The Republicans need to oppose this stimulus like their futures depend on it, because quite honestly, it does. This stimulus plan is no such thing, and it has to be stopped. Truth is, it really can’t be stopped, but Republicans have to make a good showing of it if they want to stand for something. This is the time to put Bush behind us.
Category: Politics
Stepping Up When It Counts
It’s pretty clear that the media is not going to let Gillibrand’s support of gun rights go away right now. Given that, it’s important that gun owners step up and support her.
One poll already shows that 26% of New Yorkers would be less likely to vote for her because of her pro-gun positions, whereas only 16% would be more likely to vote for her. Fortunately, 41% said they didn’t care. We need to show her that it matters. Those 16% need to show up and/or open their wallets. There’s no way that 26% will show up for the competition on any other day than Election Day. So let’s show Gillibrand that there is no loss to being pro-gun. That with an active 16%, we can easily top their 26%.
- First step: Whether you live in New York or not, sign up for her email list. One, this gives her a strong metric to use against opponents. In the age of the internet, especially after Obama, Paul, and Dean, how many people are on you mailing list now matters.
- Second step: Regardless of where you live, give if you can. She’s already got the Senate campaign started, so we can start giving. Show her the money so that Dems are turned off to a primary challenge and Republicans feel she’s a tough opponent.
- Third step: If you live in or near New York, volunteer. There won’t be much to do at this point, but things will start to pick up later this year. Go ahead and get on the list now to be another metric they can use to scare off the competition.
There are other things you can do like become a supporter of her Facebook page. It’s not as strong as getting on her email list, but it’s public, and they can get an idea of what their supporters are interested in.
One of the biggest risks I see for gun owners could easily be caused by our own inaction. Right now, the media is leaning on her, expecting her to change her positions. Other Dems are saying that now that she reprents the entire state, she needs to turn against guns. Because of this, I suspect many gun owners are going to convince themselves to take a “let’s wait and see” approach to getting involved. If we do that, we shoot ourselves in the foot. Get on board, show her we care and that we’ll support her, and she will be far less likely to give a damn about those anti-gun voters. If we can help her reach out to independents and finance her ability to reach out to Dems on other issues, then we will keep a pro-gun vote in the Senate.
She is going to need a lot of money. She’s only got about $250,000 cash on hand. She’s considered to be a great fundraiser, but a Senate race in New York is not cheap. She will need millions heading into next year.
Decline of the GOP
This is an excellent analysis of where the GOP stands in the Philadelphia Suburbs. It’s not good. Not good at all. Bucks County, the county I live in, is now the most Republican County, and we traditionally haven’t been. Chester County is even in trouble:
It was once one of the most Republican counties in the state. It gave Nixon 64, 57, and 68 percent of the vote in 1960, 1968, and 1972 respectively; 61 and 70 percent to Reagan; and 67 percent to the elder Bush. Those large margins are gone, though it was the only one of these counties to vote for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. 2008 was a historic reversal, as McCain ran 7 points behind Bush’s 2004 performance, becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to lose in Chester County since 1964.
The interesting thing is, Tom Corbett, who is on the short list as a possible candidate for Governor, did very well in the suburbs. The GOP’s losses in some formerly Republican counties, like Delaware and Montgomery, are probably not reversable. I think Bucks and Chester counties can still be saved for the GOP, but they have to front good candidates. As much as I like Pat Toomey, I think Corbett is a much stronger candidate for Governor in 2010, and I hope he runs.
The rest of Pennsylvania needs to be very concerned about this development, because if the Philadelphia Suburbs start voting with the city, they will dominate Pennsylvania politics like downstate New York dominates upstate. That will not be good for a lot of the values central, and western Pennsylvanians hold dear.
UPDATE: I think this commenter pretty much has it right:
1) We must remember these counties are largely Republican bastions to this day at the local level. Republicans control the commission/council in all four county along with a majority of the county row offices.
