This thread started back in Feb. I don't see the Republican party resurrecting ANYWHERE in the county.
And you won't as long as Mr Buchanan is the flag bearer of the party. People are disgusted with him.
Quoted Text
Where are the voices of the Republicans who hold elected positions in the townships within Schenectady County??
They're trying to save their political, cumulative a$$es. They know if they speak up they'll be torn apart by the wolves just waiting to pounce. None of them are free from the skeletons in their closets. And to top it off, they're "lifetime" politicians - just waiting to collect that golden egg in a few years of service.
Quoted from MobileTerminal: ... None of them are free from the skeletons in their closets. And to top it off, they're "lifetime" politicians - just waiting to collect that golden egg in a few years of service.
MT,
Not all of the elected Republicans are lifetime politicians. At the county government, Angelo Santabarbara is new to the County Legislature.
One issue is that the Republican sponsored legislation is never allowed to come to the floor to discuss, debate, and vote upon. Further, the Daily Gazette appears to recite in their news story only what is prepared for them by the majority party and those on the Metroplex Board of Directors. There is little investigative reporting, only promotion and cheerleading. IMHO the Albany Times Union provides better coverage of the important stories that pertain to Schenectady County than does the hometown newspaper.
I agree with you that the other parties, Republican, Conservative, etc. need to assert their identities and offer a different vision for the future of Schenectady County. To do so, however, requires a forum.
Not all of the elected Republicans are lifetime politicians. At the county government, Angelo Santabarbara is new to the County Legislature.
One issue is that the Republican sponsored legislation is never allowed to come to the floor to discuss, debate, and vote upon. Further, the Daily Gazette appears to recite in their news story only what is prepared for them by the majority party and those on the Metroplex Board of Directors. There is little investigative reporting, only promotion and cheerleading. IMHO the Albany Times Union provides better coverage of the important stories that pertain to Schenectady County than does the hometown newspaper.
I agree with you that the other parties, Republican, Conservative, etc. need to assert their identities and offer a different vision for the future of Schenectady County. To do so, however, requires a forum.
Not all of the elected Republicans are lifetime politicians. At the county government, Angelo Santabarbara is new to the County Legislature.
One issue is that the Republican sponsored legislation is never allowed to come to the floor to discuss, debate, and vote upon. Further, the Daily Gazette appears to recite in their news story only what is prepared for them by the majority party and those on the Metroplex Board of Directors. There is little investigative reporting, only promotion and cheerleading. IMHO the Albany Times Union provides better coverage of the important stories that pertain to Schenectady County than does the hometown newspaper.
I agree with you that the other parties, Republican, Conservative, etc. need to assert their identities and offer a different vision for the future of Schenectady County. To do so, however, requires a forum.
Speaking of Mr. Santabarbara, who I voted for and do respect, and Mr. Amedore whom I also voted for and respect...where are they? Granted we can see Mr. Santabarbara at a county meeting but where is Mr. Amedore? We voted these people in to 'speak' for us. And although I realize that Mr. Santabarbara is new in politics, he still had a platform and a vision.
And as far as trying to save their 'behinds' or being devoured by the democratic wolves is just plain poppycock. That is politics. And ya need to be pretty thick skinned if you want to enter that arena. Cicero is correct when he says that Joe Suhrada is the ONLY rep who sticks his neck out for the people he represents and doesn't give a hoot what the dems say or do. We need more like him who will stand up to the plate and do and say what needs to be. Not hide with your tail between your legs for God's sake. And that is what it is appearing to be.
And may I also say that I am pretty sick and tired of hearing how awful Buchannan is. Personally, and like I've said before...he needs to go. But since he isn't, and if these reps REALLY want to get in there and represent the people, than I would strongly suggest that they abandon a sinking republican ship and join the conservs. The reps and conservs were always known to be lock step in many of their ideologies. Although these days it's hard to tell any of them apart!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I agree that Mr. Amedore needs to do more, but at the same time, I realize that there's things that he is doing that are probably not advertised, such as the last public hearing for/against the raise in tolls for the NYS Thruway. He was there and did speak against it. It got no coverage. Part of the reason is that he's a newbie in the minority in the Assembly. Not just a small majority, either. He needs to get a little time under his belt, but at the same time, maybe it is time for him to start standing up and speaking.
