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H2O Man

(73,320 posts)
Wed Aug 15, 2018, 01:17 PM Aug 2018

A Tenney for Your Thoughts

There has been some interesting news regarding the race in New York State's 22nd Congressional District in the past 36 hours. Yesterday, for example, self-identified “Tea Party” republican Claudia Tenney “postponed” a campaign stop in Norwich, Chenango County's seat, for the second time in a week. Her official reason was because of “public safety” – although Norwich is overwhelmingly republican, she was concerned about the protest rally planned to greet her.

https://www.evesun.com/news/stories/2018-08-14/29846/Tenney-postpones-Norwich-visit-after-protest-threat/

Why, you might be asking, would a republican member of the House of Representatives be so concerned about public safety in a place that has a City Police force, the sheriff's department, and a State Police station? Perhaps “public safety” isn't the reason? Let's look closer.

Some of you may remember Tenney for her curious claim that mass murderers are Democrats. Yes, she has gotten her insights from watching Alex Jones. This has not made her wildly popular with the establishment republicans in the district. Nor has her extreme-right stances on issues that impact the communities in our region. More, the local government officials – mostly republicans – are frustrated by her ignoring their attempts to even communicate with her. She has been too busy rehearsing for a role in the Trump administration.

I like to look at numbers. In 2016, Trump carried our district by 16%. Tenney won the seat vacated by Richard Hanna by 6%. Thus, about one in ten Trump voters did not support her. Hanna, a moderate republican – the type that Democrats in our district were able to work with on some issues – has endorsed Anthony Brindisi. In the link below, Hanna addresses the reasons that Tenney has become increasingly unpopular with republicans since she took office:

https://www.ucpublicaffairs.com/home/2018/2/23/ny-22-minute-richard-hanna-provides-scathing-accessment-of-tenney-by-luke-perry

Up until her fund-raiser with Trump earlier this week, Tenney had been running commercials attempting to discredit Brindisi by claiming he is a puppet for Nancy Pelosi. At a campaign meeting in Chenango County on Sunday, a couple of people raised the issue of if Nancy should maintain her leadership position in 2019. One brought the Binghamton newspaper, and read a letter-to-the-editor that quoted Tenney's position. I pointed out that because this is a republican talking point, we should all ignore it. When Anthony faces questions about Rep. Pelosi, he should note that she is not a candidate in the 22nd, and pivot to the issues most important to our district.

I noted that while the internet has changed where many people get their news, that newspapers are still important. And, during campaign season, that sales increase, and the letters-to-the-editor become the most read part of the newspapers. Hence, even a relatively small group of people can organize a coordinated letter-to-the-editor campaign aimed at every newspaper in the district. Usually, these are to energize the base, and attract the support of undecided independents. In this case, it will also be to peel republican votes from Tenney.

Luckily, Tenney is helping to make this easier. Since meeting with Trump, she has switched from talking against Rep. Pelosi, to claiming that Brandisi is “far too close to organized crime” to be elected. (The Daily Star; Oneonta, NY; Aug 14, 2018; “Trump treks upstate to back GOP incumbents; pages 1-2.) When asked to back her claim, she said that Anthony's elderly father, also a lawyer, had once represented a person reputed to be a mobster. This was before Anthony was born, a fact that seems to be stretching the “far too close” claim a tad too far. It's this type of thing that resulted in the Oneida County Executive – a republican – to call Tenney a “national embarrassment.”

Tenney is now scheduled to appear in Norwich next Sunday. I hope she actually does. From the phone calls and e-mails that I've had today, I know there will be a very large crowd waiting for her.

Fight the Good Fight!
H2O Man

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A Tenney for Your Thoughts (Original Post) H2O Man Aug 2018 OP
A Pelosi Puppet..... Crutchez_CuiBono Aug 2018 #1
Thank you. H2O Man Aug 2018 #5
Brought me to mind of Allan Eckert and his American History Novels. Crutchez_CuiBono Aug 2018 #7
I have his book H2O Man Aug 2018 #8
When Republicans bring up Nancy Pelosi, why aren't Democrats incorporating Jim Jordan world wide wally Aug 2018 #2
I love it!!! H2O Man Aug 2018 #3
Please do! world wide wally Aug 2018 #4
Thank you! H2O Man Aug 2018 #6
She seems like a real prize coeur_de_lion Aug 2018 #9
She looks almost H2O Man Aug 2018 #10

