Posted on 04/01/2010 3:12:59 PM PDT by autumnraine
In an unwelcome bit of news for the GOP, New York governor David Paterson has announced that he would not call a special election to fill the House seat left vacant by former Democratic Rep. Eric Massa.
Massa resigned last month amid in ethics investigation into accusations that he sexually harassed male members of his staff and subsequently acknowledged groping a staffer non-sexually.
Paterson had initially vowed to call a special election to replace Massa before the midterm elections in November. But his spokeswoman said that the embattled Democratic governor would not do so, citing the cost to taxpayers in the cash-strapped state.
"We have some serious concerns about the financial impact that a special election could have on the county level, especially because those counties are facing the same fiscal crisis that the state is facing," Maggie McKeon said in an e-mail to Gannett News Service.
Republicans saw Massa's Corning, New York-area seat as a likely GOP pickup that they hoped would have generate momentum for the party heading into the midterm elections. John McCain won the district over Barack Obama by a slim margin in 2008, and Republicans have a 46,000 edge in voter registration there, according to Hotline on Call. Massa lost in his run for the seat in 2006.
Paterson last year called two special elections. One was for the seat formerly held by Kirsten Gillibrand, who he appointed to the Senate; the other was for the seat previously held by John McHugh, now secretary of the Army. (That later election gave us the Doug Hoffman run that was seen as the first test of the Tea Party movement.)
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
And maybe it wasn't such a bad decision after all. New York is going to lose at least 1-2 seats in Congress after the 2010 census, so they might as well get used to the loss of representation.
Thx! Would we need a legal eagle to do the writ thing, or is this something we could gin up on some place like legalzoom.com and file ourselves?
We're being denied representation in the House. Now. In the very body where all bloody tax bills have to dang well originate.
For pete's sake, I don't care if our district elects a 'Rat, Pubbie, or a member of some party nobody's ever heard of.
We are entitled to representation in the House.
Technically you could do it yourselves, but that would be very ill advised. Please don’t do it pro se.
Seek an attorney who is experienced in federal law, and preferably one who is local.
This is a trial balloon to test delayed elections. It follows on the relatively weak response of the GOP on seating Scot Brown, and allowing the appointed chair warmer to continue in office during that interval.
It is better to spend ink and money now than blood later.
Massa’s seat can go (R). Several leading analysts are projecting this seat as either a toss up or leans R.
Support the R candidate, Tom Reed:
NY 29-(Open Seat formerly held by Eric Massa):
*Tom Reed, http://www.tomreedforcongress.com/
And then go on and have a nice life. I have no intention of wasting any more time in a public discourse with you.
Koon lambastes Democratic leadership, quits congressional race
Note to Mr. Koon: Lovely party you've got there.
I'll make some calls today. If I can get anywhere, I'll keep folks posted.
And why the heck isn’t the state GOP, acronymic oxymoron that it is, going for a writ of mandamus?!
IIRC, the gov is required by law to set the date for a special election within 30 to 40 days of the seat becoming vacant.
So the clock is ticking.
Note to the state GOP: Have that writ ready to go if the gov refuses to meet his obligation, or we will.
Paterson woes weigh on replacing Massa
...the State Board of Elections (now there's a trustworthy bunch) says that the gov isn't required to hold a special election.
We need a dang lawyer.
BTTT.
Democratic candidates down to 3
First comment says it all to my mind.
Note to the local 'Rats: Hey, guys, my offer's still open. I'd be more than happy to run on your ticket. I've been a registered 'Rat for decades.
BTTT.
DO IT!!!! If we can have an Arlen Spector, they can have a mewzilla!! LOL
So, without representation the people of that district do not need to pay federal taxes?
I don't understand your "point".. Are you saying that the Republicans should have looked up at the sky and whistled nonchalantly? And that way the rats could have been taken by surprise?
I don’t understand your “point”.. Are you saying that the Republicans should have looked up at the sky and whistled nonchalantly? And that way the rats could have been taken by surprise?”
Nope...my “point” if we are speaking in quotes for certain terms, was that we really don’t need to publicize what we should and shouldn’t do, that we really don’t need to form a circular firing squad and squabble about what we should and shouldn’t think and try to hand the other coach our playbook every Weds. afternoon...
That is the “point” of “my opinion.”
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