I want to give both my endorsements for Tuesday's primary as well as the endorsements from some of the organizations I respect. First my endorsements:

Brooklyn's 1st Civil Court Seat: Devin Cohen

Devin is the clear choice in this case, and not just because he is a friend of mine. Devin Cohen has extensive civil court experience while his opponent has mainly criminal and appellate law experience. Devin is widely known for his fairness and honesty as well as his commitment to the community as a volunteer EMT. My wife has known Devin since high school. And I once called him, long before he was running for judge, the most honest person I know in Brooklyn politics. His opponent is best known politically for his donations to and legal help for both Brooklyn party boss Clarence Norman (currently serving a prison sentence for corruption) and for the Conservative Party. Devin is politically best known for his work on Community Board 6, his dedication to reform politics in Brooklyn, and as former president of the Independent Neighborhood Democrats. Roger Adler has also run an exclusively negative campaign, trying to smear Devin Cohen as if Adler has nothing positive to offer himself. Adler has claimed to be the outsider, an despite having donated to Clarence Norman AND done Norman's legal work despite the fact that the county party bound his petitions. Devin is known to have been a voice for judicial reform so Adler basically lied about their relative political connections. Adler also admitted, in my presence and before an entire room full of people, that he in essence tried to get a judgeship through political donations and political favors. This is what he said publicly, I checked with others who heard him and they agreed. He also expressed admiration for the judicial philosophies of Supreme Court justices Scalia and Thomas, who are about as conservative as you can get.

Via email, Steve Harrison, Democratic contender in the Thirteenth District, was endorsed by the 504 Democratic Club, which advocates on behalf of the disabled.

(Staten Island/Brooklyn/Manhattan) The 504 Democratic Club, the oldest Democratic Club in the Country focusing on disability rights has endorsed Steve Harrison in the September 9 NY 13th Congressional District (Staten Island/Southwest Brooklyn) Democratic primary. The club, named after section 504 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibited discrimination against People with Disabilities, will endorse Harrison and other NY area candidates in a 2pm August 17 Press Conference at the Steps of City Hall in Manhattan.

“The 504 Dems represent a constituency whose needs aren’t currently being taken care of by the government,” said Harrison. “In Congress I will fight to guarantee the no person with a disability is ever discriminated against.”

504 President Edith Prentiss concurs. “Steve Harrison brings a fresh perspective on disability and needed Federal legislation. We believe he will add a new and welcome voice to the NY delegation and its progressive agenda.”

In 2006 against incumbent Vito Fossella, Harrison received a higher percentage of the vote than any Democrat ever under the Congressional District’s current configuration. The scandal ridden Fossella is not seeking re-election. Harrison faces Councilman Michael McMahon in the August 9 primary.

For more information about Steve Harrison visit harrisonorcongress.com. For more about the 504 Democratic club visit the504democraticclub.org.

That's quite interesting both in its own right and because endorsements have been going heavily to DCCC-backed candidate Michel McMahon.

[Ed. Note: for residents of parts of the world other than The Rock, please go here to attend your own platform session. The Queens session is today, Manhattan tomorrow, Brooklyn on July 29th, and you're well advised to RSVP]

This was sent to be by a friend who was a Green until Barack talked her into being a Dem again. Steve Harrison is attending...Mike McMahon is blowing it off (in the Recchia tradition?). Barack Obama's campaign in Staten Island:

Staten Island for Barack Newsletter
July 21, 2008
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Help SHAPE The Democratic Party's Platform for Change: Come To Staten Island For Obama's Platform for Change WITH Congressional Candidates Open House on Thursday, July 24th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
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Traditionally, the platform of a political party is written by paid professionals and then presented to the American people. This year, this is going to change. As the presumptive nominee, Senator Obama is now the leader of the Democratic Party, and he has asked for OUR input as to creating a platform for the Party. On Thursday, July 24th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Staten Island for Obama is hosting a SHAPE The Democratic Party's Platform for Change/Meet the Congressional Candidates Reception and Open House.

Steve Harrison. Mike McMahon. You've heard their names, you've read about their positions. Both candidates have been invited to join us for this important forum that will decide the future of the Democratic Party. Now you can meet them and ask the questions YOU want answered (Mike McMahon is unable to attend but will either send a representative or provide a written statement).

