Well dang...I’ve authored 1/2 as many pieces of legislation as little Ms. Ivy League. And I’m not a politician. We must come to our senses and rid ourselves of her.
I'd be interested in her "plan" and stand on the issues. Opposite of everything Stefanik is might be a start, but then wouldn't that be a Democrat, or just a nicer more polite version of the Republican agenda? Lower taxes on the wealthy, cutting benefits on social programs (food subsidies, social security, medicare, medicaid), less gun control, less regulation on banks and corporations, gutting our departments of Education, EPA, National Parks, etc, imposing their "moral" values by removing rights for women, LGBTQ+, minority groups.
I’m happy to see Jill Lochner getting the early start. I’m sure she’s going to need that. I never saw the purpose for Russ Finley and Lonny Koonz running. If Jill was running simply to replace a loud, obnoxious demagogue that would be enough for me and hopefully many. It’s an embarrassment to northern NY to have Elise as a rep.
It’d be ironic if a number of extremist (redundant?) Republican House members get primaried out by normies who aren’t excusing Donald Trump by trampling on federalist principles and separation of powers through the use of anti-Semitic and racist attacks. Elise at least has that flank covered.
Since ES is going to have to relocate anyway having been redistricted out, the world is her oyster. Go anywhere, just go.
I know you wrote about a Ray Scollin awhile back who’s some sort of Republican mucky muck. He was apparently down on Trump, but loved him some Elise. I don’t understand the cognitive dissonance that allows that. Where’s the difference between them?
the first time I pointed this out on twitter, he blocked me.
Like #pos_tefanik he talks out of multiple sides of his mouth. He will say things like -- some of the things stiffy or don the con do are wrong (you know criminal things), but the next thing out of his pie*hole (or post) will be to support the person. I.e. he will say version of "S/he is a criminal, but my criminal"
I think anyone would be better than Stefanik but as I noticed in the last 4 years, candidates change and Stefanik is the best example. I could support Jill as she is pro-choice, an educator and willing, at this time, to talk to constituents. I hope she could maintain her middle of the road stance if elected but I wonder how she would operate in DC? Yet, it is always good to have competition and a choice. I recently read where Matt Castelli is not running again and I am not sure that a Democrat could win in the District. I believe that the 21st District deserves a candidate that respects and represents all of us and as such I would like to hear more about her platform.
Hi Renee. In regards to your thoughts on how I might act if I made it to DC, I think the major difference between myself how Stefanik operates is that I have no ambitions of becoming a lifelong politician. I won't be beholden to anyone. I won't have to bend in order to fit some mold in order to move up. I don't want to move up. I only want to serve NY21, get her out, and enact some positive change. And I believe strongly in term limits as well.
This bit: “ When I talked to outgoing Moriah Supervisor Tom Scozzafava recently, he was extremely careful in talking about Stefanik. My take was that he did not want to do anything that might hurt his community from getting needed funding in the future” says a lot about what it’s like to be a Republican in NY21, living in irrational fear of your own “compatriots.”
I say irrational because if a Republican is hoping to get aid for a worthwhile project in their community it is much more likely a Democrat from Albany or DC will be the person to deliver.
Well, you allude to it in at the beginning of this post. The “Democrat” calling Lochner is the M.O. for Stefanik’s spies. Preston Scagnelli used the same cover when he came to an event I hosted for Matt Putorti saying he was a Democrat new to the area and looking to learn more about Putorti. The Republicans know exactly how devious, underhanded, and vicious Stefanik is. That’s why they’re afraid of her.
I appreciate a Republican calling out Stefanik for her hateful vitriol and outright lies. The thoughts on Scozzafava are telling. It appears as though he either believes Stefanik's lies about funding or he is hopelessly ignorant. I've done the research and throughout the last campaign Stefanik lied about providing multiple funding for the north country. It is simple to research the source of funding and in most, if not all cases, she opposed the bills she claims credit for. Once again, local elected officials stand by her side as she spreads outright lies and misinformation.
