The GOP Is Pretty Dang Weak in the North Country

Sorry we have been away for so long; we have been in a deep, deep battle of depression due to the state of the Hillary for President campaign. :(

So it has been a pathetic and depressing couple of days for us. But then we were humored after reading our beloved Watertown Daily Times this evening. We saw that Fred Brabant dropped out of his bid for the 118th NYS Assembly district AFTER ONLY 2 DAYS of campaigning!!! Now we have our lush Cantwell ready to rumble along the river district (according to Double D all he has is looks; but hey it does the trick for Obama, right?).

I do think that it is a pretty bad sign that the GOP's bench is so limited/fractured that one of its so-called best candidates only lasts two days and is unable to recruit any volunteers to get petition signatures? And why in the world did Button drop out so quickly?

It is called pathetic leadership. We need someone who knows how to get things done for the North Country. Maybe that someone is Bobby Cantwell... I guess we will have to find out.


Brabant abandons Assembly attempt
LACK OF SUPPORT: Contractor says party 'eliminated democracy'
By JUDE SEYMOUR
TIMES STAFF WRITER
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008

Frederick A. Brabant, Clayton, said a lack of party support has convinced him to abandon a run for the 118th Assembly District seat just two days after entering the race.

Mr. Brabant, a self-employed contractor, said he received no help after asking Jefferson County Republicans at a party meeting Monday to circulate petitions on his behalf.

"I hit a wall," he said. "They have this notion that they don't want a primary. And it has eliminated democracy."

Sandra L. Corey, county Republican chairwoman, said she told Mr. Brabant just the opposite. She remembered telling the candidate: "If we're together with one candidate, we'll be stronger ahead. But I told him I would never stand in anyone's way if they wanted to do a primary."

Mrs. Corey said Mr. Brabant was a victim of bad timing Monday. The chairwoman said the candidate tried to recruit volunteers after losing the committee's endorsement to Robert W. "Bobby" Cantwell III, Clayton.

Both candidates were given a chance to speak before the endorsement process began, Mrs. Corey said.

Now out of the race, Mr. Brabant said he will support Mr. Cantwell.

"I have nothing but praise for the man," Mr. Brabant said. "Bobby and I are friends. Our ideas are much the same."

Mr. Cantwell said he was excited about the endorsement Monday from Jefferson County Republicans.

"It's an honor and it's humbling to have their support," he said Tuesday morning.

He received an endorsement Tuesday afternoon from the St. Lawrence County Republican Party. Chairwoman Janet L. Kelly polled town GOP leaders Tuesday and reached an informal consensus. The committee will not meet again until September. Members met Thursday but delayed their endorsement because Canton town Supervisor David T. Button was considering a bid. He withdrew Monday.

"I'd love to have had a candidate from St. Lawrence County, but I think that now that we have one from Jefferson County, we've got to get behind him," Ms. Kelly said. "He's got a lot of fire in him."

Jefferson County Legislator Addie J. Russell, Theresa, is the Democratic candidate. Donald J. Lucas, Massena, is pursuing the Working Families Party line and intends to run as an independent.