vehicles. (This guy’s just on the wrong side of every issue) Randy is criticized by the Massa campaign for his “Gas-guzzling SUV” funded on the tax-payer’s dime and Randy counter’s with this lame response:

In a mass email to supporters, my opponent wrote that I drive a ‘taxpayer funded, gas guzzling SUV.’ Well, as inconvenient as the truth is for him, I do not lease my car on the taxpayer’s dollar. In fact, I drive a flexible fuel vehicle specifically designed to run on gasoline blended up to 85% ethanol (E85)

Turns out, the only gas station that carries that blend is one and a half hours north of where Randy lives and also,

Randy Kuhl has received $35,100 in Big Oil campaign contributions.

(What a surprise!)

Shameless, Randy perpetuates “The Big Lie”

Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport, Steuben County, is Boehner’s point man on the issue and is pushing for Democrats to allow a vote on a Republican energy bill that would step up domestic drilling and encourage the construction of new oil refineries.

August shows us Randy playing to our fears because America will become extinct and Nancy Pelosi has shut down the congress. But what is really scary is, Boehner and Kuhl team up (I’m having a really hard time not going anywhere with those two names-it’s an embarrassment of riches.) in Rochester to make things up about drilling and the price of oil. At the end of the month-Eric turns the tables on Randy and blames him for the loss of jobs in the district which were lost related to high fuel prices. Randy had voted against tapping into strategic reserves.

In September Kuhl stops talking to his constituents and avoids debates like the plaque. No audience allowed! He does show up in Henrietta, but no one has been notified. On September 29th-Kuhl is only local congressman “No” vote on bail-out bill.

But then October comes rolling in, Kuhl moves his money around and, viola, he votes for the bail-out. Doesn’t quite float, but we don’t hear about it again. Then, as we draw closer to the election and the Republican rats are getting scared, they pull out the Patriotism card and Randy falls in line with Michele Bachmann and makes his, by now, infamous statement about Democrats wanting the American people to suffer. Let’s hope that’s the thing that sinks Randy’s ship for good.

I’m just waiting for November!

In New York the Supreme Court is not Supreme - the Appellate Court is and it just ruled that Alice Kryzan can appear on the WFP ballot line.

Via The Buffalo News

Alice Kryzan has won a coveted second ballot line in Tuesday’s election for Congress in the 26th district, thanks to an appellate court decision striking Jon Powers from the Working Families Party line.

The Appellate Division of State Supreme Court ruled late Thursday that a lower court erred in deciding that Powers, Kryzan’s former rival for the Democratic nomination for the seat, must stay on the Working Families line even though he had moved to Washington, D.C., to take a job there.

“In the absence of evidence to the contrary, Powers’s letters to the Board and his concomitant submission of an out-of-state driver’s license and lease agreement conclusively establish his intention to establish residency outside of this state,” the appeals court said.

That disqualifies Powers from the ballot — giving the Working Families Party the right to name Kryzan its candidate, the court said.

Good for her.

Via RNews

Senator Charles Schumer made his way across western New York Thursday stumping for local Democrats.He stopped at St. John’s Meadows in Brighton to throw support behind Eric Massa, a congressional candidate in the 29th District.

[snip]

“Now Medicare, people want to cut it. Certain candidates want to cut it to balance the budget. That would be breaking faith with senior citizens,” Schumer said.

Got that? Breaking faith. It is more that breaking faith with Seniors it is breaking faith with all members of our society as the GOP attempts to remove societal safety nets.

What was interesting about this event from my perspective was the connection Eric Massa made with the seniors in the audience. It was simply amazing to watch. Frankly, I’m at a loss for words. Eric Massa gets it.

(I’ll update this post with pics and video at some point)

When we first interviewed Tom Hasman, shortly after he announced his run for the Clerk’s office, we thought he was a solid candidate. A little rough around the edges, maybe, but smart, informed, capable, and right on all the issues.

He’s still the same solid candidate, but I look at this video he did for WXXI, and I have to ask, “Where did those rough edges go?”

