Westchester GOP supporting Ball
-
- May
- 9
Westchester Republican Committee Chairman Doug Colety reminded me in an email this morning that the Westchester GOP “will be supporting (state Assemblyman) Greg Ball” at its convention later this month. Ball is facing a challenge from Republican John Degnan, a former Brewster mayor and village trustee, in his bid for a second term representing the 99th Assembly District.
Degnan was endorsed this week by the Southeast GOP committee and a story about the race in today’s paper didn’t include the Westchester GOP’s expected support of Ball, R-Patterson.
I’m sure there’s more to come on this race so stay tuned.
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on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 10:56 am by Mike Risinit.
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that will be quite a fight….lots of bad feelings
in that district among republicans as other bloggers
have indicated
I think the Consultant is mistaken in it being “Quite a fight”, at least in the primary, which is a good example of why cross endorsements are bad…
Degnan served as Brewster Mayor with the nomination of both the Democrats and Republicans. He came in last in a three-way Republican primary for Town supervisor. Degnan stands no chance of being nominated over Ball by the party apparatus, and is unlikely to be able to primary.
In the general election, things could get more interesting, but Degnan, who is a notoriously poor fundraising, will have a hard time keeping up with money machine Ball without some serious help from DACC
The only bad feelings for Ball are from the RINOs and pinko liberals who troll this board.
I am disappointed that Chairman Colety has said that the Republican Party in Westchester County will be supporting Greg Ball for re-election. Does Westchester County have republican delegates? Do they have a say? Is Mr. Colety stating that regardless of the feelings of the delegates that Ball is going to get the endorsement? Whatever happened to being a voice of the delegates in the party? Is the Westchester County Republican Party Chairman a dictator? Is the Chairman aware that Greg Ball has sided with Governor Spitzer and has taken positions against Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno?
Greg Ball is about to engage in his fight of his life, Ball ran from his last fight, the fight for our country when he departed the military prior to fulfilling his commitment to the people of the United States. Ball will see strong conservatives, republicans, independents and the democrats come out against him in 2008.
Greg Ball has turned his back on the conservatives and republicans in his district by continuing to promote his flunkies, Matt Neuringer and Michael Rights just to name two. Greg Ball has run candidates in primaries against good solid conservative republicans in his district. Stating that Ball has pissed of the liberals is a nice way of trying to give Ball coverage and divert the truth, but the truth of the matter is Ball has pissed off many solid republicans with strong conservative/republican values.
Ball will be defeated in November.
Mr. Colety you should call the republicans in northern Westcheater, Putnam and Dutchess county to get a real feeling of the pulse of republicans. Ball is a disliked man and he is slowly destroying the Republican Party and its values.
well contrary to the posting above apparently there are
some bad feelings and its not by Rhino’s its by offended
conservatives in ball’s own area….looks like jacob
and re may be off on this one
Jacob and Re are probably insiders with Ball who would like to put a spin on the truth about Greg Ball. But, the fact of the matter is at first many people were impressed with Ball and his in your face style with all his phony promises. However, in a short while people began to realize Ball is all talk and no action, Ball has not had one piece of legislation that he introduced as the key sponsor signed into law, that is correct not one.
Let’s look at a few other facts,
•Ball votes against the budget and then comes back to the district with some small amount of pork money from the budget and distributes checks and says, “Look what I brought home for youâ€. Ball did not bring anything home, he voted against the budget and accepts money from the budget and stands proudly as if he did something to bring the money home. Ball counts on the other legislators to vote “yes†so he can say he voted “no†on the budget if that isn’t phony then nothing is.
•Ball signs onto to others legislation and when they pass he claims he had the legislation passed – phony again.
•Ball will vote “yes†on an item when the Assembly has to vote and then he comes back to the district and says I passed this legislation when in reality he had nothing to do with the passage of the legislation other then raising his hand – phony again.
