Eric Sundwall

We didn't get the opportunity to see if Fred Dicker asked Ms. Gillibrand about our debate invitation on his show last Friday. As you can see we were busy making our little guy happy and meeting the wonderful folks in the Adirondacks. She has until tomorrow to respond before we announce the dates and venue. We don't expect the Congressman to respond or attend.

The editorial sleight of hand that could explain the hagiographic tripe that is political reporting might be excused given the proximity of the GOP & Democratic conventions. The 'truth' is that NY's 3rd largest party is also having a convention.

Fred Lebrun dropped a term in this week's TU that I hadn't seen in that context. I believe "Historic Inevitability", is the approach to political truth that most media parlay. Candidates and parties succumb to it all the time. We just know that Hillary & Elliot will win their political fight. But in the mean time our former restaurant reviewer and our cut and paste reporters will fill in the space so all those trees can keep coming down so Mr. & Mr. Smith can read their paper in the morning. Those high-speed connections just aren't worth it yet.

Fred Lebrun dropped a term in this week's TU that I hadn't seen in that context. I believe "Historic Inevitability", is the approach to political truth that most media parlay. Candidates and parties succumb to it all the time. We just know that Hillary & Elliot will win their political fight. But in the mean time our former restaurant reviewer and our cut and paste reporters will fill in the space so all those trees can keep coming down so Mr. & Mr. Smith can read their paper in the morning. Those high-speed connections just aren't worth it yet.

The correspondent for the 'little' guy left us on the wayside this week.

The PostStar's Maury Thompson chose the bickerfest between john and K, rather then the announcement about our debate on June 14th.

Maybe we should have had Morris send it . . . .

Why is the call for debate so unreasonable ? Dr. Alan Chartock thinks that Elliot Spitzer would be crazy to accept Tom Souzzi's invitation to debate because, ' by accepting a debate you allow the minor leaguer to make irresponsible charges that will stick just because they have been uttered.'

If that's the sole function of debate for minor leaguers, who happens to be an elected administrator, what's the point of democracy ? Polls and media perception (and deception) should determine what the voters see and hear. These annoying folks who would question the darling crusuader of the people !

Of course us 'bush-leaguers will go to bat for the people, regardless of the incumbant or 'main' Democratic candidate.

Has their been a poll yet ? Political scientists used to use them . . . .

While we've been fishing for a seatbelt ticket during the recent crackdown, other candidates
are having their own troubles with the law.

The biggest surprise was the fact that the candidate actually drove themselves. You'd think a doting staffer would be at the wheel while those amazing ethics proposals and viable exit strategy's are being hammered out.

Does the candidate plea out ? Have counsel besides their own ? What will happen as the debt burns up the next three generations of wealth and undeclared wars continue to put citizen soldiers at risk ? Inquiring minds will want the court room details. That's real journalism after all.

The TU responded to us today. We exist . . . funny thing though.

I wrote : Please note that there are four people contending for the Democratic
nomination for NY's 20th Congressional district (blog note: including the names also).

Kate Perry writes back:

Columbia County resident, Eric Sundwall and three Democratic candidates for NY’s 20th Congressional District announce a television debate in June.

The League of Women Voters of Columbia and Greene counties has agreed to moderate a live studio audience debate on the Mid-Hudson Cable network on June 14th at their facility in Hudson.

Thank you, North Creek and Thomas !

Our mini-tour of Otsego County yesterday found us in Cooperstown Junction. Sam found this first generation diesel from Metro North.

We made it out to Cooperstown and had a quick dash through the Hall of Fame. Rain killed the game in the 3rd inning.

Ever get stuck in your car having only the choice of Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly for talk radio? Their broad generalizations about liberals or conservatives seem to reflect the dysfunction that two main parties need. I have friends in the Working Families Party despite my view on minimum wage. Most likely its my view on abortion or gay marriage that is our common bond. These ideological separations are the stuff that apologists of two parties rely on. They need division for ratings. Their small coterie of listeners are devout and outspoken. The rest of us kind of just live our lives.

Libertarians are often assailed for advocating a drastic reduction in government. Typically, the idea of roads comes up immediately. People want to know what we will do about roads. Only the most ardent libertarian will defend a private system. Once you acquiesce to a user fee or gas tax you are immediately stuck in the realm of expanding the idea of the 'public' good. It simply becomes a matter of degree at that point.

Tim West (Liberty for Sale blogger) has some interesting video for the LP cause.
Here's some

Citizen Torture

No Drug War

Here's the Google Video of it.

Filmed April 29, 2006.

This is our Hardfire program on Google Video.

This is Don's speech to the LPNY convention April 26, 2006.

Don's Speech - YouTube

Check it out.

Imposing force and then democracy on a previously sovereign nation has it's problems. Factions, elites and other underlying factors contribute to a whole array of problems and hazards. One in four active duty soldiers thinks we should withdraw from Iraq now. Of course their vote doesn't count.

The Green Papers is one of our favorite campaign resources. It gives a simple list by state of the candidates that they know about throughout the country. No hype or general attitude about the whole thing we deem or think is democracy. Just the candidates. It's how you find out about WL Swarts, the 'Progressive in the Woods'. As far as I can tell, ours may be the only Libertarian Congressional attempt in all of the Empire State. There is a Green running in one district. How is this possible ?

15 0.78% 14 0.99% 309 1.91% 2 0.80% housegate10.house.gov

We think they got the debate invite.

Webalizer could be wrong.

We're shooting for a morning in Cooperstown the day of the Hall of Fame game.

We would swing down to Delhi in the afternoon.

Not sure where we'll be yet. Feelers being put out now. Anybody out there ?

May 19th - Day out with Thomas we'll be in and around the event enjoying it with family and talking to residents alike.

May 21st - We're staying at one of our favorite places, Camp Wakonda, before we head out on Sunday we'll be at the Schroon Lake (Southern end) boat launch at noon for a couple hours. Come visit us at Wakonda or stop by on Sunday.

If somebody could contact Aldephia in Glens Falls and let them know you want to view the The Hardfire
edition of March 16th featuring Eric Sundwall . . .

Contact is Joan Denton 518-793-4356 227 Dix Ave., Glens Falls 12801

It will be broadcast on channel 71.
Let us know if you get through . . .

Tape is on the way as of today, see if you can beat it there.

Guess who has hasn't responded yet ?

May 2, 2006

Dear ,

Sometime in mid-April a letter was sent to your office regarding an invitation to debate candidates in New York’s 20th Congressional District. This is a follow up letter to insure that you have been adequately notified.

Congressional candidate Edwin Pell democrat for house in the 20th again
today called on George Bush as commander and chief of the army to begin
immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq. Mr. Pell said "sacrificing
American lives to gain geopolitical leverage over a primary oil supply
for China, India, and Europe is not what military service should be about."

An Editorial from May 2 ? We provide some answers.

Excerpts . . .

Would Mr. Weld, we wonder, have opposed a measure to make possession
of three illegal guns, instead of 20, a felony? Or the sale of just one
illegal gun? It's hard to imagine him supporting such sensible gun laws.

I hope this will contribute to the expediency v. principle argument that permeates LP blogland.

Don's Statement.