Thanks again, Ken. IT is always good to hear a voice against "fear mongering" and "inciting violence"--a rational thoughtful voice against Stefanik's attacking vitriol...I am very glad she is entering the race and would like to hear more about her positions and values. about her values and her position. Stefanik and the Republican "leadership" continually supporting Trump and his dangerous lies, continually attacking anyone who doesn't tow the line is shameful. Climate scientists, election workers, teachers, librarians, health care workers...everyone who dares to speak is attacked, their families threatened...I was sooo happy that Protasiewicz won for the Wisconsin state supreme court. i lived in Wisconsin for four years before it was literally "taken over" by Scott Walker and incredibly gerrymandered maps where Democrats, more than half of the country, has less than 20% of the legislator. I think of the incredible vendetta against women's rights over their own body, and the states making guns more rather than less accessible...Today I celebrate Pssover, the journey of freedom from oppression, wearing one of my favorite tee shirts--"Fighting tyrants since the Pharaoh"--by Truah, the rabbinical call for human rights. May we all fight those who would terrorize, oppress, rouse violence and hatred....
WOW, Maybe, and this is for our County's sake along w/the world as far as I am concerned, IDEA'S & COURAGE wise!!! I want to be counted as going along w/her ideas and courage and may God Bless her & her family & all the rest of us!!!
I have a contrarian view on camera's in the court room... at your suggestion I am listening to the Jan6 Committee report.
And also paying attention to don the con's indictment (' indicatement '). One frightening thing I see is the doxing of the innocent. The personal attacks are bad enough.. but when you are a cult-like most republicans have become you see the danger of exposing the names and people who are just doing their job.
There appears to be so many death threats that there could be books published with lists of people who were attacked.. and unfortunately, these attacks are personal attacks done by the anonymous soldiers that make up #pos_tefanikkk's and don the con's hate brigade
The trumps and stiffy hide in their gated communities, with their government security
I wish we lived in a society where people like #pos_tefanik protected people, especially her constituents, but I know there was the time someone suggested she was fat
and she told her 'supporters' to tag and drag the person.. It only takes one of her crazies to do something henious.
And as anyone familiar with the Post Star and the 'north country deplorables' will know there is a lot of evil in the world and republicans have shown many times they are willing to harness this evil.
I wonder if maybe a few democrats and/or independents might think it is time to change their registrations to 'republican' with the intention of having an impact on ny21 primaries..
I have been an advocate that republicans and democrats should join together and create some NYS election reform.
Items:
1) when you commit to running for any office, you should agree debate opponents. People like #pos_tefanik avoids this because she knows she has no policy and a debate will only hurt her
2) gerrymandering. It only protects the politicians in power (and that power may be in the legal system with appointed judges who rule on it), not the people who are depending on politicians to do the right thing.
No! The best way for people to impact the political climate here is to change registration to Democratic Party, if anything. There are a tremendous number of people who regularly vote for Democrats who are registered Republican because there is a background level of fear that their neighbors will think they’re Dems. If they all switched tomorrow it would attract the attention of state and national Democrats who would invest more in this district making it more competitive.
Adding to GOP enrollment advantage sends exactly the wrong message.
If in fact ny21 is largely (majority?) democrats, then why don't democrats win in the general election?
I agree with you ---> maybe enrolling as a republican is the wrong way to go... but if we (democrats and republicans) know that #pos_tefanik is a liar, and votes against #ny21 's interests.. the goal should be to remove her.
I thought Matt Castelli was a good choice... and thought all the democrat challengers would have been better for ny21 than stiffy. But not only do we have #pos_tefanik ignoring us, she is proving I am right that almost anyone would be better for the district and the country than us.
I didn’t say NY21 was majority Dem. It isn’t. I don’t know what the enrollment is right now but it is likely something like 42-44% GOP, 27% DEM, 23% Unaffiliated. It isn’t majority REP. But it isn’t useful for people to attempt to monkey with the process by playing games with party affiliation. I’ve been working for years to eliminate that sort of thing and to end fusion voting. Registering to a party which is not basically aligned with your core philosophy is a form of bearing false witness, and that doesn’t lead to anything good.