•Ball stands up at the Assembly chamber and says, “I stand proudly with Governor Spitzer†and places a picture of himself with the Governor and him on his website. The day Spitzer story breaks, Ball takes the picture of Spitzer off his website and claims he was always against the Governor – really phony.
•Ball promised to resolve the route 22 traffic problem when elected – problem has gotten worse – broken promise.
•Ball said he would help reduce our school tax bill if elected, my school taxes keep increases – promise broken.
•Ball said he would clear Brewster of illegal immigrants, Brewster has the same amount of illegal immigrants as when he ran for office – promise broken.
I may start calling Greg Ball, “The Phony, Broken Promise Kidâ€
The Republican party continues to fight and fight, with no end in sight. Running someone against Greg can hurt them.
I also see the Southeast Republican Committee added 10 more people that same night. And I am reminded——
is it true that Judge Borkowski of Southeast is running for Putnam County Sheriff? I see that his wife was named onto the Committeeundoubtedly at his urging-and I remember hearing the rumor. Isn’t it unethical for a Judge to run for political office? Doesn’t he have to resign his judgeship first? Not even Sheriff yet, and breaking the rules already!! With so much at stake and so many politically active people in this County, why is the position of Sheriff taken as such a joke? Another guy with no cop experience wants to be the Sheriff. Good grief. Borkowski must be going through a midlife crisis.I see articles like this, all the fighting, and it’s sad.
No surprise here. After all the printing and mailing Colety has done for Ball and his surrogates, what else was Colety going to do? This nomination and enthusiastic support has been bought and paid for.
Colety is making a big mistake Ball will lead Colety and those who are still drinking the koolaid down a terrible path with no return. Ball has supported Spitzer when he was Governor and called for the resignation of Joe Bruno and other good republicans. Ball has no loyalty to Colety or the Republican Party. I know Colety has limited candidates at this time, but investing time and energy into Greg Ball is like throwing money into the wind. Ball will be exposed in 2008.
With all do respect to Ball’s oppenent in his last Assembly race, I would not consider him a serious candidate. He was a man of limited understanding of local politics and a novice to the world of running for elected office. Some would say once Stephens was defeated, Ball had no real opposition. In the 99th Assembly District most in the know understand that a republican will always win this seat hands down once they get through a primary. However Ball has made himself vulnerable by his inability to get anything done for his district. The only thing we get from Ball is rallies, demonstration and promises that all mount to nothing positive. Ball will still have to answer the question posted in another blog; Where is Greg Ball, I thought when he signed an agreement with the United States to serve in the military that he would fulfill his commitment. Why did Greg Ball leave the military before his commitment date had come? That question is on the mind of many people. Ball should clear the air and answer that simply question. “Why the early departure from his commitment to our Country?â€Inquiry minds want to know?
I would think Greg Ball may want to reimburse the United States Military Academy for some of that money they invested in him and he left them high and dry by departing early. I think Greg Ball has taken advantage of our tax dollars by not fulfilling his commitment to the people of the United States. The points about Ball not being a dedicated republican is concerning to me also.
Here we go again. This is a repeat of 2006, the same Stephens people quoting the same slander about veterans. Misreporting something to suite your political ambitions does not make it accurate. I am not a “Ball insider”. I never cared about the race—in fact I donated money to Stephens in 2003, 2004 & 2005 (while I was serving in Iraq) before I even knew who Greg Ball was. When I came home, and my parents mentioned they’d run into some Air Force guy walking around at the memorial day parade, I paid it no mind. Even the lawn signs, posters, etc., did not catch my attention.
However, in May of 2006, at a VFW meeting, a disgraceful letter (later picked up on Newscopy) was circulated by the incumbent, Mr. Stephens. It insinuated a number of things that were patently untrue, and very disparaging to the military in general.
Ball (a 1st Lt at the time) went on to release a copy of his DD-214, showing his honorable separation from active duty. He entered the IRR, and was promoted to Captain. They don’t promote people who depart early and resign their commission.
