From where I come in politics there is something called “paying dues”; it’s the reason I didn’t vote for Hilary Clinton in the general election of 2000. Although I endorsed her (and voted for her) in the primary that year, when the general election came I found her wanting. To me, the idea of moving into the state and immediately running for senate was revolting: so yes, I went with Rick Lazio (one of the few times I have voted Republican in my life).
Hilary ran all around the state on a “listening tour”, which I thought was an insult to my intelligence. Plus, I saw her candidacy as purely a stepping stone to a presidential run; and that was a turn off. So if I couldn’t vote for Hilary Clinton (a brilliant woman on many many levels), where the bleep is Harold Ford going with this trial balloon he has been floating for months now? Can you simply pack up a U-HAUL truck one morning, drive a thousand or so miles to New York, and immediately announce that you are contemplating a run for federal office from this state? Gimme a break! There are at least a million people better qualified to represent New York in the senate than this carpetbagger.
There is no rationale for a Ford candidacy. And I say this as someone who really wished Kirsten Gillibrand had gotten a primary from one of the many female electeds we have here in NY (especially Carolyn Maloney). Even now, I would still vote for Liz Krueger or Rep. McCarthy over Gillibrand. KG is wishy- washy. She is also very convenient with her new positions. I hate politicians who suddenly wake up one morning and throw off all their hard held positions, in order to move up the food chain. I suspect she could be a phony.
And yet I see no reason for Harold Ford’s run unless he is a republican in democrat’s clothing; or worse yet, a right-wing plant looking to soften up Gillibrand in a bruising primary (more than she already is), so that Repugs can win this seat.
Let me even go further.
I don’t think Chuck Schumer is a sure thing for re-election next time around, once former NY Governor George Pataki challenges him. So there: we democrats can be in trouble in New York (just as in Massachusetts last week).
We all need to step back as democrats and see the bigger picture: it’s all about President Barack Obama and his congressional agenda. We cannot afford to hemorrhage more seats in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Ford’s core positions -a la his congressional voting record- are as bad (if not worse) than KG’s. Suddenly they are both coming to the right places on immigration. Suddenly they have both discovered “gay rights” (and I say this as someone still unsure about same sex marriage; but definitely committed to civil-unions). Suddenly they have both discovered New York City and its unique issues. Suddenly they are going to discover the need for tougher gun-control laws. And so on and so on and so on: fixing their positions to suit city democrats in order to strengthen their hand in a primary. They are both disingenuous -HF and KG.
But Kirsten Gillibrand is from upstate New York, and as far as I know she is a born and bred New Yorker; and given that upstate needs as much help as downstate, I rather take my chances with her, than go with “Pretty Boy Ford” – a man who doesn’t even know where the Empire State building is.
KG is in a much better position to help our troubled state than Harold Ford: so later for this former Tennessee-hillbilly. Why we are even entertaining his opportunistic candidacy is beyond me. Until he buys some rice and peas at Sylvia’s, or purchases a roti at Gloria’s, I would give him no solace. And even then it still won’t be enough for me. He is at least five years away from running for office here. He needs to take a number and wait his friggin turn (if he ever deserves one). Living a few months on the city’s upper-west side doesn’t qualify you for a senate run: it doesn’t.
You have paid no dues in New York Harold; none. Making a few comments on MSNBCs “Morning Joe” doesn’t really count. And if our undocumented and illegal-mayor (Michael Bloomberg) put you up to this: worse yet. And please don’t let me see you show up on Eastern Parkway on Labor Day: at least not as a candidate. And if you do, I will throw a lot of white powder on you. You’ve been warned.
Stay tuned-in folks.