It would have been nice to have been included in the AARP forum in Saratoga yesterday. Having collected over 4700 signatures for an independent nominating petition as of this writing, I think a credible case can be made that we'll be on the ballot. Unfortunately the threshold for the AARP rules require ballot access and a five percent showing in a public poll. Thanks Siena Research Institute, public debate is thriving ! We called you right away Mr. Greenberg. How will you account for the real results in your polling ? Yep, you're right, we still gotta make it.
As it was, I was left standing outside the room when all the angry and discontent spillovers were trotted down to the viewing rooms. As the sole individual left waiting, the overcoat guy told me I could go in towards the back. So much for fire codes if you're just one quiet, polite person.
The one hour of debate that I was privy to seemed like it could use a difference of opinion. I would have pointed out the real economic burden put onto the people by what is certain to be hyper-inflationary pressures that are bound to come this summer and potentially for years. I would have decried the stimulus package for banks and industry alike. My take on Social Security would certainly have alarmed the special interest group that is the AARP. Likewise my free market assertions about health care and the moral responsibility of one generation not to indebt another.
But alas, only Curtis Schick and the moderator Susan Arbetter took any time to greet me or acknowledge I was there. Channel 10 had a conversation, but Channel 23 seemed relieved when I backed away after introducing myself. Mr. Tedisco seemed spooked when he shook my hand and I introduced myself. Mind you, I was just as surprised when his wife indentified herself after I asked her for a signature out on the sidewalk two hours before.
If we make the ballot, it looks like we'll have one chance to debate thanks to Sherman Baldwin at WROW. Al Roney of WGY has also been very generous about having us on for an on air debate. We're getting closer as petititioning is still in high gear.
Send in those signatures if you want to help get another voice into a debate.
I received the AARP Voters' Guide at the debate. Scott Murphy and James Tedisco agreed on EVERY point in the guide. There was literally NO difference, not one iota, between the two. Their views were identical on all the key issues.