Posted on 11/08/2006 10:08:21 AM PST by freedomdefender
John Hall, leader of the rock group Orleans that recorded such hits as "Still the One" and "Dance With Me," has won a stunning upset in his race for Congress in upstate New York, narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Sue Kelly 51%-49%.
Hall's views on the differences between political and music journalists were recently profiled on E&P Online. At one point, he had to struggle to be taken seriously by the press as a policy man. He ended up gaining the endorsements of all four top dailies in his district.
The upset was more surprising, as this contest was never on the national Democratic Party's list of most likely pickups.
Hall closed his victory speech by singing Steven Van Zandt's song "I Am A Patriot." Numerous musicians played benefits for Hall throughout the campaign, though he was still badly outspent by his opponent. They included Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, Pete Seeger and Jackson Browne.
Hall, who ran as an antiwar candidate, is also an environmental activist and drew wide labor backing. He was a key organizer of the fabled "No Nukes" concert and movie in 1979.
He recently appeared on the Colbert Report and fared well, even singing "Still the One" with the host, in an appearance that was seen as drawing much interest in the campaign.
...and no, that's neither Daryl Hall nor John Oates.
1994 gave you Congresscritter Sonny Bono
2006 gives you another has been music man.
Those were some catchy good old AM hits, back when they still played music on AM.
Another hippy off to congress. He'll fit right in.
Jon Hall is a socialist, just like his music pals. I have interviewed every one mentioned in this article.
Another Democratic tower of jello.
He'll be gone in two years. Promise.
This district is next door to me. I got the impression his candidacy was not being taken seriously. Shows how much I know.
Beat you by 10 seconds.
Seems like they could won races with anybody this time. Cheesy muscians and bad quarterbacks knocking off incumbants.
Think nothing of it, Capt. Ron. You weren't alone!
I wonder how fast Mr. Hall will vote to end funding for the war in Iraq?
Jon sure was wrong on the nuclear freeze question. Hey, nobody's perfect!
Keep smiling. All will be well. Promise.
-Rex
Plus, I was remembering that Hall & Oates had the "Philadelphia sound".
Now Sue Kelly's gone? Zelig saw one of her campaign commercials attacking John Hall for owning mutual funds (so....???). Said it was the stupidest campaign commercial he had ever seen and said Sue Kelly should be ashamed...
I'm holding you to that!
Eons ago, I watched some pre-election Sunday show. The pundits didn't take Jesse Ventura seriously, either.
Well Kalifornia has Arnold.
Yesterday was a bad day to be a Republican and a good day to be a Democrat - even a hippie Democrat.
They just fired rummy and brought back some Neo Isolationist has been from Bush 1. We just surrendered
I think this guy got swepat along with the tide. He's probably as surprised as anyone.
That commercail was ridiculous. She also distanced herself from the Republican Party and the President (saying that the party did not like her for her stances) and bashed Wal-Mart as well.
And I had to waste my vote on this woman, because the alternative was worst. Shoot myself in the right foot or left?
At this point, all I can say is "good riddance."
I know. Bush has caved. He sounds terrible to me on the radio. He actually still believes they are going to work with him. Fat chance George W. You had your chance. YOU and THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THREW CONSERVATIVES UNDER THE BUS. Now YOU AND CONSERVATIVES are going to pay for it. Thanks a lot. Since you are taking resignations from cabinet members, maybe your own might be thought about. If you are giving into the commies, you are not my president. These SOB's ARE NOT GOING TO WORK WITH YOU FOOL!! Get a grip, they are not going to work with you.
He's about as Left wing as they come. This COngress should get interesting.
Sono Bono was the most articulate charismatic person the conservatives had going for them. I wish he was still around.
Breaking on Drudge:
Bush to Appoint The Village People to the SCOTUS.
Are the fellas in this picture trying to TELL us something?
Don't feel bad... we in Connecticut had to waste our votes on Joe Lieberman to spare the country from Red Ned Lamont. Believe me, that is one thing I am celebrating today... Ned Lamont came on like a ton of bricks, but - thank God - faded in a wimper.
And this is what disappoints me so much about the GOP here in the NE. Can't they find one articulate, educated person to put forth the issues and explain it to the electorate? We have not had a viable Republican candidate in NYS since G-d nows when. They have all been corrupt, or out of their league, or just plain bad.
I do not think the trend will continue if the GOP just gets the message out properly. Once you cross mid-way through Westchester County and move northward, you have the typical middle-calss family, two parents working, 2.5 kids. You are not going to get these votes unless you tell them the truth about tax cuts, pro-life issues and an end to government handouts.
Instead, the candidates I see running in these districts paint themselves as Dummocrat Lite, and who is going to vote for that when the other party is telling you that they represent your interests better (when their real intention is to take from you for the common good).
We've hit bottom, and NY State is about to get what it deserves..BTW.wonder what Spitzer will do about Hevesi?
Due to a lack of sleep I first read this title as "John Rocker elected . . .". I need a nap.
You mean they aren't there already?
Couldn't agree more with zelig as her campaign ad had us scratching our heads. Kelly was very popular here and her loss came as a shock, especially after listening to John Hall's liberal agenda and anti-war rhetoric during a local candidates forum. It's obvious the dems have made some headway in what was once a republican stronghold. When Hillary ran in 2000 there were no campaign signs to be found. That is no longer the case.
Could it be because maybe, just maybe, the MSM hates us?
Me too.
As a child, I always found that album cover disturbing.
I was running around all over Westchester last week, and was amazed by how few campaign signs I saw for anybody in any race for any party. It was as if there wasn't a single race that was truly up for grabs. Except for running into State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin at the White Plains train station on Friday, I didn't see anyone campaigning at all. (And I don't know why Paulin bothered; she won with 72% of the vote.)
There's just no way around it: The GOP infrastructure in New York State is close to nonexistent, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why fixing this isn't issue number 1 for the RNC.
We lost John Sweeney too..
I had read over the weekend in Novak's column that Sue Kelly was on the ropes but to a has been rocker?????? What are they smoking over there?
God, I am old.
I too am a former NYer....and I'll be honest, when NYC gets hit again by terrorists, this time I'll just shrug my shoulders and go on with whatever I was doing. It's cold, but I'm through caring. Screw them in NY. Don't care.
Oh yeah! I didn't even notice the pic had been altered. I have no idea who that is in the photo.
The MSM/DNC/Hollywood/and Academia run this country and have for 40 years.
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