NY-Gov: New Yorkers Like To Do It Steamroller-Style

by: James L.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 1:53 PM EST

New York State voters approve 61 - 11 percent of the job Gov. Eliot Spitzer is doing and say 61 - 24 percent that his "Steamroller Style" is good for the people, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

If there was ever any question that New Yorkers had doubts with Governor Spitzer's aggressive agenda for progressive reform in the face of a slow-moving legislature, this should set the record straight:

Voters disapprove 48 - 31 percent of the job the State Legislature is doing, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver gets a negative 28 - 37 percent score, while Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno gets a negative 25 - 39 percent rating, among the lowest ratings for these leaders.

With negatives like those, Silver and Bruno could stand to learn a thing or two from the 'Roller.

NY-SD7: Why a Local Race in New York Matters to You!

by: NYBri

Sun Jan 28, 2007 at 4:51 PM EST

There have been a number of diaries posted here recently about a special election (and a related fundraiser/blograiser) scheduled to take place in New York's Seventh Senatorial District on February 6th. The contenders are Craig Johnson, the Democrat, and Maureen O'Connell, a Republican. A Democratic win in this election is considered predictive of whether the state Senate will flip to the Democrats for the first time, essentially, since 1932. The state Senate, which Theodore Roosevelt quipped was 'constitutionally Republican', is colloquially known here as 'the place where good legislation goes to die'.

More after the jump....

"Raise New York", a Blograiser For Craig Johnson With Governor Eliot Spitzer

by: lipris

Thu Jan 18, 2007 at 2:55 PM EST

We are very, very excited to announce "Raise New York", a "blograiser" for SSD-07 candidate Craig Johnson featuring Governor Eliot Spitzer! And when I say "we", I am referring to, amongst many others, The Daily Gotham, Rochester Turning, Democracy In Albany, onNYTurf, WNYMedia.net, Swing State Project and, of course, us here at TAP.

Raise New York will take place on Thursday, February 1st at Prey in NYC. The event will also be liveblogged here and at Daily Gotham and DailyKos. There will be photos, audio and video in near real time for those who for whatever reason can't attend in person. It's gonna be a hoot.

What is so exciting about this event for me is that, besides raising some much needed money for Craig Johnson, it represents a real opportunity for partnership building between the progressive net/grassroots and a state Dem Party establishment  that hasn't always been so interested in such things. There exists some very real potential for some mending of fences and and some trust building amongst all these groups as they fight for a common goal, namely reforming our joke of a state government.

The very nature of how this event came about is unprecedented as far as I can tell. This has never been done, or done in this way, ever before.

It also represents something potentially very special for the progressive NY blogosphere. It's a demonstration that we can and will work together towards that common goal when we choose to do so. That's never happened before and these new relationships could turn into something pretty freaking amazing. In fact, this may be what I find  most exciting.

So please join us for this amazing event! Join us in person or online and let's do all we can to make ol' Joe Bruno's majority one seat more tenuous.