Earthquake in Western New York
We felt tremors at my office in downtown Buffalo… lasted 15-20 seconds… reports are coming in.. WGRZ has some information.
Residents from all across Western New York are calling the Two On Your Side Information Center telling us they felt an earthquake.
We have received calls from from as far south as Wellsville and as far north as Niagara County.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports a 5.5 earthquake with an epicenter in Quebec.
From the USGC:
Location 45.955°N, 75.546°W
Depth 19.2 km (11.9 miles)
Region ONTARIO-QUEBEC BORDER REGION, CANADA
Distances* 49 km (31 miles) N (349°) from Cumberland, Ontario, Canada
* 52 km (33 miles) N (10°) from Gatineau, Qu?bec, Canada
* 58 km (36 miles) NNE (16°) from Hull, Qu?bec, Canada
* 61 km (38 miles) N (11°) from OTTAWA, Ontario, CanadaLocation Uncertainty horizontal +/- 11.5 km (7.1 miles); depth +/- 5.3 km (3.3 miles)
Parameters NST=294, Nph=311, Dmin=160.3 km, Rmss=1.12 sec, Gp= 25°,
M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=6
Source* USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
I gotta return to work. More on this later.
Collins Out For Governor
Well, speculation finally ends… Chris Collins will not run for governor.
County Executive Chris Collins today said he has ended his exploratory run for governor, citing the difficult task of raising enough money for a statewide campaign and his desire to “finish the job” in Erie County.
The first-term Republican said that a series of controversial statements he made on the campaign trail did not figure in his decision to leave the race, but he acknowledged that the “realist” in him recognizes that he faced an uphill task in achieving the goal.
“It becomes apparent to me that my message of real reform and change has not been embraced by those who are happy with the status quo,” he told The Buffalo News.
The move is seen as a major boost to Rick Lazio, who had emerged as Collins’ main party rival for the nomination. Insiders say the former Long Island congressman already can count on support from about 40 percent of county chairmen when the party convenes to endorse a candidate in May. Some of the chairmen who have been leaning toward Collins are now free to move into the Lazio camp.
Still, Collins said he hopes a major Republican figure will yet emerge to run this fall, possibly a business type with the ability to finance the campaign. He said he did not plan to support Lazio, noting that his rival’s campaign finance reports indicate he has only about $600,000 on hand when $35 million to $50 million is necessary.
Well, now it’s time for Republicans to unite behind Rick Lazio.
Personally. I think that Collins made the right decision. This was not his time to seek statewide office. I like him, and believe he will go far in his career in public life, but I want to see him finish one term for the job he was already elected to.
Hope for Non-NY 23 Conservatives
Imagine if the National Republican Congressional Committee had supported Doug Hoffman from the start. Instead of throwing money at a left-winger who remained on the ballot after she quit and repaid the organization by endorsing her erstwhile Democratic foe, Hoffman would be running for re-election in 2010 instead of aiming to win a rematch.
Instead, the NRCC wasn’t lucky enough to blunder into victory. Their failure to inadvertently execute a New Coke/Coke Classic-type success should guide every decision they make through the same Tuesday of next year. That includes their tactics across the nation in general and within Hoffman’s state in particular. New York’s conservatives are entitled to feel that his respectable showing should inspire similar candidates who can carpool with him to Washington. Can both Hoffman and Hoffman-types across upstate win House seats in 2010?
If nothing else, unabashed conservatives might do better than the liberal-leaning moderates indigenous to this region. This is an opportune moment for the Republican Party to field limited-government candidates. Based on the national mood, it might pay off in the ballot booths, or at least between the cardboard dividers.
That’s especially if unemployment continues to hover around 10 percent, the war in Afghanistan remains muddled, and two branches of the government join to see if they can spend 100 jillion dollars combined on nationalized health and carbon usage fines. Voters are looking for genuine conservatives as a welcome alternative to Scozzafava-style stimulus supporters.
There’s no reason to keep inflicting Rockefeller Republicans upon the nation. Party leaders may as well try to capitalize on the nation’s rising small-government sympathies. It’s not like the state GOP should worry they might lose even more House elections.
There are formidable obstacles aside from standard concerns regarding whether true-right candidates are viable in the particular districts of a navy state like New York blah blah blah. For one, there’s the reality that certain Congressional districts are shaped like crescents, not circles.
While the right to a district that’s wider than a two-lane road does not appear in the Constitution, representatives such as Louise Slaughter should nonetheless have to face a more naturally-shaped territory. Standing opposed to alignments that keep incumbents safe is not a matter of supporting one party or the other: it’s about encouraging circumstances that allow citizens to enjoy a clear choice between the two. That desirable situation is one not always seen locally for various reasons.
Additionally, Western New Yorkers who seek conservative options could use a slightly less disingenuous local paper. Specifically, it would be nice to not endure condescending lectures from Buffalo News editor Margaret Sullivan, who has been the paper’s funniest writer ever since Dave Barry stopped contributing his syndicated column. Her latest gem claims that editorial positions are staffed by reactionaries who will camp out to get the earliest available copies of Sarah Palin’s book from Walmart:
In the 10 active County Legislature races, we are endorsing eight Republicans and two Democrats.
