So here we are. Only in Western New York would the Democrat Party take a wonderful chance and screw it up by having two forced primaries. Now I know this is the Amercian way of democracy....but it goes to prove what has been said before, " I don't belong to an organized political party.... I am a Democrat." Here we sit and with just a few days to the Primary, the Democratic Candidates for Congress are battling on the airwaves, in the media and on the stump. One has too much money, one has raised money wrong and from the wrong people and one did legal work for chemical companies at Love Canal so therefor she must be a demon. Whew...and we thought Clinton and Barack were ununifiable? (THANK GOD THAT IS OVER AS WELL!!!!!!)
The most important thing the Democratic Party had to do was to have a strong candidate to win against the Republican, rich guy - power broker and overseas job shipper who turned more jobs over to overseas companies and sold out on Western New York. I guess the Republican guy just wants to earn his Western New York Congressional salary and live in Washington, DC. I hear the cherry blossoms are beautiful there. Let's hope the rich can't buy thier ticket to see them....let's hope the voters look long and hard at this one.
Anyway...that is what is happening on the Congressional side.
On a "happier" note (Did I say Happier????), the race to run for the 61st Senate Seat is also equally challenging for the Donkeycrats. (Are you sure I said happier???) Here we have a popular, hard-working, competent Erie County Legislator who is endorsed by the County Democratic Committees pitted against a former boxer and "you guessed it"....Her brother-in-law. If this was Texas, this would be a episodic plot for that old TV Show "Dallas". As the Republicans put up yet another upper crust muckety-muck, the Democrats roll around in the muck to see who can run and win 8 weeks later. I am keeping my idea for a TV Script because there has to be one in here somewhere. I can just see the pan of the camera on the field as the three candidates come toward the camera on sturdy horses... the dust settling as their faces are shot one-by-one into the camera frame with dour expressions..... too funny...anyway I digress.
I am a BIG supporter of Mary Lou Rath and have always known that her shoes would be hard to fill...she truly cares about our communities and serves us well. She will be a tough act to follow. Michele Iannello is a tough woman with a lot to be said about what she will do for this district. She, like Mary Lou, cares about us and our communities. The brother-in-law, on the other hand, has run for many public offices including Eire County Legislator and Executive, has won a few and has lost a few. He currently sits on the Amherst Town Board and he talks a lot about his past......maybe that is because there isn't too much on his plate for the future.....I think Amherst should keep him.
Then we have Baby Joe Mesi.....nice guy. While I was President of the New York State Junior Chamber of Commerce I bestowed upon him the honor of Outstanding New Yorker. This was given to him because of his powerful approach to being a positive influence on young people's lives. He didn't just box.... he showed us all what an organized program for young people can do? He cares about his community. I give him that much but I guess I find that the toughness that a boxer needs to survive is just not what I think we need in the "Ring of Albany"..... You need to be smart, savvy and quick. You need to look for opportunities to help Western New York and you have to bring that home. Baby Joe is a nice guy.....Michele Iannello is a hard-working public servant. I hope when the dust settles, Baby Joe will still be doing his community service and the brother-in-law is sent back to Amherst. Let the tough lady from Kenmore take on the upper crusty Republican in the General Election.
So that is that. Instead of duking it out and coming up with two solid candidates...one for each position, the Democrats come up with three, forcing a primary that is sure not to hand any one candidate the 50% for either race. In the midst of this whirl of politics, we can only hope that the regrouping, refunding and campaigning can be accomplished in 8 short weeks, but then again...I wish all elections in total only took 8 weeks. I wonder if I would miss all the signs in my yard.... Please vote in the Democrat Primary.