Kirsten Gillibrand new NY Senator. A Blue Dog democrat!

[jmg257]

McCarthy is not happy with her, so she must be a decent choice for gun owners, a rarity for NY state.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090123/ap_on_re_us/ny_senate_seat


"ALBANY, N.Y. – Gov. David Paterson appointed Democratic U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand on Friday to fill New York's vacant Senate seat,

...

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, who wasn't among the 10 to 20 people Paterson said applied for the Senate appointment, immediately criticized the expected pick. The Democratic congresswoman, whose husband was killed and son wounded by a gunman on the Long Island Railroad in 1993, said Gillibrand's support of more conservative issues such as gun ownership rights was out of step with most New York Democrats.

McCarthy, 65, vowed to challenge Gillibrand herself in next year's primary or find a younger candidate to do so.

"I will certainly raise my voice and run if no one comes forward," McCarthy said in a telephone interview Friday. "Believe me, this is a personal issue for me. I don't think someone with a 100 percent NRA rating should be the next senator from New York.

During the news conference, Gillibrand complimented all of the state's female House delegation, offering an olive branch to McCarthy who she said has "provided outstanding leadership in fighting against gun violence and keeping our children safe. I pledge to work with her on her signature bill for updating background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals."

Near the end of her statement, Gillibrand again brought up the issue again, saying she would support gun control "but also protect our hunters' rights.
..."

[ananda]

1. Why her?

I don't get it. Paterson must be some asshat...

[jmg257]

2. I know he said he would pick someone he thought stood a good chance of getting re-elected in 2010.

In this article, "Paterson stressed that he didn't choose Gillibrand because she was a woman or from upstate New York. I believe I have found the best candidate to become the next United States senator from New York," he said."

[virgogal]

3. Why not her? It was his choice in a really lousy system IMHO.

The replacement senator should be elected.

[spin]

16. delete...

replied to wrong post.

[derby378]

4. Carolyn McCarthy is already threatening a primary challenge in 2010

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/politics/2009/01/23/hillary-clintons-senate-replacement-draws-fire-from-liberals.html

Whomever said that politics is boring needs to take a good look at the upcoming Gillibrand/McCarthy primary next year.

[krispos42]

15. I think you mean in 2012, right?

Hillary's term expires in 2012. She was re-elected only 2 years ago. And I don't think the Senate does the "it lasts until the next election only" rule because by the Constitution they have to have 1/3 of the Senate up for re-election at any one time. Otherwise it would affect the percentage of the Senate up for re-election.



Four years is a hell of a long time.

[aikoaiko]

5. badda bing, badda boom.

Hip hip hooray for the elevation of a Democrat who supports the 2nd Amendment and isn't trying to ban shoulder things that go up (ahem, Rep. McCarthy).

[FLAprogressive]

6. She just flip flopped on RKBA. She's not any good and neither is gun grabber McCarthy.

Blue Dogs suck on almost every issue but RKBA.

[rangersmith82]

7. She will be the best RKBA person for NY

I hope she wins

[derby378]

13. I think all she did was pledge support for strengthening background checks

Not exactly a flip-flop.

[jmg257]

8. Sounds better all the time, this one...

From Wiki:


"She is an outspoken advocate for gun rights and has a 100% positive rating from the NRA, but has also worked to strengthen legislation to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

She supports same-sex marriage, abortion rights, stem cell research, and the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act.

She received a 100% rating from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Gillibrand supports extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for middle class families and opposes attempts to partially privatize Social Security.
She strongly supported passage of the 2008 Farm Bill.

Gillibrand broke with former Governor Eliot Spitzer on the issue of illegal immigration, opposing his plan to issue New York State drivers licenses to illegal immigrants."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirsten_Gillibrand

[FLAprogressive]

9. you support the Bush tax cuts?

[jmg257]

10. Just the one I got. ha!

Even better:

Abortion:
* Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
* Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)

Budget and Economy
* Voted YES on defining "energy emergency" on federal gas prices. (Jun 2008)
* Voted YES on revitalizing severely distressed public housing. (Jan 2008)
* Voted YES on regulating the subprime mortgage industry. (Nov 2007)
* Retire half the public debt by 2006. (May 2001) (ok that one's funny)

Civil Rights:
* Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
* Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)

Corporations:
* Voted YES on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation. (Apr 2007)
* Screen imports & ban lead in children's products. (Feb 2008)

Crime:
* Voted YES on expanding services for offendors' re-entry into society. (Nov 2007)
* Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program. (Jan 2007)

Education:
* More funds for NCLB and early education. (Nov 2006)
* Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Nov 2007)

Energy and oil:
* Raise CAFE; plus alternative energy R&D. (Nov 2006)
* Voted YES on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)
* Voted YES on investing in homegrown biofuel. (Aug 2007)
* Voted YES on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC. (May 2007)
* Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jan 2007)
* Balance fossil fuels and viable renewable energy. (Jul 2001)

Foreign policy:
* Acknowledge the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s. (Mar 2007)

Free Trade:
* Protect American jobs from going overseas. (Nov 2006)
* Voted YES on promoting free trade with Peru. (Nov 2007)
* Voted YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization. (Oct 2007)
* Block NAFTA Superhighway & North American Union. (Jan 2007)

Gov reform:
* No lobbyist gifts. (Nov 2006)
* Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations. (May 2007)
* Voted YES on granting Washington DC an Electoral vote & vote in Congress. (Apr 2007)
* Voted YES on protecting whistleblowers from employer recrimination. (Mar 2007)
* Supports Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform. (Jul 2001)