In the Amherst supervisor’s race, we are endorsing a Republican, Barry Weinstein.
It’s not a Republican quota: please refer to it as conservative affirmative action. And they’re not even done acting like tea partiers:
And in the two countywide races, we are endorsing one Republican and one Democrat: respectively, Philip Kadet for comptroller and John Glascott for sheriff.
So, of the 13 endorsements we’ll make this year, 10 go to Republicans.
Yep, endorsing a Republican for Erie County Comptroller balances out their last pick for President of the United States of America. And random probability explains how they also happened to back Democrats in each of the four local House of Representative races in 2008.
The paper’s staff apparently forgot to pretend that they were balanced last year. But things are different now, sort of. By standing behind 77 percent of Republicans in local elections during an off year, Sullivan is claiming 10 pennies are worth more than five dimes. That helps explain why their coverage of economic issues is so rotten.
If the News really wanted to come across as impartial, they could stop injecting left-wing junk into news stories. They could even hire a second Republican.
Even without media assistance, the party ought to finally have the sense and conviction to represent conservative ideals. Who knows? Republicans might come across a principled opponent for Slaughter who doesn’t get, well, a synonym for “slaughtered.”
It would also be nice if Brian Higgins had to face an outright limited government advocate, if only for the prospect of forcing the present representative to get a private sector job. There’s a first time for everything. Either way, Hoffman shouldn’t have to go it alone next year.
Kevin Hardwick Ends Run on WBEN To Challenge Iannello
Bob McCarthy reports this morning…
Canisius College political science Professor Kevin R. Hardwick is ready to trade his radio booth for a seat in the County Legislature.
Hardwick, host of WBEN’s “Hardline with Hardwick” politics and government show for the past four years, said this morning he will challenge incumbent Democrat Michele M. Iannello in District 10. As a result, this morning’s show on WBEN was his last.
“I’ve had a lot of media exposure and I’ve enjoyed it immensely,” he said prior to the broadcast. “But there’s a difference between the color commentary of a baseball game and being the guy on the field who can make a difference. The time has come where I’m ready to get back in the arena.”
The veteran political commentator said he felt he could not continue hosting a political program on the air while running for office.
Since I moved here last year, I have enjoyed listening to Kevin’s show, as well being a guest. I have joined him in-studio a number of times this past year, most recently last week. I will miss the show and miss those in-studio appearances, but I wish him the best of luck in his campaign, and look froward to doing what I can to help him.
Dennis Delano Announces Retirement From Buffalo Police Department
After being found guilty yesterday of violating police department rules, Dennis Delano today announced his retirement from the Buffalo Police Department.
News 4 has confirmed that Dennis Delano has announced his retirement from the Buffalo Police Department. News 4 will have more on this story on News 4 at 5 and 6 and on WIVB.com
The 24 year police veteran was found guilty of insubordination by a hearing officer after giving the media video evidence of the scene where the body of Lynn DeJac’s daughter was discovered.
Delano also ignored orders by Buffalo Police top brass to stop talking to the media about the DeJac case.
Delano’s attorney Steve Cohen told reporters Tuesday Delano was upset with the hearing officers’ recommendations, although they did not include termination of employment. Delano would be suspended without pay for 60 days should Buffalo Police Commissioner McCarthy Gipson go along with the recommendations. Should Delano announce that he is retiring his health and pension benefits would be protected.
Senior Correspondent Newberg has also learned that Delano would choose not to attend a final hearing Friday morning which would’ve given him one last opportunity to speak before the police commissioner makes a final determination on a punishment.
This is too bad, the police department could use more like him. Perhaps he will have another go at running for office.
Continental Flight 3407 Crashes In Clarence…
Still processing all the information… but a commuter plane, reportedly Continental flight #3407 crashed into a house in Clarence, NY. The plane was carrying 48 passengers, and came from Newark, NJ and was heading to Buffalo.
Buffalo Pundit is out of town, but is watching on CNN…
The area around the crash has been sealed off…
UPDATE: Brief statment from Rep. Chris Lee, who represents the district and lives in Clarence:
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic accident that occurred last night in Clarence. Our focus right now is supporting the first responders on the ground, who have done heroic work in ensuring the health and safety of people in the area. My website is continually providing residents and concerned citizens with updated information, as well as the opportunity to leave messages for the families of the victims, first responders, and the members of the community.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families at this difficult hour.”
Chris Lee’s congressional website has updated information and resources…
UPDATE: Prominent 9/11 widow Beverly Eckert was on board the plane…
Beverly Eckert, the widow of Sean Rooney, a Buffalo native who had been killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, had been headed to Buffalo for a weekend that was to include a commemoration of her late husband’s 58th birthday.
The weekend was also to include awarding of the Sean Rooney Scholarship at Canisius High School.
