Welcome to the Big Show
By Jay L on January 25, 2009 at 1:00 AM in Breaking News, Caroline Kennedy, Current Affairs, Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, NQR Live Chat, New York State, No Quarter Blog, NoQuarter Radio, US Senate
Welcome Senator Gillibrand. You are not in your sleepy upstate county anymore. Welcome to the big show. Welcome to the shark tank. I hope you have some good repellant, you may need it if some of the stories in the press mean anything.
Going through my paper this morning there was a podium picture of those who came to Albany to support Governor Paterson and his choice Rep. soon to be Senator Gillibrand. Front and center in the front row is former Senator Alfonse D’Amato from the other side of the aisle.
Also present was the County Executive from upstate Monroe County Maggie Brooks who is also a Republican. Not often you see two Republicans attend the announcement of the appointment of a new Senator from the other party.
Also with the new Senator’s rating from the NRA, a 100% rating, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, a Democrat from Long Island, is not happy with the choice, and “snubbed” the announcement as my paper Newsday put it and has vowed to run in a primary against Senator Gillibrand if nobody else does. For those of you who do not remember or do now know, Congresswoman McCarthy’s husband was among 6 killed and her son was among 19 injured on a Long Island Railroad Train when Colin Ferguson took out a gun and starting shooting for no reason in 1993. She was elected to congress on a strong anti-gun and gun control platform.
So job one is to get everyone familiar with the Senator who when all the paperwork is filed in Washington will be sworn in as the junior Senator from New York sometime Sunday. Her first meeting/appearance is with Rev. Al Sharpton at his weekly rally at headquarters in Harlem. Now for someone from upstate, you don’t get more downstate than that. She said the economy was her first priority and she did take some questions about her gun control issues. I am sure there are many more downstate appearances and “get to know you’s” scheduled in the coming weeks and months. After all, once she takes the office she immediately has a seat to protect and a race to run.
Funny though, I have not seen anything on what will happen to her seat in NY’s 20th CD. Are Governor Paterson and the state party going to concede that seat back to the Republicans in what was a major upset just 4 years ago when the now Senator won that seat from an entrenched Republican incumbent in a conservative leaning county.
This choice is obviously to bolster the governor with upstate voters for his pending election in 2010 the next state wide election when he, the entire state leadership and both US Senators (Senator Gillibrand in a special election to serve out the final 2 years of Hillary’s term and Chuck Schumer for his full term) will be up. But here downstate she is not only not only not well known or known at all but does not seem all that popular. It appears there are major splits in the NY Democratic party over this. Another against the pick was Kennedy supporter Mayor Mike Bloomberg a registered Republican who has plenty of money and influence to help elect the newly minted Senator or an opponent of his choosing. Mayor Bloomberg said in a story in the Washington Post this morning, “She has actively opposed the efforts of New York City, and cities around the state and nation, to enact common-sense measures that keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals,” he said in a statement. “For instance, she has voted to keep critical data needed to track illegal gun traffickers from law enforcement, has voted to tie the hands of the ATF, and has also voted to protect dealers who sell guns illegally.” You can read the whole Post story here.And as you can see it is not the gun control people who have problems with the new Senator’s voting record.
Now I know many out there in the NQ readership and radio audience are looking at this appointment as the governor appointing a woman to finish out Hillary’s term. And there is something to that. However I am not sure how I feel about this appointment. I am looking at it on the issues, not on gender. I don’t care if a candidate is a man or a woman, black, white, red, blue or green. I care what they have to say and what they do. It is one of the reasons I supported Hillary Clinton in her runs for Senate and in the primary. In this case I am not happy with my new Senator’s stance with the NRA. You see I have had gun violence touch my life. I don’t want to get in to details but years ago a co-worker was gunned down and murdered in an incident that garnered some national attention due to the sensational nature of the case. So yes, gun control is an issue in my life and something I happen to agree with Congresswoman McCarthy with. So as far as my opinion of this appointment to be honest I don’t know. I am going to have to do my homework on it and see how I feel. And if there is a primary contest I am going to really have to do my due diligence.
I guess this is as good a place as any to plug my NQ Radio show, “No Topic Taboo…Everything Else with Jay” which will be in it’s usual slot, Wednesday night at 9PM Eastern…you know the rest depending on where you live.
Now to be perfectly honest I was not sure what the topic of this week’s show was going to be but I guess this qualifies. As always everything is on the table, in addition to the new Senator from NY we can discuss the upcoming Super Bowl in Tampa, the first 8 days of the new administration, oh and here’s something. I got my hands on the Nielsen ratings of the top 58 markets for last week’s coronation I mean inauguration. You might be a little shocked to see who was #1 and where a certain mid-west city landed in the list.
I am really interested what you out in NQ-land feel about this. And you can let me know. You can leave comments here and I may print them out and read them on my show, you can email me at my show email address, ntteewithjay@me.com, or you can call me on show night at 347-677-0792. It’s going to be open line night, you will be my guest so I really can’t do this week’s show without you.
So that’s all I have to say. What about you?
