NY-26: Hochul's first TV commercial and a Hochul press release on GE profits

The voters here in the 26th Congressional District have the choice of three candidates to select from in this May's special election for the seat vacated by Chris Lee. Jane Corwin (R) and Kathy Hochul (D) the two candidates selected by party leaders behind closed doors, or Jack Davis (T), who secured a line on the ballot with more than twelve thousand signatures on petitions to nominating him to run for the House of Representatives.

Jack Davis (T), comes into the mix by way of the very democratic process of soliciting 12,000 voter signatures from 26th. Cong. District voters on nominating petitions for a line on the ballot, an amount that far exceeded the minimum of 3,600 required. Davis is not a traditional politician as evidenced by his previous efforts for election to the district's seat. He has on occasion made some gaffes and alienated the party leaders by speaking his mind and showing remarkable independence. Davis can honestly lay claim to creating and maintaining good jobs that pay good wages in the area. He built a business from the ground up and along the way created jobs with real benefits for the workers he employs. His campaign to preserve good paying jobs in AMERICA, has been the foundation of his political activism. At a time when many would have taken the money and retired he made the choice to stay and fight to keep jobs here in the USA. Recently he announced plans to invest several million dollars to expand his Akron plant and add more good paying jobs. Last year he gave several million dollars to th UB School of Engineering. This year he is running for the House of Reprentitives in a special election to replace Chris Lee (R) who abruptly resigned. Davis has pledged to self-finance his campaign, as with past campaigns has pledged, he will not solicit cash contributions to his campaign, although he opens with welcome arms those who want to get involved as volunteers. Though his experience as a politician may be lacking, he more than makes up for it with his desire to bring positive change and preserve American jobs as a lasting legacy.

I am a life-long registered Democrat who will be voting for Jack Davis in this special election. It is up to the voters in the district to look at the three candidates and decide who they want to represent them. Let's have an election not a coronation. While I may not agree all of the time with Jack Davis, I do believe that he is the best man to represent us, as the next Representative of the 26th. Congressional District. His record speaks louder than any words or campaign promises. If you care about the future of America, Jack Davis is the choice to make.

The Republican committees candidate is Jane Corwin who is currently serving in the New York state assembly. Her exaggerated claims of running a successful business are on a par with former Rep. Chris Lee (R), both came to their wealth and business experience the old fashioned and traditional Republican way, passed down from an earlier generation. The claim by Corwin of creating jobs and relevant business experience is whimsical at best, she is another ersatz "job creator", unless one includes the hiring and firing of maids, gardeners, and nannies to manage a suburban household. Corwin and her husband promptly sold the company had built and left to her, the new owners came in and laid off the majority of the employees. So much for creating jobs. Her total of elected experience can be counted in months, as to count the years would be embarrassingly short and quite unremarkable. What has made her so attractive is that she has pledged to spend whatever it takes and self finance her campaign. It's important to note that she is actively soliciting cash contributions in the tradition of most politicians. To sum up her most important qualification, she and her husband are close friend's and neighbor of Chris Collins the current Erie County executive who supports her candidacy 110%, because they share the same political and social agenda of cut taxes at the top and wages and social programs such as social security and Medicare at the bottom.

Kathy Hocul (D) the Democratic Committee’s pick is currently serving as the Erie County Clerk and has done a very good job representing the interests of the county and all of us who rely on the services of the clerk. She is an experienced politician who served in local and county government for many years and who along with her husband William Hochul the current U.S. Attorney here in Buffalo, is well know in Washington, and well liked and respected locally. She has a legislative history as well as executive history that point to someone who has shown herself capable and effective. Unlike Corwin or Davis she lacks the money to cover a campaign on her own and will have to rely on soliciting contributions and ground support of the Democratic Party and volunteers to mount a credible campaign.

Since you seem to be in the know, Mr. Gentner, how many volunteers gathered those signatures? How many were paid to get those signatures? Just wondering.