IMO, The thing we have seen is not so much that our district has changed but that Trump (and Bernie) energized a constituency of aggrieved individuals who had previously not been engaged in politics, or even closely following the news. Those new voters changed everything. In 2014 Stefanik got 55% of the vote with 96k. Woolf had 59k/34% of the vote. Funiciello 19k/11%.
2016 Derrick got 82k votes - more than Woolf and Funiciello combined in 2014, yet only gained 30.2%. Stefanik got 178k! 65.3%. Dem turnout was up but Trump brought tremendous numbers of new voters.
2018 Cobb got 100k votes, but Stefanik got 132k
2020 Cobb got 132k, Stefanik got 188.5k
2022 Castelli got 110.5k, Stefanik got 164k. Despite Castelli’s claim that running as a moderate helped him he got 2% less of the vote than Cobb’s first run. It is ridiculous to claim that Mike Derrick or Tedra Cobb were anything but moderate candidates. Anyway, the trend of voter turnout remains high on both sides, but it’s hard for me to believe the Trump voters will come out in 2024 if Trump is not on the ballot. That will take tens of thousands of votes from Stefanik. Meanwhile, Dems need to become more engaged - certainly in local elections - and we need state and national Dem organizations to support our candidates in order to flip seats. If there is a loss in Dem registration the argument for that money is hard to make.
1) if Jill Lochner defeats #pos_tefanik in the primary, and she does it because a) half of republicans wake up and vote for Ms. Lochner and; b) many Democrats and Independents register as republicans --- how is that a bad thing.
How is a paper statistic saying there are now 53% registered as republicans, matter if during a primary #pos_tefanik is defeated?
And if Ms. Lochner is elected it would be a step up. Not one I would enjoy (but for the fact the lies and hate of stiffy would be gone)
Lochner's stand on the issues are not that much different than #pos_tefanik... except we KNOW what stiffy says is a lie.. what she says she believes and supports is not proven with her vote.
Yes democrats need to become more engaged, but I don't think how you are registered matters if you vote for democrats during the election
I would suggest the people who need to become engaged are republicans. I see how ignorant stiffy's supporters are and I know if they understand reality.. they would find out she votes against their best interests.
My point is that much of the electorate sees the 2 major parties as the same. Your idea feeds into that cynicism which becomes a death spiral for democracy when a populist gains their support. I believe parties should clearly stand for certain basic principles.
I support the idea of Lochner primaring Stefanik and let true Republicans sort out their own business.
I have no way to prove or disprove your point "electorate sees the 2 major parties as the same" My friends who are democrats and a few that are republicans see #pos_tefanik differently. They don't see her as a republican, but as a tool
I did seem Matt Castelli as too to the center. Mainly because the 'center' is now to the right of reagan..
I would prefer a progressive like Patrick Nelson and one of the things I think is the problem with democrats in general... ,thinking a moderate is the best choice, when you end up with someone who has no progressive ideas and will just be toast.
If Nelson or Katie Wilson was the candidate you will still get the moderate dems voting for them and I think the non-registered are more in that zone
Just about anybody would be an improvement over Elise Stefanik, who made the mistake of fully embracing Donald Trump, as opposed to just sticking to the issues. I think she misread the political landscape.
I wish Lochner was running as an Independent or Democrat, because I’m afraid she’ll get creamed in the Republican primary. I’m a registered Democrat so probably won’t get a chance to vote for her. I hope she gets some advice about running on a different party line (Working Families or some such) so that we could still vote for her in the election itself.
If we must have a Republican, let it be Jill I guess tho I am not familiar with her stand on things. Elise, by not validating the last election, is a threat to our democracy I feel.
Well dang...I’ve authored 1/2 as many pieces of legislation as little Ms. Ivy League. And I’m not a politician. We must come to our senses and rid ourselves of her.
I'd be interested in her "plan" and stand on the issues. Opposite of everything Stefanik is might be a start, but then wouldn't that be a Democrat, or just a nicer more polite version of the Republican agenda? Lower taxes on the wealthy, cutting benefits on social programs (food subsidies, social security, medicare, medicaid), less gun control, less regulation on banks and corporations, gutting our departments of Education, EPA, National Parks, etc, imposing their "moral" values by removing rights for women, LGBTQ+, minority groups.