2) Republicans in these countries run on a different message than their national counterparts: good government. These counties are some of the best ran in the country. The same story can be said for local government. Lower Merion has a local tax rate below the state average while maintaining great services and schools. These people might be social liberals or moderates, but they are generally good government fiscal conservatives.
He goes on to suggest why the brand of Republicanism touted by people like Sarah Palin don’t go over well here. I would actually suggest Palin could sell herself here, since I think she has strong “good government” credentials. George W. Bush’s brand of big government conservatism was a disaster for the GOP in this area. There was little “good” about Bush’s governance from our point of view here. I think people here will coalition with social conservatives, but it has to be a coalition. If the Republican Party continues being the party of big government social conservatism, the Philadelphia suburbs will be solidly Democratic within a decade.
More Hating on Kirsten Gillibrand
So now we have an N.R.A. handmaiden in Bobby Kennedy’s old seat? Kirsten Gillibrand, a k a Tracy Flick, accepting the honor with her Republican pal Al D’Amato beside her on stage? Gross.
This is what passes for opinion these days? Talk about catty.
Then the Democrats would have had another Kennedy in the Senate representing New York — Bobby’s niece and a smart, policy-oriented, civic-minded woman to whom the president feels deeply indebted in an era when every state has its hand out.
I just don’t know if, like, you know, Caroline Kennedy was, like, the right person, you know, to represent New York in the Senate.
Instead they have Gillibrand, who voted against the Wall Street — as in New York — bailout bill. And who introduced a bill to balance the federal budget annually, which suggests she would oppose the $825 billion in deficit spending that President Obama proposes to rescue the country, not least New York.
Like I said, I’m liking these blue dog Democrats a lot better than Republicans these days. She’s against having my tax money go to bail out rich bankers in New York City? I should remember to send her a Christmas card next year.
Altmire Vows to Stop Bailout
It’s funny, but a lot of blue dogs these days seem to be more principled that Republicans. Let’s hope this isn’t the only area where Altmire will stand with us. No doubt he’s on Pelosi’s shit list, but Altmire is OK with me.
Blago’s Bonkers
I think the Illinois Governor has pretty clearly lost his mind. Aside from his attorney quitting because he wouldn’t listen, and odd prattle about him thwarting conspiracies to raise taxes, now he’s saying his impeachment is rigged, and is comparing himself to Nelson Mandella.
I think it might be time to fit the governor for a straitjacket before he hurts someone.
Toomey is In
Pat Toomey, who ran against Arlen Specter in his last primary and lost, has decided to throw his hat in the ring for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2010. The other potential prospect is Attorney General Tom Corbett, who has yet to announce whether he’s going to enter the primary race to head the GOP ticket. Toomey has strong credentials on fiscal issues, which I think the state needs right now. He’s also good on gun rights. I will probably be more favorable toward Corbett if he enters the race, because I think he has a stronger likelihood of winning a statewide race (since he’s already done it, in an overwhelmingly Democratic year), but that’s not because I think Toomey would be a weak candidate.
General Ross Would Be Proud1
I think it’s not too much to ask of the Obama Administration, that it make burning down the White House, at best, a second term project, rather than something for the first 100 days.
York Tables Lost & Stolen
The City of York, Pennsylvania has tabled its “Lost & Stolen” bill because the city soliticer’s opinion is that it violates state law.  Apparently some politicians are pissed because they didn’t pass it anyway. Rule of law, bah! Who needs that?
Explaining the FID Delays in New Jersey
Technically, the law for New Jersey says that the police have 30 days to issue an FID or Pistol Purchase Permit unless they have good cause to deny it. In theory, they are supposed to be shall issue. In practice, they are no such thing, because the courts refuse to enforce the law. Only in New Jersey would the courts rule that 30 days doesn’t mean 30 days. It can take more than a year to get an FID card in New Jersey in some jurisdictions.