That is the current buzz going around…

Pressure is mounting for an upstater to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate should she be asked by President-elect Barack Obama to join his cabinet as secretary of state.

Erie County Democratic Chairman Leonard R. Lenihan is already campaigning for Rep. Brian Higgins of Buffalo and others speculate that Gov. David A. Paterson may consider someone from outside the group of usual candidates, given the new and total domination of state government by New York City Democrats.

“Here is an opportunity for the governor to make Western New York really important,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political consultant from Manhattan. “He needs to get someone of high quality and substance from Western New York. It’s the fair and right thing to do.”

I am skeptical of either scenario panning out.

First, I don’t think Hillary is under serious consideration — if she is under consideration at all. Second, she would make a horrible secretary of state, for one thing, and I can’t imagine that she would want the job. Hillary wants to be in a position to make her own mark on the world, and the last thing Obama wants is someone like Hillary in that position.

Dick Morris suggests it could just be a rumor started by the Clintonistas. I wouldn’t be surprised

If the republic survives after four years under Comrade Obama, then he is bound to be a one-termer. Even if not, administrations tend to undergo facelifts, meaning Hillary would be lucky to have a longer than four year run as the country’s top diplomat. She needs her Senate seat as a fallback for any potential climb up the power ladder. She likely won’t give that up.

But, let’s say I am wrong. I am just as skeptical about the idea that Western New York’s favorite camera whore would be appointed to fill her spot. Anecdotallly, I have heard that David Paterson really doesn’t have much love for upstate, and even if that is not true, I don’t think he will seriously consider choosing a Western New York congressman who isn’t well known across the state.

That being said, I welcome the possibility. If Higgins leaves his seat in the House, that seat has the potential to become competitive during an environment that historically should be good for Republicans. He also would likely face primary challenges in 2010 when that Senate seat would have an election for a permanent replacement an could easily be dropped for a more popular and well known Democrat. Perhaps Rudy Giuliani might have a shot at it — especially if the political climate is a good one for Republicans, which is not only historically likely, but a great possibility considering the mess the Democrats are going to get us into.

So really, I actually welcome the possibliliy of Higgins being appointed to the Senate in the unlikely scenario of Hillary being appointed as secretary of state. It actually presents the Republican Party with some good opportunities.

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It’s kind of funny how similar Jon Powers and Baby Joe Mesi are. Both have shady dealing with their respective charities. Jon Powers’ failed charity, War Kids Relief, according to disclosure forms, lined his wallet a lot better than it helped Iraqi children, and Joe Mesi’s Organ Donation Foundation similarly was more profitable for his family members than for the cause.

Another trait they share is they both have attracted a lot of political contributions from outside the districts they want (or wanted) to represent. The Buffalo News has a story revealing where Baby Joe’s political donations are coming from.

If all politics is local, Democrat Joe Mesi had some problems during the most recent fundraising period for his State Senate campaign.

Only $350 out of $140,000 he raised during a recent 14-day stretch came from voters or business interests from within the 61st Senate District — a showing his opponent, Republican Michael Ranzenhofer, immediately seized upon Monday.

“It’s kind of astonishing to see such a huge amount of money coming from outside the area,” said Ranzenhofer, an Erie County legislator who is locked in a battle with Mesi, a former boxer, for the seat being vacated by retiring State Sen. Mary Lou Rath, a Williamsville Republican.

Mesi was unavailable for an interview, but a campaign official said that since campaign efforts began earlier this year, Mesi has gotten donations from more than 350 local sources.

Russ Thompson at Albany’s Insanity made the following point:

Well apparently the people in the district don’t support or think Mesi has a chance of winning. If they did he would be pulling in more. What does bother me is the donations from New York City… Our biggest problem IS NY City influence and now we see it in the Mesi campaign? Independent my a$$…

He makes a good point. Russ also says that “Everyone should be worried when down state politicians and interests want to buy off any legislator and especially a candidate.” I agree. How can Baby Joe say he’ll fight for Western New York when they’re not the ones pushing him into the ring.

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Looks like Alice “Also-Ran” Kryzan wants the Working Families Party line, even though Jon Powers, at this point is supposed to occupy that line on the ballot in November.

Efforts are under way to make Democrat Alice J. Kryzan the new candidate of the Working Families Party in the 26th Congressional District, giving her another line on the ballot in her campaign against Republican Christopher J. Lee.

But Republicans are already challenging the idea, claiming there is no constitutional basis to remove the designated candidate - Democrat Jon Powers - from the ballot.

“If they try to file a certificate of nomination claiming he is disqualified, the question is how can he be disqualified,” said Ralph M. Mohr, Erie County’s Republican election commissioner.

