My Urban Elephant Friends,
I invite you to visit Atlas Shrugs in Brooklyn! Just today, my colleague John Galt posted a story about Vito Fossella's rumored return to politics and the political impact it could have on Brooklyn and Staten Island.
Here's an excerpt:
“Vito Fossella: former congressman, and, I hope, one day, current congressman, I want to thank you…”
No, that line’s not from years past, folks.
The place is the Bob Grant Show on WABC. The speaker is Bob Grant. The date is December 27, 2009...
After disconnecting his call with Fossella, Grant stated:
Vito Fossella, ladies and gentleman…I have many, many friends and acquaintances, many contacts in Staten Island, and, I’ll tell you, Staten Island is looking forward to welcoming back Vito to the United States Congress…
It looks like the 13th Congressional race just got a whole lot more interesting…
Apparently Bob Grant was talking about a number of things, including the infamous terror trials to take place in New York and Brooklyn, when Vito Fossella called into the show.
The link to the audio from the Bob Grant Show is here.
Fossella went on talking about the trials and how terrible they are. He emphasized that giving additional rights to terrorists and giving them civilian trials is totally wrong.
Then, after he was done speaking, Bob Grant closed out the conversation by intoning with his trademark radio voice: “Vito Fossella: former congressman, and, I hope, one day, current congressman, I want to thank you…”
Vito did not correct him on whether or not that would be in the cards. He merely wished him well.
Grant indicated he would be watching the newspapers and that Staten Island is “looking forward” to welcoming Fossella back to Congress.
***
So, it’s official. The rumors are true. Vito Fossella is out and about again–and might be running for Congress!
With his appearance comes the obvious question about the infamous 13th Congressional district and the upcoming Republican primary between the two announced candidates, Mike Grimm and Michael Allegretti.
Will Vito run again?
The memories still seem fresh of the young and promising Congressman Fossella being exposed for having another family. Many of his supporters were devastated by his decision not to run, which led to his seat being occupied by current Democratic Rep. McMahon.
Brooklyn GOP Chairman Craig “The Duke” Eaton said of Fossella shortly after we learned of his other family:
“We are still fully behind Congressman Fossella. It was apparently an error in judgment that he’s taken full responsibility for. We support him wholeheartedly in his re-election campaign and expect he will be victorious.”
But now, the question is who will the Brooklyn and Staten Island wings of the party choose to support?
As we reported to you earlier, Mr. Eaton told the Brooklyn GOP County Convention:
Well, let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, next year, we’re going to run our own horse in that race…Mike Allegretti….
Well…will we?
***
Read the rest at atlasshrugsinbrooklyn.wordpress.com!
We hope you'll come and visit often.
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written by Quickjustice , December 29, 2009
Fossella, Spitzer, and maybe Bill Clinton? All retreads. How will voters react? In my opinion, not well.
I've met Allegretti. He's a pleasant, young guy. Does he have the chops for this? We'll find out soon.
written by aaa , December 29, 2009
Isn't the idea of reform about hearing both sides of the debate especially regarding our county the Kings County Republican Party?
After all we would expect these actions from the Chinese, and the Russians to name a few, not reform minded idealists.
On the blog atlas shrugs why is it we have heard only negative stories regarding the Kings County Republican Party.
However, when it comes to those who are willing to work with the Kings County Republican Party, such as this reform minded commentator why is this reform minded commentator not allowed to give another side of the story?
The question begs, the idea of a blog criticizing those who are on the ground fighting to enhance the chances of victory in 2010 for the Kings County Republican Party is a moot point, unless those who are criticizing the Kings County Republican Party such as the blog atlas shrugs and their allies get on the ground to work with all those who want to help the Kings County Republican Party return our state, and county to a healthy two party system.
The question begs, more importantly I call on Brooklyn Young Republicans President Jonathan J. Judge to come on this site, and answer the following.
Did Mr. Judge who runs the blog atlas shrugs use personal IP address's to block comments such as this reform minded commentator, and use personal IP address's to attack those who oppose the opinions of the blog atlas shrugs?
The question begs, did Mr. Judge build websites for candidates, and receive money from those candidates, and did not disclose these as an "In Kind" contribution which is a violation of campaign finance laws, but also a violation of the Brooklyn Young Republican by-laws?
Mr. Judge please answer these very important questions, as this reform minded commentator for the sake of real reform needs to know.
By answering these questions, this reform minded commentator is willing to work with all those for or against our chair in the Kings County Republican Party for a bigger, and brighter 2010 in the several races our party will have a chance to retake and as well as helping to re-elect our State Senator Marty Golden.
Thank you.
written by Frank Ammendolea , December 29, 2009
Vito Fossella made a mistake and paid the price for it. I don't condone what he did, but he didn't lie about it and cover it up like Bill Clinton did. He didn't try to obstruct justice like Clinton. And he didn't position himself as some kind of ethical and moral scold like Eliot Spitzer.
The things I agreed with him on, I still agree with him on. I'm just sorry that he was not a better husband and father to his wife and children.
I don't think we should be taking risks with such a strong seat in what should be a very good Republican year. I would like to see a fresh face take on McMahon, and not someone like Fossella who has a lot of baggage and would make the task harder than it already is.
With that said, I am sure the Staten Island GOP will take a poll and see who runs strongest in a hypothetical matchup against McMahon. If Vito beats him - even with everything everyone knows at this point - it's hard to argue that he doesn't have a legitimate basis on which to make another run.
written by Quickjustice , December 29, 2009
I'm not disposed to dump on a former GOP politician who's admitted and paid for his transgressions. I'm not a sadist.
