Figuring out who will challenge John Hall
-
- April
- 17
The question of who will get the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. John Hall could be settled at a special district convention next month.
Westchester Republican Chairman Doug Colety said GOP leaders from each of the five counties in the 19th Congressional District have agreed to hold a special convention on May 23rd in Putnam County. Republican leaders from each of the election districts contained in the 19th CD will serve as the electors at the convention, Colety said.
So far, only two Republicans have announced candidacies against hall: Peekskill’s Kieran Lalaor, who is a veteran of the Iraq War; and Westchester Legislator George Oros of Cortlandt. However, other Republicans, including former Rep. Joe DioGuardi, have also expressed an interest in running.
Meanwhile, Hall, a Dutchess County Democrat, appears ready to fend off whatever challenge the GOP presents. Gannett News Service’s Brian Tumulty reports that Hall’s latest financial report shows that he’s raised $1.58 million so far this election cycle.
Lalor has raised $86,873, while Oros has raised $52,406.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, April 17th, 2008 at 4:53 pm by Glenn Blain.
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I don’t care what the Consultant thinks, Oros should not be the nominee. He is an established name in New York politics yet he can’t break six figures in fundraising.
Why not just run Sue Kelly again at this point? If she didn’t duck a debate, Hall never would have won. Maybe DioGuardi. Basically anyone who has a decent resume and can raise money.
Where is the Republican Party savior Mr. Greg Ball. I guess the Ball has stopped rolling or maybe he is running out of steam, no! People are just starting to learn that Ball is a liar and a not a good person who cares about no one but himself. I hear Ball has moved back into his parents home, word around town is he lived with his girlfriend but she threw him out. Just another sad chapter in his life.
Pathetic. I too heard that Greg Ball was living back at home with his mom, dad and grandmother in Pawling. His “girlfriend” threw him out of her house in Carmel.
Must suck to be Greg Ball.
And how about the corrupt dealing that are starting to surface with Greg Ball and his minions on the Southeast Town Board?
Some say there is a lot more there. Time will tell.
Funny how Ball ran around this district crying foul about corruption and cronysism and that is now what he is being accused of supporting himself.
you may not care what i think..but i have supported
oros from the beginning
Ball is now getting caught up in the same thing he accussed others of. Ball tried to create his own political army so he can take care of his friends, Ball is dangerous. I hope the residents in Balls district understand how much of a hippocrit Greg Ball is. Ball’s motto is, “Do as I say, not as I do”.
Please never forget Greg Ball created Southeast Supervisor Mike Rights. Mike Rrights is a nightmare for the residents in Southeast, Southeast is the biggest joke on the east cost – thank you Greg Ball.
Give this Lalor a chance. I met this guy once, so it’s not like I have some history with him. The Republican Party in Putnam County is finished anyway, so why not give new blood a chance instead of the same old tired names?
Yeah, I think Greg Ball is dying to be a Congressman, but he realizes that he’s not as strong as he used to be. Took people a while, but they figured out that he talks a lot but delivers nothing. It’s not about writing up bills: there are currently over 10,000 bills sitting in the State Assembly gathering dust. These bills that Greg wrote up will never, ever ever be voted upon or even spoke about. Like I said, it’s not about bill writing, it’s about JUICE. Greg once stated reently that he has gained as much power in one year as as Vinny Leibell has in 25 years. I seriously beg to differ. It’s about JUICE: Leibell can pick up a phone right now and anyone in the State will answer the phone. That’s not true with Greg Ball. And that’s the difference.
Greg Ball and team corruption aka “Save Our Southeast” are playing the games that they accused their opponents of, but were never able to prove.
It’s so sickening that Greg Ball lied so blatantly to the public about no-bid garbage contracts and a corrupt government meanwhile he’s the only one to date who has been caught manipulating the public trust for private benefit. Greg Ball is the only one who has been caught making back room deals and having shady conversations, “you scratch my back, etc…”
Greg Ball needs to be removed from office ASAP, either through the ballot box or in steel bracelets. He is bad news.
