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Today's Poll: Of these three candidates, whom do you favor for Congress?

By Howard B. Owens
Bea McManis

John, you are probably right. They might not recognize Mark Poloncarz who defeated Collins despite Collins' conservative friends with deep pockets and self funded campaign. I guess we can expect him to overspend to try to get this seat as well.

Mar 27, 2012, 9:58am Permalink
Lorie Longhany

The voters in Erie County said "no" to Chris Collins in November. I hope that Genesee County does the same.

Editorial in yesterdays Buffalo News shows serious problems at the Erie Co. Sheriff's office under Collins watch.

"The error made at the Erie County Holding Center was a bad one, potentially tragic. But the fault lies not just in the jail, but in funding decisions over which the Sheriff's Department has no control. Indeed, the way former County Executive Chris Collins handled requests for funding underscores the fact that County Hall is well rid of him."

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/buffalo-news-editorials/artic…

Mar 27, 2012, 10:34am Permalink
Ed Gentner

Incumbent Representative Kathy Hochul (D), and David Bellavia (R), are are honest, sincere hardworking individuals who would do a great job serving the interests of all of the people in the new district. Hochul's elected experience is a big plus and important considerations when voting and David Bellavia's gallant military service and willingness to put himself into harms way ahead of his men certainly makes him a worthy candidate for any office. Either one of them would be an excellent choice for the House of Representative's office.

Republican Chris Collins was rejected by both Republican and Democrat voters here in Erie County because of his poor performance representing the interests of all of the people in this county. His stunning deafness on a wide range of public services, libraries, child care, health care for the poor, the arts, it's a long list.

Our district can ill afford another self-serving, "self-financed" politician who represents the narrow interests of the few at the expense of the many.

Mar 27, 2012, 11:15am Permalink
Phil Ricci

I've rather enjoyed Ms Hochul thus far. She has not been timid to disagree with her party, and I think she understands this area faily well. No offense to Mr. Bellavia, as I am grateful for what he has one for our country, but I really don't see any reason to change quite yet. I think she has proven in the short time that she has been in Washington that she is very apt.

I say leave her be.

Mar 27, 2012, 12:09pm Permalink
John Roach

My problem with Hochul is her failure to do anything real to cut the budget. An example is her wanting to continue spending money on the Air National Guard unit in Naiagra Falls. She has said that the military has to be cut, but has shown that, like most all others, that cuts should not be in her backyard.

The unit is redundant. The other Air Force unit at the base does the same job with the same equipment. Here is where leadership could have been shown by her, but we get the same old don't cut my area.

Mar 27, 2012, 1:02pm Permalink
John Roach

Phil,
How about Ron Paul?

CM, So does a lack of real effort justify another term on her part? Or do we accept empty talk as the norm like we have in the past?

Mar 27, 2012, 2:53pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

What lack of effort John? I've seen and heard more from hochul since she took office than when she was campaigining, so please other than the generalized comment on not making any budget cuts then can you point out where her lack of effort has been?

Otherwise if just seems like a convenient comment to generalize her term so far.

Mar 27, 2012, 3:01pm Permalink
John Roach

Kyle,
I agree that she is likable, responds to questions and she has been around here a lot. But does that justify another term?
What cuts has she even tried to make?
She had a real chance to show she was not just like all the others, and passed on it.

I am for giving Bellavia a shot if he can win his primary.

Mar 27, 2012, 3:12pm Permalink
Bea McManis

Mar. 26
n anticipation of this week’s vote on the 2013 House Republican budget, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul released the following statement:“We can all agree that we must get serious about cutting spending and reducing the national debt, but we have to do it the right way. Mr. Ryan’s budget gives $150,000 in tax breaks to millionaires, while at the same time cutting education, high-tech research, and energy development – the very foundation of our economy. And just like last year’s proposal, the Ryan Plan will increase out of pocket health care costs for seniors by thousands of dollars, cut benefits, and end Medicare as we know it. I support common sense solutions to balancing our budget, which is why I voted for the Balanced Budget Amendment and supported a bipartisan compromise to cut the deficit by more than $2 trillion.”

Mar 27, 2012, 3:57pm Permalink
Bea McManis

More people, by mid afternoon, would vote for Chris Collins than hometown, Bellavia. John said, earlier today, that people were reacting to name recognition. Not one of those, who checked Collins' name, have come forward to tell why they like him.

Mar 27, 2012, 4:00pm Permalink
Lorie Longhany

John, do you realize what the economical impact closing that base would have on an already decimated local economy? Kathy absolutely does not want to see jobs lost in her own backyard. After all it is her responsibility to this area to preserve what we have.

There is not a big military footprint left in NY other than Ft Drum. With an economic impact of 168 million dollars the loss of the base would be devastating to Niagara and surrounding counties. I had a dear friend who has since passed away, who served in the reserves stationed at the base and also had a civilian job there. He commuted daily from LeRoy. That impact reaches into Genesee County as well.

Imagine the impact if this base was in Batavia.

Kathy is looking for a new mission for the base, but remember the reserves at this base are called in to duty for hurricanes and other natural disasters. I would be disappointed if she wasn't fighting for this.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/158926/13/Hochul-Colleagues-Pressing-P…

Mar 27, 2012, 4:12pm Permalink
John Roach

Lorie,
What you are suggesting is that we keep a militay unit as a jobs program.
And the base is not closing, one unit there is recommended to be cut as it is not needed and there is an identical unit located next to it.
Maybe Rep. Hochul could learn from our governor? He took the very unpopular step of closing prisons that were not needed, saying they would not be kept open just to be a jobs program.

