Hayseeds No. 261

Monday, June 9, 2008

It’s a Different Country, With Less Racial Division, As We Approach This Presidential Race. That's how Paul Krugman is describing our country as we proceed into the general election. P'Link

New York Fed Chief Calls for Reforms. He says government must rethink how they regulate credit default swaps and other derivatives in the market. P'Link

Ron Stafford's Widow Pays Big Bucks to Buy House from Bruno. Apparently she's trying to get more contracts from the state, and by buying the house at a market up, has helped line the pockets of Boss Bruno and his son. P'Link

A Door Slams On Troopergate? Apparently David Soares promised several top Spitzer administration officials that in exchange for their testimony, that none of the information would become public, despite Soares' claims to the contrary. P'Link

Paterson Doesn't Get His Program Bills Passed. While the legislature has passed the must-do budget bills and contract bills, it seems little more has gotten done when it comes to Paterson's agenda for the state. P'Link

'Willie Horton' Ad Creator Takes On Obama. We knew the Presidential campaign was just about to get very dirty. P'Link

Soares Will Release Transcripts of Travel Records Investigation. After fighting it, he claims that his office was just doing due dillegence before complying with the law. P'Link

Gary Domalewicz to Propose Requiring All Spray Paint Sales to Be Registered. He feels that the current law in the City of Albany requiring to people to be 18 years of age to buy spray paint, broad tip markers, and other instruments used in graffiti should be expanded county-wide and that there should also include a permanent registry of all those purchasing markers or spray paint.

The concern prompting this legislation is that kids are traveling outside of the city to buy spray paint in Colonie, and then bringing it back to the city to deface city property. This law would not kids from traveling to Schenectady or Rensselear to buy spray paint to deface buildings, if they wanted to do as such.

Then again, sometimes people under age-18 have legitimate reasons for buying spray paint. They might need to use rustoleum for example to stop rust on their truck. They might have a classroom project they are working on, or a something else they need to paint quickly.

The idea of making people register to buy spray paint or markers is just creepy. We don't need the government compiling more information on people. Spray paint isn't that destructive, and if we are concerned about vandalism, then we need more police and cameras to ensure troubled neighborhoods don't just avoid graffiti but also violence. P'Link

Forum On School Tax-cap Plan Tonight in Putnam Valley. They will be discussing pros-and-cons of various methods of capping property taxes. P'Link

Democratic Primary Turned On Southern City Vote. Rural areas in the south clearly went for Clinton, while cities approved more of Obama. Some interesting insights on why the primaries worked out the way they did. P'Link

How Obama and McCain Can Help Win Congressional Seats. They have the ability to bring out moderate and new groups of voters that both parties have not been able to reach in the past. P'Link

Tale of America Coast to Coast. There is a new book about traveling US Route 20 from coast to coast:

Many Americans have long dreamed of driving from one side of the country to the other to experience what the nation really has to offer. And while there are many possible roads to travel, a new book published by a local professor focuses on one particularly historic cross-country route.

“Twenty West: The Great Road Across America” was written by Mac Nelson, a professor of English at the state University College at Fredonia, who visited The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza Saturday to sign copies of his book and talk about its nature to travel enthusiasts.

Nelson explained that he has lived and taught on the road for more than 25 years and was always interested in it because of its history of being a great American road.

“If you follow it, you see some fascinating things and go by places where some really good stuff happened — like Emily Dickinson’s poetry — along with some really bad stuff — like the murder of Crazy Horse,” said Nelson, who noted that the route also traveled through what he considered to be the best part of America, Yellowstone National Park.

P'Link

Key Lawmaker Milks the System for His Backyard. The Syracuse Post-Standard looks at the energy conservation favors Paul Tonko got for farms in his district. P'Link

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Fired Official Seeks Agency E-mails. Power Authority's David Weiss is FOILing emails from his previous boss as he investigates his own firing and looks for legal remedy. P'Link

Walmart Eyes Old Tupper Lake Plant. While advocates have so far successfully kept from Walmart from coming to Tupper Lake, they've found an old industrial site that Walmart is suppostly eyeing. P'Link

Troy Housing Authority to Insist on Community Service. They want all their tenants to help their communities out per federal law or leave their subsidized housing. P'Link

Exclusive: FBI Removes Files from Office of Ex-GOP Chief Powers. It looks like Bill Powers' office has been raided. P'Link

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Abu Dhabi Investment Council To Buy Chrysler Building. It seems that more oil wealth be used to buy another portion of the American economy. P'Link

Lawmakers Wrangle Over Foreclosure Proposals. The Assembly and Senate are continuing to work on solutions to the housing crisis. P'Link

Sweeney Connections to Lobbyist Examined. The disgraced Congressman might have steered business to campaign donors. P'Link

Barack Obama Milks Hilllary Clinton's Cash Cows. Apparently, the big Hillary fundraisers have moved over to support the dem nominee. P'Link

FBI Albany Raid Seen As Part of Wider Probe. The NY Sun is reporting the rade of Bill Powers may be part of a wider investigation of the NYGOP. P'Link

Restaurants Shut, Subway Riders Are Stranded in Near-record Heat. NYC had some minor problems with the past week's hot weather. P'Link

More Than 50,000 Still Without Power Across Upstate. It seems last night's t-storms knocked out power to a lot of people. P'Link