Corporate Tax Revenue as a % in the Federal Budget
(According to the Decades)

1950s = 65%
1960s = 41%
1970s = 20%
1980s = 15%
1990s = 10%
2000s = 7%

It is very rare to hear a politician, especially a Democrat or a Republican even mention corporations. Corporations get more and more tax breaks while creating low paying jobs and outsourcing the manufacturing of our products. Batavia has a new sector, an entire street of corporation chain stores. I believe these corporations have killed small businesses in the surrounding towns, including produce farmers. What have these corporations done for our communities? I look at beautiful towns with historical architecture on their main streets that are forced to rot away (with the exception of the SUNY towns such as Geneseo and Brockport) Albion is a beautiful town, anyone from Albion have an opinion about their community? Also I really dont understand why Williamsville and Lockport are in the 26th district. Louise Slaughter's carved out 28th district is ridiculous. Rochester should not be so divided by the districts and Williamsville and Lockport should be in the 28th district. There should be a state referendum regarding this issue. The upper portion of Orleans Co. should be in the 26th district. Look at a map of the districts its a joke and unfair to the communities.

A better question, Mr Renfrew, is how many people behind closed doors selected either the Republican or Democrat running. Jack Davis had both volunteers and people hired at a good hourly wage to gather signatures....Perhaps the idea of putting people to work in these times of high unemployment even on a temporary or part-basis bothers some people.

This Republican voluntarily signed his petition. I wasn't paid to sign it and that's what matters to me.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA Mrs. Hochul... you are talkng about Jeffrey Immelt the Presidents Chairman on Jobs and Competitiveness and former member of Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. This is the CEO who has maintained the closest ties to the President of any American corporate chair, I hope you're not trying to undermine his credibility. You've got it all wrong, G.E. is a green company whose main focus is partnering with the government to make life better for all Americans. They happen to be on the cutting edge of many technologies that directly benefit from not only Stimulus money, but future dollars that our taxes will pay for in emerging energy technologies and transportation policies of this administration. They are certainly at the forefront of digitizing all our medical records and many other medical technologies that are being paid for through Obamacare. Certainly this little issue of finding corprate loopholes to not pay any taxes when you are a direct recipient of so many tax dollars would never be considered something worthy of scrutiny.
I said it on this forum shortly after Obama took office two years ago, G.E.s involvement in this adminstration will make Halliburton look like a mom and pop operation. What's that we hear from the mainstream media...oh yeah, crickets again!

Halliburton and GE separate industries but still just members of the corporate oligarchy, add to them corporate agribusiness that sell chemical junk for food, health insurance/ pharm. industries we NEED when our systems start failing due to type 2 diabetes and coronary disease from the amount of sodium and high fructose corn syrup food processing. Have you noticed any new dialysis centers in your community or noticed an increase in the number of people who require dialysis? The commercials run by the corporate media who advertise pharm corp. medicines and the CORNSUGAR (its still high fructose) campaign. The ridiculous amounts charged by Verizon and Time Warner. The financial industry bank giants who pay next to nothing in interest when you choose their back for your savings.
The majority of Democrats and Republicans are corporate sponsored. And if you try to run for office as an independant candidate you are shut out.

Democrats and Republicans are simply following the rules for naming candidates in a Special Election such as this. If it was other than a special election then the parties would nominate candidates subject to the will of the voters in primaries if others choose to contend against the official party nominee. If Mr. Davis was so opposed to the process in place for special elections why did he seek the Republican nomination? Seems like sour grapes to me. Would he be complaining about the process had he received the Republican endorsement?

In no way did I state or even imply that voters were paid to sign Mr. Davis' petitions. I only asked about whether those circulating petitions were paid to gather those signatures.

Mr. Gertner's response indicates that there was a mix of paid and volunteer, but we can still wonder if that was mostly paid or mostly volunteer. A group of eager volunteers suggests more popular support than a team of paid petitioners. And, for that matter, I wonder if Mr. Gertner is employed by the campaign. Nothing wrong with that, but just wondering. Mr. Davis, in the past, seemed to rely on buying lots of media and mailings instead of coordinating a large group of volunteers. I wonder if he is doing the same, or if he has changed his approach?

