Poll: New York Democrats Look Strong

Poll: New York Democrats Look Strong
By MARC HUMBERT, Associated Press Writer

Monday, November 14, 2005

(11-14) 08:11 PST Albany, N.Y. (AP) --

A week after the 2005 elections, a new statewide poll showed Democrats in strong shape headed into the 2006 elections.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer hold huge leads over potential rivals in their respective races for Senate and governor, according to the poll released Monday by Siena College's Research Institute.

The biggest prize last week — New York City mayor — went to the GOP as Michael Bloomberg was re-elected, the fourth straight mayoral election won by Republicans in the heavily Democratic city. But elsewhere in the state, Democrats made significant gains in traditionally Republican strongholds.

"By virtually all accounts, the 2005 elections were a major disappointment for New York Republicans and unfortunately for them, they start 2006 considerably behind the Democrats in the two most important elections," said Joseph Caruso, the institute's polling director.
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/11/14/politics/p081102S62.DTL

The long nightmare is coming to an end. But only if we force fair elections.

Didn't he used to be a Democrat and is mostly a pragmatist rather than a GOP ideologue? :shrug:

were so many candidates on the Dem side that he couldn't possibly win as one. The Repugs had much less, and so he was able win as one.

I'm not fooled by him and am disgusted to have another 4 years with a repuke mayor!

I feel your pain, Talismom!

:pals:

Yes he is pro-choice. But I lived in the city both with Giuliani and Bloomberg, and Giulianni was more a force for good (positive changes in garbage pick up, graffiti, aggressive pan handling...)Although I didn't necessarily agree with all of Giulliani's actions, especially the Disnification of Times Square, I think he really did try to do positive things for NYC, that his desire to improve NYC was legitimate.

Bloomberg is a negative force in NYC.

Under Bloomberg, even though market rate rents have not increased, he has allowed thousands of apartments to fall off the rolls of the "rent controlled" status. Once an apartment hits market rate rent (I believe that is $1600 or $1650 for a one bedroom) then the landlord can jack the rent, kick out the tenant and remodel and rent or sell for big bucks.

Another problem is the proposed reopening of the 91st Street transfer station. The current relatively small facility has been closed for seven years because what was once a light industrial neighborhood now is heavily residential, with a soccer field next to the old station and projects two blocks North. For all of Bloomberg's ribbon cutting over the greenway (on the East River) he is planning on building a 10 story 3 acre garbage facility in a residential neighborhood on the East River next to the greenway. The council voted it down and but Bloomberg vetoed this and arm twisted to get his illegal plan passed.

He likes to win and does not listen to outside voices of reason once he sets his agenda (sort of like Bush and the Iraq war).

Now, Acorn (liberal environmental justice group) and Gracie Point Community Council are suing him. Who knows who will win this thing but Bloomberg does not care about the little people who get in his way and he has more money...

He has also did a Bush like fear and terror press conference shortly before the election, based on phony terror warnings. And he's turning the city into a police state (yes this provides jobs but...) It seems like once the massive display of force showed up for the Republican Convention, they never left. They often set up search stations with tables, much like an airport, four or more cops searching passengers just to get on and off a bus or subway train. This directly affects the working class and not those who can afford to cab or car service or pay $500/month for a parking spot.

Worst of all, this sense that normal means a middle aged woman having her shopping bag and brief case searched in the process of the daily commute, that daily search is an every day occurence and routine, this is unhealthy for democracy. Bloomberg claims this is all ok since he rides the subway. Just because he is willing to give up his civil liberties doesn't mean that it should be ok for every one.

Another trick he borrowed from Bush is his $400 property check Rebate as a sort of vote buying just two months before the election.
Meanwhile he's trying to raise property taxes and add a flip tax to NYC real estate - so it's all smoke and mirrors.

One of Bloomberg's sneaky techniques is he trys to instigate rifts between the rich and the poor in order to charade as a Democrat. He deliberately tried to turn those in Brooklyn who were against a transfer station there against those fighting it out over the 91st station (divide and conquer) - but this isn't working.

His ideals are not particularly Democratic and in some ways he reminds me of McCain - playing both sides and always out to boost himself.

I believe he also gave $250,000 to the Republican Party - and some directly to Tom Delay's PAC.

Bloomberg is a very rich and incredibly egotistical man and is willing to use a whole city as he pleases to fulfill each of his whims of the moment. He uses his pocketbook as a tool to acheive power.

Speculating, I think he sees his purchase of his office of Mayor of NYC as a stepping stone to the presidency, some day. So while right now only NYC has to deal with Bloomberg's reign of terror, longterm it is evident that he plans to inflict himself upon a larger constituency.

Beware of Bloomberg.

And we just elected a Repug Mayor with a huge margin!!!! Go figure!

I will like some explanation for that!

The old problems are still there but the times and the personalities(where they exist, apparently not enough in the most Dem city!) give massive advantages not necessarily the result of deeper resurgence or reform(LOL). The party would be as it has been, in need of reform, unity and under siege with e-voting attacking the process, were it not for our Senators and Spitzer and the decline of GOP fortunes.

Victory should not make us presumptive here and could be even damaging to the need for change in entrenched Albany. NY is no ways healed enough to cast off the dregs of the conservative onslaught and legislative failures. But it is enough to demand a huge effort to REALLY create a landslide situation with coattails in 2006 with the GOP on the ropes in more necessary places to defend.

I don't want this "Tweedledee ascendant" feeling to be the thing that ousts the RW and in reality leave the state party fat and unreformed and yet too thin to shove the likes of Bloomberg out(or at least give a huge fight). Too often it has been a ritual of "bi-partisanship" to come currying favors from the presumptive favorite of either party and betray the need for choice and even undercut one's own values and party nominee. That happens everywhere but it has a coldly ritualistic inevitability here. Added to garrulous bigshot veterans who love trashing the party that left them out in the cold.

Kinda new here, so be kind. :)

I think the reason Bloomberg got re-elected is because the Democrats really did not run a good candidate for mayor against him. Ferrar ran a weak campaign, and was a weak candidate, sadly.

Also, keep in mind that Mark Green really should have won in 2001, despite a nasty, negative campaign from all sides. 9/11 and Rudy endorsing Bloomberg tipped that race in the GOP's favor, IMO.

The Democrats couldn't afford to spend real money on the NYC campaign. IIRC, Bloomberg recently spent close to three times the amount Ferrer spent.

Bloomberg spent a ton in 2001, also.

Bloomberg is richer than God.

Repugs hold 9 congressional seats in NYC. Most of these are in Upstate New York, which is a traditional Repuke stronghold. Things are changing though. There are a few seats in the NYC environs. I think Peter King in Nassau County could be vulnerable. He is anti-choice voice in a very pro-choice electorate.

I can't wait to campaign for them! Pirro, Weld, and Golisano are a bunch of hapless losers and corrupt publicity hogs who will only help their Republicans slide further into oblivion. But this can only be the outcome if we work for it!

That's gonna make things better as it is.