By jumping back into politics, however, Fossella exposes himself to repeated re-hashes of the whole slimy episode.
He may be a better man than Spitzer or Clinton, all things considered, Frank. But the GOP needs fresh faces unburdened by the heavy, moral baggage Fossella continues to drag behind him. After all, he still has two families to support, correct? How is the television footage of that going to look?
I think a fresh face is a better bet. The GOP needs to re-build its bench state-wide.
written by Stephanie , December 29, 2009
http://www.urbanelephants.com/...iddle.html
Michael McMahon in the Middle!
written by Jay Golub , December 29, 2009
aaa, I'll assume you are the same "AAA" from Atlas. I just want to let you know that, regardless of what is done on Atlas, we do not allow spam-like posts that have nothing to do with the Thread above.
Either write about the thread or save this anti-Atlas/Judge/etc...stuff for a more appropriate discussion.
Next time it gets cut...
written by Jay Golub , December 29, 2009
"I don't think we should be taking risks with such a strong seat in what should be a very good Republican year. I would like to see a fresh face take on McMahon, and not someone like Fossella who has a lot of baggage and would make the task harder than it already is."
You may be right, Frank. This cycle, where this moderate seat truly is in play, may be better served with a fresh face - and I must say, from what I know about Allegretti, he seems like a solid "fresh face."
As I had said before here on UE...
http://urbanelephants.com/index.php/component/content/article/64/176.html
Personally, I think not and i'm confident that most Staten Islanders wouldn't think that a person's personal life problems should keep him from his job, as well. New Yorkers are forgiving people - much less judgemental than American's tend to be across the rest of the country.
Either way, the GOP, and the Conservative Party, should consider what the loss of this seat would mean for both parties.
So let me be the first to say, "run Vito run..."
...I think Vito should never have left his seat when this happened. He should have continued with his professional life and allow the voters of SI and Brooklyn to decide if his transgressions should keep him from returning to his job.
But time has passed and new circumstances exist. It may not be the right time for him to make a comeback.
For some reason, I think there's a slight war brewing here and this race could get interesting over the next few months. As was written by our editorial staff in March of this year, there are other potential high-profile candidates for this office...
http://urbanelephants.com/index.php/component/content/article/64/605-golden-for-congress.html
...yet I think that with the State Senate so close to shifting back to our side, a sitting near-majority Senator would be taking a risk trying to win a seat only to sit in a clear minority in Congress...
written by Stephanie , December 30, 2009
Jay, if Vito Fossella attempts to run again, his personal life will be campaign issues - not the larger political and social issues that matter to the 13th C.D. voters.
Vino Fossella "back in the game" will muddy up the GOP campaign and efforts. This will have a negative effect on the GOP attempts to take back this seat. Vito back in will be a power boost to the Donkeys.
written by Frank Ammendolea , December 30, 2009
The GOP should run the strongest candidate for the seat. If it can be shown that the strongest candidate is Vito Fossella, then so be it. I am skeptical that he is, but I don't know. Once again, I don't like what he did but he didn't commit any crimes against his constituency like Charles Rangel did (and continues to do), so I am not prepared to say that it should preclude him from ever running for office again.
I think Mike Allegretti fits the district well. Not living in the district, I'm not totally in tune to the whole Staten Island/Brooklyn tension, but from what I have read, it seems to be a big deal. That could be a negative for him.
Mike Grimm also appears to be a decent candidate. These are good problems to have. When I was growing up in Queens, I just knew that Floyd Flake (later Greg Meeks) was going to be my Congressman no matter what I did - despite the fact that my Senator was Frank Padavan - because my neighborhood was shoved into a district designed to dilute its Republican voting strength.
The Republican and Conservative leaders of Staten Island and Brooklyn should get together and work this out. This district is too important to the Republican Party, in both the city and the state, to let it slip away permanently.
written by Stephanie , December 30, 2009
As a Libertarian partially in the GOP tent and as a Log Cabin Republicans member I take umbrage and offense at Vito Fossella's homophobia. Shame on him.
http://www.queerty.com/vito-vetoes-gay-sister-20080512/
Republican Vito Fossella's even sleazier than we imagined!
The Staten Island lawmaker – who sought a ban on gay marriage – has been making headlines in recent weeks because of his drunk driving arrest and admitting to fathering a love child. All the drama had people speculating Fossella would soon resign, although he claims otherwise. In fact, this ballsy man may even run for reelection.
Well, things got even uglier in Fossella's orbit this morning, as sources claim the "family values" politico has even less family values that previously imagined: he shuns his lesbian sister, Victoria, a Staten Island gay activist with a partner and two children.
Holiday's must be really tense at the Fossella home…
written by Jay Golub , December 31, 2009
"Jay, if Vito Fossella attempts to run again, his personal life will be campaign issues - not the larger political and social issues that matter to the 13th C.D. voters."
As I said, Stephanie, he should have never left the seat - and should have engaged this conversation back when it first happened. Now if he runs he'll have to have this troubling situation brought up all over again.
But in the end, we should not judge our elected representatives solely on the positives and negatives of their personal life..
"This will have a negative effect on the GOP attempts to take back this seat."
I never saw a Democrat lose because Bill Clinton was sneaking sex with Monica Lewinsky in the White House. To this day, Mr. Clinton is one of the most popular political figures on the planet.
If there is a "negative effect" to be had, it will ONLY be on Mr. Fossella - not the GOP at large or our efforts to take back that seat...
And Stephanie, please look at the rest of that site before trying to make a judgment about Fossella based on it - it's mostly pictures of buff homosexuals and certainly they were never fans of Mr. Fossella before, during or after his controversy...
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