Hayseeds No. 174

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Noontime to 9 PM: Get Out and Vote. Today is primary day, and there are many important elections across New York State. Up here in the North Country in the 114th Assembly district, we have the race of Andy Brockway versus Kevin Nichols for state Assembly. Both seem like excellent candidates for this race, passionate about all the right issues like ATVs and helping out the farmers in our area. Andy is much younger, and Kevin a lot more experienced. It seems mostly like a fight between Clinton and Franklin Counties, but I would be proud to have either one as my representive.

Down in Albany's 104th district, we have another critical race. Every two years, voters get to choose who will represent them on the State Democratic Committee. This is important as it ultimately chooses what Democrats run for statewide office and the general direction of our party. Jack McEneny and Connie Burns are taking on Jerry Jennings and Betty Barnette for State Democratic Committee. We need to get Jennings out of this position, as it will do much to get out party back in the right direction. Also, support Bosworth for County Chair and whoever the progressive challenger is in your election district.

Need more reasons to support Jack over Jerry? And from Altamont Enterprise:

“Primaries tend to be more philosophical…People forget that I represent not only the city of Albany,” McEneny said. “It’s about openness, fairness, and accountability.”

Jennings doesn’t see the position that way.

“It’s not about philosophy and its not about geography. It’s about responsibility to the members of the party,” said Jennings.

Although both agreed the state’s Democratic Committee helps guide and improve the party, most of the agreement ends there.

“This isn’t just about who the mayor is,” said McEneny. “Nobody loves the city more than I, but the future of the county is a future of urban, suburban, and rural; not just the city of Albany.”

“My primary responsibility is the mayor of Albany. But as a delegate, my responsibility is to help make decisions about the party, regardless of geography,” Jennings responded through The Enterprise.

There also is a race for Democratic candidate for Governor that Spitzer will snap up, and one for Attorney General that will go to Andy Cuomo, despite our rather mixed feelings about the later. He just has such a strong organization, and he will get things done. Not to mention he's a great speaker.

Finally, Election results to published here as they come in. P'Link

Points of Rebellion. One of William O. Douglas' greatest and most controversal texts that he published in 1969 is now online. It's probably one of the most radical texts you'll read, particularly when you remember it's from Wild Bill, the great Supreme Court Justice who served from 1939 through his retirement in 1975. P'Link

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

McEneny Defeats Jennings. We usually do not have regular Wednesday updates, but the news of McEneny defeating Jennings in Democratic State Committee Race is something we have to break from tradition to mention. Yeah!

While I have to run to class, it should also be noted that Andy Brockway defeated Kevin Nichols in the Assembly primary up here in the North Country, and a lot of young progressive Democrats where elected to county committee down in Albany. P'Link

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Save the Pine Bush Coming to the Heldebergs. It looks like our friends from the city will be coming up to Thatcher Park next weekend to survey the Pine Bush from overhead at Thatcher Park. Should be a very enjoyable experience, and we will likely learn a lot of interesting things. P'Link

Republicans Skip Primaries at Record Numbers. It looks like the statewide turn out for the Republican primaries was so low last on Tuesday that it may be a new record for low turn out. Few Republicans really cared about the race, particularly when it seems like it's nearly impossible for Republicans to win this year. P'Link

Pass the Pork. It looks like the NY Assembly has released a list of member items that have been doled out this year, totalling $51 million in response to a court case that's trying to force the Assembly to reveal not only the items but also who is sponsoring/requesting such items. P'Link

Congressman Kiss Ass. It looks like Marquill has picked up on Sweeney's Kissing Ass to horse owners, while kind of screwing other livestock owners with his anti-horse slaughter bill. P'Link

Few People Graduate from CUNY. While in many ways it's not surpising that the graduation rate of the City University might be lower then some other 4-year schools, it appears to very low according to the NYT. P'Link