Paul,
Let’s not forget about that silly “MS-13” scribbles that he keeps standing next to. He needs to figure out real quick that nobody believed him and his crww about the MS-13. NOBODY. Each time he sends out a picture of himself standing in front of that fake scribble, he loses yet more credibility.
Ball is finished, he has been exposed for the fraud that he is. He has passed no legislation that he sponsored, Ball is a big fat zero and the people in his district are paying for the mistake of electing him.
Here it comes, The Republican Party in Putnam is not finished. There is some new blood coming up that has some promise. Anthony Fusco County Legislator from the 9th District, Kenneth Schmitt Supervisor form Carmel. There is Gouldman who has been making some noise as he runs against Galef.
does anyone know how this convention is going to work? what are the rules? Who is in charge? How are the votes counted?
Is this Boss Tweed or are there actually ground rules? That woudl take some reporting, but it would be a good story.
It should be interesting
I have heard and read about Bill Gouldman, he is making some good points. I hope he has a chance. I like what he is saying. We do need new blood in Albany.
Joe,
I strongly disagree, based on the facts. The fact is that most people moving up here nowadays are from the City, and the number of them that are Democrats is staggering. Republicans used to outnumber Democrats by very wide margins; no longer. Within 2-3 years, enrollment will be equal. In addition, the Republican Party is led by a guy who has as his main interest the consolidation of his own power, not the strength of his Party. He encourages people that serve on Republican Committees to stay home from meetings and such and just give him their proxies. All well and good, but what the chairman has done is make all of his committee people lazy and useless; when it comes time to get out there and work and campaign, they’ve been so accustomed to just giving the Chairman their proxy that they think they can just give him their proxy for this also. If you’re needed to stand in front of the A&P and hand out palm-cards, then you’re needed to stand in front of the A&P and hand out palmcards. You can’t give a proxy. Yet, the chair has built an entire group of lazy committee people, all so he can control 40 votes by them giving him their proxies, now it’s coming back at him with a vengeance. The Republican Party is finished in Putnam County. Finished, and they have themselves to blame.
Joe,
I just read the other part of your message. Another part of the reason why the Republican Party in Putnam County is finished, besides enrollment, is the quality of our candidates and what they do when they get into office. First, look at not only enrollment, but election results. Republicans are still winning, Yes, but by less and less margins. Head to head, Republican vs. Democrat, Bob Bondi LOST to Mike Santos in the race for County Executive. Are you aware of that? Of course not. That’s not something Tony likes to make public. If not for the automatic Conservative/Independent lines that are thrown Bondi’s way, Putnam would now have a Democrat as a County Executive. Our State Assemblyman turned out to be something less desirable than we thought. We believed he was our saving grace; two short years later, a strong opponent can beat him. Tony Fusco is a good new Legislator; the problem with Tony is he’s too “in your face”, and that turns people off. He always has to attack. Our Sheriff has destroyed the Sheriff’s Department, and what’s the hope for the future there? Running against him is a part-time cop who has less experience than the Deputies he’d be commanding, and a part-time Judge from Southeast with absolutely no law enforcement experience who only wants to be Sheiff because he didn’t have the courage to roll up his sleeves and run for D.A. last year. Then we have the Congressional race. I know Republicans don’t like to discuss it, but we lost the Congress seat to a Democrat. Our Town Boards are the same old faces, nobody new, nobody dynamic.
One more thing you mentioned. Yes, Kenny Schmitt is a good guy. However, with the rules he has instituted for his board meetings, where nobody is allowed to discuss anything, he has dug his own political grave. Just like Bob Pozzi.
Good Point
Greg Ball is single handily killing the Republican Party, Ball is promoting republicans to run against each other. Ball is an evil man with a desire to create his own “Ball’s Army”. Ball operates in a cult-like manner and his way of doing business is scary. Fortunately for them many of Ball’s robots have jumped off his bandwagon and have found true religion. Ball will be exposed in 2008.
For the record, Tony Fusco may be a Ball puppet, but it appears he may be starting to see the light. Ken Schmitt never was a Ball robot, Schmitt is a free man only committed to the people he serves.