Mohr said the only residency requirement posed by the Constitution for a member of the House of Representatives is that the candidate live in the state “at the time” of election. As a result, he contends that someone could be a resident at 9 p.m. on Election Day and qualify.

But since no pre-residency requirment exists, Mohr said there is no basis to remove Powers from the ballot.

Honestly, I don’t see what the big deal is about having multiple lines on a ballot. Since I’ve moved to New York it seems that all this electoral fusion stuff has been more a cause for dispute than anything else.

The article did point out that Jon Powers has allegedly moved out of state. Now, sources tell me he’s taken a job in Washington, D.C.

If the GOP really wants to make an issue of this, they could challenge Jon Powers residency. Back in 2006 when Tom DeLay  retired from the House and moved to Virginia, Democrats challenged his residency (by saying he was still a resident of Texas) in order to keep him on the ballot. 

I don’t think Alice should count on the WFP line on the November ballot. There’s clearly precedent to keep him on, even if he has moved out-of-state.

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The DCCC (which has added Alice Kryzan to their Red To Blue program following Jon Powers’ defeat in the primary) is attacking Chris Lee in a new television ad that I just caught the other day.

The ad accuses Chris Lee of “employing labor in China.”

This, of course, is a blatant lie. No jobs form Chris Lee’s company were transferred overseas. The company expanded to international markets, but no jobs were lost here in Western New York, no jobs were ever exported to China. The company employees over 350 people in Western New York. If Alice Kryzan and the DCCC think it’s a bad thing that when a local company is successful enough to be able to compete internationally, then I think they are the ones who have some explaining to do.

After the ad came out, ECGOP Chairman Jim Domagalski issued a statement:

“Kryzan should be ashamed of herself for this blatant hypocrisy,” said Erie County Republican Chairman Jim Domagalski.  ”Kryzan needs to denounce these ads as a complete and utter distortion of Chris’s record as a successful business leader who has actually created good paying jobs here in Western New York.  I dare ask the question, how many jobs has Alice Kryzan created?

“Alice Kryzan has said that Washington insiders shouldn’t select the person Western New Yorkers are going to send to Congress. Alice Kryzan needs to stand up and denounce these negative attack ads and live by her promise to turn away this outside liberal, special interest help.”

If Alice Kryzan wants to make job creation an issue of this campaign, I think that’s a debate the Chris Lee campaign will want to have. Only one candidate in this race has a record of creating jobs in Western New York…

…and it ain’t Alice Kryzan.

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It is nice to know that some people are fighting for the taxpayers and not kowtowing to the unions.

Honoring a campaign pledge, Erie County Executive Chris Collins suspended the controversial, union-friendly apprenticeship law that business leaders felt unnecessarily drove up the cost of county-financed public works construction projects.

The Erie County Legislature enacted the apprenticeship law two years ago, despite concerns raised by the business community that the law favored unions, limited those who could bid on projects and, effectively, increased construction costs for the cash-starved county.

The law mandated any firm that bid on a county construction project had to have an approved apprenticeship and training program.

“It was the most anti-business, anti-taxpayer law in the county,” Collins said.

To suspend the law, Collins on July 21 submitted a new set of rules and regulations that withdrew the apprenticeship requirement to the Erie County Legislature. The Legislature’s majority had 60 days to block the new set of rules, but failed to do so.

“We did this in the open,” Collins said. “This has been in the light of the day for the past 60 days. We did not try to sneak it past anyone.”

Last summer, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer also suspended apprenticeship requirements for all state projects.

Erie County Legislator Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Clarence, said the apprenticeship law drove up construction costs between 20 percent and 30 percent.

“It was so un-American and so unfair,” he said. “There will be no more special treatments.”

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WBEN has audio of Chris Collins’ speech to the Republican National Convention last night, and had this to say about it:

Erie County Executive Chris Collins was in the spotlight at the Republican National Convention Wednesday evening.

He voiced his support for Gov. Sarah Palin as the vice-presidential nominee, saying there is an individual on a major ticket with experience in local government. Collins said Palin “brings a body of knowledge and experience too few in Washington have.”

Collins explained his use of Six Sigma makes government more accountable and responsive to residents’ needs, and also noted the response to the threat of Hurricane Gustav was an example of meeting residents’ needs.

Collins was among many urging folks to give to organizations best assisting in hurricane relief efforts.

WBEN also noted that Collins is seen as a rising star in the Republican Party:

Even before Chris Collins made a speech at the RNC, he was already making friends in the Republican party across the state and across the country. New York GOP Delegate Russ Gugiono tells WBEN’s Steve Cichon that some in Downstaters were so impressed with Collins, that some are even considering the County Executive a possible Gubenatorial candidate ion 2010. You can hear Steve’s report by clicking here.

