Congress
No more copycat websites?
According to The Albany Project, Kathy Konst will not run for Congress, but will instead run for State Senate.
The only question now is, how long will it take for her to change her website yet again?
UPDATE: The question is open; her site is back to its old tricks.
Congress | Dale Volker | Kathy Konst | State Senate
DFNYC press release on the FISA bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DEMOCRACY FOR NEW YORK CITY BLASTS PASSAGE OF FISA BILL
Democracy for NYC is severely disappointed that the House of Representatives has
voted to pass a bill that is unnecessary at best, and a severe blow to freedom at
home and abroad. The House vote on H.R.6304, the “FISA Amendments Act of
2008,” indicates a denial of reality among both Democrats and Republicans, and a
repudiation of the foundation of the American way.
Under current law, the President may already authorize wiretaps before even asking
for a secret warrant. There is absolutely no chance that a potential terrorist
operation will go undetected because of a legal technicality. As such, the 1978 law
still upholds the American system of checks and balances while also allowing the
government agencies charged with protecting us to act quickly whenever they
believe that quick action is needed. The law as it exists today works very well,
which is why both left- and right-wing groups and publications have stated that we
don’t need to change it.
Unfortunately, too many people in the House of Representatives don’t understand
Civil Rights | Congress | Democracy for NYC | FISA | US Constitution
Blogger Says DCCC spreads false rumors about Steve Harrison.
Huffington Post blogger Howie Klein in his other blog, "Down with Tyranny", says the DCCC is spreading false rumors that NY 13th Congressional District Democratic candidate Steve Harrison is dropping out of the primary against Councilman Michael McMahon. The winner faces Republican Frank Powers for the right to replace Vito Fossella. Against Fossella in 2006, Harrison received a higher percentage of the vote than any Democrat ever under the district's current configuration.
Here's Howie's blog. http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/06/in-case-youre-sick-of-hearin....
Bob Fertik | Brooklyn | Chris Owens | Congress | DCCC | Debi Rose | Down With Tyranny | election 2008 | Frank Barbaro | Gerry O'Brien | Gloria Steinem | Howie Klein | Huffington Post | Michael McMahon | Mike McMahon | Normon Solomon | NY-13 | polit.bureau | Staten Island | Staten Island Advance | Stephen Harrison | Steve Harrison | Tom Wrobleski | Vito Fossella
How they voted: NY delegation on extending unemployment benefits
The country has this debate every time the economy falters, as it is doing now: Democrats vote to extend unemployment benefits, republicans reveal their inherent contempt for those less fortunate than themselves by voting against such an extension. Here's how your delegation voted yesterday on HR 5749. The bill passed with a solid majority, but not by enough to escape George Bush's veto pen.
Y: District 01 Bishop, Timothy H (D)
Y: District 02 Israel, Steve (D)
N: District 03 King, Pete (R)
Y: District 04 McCarthy, Carolyn (D)
Y: District 05 Ackerman, Gary (D)
Y: District 06 Meeks, Gregory W (D)
Y: District 07 Crowley, Joseph (D)
Y: District 08 Nadler, Jerrold (D)
Y: District 09 Weiner, Anthony D (D)
Y: District 10 Towns, Edolphus (D)
Y: District 11 Clarke, Yvette D (D)
Y: District 12 Velazquez, Nydia M (D)
N: District 13 Fossella, Vito (R)
Congress
Harrison Challenges McMahon to 5 Debates
Democratic Congressional candidate Steve Harrison (NY13th CD Staten Island, Southwest Brooklyn), who in 2006 received a higher percentage of the vote than any Democrat ever under the district’s current configuration, is challenging September 9th primary opponent Councilman Michael McMahon to five debates, 3 in Staten Island and two in Brooklyn. The primary winner faces the eventual Republican nominee in November to replace incumbent Vito Fossella, who is not seeking re-election because of his recent scandals.
Harrison wants to begin debating his opponent as soon as possible.
"I'm ready to go today" said Harrison, "Mike told the Staten Advance that he wants to discuss the issues. So let's discuss. I've been discussing Congressional issues for over two years. have a website, campaign team and money in the bank. It will be interesting to hear what Mike says about National issues and why he voted for congestion pricing and the largest property tax hike in history and why, as a Democrat, he's vying for the Conservative party endorsement."