Greg Ball’s biggest robot is Michael Rights from Southeast.
Congressman Hall is the embodiment of who a congress person is: intelligent representation, hard working, listening to every constituent, active in the district and willing to work to learn the ins and outs of that body of men and women he is part of down in that place called washington ! no one from any party can hold a candle to him. he will be easily re-elected on his merits alone.
Greg Ball is NOT in the running for Congress.. will someone figure this out. You may or may not be happy about it, but all the whining will not get you anywhere. At this moment the republican nomination is up for grabs and is currently between Oros and Lalor.
Oros is currently a county legislator with a track record of bipartisan leadership. He is not a ‘career’ politician, rather a proven, working attorney and has taken the lead on many issues that directly affect the lives of his constituents such as attempting to safeguard children from pedophiles. Getting living wages for our nurses who are the backbone of the medical industry, spinning off the Medical Center into a public corporation to lessen impacts on our taxes, etc… his record speaks for itself – let me repeat, he has a record.
Mr Lalor also has a record of duty to his country – in the military. That is a wonderful service, however, that does not necessarily qualify him to perform medical operations, teach school, or become a congressperson.
With the state of affairs that our area is currently in, I apologise to Mr Lalor, but I do not want to have him ‘train’ on my dime. I think he needs to get some experience in the ‘political’ arena – political chops – in more local venues first, before getting thrown to the wolves and being useless to me, and others that he would represent.
Tactical planning in an army should be done by generals in an army, not by army grunts. Otherwise the war is lost.
Just because Lalor isn’t a clubhouse politician doesn’t mean he’s not qualified to be a Congressman? What’s the qualifications, anyway? For the first time I am now being told there is a job description. NO, Lola, just because Oros is currently a politician doesn’t nearly make him more qualified. Westchester has huge problems which for some reason you chose not to print; that’s fine, the problems are well known. Oros is another tired, old face.
Lalor represents the future. New. Fresh face. Experience with life. And with death. A guy who fought for his survival is well-rounded in my book. And experienced. You talk about tactical planning in an Army being done by Generals. Way off. This is Putnam. Many of these politicians couldn’t do anything else. There’s a County xecutive with a college degree in Economics making decisions that have proven very un-economical. There’s a State Assemblyman who leaves the Air Force in time of war to run for NYS Assembly. We have an Army General as a Sheriff, no law enforcement experience, and a part-time judge with no law enforcement experience who is dying to replace him. We have a highway commissioner running a golf course, an accountant running the highway department, and we store financial records in the ceiling. That’s how much protocol we have.
The notion that Oros is better prepared than Lalor to be a Congressman is almost as laughable as the notion that John Hall is more qualified than either Oros or Lalor. In the short time since he started running, Lalor has already demonstrated an ability to organize, formulate policy positions, and express them articulately. Lalor’s said more on the issues than Hall has since Hall started his first campaign a few years ago. And Lalor’s done it while going to law school and holding down real jobs, while Hall has been feeding at the public trough and doing little other than raising funds from Moveon.org, George Soros, and his hippy celebrity friends from outside the district.
And as for Oros, he’s notable only for his lack of notoriety despite all of his time in office. “Undistinguished” comes to mind, despite plenty of opportunity to have distinguished himself.
joe dioguardi?!? i didn’t even know he was still alive…. i saw him resurface in the early 90’s but i haven’t seen and/or heard of him since.
i guess he did a good job in the 80’s, back when i weighed less, was in my young 40’s and had alot more hair. but where has he been since? he’s got to be in his 70’s by now.
dioguardi coming out from the shadows to run for congress again? i just don’t see it. curious as to where the reporter got his name from.
makes no sense.
Having no strong opinion of either candidate, but a strong opinion of Mr. Hall, I am interested in the fundraising numbers for this race. Right now, it seems to me as though Mr. Oros has raised $63,000 in one month, while Mr. Lalor raised $87,000 in one year.
I see the Journal News pointed out that Mr. Lalor is where Hall was during his primary, but is that seriously enough to take on someone with over a mil in the bank?