I’m happy to see Jill Lochner getting the early start. I’m sure she’s going to need that. I never saw the purpose for Russ Finley and Lonny Koonz running. If Jill was running simply to replace a loud, obnoxious demagogue that would be enough for me and hopefully many. It’s an embarrassment to northern NY to have Elise as a rep.
It’d be ironic if a number of extremist (redundant?) Republican House members get primaried out by normies who aren’t excusing Donald Trump by trampling on federalist principles and separation of powers through the use of anti-Semitic and racist attacks. Elise at least has that flank covered.
Since ES is going to have to relocate anyway having been redistricted out, the world is her oyster. Go anywhere, just go.
I know you wrote about a Ray Scollin awhile back who’s some sort of Republican mucky muck. He was apparently down on Trump, but loved him some Elise. I don’t understand the cognitive dissonance that allows that. Where’s the difference between them?
ray scollin is a #pos_tefanik liar.
the first time I pointed this out on twitter, he blocked me.
Like #pos_tefanik he talks out of multiple sides of his mouth. He will say things like -- some of the things stiffy or don the con do are wrong (you know criminal things), but the next thing out of his pie*hole (or post) will be to support the person. I.e. he will say version of "S/he is a criminal, but my criminal"
she is very republican
http://www.jillforcongress.com/#issues
Of course.
I think anyone would be better than Stefanik but as I noticed in the last 4 years, candidates change and Stefanik is the best example. I could support Jill as she is pro-choice, an educator and willing, at this time, to talk to constituents. I hope she could maintain her middle of the road stance if elected but I wonder how she would operate in DC? Yet, it is always good to have competition and a choice. I recently read where Matt Castelli is not running again and I am not sure that a Democrat could win in the District. I believe that the 21st District deserves a candidate that respects and represents all of us and as such I would like to hear more about her platform.
Hi Renee. In regards to your thoughts on how I might act if I made it to DC, I think the major difference between myself how Stefanik operates is that I have no ambitions of becoming a lifelong politician. I won't be beholden to anyone. I won't have to bend in order to fit some mold in order to move up. I don't want to move up. I only want to serve NY21, get her out, and enact some positive change. And I believe strongly in term limits as well.
This bit: “ When I talked to outgoing Moriah Supervisor Tom Scozzafava recently, he was extremely careful in talking about Stefanik. My take was that he did not want to do anything that might hurt his community from getting needed funding in the future” says a lot about what it’s like to be a Republican in NY21, living in irrational fear of your own “compatriots.”
I say irrational because if a Republican is hoping to get aid for a worthwhile project in their community it is much more likely a Democrat from Albany or DC will be the person to deliver.
That may be true, but considering Scozzafava is usually pretty outspoken, I found it odd that he would not speak out in this instance.
Well, you allude to it in at the beginning of this post. The “Democrat” calling Lochner is the M.O. for Stefanik’s spies. Preston Scagnelli used the same cover when he came to an event I hosted for Matt Putorti saying he was a Democrat new to the area and looking to learn more about Putorti. The Republicans know exactly how devious, underhanded, and vicious Stefanik is. That’s why they’re afraid of her.
And I don’t need to tell you anything about the potential threat of people like North Country Deplorables.
just mentioned the same
and yet the media hesitates to call #pos_tefanik that liar that she and her supporters are
https://edwardlow.substack.com/p/pos_tefanik-is-a-liar
I appreciate a Republican calling out Stefanik for her hateful vitriol and outright lies. The thoughts on Scozzafava are telling. It appears as though he either believes Stefanik's lies about funding or he is hopelessly ignorant. I've done the research and throughout the last campaign Stefanik lied about providing multiple funding for the north country. It is simple to research the source of funding and in most, if not all cases, she opposed the bills she claims credit for. Once again, local elected officials stand by her side as she spreads outright lies and misinformation.
