NY Democrats have finally gotten it together

[norml]

NY Democrats have finally gotten it together

August 10, 2005


In 2000, Republicans tried to stop Hillary Clinton by calling her a carpetbagger who was too liberal even for a Democratic state. It didn't work. Clinton rolled easily to her Senate seat. And (whatever her motive) she has pushed a mostly moderate agenda and often worked closely with Republicans.

Now, the state GOP seems to think it can stop her re-election next year by rolling out the same tired themes - that she is only using the state to get back to the White House. That the words are being mouthed not by then-Rep. Rick Lazio but by Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro - a sharp and similarly ambitious, suburban-based woman - doesn't make them any more effective.

The rhetoric in Pirro's Monday announcement reaffirms that the state GOP - which has no viable successor to Gov. George Pataki - remains in lackluster limbo with little to encourage voters who value a robust two-party system.

What does this mean for Democrats? They would seem unrecognizable to the likes of Will Rogers, who said: "I'm not a member of any organized party; I'm a Democrat."


snip


http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-oplev104377496aug10,0,4292085.column?coll=ny-news-columnists

[bluestateguy]

1. Elliot Spitzer could be our first Jewish president

Someday, of course.

[Montauk6]

3. WHAT??? You mean America's not READY for JOEMENTUM???

:sarcasm: :rofl:

[Montauk6]

2. It'll be interesting to see how this race unfolds

Remember, not for nothing, Hillary benefitted from a wildly chaotic Repub opposition. Giuliani REALLY screwed things up with his constant hemming and hawing about whether he was even going to run until he weaselled out at the very last minute. Then, it was up to Rick Laziboy to be the 11th-hour replacement with the thankless task of both beating up Hillary and introducing himself to the people; his was a textbook desperation campaign, and nobody bought it. He didn't do himself any favors either by trying to get in Hillary's face during the debates.

But this time around it'll be intriguing to see Hil take on a from-day-one committed challenge.

[bluestateguy]

4. I think she'll win at least 60% of the vote

She'll be badgered endlessly to make a promise to finish out her full Senate term, but she should not make that committment. She has enough of a political cushion that she does not need to fall into that trap.

[Montauk6]

5. Well, you actually take me back to the "stupid question" I posed earlier:

Has Hillary actually stated on the record that she is ipso facto running for President (or even considering the possibility)?

[election_2004]

6. I think she's play coy with the media....

She hasn't really answered the question one way or the other.

[cap]

7. Hillary has won a lot of friends in unlikely places in upstate NY

she has looked after NY state