Kirsten Gillibrand is Paterson's choice to fill Hillary's shoes
Well, it's now official:
Gov. David A. Paterson has selected Representative Kirsten Gillibrand, a 42-year-old congresswoman from upstate who is known for bold political moves and centrist policy positions, to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a person who spoke to the governor early Friday.
Color us thrilled. To pieces. Not.
Gillibrand is a member of conservative Blue Dog caucus. She is the only NY Democrat to have voted against the TARP legislation both times it came before the House, and has supported the renewal of Bush tax cuts.
Gillibrand has also been criticized for her close ties to the NRA. Her positions on gun control are likely to earn Gillibrand a primary challenge from Long Island Representative Carolyn McCarthy.
Gillibrand’s positions on some social issues is, shall we say, a work in progress. Once maligned for her less than clear statements on abortion rights, Gillibrand and her supporters now make it clear that she is solidly pro-choice. Gillibrand has also moved to support full marriage rights for same-sex couples; a position she was much less clear about just weeks ago. (Her new position is stronger than either that of current Senator Chuck Schumer or former Senator Clinton.)
They're certainly not happy at Progressive New York, which noted yesterday:
Wrote one person: "It's a travesty. No matter who gets picked by the governor, he or she will be damaged goods and certainly won't represent me. Yes, that person will have the title, so what? I am not going to think of a person like that as my senator until we vote".
Well, perhaps she'll prove a "work in progress," especially considering she hailed from a conservative, Republican-leaning district. But then she will be vulnerable to flip-flopping charges.
Hope New Yorkers are happy, but no one else is very impressed.
How throwable are they?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Doesn't anyone else think it's a little funny for someone who lives outside a state to express an opinion about that state's choice of Governor or Senator?
Sure, their decisions affect us all, but in the end, they represent the people of that state.
It's not the state's choice of Senator; it's the governor's choice.
And it's ludicrous that NYC should be represented by a blue dog "centrist" from up-state. I think Patterson is just trying to cement support in the state congress for his legislative agenda.
...and, astonishingly, there is more to New York than New York City. In fact the rest of the state is actually much larger than NYC. Since a Senator represents an entire state, and not just one whiny city, why not someone who can read the Second Amendment and isn't a bloody "progressive"?
There are lots of towns, in fact, open land that have bears dominating them that arguably represent a greater expanse of geographical territory than the given population centers of specific states, but do bears represent the interests of the people because of that?
I happen to concur that the 2nd amendment is progressive, progressive attitudes need to concentrate on low-demand instead of government-control in this case, but as I posted below, I couldn't help to notice her apparent helplessness trying to gush out a few words of "thanks" to those who selected her...
Why did she need notes to gush? GW and Palin had the same problem didn't they?
And we all know how bears feel about human gun rights.
Just for the record those bears that "dominate" the land are black bears which are harmless to humans. So please don't shoot them with your assault rifle.
and NOT a City-ite who will work FOR the rest of the state, not ignore it!
Picking Kennedy was the media darling choice...not mine, as a citizen of NY State and proud of the fine job Gilibrand has done for me and my state in DC!
Any more than it is for upstate to be represented by a downstate Senator who writes a blank check for Wall Street but demands that auto execs work for a dollar a year. Somehow those Ford and Chevy workers in Buffalo aren't as important as Manhattan's millionaire bankers.
She is a FANTASTIC choice - someone who has actually WORKED for NY in DC!! She comes back for town meetings all over her district and is head and shoulders above appointing a Kennedy simply because they, like the Bushies, think they have some divine right to take tax payer money for their services!
I'm tired of these "principled" centrists.
Bush tax cuts yes, but no on TARP? Whatever. That's neither liberal or conservative, that's just bad at math.
But there's more.
Kristen Gillibrand opposed the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'
Gillibrand received an 80 out of a 100 rating from the LGBT advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign.
She opposed legislation that would grant equal tax treatment for employer-provided health coverage for domestic partners; opposed legislation to grant same-sex partners of U.S. citizens and permanent residents the same immigration benefits of married couples and opposed legislation to permit state Medicaid programs to cover low-income; HIV-positive Americans before they develop AIDS.
Yellow Dog Democrat? Joe Lieberman is a better Democrat than this woman.
but the truth...I really don't give a shit about this.