Thanks again, Ken. IT is always good to hear a voice against "fear mongering" and "inciting violence"--a rational thoughtful voice against Stefanik's attacking vitriol...I am very glad she is entering the race and would like to hear more about her positions and values. about her values and her position. Stefanik and the Republican "leadership" continually supporting Trump and his dangerous lies, continually attacking anyone who doesn't tow the line is shameful. Climate scientists, election workers, teachers, librarians, health care workers...everyone who dares to speak is attacked, their families threatened...I was sooo happy that Protasiewicz won for the Wisconsin state supreme court. i lived in Wisconsin for four years before it was literally "taken over" by Scott Walker and incredibly gerrymandered maps where Democrats, more than half of the country, has less than 20% of the legislator. I think of the incredible vendetta against women's rights over their own body, and the states making guns more rather than less accessible...Today I celebrate Pssover, the journey of freedom from oppression, wearing one of my favorite tee shirts--"Fighting tyrants since the Pharaoh"--by Truah, the rabbinical call for human rights. May we all fight those who would terrorize, oppress, rouse violence and hatred....
WOW, Maybe, and this is for our County's sake along w/the world as far as I am concerned, IDEA'S & COURAGE wise!!! I want to be counted as going along w/her ideas and courage and may God Bless her & her family & all the rest of us!!!
I have a contrarian view on camera's in the court room... at your suggestion I am listening to the Jan6 Committee report.
And also paying attention to don the con's indictment (' indicatement '). One frightening thing I see is the doxing of the innocent. The personal attacks are bad enough.. but when you are a cult-like most republicans have become you see the danger of exposing the names and people who are just doing their job.
There appears to be so many death threats that there could be books published with lists of people who were attacked.. and unfortunately, these attacks are personal attacks done by the anonymous soldiers that make up #pos_tefanikkk's and don the con's hate brigade
The trumps and stiffy hide in their gated communities, with their government security
I wish we lived in a society where people like #pos_tefanik protected people, especially her constituents, but I know there was the time someone suggested she was fat
and she told her 'supporters' to tag and drag the person.. It only takes one of her crazies to do something henious.
And as anyone familiar with the Post Star and the 'north country deplorables' will know there is a lot of evil in the world and republicans have shown many times they are willing to harness this evil.
twitter post
https://twitter.com/elisestefanik/status/1448624014507880454
story
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/brianhammerjackson/2021/10/15/tag-and-drag-twitter-harassment-elise-stefanik
I wonder if maybe a few democrats and/or independents might think it is time to change their registrations to 'republican' with the intention of having an impact on ny21 primaries..
I have been an advocate that republicans and democrats should join together and create some NYS election reform.
Items:
1) when you commit to running for any office, you should agree debate opponents. People like #pos_tefanik avoids this because she knows she has no policy and a debate will only hurt her
2) gerrymandering. It only protects the politicians in power (and that power may be in the legal system with appointed judges who rule on it), not the people who are depending on politicians to do the right thing.
No! The best way for people to impact the political climate here is to change registration to Democratic Party, if anything. There are a tremendous number of people who regularly vote for Democrats who are registered Republican because there is a background level of fear that their neighbors will think they’re Dems. If they all switched tomorrow it would attract the attention of state and national Democrats who would invest more in this district making it more competitive.
Adding to GOP enrollment advantage sends exactly the wrong message.
I think I have to disagree with his.
If in fact ny21 is largely (majority?) democrats, then why don't democrats win in the general election?
I agree with you ---> maybe enrolling as a republican is the wrong way to go... but if we (democrats and republicans) know that #pos_tefanik is a liar, and votes against #ny21 's interests.. the goal should be to remove her.
I thought Matt Castelli was a good choice... and thought all the democrat challengers would have been better for ny21 than stiffy. But not only do we have #pos_tefanik ignoring us, she is proving I am right that almost anyone would be better for the district and the country than us.
I didn’t say NY21 was majority Dem. It isn’t. I don’t know what the enrollment is right now but it is likely something like 42-44% GOP, 27% DEM, 23% Unaffiliated. It isn’t majority REP. But it isn’t useful for people to attempt to monkey with the process by playing games with party affiliation. I’ve been working for years to eliminate that sort of thing and to end fusion voting. Registering to a party which is not basically aligned with your core philosophy is a form of bearing false witness, and that doesn’t lead to anything good.