Health care:
* Medicare for all; allow drug reimoprtation. (Nov 2006)
* Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health. (Mar 2008)
* Voted YES on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids. (Jan 2008)
* Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Oct 2007)
* Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Jan 2007)
* Better and immediate funding for Medicare & Medicaid. (Dec 2000)
* Prescription drug benefit within Medicare. (Jun 2000)
* Improve services for people with autism & their families. (Apr 2007)
* Establish a national childhood cancer database. (Mar 2007)

"Homeland security"
* Voted YES on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad. (Mar 2008)
* Voted YES on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations. (Mar 2008)
* Voted NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
* Voted YES on restricting no-bid defense contracts. (Mar 2007)
* Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11. (Dec 2007)
* Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror. (Jun 2007)

Jobs
* Voted YES on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008)
* Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Mar 2007)
* Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Jan 2007)

Soc Sec
* Against privatization. (Nov 2006)
* Strengthen Trust Funds and take them off-budget. (May 2001)

Technology
ick here for 3 full quotes on Technology OR background on Technology.

* Voted YES on retroactive immunity for telecoms' warrantless surveillance. (Jun 2008)
* Voted YES on $23B instead of $4.9B for waterway infrastructure. (Nov 2007)
* Permanent ban on state & local taxation of Internet access. (Oct 2007)


http://www.ontheissues.org/NY/Kirsten_Gillibrand.htm

[Joe Steel]

20. Looks like shes good on most things.

We just have to flip her on guns.

Although, she may not be too bad. She said she supports gun control but is concerned about hunter's rights.

[bossy22]

24. i doubt

she will ever become a gun control pusher...you may see her supporting some measures but i doubt she will actively pursue them

[friendly_iconoclast]

25. I doubt you'll turn her into a cafeteria Constitutionalist

Although the cyncical side of me sez:

Just take all the RW spew about Roe vs. Wade, do a little rewriting and
you get the Bradyist talking points on Heller

[SteveM]

27. I doubt anyone will "flip" her on guns. She's smart. (nt)

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

30. No sense in supporting the WHOLE Constitution, eh.

[gorfle]

11. Whoohooo!

I love it when I have NRA endorsed or high-marked Democratic candidates to choose from for my state. It's good to see another state with an NRA endorsed Democratic candidate - especially in the north.

[jmg257]

12. You ain't kidding! I thought my NY was a lost cause, but there is hope!

Sounds like McCarthy is livid. Another post elsewhere said McCarthy was on Tweety's show going off about her, the NRA connection, etc. etc.

HR1022, my ass.

A bit of balance, now - thanks Governor!

[dusmcj]

14. Fuck yeah ! /nt

[spin]

17. Who knows, someday she might be the first female President. (n/t)

[Endangered Specie]

18. I was thinking the same thing... 8 years in the Senate sounds bout right

[friendly_iconoclast]

19. Fuck Carolyn McCarthy, she's the Dem version of Sarah Palin

an ignorant, self-important fundie preaching the word of the Prophet Shields. No better than the power-hungry teevee preachers.

Kirsten Gillibrand has got a credible voting record, and has a damn good chance of beating
McCarthy in a couple of years. Especially if Rep. McC. keeps running off at the mouth.

[spin]

21. Considering their position on firearms, I support Gillibrand...

Carolyn McCarthy:

After the Assault Weapons Ban expired in September 2004, McCarthy introduced the Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007 to reauthorize it in February 2007. McCarthy's new version would ban 65 models of firearms, as opposed to the previous ban's 19 models. In addition, McCarthy's law would ban any semiautomatic rifle, shotgun or handgun that was "originally designed for military or law enforcement use, or a firearm based on the design of such a firearm, that is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, as determined by the Attorney General."<23> In Slate magazine, a journalist asserted that the bill has little chance of passage and criticized it as a "fund-raising" bill.<24> McCarthy frames the reintroduction of the ban as law enforcement protection, though active, off-duty and retired police officers would be exempt from the gun bans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolyn_McCarthy


Kirsten Gillibrand:

She is an outspoken advocate for gun rights and has a 100% positive rating from the NRA,<25> but has also worked to strengthen such legislation as the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Improvement Act to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

for those who think the NRA only backs conservative politicians...

She supports same-sex marriage,<27><28><29> abortion rights,<2> stem cell research, and the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act. Gillibrand supports extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for middle class families and opposes attempts to partially privatize Social Security. She strongly supported passage of the 2008 Farm Bill. Gillibrand broke with former Governor Eliot Spitzer on the issue of illegal immigration, opposing his plan to issue New York State drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.<30>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirsten_Gillibrand

[FLAprogressive]

22. Carolyn McCarthy is a one trick pony....

both have similar records, except on gun control. Both are corporate shills.

[friendly_iconoclast]

23. It's gonna be hard to portray Gillibrand as a "RW, misogynist" stooge...

What with that 100% NARAL rating and all. I'm sure some regulars here at the Gungeon
are going through some cognitive dissonance just about now.

[tburnsten]

26. A person who supports gun control and claims to be interested in protecting hunters rights?

Is too pro-gun to fit in with NY senators and congress? Weird...

[aldo]

28. A 2nd Amendment Dem -- Yay -- we need more of them

I would have prefered Caroline - I think it might have changed the tenor and spirit of the Senate and our times. But if that was not to be, I'm not upset with this at all. Also she voted against the bailout the first time. A common sense Democrat.

[aldo]

29. Blue Dogs are infinitely preferable to DLC intruder worms

Blue Dogs are honest about who they are.