The cha-ching wasn't referring about the references to you.......It's not always about you.....I guess I should have been more specific.....it was the fact that everyone here thinks all posters are politicians of a sort, whether elected/past/running etc.......
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Cal, you're 1960's retread looking for a cause or movement. You still think you're shaping the country by fighting the establishment and social injustice. Truth is, you and your generation ARE the establishment, Democrat AND Republican alike are the reason this County, State, and Country are screwed up. Look in the mirror Cal, these problems didn't start 5 years ago.
and this statement, that although your name appears it could also say Clinton/Gore/Pelosi etc......
.......a person looks in the mirror, walks away and quickly forgets what they saw.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Senders, I apologize. I get bashed so much I thought you meant me. Forgive me. However the deep comment stands. You stand out on this blog not just because you are often deep and mysterious but always provoking thought and reflection. And no question I did crack on the establishment in my day and then built a split-level. You are right--
The cha-ching wasn't referring about the references to you.......It's not always about you.....
Shhhhhh.....the TROLL hasn't realized this yet!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The more I thought about it and looked things over, smoking bannanas is correct. It WAS the NNTP that opened the door for the dem sweep. (do the math) The NNTP garnered the support that would have more than likely gone to the reps. Hence, the dems really did not get the majority of the votes collectively. The reps and the NNTP did.
Now since that is all water over the dam now, the reps have an open door, obvious opportunity to not screw up again, and bring the NNTP into their fold....if they'll go. The reps first and foremost must can their present leadership. Second, they should be setting their sights on the next election cycle and the votes and ideas that the NNTP campaigned on and can bring them.
The NNTP created the perfect storm for the reps to regroup and re-energize. If the reps don't take this opportunity, the NNTP, I beleive, will not go away too soon. They will just continue to pull votes away from the reps.
Remember people....the dems may have won, but only because of the NNTP. Which proves that the majority of the townspeople are not happy with this dem sweep.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
1600 people weren't happy with the current leadership either. Make the government more transparent, no back room deals, and bring honesty back to politics, when they run for office hold them responsible for what they say after they take office.
Received via email and posted with the permission of Mr. Day:
The 'post game analysis' has begun in Rotterdam as to why the Republicans got the boot. The No New Tax Party is not the blame, the Republicans are to blame, as are the Democrats to blame in Virginia & New Jersey.
The No New Tax Party is a sign of the times, a time of tax payer dissent. Republicans gave us Lincoln & the Democrats gave us the New Deal, these were accomplishments. The socialist components of the New Deal can be argued but that is another letter.
Republicans give us patronage jobs for their friends, at tax payer expense & dirty, mean spirited campaigns (Tommasone & Tedisco).
Democrats give us patronage, again at tax payer expense, social programs that we cannot afford & political correctness (an assault on free speech).
The No New Tax Party is not a cure all, it is a beginning. Correction of the political process is to be found within. The within is constant vigilance & NOT looking for something. It is the not looking for something that is the trick. Human nature 101.
Tommasone lost in Rotterdam for multiple reasons, arrogance & dirty politics sealed his fate.
Brian McGary assisted the process & Frank DelGallo like McGary was a change. A change was needed & the reason for the demolition of the Republican Party in Rotterdam.
History teaches us that change is never really change, on the other hand America faces economic peril so just maybe the Democrats in Rotterdam will provide Rotterdam with a NEW DEAL.
In the movie Gandhi, there is a great moment, the Mahatma is lecturing some British officials: Gandhi says something to the effect, you can rule us only if you degrade us. The tax payers of this country have been degraded long enough, it is time for change everywhere.
Okay, as one of the pack of Republicans I have to start howling out here about the election results too. Don't just blame the GOP leadership for the lack of winners. Blame the Republican committee people who didn't mobilize for the candidates. Also the candidates need to be blamed as well. They needed to walk the streets and get personal with the voters. As a few of you have said, get out of the bunker. I haven't seen any numbers, but I'll bet the blanks ruled the day, not the party enrollees as to who won. All the negative campaigning did was turn off the blanks.