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Jon Powers is getting hit from all angles now, with the Western New York GOP calling on him to publicly release financial documents relating to his War Kids Relief organization, and Jack Davis’s campaign revealed that back in 2004 Jon Poweres was cited for disorderly conduct.

The flurry of charges and countercharges began when the Davis campaign produced documents showing that Powers, a graduate of John Carroll University in Cleveland, was cited by a Cleveland Heights, Ohio, police officer on Oct. 23, 2004, for disorderly conduct. In his citation, the officer accused Powers of directing obscene comments at him.

“People need to know this is the real Jon Powers,” Davis spokesman Luke Vaughn said. “He flagrantly disrespects a police officer, is found guilty of disorderly conduct and never tells anyone. After 10 years of scandal and embarrassing headlines, we don’t need more of the same — we deserve a congressman who will tell the truth.”
But Powers spokeswoman Victoria Dillon saw the incident differently. She said Powers was with college friends and fellow veterans in the area, and denied at the time and denies now that he ever used obscene language in addressing the officer. She also offered to produce witnesses to back up Powers.

“At a time when he’s under investigation and running from revelations of election fraud and bribery, the Davis campaign is practicing the lowest form of politics by distorting simple facts,” Dillon said. “Jon was written a ticket for jaywalking, never arrested and never showed any disrespect to law enforcement.”

But a spokeswoman for the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court said Powers changed his plea of not guilty to the original Class 4 misdemeanor charge to “no contest” in connection with a minor misdemeanor on Jan. 11, 2005, and that there was no mention of jaywalking in the final disposition of the case.

Of course, the Powers campaign is claiming that Powers was merely jaywalking — which makes as much sense as saying that a person who gets a speeding ticket but has it reduced to a parking violation never violated the speed limit.

As for the GOP’s call for Powers to release the financial documents about War Kids Relief, the Erie County Democratic Party predictably fought back accusing the Republicans of attacking Powers’ service. In defending Powers, Erie County Democratic Chairman Leonard R. Lenihan said, “I wonder how many people at that press conference put their lives on the line in Iraq.”

So, apparently, Jon Powers is supposed to be above scrutiny because he served in Iraq? What Lenihan is choosing to ignore is the fact that the questions surrounding Jon Powers and War Kids Relief have nothing to do with Powers’ military service in Iraq. This, in my opinion explains why the local Democratic committees rushed to endorse Powers, despite his lack of political qualifications and experience. They think that any criticism of Jon Powers can be easily deflected by playing the “Iraq Veteran” card.

And, I have to disagree with Lenihan’s implication that Republicans are attacking Powers over this issue due to “their desire to avoid facing Jon Powers in November.” I think if there’s anyone the Republican Party wants to face in November it’s Jon Powers. This issue probably won’t hurt Powers amongst Democrat voters, since Democrats tend to ignore scandals involving members of their own party. But, the important thing to remember is that it wasn’t the local Republican Party that brought this issue up.

UPDATE: The Buffalo Bean has obtained a scan of the citation.

UPDATE: Buffalo Pundit, complete with talking points from the Powers campaign, echoes the claim that the Republican Party fears going against Powers in November. I think it speaks for itself that if they’re any candidate the Republican wants to face it’s Jon Powers. Commonsense would tell any pundit or political insider that if you had to choose between a better known candidate with virtually unlimited resources (Davis) and a political newbie with no experience, less cash, and no name recognition (Powers), you’d choose facing the latter. 

But hey, if liberals had commonsense, they’d be Republicans.

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Got this media advisory in my email this afternoon:

For Immediate Release: Jim Domagalski
Tuesday, August 13, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY

GOP Chairs Address Recent Questions Surrounding Congressional
Candidate Jon Powers’ Nonprofit Organization, War Kids Relief

When: Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:00 pm

Where: Erie County Republican Headquarters
107 Delaware Avenue, Suite 17
Buffalo, NY 14202

Who: Western New York Republican Chairman

Confirmed Participants:
Erie County Republican Chairman Jim Domagalski
Niagara County Republican Chairman Henry Wojtaszek
Orleans County Republican Chairman Ed Morgan

What: Press Conference

More on this later…

UPDATE: Video posted.

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Things continue to look good for Chris Lee to succeed Tom Reynolds as Republican David Ballavia, an Iraq war veteran, announced he would not challenge Chris Lee for the Republican nomination.

After more than a dozen Republicans expressed interest in succeeding Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds following his retirement announcement in March, Christopher J. Lee emerged as the last man standing Thursday when his sole remaining opponent said he would not run.

David Bellavia, who won the Silver Star in Iraq and wrote a book about his war experiences, told The Buffalo News he will not challenge Lee for the GOP nomination. He also ruled out talk of challenging Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport, for her seat in the adjacent 28th District, leaving the Republicans still without a candidate to challenge the veteran congresswoman.

