Back in January 2006 I had as my goals:

1.) defeating the Bush/Gingrich/McCain agenda nationally

2.) defeating the Pataki, Bruno and Silver Albany constipation

3.) defeating the local Brooklyn Vito Lopez machine.

Still working on #3 through several channels. And it remains to be seen whether indictments or ill health or Brooklyn fatigue with corruption bring down Vito Lopez. For my part I prefer indictments to ill health. But Charles Hynes, the Brooklyn DA, has pushed that aside and has focused on other, also worthy efforts. So we wait to see who will replace Lopez in time.

Goal #1 began to happen in 2006 with a massive take over of the House and an evening up of the Senate. And we have a damned good shot at continuing this in 2008 with MORE House seats, a REAL takeover of the Senate and a White House win by Obama.

Goal #2 also began, with some bumps, in 2006 and continues even now. With the Dem takeover of the Governorship the reform of Albany constipation began. But more is needed. Now we learn than Bruno is retiring. That, next to Pataki's exit, is the biggest news for NY State we can imagine. Joe Bruno is perhaps the number one colonic block in Albany and his exit could be the most important change in decades. Is he leaving for unknown health reasons? Not from what I have heard. Is he leaving because of impending indictments? Maybe. Is he leaving because he KNOWS in his marrow that Republicans are being routed this year? Quite probably.

The exit of Joe Bruno means the powers that be smell blood in the water and it is Republican blood. This year will be a tectonic shift (hat tip to Chuck Schumer) nationally AND statewide. We can only hope Brooklyn will be swept along with it.

What does this tectonic shift mean? It means that Democrats already control the governor's mansion. Spitzer and Paterson may, in their different ways, not be my ideal choice, but they are nevertheless far better for the people of New York State than Pataki ever was. One man in the room is out.

It means Joe Bruno is out of the picture. Two men are pushed out of the room. Brian Premo is the Dem challenging Bruno's seat...and he needs a website and get onto Act Blue right about now if he wants to be in the running.

It means Democrats are almost certainly going to take the State Senate. How do we do that? Well, everyone has their list of who to back to take over the State Senate. I have my list on my NY State Act Blue Site (along with Congressional races), and it includes the following:

Jimmy Dahroug
NY-SD-03

Jimmy is running for State Senate in Suffolk County against a long-time incumbent Republican. 2008 is looking like the year we will finally turn Suffolk County blue and in the process win the State Senate. Jimmy is supported by Democracy for America and Democracy for NYC and is a true grassroots progressive.

Jim Gennaro
NY-SD-11

Jim Gennaro is running for the NY 11th State Senate seat. Gennaro came to my attention partly because he was part of a collaboration with Woody Harrelson and filmmaker Josh Tickell in a documentary discussing America’s addiction to oil. He also is working to get some of New York City’s use of heating oil to be partly biodiesel made from used cooking oil, a system that could benefit the whole city. This is a State Senate seat we need to pick up.

Donald Barber
NY-SD-51

Don Barber is running for New York’s 51st State Senate District (central New York State) as the Democratic nominee. Don is a true public servant, currently serving as the Town Supervisor of Caroline, in Tompkins County (Ithaca is the county seat.) As both a farmer and contractor, he is intimately aware of the needs of many New Yorkers, from the working class to small business owners. Don is a life-long environmentalist, has testified before US Congress to protect the Finger Lakes, and has been working on environmental initiatives in government since 1983.

And in terms of defense:

Darrel Aubertine
NY-SD-48

A surprise pick up in a special election, this is one we need to defend. This is a man in touch with his community and will be a strong State Senator once he wins re-election in a regular election in November.

Andrea Stewart-Cousins
NY-SD-35

Andrea Stewart-Cousins is one of our 2006 State Senate pick ups and so she is being targeted by Republicans desperate to hold on to the State Senate. This is one we need to defend. She genuinely represents working class New Yorkers and she needs our support.

For the record I do not support the challenges to either Velmanette Montgomery or Marty Connor. I would like to see both of these State Senators remain in office as we take the majority. Teamed up with Eric Adams, Montgomery and Connor will add real backbone and experience to our majority.

But beyond the State Senate, there is one more Albany colonic blockage we need to flush out: Sheldon Silver. Though a Democrat, he has been almost as much of a block to real reform as Pataki or Bruno ever were. Sheldon Silver has to go.

There are two people challenging Silver:

Paul Newell and Luke Henry. They are both vastly superior to constipation Sheldon and I know them both. I don't take sides between them, but I strongly urge people to vote Sheldon Silver out least he remains the last remnant of the old, dysfunctional system we have had to endure. Send Silver packing along with Pataki and Bruno.

We are well on our way to fulfilling the goals we defined in 2006. Let's keep going and finish the job.

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