Obviously the posters (using inaccurate terms like “Commitment date” instead of ETS) are not veterans. These tactics did not work the last time, in fact it turned me into a primary voter. If they were to stop, today, I probably wouldn’t bother showing up to vote in a September primary. However, if they continue, I will call all my friends and family (as I did in 2006), and let them know that the Stephens people are out there again, slamming the military.
Ball won Putnam 2:1, Westchester 3:1, and Duchess 5:1. Even if Mr. Degnan improves on Stephen’s Putnam totals, which is unlikely, he will be defeated. How much the dirty campaigners of Team Stephens continue to anger otherwise disinterested conservatives like myself, will determine how badly Degnan loses.
And lets not forget stephens employed a certain independence party in his office [the one distributing that letter]
you know who’s no show job cost the taxpayers of the 99th thousands but it secured stephens the independence party spot on the ballot.
The former Democrat Mayor of Brewster and Democratic candidate for Southeast supervisor in a Republican primary?? What???
Ball, the limited government CONSERVATIVE, has put a stop to patronage appointments. He almost cleaned out the rest of the patronage party in southeast in 2007.
Ball, the fiscal CONSERVATIVE, had the principles to vote against the bloated Budget, refused to endorse carry a 40% Putnam County property tax increase to Albany, but still brought home the bacon
Ball, the constructionist CONSERVATIVE, legislator OF THE YEAR from the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Ball, the national security CONSERVATIVE, authored Section N, Article VII, 2008 NYS Executive Budget, giving free tuition to veterans
Ball, the social CONSERVATIVE, Circle of Friends award, from the New York Farm Bureau
Ball, the border security CONSERVATIVE, forced John Degnan to request 287(g) funding
Ball, the environmental CONSERVATIVE, one of the “Rising stars of the Republican Party” according to the NRCC
Degnan is not going to win this race on who is more conservative.
If he wants to make the case that Ball has been too busy knocking off the insiders that control the Working Conservaepublocratdepence party of Southeast, we’ll see if that is enough.
This whole issue with regard to Greg Ball leaving the military can be put to rest by Greg Ball. Please state the date you entered the military academy, the day you graduated and what contract to the military were you under when you graduated the academy? Did Greg Ball complete his contract with the military? If he did then this is a dead issue, if he did not and there are still some concerns out there we the voters have a right to know. Did Greg Ball get an honorable discharge under the “Don’t ask, don’t tell†program? If he did, then say so and we can all move on and people will surmise what the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” scenario was or is. Nevertheless, Greg Ball did not fulfill his contract upon graduating from the academy and that is a fact.
John B:
I am not Mr. Ball, but let me clarify a few things for you and perhaps you will rephrase your innuendo laced question: I am a reservist. Until last year, I was in a TPU (drilling status). At the end of my enlistment date, I was transferred into the IRR (Individual ready reserve). At the time, I received a DD-214 stating I had been honorably separated. However, I still owe the Army another year in the IRR. I can still be mobilized and deployed if they deem it necessary. In fact, I was promoted to Staff Sergeant in November. I have not actually been discharged.
Ball is also in the IRR. Therefor, he still under contract. It is my understanding that since he was a member of the green-to-gold program (an enlisted person who is accepted into one of the Military Academies through their one-year prep schools such as Ft. Monmouth which count as active duty time), the 3 years of active duty time he completed prior to entering the USAF Academy at age 20 count towards the overall service obligation [3 years with basic training completed in between junior and senior year of H.S. in the split op program].
So Ball fulfilled the requisite five years of Active Duty time (1998-99, 99-00, 03-04, 04-05), and was honorably separated (as verified by his DD 214, which I think is still on Newscopy, and lists the exact amount of days he spent).
Since he is still in the IRR, he is still a soldier in the United States Air Force. When you start making “Don’t ask don’t tell” accusations, and “left the military early” questions, you are attacking EVERYONE in the IRR. Including me. Perhaps you don’t see it that way. But that is how it comes across.