I may prefer Lalor’s arch-conservatism (although I am getting somewhat turned off by hearing him bash every Republican elected official in New York-they aint perfect, but it could be worse) to Mr. Oros’ “light” brand, but I will vote for the candidate that can beat Hall in the fall.
I really think Lalor can do it. People are tied of guys like Hall——carpetbaggers who come out of the woodwork to run for office while secretly pushing their own socialist agenda. I keep hearing this garbage about Lalor being a “security guard” and “night watchman”, probably from the same idiot. Anyone with a half-way open mind can see that Lolor took that midnight job because it worked out for him while he put himself through law school and raised a family with very young children. THAT, in my book, is the best experience and qualifications a person can possibly have.
when you run for congress against an incumbant you need
one of two things….both are better..large amounts of
money…and/or a political base..lalor has neither
oros has a base….all this talk about a fresh face
etc..is meaningless…its about name id and money
its also about who is at the top of the ticket
and McCain does very well against either Clinton
or Obama in the state as a whole..given that
the registration is overwhelmingly democrat ie
5-2…and that recent registration figures show
200,000 new dems and only 4000 new republicans (thats
right I didn’t leave off a zero)...Clinton and Obaman
only are 6 points ahead of McCain…that district
is not a democratic district..Hall’s win can be chalked
up to the unpopularity of the war in 2006..Now the
economy is on the front burner as the number one issue
a fiscal conservative like Oros who knows what
he is talking about….and has legislative experience
in the area of budgets may just be the right guy
to take back the seat…certainly lalor has no
economic backround of any kind, no legislative backround
no name id..and no money…Dioguardi is a disgraced former
congressman…who represents all the is bad about
washington and fund raising…so his baggage eliminates
him..even I would support Hall over Dioguardi…...
At least John Hall was a county legislator, school board member and community organizer.
George Oros has been a councilman and county legislator and sits on the boards of several organizations throughout the 19th district.
Lalor has no experience in public life whatsoever.
Yes, that’s correct. Lalor was never a politician. That’s a positive, not a negative. And John Hall moved into this area for the express purpose of running for Congress. That is the very definition of CARPETBAGGER.
So Oros is a politician in Westchester County, big deal. The Consultant knows zero about Lalor and insists on making up nonsense like, “Lalor has no Economic expereince of any kind”. Except, he makes no effort to define what constitutes “economic experience”. Bob Bondi has a college degree in ECONOMICS for crying out loud, and look where we are. Anyone who has balanced a checkbook has economic experience. Anyone who reads the Wall Street Journal has experience. A guy who works full time at night, while finishing law school during the day, and taking care of very young children, including an infant, that’s experience of the highest order. It surely beats being the lead singer for a has-been pop band.
how interestng it is that you put down a succesful entertainer who is certain to be worth millions and
therefore by virtue of his knowlege of investments
and accumulation of wealth ipso facto has economic experience and how interesting that you subscribe
economic experience to a candidate who has never
voted on a budget..or dealt with larger government
issues…you problem with a musician becomming
a politician is not an argument for lawlor’s
qualifications or lack thereof for public office
Hey Consultant.
Lalor was a high school economics teacher. And by the way, the last Republican Speaker of the House (Denny Hastert)was a high school teacher before entering politics.
Also, where was Oros’s base in November when he won by 300 votes even after Volpe committed the gaffe of gaffe’s with the 2AM robo-dial?
If you think that Oros’ experience as an overpaid legislature is superior in the eyes of the electorate to Lalor’s experience as an underpaid US Marine and Catholic school teacher you are wrong. Good luck trying to sell that in a Republican Primary during a time of war.
Why couldn’t Oros, who has been in politics 20 years out raise Lalor who has been in politics 5 months? Lalor is in 6 figures already. Why does Oros need has-been politicos to give his campaign “legitimacy” and fundraising clout? Oros isn’t even confident in his candidacy. If he was he wouldn’t have loaned $10Gs to his campaign. He would have rather than donate it.
That Lalor is even still standing at this point is an indication of his political ability and says his message is resonating.
