The Batavian Challenge: Vote on May 24

I'm the reader who offered the $25 to add with The Batavian's $ 100.00 donation to Genesee Justice. I don't like to pound my chest in public about any donation. regardless of how small or large, those things, IMHO are supposed to be private. But, I believe in our right/privilege of voting. So, I'm going to up the ante, I'll donate $50.00 to The Loyola Recovery Foundation which we learned about from Chris Charvella last winter in addition to the already promised one above.

http://wnymedia.net/ccharvella/2011/01/center-for-homeless-veterans-ope…

There, I'm walkin' the walk as far as a poor guy like me can. Vote, even if you sign the book, get your ballot and don't vote for anything on it, turning in a blank ballot is still exercising you prerogative. Voter turnout in general is pretty poor, hardly ever above 50%, and special and midterm elections typically draw about 35% of registered voters. We have to show the political class (and yes, they have become a class) that we aren't complacent anymore. Maybe if some quality people believe the masses actually care, the quality of our candidates will improve. Instead of egomaniacs, social engineers and self-enrichers, like we seem to always get .

Thank you Dave. I'm sure the folks at Loyola will thank you as well. Email me privately and I'll give you the contact info.

charvellac (at) rochester.rr.com

In that same vein, as soon as this special election is over, I'll hopefully be getting back to doing interviews with the residents over there.

I pledge $26 to the Child Advocacy Center wing of Genesee Justice.

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No good deed goes unpunished in the land of stupid.

I concur.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePKwFlDzv30

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I think it is great that anyone donates anything to any community based organization/program period. I don't care if it is tax deductible or not ! Reminds me of two SNL skits of Debbie Downer and Doug and Wendy Whiner ! I say Thank You to anyone that donates anything !
Just sayin'

Ryan; obviously your real problem is with Genesee Justice. You want to declare victory, then tell the readers of The Batavian something we don't already know.

Ryan, start decaf.

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Ryan, I heard Ken Mistler is offering a reward for that info. You should go collect and spend the money on a trip to see your psychiatrist.

Ryan, so you know who has committed a crime, but are keeping it a secret?

Ryan, did you see the last episode of Seinfeld? OK, you told me something I didn't know, now what's up with Genesee Justice?

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Initials M.S.
Officer, investigate any relatives Ryan has with the initial M Scott. Couldn't hurt to check. I'll take my reward in big bills. :)

I started a candidate scorecard when Howard began the candidate Q&A series. The candidates answers, combined with my own values, observations and research have resulted in failing grades for all of them, in my book.

I'm following Jeff's lead and plan to write-in my own name on the ballot (sorry Jeff, but I am pro-choice) as my personal message.

I also pledge $25 to Genesee Justice.

Let's hope for a large voter turnout and a resounding message that Genesee County voters are informed, aware and paying attention.

I would hope that you'll all make the donations regardless whether the challenge is met or not.

JoAnne, no apology needed, I'm just glad you are not staying home. Voter apathy is probably one of the biggest contributors to Albany and Washington running all over us. I want to personally thank all of you who graciously voted for me in the poll. I truly didn't expect to out poll someone who is actually on the ballot, and I hope it speaks to having struck a chord with frustrated voters. I also hope that you will all follow through this Tuesday. However small, let's hope this is a step in getting the electoral process back in the hand of the people.
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." John Quincy Adams

Kevin, what would be the point of a challenge, then?

Since it is fair to question and consider anyone wanting to put the hat in the ring, I do have a question for JoAnne and Jeff.
If you were to garner enough votes to beat Corwin, Davis or Hochul, which caucus would you join?

Howard, I'll match your donation in this challenge. I will also put up a $100. I also ask the rest of the bussiness owners in this community to also jump in, and make this a big success. What about people, who's willing?

Bea, that is a fair question, I've perused through the official caucuses of the 112th Congress and here are the ones that sound interesting to me:
Congressional Caucus on Beef
Congressional Caucus on Lumber
Congressional Composites Caucus
Congressional Constitution Caucus
Congressional Correctional Officers Caucus
Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus
Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus
Congressional Electromagnetic Pulse Caucus
Congressional Farmer Cooperative Caucus
Congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus
Congressional Oral Health Caucus
Congressional Shellfish Caucus
Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus
There are actually 187 caucuses registered in the current Congress, I can't say definitivley which ones I would join. It's something I would have to decide when the time comes.