9 times out of 10 the Senator from NY is going to vote straightline Democrat...cause if they didn't...all us stinkin', eastern elitist homo liberals with throw a hissy fit and hit them with our purses.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
If she's charged with flip-floppery I have two quotes from one of the right's favourite demagogues. These quotes are handy for all occasions and should be used often, and always attributed to their master, 'The Dick' Cheney:
"So?" and "Go fuck yourself."
me-oww!
It's annoying when liberals whine about legislators that have been conservative in the past becoming more liberal. As long as somebody publicly supports liberal principals now, I don't mind supporting them. We want people to change their minds about these issues (in our favor), so why treat them badly because they took a while to catch up with the rest of us.
how desperate we are for defectors down here in Texicus.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Another frothingly insane Christofascist gun nut. Lovely.
Another frothingly insane Christofascist gun nut...
without them what would the NRA doooo....
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Why does Hillary's seat have to be given to a woman? (b/c it seems to me that Hillary had to be replaced by a woman, while Obama had to be replaced by a black person)
First, it was Kennedy, then she drops out. Now, its this centrist woman.... I'd rather have the most stereotypical looking white male replace Hillary as long as he is actually progressive.
Why did
to fall back on.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
She's great and is adamantly pro-gay and she isn't a gun nut!
Oh well.
Personally I was hoping for a woman. There has to be at least one qualified woman in NY, doesn't there?
But between the wrong woman and a qualified man, I'd pick the qualified man.
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Hear hear!!
As long Hillary's replacement is liberal leaning and progressive thinking race & gender matter not!!
I am really disappointed in Gov. Paterson. He is not the best man for the job, but we're stuck with him for now.
What he did was lothesome and his wife should divorce him and take him to the cleaners, but it had absolutely no bearing on his qualifications to be governor. Its too bad so many americans are still uptight puritans about sex.
Gee, putting her in Clinton's seat - after she just WON re-election rather than appointing someone who has NEVER RUN or WON (Kennedy) who can pick up that nice tax payer pay check?!
I'm GLAD they didn't pick Kennedy.
As a NYer, knowing that most of NY is forest land and has LOTS of hunters has had her lean in their direction (and ends the gun nuts rant "they're going to take away our guns!") seems wise, not imprudent.
The fact that she doesn't lock step with the homosexual agenda represents much of her district. So, she represents the people she was sent to represent in a way they would approve of. What's wrong with that?
For the record, I fixed the problem in viewing the videos: one needs to activate the VC-1 codec (flip the setting to "libavcodec) that's included in the ffdshow package but not active by default in order for them to work with Media Player Classic or other non-WMP programs, or have WMP 11. Apparently they changed the WMV format so WMP 10 and earlier can't play the newer version.
Many thanks for the vids, btw!
don't discount those that voted against TARP, it was the correct vote. TARP was a effin' terrible POS that has failed to do anything but transfer taxpayer money to those that profitted off the mess that has siezed the economy by the throat.
everything else though points to her general suckiness.
I could never argue against anyone on the basis of voting against TARP. It is a travesty coumpounded by pork legislation.
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common sense matters as much as truth
I'm from Illinois and we have our own problems -- but I don't see this woman as the preference of New Yorkers in general. Maybe she'll be easy to beat in two years. Let's hope so. We have to do the same thing in Illinois.
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n/t
What a week this has been! Lots of political stuff going on. How do I know it's been a big political week? I haven't seen one mention of the teams who will go to the Super Bowl.
Just saw Blago do a press conference. He says if he is kicked out, the citizens of his state will have their taxes raised to god-awful levels. He seems to think the dems are out to get rid of him so they can raise taxes.
As for this lady being chosen, well, no one consulted me about what to do, so I guess I'll just have to see how she does.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Oh, I forgot something. President Obama will sign an executive order today to reverse the Mexico City Policy.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
is happy at all. upstate ny and eastern LI are pretty fascist areas and often lightly sprinkled with minorities, if at all. certainly, she would not have been elected. and that is the true travesty. many are wondering if the guvnor is running with a new crowd, considering his city roots.
is that the scumbag alfonse damato standing behind her?
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common sense matters as much as truth
"...upstate ny and eastern LI are pretty fascist areas and often lightly sprinkled with minorities, if at all."
We're in Rochester, NY.
Democratic mayor, 38% African-American, home of Susan B. Anthony, voted for Obama/Biden.
If upstate is so fascist, why do Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany all have Democrats for mayors?
wouldnt he have been the best choice?
are asshats. they just speak well, considering their mafiosity.
