Addie's Got a Big Hat and No Cattle...

As they say in Texas,"She's got a big hat and no cattle..."

Addie J. Russell, the Democratic nominee for the 118th Assembly District, announced this week her plans to bring economic development to the North Country. The Watertown Daily Times was kind enough to use its print space to tout her plan. The trouble is that her plan is all talk and no action.

No where in the Times article is there any mention of specific policy proposals that would bring about any significant economic growth or job opportunities. She cites the existence of several outstanding universities as hubs for potential growth, but no way to leverage that base of new talent for positions in the North Country.

It is telling that she left out any talk of cuts to taxes, the estate taxes, school taxes, property taxes, gas taxes and all the rest.

Like Obama, Addie is just big hat and no cattle. All talk, no action. Would you expect anything less from a novice from the Democratic Party?

Addie was quoted as saying: "These companies are critical components of our economy," Mrs. Russell said in a press release. "We cannot stand by while our good-paying jobs disappear, often with little notice."

The article goes on to say that "the Theresa resident said she would help resolve issues by working with industrial development agencies and the Empire State Development Corp. She also would talk with the district's largest employers about worldwide developments that threaten local jobs."

It sounds like a rough draft proposal to me. It is pretty self-evident to everyone in the North Country that our economic base is demoralized. It is offensive that she would talk about job loss and poor economic growth in a way that goes "unnoticed." Does she think the people of the North Country are so naive to see first hand that our jobs are going to states with lower tax rates?

But Addie takes it one step further to announce a government-run student loan program to solve our financial woes. How does she propose to pay for this new loan program? Perhaps MORE taxes on the good people of New York! She has it all backwards. As the people in Texas would say, "She ain't got no cattle!"

Since When Did Conservatives Decide to Start Endorsing Pro-Aborts like Scozzafava?!?

Photo above (L to R): Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Laura Meyers, chair of the Western New York Chapter of Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York, JoAnn M. Smith, a member of Planned Parenthood Advocates Board of Directors, and Senator David Paterson


This week the St. Lawrence County Conservative Party made its political endorsements. We weren't suprised when we saw several Republicans listed, but then... we saw RINO, DeDe Scozzafava. Shocking, I know!

Puzzled, we wondered to ourselves why in the world would the St. Lawrence County Conservative Party and our friends, Hank Ford and Judy Wendt, put themselves in such an awkward position by endorsing Scozzafava, who is the pure pedigree of a RINO. They are sure to lose all credibility among their base.

My friends, I assure you that this is politics at its finest hour.

Did the conservatives feel compelled to endorse RINO-DeDe for her radical views in favor of same sex marriage? Was it her conservative voting rating in the 30s, 40s, and 50s? No it couldn't have been because the last time I had a math quiz anything below a 65 was an F...

Or better yet, was it for this quote our ol' gal DeDe signed onto that really encouraged our conservative friends??? -- "I promise to insure the rights of all women in New York State to control their own reproductive lives, including the right to safe, legal abortion." What I am trying to say is that the conservatives endorsement of DeDe is repulsive and embarrasing. It would be like Hillary Clinton pushing Dick Cheney for Obama's VP, over herself. HA!

But this endorsement brings us to a more serious subject that needs to be opined upon. Many in UpState NY don't know that RINO-DeDe has worked tirelessly to kill the unborn while in the NYS Assembly. And while the NYS Republicans should be proud that only 5 Assembly members of its GOP delegation have signed onto this blood-stained document for the National Organization of Women, it is true that DeDe was one of 5 Republicans in a body of 150 Assembly members who pledged to promote pro-abortion policies. Someone should tell her how many abortions happen each year in her hometown of Gouverneur.

That might shock her...

Perhaps that is why the St. Lawrence County Conservative Party was so inspired to make their ringing endorsement of DeDe this week (But we here at UGOB sincerely hope that is not the reason why they endorsed Scozzafava. Because if it is, the conservatives are sure going to have a lot of angry grassroots people in their ranks.). Then again, it could be that the Conservative Party believed DeDe EARNED their endorsement. After all, Pro-Abort DeDe sure earned the endorsement of Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York, a radical pro-abortion group that supported Clinton, Spitzer, and now Obama. And according to Project Vote Smart site, Scozzafava believes that "abortions should always be legal." She even won a 100% pro-choice rating from Planned Parenthood, a true feat in and of itself.

