A Fair and Balanced look at Ulster County Politics. Got a tip? E-mail the Blaber Tip Line : jeremyblaber@yahoo.com
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Coming Tonight My Endorsements for Tuesday's Election
NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo (Row E, WFP line)
US Senate: Charles Schumer
US Senate : Kirstin Gilibrand
NYS Attorney General: Eric Schneiderman
NYS Comptroller : Tom DiNapoli
**NYS Assembly 101st (the most important race) Kevin Cahill please help reelect this great public servant****
NYS Assembly 103rd Marc Molinaro
Ulster County Comptroller : Elliott Auerbach
Ulster County Sheriff : Paul Van Blarcum
NYS Senate 40th Greg Ball
US Congress 22nd Maurice Hinchey
US Congress 20th Scott Murphy
US Congress 19th John Hall
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Supervisor Quigley In His Own Words
warning this contains very explicit language
Last week Eric Kitchen attacked Ulster Democrats and former Supervisor Nick Woerner in what now has become t-shirt gate. I wrote a factual post defending former Supervor Woerner and attacking Republican councilman Eric Kitchen. I made a point to mention in that post that Kitchen should be more like Supervisor Quigley and keep partisan politics out of town board meetings. Matter of fact this blog has been very friendly to Jim Quigley, I have refused negative comments bashing the Supervisor and have done positive stories on his administration. While Quigley is a Republican, I have had in the past a close friendship with him.
However, I would say 10-15 minutes of me putting up the post about Kitchen, he called me and left a pretty harsh voicemail..to put it mildly. I took the down the post and attempted to call the Supervisor to explain my position. He wouldn't take my call. That's his choice, I wrestled with posting this voicemail but I think it's important. An elected official should NEVER try to stifle the free flow of information. The town of Ulster is not owned by Jim Quigley, he was elected by the people to run the town and when a Councilman makes controversial remarks and accusations at a public meeting you can bet people are going to talk about it.
The fact of the matter is Eric Kitchen was wrong and what he said in the newspaper was simply untrue and I called him out on it. It's regretful Supervisor Quigley feels that I do not have a right to comment on town politics.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
From Chairman Parete
Editor & news staff
rhetoric in the recent Comptrollers debate. Calling Elliot Auerbach
an “incompetent lackey” is way over the top and unacceptable. Civility and good
manners are something Fawn is clearly lacking.
Daily Freeman (Ulster County Unveils Final Plan for Jail) on March 21,2002. "This
jail's been called a 'megajail' by some of its critics. Only someone who
has absolutely no understanding, or someone who is grandstanding, could possibly
call this a megajail," said county Legislator Fawn
Tantillo, R-New Paltz, who chairs the jail oversight committee.
Fawn Tantillo was self appointed cheerleader for this 100 million dollar
fiasco.She clearly had no comprehension how deeply in over her head she was. She
has yet to own up to her responsibility for this taxpayers nightmare.
I would have thought by now she would have apologized to the citizens of Ulster
County.
and said we were playing politics. In this regard, I must ask Fawn, in hind
sight, was she playing politics, or just simply incompetent?
845-657-8500
Monday, October 25, 2010
Give Matt Damon His 40TH Birthday Wish Vote Working Families!!
Please join me in granting Matt Damon's birthday wish by voting on the Working Families Party line next Tuesday. WFP is located on Row E on the ballot. I encourage Democrats and Republicans to vote your values and make your vote count. It's especially important to vote Row E in the race for Governor.
Auerbach Recieves Strong Support From Labor
“We welcome these endorsements as recognition for our focus on working men and women throughout Ulster County as we strive to safeguard their tax dollars from waste and inefficiency,” the Comptroller said.
Paul Ellis-Graham, President of the Labor Federation, thanked Auerbach for his “participation in (their) endorsement process,” and noted that the endorsement resulted from “careful consideration of (his) position on key labor issues that affect working families.”
The CSEA endorsement acknowledges Mr. Auerbach’s “interests in the issues affecting public workers and your commitment to addressing the needs of all hardworking men and women” throughout the County, according to Region President Billy Riccaldo.
The Fire Fighters Association resulted from Mr. Auerbach’s participation in a Candidate Night meeting and a vote from its members, according to Michael Schabot, Secretary, Local 461
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Comptroller Auerbach and Sheriff Van Blarcum Endorsed by Daily Freeman
Read the editorial here : Comptroller Auerbach Editorial
Friday, October 22, 2010
Poll Shows Hinchey Way Ahead!!!!!