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common sense matters as much as truth
cuomo has very good numbers in ny
fine...he will end up being the next governor
...really handled this appointment smoothly. It's difficult to imagine how he could have made a bigger mess out of what should have been a relatively simple task.
Of course, Caroline Kennedy didn't help matters by expressing an interest in Clinton's senate seat. I think we've seen the last of Kennedy in elective politics. I'd guess that she wishes she'd remained a private citizen. The public spotlight did not flatter her.
As for Gillibrand, I look forward to a vigorous NY Democratic primary in 2010.
they NEVER fail to disappoint, the media whore political strategists with a "D" next to their name (begala, shrum, carville, devine, etc.) are some of the progressive movement's biggest obstacles.
and, without fail, begala comes out this gem about gillibrand: "Gillibrand has it all."
fuck begala. fuck all the DLC corporo thugs
Was it just me, or did anyone else get the impression that she was maybe half-a-notch above Palin's literacy level? She couldn't memorize a 2-minute gushing worship of her upper-crustmen, and still never the less forgot to write something about earning the privilege to serve the American People in the US, not NY, Senate?
I agree with both your comments Samson, about TARP, and that
BlueDogs are and have been the progressive-front's biggest obstacle... they could have filibustered bush and his wars to the wall, never mind daring to investigate his most treasonous crimes...
So far, I approve of every decision Obama's made, though he should be listening to Krugman right now, but I'm way too queezy about a congress that can't get more than 15% approval from me or the public.
I wonder how many are from people who know Gillibrand or are a constituents of hers? Being originally from hugely Republican, upstate NY, I know that most Democratic politicians who are successful must make incremental changes and respond to a large number of "conservative" voters who include hunters, farmers, and small business owners.
You can disagree with some of her votes, as I do, but some of the insulting comments show how little they know about what it takes to get a toehold in a vastly Republican district. You can wish for her demise, yet she is remarkably suited for the task at hand... making inroads with conservative voters that will move our Democratic agenda forward. And, that's hard to find. If you ever meet her, you will realize she is no Sarah Palin... and has the education and credentials to boot.
I know that she is no gun-loving christofascist as one commenter suggested. And, agree or disagree, her vote against TARP is starting to look like a stroke of genius... she was lauded by Dems and Repubs in her district for having backbone on that one. Time will tell. She is doing what needs to be done to win votes in an extremely red district which doesn't mean she is against all of the interests of liberal NYers. (In fact, her opponents criticized her because she had worked and lived in NYC for too long.. so they don't think she's enough of an upstater!) BTW, NYC isn't the only location that needs representation in the state. There are massive natural resources and people, agriculture, and industry in the rest of the state that deserve representation, too.
Kirsten is a remarkable woman who dares to go into public service and take the slings and arrows that go with that. So if you think you can do better, go for it. Try being a Congress person or really get to know one before you start wishing for the demise one of the hardest working, earnest, and honest representatives to come forward as a Democrat to try to make a difference.
That had everything to do with her inability to offer a brief public thank you without referencing notes... the way she was continually referring to them reminded me of someone presenting a highly complex scientific equation, not saying a few words of thanks. Palin, like W, did not have their own mind (it was all those creepy minds empowering them) or their own grasp on real-world issues (they didn't invent or pioneer their own policies). The only reason I watched the video was because I read the WaPo's introduction of her as "centrist" which scares me today, and I wanted my own body-language read of her character:
A squeaky inexperienced voice, vulnerable to and dependent on higher-powers than herself, definitely NOT NYC material, but personally kind-hearted and principled in her own space. US Senator? That's where the Palin impression came from. TARP vote was indeed a good thing and I never give up on someone just because of first impressions. Confidence she'll be good for progressives any more than the democratic party is? Not at this point.
Can you vouch for her in some other way?
Do people actually believe that she voted against TARP because she didn't think it would work? No, she voted against it because it was politically expedient and represented a district which thinks government is the root of all evil and therefore should not be interfering with the "free market". A stroke of genius? More like blind luck. Don't get me wrong, I didn't think the bailout would work either, but lets not make her out to be Paul Krugman 2.0 or something.
I find it hilarious that her wikipedia page has been heavily edited since this morning to emphasize a more moderate persona. She supports abortion rights and same sex marriage as of 24 hrs ago; she supports the Bush tax cuts, not just for the middle-class as the entry would have us believe, but for the wealthiest as well (considering her father is a huge Republican lobbyist thats probably not so surprising); she voted AGAINST her party when discontinuing funding for Iraq was being discussed. Oh, but at least she's a "rising star" in the Democratic Party with a "bright future" who is considered "Presidential material."