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I suppose the Washington Post is your source for information about Carolyn “McCarthy”; for the record her name is Maloney, but why should we expect accuracy from the Post, let alone insight into anything at all.
On the subject of this senatorial appointment Mike Bloomberg has the same amount of credibility as the Post. Which is zero, after pushing the less-than-zero candidacy of, you know, um, the woman who was so motivated by the, you know, experience of 9/11 that she only waited, you know, eight years to step out of her cocoon of privilege and, you know, tell the governor she expected to, um, take Hillary Clinton’s place.
As much as my heart goes out to Carolyn Maloney and all whose lives have been touched by gun violence, the last thing I want as a New Yorker is a one-issue senator on a personal crusade that, frankly, does not merit a place at the top of the agenda for this state right now. New York is the safest big city in the country, and among the safest in the world. I happen to think that most of the credit goes to effective policing, not restrictions on firearms. Guns are hard to obtain in the UK. And what turns out to be the big crime problem in London right now? Knife violence.
Congresswoman Maloney ought to be working to amend the Constitution if this is her major priority. Presumably her constituents on Long Island are happy with her priorities. I want my senators focused on the economy, education, health care, and transportation—in other words, the Hillary Clinton agenda. Thank God she is now in a position to keep a watchful eye on the places in the world that serve as breeding grounds for terror—something no New Yorker can pretend will happen somewhere else.
I think David Paterson made the right choice for New York and America. Good for him.
Actually — the article does refer to Carolyn McCarthy — she is the Rep. whose husband was killed by a gunman, hence her anti-gun stance.
Rep.Carolyn Maloney is somebody altogether different — the NY Times and ABC News had conflicting reports — one listing the Rep as Maloney and the other as McCarthy.
McCarthy is the one who is unhappy with Gillibrand.
01/23/09
Statement of Rep. Maloney on the Appointment of Kirsten Gillibrand to U.S. Senate:
Sorry, I only checked one source and should have checked another! (It’s not enough to be a reader anymore, you have to be a reporter yourself.) I didn’t mean to impugn anyone unfairly, so apologies to Congresswoman Malone. But if the shoe fits Congresswoman McCarthy…
My bad, but I STILL don’t trust the Washington Post.
No worries, Andrew P — I did a post here on Gillibrand the other day and looked at two different sources which is the only reason I noticed the discrepancy and had to start digging around on Google to make sure who was who.
The mistake was from ABC News I believe (it looks like they have since corrected their error) — how much money do they make anyway? Hell, if they can’t get it right…
Ani,
Thanks for the back up.
Andrew,
Let me clarify my position/opinion here. I did not know anything about my new Senator and the first views that came out about her were the stance on guns and gun control. As I stated I am very anti-gun. In doing some additional reading there are other issues immigration, financial that I need to look in to more so I can make an intelligent choice when it comes to my future support and my vote in the special election next year.
The point is that there are many here in NY that are not happy with the choice and it goes beyond the Kennedy issue. It has been a rough couple of years for those governing my state. We have had both a Governor and State Comptroller resign. Andrew Cuomo who was under consideration and had plenty of support if you believe the polls stated he did not want the job because he did not want the people of NY to have a state wide slate of non-elected/appointed officials. Now wether that is true or not or if he is holding out for a shot at the Governor’s mansion is another story.
My gut feeling that this choice was more about state-wide ticket balance, putting a woman on the ticket and someone from the upstate areas, than on views.
I am looking forward to seeing her with Hillary today. They have an “event” scheduled in Manhattan.
I don’t know if she will be a good Senator or good for NY state. I will keep an open mind and…I will be watching.
Jay
Guess what? NY is a huge state, and does not consist just of NYC interests. There is such an arrogance by city dwellers, that their interests and needs are the only concern for representatives. I live in Gillibrand’s district, and she listened carefully to many conservative voters’ preferences, and voted with intelligence and deliberation to please the people she serves, and in many cases, according to her conscience–and AGAINST political expediency. I welcome her independence, principles and strength. Now, we will see how she adapts as a representative for the entire state. She is no neophyte–she was raised on Albany politics. She has angered Spitzer for her defense of small state hospital budgets when he wanted to cut them, and Pelosi for her insistence on more accountability for the bail-out. Why is gun-control suddenly the only issue of merit? Give her a chance. She was re-elected by 65% up here for a reason. She’s authentic–and God knows we need more of that!
Before I brought Congresswoman McCarthy in to my post I did some reading, The Times & Newsday here in NY as well as watching a few of the local TV stations here Friday night and Saturday morning.
When using google to find to find some quotes to put in to this post the only one that seemed worth putting in was from the Washington Post.
Believe me, when I put something together here I do not only go from one source, it is just I can’t quote or link everything.
I don’t like guns and would never have one. I would never allow a member of my family to bring a gun to my home, and I used to be for gun control, until I looked at the issue from a freedom point of view. I had a conversation with someone who liked guns, and I promised to listen to their point of view. After that conversation, I agreed that their right to have a gun superseded my gun views. I equate my gun views as those of drugs, particularly heroin and other very harmful drugs: they are bad, but they should be legal. I don’t like abortion, but I don’t want it illegal. My point is that freedom is best with as few restrictions as possible.