Bruno Hopeful of State Ban On Mandatory Overtime for Nurses. This would hopefully save lives by ensuring adequate nurse staff is available, and is not overly tired and overworked. P'Link

NYCLU sues Troy over Controversial Exhibit. They are suing claiming harassment from the Troy Code Enforcement for closing down the Sanctuary for Independent Media after they displayed Virtual Jihadi. P'Link

Obama Launches Economy Battle. He says we should spend more money back home. P'Link

Governor Orders Flags Flown at Half-staff to Honor Slain Fort Drum Soldiers. That is why the flags are half staff. P'Link

Judge Orders Raises for New York Judges. It sure must be fun to order your own raise and have a nice conflict of interest. P'Link

Plug Power Laying Off 80. Apparently the fuel cells aren't such a desirable commodity anymore. P'Link

Eliot Spitzer Gone, But Scandal Still Lives. The investigations continue left and right. P'Link

Thursday, June 12, 2008

4 Boy Scouts Die When Tornado Hits Campground. It seems that they've had more bad weather out there in Iowa. P'Link

Obama's Possible Running Mates. Ken Rudin looks at the the possibilities. P'Link

NY Senate Democratic Leader Seeks Property Tax Cap. Malcom Smith and his boys say it's time for a property tax cap, and suggest one that's even tougher then that of the governor.

Smith tells The Associated Press he wants a tougher cap than Paterson. Smith would limit local government and school tax increases to 2 percent a year rather than 4 percent. Smith also doesn't want to give school district voters the option of overriding the cap because notoriously low turnouts mean school elections can be easily "manipulated."

It's nice to be in the minority, when all the unions can't really threaten you, as they haven't given you anything. I wonder if Malcolm Smith will have such courage to stand up to the big school unions when he becomes the Majority Leader. P'Link

Socialism Ends in Cuba. It appears that the Rual Castro reigeme will no longer be enforcing equality in wages between jobs. P'Link

Friday, June 13, 2008

Obama Moves Quickly to Reshape & Consolidate DNC. He apparently is going to move the DNC Headquarters to Chicago where his presidential organization can work closely with and better control the Democratic Nation Committee, which has sometimes been at odds with their Presidential candidate. P'Link

In California, a House Divided Stands Strong. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shiver are both on different sides of the political ladder and supporting vastly different candidate. P'Link

Bloomberg: 'I Am Not And Will Not Be' A Candidate For Governor. That's what Liz Benjamin is reporting. P'Link

NYers Upstate and Downstate Support a Democratic Senate. That's what Quinipeac Poll is reporting, something that is bound to get a lot of attention of the media, and suggests a fundamental shift in the New York electorate, regardless of where you are from.

18. As you may know, Democrats hold all statewide offices and control the Assembly, while Republicans control the State Senate. Would you like to see the State Senate stay Republican controlled or would you like to see the Democrats take control of the State Senate?

	Tot	Rep	Dem	Ind	Men	Wom	Wht	Blk
Republican	35%	76%	7%	39%	46%	25%	41%	16%
Democrat	51	10	86	39	41	59	44	72
DK/NA	14	14	6	22	13	15	15	12
	UpState.	....	UpState		Age	Age
	Urban	Othr	Total	NYC	Sub	18-44	45+
Republican	29%	38%	37%	27%	44%	32%	37%
Democrat	54	44	46	62	43	58	47
DK/NA	16	17	17	11	14	10	16

That certainly is an interesting result, suggesting a real shift is underway in New York. Of particular interest is that in rural and suburban areas of New York State support a Democratic State Senate 44%-38% (with 17% undecided). Upstate put together, including urban areas, the margin goes to 46%-37%.

That's quite fascinating. It looks bad for Senate Republicans, although remember that the districts are drawn in ways that aren't exactly favorable for Democrats. Yet, it seems there is a powerful sentiment for change in the legislature, at least for the next few years. P'Link

NYS to Lower Flags Half Staff to Remember the Fallen. Our state has a new policy relating to the flying of flags that states that they they should be lowered anytime a New York State soldier is fallen in memory of the fallen solder and to create greater awareness of the great cost of the war.

A lot of people in the peace community have wanted the governor to take this step, to remind people of the real cost of war, and to keep public awareness on the war. There have been 172 New Yorkers who have died in Iraq, so it seems likely, if we continue on our current course, there will be a lot of days with the flag at half mast.

It will be sad, but will make many New Yorkers ask why the flags are all lowered, and why we must continue this war. P'Link

Saturday, June 14, 2008

‘One-time Tax’ to Cost Residents Less Than $250. That's how the Daily Gazette is explaining the one-time tax on residents of Colonie. The Republicans opposed the tax hike on party line vote in the Town Board, while the Democrats supported it, leaving it 4-3 passed for the home rule message.

Right now, in it's current form it's bill A.11562 Reilly / S.8496 Breslin, but since these bills where only introduced on Thursday, the legislature has not gotten a chance to act on them. The first they can touch them would be money.

You have to wonder does the town really need to be hiking taxes mid-year, and forcing people to pay for something they haven't budgeted for, or can they not cut something first? The Republicans certainly don't seem to think the tax hike is a good idea. It seems likely the voters will punish them for their misdeeds, when it's election time for them in 2009.

WAMC News Reports P'Link