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mike parwana's avatar

Aaron’s analysis of the bright future for our small towns if we change our conception of how to build community is on target.

I suspect his analysis of the Democratic Party’s relationship with rural America is based in the political bigotry of national leadership, of DC and NYC based technocrats within the party who took the concept of Howard Dean’s small donor fundraising to heart but rejected his ideas of 50 state strategies.

Close to exactly 10 years ago a group of us in the local DFA group organized by Larry, Dick and Pat Dudley, met with Aaron and later had a bite to eat and drinks in downtown Glens Falls which was just beginning its rebirth. I commented to Aaron that we are in a John C Calhoun time in our history and especially so in our district.

I reject the “both sides” arguments about the major parties, especially so in our region. People like Aaron exist in our communities advocating forward thinking vision to reshape our future while GOP elected to most local elected offices continue their “states rights” ideas, growing older, and complaining that all the old people they know are dying or moving to Florida blaming nearly everything on high taxes, government regulation, “Albany” and “the City.” They appear not to recognize the energy, ideas, and leadership of “younger” (and “younger” could be 50) people moving here because of the opportunity we provide. Examples? Think about people like Claudia Braymer and Diana Palmer in Glens Falls, smart active professionals who moved here to raise families.

It isn’t hard to find the opposing ideas from long time local GOP politicians who seem to constantly gripe that they’re restricted from making things better. You’ll see some of that in these responses. Do they ever consider that their approach to rebuilding their small communities simply has not been effective? That their ideas haven’t worked and they should try something else?

I make a living by hitting steel with a hammer until it looks good. If I keep hitting the same spot with the same hammer the same way and it isn’t looking better I can choose to keep doing the same thing or maybe I can try hitting a different spot, a different way, or use a different hammer. But I know that the steel isn’t “Albany” steel. It’s not “Washington” steel or “New York City” steel. It’s not trying to fight me. I’m going to consider the idea I’m somehow doing something wrong.

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Bob Dillon's avatar

I met Aaron when I was DEM Town Chair in Hartford NY (also elected town council member and Deputy Town Supervisor). Nice guy, but his campaign manager was completely out of touch with the complexities of the makeup of the voters in the 21st District and didn't listen to people who were from here, knew the region and had deep connections to the entire district. Aaron was way too nice, they didn't see the brilliant Trump like tactics being used to brand him, and "Brooklyn's Upstate Congressman" stuck fast thanks to her nasty staff. BUT, the bigger reason she won was because of REP dirty tricks. Matt Doheny jumped in to the race late and had significant name recognition from a prior run, she was nobody. When he ran for REP nomination and another line (as did she), he promised he would stay in the race if he lost REP nomination. He lost to her on that line, but he did a 180. The only way you can get off the ballot once on is to die, become a convicted felon or run for another office. Doheny must have gotten a call from some high level REPs (remember Stefanik worked in Bush WH with Karl Rove and was debate coach for Speaker Ryan when her ran for VP). So how is it that Doheny suddenly was off the ballot for House seat but was running for a Judgeship in Brooklyn (he being from Alexandria Bay in St. Lawrence County)? And the rest is history because once Stefanik went MAGA all the voters of that persuasion in very rural 21st went out to vote. She's the worst representative we've ever seen.

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