Details matter
In politics, it's the small things that can sometimes make all the difference; look no further than what was once called a butterfly ballot, used in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Witness, say, this. Readers of the New York Times front page this morning were treated to a piece by Danny Hakim - awesomely titled In State Senate, Aging Fingers Cling to Power - on the efforts by New York Democrats to liberate the State Senate from its unnatural state as the last republican bastion in New York. This is a big deal for anyone who cares about how New York is governed.
Problem is, on the day the Senate Democrats get some major frontpage mojo, their site kind of doesn't work. Here's the front page:
This is what you get when you click on the link that offers to tell you more about the New York Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee:
Awesomeness: apparently, the DSCC has no mission. Come on, people. This is ridiculous.
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DSCC | New York State Senate | New York
You must have a huge hard-on...
Submitted by Gothanonymous Reader (not verified) on 16 February 2008 - 10:09pm.
...against someone there to do a piece about this, rather than to just email someone there and bitch--surely you have a DSCC contact.
Anyway, I suspect that all hands are probably busy there on other, more important, matters--you may have noticed they have a special election going on.
Not that I'm a Malcolm fan--he's a cluck, and word is he's never going to be the leader if they take the majority--one more reason to be a team player here and help the cause rather than undermining.
Really, this hardly seems the time for this post--you can go back to giving Malcolm what he deserves after the special, don't you think?
What was it that set you off, the picture of Savino? Maybe if you ask nice, they'll replace her with one of Eric Schniederman in a speedo wearing his old Deputy Sheriff's hat.
Not sure whom you're railing against
Submitted by Dan Jacoby on 17 February 2008 - 1:22pm.
but I don't have a contact at the DSCC or I would have used it by now. I do know that Senator Savino, who is part of the DSCC, has monitored this blog before, and even posted here, so this may be one way of reaching her.
Regarding the timing -- this is the perfect time to talk about the lousy website, when it can be fixed before most voters not in the special election district even know there's an election, much less a website.
I've heard the same rumor that Malcolm Smith will be run over for majority leader, and the name I've heard coming up is Jeff Klein, the current deputy. That would be very interesting, particularly if Eric Schneiderman makes a run for it as well.
Regarding the picture of Senator Savino, it's not a flattering picture, but that has nothing to do with the lack of real content, the lack of focus and the lack of message. The site has no purpose, no reason for being, and that's why I said it stinks.
I hope the DSCC gets their collective act together before it's too late.
Dan, who do you always presume..
Submitted by Gothanonymous Reader (not verified) on 17 February 2008 - 8:39pm.
..that peole are talking to you?
Last time I checked the author was Bouldin, who's message here seems to be: "If we can't have a majority conference that includes Jummy Darough, then we don't want a majority at all"
DSCC Link
Submitted by Ana Tinsly, Deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Savino (not verified) on 19 February 2008 - 5:34pm.
This is Ana Tinsly, Senator Savino's Deputy Chief of Staff. The link that you have supplied is, in fact, incorrect. I am supplying the correct link here for your readers' convenience:
www.dscc.net/about.html
While I'm sure the DSCC appreciates you pointing out any possible inconsistencies with their website, I would suggest that you double check your information before posting any erroneous items that can then be used by the GOP. Since you are apparently interested in helping us take back the Majority, please visit www.electaubertine.com and sign up to volunteer on Daniel Aburtine's campaign to elect a Democrat in the 48th Senate District. If Watertown is too far for you or your readers, please call the DSCC at 212-725-8825 to find out ways you can help locally.
If you think a broken link is bad...
Check out the rest of the site. It stinks! (Oh yeah -- and there are other broken links.)
Seriously, I know they are hugely outfunded by their Republican counterpart, but a well-designed website is a relatively inexpensive way to make up the difference by getting the word out. The problem is, they don't seem to have a coherent set of words.