Hawley likes his seahorse friends, but votes against protection bill

Maybe if Mr. Hawley was a part of the solution we wouldn't have to read about these little squabbles. For the record, I don't give a damn about the seahorses, I DO give a damn about the budget. Hawley is admittedly ineffective in Albany; he says it's because he's a member of the minority party, but we all know that Albany has been broken under the rule of both major parties. It's time to elect someone who has the guts to be effective whether he's in the majority or not. People always tell me Hawley is too popular to beat in an election. I disagree. Steve Hawley is our Paris Hilton, he's popular for being popular and he's famous for being famous. Steve, do something useful or vacate your seat; we're not paying you $70,000/ year to bitch about seahorses.

Didn't I just say that Hawley CAN be beat Howard? This district has been represented by conservative Republicans just about forever and we're no better off than we were 10, 15, 20 years ago. Why would we want more of the same? Folks on your site and all over the place keep saying that it's time to throw out the incumbents, that most of the current representatives in Albany are just a part of the wallpaper and it's time for a remodel. I'm saying that the 139th should lead the way.

So, is the answer to keep the status quo? I'd rather see the independent lose the next election, but give that person a chance, than not have fielded a candidate at all. Who knows, the person may be just what Albany needs to spark movement towards a more perfect state government.

If a candidate running on our Democratic line told the Albany Dems where to stick their advertising and lit money, what then? If a candidate running on our Democratic line wanted to go to to Albany simply do do a good job for the people that elected him instead of spending two years planning his re-election campaign, what then? If a candidate running on our Democratic line took money only from people he agreed with BEFORE he decided to run for office and therefore wasn't beholden to anyone or anything but a strong set of values and ideals, what then? Your take on this is more defeatist than I care to put up with on a cold May morning. Your thinking on the matter seems to be: Might as well vote for the guy we've already got, he's useless but at least he's already there. It's that sort of attitude, and you're certainly not the only one who seems to have it, that prevents us from initiating meaningful change in the way Albany does business...or not. There are 150 Assemblymen heading back to their districts this year telling their constituents: 'Hey, guys, it's not my fault, Albany is dysfunctional. Send me back and I'll get it fixed for you.' Not a single one of them seems to understand that THEY ARE ALBANY. How many times can you pass the buck before the damn thing makes it all the way back to you? Steve Hawley still has a section on his Assembly sponsored website griping about unfunded mandates. Here's a quote: "Unfunded mandates are impositions on local governments and school districts, not only because they force mandates without helping to pay the cost but because, oftentimes, this forces our local governments to raise school or property taxes. I staunchly believe we need to reform our state's property tax system, and one way we can help local governments and homeowners alike is by stopping the unfunded mandates that come from Albany." He must have forgotten about his 'staunch beliefs' a couple weeks ago when he CO-SPONSORED a piece of legislation that swung a big, fat, unfunded mandate wrecking ball right through our county budget. He could have fixed the problems with Leandra's Law during the drafting process, but instead he just signed up for whatever looked popular and voted 'Yes.' We need to send someone to Albany who will actually read the legislation they're voting for, someone who can treat his Assembly seat as a full-time job and not just one of three or four hobbies that bring in a paycheck. We need someone who's core principles won't allow him to engage in hypocrisy for the sake of popularity. Most of all, we need someone who doesn't give a damn about being re-elected. A person who understands that a job done right, a vote according to principle and not popularity, is it's own reward. This person is out there and it's up to us to send him to Albany to get the damn job done.

It's also the sort of answer you'll get right along with everyone else, John. There will be no major elections news breaking on The Batavian this weekend. I will say that petition season begins on June 8th and I'm looking forward to it. There's a lot to be excited about in NY politics this year.

This entire discussion seems polluted by the assumption that change is out of our reach. To assert that no one possesses the conscience to break out of Albany lockstep is the worst kind of defeatism. Purveyors of that notion only sanction the dysfunction they object to. Last November a single legislator could have broken rank and launched a new era in fiscal responsibility for our state. ...But we have yet to elect a person with that brand of responsibility.

Let the upheaval begin!

Bud, there is something to be said for the ripple in the pond theory. If we can send somebody to Albany who is willing to bust some heads and maybe get his own head busted from time to time, we just might be able to start a trend...or at least make a statement.

Chris, You have a point only to the extent that if you send a Democrat to Albany who tries to "bust some heads", that means Assembly Leader, Mr. Silver. And Silver has a good track record of stomping out Democrats who challenge him and don't do what they are told. Very much like Joe Bruno did with Republicans who bucked him in the State Senate.

Chris, That's not what I said. The voters here have nothing to do with Silver. My point was that if you think that a Democrat, coming from here is going to "bust some heads", you're dreaming. Mr. Silver will bury him. On the other hand, if a true 3rd party candidate was elected from here, that would send a message.

Chris, Wrong, a third party candidate can run on their own line (harder to do), or on the line of a minor party (easier to do). He/she does not need a write in campaign to run as a true independent.

John, Taking in account all available paths, only two get you to Albany. I'm not referring to I90 and I87. The nation is tracked by a two-party mentality. I became a member of the Green Party because a strong third party would dissolve gridlock. The bandwagon has yet to arrive.

Chris, First, that means the party could not find a member who wanted to run. Not that usual in this area. Second, then the "independent" would be running on your line, against a lot of what your party stands for. It just makes it a bit hard to get money from the State party when you run against them. But they might close their eyes to try and beat a Republican, and then if he wins, bury him later in Albany. It could be done and I hope Orleans County agrees and I wish you luck.

Chris, Knowing you went looking for a Dem, at least at one time, I feel safe to think that after not finding one in Genesee County, you would also look around. Do you know if Orleans County has a candidate? They have the last two times.

Chris, Actually, your local Democrat party has done very well running people who were not registered Democrats. A good number of them won and some came close. That's something to go on.

Posted by John Roach on May 10, 2010 - 2:29pm Chris, Knowing you went looking for a Dem, at least at one time, I feel safe to think that after not finding one in Genesee County, Are you saying that there are no qualified Democrats in Genesee Co. to run? Chris is a good foil for you, John. You want him to tip his hand and he won't. Keep baiting, though. It's fun to watch.

Bea, No, that's not what I said. Try hard to get it right. There are a lot of good Democrats who could run. But for one reason or another, they are not doing it. As for "qualified", what does that mean? And I am right that your party has had success running and winning with people who were not Democrats at the time they were nominated.

I'm still waiting for the 200,000 jobs Hilary Clinton promised us when she was our senator..