Crutchez_CuiBono

(7,725 posts)
1. A Pelosi Puppet.....
Wed Aug 15, 2018, 01:24 PM
Aug 2018

But Putins is fine. This all can get much worse. When the power goes out and the missiles start flying in from Red Subs in the Atlantic and Pacific, maybe dt can meet w putin in a tunnel somewhere and work out how the 1980s video tape of trump in a tu tu in moscow can be hushed up again. Guess what dt? Nobody cares...go away. We'll certainly forgive you when you resign. Good news for dt will be that 1/2 of America s population will be gone so he doesn't have to suffer the shame of HIS bad choices. As it is now...340 million Americans have to suffer to hide whatever the ding dong did while living off his parents money before Dad died. We are ALL paying so dt...who never thought he'd win...won't be embarrassed by photos etc of something HE did willingly. It's not the role of Americans to defend the honor of a guy who cheated w the enemy to get elected bc HE thinks he's such a great entertainer. I'm BEYOND through with dt and all the shitbirds who came with him.

H2O Man

(73,320 posts)
5. Thank you.
Wed Aug 15, 2018, 02:42 PM
Aug 2018

I generally avoid conversations -- which happen here more than in day-to-day life -- about Nancy Pelosi. Partly because I think I've been raised with some different cultural influences, I suspect that I see it differently than most people. A lot of the concepts about democracy and the organization of the federal government came from the Haudenosaunee, or Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy. And the leadership roles from them have some concepts that our Founding Fathers left out, because they clashed with the belief systems of white men at the time.

Each nation had a Council of Chiefs, and these combined to form the Grand Council. Each Clan within each nation was represented by men who were appointed by the Clan Mothers. And the Clan Mother could "de-horn," that chief, meaning remove him from office. The Clan Mother was (is) generally the oldest woman in the clan.

There were two "levels" of chiefs: the older, more experienced men, or "Wisdom Keepers," and the younger, often more energetic men, or the "Faith Keepers." These are distinct, yet one is not more powerful than the other. They balance.

Of course, we have progressed to where both men and women can hold any political office. That doesn't mean that we have actual equality, of course. Because just as race is an issue in our society, so is sex and age. We need to find that balance. We need to respect one another -- excepting, of course, people like Trump who are 100% toxic.

I like and respect Nancy Pelosi. There have been some issues where I have disagreed with her. But I try to keep in mind that she has to work with the team of Democrats that are there. If we get a majority in the House, it would be a team with some significant people who are from a different generation. That's a good thing. It will be distinct from the current team, in terms of potential power.

After the elections in November, if people want to discuss her leadership role, that's fine. But focus on what is best for the party, and why one supports a change or not support one.

Crutchez_CuiBono

(7,725 posts)
7. Brought me to mind of Allan Eckert and his American History Novels.
Wed Aug 15, 2018, 02:51 PM
Aug 2018

I read them all evry 10 years or so. They literally are falling apart.
You're welcome. The weekends coming!

H2O Man

(73,320 posts)
8. I have his book
Wed Aug 15, 2018, 06:57 PM
Aug 2018

"A Sorrow in Our Heart: The Life of Tecumseh." Some critics were unhappy with the book, but I think it's really good.

I've been communicating with a number of friends and associates about the scheduled Tenney rally in Norwich on Sunday. Many of them are registered as independents. They dislike Tenney. And when I tell them that Brindisi is an outstanding Democrat, who deserves their support, they take it seriously.

world wide wally

(21,719 posts)
2. When Republicans bring up Nancy Pelosi, why aren't Democrats incorporating Jim Jordan
Wed Aug 15, 2018, 02:11 PM
Aug 2018

into their responses?

H2O Man

(73,320 posts)
3. I love it!!!
Wed Aug 15, 2018, 02:21 PM
Aug 2018

I want to share this with the three congressional campaigns I'm working with, if you don't mind.

coeur_de_lion

(3,664 posts)
9. She seems like a real prize
Wed Aug 15, 2018, 07:14 PM
Aug 2018

How any woman could back trump is beyond me.

Only women who think very little of themselves could possibly vote for him never mind endorse him for president.

She *looks* perfectly normal. Looks are so deceiving.

H2O Man

(73,320 posts)
10. She looks almost
Wed Aug 15, 2018, 07:42 PM
Aug 2018

human. Until she opens her mouth. Then it is obvious that she was produced by the very same evil scientists that created Betsy DeVos. It's almost kind of scary that these non-organic robots walk among us.

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