The local Republican party was destroyed by in-house fighting. John Mertz won the day and should be complimented for his achievement. The NNTP wouldn't have become a reality if it hadn't been for 4 disgruntled men spearheading this independent effort. After meeting and listening to Brad Littlefield at the debate, I have no clue why the Republicans didn't latch on to him. Biggest complaint in the county is high property taxes. Why wouldn't you grab a guy that has his educational background, his real estate background and have him champion this cause for the Republican party. Don't just blame the GOP leadership, blame the interviewing committee and other Republicans who knew him that didn't support him. If Excusi was their secret weapon, they should have kept him a secret. If the LWV debate had been televised, Brad would have gotten those votes, not him. Barrie will go plant some trees and be quite happy.
Mike O'Connor should have been brought into the mix of other Republican candidates post primary. Like it or not, the enrolled Republicans backed him and so should the GOP leadership post primary. Maybe they did reach out to him and he refused. IDK.
On the outside the Albany leadership failed Rotterdam as well. Didn't even hear crickets chirping. Just silence. Based on yesterday's Gazette article, maybe they weren't so quiet after all.
The Republican party needs to be rebuild locally and nationally. There's time, but it takes loyal, interested and intelligent people to do that. And yes, this is a solicitation.
Very well said howler! Looking over the results again....mcgarry pulled over 20% of the electorate and oconner pulled 40%!! Astonishing and brilliant! And I agree...littlefield should have also been picked up early on. Littlefield has all of the credentials and is an asset to the community. John didn't do so shabby either considering the circumstances.
And although I agree with everything howler says, I do fault the leadership, in part, for their failure in recognizing GREAT candidates and their failure to endorse them. They clearly focused too much on the supervisor's race failing to recognize that there was more to be had in this election.
Another huge mistake was giving mertzie the boot. That was a very poor strategic move by the rep leadership. Especially when they aired their dirty laundry in the court of public opinion. Bad move.
I would suggest to the rep party to start rebuilding and start by wining and dining the candidates from the NNTP and taking THEIR lead. They were BRILLIANT and made a historic change in rotterdam. Win or lose, they changed the face of politics as usual in rotterdam. They clearly are the winners in this election. There are more informed residents out there today due to their door to door effort. That would sure up a win for the next election cycle for the reps. IMHO
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Huskyhowls--an excellent post and I am a Democrat. I agree with much of what you said. The Rep. party engaged in an inordinate amount of negative campiagning. I hope some loyal, interested and intelligent folks take you up on your solicitation. Congrats on a great first "post."
Respectfully speaking Ladies and Gents, the demise of the Rotterdam GOP started the day they hired J. Craig Surprise as the Town Assessor. This man single-handedly took out the entire Republican Ticket. Even if John Mertz had been kept on the ticket he would have suffered the same fate as the rest of the REPS. The Party made some major mistakes and continue to make them two days after election.
To have Mertz and his surrogates taking credit for bringing down his party is absurd. Sure they may have had an effect on muddling the message but the taxpayers in town dispised Steve's Admin. for bringing in Surprise. It was a reminder to the residents of the days of John MacIsaac. Public service positions like the assessor, town clerk, receiver, highway are there to sevre ALL the residents in a fair and courteous manner. Surprise didn't measure up to the standards set by his predecessor's. He doesn't even measure up to the standards set forth by the State Office of Real Property.
Face it, he was hired to "justify" backroom assessment shenanigans which ultimately lead to the candidacy of Frank DelGallo, Matt Martin, Bob Godlewski and Nikki DiLeva. You all read the message of the Revitilize Reform lit. Number 2 "REFORM THE ASSESSOR"S OFFICE"
Without Craig Surprise there is no Frank DelGallo, probably no sweep and the end of the political careers of Steve, Joe/Joe and MERTZ. Stupid is what stupid does!
So does DelGallo have a set date he's going to step down - or is it just going to be announced out of the blue for "personal" reasons? Does McGarry know he'll be tapped to be the appointee? What position will Mertz or Riitano have in the new administration?