Democrats are circulating a new poll showing Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) with a double-digit lead over his Republican opponent, George Phillips in upstate New York's 22nd congressional district.
"We are confident that most of these Democrats and some of the blanks will break for Congressman Hinchey," said the memo from David Scott of Abacus Associates. "In light of these results, while the congressman will see a decreased margin of victory compared with recent elections, he should still win comfortably."
-- Bennett Roth
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Watchdog Auerbach Looking Pretty Good!!!
Posted by O.U. at 5:00 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Rooney Bombs In Front Of POJO Editorial Board
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Mike Hein to business leaders: No Tax Increase!
Turns out Hinchey is right, Freeman reporter full of baloney!
Hinchey found some support for one of his denials at the Monday gathering from YNN reporter-videographer Doug Short, who witnessed Thursday's confrontation.
Short said that there was no question that Hinchey did not choke or try to choke Kemble, who has alleged on a website that the congressman "put his hands on my throat."
Short said the congressman "went right over to Kemble" after telling him to shut up and the two "got in each other's faces."
Short said he saw some "finger-wagging" on Hinchey's part, but could not be sure if the congressman ever touched or poked the reporter.
In the first video on YNN that has gotten so much attention, Maurice Hinchey asks Bill Kimble in response to a ridiculous question that the Congressman had answered many times previously: What are you talking about? Are you still as deceptive as you have always been? And then Hinchey tells Kimble that he's full of baloney.
Kimble's latest claim in the freeman today that Maurice Hinchey assaulted him before the debate, lol, I think we can say with full certainty that YES, Kimble is as deceptive as he has always been and he is indeed full of baloney on his version of what happened. We can also say that he should probably shut up and stop with his vendetta against our Congressman. Maybe Mr. Kimble's idol is that Blair guy from the NY Times, I just do not understand why he thinks he can make stuff up.
While everyone agrees there was a heated argument between the Congressman and Kimble, no one seemed to see Maurice assault Kimble. The YNN reporter and several other witnesses saw Hinchey and Kimble arguing but no one saw Hinchey put his hands on Kimble's neck, as Kimble claims.
Why? It didn't happen. No tv reporter would walk away from a confrontation that involves a Congresssman, it's just too juicy. The tv reporter watched and saw what happened and said point blank, Mr. Kimble's version of events are not what I witnessed.
Furthermore, the argument happened before the debate. Kimble covered the debate. So we are to believe that Kimble was assaulted and than went into the debate like nothing happened and covered the story?
Give me a break! Sounds to me like Bill Kimble is full of baloney!
Chipman's Uphill Battle
Friday, October 15, 2010
NY's 22nd Turns Nasty, Congressman Hinchey Being Targeted
Congressman Maurice Hinchey is under attack in what are clearly desperate last minute attacks to try and unseat the 9 term congressman.
First let me start out by saying Bill Kimble should be fired from the Freeman. There is a video of Maurice Hinchey and Bill Kimble arguing that I will post above. In the video Congressman Hinchey is annoyed by the set up style questions this reporter is asking him and Hinchey calls him out on it. Pretty much saying you have no credibility, you have ran untrue lies about me in the past and I want to talk to this other journalist that wants to conduct an actual interview. Bill Kimble persists to harass Congressman Hinchey and Hinchey tells him forcefully to shut up, kudos to Maurice.
Obviously that did not sit well with Mr. Kimble who wrote a very nasty hatchet piece on the Congressman's performance in the debate trying to depict him as if he was old, anyone that knows Maurice knows well that he is very competent and on the top of his game. Kimble is taking his vendetta a step further claiming there was a physical altercation between the two men prompted by the Congressman. This of course is untrue, Kimble continued to harass Hinchey even after the interview and there was a heated conversation. Congressman Hinchey took the high road and walked away from Kimble who was looking for a fight.
If what Kimble said were true, why would he omit that from the original story in the Freeman,?Hey that would be big news, no? A better question why would he feel that he could write an impartial story on the debate after all that? Bill Kimble betrayed and deceived the Freeman readership today to try and tarnish our Congressman and that is unacceptable.
George Phillips who is the Republican candidate for Congress is running ads now paid for a consulting firm owned by Karl Rove. This firm has dedicated over 300 thousand dollars to do it's best to smear Congressman Hinchey.