First Mr. Renfrew, I am not a paid operative... I will repeat not paid...I am a life long Democrat who supports Jack Davis....That the people who gathered the petitions were paid, realy sir would you deny people part-time employment in these tough times, or can we assume you believe the decision made by a half dozen people behind closed doors is at at a par with 12,000 people who signed the nominating petitions for Jack Davis....This is after all an election for a seat in the PEOPLES HOUSE...

Edmund, you keep referring the closed door method of chosing a candidate. Mr. Davis took part in that closed door exercise when he asked for the GOP nod.
As it was explained, and you seem to ignore, the county chairs (from each party - and Jack David took part in the process)meet with the candidates and choose who they consider the best candidate to fill a vacated seat. This is for the special election. In a regular election, the candidate is determined by the people in the form of a primary. Hardly the scenario you want to imply. Even in that closed door session, both parties were up front and transparent about who they were interviewing.
12000 signatures garnered by folks paid to knock on doors dilutes the spirit of backing a candidate. If those 12000 signatures were gathered by supporters then it signifies a groundswell of support.
Hiring folks to knock on doors hardly signifies that groundswell (but, it does look good, doesn't it?)

Thank you, Mr. Gertner, for your response. Though you did not answer all of my questions.

As for your comment about this being the "PEOPLES HOUSE", I wish it were so. I wonder about the likelihood of a candidate with $3 million of his personal wealth to spend on a campaign being the embodiment of that wish.

I think Bea is right. If Davis thinks the "closed door" was so bad, why did he want to be behind it? I doubt he'd have complained had he been selected by the GOP.

An open process that required a petition process that would have required by all of the candidates, not just the annointed candidates to obtain nominating signatures would have rendered your question moot. Mr. Roach and Mr. Renfrew your protests and complaints fly in the face of 12,000 signatures to place Jack Davis on the ballot. Again, it is 12,000 signatures verses a half dozen behind closed doors. This is a democracy the 12,000 people who nominated Jack Davis verses the half dozen party aparachics behind closed doors....what is your problem...12,000 voters who nominated Jack Davis for a place on a ballot or the fact that some of those collecting the signatures were paid a decent wage in these tough econimic times or a heart felt belief that the people who signed the nominnatinig petitions were fools and had no idea of what they were signing....id that your belief, that 12,000 people had less judgement than the half dozen behind closed doors. Are you afraid of a decision made by 12,000 voters, or are you more comfortable with decisions made behind closed doorsby a half dozen party hacks?

In response to the comments about Jack Davis making a commitment to spend his own money...Corwin has made the same plegde sans a pledge not to solicit cash from other sources....Mr. Roach and Mr. Renfrew forget Corwin has made the same pledge to self-finance a campaign...the difference is Jack Davis is spending money he made verses the money Corwin's father made....she make claims of creating jobs Jack Davis has a record of creating jobs...compare and contrast, lets stand outside Corwin's job center at the start of business and let's stand in out in front of Jack Davis's plant in Akron....

<a href="http://s598.photobucket.com/albums/tt65/ccharvella/?action=view&amp;cur…; target="_blank"><img src="http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt65/ccharvella/jackdavis.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Mr Gertner, I'm sorry to keep belaboring the point, but if Mr. Davis considers the party selection process tainted in a special election, why did he seek the Republican nomination in the first place? I don't get that part of your logic. Had he received the party endorsement would he have turned it down?

It may very well be the case that the process for candidate ballot access during a special election needs to be changed, but Mr. Davis has entered this campaign knowing in advance what the rules are. The rules are not going to change during the course of the campaign just because you or Mr. Davis think they should be changed. To claim that the other candidates who are following the established procedures are somehow sneaking into Congress through a back room - well how else are they supposed to get elected? There is no other process available, at least not for the people who cannot afford to pay for petition gatherers.