This event will be held at Teri's Staten Island HQ, located at 6 Plank Road in Bull's Head, Staten Island from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24th. Please JOIN US as we discuss how Barack Obama and his campaign can move country forward and discover how we can move our Congressional District to the final Democratic Congressional District in New York City by talking to the Democratic candidates themselves. Please R.S.V.P. at Platform for Change WITH Congressional Candidates, or by contacting Chris McCreight at chris@brooklynforbarack.org, (773) 771-6369.

Please join us as we learn more about our future representatives and create the platform that will be presented at the Democratic Convention in August. A few participants may even be invited to appear and testify at the National Hearing and at the Convention! We can write the next chapter in the history of not only the Democratic Party, but of OUR 13th Congressional District.

Per the Advance, flag-burning amendment afficionado and rumored Iraq War waffler Michael McMahon has raised half a million clams in his pursuit of the seat of retiring Congressman Vito 'Family Values' Fossella.

The McMahon campaign touted the deluge of donor dollars as proof that the term-limited councilman has the support to win the congressional seat, although the campaign won't officially file papers with the Federal Election Commission until the July 15 deadline.

McMahon's opponent for the Democratic nomination, Brooklyn lawyer Stephen Harrison, admitted that his campaign has raised far less -- about $150,000, according to his best estimate.[...]

"If dollars could vote, he wins," said Harrison. "But they don't. It's a classic grassroots campaign against a machine campaign, and we'll see what happens."

It'll be interesting to see what McMahon's money looks like come July 15th. My guess would be that his filing will include a large number of $5,000 PAC checks and $2,300 maxed-out bigshot donors. Meanwhile, of course, Harrison's rather more meager filing speaks to that perennial challenge to New York Progressives, who often enough treat raising money as an afterthought. Some of us, and I'm not saying Steve is one of them, really seem to think elections are won merely by the blazing rightness of our ideas. Over here in the real world, that's unfortunately not the way it works.

It is to weep.

Via email from the Steve Harrison campaign:

For Immediate Release June 27 2008

Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison names former Deutsche Bank director Greg Collett campaign manager

(Staten Island/Brooklyn) Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison (NY 13 CD Staten Island/Southwest Brooklyn) has named former Deutsche Bank director Greg Collett campaign manager. Collett, a George Washington University Law School grad, recently stepped down as a director at Deutsche Bank, where he developed and managed the Bank’s exchange traded commodity fund business. Collett replaces Laura Sword, who stepped down from the campaign earlier this week.

Before his work at Deutsche Bank, Mr. Collett had experience as a legislative aide to a New Jersey State Senator and on various campaigns.

In 2006, Harrison against long time incumbent Vito Fossella, received a higher percentage of the vote than any Democrat ever, under NY‘s 13th Congressional District’s current configuration. A scandal ridden Fossella has declined to seek re-election in 2008.

"Greg first contacted me last year looking for a volunteer position on the campaign after hearing our message," said Harrison. “I was humbled to have someone with Greg’s credentials, so we included him in the campaign in a fund raising capacity."

"In light of Greg’s ample organizational and communication skills, when he became available this week, the choice became obvious," continued Harrison. He has the skill set, drive, and dedication to be successful. He has an infectious winning attitude that should inspire our many volunteers. I’m thrilled to work with Greg. He will be a fresh presence in the district with a fresh perspective on the race.”

There was a major staff shake-up in the campaign of Steve Harrison (D-NY-13) yesterday, with three aides, including the campaign manager Laura Sword, leaving the campaign.

The campaign and the departed staffers are currently working on a statement to explain the development, which would seem to indicate the decision was amicable.

More details when we have them.

[Update: Campaign statement below the fold]

Steve Harrison's campaign team emails over two statements, one on the unexpected passing of NY-13 republican candidate, Frank Powers, one on the Congress' FISA bill capitulation.

Steve Harrison statement on the Passing of Frank Powers

Today, I am deeply saddened upon learning of the unfortunate passing of Frank Powers. I did not know Frank but I admired the fact that he stepped up to the plate for his party and demonstrated courage when called upon to act. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.