I'm sure her positions will continue to "evolve" to win the allegiance of us effete NYC people, though. Expect a strong challenge from either McCarthy or Nadler in two years.
You did some of my googling for me... and filled in a few blanks. As I posted below, I watched the video entirely specifically to "read" her character which has given me the dibbs on the Bush family and such as Cheney long before I had the dirt. She couldn't thank her co-powermongers enough, and for that she needed "notes"... it bothers me any time someone doesn't know their own thoughts when they're in a position of power. Let's see, she remembered to kiss every ass in the state of NY without so much as mentioning the wild-eyed thought that she might have to earn the puplic trust, much less the American People's respect for the power-brokering GIVEN to her... sounds too much like GW and Palin to me, at this moment.
At least she listened to the people she represents -- unlike Clinton and Schumer. Oh, I forgot: Schumer doesn't represent me; he represents Wall Street and the banks.
Well.. I watched her "brief" thank you today and it took a lot longer than than a few minutes... so I'm not surprised she needed notes.
I do know many friends and relatives from her district who like her and are impressed with her as a Democratic rep who is managing to win over very conservative factions.
I have attended events and listened to her speak when she wasn't remotely squeaky or vulnerable. And, I know people who have attended her events where she faced opposition and was exceedingly articulate about why she did what with her votes in Congress.
I can't say she'll be great for progressives, which is disappointing.. but I think she will continue to move the agenda in the right direction.
Since she is meant to replace Clinton, it makes no sense to me that so many expect Paterson to appoint someone who is unlike Clinton. Hillary and her methods were actually making inroads into the conservative corners of the state. So... I hope for the best, but I'm realistic enough to know many in this country aren't as liberal as I wish they were!
I understand your point and am happy that Democratic Party members are starting to make inroads upstate, but there are alot of people here in NYC that are really upset these mediocre politicians without any progressive ideals (or, in this case, someone who will probably vote against her ideals simply to get re-elected every six years) are consistently nominated to run for statewide office. What happened to politicians with convictions? If she doesn't believe in same-sex marriage or gun control than at least have the gumption to say so. But please don't insult my intelligence or many like-minded people by suddenly having a change of heart about core issues once appointed to statewide office. I personally find it abhorrent that Gillibrand will now occupy the seat once held by Robert Kennedy, Daniel Moynihan and Hillary Clinton and would guess that this appointment will probably be the last straw for a lot of people downstate. Thus, she will most likely have to run against a progressive in the primaries and I hope she loses by a landslide.
I've never been in the middle myself. I wish every Senator more closely resembled Russ Feingold.. and every presidential candidate looked like Howard Dean.
But, (according to people I know who know her) it's likely that Gillibrand is more liberal than her votes reflect, however, she has to vote according to the wishes of her upstate constituents. As Senator, she will be answering to a broader area - the whole state - and will be able to be more like Hillary (who she claims is a major inspiration of hers). I hope she will be given a chance, at the very least. If she isn't up for the job, I'm with you - vote her out.
Or Schumer, for that matter? How enough did you see either of them taking on the Bush regime until it was politically expedient to do so? (Both could have voted against invading Iraq -- just like John Kerry could have -- but they didn't have the spine to do the right thing. And I don't buy Clinton's "if I had known then what I know now;" if she didn't know then, then she is too stupid to have been in the Senate.) And it's not like they are progressives. Schumer votes for whatever his Wall Street bosses tell him to, and Clinton introduced a bill to make flag burning illegal.
I find it abhorrent that Clinton moved into the state and straight into a Senate seat. Yet somehow it was OK for her to represent the state though she had never lived here. Gillibrand is a native New Yorker. And she'd be the best Senator we've had in a long time (just like she's been the best Representative I've had in a long time). Soon she will be holding meetings in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and NYC to meet with and listen to her new constituents. (About one a month there is a message on my answering machine that she's going to be in Saratoga or Mechanicville or Clifton Park or wherever and to stop by to discuss what's important.) Though I'm an WNY native, I've lived all our the nation -- and I've never had a Congress member who works as hard to communicate with and listen to his or her district. She's smart, she cares about people, and she works hard for the people she represents. For being from a Republican district, she has voted against Bush a lot of times when her Democratic colleagues didn't. (Yes, she was the only member of the state's Congressional delegation to give Bush a blank check for TARP -- just like he was given a blank check for Iraq -- was going to lead us into another quagmire.)