So now it seems that the oneous is on the Jefferson County Conservative Party...

It is our hope and prayer that they will not tango with their "so-called" conservative friends to the East when they make their endorsements public next week. If the Jefferson County Conservative Party withheld its endorsement from Scozzafava, it would send a real clear signal that conservative social values are important in UpState New York and that the Conservative Party still means something. Heck, maybe the county Republican Parties could learn a thing or two from a move like that. Here's to hoping...

We also hope that Mike Long might chime in and let Mr. Ford in on the secret that pro-abort, RINO DeDe ain't no conservative.

If DeDe will support the slaughter of innocent young children for cheap political points then next thing you know we might see her public support for Obama & Co. That would be an interesting dilemma for the Conservatives in St. Lawrence County. Wouldn't it? Anyways, DeDe's new trophy should go nicely on the wall with the one her brother Tom won by cheating everyone through his Seaway Valley Capital gig.

PS - DeDe... if you read our blog please clarify for us what you mean by the words you support a woman's right to an abortion. For example, is this what you mean? -- As it is described by an abortionist in the US Supreme Court: "The doctor grips a fetal part with the forceps and pulls it back through the cervix and vagina, continuing to pull even after meeting resistance from the cervix. The friction causes the fetus to tear apart. For example, a leg might be ripped off the fetus as it is pulled through the cervix and out of the woman. The process of evacuating the fetus piece by piece continues until it has been completely re-moved." (US Supreme Court, Gonzales vs. Carhart, April 18, 2007, describing the D&E procedure).

Is this what you mean by an abortion procedure that you believe should be legalized in New York State? Is this what you mean by an abortion?

OK, okay... ok. I know that words can't adequately explain what you mean by your support for abortion so maybe this will help.

St. Lawrence Conservatives - please let us know... is this something you want to endorse next time around?

Obama & Aubertine on Campaign Finance Reform: Too Weak To Change America

This week Senator Obama broke his word and he has chosen to forgo public finance for the general election. Obama is the first presidential nominee to deny public financing since Watergate. It was an interesting political move for Obama, and surprisingly much criticism was leveled by the mainstream media against their liberal idol. Obama’s decision will be sure to have national political repercussions, but it will also directly affect New York State and local politicos like Senator Darrel Aubertine.

As you may know, a number of New York government groups are calling for reform of the state’s campaign finance laws. Those groups include: the League of Women Voters of New York State, the New York Public Interest Research Group and Common Cause.
Several days ago Tom Wanamaker of the Watertown Daily Times wrote,

“In a recent press conference, Barbara Bartoletti, legislative director for the League of Women Voters of New York State, said that two bills recently proposed by Gov. David A. Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, are meaningless.

‘These are 'cover your butt' measures,’ Ms. Bartoletti said. ‘They would be serious proposals had they been raised in January. But there's been none of what passes for negotiation in Albany. They have no chance of passage.’

Thus, she said, the League decided to make public its proposal to highlight the need for major reform in how the political campaigns in New York are funded.”

Even on Meet the Press today, U.S. Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) acknowledged that any chance at meaningful campaign finance reform went down the drain with Obama’s latest flip on the public financing system. So now that Senator Obama has ruined any real chance at reform, it will be interesting to see if either of these three groups listed above will stick up for real reform and call Obama to task for his latest Machiavellian maneuver.

What is even more interesting will be Senator Darrel Aubertine’s reaction to this stunt. Will these New York groups call on Aubertine to call for real reform and oppose Obama on forgoing the public finance system he agreed to several months back.

If Aubertine refuses or stays silent on this issue, it only makes him look like a follower within the Democratic Party, too weak and unprepared to call for real change in our political system. Then again, it wouldn’t be news to the Good Old Boys that Aubertine is unwilling to challenge his party or Barack Obama. We have claimed all along that Aubertine is just a poser for bipartisanship in Albany. We all know that Aubertine is just another politician beholden to the interests of downstate NY.

Meanwhile, Senator John McCain risked his political career to offer real bipartisan reform in national politics by working with Democratic Senator Russ Feingold on campaign finance reform.

Currier Aligns Himself with the Democrats For All the Wrong Reasons

There was a story in today's WDTs that Massena Police Chief Timmy J. Currier was seeking to become the next Democratic Assemblyman from the 118th district of New York.

