Democracy In Albany

21st CD: Forum recap

By albany layman, Section Diaries
Posted on Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 06:59:29 AM EST

Blogger and Steck volunteer Soundpolitic attended last week's candidate forum at the Albany Jewish Community Center and reported on it over at The Albany Project. It's a very good recap. If you want to hear what the candidates are saying about the issues, check it out.

My question is this - what is the deal with Sullivan? Seriously - what's the deal?

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21st CD: Forum recap | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)

Sullivan (none / 0) (#1)
by AlfredMoisiu on Sun Jul 27, 2008 at 12:04:40 PM EST

Based on that recap, Sullivan sounds like a reasonable, reality-based guy. Unfortunately, those aren't traits condusive to holding political office.

I found it interesting that the radical folks at Citizen Action are contesting his petitions. It's pretty obvious that this guy isn't going to win, so I find it odd that the radicals would bother to challenge him.

Sullivan and reality (none / 0) (#2)
by albany layman on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 06:26:06 AM EST

"The troops aren't coming home. Get over it!"

What reality is Sullivan reflecting with that statement? The reality that he has no clue where Democratic voters are in regards to the war in Iraq?

That's a fascinating statement to make in a Democratic primary. Makes me wonder what he is thinking in terms of who his potential constituents are and what they want in a representative.

: Think for a minute (none / 0) (#3)
by AlfredMoisiu on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 07:11:07 PM EST

Going along with the rest of the sheep and declaring your opposition to the war isn't an act of courage in 2008. Its telling the people what they want to hear and pandering to the lowest common denominator.
Remember Congresswoman Gillibrand? She is or was an outspoken critic of the war, and by all accounts is as hardworking a member of congress that anyone could expect. Yet she voted for the FISA bill -- which is as much a cornerstone of Bush's wars as a battalion of soldiers in the field. Why is that?
American soldiers are going to be in Iraq and Afghanistan for a long time. Obama will draw down the number of soldiers stationed there, but a sizable force will remain for some time.... Probably at least a decade. Democrat or Republican, America is an imperial power, and the realpolitik of maintaining a balance of power in the Middle East will dominate world affairs for years to come.
Some afternoon, drive out to Western Avenue and Church Road in Guilderland. Park at Dunkin Donuts and watch the cars go by for 10 minutes. Count them and then think of how many roads are like that in the US. Those cars and the infrastructure that supports them directly represents 20% of the US economy. All other industries depend on them as well.
They're not going away.

[ Parent ]

Alfred (none / 0) (#4)
by albany layman on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:10:54 AM EST

America is an imperial power, and the realpolitik of maintaining a balance of power in the Middle East will dominate world affairs for years to come.

Unless ... we elect representatives and pressure representatives and get away from that mindset.

Like that rich Texas oil guy says in those teevee ads, "we can't drill our way out of this."

: There are implications to that (none / 0) (#5)
by AlfredMoisiu on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:06:08 PM EST

You're right -- but you and every American benefit from those policies. Our entire system rests upon the need for oil, and it will take a generation to transition away from it.

[ Parent ]

Thanks, Layman (none / 0) (#6)
by Soundpolitic on Sat Aug 02, 2008 at 06:22:04 AM EST

I'm finding a lot of my stuff either linked or copied onto various sites without so much as a hat tip. Thanks once again for spreading the word and hosting a rather lively and very frank discussion up above.

There's another forum on Aug. 12 and there's a small chance I get video up this time. Don't cross your fingers, though, as I'm not too proficient with those moving-picture devices.

Speaking of video, if you caught the Capital News 9 covereage, I actually recieved more face-time longer than of the candidates. I don't see why my scruffy beard, scraggly ponytail, and scratchy spectacles warrant such media attention...look for me and say hi if you can make it on 8/12! Thanks again & peace!

Sullivan, Scavo and Kressler (none / 0) (#7)
by paulodelaware on Wed Aug 13, 2008 at 08:16:21 AM EST

I am just responding to one of the statements above that Citizen Action was involved in the challenge of Sullivan's peitions. Anyone who reads blogs will know that Kerri Kressler has stated that she does not work for Citizen Action. She did at one time in the past but has long since moved on. It is Sullivan's knee jerk contention that the challenge was a conspiracy of left groups. He misses the boat and misstated the facts. Kressler did it on her own and under her own motivation that the petitions sullivan submitted that were carried by Brian Scavo were done fraudlulently. He signed witness statements when the petitions were placed in stores for customers to sign. He could not have witnessed the signings but sware he did. Unfortunately the board of elections has opted to let this stand. So who's monitoring the board of elections? When does any election crime get punnished? Why are they letting Scavo get away with these false statements?

Conspiracy (none / 0) (#8)
by paulodelaware on Wed Aug 13, 2008 at 08:25:02 AM EST

Just to add a note. Both Scavo and Sullivan are quick to imagine conspiracies of the folks they hate - yeah, I think it's hate. Brian Scavo always wants to blame Shawn Morris and Sullivan is quick to blame Citizen Action. The fact is there are people in the 7th Legislative district who have their own mind and are not directed by someone else. These independent thinkers believe political representation should be by people of higher character than someone like Brian Scavo or those he associates with.

21st CD: Forum recap | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)

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21st CD: Forum recap

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