“We had conversations about it, but the idea of running against her never came out of my mouth,” he said. “It was the thought of other people.”

But, on the Democrat side, a fourth has entered the race.

Bellavia’s withdrawal means the Republicans are unified behind Lee, while the Democratic field has grown to four contenders. Erie County Legislator Kathy Konst of Lancaster said this week she intends to run in the Democratic primary, which already includes Clarence businessman Jack Davis, Iraq War veteran and former substitute teacher Jon Powers, and Amherst attorney Alice J. Kryzan.

The National Journal’s Hotline blog recognizes the latest turn of events bodes well for GOP prospects for NY-26.

Four of NY’s six GOP seats could swing to Dems this fall. But one of those four, retiring Tom Reynolds’ (R) NY-26, looks less and less everyday like it belongs with those other three.

PoliticsNY.net even notes that favored Democrat chalenger Jon Powers “has no substantive support in the District” despite all the party endorsements he’s received.

The Hotline blog also reports that we may not have heard the last from Bellavia:

The party has also been working to clear the primary field of its only remaining candidate, and is trying to move Iraq vet David Bellavia (D) to the NY-28 race.

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The race to take back CD-27 is on!

Daniel J. Humiston joined the growing cadre of local businessmen plunging into Republican politics Tuesday by promising to transfer his experience as founder of the Tanning Bed chain to the House of Representatives.

Surrounded outside West Seneca Town Hall by several bronzed employees of his 23- year-old company, Humiston launched what he acknowledged will prove a tough campaign against Brian Higgins, the two-term incumbent Democrat. But he pointed across Union Road to the location of his first Tanning Bed outlet, recalling the chance he took on a venture that now employs more than 700 people in 34 outlets.

“Fast-forward 23 years, and here I am again in the same spot,” he said. “I have the same feeling, except this time my vision is for Western New York. It’s a vision of growth, it’s a vision of prosperity, and it’s a vision of optimism.”

Humiston, 44, is a member of the Independence Party but will receive the backing of Republican leaders to run on their line. Erie County Republican Chairman James P. Domagalski was on hand to demonstrate his support, reflecting yet another candidate from the business community he has recruited for major offices.

“I think you see in Dan a focused businessman with proven leadership and job creation skills, and someone who’s about achieving something — not being something,” Domagalski said. “The incumbent is very good at getting press. Our opponent in this race has been at three different levels of government, and the thing that he’s best at is criticizing the level of government he left when he’s at the next level.”

Given the recent slowdown of the economy, it certainly is a good idea to have someone with business experience representing the district instead of someone whose voting record suggests he knows very little about what’s good for business.

UPDATE: Watch the video.

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It’s kind of depressing that I left one gun-crime-ridden city for another.

Bloody street violence struck Buffalo this week when at least five people were shot over a two-day period — Sunday and Monday — during four separate incidents across the city.

Four of the people were shot Sunday, but the most seriously injured was a 25-year-old man who was sprayed with a flurry of bullets that struck him multiple times in the head on Wohlers Avenue early Monday.

Antonio U. Jones was fighting for his life in Erie County Medical Center on Tuesday. Hospital officials declined to release his condition, but the shooting is being investigated by Homicide Unit detectives, which is an indication of the seriousness of Jones’ head injuries.

Police responded to a call of “person down” and found Jones in the street at about 3 a. m., according to Buffalo Police Department spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge.

DeGeorge said police have no suspects or motive in the shooting.

Records show that Jones has been arrested several times, including a court conviction in 2001 for attempted robbery.

Back in Boston, MA, the incompetent mayor, Tom Menino, talked tough on crime, but was more tough on guns. He prided himself on his gun buyback program, which did nothing to improve the gun violence epidemic. So, you can imagine I wasn’t surprised to find out that Buffalo had its own gun buyback program last year.

Mayor Byron W. Brown today announced the City’s “No Questions Asked” Gun Buyback Program will take place on Saturday, June 2, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at six drop-off sites across Buffalo.

“Late in 2006, I announced that the City would conduct a gun buyback program as one of several tactics we will use to rid our streets of illegal guns,” said Mayor Brown. “And during my annual State of the City Address I reiterated that this program would be a no-questions-asked process where guns submitted at several locations will enable the individual to receive a pre-paid credit card at a dollar value based on the caliber of the weapon.”

Buffalo’s program is modeled after several other city’s successful gun buyback efforts, particularly the City of Chicago that in two different one-day gun buybacks retrieved over 4,200 guns.

The program netted 800 guns, and as you can see from recent headlines, it has worked so well.

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Lack of agreement in Legislature keeps Erie County repairs in limbo

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