Just because I’m in the IRR, I’m gay, or I left the Army early? I don’t think so buddy. After two tours in Iraq, what would be the point of that?
Attacking one IRR soldier is an attack on all IRR soldiers, to me anyway.
the issue of balls separation from the military unless
it was under dishonorable circumstances is not an
issue in a state campaign..
doug coulety cannot be doing greg’s printing..he distinctly told me that as chairman he would not profit from any
candidates campaign..since he selects the candidate
RE: Nice try, but Veterans do not identify with Greg Ball. Sorry if this is a shock to you.
Coulety does
You are mixing apples and oranges, first let me say I respect your service and your continued dedication by continuing to serve as IRR. I assume you are an enlisted military person who did not go thought the academy? Greg Ball went thought our distinguished Air Force Academy and graduated after our country spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on his military education. From what I understand, once you graduate from the military academy and all that money was invested in you, our armed services expects a return on their investment. Greg Ball leaving early whether to become a reservist or by departing the military full time qualifies in my mind as, “not fulfilling his commitmentâ€.
When you graduate from the academy and owe 6 years, you can not say I want to be in the reserves for 6 years and claim I fulfilled my commitment, I expect that the contract would indicate full time service. I would suggest that this question be answered by Mr. Ball in a press release clarifying for us all his service to our country.
I do not think you are gay because you are in the IRR, I don’t know how you interpreted that, I am sure you are a full fledged heterosexual human being with compassion for all people.
With regard to your service to our great country, I have the utmost respect for you and your service – thank you.
The REAL reason Southeast endorsed Degnan: ‘’Cronyism flourishes in town government’’
“Politics Meets Development in Putnam”
New York Times, April 14, 2004
THE Town of Southeast is simmering over a stew of issues, in particular a struggle over the seemingly small matter of whether to elect town board members at large or by a ward system, an issue that could affect development projects like the long-delayed widening of a traffic-clogged major artery.
Underlying the dispute is a wave of political rancor that one side characterizes as the Republican Party’s lock on local politics. The Republicans counter that the effort is a result of jealousy from candidates who can’t gain office under the current system, which they say is fair and democratic.
‘’Cronyism flourishes in town government,’’ said Michael Santos, a Democrat Village of Brewster trustee.
RE: The scenario you gave is complete nonsense. It’s not true and you know it’s not true. Ball got out out of the military EARLY, on an “EARLY-OUT” program, right in the middle of a war. At that time, there were 60 year old reservists who were trying to ETS (Expiration of Term of Service) and yet were held up, yet Ball left the military three years early. Why and How? And another thing. For the three short years he actually did on active duty, he was basically doing absolutely nothing, setting place tables for dinners, and making sure theGeneral’s wife had a ride home. This is not military work. HOW IN THE NAME OF MARY DID AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT GREG BALL GET AWARDED WITH A JOB LIKE THAT? WHO PROTECTED HIM ON ACTIVE DUTY, AND FOR WHAT REASON?
Also, that long, convoluted explanaion you gave about how Greg Ball skipped out on the remaining 3 years of his service obligation. Well, I have some news for you. Ready? THAT IS NOW THE SEVENTH EXPLANATION PROVIDED BY THE BALL CAMP AS TO HOW HE GOT OUT EARLY, AND THE EXPLANATIONS GET MORE SILLY AS TIME GOES ON.
THIS is a slap in the face to all legitimate veterans (you know, the ones who serve their entire committment and don’t try to cash in on it)
I am not the “Ball camp”, I’m just quoting what I recall being told, and reading on newscopy. There was nothing questionable about his DD-214, or it would have been noticed in 2006, and he would not have been allowed into the Yorktown Legion.