By the way I have done petitioning for candidates in the past (always unpaid). One argument that I used in seeking signatures was to say that the signer didn't necessarily have to support the candidate on the petition, but only to give that candidate a chance to be on the ballot to give voters a choice. I have no doubt that a significant portion of those 12,000 were recruited in the same way. I have no problem with that, it's the way it works, and I certainly don't think anyone is a fool for having signed a Davis petition (I might have even signed one myself had I been asked), but I would hesitate to claim that all 12,000 can be expected to vote for Mr. Davis on May 24th.

As for the difference between Corwin being a millionaire's baby and Davis having earned his own millions, if either are elected it still ends up being a MILLIONAIRE'S CLUB instead of the "PEOPLES HOUSE". That's a problem.

Mr. Renfrew, the cartoon you posted is a cute attempt at injecting a bit of humor into the debate but adds nothing to it. You are apparently opposed to both candidates who are self-financing their campaigns and that is well and good, that is your right to do so...however, you might be up front about who you support and why. I support Jack Davis and have articulated a point of view that clearly states why I support Jack Davis. You sir, have fixated on the fact that Jack Davis is spending his own money as is the Republican candidate. At the very least disclose who it is you support and why. If you want to have a debate you have to have a point or counter-point that is germane.

Hey Edmund, I posted that cartoon.

So, scripted talking points about the candidate selection process aside, can you tell us how soon after a Davis victory we can expect him to personally start rounding up brown people and deporting them?

Does he already own the buses he's going to send to the inner city to lasso the black kids or will he have to rent them at taxpayer expense?

This whole discussion is ultimately for naught. Corwin wins, then she is the odd person out when re-districting comes. I must say,however, in the back of my mind, I think I would enjoy a Corwin/Slaughter cat fight :)

Sorry Chris, my mistake....as for talking points you should stick with posting cartoon characters, at least they were someones original art at one time.

Let's talk original. You're the guy who has been copy pasting the same inane comment at every news outlet in WNY right?

Examples:

wnymedia.net/buffalopundit/2011/03/w-tea-e-n/

thedailynewsonline.com/.../article_cb72b7da-5994-11e0-811d-001cc4c002e0.html

www.buffalonews.com/topics/chris-lee/special-election/article379968.ece

If Jack isn't paying you, he should be.

Mr. Gentner's association with thebatavian.com is less than two days old. He certainly is working hard for Jack in the few days he has been on board.
Sounds like he is spamming all of the outlets with the same song and dance.
Is this the Edmund Gentner who has a real estate office in Buffalo?

Bud, in spite of Mr. Gertner's statement that he is a life-long Democrat supporting Davis, Davis' entry into the race is a threat mostly to Republican Corwin. Davis is positioning himself as the Tea Party candidate. Not too many Democrats lean that way, but lots of Republicans do. So who stands to lose the most with a Davis candidacy? Corwin got lucky that Bellavia did not get on the ballot, but Davis will be a real problem for her. Yes, there is a Green party candidate, who might take some votes from Democrat Hochul, but Davis will do far more damage to the Republican side than the Greens will do to the Democrats. I think that Hochul now has a good chance to win in an essentially three-way race.

As for me, I don't support Corwin or Davis. I support Hochul. I like candidates who support the aspirations of the Middle Class rather than those who line up to feed us the talking points of corporate interests. OK, not so much the the aspirations of the Middle Class, just the ability of the Middle Class to keep its head above water in troubled economic times. What's the current stat? Something like the top 1% own 80% of the wealth, or 400 families own 40% of the wealth. You've heard these stats elsewhere. That rising tide of wealth at the top comes from the bottom. Wealth has not been so concentrated at the top in my lifetime as it is right now. And I don't see too many jobs trickling down to the bottom. That's why it amazes me that the Tea Party /Republican effort finds Middle Class voters to go along with even more unrestrained greed at the top!

