Breaking: Harold Ford Jr. Decides Against Senate Bid

The New York Times reports:

Under intense pressure from Democratic Party officials,
Harold E. Ford Jr., the former Tennessee congressman, has
decided not to challenge Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand in the
primary this fall, according to two people told of his plans.

He has told friends that, while he is convinced he could
prevail against Ms. Gillibrand, he feared the winner of the
primary would have little money and remain highly vulnerable
to a well-financed Republican challenger at a time when the
Democratic party controls the Senate by a slim majority.

New York Democracy?

Last week, Representative Carolyn Maloney, whose district covers the East Side of Manhattan and parts of Queens dropped her bid to challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in the Democratic primary.  Borough President Scott Stringer also abandoned his exploratory efforts into running for the Senate seat.   No matter what your thoughts are on Maloney, Stringer or Gillibrand individually, this all begs the question: when did New York get a government-by-appointment?

Clyde Haberman’s July 13th column for the New York Times points out:

There are six statewide elective offices. Four of them are now filled by politicians who were not the people’s choices. They fell into their positions by virtue of someone else’s malefaction or ambition.

The governor, as noted, is unelected. He has now named a lieutenant governor, an appointment whose legality is uncertain. The state comptroller was handed the job by his Assembly colleagues after his elected predecessor resigned in disgrace. The junior United States senator is also an appointee, selected by the unelected — dare we say accidental — governor.

So much for democracy, right?  New Yorkers certainly deserve to have a choice when they head to the ballot box and while Gillibrand may very well have won in the end anyway, it was nice to think that there would at least be some competition.  Even if Representative Maloney was not favored to win, she should still be recognized for her efforts to imbue a litte more democracy into our state.

Support A Public Option for Healthcare? Sign Senator Gillibrand’s Petition

From TAP:

As you know, there is a historic effort underway in Washington right now to finally address the health care crisis in this country, and I need your help.

As I’ve written over at DailyKos and as I told Howard Dean last week, I believe that a robust not-for-profit public option must be a part of the health care reform package Congress passes this year. I feel that opening up a Medicare For All type system to everyone would lower costs and increase efficiency by injecting some much needed competition into the market.

I was very pleased to see the Senate HELP committee pass a bill out of committee last week that included a public option, and I assure you, I am going to do everything in my power to ensure that a public option remains in the final bill. I feel that not only must the public option be national and accountable to Congress, but it must be made available to all Americans right away. We’ve kicked health care reform down the road for far too long already. As others have said — I think rightly — a public option has already been triggered.

We are at a critical time in the health care reform debate, which means we must keep the pressure on. That’s where you come in. The online community has done so much already — and trust me, those of us fighting for real reform feel encouraged by your advocacy and those who are opposed to it are feeling the pressure. Will you help me keep the pressure on? Please join me in advocating for a public option by signing my petition today. I truly believe that health care is a right, not a privilege, and that the time for real reform — including a public option — is now. As the President said last night, the status quo is NOT an option and with you by my side, I intend to continue to fight for the real reform that Americans deserve.

Thanks for all your hard work.

Listen: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Conference Call

Yesterday Senator Kirsten Gillibrand hosted a conference call with the NYSYD to update everyone on what she’s up to as our Senator, and then answer some questions.

Take a listen!

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Gillibrand versus Maloney

Rep Carolyn Maloney

House Representative Carolyn Maloney has decided to run against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in the Democratic primary for the junior Senator’s seat in 2010. 

Sen Kirsten Gillibrand

The back story here is that when then-Senator Hillary Clinton was appointed by President Obama to become Secretary of State, Governor Paterson filled the vacancy with then-Representative Kirsten Gillibrand over others such as Caroline Kennedy and Rep Maloney. (Remember Scott Murphy? He filled Gillibrand’s empty House seat.) But Gillibrand will have to run for re-election come 2010, and Maloney’s decision means she won’t sail through the primaries. 

In recent months, Senator Gillibrand has been racking up a huge number of endorsements, and seems to have the political weight of the White House behind her. But Maloney is saying New Yorkers deserve a choice: 

“She’s decided to run because she believes there needs to be a debate on the real issues and she wants to give New Yorkers a choice,” Maloney’s adviser said. “She believes her record and results make her the right person to fight for New Yorkers.”