Video from Pete Yorn in 2008, not much has changed

For some reason I can't embed this thing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=bjYcdInORB4

Howard i agree ..This is probably the best thing..having all these on line discusions..If Gail Stevens wanted to sway the arguements on the school budget she should of got on here and made her point why we need to raise everyones taxes..Debates the issues ..Change a few minds to see things your way..

Gail Stevens is the "establishment"? I don't think so. She's a mom who volunteers to try to make sure her child gets a good education. She's also on the youth board because she cares about kids.

I get the fight over keeping government in check but, Batavia is a small town with a lot of regular people doing their best to make things a little better. Gail has no motive other than caring about kids.

Charlie its very to keep focus in a group dynamic, everyone finds themselves falling into the "establishment" line to go along and get along. What we really need nowadays is the people who dont care about getting along with the group dynamic in both local small town politics as well as national level. What they really need is a questioning attitude that says....What the hell are we doing here and how can we fix it.

My only point is that in such a small town, where practically everyone knows you, it's wrong to single a person out. Gail Steven's words should not be a rallying cry. If you believe she doesn't represent your way of thinking and you want to try and take on her work load, go for it.

What this election says is there is a lot of people who think they can do better but, practically no one willing to step up to the plate.

I also understand what Gale is saying. The state is screwed up, they make it nearly impossible to lower school budgets without hurting kids. Mandated expenses and labor agreements are hancuffing local boards all over the state. It's not because of a lack of trying from those willing to volunteer for a school board position.

Howard, I'm not going to debate the need for openness of elected officials. It's an obligation.

The fact is Gale did respond to a question from the press and now she's the new rallying cry. That teaches the next local elected official to shut their mouth. Batavia is small, there are not a bunch of people in town with thick skin willing to donate their time.

If you think I'm wrong, tell me the names of those on the legislature or Council willing to go out on a limb and tell us what they are thinking on a regular basis. Those who are willing to be open, get hammered down.

Hello... Anyone elected out there reading this?? I'll bet you they are. Who's going to be the first to prove me wrong and respond to questions online and in the paper? Who's willing to be the next rallying cry?

Howard, Your not going to get many responses if you use a stick on those who respond to questions. Sure, Gail could have used different words but, I know exactly what she wanted to say.

I don't look at it as the new democracy but a throwback to a time when it was common for people to gather at the general store and discuss the events of the day. It is a way to share information, ideas and opinions on a myriad of topics..
If everyone thought the same way, it would be beyond boring. It is the diverse opinions that make it interesting.
I, too, wish that more elected officials would come on board and be part of the conversation.

Charlie, Steve Hawley has his press releases posted on here and there are very few disparaging comments. Granted he doesn't enter into discussions, but he's not being hammered either. We've heard from Tim Hens quite a few times and the majority of comments to him are positive. Are you going to get a few trolls and personal comments along with legitimate negative comments, sure. That's life. But overall I believe that a lot of the negativity springs from an arrogant attitude of "I don't have to subject myself to having what I write picked apart, we'll just have public meetings where I can control access and stop someone from saying things I don't like" Howard and Bea are right, this is the new media and the new Liberty Tavern. The "blogosphere" or whatever one wants to call it, ain't goin' away.

I think that part of the problem is that people take politics far too personally. It should be a discussion about government and our ideas on what government should or shouldn't do. Unfortunately, some people, elected and un-elected, take criticism or ideas that they do not agree with as a personal attack.

Just an aside, I see no problem with 'negative' campaigning so long as it's comparative. There is nothing wrong with differentiating what you believe in from what your opponent believes in. There is something wrong with being misleading with that campaigning.

I liked a sign from the Stewart/Colbert rally in Washington last year that said "I disagree with you but we can still be friends."

Dan, I'm going to disagree with you, but we can be friends. I hate negative campaigning, I want to know what the candidate is going to do, try to do or believes in, not what they know or think they know about their opponents. I'll decide for myself who I want to vote for.

Dave, the problem is people say they dislike negative campaigns but, in truth that’s what the public responds too. People run negative campaigns because it works.

Howard, back to our discussion on openness, it’s very hard for me to debate you on this issue because, I agree with you. People want and should see elected people responding to questions online but, the trolls do set the tone. Given a choice most elected people will just avoid online forums.

Yeah, unfortunately, that's true Charlie. I still hate it.