Also, how is Goerge Oros going to defend the Iraq war when Hall brow beats him with it? Oros is the ultimate chicken hawk!!!
Lalor, at a minimum neutralizes Hall’s ability to politicize the war and Veterans issues.
The Oros candidacy to nudge out Lalor and trivialize his service to this country does precisely what Hall has been trying to do all along; drive Veterans and military families (1/6th of the electorate in NY-19) into the Hall camp.
Finally, it is a big election year and the mighty “consultant” has to dish out his advice for free on the internet. That tells me everything I need to know Mike Edleman.
love it when you just can’t help but personally attack
me…I thought this blog was for having fun…but I guess
not…it is for those with an agenda..but here is some
free advice anyway..you can’t win an election against
an incumbant without name id and some base in the
district…does mr lalor have that….because if you
want to dislodge a republican that is what you need..
what by the way is lawler position on the war…in
that district clearly John Hall won on the Iraq issue
How does lalor intend to get people to understand
that Hall was a mistake..does he take the McCain
position… or does he admit the war was wrong…
apparently he hasn’t thought it out…if he was a high
school economics teacher thats a good thing…
but he still has no practical legislative experience
and apparently no fundraising ability since he has
been at it for over a year…
and on a personal note..I give advice for free each and
every time I appear on cable, or WCBS radio affilates throughout the nation…you seem to be implying that
becuase a presidential candidate is not paying me
that it diminshes my opinion..who is paying you?
the nation
Actually, according to Lalor’s own bio, he was a Social Studies Teacher, not Economics.
Ad- hominems result from faulty reasoning and paltry argument.
ed and walt you are both right..when people
can’t muster a logical argument they attack the
person..its called ad hominum…its for those
who intellect is not so hot
Consultant: agenda? I met Kieran Lalor a grand total of ONE TIME. I am impressed with him and his energy. Elections shouldn’t be about how much currency someone has in a financial institution, or how much money one can afford to give away in donations. It’s about his/her vision for the future. If nothing else, Mr. Lalor has earned the right to be heard. The choice comes down to a guy who’s whole entire accomplishment in life was being a pop singer for a 1970’s pop band, or a guy who worked midnights for 4 years while putting himself through law school while at the same putting food on the table for his family. You said that he has no economic experience. I’d call the ability to balance his own budget, provide for a wife and young children, and go to law school solid economics experience.
I don’t know why you attack people who you’ve never met and know nothing about.
I am not attacking anyone..I am telling you what I think any
nominee has to have to beat an incumbant….98% of incumbants get re elected every two years to the US Congress
I agree that elections should not be about money..but they
are, in part and also about name identification…I ran for
the congress my self and although endorsed by the media
my opponent was an incumbant who was the heir to the US
plywood fortune…A pop singer is not necessarily eliminated
from holding public office and is not by virtue of being
an entertainer necessarily devoid of either a good mind
or a command of economics…sonny bono is an example
so is ronald reagan…so I wouldn’t be so quick to
dismiss Mr Hall’s intellect…In addition I have heard
him speak and he is quite able to understand and articulate
the issues…Mr Lalor absolutley has the right to be
heard….But he has to earn the right to be nominated
by proving he is 1. able to mount a good campaign
2. has a base of support 3. has the ability to
raise the money necessary to get his message out.
Not to be critical, but what is this “food on the table” stuff? Over and over.
Has anyone read this hilarious post from Mike Edelman “the consultant” from 2 years ago. I enjoy how he refers to himself in the 3rd person throughout and then writes how the public loves Mike Edelman. If the public loved Mike so much I have to think he would have a platform other than the comment section of a blog.
the consultant
November 22nd, 2006 at 7:47 am
you accuse mike edelman of getting a “sweatheart†deal
you want to spell out what you think that is because
as far a I know mike never received a dime from the
pirros or anyone connected to them..he has defended jeanine
and al out of friendship and they and everyone else knows
it…besides wasn’t jeanine the republican candidate for attorney general this year..so shouldn’ta repubublican commentator defend her candidacy..Edelman is not stepping
down any time soon..and news 12 picks its own commentators
You will note he is no longer introduced as having any
relationship with the party and those you have mentioned
are ineligibile to appear on tv becuase they are now or
will be soon candidates for office…sorry you don’t like
mike, but apparently the public loves him…because unlike
some of you he doesn’t defend the indefensible..the two
leaders rosemary panio and zhey jeries have taken the party
into the back rooms..they are the ones that will resign
And Mike “Slip and Fall” Edelman is the king of personal attacks. Seems like he can’t take the heat.