James,
I think Davis will get about an equal number of votes from Republicans and Democrats. Some Republicans will vote for the "Tea Party" candidate, but a lot of Democrats will remember Davis as their past candidate, and they voted for him before. In fact, he almost won with them. In addition, a lot of Democrats like the Tea Party's stance on lower taxes.

I want to make clear to one and all. I am not employed by Jack Davis or his campaign never have been. I do voice my opinions in print, all of the material I have submitted to any media outlet is done all on my own time. The written opinions and articles I submit are all mine. You are most welcome to agree or disagree with any or all of it that is your right as an American.

Jack Davis is someone I have supported with my vote and have volunteered time to his campaigns. I am a registered Democrat and former member of the Amherst Democratic Party Committee. I am not in lockstep with any party or group, I support Jack Davis because I believe he is the best person for the job.

I believe Jack Davis is the best candidate and I am not shy about supporting him for the 26th Congressionl District seat. Jack Davis is the only candidate that has real experience at creating jobs and his opposition to the absurd trade and industrial policies and treaties that have led to the hemoraging of American jobs are a matter of fact. The facts speak for themselves. Our country has lost millions of jobs that have in the past provide gainful employment. Everyone has a right to their own opinions, but it's best to let the facts speak for themselves.

Take a drive out to Jack Davis's "I Square R Elements" factory over in Akron where they run two shifts on Saturday and three shifts a day 5 days days a week. Jack Davis provides full-time gainful employment, he doesn't just talk about creating jobs he is doing it. This is a fact, Jack Davis is opposed to trade and indutrial treaties and policies that have cost Americans their jobs.

Davis is a single issue gadfly. In three runs for congress, he has expressed no interest in interacting with possible constituents, he has insinuated that serving in the US military is not a real job and he has burned every bridge imaginable.

Jack Davis could be sleeping in Marilyn Monroe's bed, courtside with Jack Nicholson at a Lakers game and dining at the NOLA Ritz-Carlton with James Carville; he'd still be pretending to be a Democrat.

Bea,
I had not heard that about Davis (but just about everything else). Any hard evidence you can share?

If he's not a racist, then he's just plain dimwitted. He thinks it's appropriate to send buses up to the inner cities to round up all the black kids so they can go to work in the fields.

That's after he deports the Mexicans.

Matter of fact I don't believe he's a racist. Anybody who uses the imagery of picking up black people and putting them to work in a field has to be just plain dumb. Not even David Duke is that bold.

...Well, my conversation with his staff pertaining to his opinions on Latinos might be called hearsay, but it meshed with his soundbites.

Know that you have plumbed the depths with insults, accusations and slurs...is that all you can contribute to the dialog...Bea McManis and Chris Charvella are registered as Democrats, or are you using the names of registerd Democrats to hide behind...and who Mr. Barons did you talk with on Jack Davis's staff? As for your comment Ms. McManis if that is who you actually are, calling me or anyone else a racist is simply childish and serves no purpose other than to spew your bile in hopes of making whatever point it is you and your ad hoc Batavia commitee is attempting to make....I'm guessing Kathy Hochul's campaign committe staff are pleased to have such bright and articulate supporters such as yourselves making her case in such eloquent fashion.

You using the VAN to research us Eddy? Sure you're not a paid staffer?

If you just asked me, I'd have told you who I was and what party I belong to. I'd also have told you that I supported Jon Powers for Congress in 2008. You remember Jon Powers, right? The guy who Jack Davis said 'never had a real job.' Apparently serving in the US Army isn't a real job. Not according to Jack Davis at least.

The attacks locally on Davis all seem to be coming from Democrats. That just might mean they are more worried about him than the Republicans after all.

I'm stating my own opinions here, John. I'm not acting as a spokesman for the Democratic Party.

I think Jack Davis is a disgrace and I'm very happy that after the Republican party chairs told him where to stick it, he didn't come and try to waste the time of our Democratic chairs.

