Staten Island GOP Candidate Dies

[struggle4progress]

Source: NYT

By JONATHAN P. HICKS and JOHN SULLIVAN
Published: June 22, 2008

The candidate endorsed by Republican leaders to run for a Congressional seat being vacated by Representative Vito J. Fossella died on Sunday morning at his home in Staten Island, party leaders said.

The candidate, Francis H. Powers, a board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, was a retired Wall Street executive and an active contributor to Republican candidates. Mr. Powers, 67, died in his sleep of natural causes, family members said ...

Mr. Powers had been selected to run in the November election to succeed Mr. Fossella, who has held the seat since 1997 but who decided not to run for re-election after a personal scandal emerged. Mr. Fossella is the only Republican representing New York City in Congress ...

Mr. Powers, who had never before run for public office, agreed to run after a series of elected officials declined to enter the race. Mr. Powers, who had been Mr. Fossella’s finance chairman, retired from the investment firm Weiss, Peck & Greer in 2002 ...



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/nyregion/22cnd-staten.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1214280000&en=e07e60d4bf395ce6&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

[Liberal Veteran]

1. That's kinda of sad, but apparently God doesn't want a republican holding that seat.

[Rowdyboy]

3. Were I a Republican in this district, I'd hesitate to file....

As you say, apparently God has a stake in the outcome o this one. Obviously Congressman Fossela really pissed off the Flying Spaghetti Monster....

+ 1 Democrat

[Ian David]

6. Didn't Chris Matthews express an interest in running for office?

Otherwise, I hear Spinal Tap needs a new drummer.

[Liberal Veteran]

9. Sean Hannity could run in that seat. It might be interesting....

....to see how God takes care of him.

[sofa king]

19. We'd benefit from it if he won.

That arsehole does far more damage now than he could if he were 1/435th of a Democratically-controlled Congress. Plus, the guy doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground, so he'd be even less effective than your average Member of Congress.

Not as good as putting an honest person in the seat, but an attractive option nevertheless.

[JerseygirlCT]

2. Wow. That's sad.

I wonder if they'll find anyone to run now?

Who do we have running? I have family roots there, but know just about nothing about Staten Island politics now!

[King Bacon Fat]

4. A lot of people had refused to run before Powers accepted...

We'll see what happens.

[davidinalameda]

5. all I can say is damn

[Ian David]

7. If "The Sopranos" were still in production, they would have based a great story line on this. n/t

[Ian David]

8. See prior thread on womanizing drunk-driver Vito Fossella

Even Republicans ready to write off Vito Fossella in DWI, lady 'friend' scandal (NY-13)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3301251#3301264

[izquierdista]

10. In his sleep? Natural causes?

That's not very Republican of him... Where's the gay hustler with the crystal?

[GodlessBiker]

11. This is a (giggle) very sad (giggle) turn of events (giggle).

[Smear Talk Express]

12. What a bizarre district...

Fossella turns out to be a two-timing asshole.

Frank Powers Sr. runs as the Republican candidate .

Frank Jr. runs for the Libertarians.

Frank Sr. dies in bed.

Sounds like something from one of Pat Robertson's braindead prophecies.

[speedoo]

13. Wow. The strangeness continues. nt

[CANDO]

14. Wasn't Curtis Sliwa interested in this seat?

eom

[struggle4progress]

15. Sliwa endorses Morano ... (20 June)

... radio talk-show host Curtis Sliwa offered himself as a potential candidate for the bi-borough seat. But after being rebuffed by the borough GOP ... Sliwa yesterday endorsed Independence Party pick ... Carmine Morano for the seat ...

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/sliwa_endorses_morano_for_inde.html

[CANDO]

18. Thank you for the update

eom

[DeSwiss]

16. It would seem....

- ...that all the good Republicans in Staten Island are dead.
========================================================================
DeSwiss


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K&R

[truthisfreedom]

17. "Natural causes." Umm-hmm.

I don't think so. Pharmaceuticals, I imagine.