1. how do you know who was the author of that particular
post? anyone can log on as “the consultant”
2. is it accurate…are panio and jeries now defunct?
3. why on earth would you save a post from 2 years ago
from a political blog..you apparently don’t like
mike…or me…
4. why is it demeaning to participate in a blog
every one of the political comnentators have
one and participate..so who are you to judge
whether its indicative of anything…
5. but more importantly..you are confusing a political
attack with a personal attack ..do you know the
difference…If I say someone is a bad person
its personal..if I say someone is wrong politically
for whatever reasons its not personal….
6. the only personal attacks you reference are apparently
the ones inaccurately accusing “mike” of getting
a sweetheart deal from the pirros…why don’t you
tell us what the deal was…or can’t you
accept the fact that someone would defend their
friends of 30 years out of loyalty not money
7. good luck…whomever you are..but you will notice
that I am still doing news 12…and those who
were screaming for my scalp..ms panio and mr
jeries ..are gone from the political scene
Mikey,
You’re not really participating in a political blog, you’re posting comments. A lot of political commentators have their own blogs. You have a comment section in someone else’s blog.
and why do you put mike in quotes? It seems like you’re saying “This alleged, [dramatic use of air quotes] mike did not have a sweet heart deal. Even, if you were not Mike Edelman, why would you put Mike in quotes?
You guys (if there are two) who are hounding Edelman ironically are doing a good job of making Hall seem like a statesman.
“as far a I know mike never received a dime from the
pirros or anyone connected to them.”
This is a tangential issue but obviouslly the Consultant received both economic gain and notoriety from his dealings with the Pirros. According to his own website, “He served as Managing Attorney for the highly regarded law firm of Pirro and Monsell, which specialized in zoning planning and land use issues.” Given that Mr. Edelman’s previous legal experience was as a prosecutor and not as a real estate attorney, one can infer that it was Mr. Edelman’s name and connections and not his legal skills that led to this appointment. It would seem likewise for his current position.
As for defending the Pirros, I am sure he does so in part from friendship but also from self-interest. He gets his name in the newspaper. Whenever, someone from the NY Times wants a quote from a Westchester Republican, Mr. Edelman names almost inevitably shows up. Moreover, if the Pirros political fortunes had turned around, Mr. Edelman would have benefited.
That said there is no appearance of impropriety from any of Mr. Edelman’s dealings with the Pirros. Just to make that clear.
its the hounders I like to aggravate…..there are very few
of them ..only republicans who resent the fact that over
the years the consultant has not caved in to the leaders
who come and go..and who bitch from time to time that
the consultant is too “liberal”
Ian is a wise person….thanks for your fair an unbiased
remarks
Let’s be honest here, Mike. Anywhere else but in NYC and its immediate suburbs, you’d be too liberal to fit comfortably within the GOP.
that’s a pretty interesting statement..how do you know
what my position is on any national issue..Is John McCain
too liberal for the party as well..how about Rudy..too
liberal..keep eliminating centrist republicans and you
won’t be able to elect anyone…look at the new registration
figures in new york 300,000 new democrats 4100 new republicans…how about pa 200,000 new democrats 5000 new
republicans….I have been a Republican since 1964..
and understand economic and national security issues
and I won’t be bullied by the conservative wing of the
party as to what constitutes a “real” republican…
sue..how about “Arnold” in california emphasis on the
fornia…his he too liberal as well..and I could go on
Rudy proved he was too liberal for the national GOP. You’re just blind to that because you’re a liberal Rudy and Rockefeller Republican.