Finally, remember Hillary ran against a progressive in her last primary and trounced him.
the Democrats have been doing what you suggest - i.e., kissing up to conservative voters - since 1992 at least, and the result has been an UTTER DISASTER not only for progressives, but for the country in general. The truth is *centrist* Democrats - from Clinton to Reid and Pelosi - have never forwarded even a moderate Democratic agenda, and in fact have only forwarded the agenda of big business and the GOP. At this point, anyone who's still saying that the Democrats need to reach out to Republicans is probably just a Republican trying to delude gullible Democrats.
1) absolutely understand and share your frustration with the DC "centrists."
2) I don't remotely resemble a Republican and have had to take up heavy drinking just to survive the Bush years! : )
3) I am an avid C & L reader and don't want to pick any fights with fellow readers.
3) I am only stating a POV that Kirsten has provided glimmers of hope for my family and friends who live in her district.. she's and excellent listener, a hard worker, a Democrat. She knew what she had to do to get elected in a place where no one crosses party lines... and they don't get that very often!
3) As the child of parents who were very politically involved, I know that no matter how hard you work, no matter what you sacrifice, there are people on the sidelines who judge. No one wants their cheese moved... very few people want the truth... and even fewer are willing to invest the time and energy needed to make real change, besides just complaining!
4) I'm not the biggest Gillibrand fan in the world... I just think people should invest some of their energy by researching the person, the motives, those who support and know her, before throwing her in the trash. And, they should give her a couple of days as a Senator before they decide she sucks.
Is not admirable. It is politics usual, which does nothing to further a forward-looking agenda.
Lets face the truth... Democrats(?) have moved to the right wing of our party and are electing candidates to even move farther to the right if possible like Lets face the truth... Democrats(?) have moved to the right wing of our party and are electing candidates to even move farther to the right if possible like Kirsten Gillibrand..
(Considered to be a centrist or conservative democrat , Gillibrand was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition during her tenure in the House of Representatives.) This is the profile which tells you at a glance that Kirsten is a ""republican"". Republicans have taken control of our party and their support for Bush and this criminal administration policies shows we they stand..
This is why Rahm has kick Dean out and creating policies for republicans.
I believe democrats should keep their political funds they raise and fund the candidate of their choice instead of giving it to the democratic party..
The democrat leaders are using the money they collect from us to fund candidates which have the values and they support the policies of the republicans.
New York used to be a democratic state until the republicans took over the leadership of the democratic party..
This is why Rahm has kick Dena out and creating policies for republicans.
I believe democrats should keep their political funds they raise and fund the candidate of their choice instead of giving it to the democratic party..
The democrat leaders are using the money they collect from us to fund candidates which have the values and they support the policies of the republicans.
New York used to be a democratic state until the republicans took over the leadership of the democratic party..
None
Particularly with this:
I have had enough of the Dem Party using political strategy meant to handle the political climate of decades ago, by supporting Republicans disguised as Democrats. When the country, and particularly New York (of all places) is dead tired of Republicanism, whether in Dem clothing or not. Even the south is getting tired of Republicanism; I wouldn't be surprised if soon they gave up on Blue Dogs.
But the clueless Dem Party leadership is still living in decades gone by.
I'm sure the DLC and the Blue Dogs are happy.
Clinton's part of the DLC leadership -- so let me guess, you all voted for Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins instead of Clinton in the last Senate election because you wanted to be represented by a progressive instead of a DLC leader.
Like Hillary, without the charisma. Yeah, CK was a really dumb choice in comparison.
for sure. I'm from Schenectady county, just south of Saratoga. I've spent tons of time in Saratoga Springs, Lake George, Glens Falls, etc. she probably does fairly represent that district. but for the whole state, I give a swollen thumb down for this appointment. and I hope there's a real race, this lady is not ... cool. I saw on Rachel Maddow that she was called, on her cell phone, by Barack Obama when she was about to speak. and she blew him off, on camera! it was so cringe-worthy! why wouldn't she take his call? pfft. nu-uh. she looks like a big ol mess in the making.
He had two months to select a successor to Clinton and this is the shit he comes up with? And then after Kennedy dropped-out (which is a reflection of her poor judgement and a separate issue), he publicly insults her? It's game over for Patterson. At least in NY City it is.
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