I think that we need MANY people to start standing up and speaking, using all the tools at our disposal. Personally, as I stated in another link, I saw that Mr. Santabarbara has a few videos on YouTube. I think that this is something that our local officials / politicians should be using. Let it become one of the viral videos out there. I even found out that all of the ads that were on TV for the Amedore / Kosiur special election are still out on YouTube...even some I hadn't seen before I checked them out on there last night.
Maybe if we get more of our elected officials to start doing this, using the new media, i.e. YouTube, blogs, or old-school media, i.e. newspapers, TV news, calling into local and national radio stations, then they would get some more exposure and new things could happen.
Not to criticize ANYONE, but whether you are a Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Independent, or Tea Party head, you really need to find out what is needed to keep in touch with the youngest generation, the ones who may have never voted before (or no longer see any reason to come out and vote).
It could even be a bit of a savings on campaign funds. Imagine the savings of NOT spending money on a local station and instead getting it seen by many people via something such as YouTube. There's a reason some of these videos are called "viral." They grow on you.
The only supervisor I have ever seen at the county legislature meetings is Rene from Duanesuburg. Others may have been there on days I was unable to attend. I think that all supervisors and/or town board members should be in attendance at these meetings.
We need the support of more people than the lone Joe Suhrada.
Not to criticize ANYONE, but whether you are a Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Independent, or Tea Party head, you really need to find out what is needed to keep in touch with the youngest generation, the ones who may have never voted before (or no longer see any reason to come out and vote).
They are to busy giving DNA samples and looking for a "NEW DEAL"-----as far as I can see NYS is imploding............
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
One issue is that the Republican sponsored legislation is never allowed to come to the floor to discuss, debate, and vote upon. Further, the Daily Gazette appears to recite in their news story only what is prepared for them by the majority party and those on the Metroplex Board of Directors. There is little investigative reporting, only promotion and cheerleading. IMHO the Albany Times Union provides better coverage of the important stories that pertain to Schenectady County than does the hometown newspaper.
Republicans don't need excuses, they need solutions. Joe Shurada is able to make his voice heard on AM radio shows, news paper editorials, and internet forums without costing the party money. Where's the rest of his party support? Republicans organize fund raisers when it's close to the next election cycle asking for financial support, but the time in between they do nothing to get out the party message. That's just lazy. And they wonder why they can't find people to support the party. Nobody knows what they would be supporting, and those who currently hold office who they would be supporting are spineless.
I think that we need MANY people to start standing up and speaking, using all the tools at our disposal. Personally, as I stated in another link, I saw that Mr. Santabarbara has a few videos on YouTube. I think that this is something that our local officials / politicians should be using. Let it become one of the viral videos out there. I even found out that all of the ads that were on TV for the Amedore / Kosiur special election are still out on YouTube...even some I hadn't seen before I checked them out on there last night.
Maybe if we get more of our elected officials to start doing this, using the new media, i.e. YouTube, blogs, or old-school media, i.e. newspapers, TV news, calling into local and national radio stations, then they would get some more exposure and new things could happen.
Let's be realistic. Local politics is fought by using local media outlets. Local papers, local T.V. broadcast new, and local talk radio. Message board are starting to gain influence, but the topics are usually driven by print news articles, editorials, and television news clips. It's silly to think that you are going to reach the masses through Youtube videos.
Let's not over think this and get back to basics. Get the message out at all costs. Republicans need a steady drum beat of a winning message. Find that winning message.
THE PEOPLE NEED AN ALTERNATIVE! Is that so hard to understand? The people are actually looking to the opposing parties for some leadership, vision and strength. Come on there Mr. Buchanan....what's it going to take to get your party moving? There is a need and the reps just aren't meeting it or even making an effort.
Joe Suhrada is the ONLY one who speaks up. He's the only one who puts his career on the line. I don't see any party support for Mr. Suhrada. Is he being used as the litmus paper to see what the fallout will be if someone else speaks their mind? Or is he being used as his sacrificial lamb.