Lalor’s Iraq Veterans for Congress group is on the front page of Wikipedia right now. It mentions his battles with “George Soros”. For a minute I thought it said “George Oros”.
I just read the same stuff..It is a major mistake to make
Iraq the issue in that congressional district..the economy
is the issue….you will not dislodge Hall by arguing
that the president was correct to take us to war
or that he did not cherry pick intelligence…you might
want to argue that we were wrong but we should not
precipitously pull out as that would be irresponsible
but lalor’s approach is to militaristic for that district
and requires the same people that elected Hall..to
vote for Lalor which is to force them to admit they
were wrong two years ago..BIG MISTAKE.
To answer above comment…
Yes, Rudy was WAYYYYYYYY to LIBERAL for the national base.
I told you all that many, many, many months ago.
Few were listening.
Remember, State & National politics is way, way different then local – backyard politics.
RE: Above comment….
If you don’t listen to the GOP base (Conservatives – 2A, Pro-Lifers, Traditional marriage, Fiscal, etc) wing you will become another Bob Dole or George Bush the first….YOU LOSE the race.
I have been on target with many in the field and this is how the game is played. This is major league politics.
ok jim thanks for the insight..but there is a whole different paradigm going on which is not to say
that your voters are less important..it is to say
that it will be the centrists that decide who the
next president will be…social issue will take
a back seat to economic issues…and social issues
will take a back seat to national security…and
rembember Obama has the most liberal voting record
of any US senator…Dukakis, Kerry, Gore…
that is the way the democrats pick their candidates
John McCain will run to the right of center..and this
is a right of center nation…some of the above posters
keep saying that I am too liberal..but I am clearly
right of center…on fiscal policy, tax policy, national
security, etc…it is people like me that will
decide this election…ie taking myself out
of my role as a republican commentator ..how would
I vote…thats why I have never been wrong in
the presidential elections..with the exception of
my youthful exhuberance for one barry morris goldwater
and the “conscience of a conservative”///but the party
has gone much farther to the right on issues with
which goldwater was not enamored…gays guns and god
barry said you don’t have to be straight to shoot straight
and then the evangelicals stepped in and the result
is the decimation of the party per se…however
those who are independent still understand that
Obama as articulate as he may be is a liberal’s liberal
his relationships are with radicals..ayers, and wright
and his attitude is as described by my collegue
lawrence otis graham in “our kind of people”...
erudite…unconnected to the average guy…above
the rest…etc…he a preppy club member who should
by all rights be a republican ..but he is a liberal
from Chicago and they cannot win a general
The Consultant is New York Central. Sorry, that used to be a railroad. He’s New York-centered.
His referring to Ahhnold in Caleefornia is risky. That state is as bad off as New York. The middle class is fleeing there too. They wouldn’t need to hire Hollywood extras to re-do the film “Exodus.” Just set up cameras on the roads leading east from California.
But I agree with the Consultant about the economy and not Iraq being the main issue in Hall’s district.
all aboard>>>>>
The only good news on this Blog so far is that Ball is NOT going for congress … so far. He probably will try next time around but many people will know by then he is a power hungry person only interested in himself.
Maybe it is a good thing that his girlfriend threw him out so he can learn for once, that you cant keep living off of other or the system.
wow now there is a personal attack which does not
belong in politics..his personal life is his own
business….so his girlfriend through him out so what!
Jim, when was the last time you won a statewide election in New York or nationwide? Dole, did not lose b/c he wasn’t conservative enough. He lost b/c the economy was good and he failed to really identify any issue that Clinton was “failing” the country on. If the Lewinsky scandal had been brought to light earlier, Dole would have won. Dole, also seemed a bit out of touch and kept trying to take us back to the 1950’s.
The majority of the country is pro-choice but favors greater restrictions on abortion. The majority of the country is in favor of traditional marriage but it is a delicate issue as no one wants to be seen as bigoted and younger voters tend to favor gay marriage. Everyone claims to be a fiscal conservative but there is disconnect between voters wanting low taxes and a lot of services i.e. “don’t tax me, tax the guy behind the tree” type of attitude. It is unclear whether voters would prefer to pay more taxes to get a balanced budget and to preserve social security or whether voters want less taxes, and are willing to curtail elements of the welfare state.