Mr. Charvella, for what I hope is te last time, I am not a paid staffer for Jack Davis...I am a supporter of Jack Davis who like everyone who has joined the conversation here interested in electing a candidate who will effectively represent the larger interests of the people here in the 26th. Congressional District...Now as a U.S. Army veteran I have had the opportunity to talk with Jack Davis about the common experience of military service. Jack Davis is a veteran and his son served in the U.S. Marines, as a veteran myself I have every confidence theat Jack Davis holds veterans in high esteem and honors their service. Mr. Charvella, if you are still put out over the 2008 election and have a difficult time reconciling your feelings regarding that election you need to move on. Today the election is between Jack Davis who has an established record on the issue of exporting American jobs and repealing the treaties that have facilitaed that loss, a Republican who has little or no track record on the issues of jobs creation and a Democrat who is an experienced politician with no track record on job creation but does have a record of supporting tax increases. What do you stand for? What do you want from the next member of Congress who will be representing our district? I know what I want...I want Jack Davis as the next elected member of Congress.

Jack Davis is a scorched earth candidate who lacks respect for anyone but Jack Davis as he's proven time and time...and time again.

I don't waste time explaining what I need out of my congressman to shills and hacks. You already took the time to research my party affiliation, I'm sure that, if you're interest runs deep, you won't have much trouble figuring out what my political bent is as well.

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Talk of 'preserving the heritage of our fathers' is racist talk Howard.

Mr. Charvella are you implying that the people who read the above on-line conevrsation are shills and hacks not worthy of the time it takes to articulate a cogent position in support or opposition of a candidate...my mistake sir I thought you might have something useful to contribute to the conversation..

Dan beat me in the race to figure out the new YouTube embed code magic.

That's the speech where Jack tells us that the Mexicans are literally taking over the United States, then outlines their evil plans to return Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California back to Mexican control.

I'm cool with all of that as long as we can just keep Las Vegas. We can build a wall around it and treat it like Berlin...cheaper than thousands of miles of useless border fence.

I'm not implying anything. I'm actually saying, in very plain terms that you are both a shill and a hack.

This is evidenced (as noted earlier) by your copy pasting of Davis talking points all over WNY media sites.

Edmund - http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperbole?show=0&t=1301603300

Just because someone expresses an opinion that is different from yours or disagrees with you does not mean that they are stifling you. Jack Davis has lost three times, he couldn't beat Tom Reynolds when he was caught up in a national sex scandal and despite outspending his primary opponents in 2008 he finished pretty far in the back.

Also, check out these items about Davis and his previous campaign tactics.

http://thebatavian.com/blogs/philipanselmo/davis-campaign-launches-fake…

http://wnymedia.net/buffalopundit/2008/07/jack-davis-pays-10000-to-inde…

Chris,
Many Democrats voted for Davis a few years ago, and he almost won. Are you implying they supported racism?

I'm not the one who said he was a racist

And in 2006, voters had a choice between a Democrat(not really) who happened to be an isolationist twit and a Republican who happened to be an isolationist twit but also covered up for his peer that was chasing underage boys all over Washington.

Win win for the voters of the 26th in that one, eh?

Since when was it a secret that I am a registered Democrat? All you had to do was ask. Anyone, who reads this board, could tell you that.
Since you didn't get that information here, you have access to the Voter Registration rolls.
That makes you MORE than just an interested bystander.

By the way, before John makes his usual connection, I am also on the Genesee Co. and the City of Batavia Democratis committees.

That said, Jack Davis would be the last person I would consider handing my vote regardless of my affiliation. That, Edmund, is my option - just as your option is to shill for him.

Bea,
Thanks for the full disclosure, you're getting better.

does anyone know where we can get information on Hochuls platform concerning social issues? her website doesn't offer any.

I remember jack trying to strong arm me at a Democratic fundraiser. Then insulting everyone in attendance telling us how he was going to buy the election. All he did was run a good man into the dirt, with his scumbag political games.

This is a pointless conversation. Jack Davis lost three times in a row for a reason. He's a bully, who believes money can buy you anything. All the money in the world couldn't buy Jack a seat in Congress. All of his supporters have always been paid slaves. This time he's going to use his millions to beat up on Corwin.