One wonders why Currier would choose to associate himself with the Democratic Party instead of the Republican Party? One might think that Currier's experience in law enforcement would make him a natural fit in the Republican Party, which values the respect for law and order. So here are some of the possibilities me and my friends thought up:

1) The GOP county party structure in upstate NY is in shambles and Currier doesn't want to be a part of it.

2) Currier, if he won, would be in the majority as a Democrat.

3) Currier could really be philosophically in line with the principles of the Democratic Party, the same party that is going to nominate an inexperienced liberal, Barack Obama, to the presidency soon. (Watch for those results in NC and Indiana.)

4) Currier knows he could never win the GOP primary. (There are some rumors that there will be some very good candidates coming out to fight for that seat - we will update you on that in the coming weeks.)

5) Currier doesn't even know what either party stands for because his only experience is in law enforcement. He doesn't have a solid handle on policy issues like taxes. Democrats in the Assembly have no real interest in trimming the size of the state budget or lowering taxes on small businesses and the middle class...

So below and linked here you can find the article. We report, you decide.


Massena official eyes seat in Albany
CHIEF CURRIER: Police veteran plans run for 118th Assembly post
By JUDE SEYMOUR
& CHRIS GARIFO
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2008

Massena Police Chief Timmy J. Currier is lobbying to become the Democratic candidate in the 118th Assembly District race.

"I have always had an interest as my police career wound down in getting involved in politics," said Mr. Currier, who is a registered voter without party affiliation. "Given the fact I've been in public service for 20 years, continuing that in some form is my purpose."

While the chief awaited word from the Democratic Party, he applied for the endorsement and the line of the Working Families Party. Mr. Currier will be interviewed, along with other hopefuls, by that party's North Country West chapter by month's end.

Mr. Currier, 42, said he has been "long concerned" about the inequities of the property tax system, which is one of his reasons for running.

"There is too big of a burden placed on the middle class and working families in New York state with respect to property tax," he said.

Mr. Currier said he brings a "unique perspective" to the race because he has not been affiliated with any party.

"I first and foremost consider myself to be a centrist, not far left or far right," he said. "Generally speaking, with the vast majority of issues that are out there, I tend to lean Democratic."

The police chief said, if elected, part of his agenda would be to push "pro-public safety" and "pro-law enforcement" initiatives.

Mr. Currier said he has "no imminent plans" to leave the department, but added: "Anyone that reaches the minimum retirement age in law enforcement very likely looks to other opportunities. I still very much love my job and very much appreciate the opportunity of serving the village of Massena."

Donald J. Lucas, a Massena fishing charter operator and Alcoa retiree, is the only other candidate to formally declare his intentions for the Assembly seat. He also is seeking the Working Families Party line.

Besides Mr. Currier and Mr. Lucas, the Working Families Party has had five candidates request an interview so that they could be considered for the party's endorsement and line.

■ Darrel J. Aubertine, Cape Vincent, for the 48th Senate District. Mr. Aubertine, a Democrat, has served as senator since February.

■ Danny M. Francis, Watertown, and Michael P. Oot, Stockbridge, for the 23rd Congressional District. Mr. Francis, a Democrat, is a retired Marine officer and former Army recruiter. Mr. Oot, a Democrat, is an attorney.

■ Dierdre K. Scozzafava, Gouverneur, for the 122nd Assembly District. Ms. Scozzafava, a Republican, has long been rumored as the potential opponent of Mr. Aubertine.

"At this point we're still in discussions about possibilities," the 10-year Assembly veteran said.

Ms. Scozzafava said that she tried to apply for the interview without designating a position sought, but the party would not accept the form without it.

■ Jeremy Barlow, Herrings, for the 122nd Assembly District. Mr. Barlow, a Democrat, is a lawyer and former child abuse and neglect prosecutor for Jefferson County Department of Social Services.

Mr. Barlow, 31, was noncommittal about his candidacy when asked Friday.

"I just wanted to keep my options open," he said.

Mr. Barlow started his own private practice in January after recently earning his master's degree in entertainment law. The lawyer, who has no government experience, has previously considered runs for the 23rd Congressional District and the Jefferson County Legislature.

Louisa N. Pacheco, the Working Families Party's lead organizer for its North Country West chapter, said chapter leaders will make endorsement recommendations to the state executive committee. The state committee will formally endorse during the first week of June.