Chamlin Was There
In the letter, Chamlin tries to set herself up as the reformer in contrast to Kellner, who is running with the support of most of the Manhattan Democratic establishment, by backing Eliot Spitzer in his death-struggle with the Assembly. She also touts a long and varied resume with a Forrest Gump-y "I was there" refrain about her participation through the decades in the causes of racial equality, abortion rights, AIDS awareness and, of course, Liz Krueger's election to the state Senate.
She also refers to herself as "the most progressive" candidate in the race, though without any specific comparison to her opponent. Which prompts the following question:
Are there any substantive differences between the candidates that might make this race about something other than endorsements and money for mailers?
-- Azi Paybarah
I guessed you missed Micah Kellner's quite specific 12-point platform to reform the Legislature, Azi. It's on www.cityhallnews.com in the item announcing that Scott Stringer had endorsed Kellner. I was there -- I read it!
Whoops, never mind. I guess when it came to reading the earlier item here, I wasn't there, after all!
worst. campaign e-mail address. everrr.
So let her stay there. By the way, is "there" with the Working Families Party, running against a Democratic candidate?
One is not a blithering idiot
Chamlin may have been THERE; Micah is HERE with a detailed and thoughtful agenda, not to mention a promise to foreswear any lulu. Sounds good to me.
If she's endorsed by Spitzer, she can make it a race on any ticket, including one from a Chinese laundry.
So apparently the qualification to be in the Assembly is to do things ober the course of 40 years. Is Kellner supposed to bide his time for 40 years, and "be there' waiting his turn.
It is clear that Kellner supports a reform agenda. Chamlin has no special reform credentials. Why would Spitzer bother supporting Chamlin and pit himself against the Borough President, Congresswoman and every elected official in the area save the State Senator? Kellner, as state committeman, strongly supported Spitzer. What did Chamlin do for him?
Why bother?
Why not change the name Kellner to either George Latimer or the guy from Syracuse?
The Governor is clearly capable of dissing those who hleped brung him. Liz Kruger voted for Stark; who did Bing vote for?
chamlin is probably a nice lady whose only purpose is to give kreuger a chance to parade her (kreuger's) own ego. which just got slapped down.
Bing's not running. Kellner is, and he said publicly in front of a crowded auditorium that he would have voted for Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman for State Comptroller.
What makes you think Chamlin is independent and that Kellner is some kind of Silver acolyte? There is only one candidate in this race that is part of the disfunctional goings on in Albany and that is Chamlin. Kellner's experience is working for elected officials at the Federal and City levels. Let's face it, if either is elected they would both be pressured to toe the party line.
Kellner's answer is a non-answer, and too clever by half.
What is so clever about his answer? As a member of the Assembly he would have had a right to nominate Weizman. Why is Stark superior to Weizman? Actually, the choice shows some individuality. The only people who backed Stark were the members of the minority party in both chambers. The ones who had nothing to lose by making that choice. Some showing of strength that is.
So the New York Times editorial endorsing Weitzman as clearly the most qualified was also too smart by half? Sounds you are not too smart, by half, 4:14 p.m.
Perhaps Chaplin's refrain should be changed to "I was there, but I'm not here now!" I heard she skipped the Lenox Hill Democratic Club forum for Assembly candidates tonight because she is on vacation in Florida.
azi your coverage is pathetic
Chamlin was in Florida but Kreuger was also hiding from the local Dems.