Mar 27, 2012, 5:31pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

John, what your forgetting is that the people want that jobs program. No one in that position has a choice but to fight for that base. I vaguely remember a past Republican Congressman doing the same thing to save that base. The public doesn't want cuts of any kind, they will say they do, but we both know its a lie.

Mar 27, 2012, 6:42pm Permalink
Brandon Burger

Collins probably doesn't stand much of a chance in light of the fact that Bellavia hired Boris Yeltsin's old PR guy. That should be fun. And Hochul will wage a campaign against all that shit with money her Federal Prosecutor husband shook loose from obsequious local law firms. Sweet!

Can I still vote for Ian Murphy?

Mar 27, 2012, 9:30pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

Lorie, I love you , you know I do, but,

The reserves and the National guard are two separate entities, NO ONE is suggesting closing the base itself, the reserves (Who you noted as heling in the Huricanes) is staying, The AIr National guard is what is a stake.

The Air National Guard is paid for by the federal government, but is in the control of the Govenor unless called up by the Fed.

The reserves on the other hand are controlled by the Defense Department, and are basicaly part time airmen for the Air Force Itself.

With regard to The National Guard, There are serveral units through out NY State including five units in the Buffalo Area Alone (Infanty, Engineer, Medical, Intelligence and the forementioned Air)

In Rochester, you have infantry, artillery, combat engineers, attack helicopters, medical evac helicopters and tanks

The is a large National Guard Presence in Western New York

The Fact is, the Air Guard and the US Air Force Reserve are separate units providing the same function Air Refueling & Air Cargo

I do not remember exactly how many C-130s & C17's are attached to the NY National Guard, But I do know tht one base in the State could support them all.
Currently, Newburgh NY has the largest Air National Guard Base.

The Air Force Reserve, has no plans that I am aware of to leave Niagara Falls

Mar 27, 2012, 9:41pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

John,
I know it is and I agree with you. We should be closing a lot of bases but, it will never happen. As soon as any piece of pork is mentioned for cuts, the people squeal. It's the same old story, the public will never submit to real cuts. No matter who is in Congress, they will have to fight for that base or they are done. Hochull has no choice.

Mar 27, 2012, 9:35pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

Yes John, that is a duplication of resources, precisely why the 107th is slated for deactivation. My reference to the c-17's was purely to illustrate the limited number of air craft assigned to the guard

And I must correct myself as well, The NY Air Guard Flys C5a Galaxy (Strategic Transport) still, not C17s, the C-130H (Tactical Transport), The C-130P ( Aireal Tanker) the MQ-9 Reaper(Unmanned Drone) and the HH60G Pave Hawk (Combat Search & Rescue)

Mar 27, 2012, 9:57pm Permalink
Bea McManis

Brandon wrote:
"And Hochul will wage a campaign against all that shit with money her Federal Prosecutor husband shook loose from obsequious local law firms. "
Can you document that her husband financed her last campaign or is this just the beginning of the smear tactics by your choice of candidate?

Mar 27, 2012, 10:20pm Permalink
Daniel Jones

Brandon - You gonna get off that high horse of yours ever, pal? I'd like to say to the fringes on both ends that Barry Goldwater was wrong, extremism in the defense of liberty is a vice, and moderation in the pursuit of justice is a virtue. Goldwater would have probably started a nuclear war and Ian Murphy, as funny as he is and as much as I respect him for pushing the proverbial envelope (except that f.... the troops blog post still bothers me) would be a terrible Congressman. You need to have reasonable people in positions that require reason. Most voters get that, thankfully the ones that don't are in the minority.

Also, this paranoia about her husband being a US Attorney is ridiculous and not grounded in reality. So what if he's prosecuting cases in the district that she represents? She's not. That's an outrageous charge.

Mar 28, 2012, 1:57am Permalink
Brandon Burger

I don't have a candidate of choice, Bea, that's why I wondered if Ian Murphy were running again. I guess that makes what I wrote a "hopeful potential smear." How's that sound?

Anyway:

http://www.buffalonews.com/topics/chris-lee/article417452.ece

People elected to public office must avoid even the appearance of impropriety. I think Eisenhower said something to that effect. He also warned against the military-industrial complex. We didn't listen to that, either.

Mar 28, 2012, 1:48am Permalink
Daniel Jones

Eisenhower was a dud of a President who was too timid to tackle the major issues of the day (ironic given his outstanding leadership as a General), yes he had some impressive domestic accomplishments but his unwillingness to think big caused a stagnated Presidency. Hence the speech, which I always found to be underwhelming and defined most of his Presidency, which was for the most part stale and uninspiring. The people who work in the defense industry are good people and the work they do contributes to our national security. Yes, they're in the arms business, and with recognizing that we should also harness their ingenuity to grow our economy and enhance our capabilities.

Mar 28, 2012, 1:54am Permalink
Jeff Allen

I haven't had a problem with Hochul's short tenure until this:

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kmp-am_FdQ]

It is a HUGE oversight given that this is the oath of office she took:

"I, (name of Member), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

Mar 28, 2012, 8:24am Permalink

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