I got news for Jack. This is America. You can't buy a seat in Congress.

Diclosurer for Edmund, I was the former Democratic Country chair. What ever the man has offered you, it isn't worth your soul.

Thank you Charlie.
Davis' SOP is so predictable that all of the other candidates will be ready for whatever he throws at them.
The bogus web site didn't work, I wonder if he'll try it again?

Here's the real Jack...

http://70.32.84.176/blogs/cmallow/it-any-wonder-every-democratic-county…”

Jeff,
Did you try
To get in touch with our campaign, please email us at info@kathyhochul.com.

and ask for the information you want?

Thanks Bea, I'll do that.

It's small wonder that the Democrats in Batavia and Genesee Co. are so succesful at electing their candidates. What is your secret? Do you offer facts or figures? Do any of you even know what the Democratic candidate stands for? You blast me as a hack who cuts and pastes his own material, yet if you look at the Democratic candidates talking points it looks like it was lifted straight out of Jack Davis's campaign literature.

Even she recognizes a winning issue in opposing the trade and industrial policies that have exported American jobs.

Seriuosly does anyone in the Democratic party there in Batavia or Genesee Coounty have anything other than a string of insults and I hate Jack Davis to offer. You seem to have an interest in immigration issues. I don't agree with all of what Jack Davis ideas on every issue. His statements regarding the increasing number of illegal undocumented people coming into the country from south of the border along with an exploding live birth rate in the Hispanic community is a fact confirmed by the lates census data. I think the fence is silly, but then John McCain was all for it when he ran in 2008 for the White House.

My family came here legally a couple of generations ago thru Ellis Island, some of them didn't make it, some died, a few went back. What immigration alternative's are you proposing? Would you simply open the borders and get rid of any requirements for entering the United States?

A country's borders are what defines it geographicly, it's qualifications for citezenship define who it's people are. To drop all requirements and simply accept that anyone who crosses the border is not something I would support. Sending people back who are here illegally is a valid position to take, unless you don't believe that citezenship is of real value. I cherish my American citezenship, spent three years in the U.S. Army to protect and defend my country against all enemies foriegn and domestic.

Charlie,
I remember talking with you after your meeting Davis and I remember how mad you were at his behavior and dislike for the rural areas.

Edmund, let me get this straight. You actually personally support Jack Davis and are NOT being paid? If that's true, I'm speechless! I've never met someone who supported the guy without being paid. Are you related? Do you owe him money?

John, I was so deeply insulted by what jack said at that dinner, I'm still not over it. The man strolled in to a party and tried to strong arm me and the entire committee. Then he insulted 150 people and stormed out like a child. I never met a person so isolated from human emotion. His money has darkened his soul. Other people are just dogs to Jack Davis. I wouldn't vote for him and said so, when it was my sworn oath to support ALL Democrats. The guy isn't worth consideration because, he personally doesn't give a dam about anyone but, himself.

Edmund - We are not lobbing insults at Jack Davis, we are criticizing what has come out of his mouth. Our collective analysis is based on his actions. This is the kind of reputation that Jack Davis has with the people in the rural counties because of what he has done in the past. You coming on here as a supporter of his and devaluing us with your cute little remarks about our county and the people in it do not help his cause.

If this is how Jack Davis and his supporters plan to win this election then I wish you the best of luck....because you will need all the luck you can get with that strategy.

There is a candidate in this race, Kathy Hochul. She isn't from Spaulding Lake in Clarence and wasn't born with a silver spoon. And she doesn't have Jack Davis' background of creating a company from the ground up in his garage, which Jack should be commended for.

She is proud of her own humble beginnings and has her own positive success story to tell. In part that story is about caring enough about her community to seek public office at it's most humble level with the protection of her mother's small business as her incentive. She's not afraid to admit and embrace the fact that she loves serving the public and advocating on behalf of the people that have put their trust in her. People that trusted enough to elect her with 80% of the vote totals. I would call that a positive attribute. She also will never back down from a fight.

