Hayseeds No. 243

Tonko May Run for Congress.

It looks like Susan Savage is playing up the possibilites of Paul Tonko running for Congress:

But changes in the list of prospective candidates for retiring Congressman Michael McNulty's job are already being played out, as Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage said Sunday she won't run.

Savage said Sunday that former Democratic state assemblyman and current state Energy Research and Development Authority president Paul Tonko is considering a run for the seat McNulty, D-Green Island, is vacating in December. That move might pit Tonko of Amsterdam in a primary against Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton. Tonko would neither confirm nor deny the claim Sunday. Stratton, whose father held the same post for 30 years, has been open about his interest in the job.

...Albany County Democratic legislator Phillip G. Steck is the only Democratic candidate to announce his run. Speculation has swirled around a possible candidacy for Hillary Rodham Clinton aide M. Tracey Brooks of Ravena, who insiders say might weigh a Congressional run depending on Clinton's support in Tuesday's primaries.

Certainly in his district, Tonko was viewed as one step away from God. He was beloved, and he would make a charming Congressman, if he choosed to run. Everybody knows who Paul Tonko is, so whenever he gets in, it's not like he has a uphill battle. The same is true for Mayor Stratton, although his record is more mixed then that of god.

Tracey Brooks would be interesting, although the fact that Clinton has kept her out of the race until now, and kept her name out of public eye while Phil Steck has been building his support of the progressive wing of the party.

Why would anybody support Tracey at this point except that they want to be supporting Hillary in proxy? It's too bad that Tracey Brooks has gotten such bad deals in the past, as she's a nice person, but it seems timing is wrong for her again.

I see Tracey Brooks going to the Whitehouse and being integral to the Hillary Clinton administration, but not holding any significant elected office in the Capital Region in the near future.

Sandra Galef Proposes A Circuit Breaker for Property Taxes.

It looks like one of the Assemblywomen from Westchester County, is proposing linking property taxes to income, ensuring that people with modest income are not taxed out of their homes or off their land with a proposed bill.

Will it go anywhere? Hopefully, yes. But realistically, probably no. Powerful teacher unions who always want more money for schools and for the teachers that work there, and successfully lobby the legislature with lots of money to prevent this meaningful reform that will keep people in their houses.

The property tax situation in New York State is immoral and troubling. We all want our kids to get a good education, and teachers fairly compensated. But it shouldn't come off the backs of the least fortunate, but often hardest working, New Yorkers out there in our state.

Spitzer's Tax Hikes.

Jay Gallagher has a nice run down of all of Spitzer's proposed tax hikes to balance his budget including a dramatically increased tax on malt liqour, much like Colt 45 or Smirronoff Ice (from 11 cents a gallon to $2.54 a gallon—ouch!)

Then of course there is the higher car insurance fees, higher gas taxes, and even cellphones. At least they aren't going to make it $20 dollars to enter a state park (it's already $7/dollars).

A 20 Delegate Split on Tuesday.

It looks like yesterday, Obama got all but 20 delegates to Hillary Clinton on the February 5th Democratic primaries.

Clinton still enjoys a 80 delegate margin from New Hampshire and the previously pledged elected officials also known as superdelegates, but that's still nothing with 2,558 delegates out of 4,050 still to be selected.

Obama has actually won more non-superdelegates then Clinton, at 603 elected delegates Obama to 590 elected delegates Hillary. So take it as a grain of salt with Clinton's margin based solely as superdelegates who could later change their minds.

I ended up voting for Hillary as I thought her platform was much more fleshed out and thought out compared to Obama who was vague. Hillary also has much more of a record in the Senate, and didn't miss key votes like Obama so often has done. But either candidate is great for me, and should be a good match up against John McCain, who despite the wishes of conservative Republicans, appears to be the standard barer for the Republicans.

While I don't necessarily agree with McCain's avid support for nuclear power and the war, it's good have the Republicans choosing such a man of integrity that if—and that's a big if—he wins, we won't be so badly screwed. McCain has come out with his concerns for global warming, decent treatment of prisoners, and moral conduct in the war in Iraq.

Ironically, it looks like March 4th Texas' primary with 193 delegates may ultimately decide the Democratic choice. Don't downplay on March 4th Pennsylvania or Ohio either—though one will probably go for Obama and the other for Clinton, canceling themselves out. There are several smaller states like Nebraska, Louisiana, Maine, Wisconsin, Washington, Maryland, Virginia, and Hawaii that will probably also build momentum for Obama, as he will likely pick up several of those states in the next few months.

So my prediction is that Obama may eventually win at the convention, but it sure will be by hair. It should be very interesting to watch.

The Difficult Primary Choice.

The Daily Freeman looks at many of the difficulties voters like myself had in choosing a good candidate for president. What do you think would make a good candidate for President?

Kathleen Brazee, a 55-year-old communicator for the Spackenkill school district, said she didn't make up her mind until she was in the voting booth at Rhinebeck Town Hall. For Brazee, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's experience ultimately worked against the candidate.

"I voted for (Illinois Sen. Barack) Obama because I'm not sure I want to see another dynasty in the White House," Brazee said after casting her vote.

Though Brazee said her own views on health care matched up most closely with Clinton's, she said she sees Obama as a president who would surround himself with the best advisors and be open-minded enough to remain flexible.

Brazee said the war in Iraq is one of the most important issues facing the U.S. She said she wants to see the troops brought home because their continued presence in Iraq "is not making one bit of difference."

The war has been a major point of contention throughout the primary, not just between the parties but within them as well.

It was a tough decision for me to vote for Clinton, but at the end of the day, I think I pulled the right lever. We will have to see as we get through more of these primaries and the general election.