I prefer education to laws. It’s better to educate people of the danger of owning guns and how guns are more likely to injure the owner or a loved one than a criminal.
I am tired of the way so many Americans frame issues as black and white. There is a big difference between owning assault weapons and hunting rifles. There has never been a serious effort to ban the second.
This is not to say I am unhappy with Gillibrand. This issue has been demagogued so well by the right that it is not likely it will come up at a national level until Dems get serious about changing the public perception. So far they have allowed the right wing to frame this issue as they have so many others. Deregulation anyone?
you know there is common ground for both sides. both sides want criminals, mentally ill, and children from having access to guns.
Not really. The far right SAYS it wants to keep guns out of their hands, but fights attempts at reaasonable background checks at every turn. Americans need to return to a time when they believed actions speak louder than words and stop being bamboozled and okey doked by spin. (eg The Clintons are racist.)
I am also very pro-gun control. Schumer pointed out that Gillibrant represents a rural area of NY. He says now that she’s representing all of NY, her stance on guns will evolve. He is very pro-gun control and is going to talk to her about urban gun violence.
I only found one bill involving guns on her voting record, and it was this one, sponsored by two Democrats, and passed 266 - 152
HR 6842: Repealing Portions of the D.C. Firearm Ban
Issues: Federal, State, and Local Relations, Gun Issues
Date: 09/17/2008
Sponsor: Rep. Norton, Eleanor (D-DC)
Cosponsor: Rep. Waxman, Henry (D-CA)
House Passage: 09/17/2008 : Bill Passed 266 - 152
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=65147
She rarely votes no, on anything, it seems.
I don’t think there should be semi automatic weapons on the streets, and I don’t think there is anything wrong with a week waiting period, and background check.
But I kind of feel like the *war on guns* is as effective as the war on drugs. There are just far too many guns out there now, and readily available to anyone who wants one - legally or ilegally. How do they fix that?
I think the problems with gun killings need to be addressed more at the level of *why* the violence, then going after the guns. Immunity to violence because of images in movies, video games, and TV and lyrics in songs. Because of gang wars, violence against women, poverty, drug violence. Those kinds of things… Sadly, killings aren’t going to stop.
Cars accidents are much more deadly ~42,636 car accident deaths a year. More people die falling each year, than by gun homicide.
http://www.itsmylife.com/statistics.asp
In 2004, 29,569 people were killed by guns in America- including 16,750 suicides; 11,624 homicides; and 649 unintentional or accidental shootings. http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_sy.html.)
It doesn’t make the loss of someone any less painful, but I don’t know if *guns* are the issue, as much as the reasons why people use the guns.
I think Governor Paterson made the right choice. I look forward to working with Senator Gillibrand and helping her get to know my neighbors. She will be a great Senator who will do us proud. She’s tough, smart and energetic.
I am thrilled with the appointment of our new NY senator. I am against gun control and frankly am tired of the NY City crew that holds undue influence (finanacial and political)on the entire state. In fact I would love to split the state and let NY City be on it’s own. The cost to the entire state for the medicaid and welfare rolls of NY City is overwhelming. My upstate property taxes are horrendous. Upstate is more like the midwest and NYC has all the characteristics of bankrupt Detroit.
Hopefully Gillibrand will represent our values.
I’m thrilled with the Gillibrand. I do not own a gun, probably never would, but I support the second amendment and the right to bear arms. I will oppose any control measures. Without guns, the people have no recourse. I feel the Usurper is a fascist and people need to be able to protect themselves from our government. That’s what the right to bear arms is all about; it has nothing to do with hunting. Aside from that, I do not think it is the most important issue to judge someone one…really. Are they going to assassinate Gillibrand in the same way the slandered and demeaned Palin?
There are those who cite their personal experience as the grounds for their position: those that have been the victims of a crime that involved a gun where their loved one was killed, and those who have been the victims of a crime that involved a gun where their one’s life was saved. Which personal experience bestows more support to which position? Rational inquiry hasn’t a chance in hell when sentiment has more sway -people employing reason to justify what they already believe instead of being lead by reason.
Kirsten Gillebrand attributes her passion for politics (and women’s issues– she gave free legal counsel to abused women in shelters) to her grandmother Dorothea ‘Polly’ Noonan who was active in the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee and helped her stuff envelopes. Kirsten got a standing ovation for working right up to the last day of her pregnancy! Hillary refers to her as “personal friend”. She’s got smarts, chutzpah and cares for women’s issues and children. Give her a chance….
HILLARY supports her..that is good enough for me..
Maureen Dowd is furious because Caroline was not chosen, and did a hit job on Gillibrand today. Nuff said?
I am waiting for our new Senator to get the Palin treatment from the media. We may have to be prepared to give her strong support. I was outraged that CK was suggested for Hilary’s seat. From what I have read Gillibrand is pro woman and pro choice. She has experience as a lawyer for financial firms and very good instincts for fund raising. Given what we have seen of the graft and corruption of Obama’s Chicago politics it will be good to have someone as our senator with a financial background.