We tried Jack Davis a couple times. He was noble in his pursuit and has some good points on the issue of outsourcing and protecting living wage jobs, but, his approach is not noble. It reeks of xenophobia and disdain for minorities. Also, to serve people, one really needs to actually like people. And Charlie's account of that fund raiser is spot on.

Jane Corwin is a political dilettante. Chosen because she has deep pockets. We saw how that worked out with Chris Lee, the last privileged congressman. And how many of us in this district have anything in common with either? How in the world will she ever relate to problems that the middle class are facing? She doesn't understand sacrifice. She hasn't had to sacrifice one day of her life. She has one thing to hang her hat on. She was lucky enough to have been born rich. She is in public life because she was neighbors with Chris Lee and Chris Collins in a million dollar per unit housing tract. They keep it in the neighborhood there.

David Bellavia would have also been at the very least a principled choice. It's too bad he was treated so horrendously.

So I really hope that people will take a good hard look.

John, sorry to be responding to belatedly to your prediction that Davis will draw an equal number of Republican and Democratic voters to his cause. I voted for Davis each time he appeared on the Democratic line in the General Election. I was not at all pleased with some of his positions, but as far as I was concerned Reynolds as a yes-man for the Bush administration needed to go. Yes, in 2006 Davis came within a few points of winning in the year of the Congressional page scandal cover-up that Reynolds was mixed up in. I think a significant number of those votes were more anti-Reynolds than pro-Davis. In 2008 Davis got pounded in the primary by the relatively unknown Alice Kryzan - I'm sure he outspent Powers and Kryzan by a large factor - I was getting daily mailings from Davis during that campaign. In fact, people were so angry at Davis for the ugly smears against Powers I am sure that Kryzan was the main beneficiary. It was in the final days of the 2010 primary that he unveiled his plan to bus unemployed African-Americans from cities to rural farms. That idea fell flat on its face - whether you consider Davis a racist or not.

John, I don't agree with you that Davis will somehow win those votes he had in 2006 in 2011 by name recognition. It certainly didn't help him in 2010. He spends a lot of money, but he doesn't actually campaign among voters. I never saw him appear anywhere in 2006 or 2008 and the local Democratic committees were very ticked off that he wouldn't appear anywhere in 2006 to further his own campaign (cf. Charlie Mallow's comments above). If you want to actually meet Davis I've heard that you have to find him at his favorite breakfast diner on Saturday mornings in Akron.

James,
I don't think Davis will win, but I still think he'll draw an equal number of votes from both major parties. There is a large pool of voters not happy with either party and he'll draw some of them as the alternative.

Jeff,
I had the pleasure of meeting Kathy Hochul last night. One thing I mentioned was your question about social issues not being on her website.
She said the website is a work in progress and was happy to hear that you will contact her staff via email.

Thanks Bea, I sent her an e-mail last night. This post got way off topic, but I was impressed with Hochul's guts to go after GE in her ad. She certainly shows party independence since GE is so tied into the Obama Administration. I don't even know of any Republicans going after GE and their cozy relationship with the White House. I talked about this stuff almost two years ago on this site, this is what I posted July 3 2009..."let's not forget the billions of dollars in no bid contracts IBM (smart grid technology) and GE (alternative energies, power systems, etc.) stand to receive. Their unchallenged contracts will dwarf the alleged nepotism of Halliburton during the Bush administration. Keep your eye on GE, with as many irons as they have in the Obama fire, and money ready to be handed them through the Federal Reserve with no checks and balances, they will redefine the term "too big to fail"" I even left out at the time digital medical records technology that GE is receiving tax dollars for through Obamacare and all without paying taxes themselves.
I look forward to hearing from Kathy on her entire platform.

Cutting to the chase here, GE scarfs up 3.5 BILLION dollars from the taxpayers every year. That means 140,000 unemployed people could each be given $25,000. If GE PAID in 3.5 BILLION dollars each year, 3.5 MILLION taxpayers could KEEP an extra $1000.