I am on the host committee for a fundraiser for Jimmy Dahroug and I hope you can all attend, spread the word, and/or contribute. Jimmy's fundraisers are pretty damned good and this one includes special guest Jim Dean, brother of Howard Dean and head of Democracy for America.

From the Jimmy Dahroug Campaign:

Wed., May. 14, 2008
Manhattan Cocktail Reception
Campaign Co-Chair Dr. Bonnie Maslin and her Husband, Dr. Yehuda Nir are hosting a cocktail reception for our reform campaign. Democracy for America Chair Jim Dean will be the Guest speaker
Location: 1050 Park Avenue, at the corner of East 87th Street
When: 6:00 PM
Ends: 9:00 PM

Wherever you live in New York State, the upcoming election in my district will affect you, me, our friends, and our families for generations to come.

Today, we are only two seats away from gaining a Democratic majority in the New York State Senate. This will end the stagnation caused by four decades of Republican domination including the Republican gerrymandering which has prevented us from turning more of New York's congressional seats blue.

Ken Diamondstone has announced that he will not run against Marty Connor this year.

In his press release, Diamondstone said, "I'm not going to engage in a three-way primary that divides the progressive vote. The needs of my fellow constituents are simply too important. Instead, I will be seeking other opportunities to work on behalf of progressive reform for the benefit of all New Yorkers."

Albany is the site of one of this nation's most dysfunctional state legislatures. It is well known for getting nothing done. This is one thing that cannot be completely blamed on the Republicans because Democrats like Shelly Silver are just as do-nothing as the Republicans. Winning the State Senate, and thus getting rid of the worst obstructionist, Joe Bruno, is a critical part of reforming Albany...and one I focus on at our NY State Act Blue Site, helping defend Andrea Stewart-Cousins' seat and supporting Jimmy Dahroug and Jim Gennaro in their State Senate bids. But there is more to reforming Albany than just electing more Democrats. We also have to defeat those Democrats who have become part of Albany dysfunction.

It appears that there is far more to this story than meets the eye. The following is cobbled together from several sources, all of whom are highly placed enough (for the information they have given me) and well enough known to me that I am convinced of their authenticity, but all of whom have requested anonymity for one reason or another:

Apparently, the state Democratic Party is not behind Republican-turned-Democrat Christopher Bodkin’s recent conversion, nor are they behind his appearance on the scene as a possible opponent to Caesar Trunzo. It may also be true (although I cannot get specific information on this) that the state Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC) wasn’t directly involved either, at least at first. According to my sources, the catalyst is even higher.

Congressman Steve Israel represents the 2nd Congressional District, which includes much of that state Senate district. Congressman Steve Israel also raises a lot of money for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC, a.k.a. “D-triple-C). As a result, to a large extent, whatever Congressman Steve Israel wants, Congressman Steve Israel gets.

What does this mean? Read on...

As of last night, Joe Bruno doesn't really have a working majority any more. Aubertine just won the 48th State Senate seat, bringing the State Senate to a virtual tie between Dems and Repubs. We still have a long way to go to clear up Albany Constipation, but this is a big step in the right direction.

In November we will have some defense to worry about, both for the 48th and for Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who picked up a seat in 2006 and who is being targeted by some nasty Republican smear attacks. And we have to pick up at least one more seat (I'd like to see at least three more, just to make sure) to get a real Democratic majority. If we can do that, Joe Bruno will be pushed aside into insignificance and Albany will take one more step out of the dysfunction that Pataki, Shelly Silver and Joe Bruno had so perfected. Pataki's gone. Bruno is on notice. Even Silver has a challenge from Paul Newell. Reform moves forward, slowly, but surely.

UPDATE: I am told that it is NOT the Suffolk Dems who are screwing up by running a Republican, but the State level Dems. THAT is a real problem because if the State level Dems are running to lose then we are in real trouble. I wonder how the Suffolk County Dems feel about this?

UPDATE: I am also told that the strategy of running a Repub as a Dem has failed in Suffolk County before. Yet further evidence that this is a losing strategy.

So today I get several emails and instant messages having to do with the number one State Senate race we can win...the one Jimmy Dahroug almost won in 2006. This is our top priority race and we shouldn't fuck it up. So this diary is hopefully going to get everyone back on the right track.

First off, let me indicate that Jimmy Dahroug has a new website. Here it is:

http://www.jimmyforsenate.com/

Second, it seems that someone over at the NY Times has done a really sucky job of doing his research because he discusses this race without even mentioning Jimmy Dahroug. Well, if the NY Times can't figure out who's actually running in the top State Senate race in NY State it shows a sharp decline in the quality of their reporting. To the NY Times: Get your damned act together. Seriously. Don't be so sloppy. It just makes you look bad.

There is an article in today's NY Times talking about aging Republican state Senators. One such person is Caesar Trunzo, and they bring up a "Democratic" challenger (quotation marks mine, and with good reason) -- Christopher Bodkin!

Bodkin is a 15-year member of the Islip Town Board, and was, until very recently, a Republican. As of January 11, he has not created a campaign committee.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Dahroug was interviewed for the article, but all references to him magically disappeared. The only explanation I've been able to find is that the state senate committee is trying to make an "unperson" out of Jimmy.

Well it won't happen!

Jimmy has fought too long and too hard to just fade away. He has real community support, real fundraising support, and real grass roots support.

Jimmy Dahroug had the Daily Gotham endorsement ages ago. Dahroug is running for State Senate in Suffolk County. And he really is our best hope to pick up one of the two State Senate seats we need to end Joe Bruno's constipation of our State government.

Recently Dahroug has picked up five new endoresements of some significance. From the Dahroug campaign:

Across New York, we are challenging business as usual politicians and the time worn systems they represent. This is an exciting time for New Yorkers who believe that we really do have the power to put democracy to work reviving our public institutions.

As proof of that desire for change, our campaign received 5 Major Endorsements following our impressive filing.
I am so proud to receive the endorsements of these individuals and organizations:

Let me say how grateful I am for the endorsement of Jon Cooper, Democratic Majority Leader, the Suffolk County Legislature.

This month there are four fundraisers I am pushing. One I am on the host committee of, two I am full on co-host (one of which is at my apartment) and one I am merely plugging for friends.

The first one was last Sunday, and I now have results from that. Sunday, Marjorie Gersten, Joy Romanski and I hosted a fundraiser for Norman Siegel, running for NY Public Advocate. You can read about my (3-year old interrupted) comments on the event here. And you can read another participant's obeservations here at the Brooklyn Optimist. But now I would like to add that the fundraiser did quite well for a small scale event put on by people like me who almost never do fundraising. We brought in $1400 for Norman Siegel. Now I am sure many out there see that as small potatoes, but it's damned good in my world!

If you want to add to this, please call his campaign at 212-448-6271. Tell them Marjorie, David and Joy sent you.