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Yassky/Nossky/Newsky
Heh. Looks like I'm not the only one who's put off by the Matzoh Man's run in the 11th District. Check out StopYassky.com and take a closer look at the super-dooper-competent lovechild of Adonis and King Midas.
StopYassky.com was formed by a group of concerned New Yorkers. We wish to stop David Yassky's bid for the US Congressional seat in the 11th District. If you're paying attention, you'll know that the current holder of this seat is Major Owens. You might also be aware of a political battle brewing over who will replace Congressman Owens when he retires this year. All we're asking is that the replacement not be David Yassky.
Snip.
David Yassky is currently the City Councilman for the 33rd District. Why should he be stopped? Just for starters, David Yassky is funded primarily by GREEDY DEVELOPERS. Yassky cannot MAKE UP HIS MIND ON KEY ISSUES. Yassky is a caucasian candidate running in a VOTING RIGHTS DISTRICT.
Interesting. This comes on the heels of last year's (not quite successful) online effort – at StopBloomberg.com, I seem to recall – to derail Mike Bloomberg. Virginia Fields has similar detractors, as you can see if you google her. Is this a new trend?
IRV
If the primary in the 11th district isn't an argument for Instant Run-off voting, I don't know what is.
In my mind, no way is Yassky gonna win a majority of the vote, but he does have a chance of winning a 35-40% pluraility, despite the fact that he is probably the 4th or 5th choice of a majority of the voters.
One possibility that I've been floating, tho, is that Yassky wins the primary, but that Owens will still be on the ballot in November as the Green candidate (and possible as the WFP candidate? I don't run in those WFP circles, so I'm not as aware of this).
IRV now!!!!
Malachy McCourt for Governor, Howie Hawkins for Senate, and Chris Owens for Congress!!!
Yeah, just what we need
...Yassky indirectly helping the Greens. Forgive me if I'm not thrilled. Oh, and let's nibble at Eliot's mandate while we're at it.
The only way to realistically stop Yassky
The only way to realistically stop Yassky is to pressure one of the other four candidates to drop out of the race. Right now, with no runoff in a tight five person race with no incumbent, 27 or 28% could win this. There will be a low voter turnout as this is not a presidential election year, and Yassky could be running the most expensive get out the vote campaign ever. The handwriting is on the wall, in a five person race, if Yassky gets most of the white vote, he'll get his 27 or 28%.
The only way one of the other four is going to beat Yassky's 28% is for somebody to drop out. In a four person race, one of the other candidates can get 30%.
So who should drop out? It seems the other four candidates, according to Chris Owens, have had this conversation and none of them want to get out.
Yvette Clark is one of the sitting city councilpersons in this district. She ran two years ago and got 28% or something close to it, so she must feel that if she gets the same people to vote for her this time she'll win. She has a solid rationale for staying in.
Nick Perry has represented East Flatbush in the Assembly for sixteen years and is well known within his district. His constituents expect him to run.
Chris Owens is the son of the sitting incumbent, Major Owens, and name recognition, along with people loyal to Major, could make him the strongest opponent for Yassky.
That leaves Carl Andrews. Andrews has represented the State Senate 20th district since 2002. That is less than four years. He is a product of the Brooklyn political machine and closely tied to Clarence Norman. He is also closely tied to Elliot Spitzer. It strikes me that Andrews owes his political fortunes to Norman and Spitzer and others who run the machine and that much of his career is appointed positions.
I think Eliot Spitzer will get elected governor and that Carl will be power broker in Albany, maybe Spitzer gives him a high level appointed position if he doesn't want to stay in the assembly. Carl ought to stay in Albany, its where he'll do the most good. He should drop out of the Congressional race and let one of the three younger candidates have the best chance to defeat Yassky.
The best anti-Yassky thing to do I believe is to pressure Carl Andrews to drop out. Somebody has to drop out and he has the strongest possibility to fall back into other influential positions.
Valid point
There's no doubt in my mind that Andrews would make an effective Congressman; he's my second choice after Owens. But it mystifies me why he would trade his powerbroker spot in Albany, where he has a real shot at being Senate Democratic Leader, for being a freshman in the House. By any measure, that's a bad bargain. Same with Perry, who's giving up a safe seat and seniority; makes no sense to me. Clark can run at her leisure from the City Council; and Owens has been running for over a year. And in a three-way ace, Yassky loses.
This is from Gary Tilzer, who
This is from Gary Tilzer, who's affiliated with the Clark campaign, and has a history of working for white candidates in solidly black districts.
BTW, WFP, also known as the Ratner party, will back Clark
why not
Seems to me that on the merits, Councilmember Yassky is the most qualified for this job.
You really don't hear anyone denying it...
Jim
I deny it
Why is he the most qualified for the job? Both he and Chris Owens have done work for sitting House Reps. Yassky has a great deal of skill compromising, but that doesn't really qualify him for dealing with the Republicans in these days of weak Democrats vs. corrupt Republicans. We need someone who starts from a stronger position rather than starts from compromise.
And what has Yassky really done that stands out in city council? He brags about the Williamsburg compromise, but that's another compromise. And it doesn't really seem to have set a precedent that makes developers think they have to obey laws or the wishes of the community. And where is he on protecting our votes? The NUMBER ONE ISSUE FACING HIM RIGHT NOW and he does nothing. Yvette Clarke has taken a stand, so she is showing more leadership right now than Yassky.
All of the candidates have qualifications. Yassky does not really stand out as being so stellarly qualified compared with the others. So no...I don't think you are going to get a consensus backing your assertion.
blowback
It seems to me that the popular response to the coalition at city hall has actually been more positive press for Mr. Yassky.
I was glad to see the press focusing on issues of who's best qualified for the job.
I think the voters can see through any sort of organized protest against Mr. Yassky.
Why don't we just insist that a second Congressional district be drawn to accommodate another candidate?
I don't know why you are using all capital letters - there is no need to shout - civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof, as kennedy once said.
Regards
Jim Prideaux