It’s a strong wrap-up of the key points of the campaign, and he calmly and decisively goes after the current clerk for something I’ve not heard before, which was pretty interesting. Hint: it’s towards the end, and it goes right at one of her “strengths”, which I love, because it punches a big hole in the PR shell that she’s tried to create around herself. Worth watching.

Here is one of the nurses from the health care tour that came last Sunday. I don’t have her name handy (I’m sure it is in a press packet that is not with me at the moment) regardless, she makes a few points.

Patients are put in difficult positions because of the existing health care system, the “political expedience” argument is not valid because we can move to a single payer system if we wanted to do it. We need candidates that are willing to look. Finally, Massa is on board with a single payer health care system. He gets it.

About 0.50 sec mark listen for this ‘I don’t know what to do, I don’t want to bankrupt my family‘. Sick patients are put in a position where they are forced to decide or, at a minimum, feel guilty about placing a financial burden on their families. There are life and death decisions made because of this perceived burden. A burden that doesn’t have to be there.

This nurse envisions a health care system where chooses are rooted in Clinical not Financial discussions. See, this nurse is telling the audience that nurses in countries with universal health care don’t have that conversation with their patients. That conversation/concept is completely foreign to them. Completely foreign.

‘Then she discusses how the debate is shifting from no health care reform to what kind of reform.

At the 2:00 mark, she discusses where the national candidates stand. McCain wants to “unbuild the current system and not replace it with anything”. Obama wants to increase coverage and access but seems to be centered on insurance companies not a single payer system. This, of course, is a false choice.

At the 3:00 mark she makes the argument that we are deciding in advance what to do not out of what is right but what is expedient - politically expedient or the choice between easy wrong or hard right.

At the 4:00 mark she argues it is naive to believe that if it were up to the Insurance companies or Big Pharma, we would move away from an insurance company model. A for profit model where Insurance companies reward shareholders by denying health care. Or I’ll puit it another way - the fox watching the hen house.

A good listen to be sure.

Oh why wouldnt’ we want a Health Care system like this?

From a (very talented) fan of Tom Hasman. This is a fun “flash” game where you’re Tom “Hammer” Hasman, helping get rid of Social Security Numbers on the Clerk’s website, while the current clerk (I think it’s her, anyway) tries to get into the picture for another photo op:

Help Cheryl Find the Social Security Numbers Game

It’s harder than you’d think. It’s a good distraction when you need a break after you’ve made a bunch of calls for Obama, Dollinger, or hey, even Tom Hasman.

We wrote about our collective experiences in this post. here is a short video of Eric Massa. This is the last couple of minutes. Have a look.

What do you think?

Looks like Robach’s widened his lead a little:

Robach leads Dollinger 52-39 percent, edging up slightly from 49-38 percent in the last poll. Robach has the support of 84 percent of Republicans and 34 percent of Democrats in this district with a large Democratic enrollment edge. Dollinger has the support of 55 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans. Robach leads among independent voters 56-37 percent, up from 46-34 percent. Dollinger leads by 11 points in Rochester and eight points in Brighton, however, Robach leads 67-27 percent in Greece and Parma.

Robach is viewed favorably by 62 percent of voters, including nearly half of Democrats, and unfavorably by 24 percent of voters, up slightly from 57-24 percent previously. Dollinger has a 43-34 percent favorable rating, compared to 36-25 percent in the last poll. His favorability rating among Democrats, 53-26 percent, is only slightly better than Robach’s 49-34 percent.

However, Robach has an 81-8 percent favorable rating with Republicans, compared to Dollinger’s 30-53 percent. And while Dollinger has 39-33 favorable rating with independent voters, Robach’s favorable rating with independents is 66-24 percent.

Obama has a commanding 61-32 percent lead over McCain.

“Senator Robach has strong support among Republicans and independent voters, as well as the support of more than one-third of Democrats. He enters the final week of the campaign in a strong position, particularly given the strength of Obama in this heavily Democratic district,” Greenberg said.

It’s all going to be about turnout now. And with a 39-33 fav/unfav (72% recognition) It looks like Dollinger could improve his name ID among independents. It’s frustrating that voters haven’t gotten the message that flipping the Senate is the best chance to fundamentally changing Albany.

The good news is, there’s still time to help out. Check out Dollinger’s website.