Also, the role of Aide-de-camp to the AF CoS is nothing to scoff at, its actually common for the top 4 or 5 percent of USMA graduates to get a similar posting. My roommate in Iraq went home early (did he skip out on his commitment too? I think not) to attend USMAPS at Ft. Monmouth, and is getting ready to graduate USMA this year. He will likely get one of those roles at the Pentagon, even though he is buff and intelligent enough to be S.F. or a Company XO right off the bat (not to mention his prior wartime service).
That said, I know my friend does not owe the exact same amount of time as all the other graduates. He is only required to do four years, because he already had two before USMAPS. I think this is clearly a similar case, thats why its kindof offensive to me that you keep making up stuff about it.
RE: Are you kidding me or something? “Aide de camp” is nothing to scoff at? The job he held was that of someone who checks to see the right people are sitting next to each other at dinners, to arrange transportation for the General’s wife, and to set the places at the lunches. In other words it is a ZERO job, for a ZERO. He was a PROTOCOL OFFICER, for crying out loud. Log onto Google, type in Air Force Protocol Officer, and you see how much of a complete joke his active duty service was.
I really have to hand it to Greg Ball, I really do. Gets a $1 million scholarship to the Air Force Academy, gets himself stationed in Washington DC, not a real AF Base in a forward area, and gets a job filling up water bottles, serves only 50% of the mandatory minimum committment, gets out early while everyone else is shipping out to the war zone. Greg Ball always talks about illegal aliens scamming the system. From what I can see, GREG BALL CAN WRITE A BOOK ON IT!!!!!!
Veterans do not identify with greg Ball, so don’t be afraid of offending any Veterans. If anything, Ball’s military service was itself offensive to every veteran out there.
Re poster says that…’years with basic training completed in between junior and senior year of H.S. in the split op program’
BALL WAS NOT IN ANY PROGRAM DURING HIS HIGHSCHOOLS YEARS. Maybe one year when he went to a post military high school to bring up his grades. So you can not count all those years.
There is a definate shade over this military question with everyone putting their own spin. The one with the answer is Ball and not all his buddies doing these postings. If Ball has nothing to hide, why doesn’t he give the breakdown of military years from beginning to end so this can be put to rest? Or does he have something to hide? The longer this goes on the more speculation there will be.
What Greg Ball needs to do is just come out with it. How did he get out of the military early? If he answers it it fully and truthfully, and people still dog him, then those people will seem harsh and unreasonable, and this issue will become yesterday’s news. But with all these constant excuses as to what happened just draws this thing out even more. This new scenario as to how he got out early is now the seventh version that I’ve heard. What these people don’t understand is that Putnam County is a veteran-heavy County. Veterans know the deal as to how people can get out, and how people can’t get out. He can’t pull anything over on people here, and yet his people continue to try with all these silly scenarios. The latest is that he went to basic training during the summer under some non-existent split-op program. It never happened. When Ball graduated from the Air Force Academy, he owed at least 5 years of active duty. Nothing replaces that, NOTHING. If Greg had been on active duty for 4 years in the military as an enlisted man and applied for the Air Force Academy and was accepted and ultimately graduated, those 4 years he spent as an enlisted man would not count toward that 5 year commitment. Not one day of those 4 years would count toward his active duty obligation, NOT ONE DAY. The only credit he would receive would be for pay scale purposes, that’s it. To claim that the time he spent filling out the application and the time he spent in Prep School would count toward his active duty obligation is ridiculous.
For Greg’s sake, he needs to answer those two problems: how he got out early, and how he was placed in such a useless duty position as a 23 year old healthy in-the-prime-of-his-life Second Lieutenant Air Force Academy graduate.
MIKE EDELMAN (THE CONSULTANT) WROTE:
“doug coulety cannot be doing greg’s printing..he distinctly told me that as chairman he would not profit from any candidates campaign..since he selects the candidate”
WELL, MIKE – YOU’VE BEEN LIED TO. COLETY DID MAIL AND PRINT WORK FOR BALL AND HIS “SAVE OUR SOUTHEAST” TEAM OF RIGHTS, NEURINGER AND YEE THROUGHOUT THE 2007 CAMPAIGN. I’M HOLDING A MAILER HERE FROM SOS THAT WAS SENT TO MY HOUSE LAST YEAR AND SURE ENOUGH ITS GOT COLETY’S MAILING PERMIT ON IT.