George Phillips also said in an interview with capital tonight that he fully supports Carl Paladino to be Governor of New York State.
Do we really want a Congressman like George Phillips who accepts money from Karl Rove and thinks Carl Paladino would be a great Governor???
One should be judged by the company he keeps. This is a no brainer Maurice Hinchey needs to be reelected in November. Hinchey is our Congressman and has always been there for us in Washington never afraid to back down from a tough issue. Broome County you can keep Mr.Phillips, Ulster County and the rest of the 22nd don't want him.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Facebook Wars
Robin's comments are in response to a picture of Robin Yess that was tagged to her facebook page by activist Billiam Van Roestenberg, that contained this caption: Robin Yess the Ulster County republican Chair is horrible she thinks wack-job teabagger paladino is "great!" Robin and her husband Lou Yess have a terrible contracting company where they rip off Hudson Valley residents shoddy unfinished work they never finish they lie and shakedown people - nice republicans ha?
Billiam's comments are out of line. I like Billiam but give me a break, making baseless accusations about a persons business and family is just over the top. I'm not sure what Guy Kemp's involvement was but he gave me such a hard time during the primary for attorney general that we don't speak anymore.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Fawn Tantillo, You Just Can't Trust Her
Tantillo already voiced her support for Cuomo...remember the uproar when she attended the rally in NP and then publicly declared her support? Maybe she knew something the republicans didn't.
12:44 PM
Paladino Redux: Makes Campaign Stops In New Paltz and Kingston
Billiam Van Rostenberg, who was the first person ever to participate in a same sex marriage in NYS, greets Mr. Paladino in New Paltz, the same town he was married just a few years ago.
This is really a great picture and shows the very poor timing of Paladino's comments and reminds us the importance of not discriminating against another human being because they are different than you.
I will give Carl Paladino credit he has guts, I can't say that if I were him I would of went to New Paltz the day after a scandal broke involving remarks Paladino made that were viewed as bigoted toward the gay community.
But this morning Carl Paladino was in New Paltz, a very progressive town that was home to the first same sex marriages ever performed in New York state. No surprise, Paladino was greeted with protesters that from what I hear far out numbered supporters.
“I am concerned with the future for all our citizens, gay, straight, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim and Agnostic,” Paladino said.
“Although I am not perfect I do admit my mistakes. I will reach out to leaders of the gay community to educate me on how to better represent my support for the rights of all citizens.”
“If elected as your governor I will stand and fight for all gay New Yorkers rights. I ask you for forgiveness on my poorly chosen words and the publication by others not involved with our campaign of unredacted script that did not reflect my oral statement or match my personal feelings.”
Mr. Paladino also stopped in Kingston, taking a tour of the uptown business district.
Photos courtesy of Dan Torres.
Monday, October 11, 2010
A Very Simple Question
However, Mr. Paladino's comments regarding gay Americans are completely unacceptable and dangerous. I will not vote for a candidate that discriminates against anyone because of their race, gender or sexual orientation. That is just where I draw the line, I can be pretty edgy but will never attack or discriminate against someone for political gain.
I ask this question to the following candidates: Mr. Rooney, Mr. Kirwin, Senator Larkin, Senator Bonacic, Mr. Goodwin and Mrs. Tantillo ... after the comments made by your party's nominee for Governor will you be supporting him in November?
I really am proud of my good friend Assemblyman Ball, who is in a tight race to fill Senator Liebell's seat, for having the courage to come out against Carl Paladino's comments. Good for Assemblyman Ball!!
Saturday, October 09, 2010
RIP HARRY CASTIGLIONE
President Bill Clinton to stump for Hinchey in Binghamton
Friday, October 08, 2010
Cowboy Rooney Trying To Buy The 101st!!!!
Friday, October 01, 2010
Hein Budget Wizardry Leaves GOP Speechless
Former candidate for Governor and King of All Media Backs Cuomo for Governor
Howard said he knew this guy was whacked out of his skull just by looking at his raccoon eyes. He said that Elvis' mother had those too. Howard said the guy has to get some sleep or something. Howard said Elvis' mother was whacked out of her skull and so is this guy. Howard asked who the hell this guy thinks he is.
Howard said he's voting for Cuomo. It's as easy as that. Howard said when he sees a guy that whacked out he's not going to vote for him. Howard said you can't be running around yelling and cursing when reporters ask you a question. He said it shows that you're out of your mind. Howard said the guy is irrational.