Harrison soundly defeated Fossella, who ran on the Republican and Conservative lines ,all five times they debated in 2006.
2008 Elections | Congress | debates | Brooklyn | Michael McMahon | NY-13 CD | Staten Island | Steve Harrison | Vito Fossella
My Wife Faces Homeland Security: Congressional Update
The saga of government intrusion into the private lives of government workers continues. Congress is now taking up the issue of Homeland Security Presidential Directive #12, a directive intended to, quite reasonably, standardize ID cards in government facilities to include contractors and students.
Civil Liberties | Congress | Homeland Security | Ed Towns
Diane Benson for Congress: It's the WAR, Stupid!
I met Diane Benson, Congressional Candidate in Alaska, about a month ago and was very impressed. But only got to hear her speak as a candidate tonight. Again I was impressed. Diane is a genuine American who has worked hard all her life to get an education and to better the life of her son. Often she and her son have worked hard for our country and for their community. She has the confidence of someone who worked their way through school driving trucks while raising her son. She has the confidence of a woman who worked in the male dominated workers camp on the Alaskan pipeline. She has the confidence of someone who has had to work for everything, being given nothing easily. The contrast with the spoiled brat who inhabits the White House is about as striking as you can get.
Alaska | Congress | election 2008 | Iraq quagmire | Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney | Diane Benson | Norm Siegel | Ramsey Clark | Steve Behar
NYC Fundraiser for Diane Benson for Congress
I have volunteered to be on the Host Committee for a fundraiser for one of the most amazing women I have ever met: Diane Benson running for Congress in Alaska. And she has been outraising her Republican opponent! Yes, folks, we have a real shot at getting rid of yet another corrupt Bush/Abramoff Republican and replacing him with a true working class American patriot.
Diane Benson has made opposition to the Iraq Quagmire the central focus of her campaign, largely because her son lost his legs serving in Iraq, fighting for Bush's war based on lies. But she also is someone that appeals to Alaska voters because, unlike her primary opponents and the Republican incumbent, she has actually worked as a truck driver and as a commercial fisherman, so can speak for working class Alaskans.
Alaska | Congress | election 2008 | Iraq War | Native American | Republican corruption
Meet and Greet with Diane Benson, Congressional Candidate in Alaska
This year is one of the few years when Democrats have a real shot at winning the Alaska Congressional seat. Dissatisfaction with the Republicans and some Republican scandals are making Alaskans consider a Democrat for Congress. On Feb. 11th New Yorkers have a chance to meet the person who might just be that Democrat who wins the Alaska House seat.
This comes from Democracy for NYC:
We are now in a favorable position to elect more Progressive Democrats than ever before. In the long-prized effort to turn Congress a deeper blue, it is my privilege to introduce a singularly unique candidate, Diane Benson, running in 2008 for the only Congressional seat in the State of Alaska - a very big prize, indeed.
An exceptional person, Diane is a member of the Tlingit Native American People, a matrilineal culture. Diane's mother suffered from tuberculosis, and Diane was often homeless as a child and teenager, growing up in foster homes and logging camps with her Norwegian father. Despite this, she volunteered with senior citizens and in hospitals from the age of twelve. The hardships of life have influenced her thinking to this day.
Alaska | Congress | election 2008 | Diane Benson
Steve Harrison vs. Dominc Recchia: Local vs Outside support
In the primary race to take on pro-war, Social Security flip-flopping Bush Republican Vito Fossella (NY-13), Daily Gotham is backing Steve Harrison over Dominc Recchia, though with the understanding that BOTH Democrats are a welcome change over Fossella's enabling of Bush's failed agenda.
Already, fellow Daily Gotham writer Daniel Millstone uncovered a major difference in where Steve Harrison and Dominc Recchia stand on Iraq: Steve Harrison supports withdrawal, largely taking a similar stand to John Edwards and Bill Richardson, while Dominc Recchia expresses openness to the idea of permanent US bases in Iraq and borrows Bush talking point (perhaps with more honesty) that we should keep our troops in Iraq until the Iraqi army can take care of itself. Richardson, Edwards and, it seems, Harrison all support a regional military force taking over from the US as soon as possible rather than waiting for an indefinite period with permanent bases.
Congress | election 2008 | Fundraising | Dominic Recchia | Steve Harrison








