Senate Primary -- Tasini.

[abumbyanyothername]

Anyone up for a movement to back Progressive Tasini over appointed incumbant, sometimes referred to as appointed blue dog incumbant, Gillibrand?

[billyoc]

1. I campaigned for Tasini in the '06 primary against Hillary.

We got 18% of the Primary Vote from the Goddess of Peace herself.
I fully expect to beat Gillibrand this time.

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. I prefer Tasini to Gillibrand but I think we need someone with more $$$...

... ( e.g. independently wealthy like Ned Lamont in CT) or an office-holder with an organization in place and better name rec than Tasini.

People were talking about Carolyn McCarthy at one point. I'd love to see Rep. John Hall make the race.

I think either could beat Gillibrand in the primary.

[TheWraith]

3. Tasini is a dead man walking.

If he's very lucky, VERY lucky, he'll hit 25%. I doubt it.

[Renew Deal]

4. I bet he loses by more this time

;)

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Are you out of your mind? All the REAL primary challengers...

have left the building and Gillibrand is doing a damn fine job of Senatoring. Tasini is a nobody, with no support from any major party players, and no money. Even if there were a primary, whoever wins is damaged goods and stands a much better chance of losing. But, according to some people around here, that's OK-- better we should lose a seat in a blaze of flaming glory than have a Democrat who MIGHT be slightly impure.

And who gave you the idea she's a blue dog? Her record so far has been to go right along with most of the party and Obama. and she's been tireless running around the state learning the job.

Doesn't ANYBODY remember that fiasco in Connecticut where they got their grand progressive to win the primary, and kept the doddering old fool in the Senate anyway?

The stakes are much higher here in NY, with the likes of Peter King thinking about running.

[PATRICK]

6. We may not have

the greatest, most progressive senators in NY but as part of the necessary progressive strategy for reclaiming actual representation of the people there are better offensive and defensive needs even in the state. There are races outside the state for your money to go on all levels. People are willing still to hold their nose in conservative states to unseat a GOP troll with yet another blue dog. We have no luxury in this difficult critical war for democracy to casually enter a destructive primary and enable nation destroyers to get in.

We have several Congressional reps upstate teetering in gerrymandered districts. Those districts themselves might be reformed if the GOP is denied them in an off year election. That in turn will eventually enable those Reps to act more like progressives without an eye to the polls or money and create sane districts to enable better results for the people. If the national Senate is a problem and looks like something that could be traded with Albany's with little difference, then a national strategy is called for, protecting the likes of Boxer and getting rid of worse than DINO GOP horrors. Getting rid of DINOs calls for great exercise of judgment and prudence. People who sold out for so little and are so inferior as "monsters" to the GOP model could profit from political lessons from the bottom up just as they caved(with more enthusiasm) so quickly to Cheney's scorn the first time they crowed about having a bipartisan coalition.

The Blue Dogs are also in trouble because of the intransigent self-destruction of the Republican Senators they need to exercise real power. That has been not been well noted and is a reason some are more easily cringing back into the fold of political reality.

There is a long haul here that can be ignored only at peril. The GOP tried this complete grab with all the power and support imaginable and failed miserably. Until we organize our chickens and eggs we can't automatically get a chance for good representation that makes reform that makes for good representation. The ordinary citizen should put his muscle to wheels that can move.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. If we hold on to Democratic control in Albany...

the gerrymandering will go our way after next year's census.

Other than that, all bets are off until we see how healthcare and the economy are looking next year. If they go OK, we'll do all right.

Or, we could see the midterm curse again.

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. It would have been better if Lieberman had NOT been challenged....

>>>>Doesn't ANYBODY remember that fiasco in Connecticut where they got their grand progressive to win the primary, and kept the doddering old fool in the Senate anyway?>>>>>


... and NOT been defeated in the primary?

How?

[TreasonousBastard]

9. You are missing my point entirely...

thanks to the Law of Unintended Consequences, Lieberman kept his seat, and it would have been difficult to see that one coming.

So, all good intentions aside, no, it wasn't a good idea because it didn't work. All that can be said about it is that it could have been worse if Lieberman didn't run and the Republican won.

It won't work in NY, either, because Gillibrand is too new to withstand the heat of a primary, and a halfway decent Republican could wipe out the winner.

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. You're pronouning me to death.

>>>>So, all good intentions aside, no, it wasn't a good idea because it didn't work. All that can be said about it is that it could have been worse if Lieberman didn't run and the Republican won.>>>>

Too many "it"s.

You seem to be saying that Lieberman would have been defeated by a Republican in a two-person race.... had he not been challenged by Lamont in the primary.

Yes?

[TreasonousBastard]

11. No. I'm saying Lieberman would have won, but...

Lamont could easily have lost if Lieberman hadn't run. So, in retrospect, leaving well enough alone would have been the best course of action.

It was not a good idea to underestimate Lieberman's popularity among the general population of Connecticut, and overestimate Lamont's.

In New York's case, we have Senator who is rising in popularity and riding the anti-Republican wave so far. By next year, that anti-Republican wave may not be so high, so replacing her with an unknown who is more subject to attack is not a recipe for success.