IMO, The thing we have seen is not so much that our district has changed but that Trump (and Bernie) energized a constituency of aggrieved individuals who had previously not been engaged in politics, or even closely following the news. Those new voters changed everything. In 2014 Stefanik got 55% of the vote with 96k. Woolf had 59k/34% of the vote. Funiciello 19k/11%.
2016 Derrick got 82k votes - more than Woolf and Funiciello combined in 2014, yet only gained 30.2%. Stefanik got 178k! 65.3%. Dem turnout was up but Trump brought tremendous numbers of new voters.
2018 Cobb got 100k votes, but Stefanik got 132k
2020 Cobb got 132k, Stefanik got 188.5k
2022 Castelli got 110.5k, Stefanik got 164k. Despite Castelli’s claim that running as a moderate helped him he got 2% less of the vote than Cobb’s first run. It is ridiculous to claim that Mike Derrick or Tedra Cobb were anything but moderate candidates. Anyway, the trend of voter turnout remains high on both sides, but it’s hard for me to believe the Trump voters will come out in 2024 if Trump is not on the ballot. That will take tens of thousands of votes from Stefanik. Meanwhile, Dems need to become more engaged - certainly in local elections - and we need state and national Dem organizations to support our candidates in order to flip seats. If there is a loss in Dem registration the argument for that money is hard to make.
I am totally missing your point
1) if Jill Lochner defeats #pos_tefanik in the primary, and she does it because a) half of republicans wake up and vote for Ms. Lochner and; b) many Democrats and Independents register as republicans --- how is that a bad thing.
How is a paper statistic saying there are now 53% registered as republicans, matter if during a primary #pos_tefanik is defeated?
And if Ms. Lochner is elected it would be a step up. Not one I would enjoy (but for the fact the lies and hate of stiffy would be gone)
http://www.jillforcongress.com/#issues
Lochner's stand on the issues are not that much different than #pos_tefanik... except we KNOW what stiffy says is a lie.. what she says she believes and supports is not proven with her vote.
Yes democrats need to become more engaged, but I don't think how you are registered matters if you vote for democrats during the election
I would suggest the people who need to become engaged are republicans. I see how ignorant stiffy's supporters are and I know if they understand reality.. they would find out she votes against their best interests.
My point is that much of the electorate sees the 2 major parties as the same. Your idea feeds into that cynicism which becomes a death spiral for democracy when a populist gains their support. I believe parties should clearly stand for certain basic principles.
I support the idea of Lochner primaring Stefanik and let true Republicans sort out their own business.
I have no way to prove or disprove your point "electorate sees the 2 major parties as the same" My friends who are democrats and a few that are republicans see #pos_tefanik differently. They don't see her as a republican, but as a tool
I did seem Matt Castelli as too to the center. Mainly because the 'center' is now to the right of reagan..
I would prefer a progressive like Patrick Nelson and one of the things I think is the problem with democrats in general... ,thinking a moderate is the best choice, when you end up with someone who has no progressive ideas and will just be toast.
If Nelson or Katie Wilson was the candidate you will still get the moderate dems voting for them and I think the non-registered are more in that zone
Ironic -
Merriam-Webster word of the day?
Gerrymander
Just about anybody would be an improvement over Elise Stefanik, who made the mistake of fully embracing Donald Trump, as opposed to just sticking to the issues. I think she misread the political landscape.
"It is important to do it the right way." Outstanding.
I wish Lochner was running as an Independent or Democrat, because I’m afraid she’ll get creamed in the Republican primary. I’m a registered Democrat so probably won’t get a chance to vote for her. I hope she gets some advice about running on a different party line (Working Families or some such) so that we could still vote for her in the election itself.
Without money her chances are not good.
If we must have a Republican, let it be Jill I guess tho I am not familiar with her stand on things. Elise, by not validating the last election, is a threat to our democracy I feel.