I am not convinced by your position. Usually, the GOP has won by nominating candidates who take certain conservative positions while disgarding others. For example, Reagan was very pro-immigration. Bush, won by pledging to be a “compassionate conservative.”
I haven’t seen anyone win by pledging to be a doctronaire conservative. And you definitely can’t win statewide by pledging to do so. Pataki had it about right in 1992. Tough on crime, fiscal responsibility, and not making social issues much of an issue. Please note that is different from Mayor Bloomberg, who is considerably more liberal. Giuliani, you could argue either way. I believe Giuliani was about as conservative as you can be and still be electable in NYC.
Ian your political point is well taken…only a republican
that is perceived as conservative on crime and taxes
but otherwise moderate is capable of winning state wide
elections…now…it is true that in the past someone
like D’Amato could win being pro life..but that didn’t last
the problem now is that there is a perception that in order
to win you have to have both the republican and conservative
lines (and in some areas the INd line as well)..so instead
of fighting it out in the Republican Party for the nomination and then letting the conservative party decide
whether to cross endorse..candidates first, check with
the conservative party to see if their candidacies are
“acceptable” and the litmus test is always pro life
pro gun anti gay…so that basically eliminates the
republican before he gets started….a la Faso, and
Spencer…although both were not good candidates
in their own rights for different reasons..nevertheless
as you will recall ed cox was eliminated as was bill weld
Jim,
Did you run some races way back in the 1980’s for some Westchester people? The Mayor of Yonkers and also against Gordon Burrows? I remember the name as an up and coming political consultant.
We’re kidding ourselves if we think Lalor won’t be a factor in this race. Oros represents what was——Lalor I believe represents what can be.
Jim I have run some key races in this county over the past
30 years…including the Di FIore race as a Republican
against a 100,000 registered democratic edge, Lalor will
have to primary Oros if oros gets the party endorsement
does he have the money to do that…and without the
parties endorsement he will have a tough time convincing
both the ind and conservative parties to support him
that makes it a whole different ballgame…
Lalor will beat Oros. He’s in tune with the everyday voter, and that’s what people will go after.
“In tune with the everyday voter,” as long as the everyday voter is one that wants tax cuts even when the budget goes more into the red every minute, and is one that is totally delusional about how great the war in Iraq is going. (Gallup has a new poll with 63% of the US public disapproving of the war.)
Like tax cuts are responsible for our budget woes. DUH!
Ball has always maintained a residence in Putnam Lake (for three years) and has lived there. He never sold his home. He hasn’t lived in his hometown of Pawling since he was 18, when he left to serve in the U.S. military. Anyone can check this info at the board of elections.
Amazing how many people feel the need to talk about Ball constantly?Is it fear, or do you all have a hidden crush? Does Paul Johnson and Echkardt secretly fantasize about Ball?
Do you guys think if you post and lie enough it will eventually become true? The local papers bashed Ball for over a year and he won with 70%+. He is sitting on over $200k and has favorables higher than anyone but Leibell and is neck and neck with him, and above when you compare on issues.
Maybe you can all hope the tooth fairy makes Ball, the only guy fighting the machine, disappear?
The Truth says, “Ball is sitting on over $200,000.†Please show me the proof of Ball having anywhere near $200,000. The last time Ball claimed he reached his goal of $100,000. when the records were checked it revealed that he lent his campaign almost $40,000. to reach his goal and he had an outstanding balance due of $52,000., which left Ball with approximately $8,000. Ball is a fraud and everyone knows it.
Hopefully the Republican Committee in Putnam County will have the balls (pun intended) to not give Greg Ball the Republican line and allow a well rounded candidate to surface and represent the district.
Ball still has not answered the question about his military record as to why he was either released or why he departed early. Ball will have to answer this question prior to this next election cycle, Ball will not escape by running from this question, this question will get answered. The facts will come out.