ITS REGRETTABLE THAT THE WESTCHESTER GOP CHAIRMAN IS SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH WHAT THE REPUBLICANS IN THE 99TH THINK OF BALL. I SPOKE TO A YORKTOWN DISTRICT LEADER YESTERDAY WHO DOES NOT SUPPORT BALL AND WHEN I TOLD HER ABOUT COLETY’S STATEMENT SHE WAS NOT HAPPY.
LIKE AN EARLIER POSTER WROTE, COLETY’S SUPPORT FOR BALL HAS BEEN BOUGHT AND PAID FOR.
Doug Colety was not the chairman last year.
I will allow “Not a third time†to continue with his valid important points on this issue. It is apparent to me that he/she understands the military protocol better then I. Ball could resolve this whole matter with a simple press release explaining his military record. It does appear that Greg Ball took a short cut and left the military prior to fulfilling his contract to our Country. If I were a Veteran who fulfilled my contract to the Country and I saw that Ball took a short cut, I would not respect him, I would despise him for doing a disservice to the American people who paid for his Military Academy education.
After reading all these posts it becomes evident that this Ball guy probably loves it when people get riled up as it gives him attention. He probably would never answer the military question as the Ball guy gains more attention by not answering and letting people talk about him. This bring out the supporters as well as those that can’t stand him.
However, being an American and supporter of our troops that keep our country safe, by this Ball guy not answering the military question, no vote for him from me.
I am a district leader from Somers which means I am also a member of the Westchester County Republican committe for the 99th Assembly District.
I have nver supported Greg Ball and I do not support him now.
Chairman Colety has been completley irresponsible is his comments. He will soon find that many other district leaders, including me, will be supporting John Degnan for the Assembly at the County Convention.
Colety has no say since he is from New Rochelle.
Deflate the Ball ‘08
I don’t believe that doug was the chairman when
greg ran last time ..in which case he could do all
the printing he wanted …now that he is chairman
I am sure he will honor his committment to
all who voted for him
the consultant is right. coultey did no mailing for ball during the ‘06 campaign but he sure did do a lot of mailing for ball and his surrogates in putmam county in 2007.
coultey’s mail permit appeared on mailers for ball in 2007 and on mailers for save our southeast, a group of republicans running for southeast town board in a primary against the incumbent republicans. that was ball’s hand-picked group and couley did tons of mail for them.
also, i just got a mailer from ball last week and it looks like coultey’s permit is on it! so, tell me mr. consultant, is doug coultey the chair in may 2008?
what’s the excuse this time?
not making excuses..just relating what assurances I received
from the chairman when he was seeking the chair…if the
leader of the party is making money on candidates that
he selects..the members of the executive committee of
the party as well as the committees of the other
counties will have to make whatever judgments they
deem appropriate about whether or not their is a conflict
of any kind
You want another example of Ball politics? The same User (MrPrada) that edits and maintains the Greg Ball Wikipedia page created and wrote almost all of the John Degnan Wikipedia page. Does anyone other than me see a conflict there? The John Degnan page is so full of Greg Ball newspaper quotes that it’s almost laughable except for the point that people think it’s true. Don’t trust anything you read on Wikipedia!!
Both Wikipedia articles seem fair to me: that same author has 10,000 other edits, including most of Eliot Spitzer, Andrew Saul, Kieran Lalor, George Oros, and hundreds of Civil War and Revolutionary war biographies. Wikipedia is a valuable resource, both the Ball campaign and the Degnan campaign are free to make edits. Editors like MrPrada are there to keep the balance between the two.