Statement on FISA

This Friday, legislation was passed that will take away constitutionally guaranteed rights. The FISA bill strips Americans of these rights and protects telecommunications companies from being held accountable by the people.

It's time to support Democrats with democratic values and principles, Democrats who will work on behalf of the American people and protect their rights. When I'm elected to Congress, I will be that Democrat.

No word from Mike McMahon on either subject to date. Stay tuned.

Brandon English at the DCCC emails over some further distressing news for Progressive NY-13 candidate Steve Harrison: his opponent in the Demcratic primary, Michael McMahon, has been added to the DCCC's Red to Blue program.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced today the next round of candidates who earned a spot in the DCCC’s highly competitive Red to Blue program. These 14 candidates qualified for the third round of the Red to Blue program by surpassing demanding fundraising goals and skillfully demonstrating to voters that they stand for change and will represent new priorities when elected to Congress.[...]

“The candidates for change being named to the DCCC Red to Blue program are running strong campaigns and are committed to making things easier for middle class families in their districts,” said Chris Van Hollen, Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “With less than five months to make their case for change to voters in their districts, the Red to Blue program will give these candidates the financial and structural edge to be even more competitive in November.”

Michael McMahon is the only candidate in the Northeast to be added to Red to Blue in this wave, joining Dan Maffei (NY-25) and Eric Massa (NY-29) on the rolls of the DCCC's frontline candidates.

As personal problems and scandal ended the political career of Staten Island Congress Member Vito Fossella, some Democrats and reporters seem to have awoken to what they say is a once in a generation opportunity to turn Democratic a Congressional seat long held by Republicans. (See also SI Advance, here .) As a result, the (in my opinion, conservative) Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, local Congress Members, Democratic Party "regulars" and the Working Families Party have endorsed NYC Council Member Michael McMahon over progressive, anti-Iraq-war candidate Steve Harrison. None of these groups, thus far at least, have shown any interest in the positions of either Mr. McMahon or Mr. Harrison. My sometimes ill-informed judgment is that ignoring the merits is a mistake. The reason why Democrats John Hall and Kirsten Gillibrand beat entrenched GOP Congress Members in 2006 was that they presented clear progressive programs to counter the Bush-clone policies of their opponents. In my view, to the degree that the Democratic party presents Bush-Cheney-Lieberman-clone candidates to the voters, it will lose.

To focus then on some of the issues which are crucial, in my view, I asked Council Member McMahon some questions He replied in part and you can (and should) judge those answers for yourself.

Below, however, are three questions which Council Member McMahon didn't answer. Because I respect the abilities of those who prepared the answers, I am persuaded that the omissions are deliberate. Those omitted answers concern issues which members of the next Congress will actually face.

More war? Mr. McMahon did not state whether, were he a member of Congress, he would favor or oppose further Iraq war funding. Billions of dollars, needed at home, are funneled into Iraq-war-profiteers and into an immoral and evil war. Check it out in more detail here . If we're to believe Nobel-prize economist Joseph Stiglitz, the total tab will come to three trillion . Can Mr. McMahon say no to such squandering? He doesn't say.

In Daniel Millstone's excellent piece on the Iraq War positions of NY-13 Democratic primary contender Michael McMahon, the latter, a sitting member of the City Council, is quoted as saying this:

With regard to various city council resolutions on the War, I do not believe that the City Council, which has some very difficult issues to face, is best prepared to spend its time working on these issues. In my time in the Council, I have worked very hard on issues that affect the working men and women of my district and the City.

Now, one might argue that the Iraq War does indeed directly affect a district with 45,046 civilian veterans in the last census. One might further argue that the cost of the Iraq War in the Thirteenth District, $1.8B to date, with $462.7M online for FY 2008 and FY 2009 also coming from the district, is indeed a matter of interest.

Of course, as McMahon implies, resolutions by the City Council, even if passed by the bushel, do not in and of themselves carry much weight in the national legislature except as a debatably effective tool of persuasion. That would be an entirely fair point to make. However, a quick review of McMahon's record reveals that he has indeed sponsored and voted for such appellative resolutions, including some that should make Democrats cringe.