I will say one thing...if Mr.Suhrada runs for re-election and loses...I would blame the entire republican party.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
SCHENECTADY GOP expects long road to success Committee recruits as it struggles to stay a float BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
The city Republican Committee is planning for a long rebuilding process as it tries to become competitive in Schenectady politics again. Since only a judgeship is up for election in the city this fall, the Republicans have a year to try to recover from last November’s drubbings at the polls. However, Republican officials say that it will be years before the GOP returns to the level of success it once had in city politics. “For a long time it was a powerhouse. Now it’s a longtime rebuilding process,” said Republican Club tration is 2-to-1 in the Democrats’ favor, and every elected position in the city is held by a Democrat. The Republican candidate for mayor last year lost by the biggest margin in the city’s history. The party was also able to fi eld just one candidate for four City Council seats and one candidate for two county Legislature seats. Both were strongly rebuffed at the polls. President Josh Fitzpatrick. In one indication of the city Republican Committee’s disarray, county GOP officials are still not certain who will lead the committee during the rebuilding. Former city attorney Michael Brockbank holds the reins for now. Whoever leads the committee County GOP committee Chairwill face challenges. Voter regis- man Thomas Buchanan has said the city committee is dying. Fitzpatrick said it’s in such dire straits that the GOP now must recruit organizers from the suburbs and send them into the city to build a new generation of Republicans. “It’s hard, door-to-door work. It all starts at the grass-roots level,” he said, “There is a lot of work to do to rebuild the community. There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done.” But Buchanan said a city Republican could be elected even now, without the grass-roots foundation that may take years to build. “It takes a strong candidate who is well-financed with the right message,” Buchanan said. A perceived crisis also could become an election issue. “The voters will make a change when the need arises,” Buchanan said. “They may not think the crime is bad enough yet or the taxes aren’t just high enough yet, but when they do — we’ll be there to govern the city.” Fitzpatrick added that he doesn’t think voters turned away from the Republicans because they were dissatisfied with the GOP’s core values, priorities or effectiveness in achieving its goals. “Everything in politics, for good or bad, Republican or Democrat, in my opinion is cyclical,” he said. “When political parties have been in power for a couple years, these things ebb and flow.” He sees hope in the fact that his club has grown from 26 members to 83 in just the first four months of the year. Unfortunately, most of them live in the suburbs, which makes it difficult to find good candidates to run for city positions. “Recruiting candidates is not easy,” Fitzpatrick said. Buchanan put it more bluntly. “Are we able to attract quality candidates? Yes. Are we able to field them for every seat? No,” he said. “In the city, the Republicans need to reach out to a broader base of new voters.”
Well, while the reps are in the process of 'going door to door', how about starting in your own back yards to begin to make a difference. There are enough, not a lot, but enough political reps out there right now that have not been heard from or seen in months, if not years. Oh perhaps you can see them at one of their town meetings or perhaps a few events, but that is it!! It is like Cicero said, there is the newspaper, tv and radio that is all free. They should start utilizing them as an outlet.
Because right now, I believe that most people think the republican party is all but extinct. At least in our neck of the woods. It's like they have never been heard from or seen again!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
A perceived crisis also could become an election issue. “The voters will make a change when the need arises,” Buchanan said. “They may not think the crime is bad enough yet or the taxes aren’t just high enough yet, but when they do — we’ll be there to govern the city.”
poor choice----just think right now those who control the guns control the masses and those who control the money control the masses----the only freakin' crisis is the current bricks being made without straw and the 'local mob'...........the sheeple better get a grip and pay attention----
It doesn't much matter which party, it is the foundation that is missing from BOTH parties----I would seek libertarians without democratic or republican ties.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Since only a judgeship is up for election in the city this fall, the Republicans have a year to try to recover from last November’s drubbings at the polls.
This may be all that is happening at the city level this year, but don't forget there's an opening on the county level in District 3 (Niskayuna / Scotia / Glenville) that is going to have to be voted on in November, too.
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