Eric Sundwall

The LP released an exit strategy last summer.

Despite numerous issues and problems, they were the first party to start to consider the real problems with occupations.

A six to 12 month strategy offered by a freshman Congress person would have little effect.

Jeff Russell is the LPNY's U.S. Senate candidate for 2006. He's in the toughest possible position this year. He's running against Mrs. Clinton who has gobs of money and every expectation for another grab at the White House.

Nothing of note in regards to courts and lawyers.

We did get some press from some young journalists at Metroland and the Register Star.

See this link for Sunday's Register Star.

Here's the text . . .

Candidates, even Libertarians, receive a bevy of 'questionnaires' from various special interests all touting their ability to reach voters with their organization if you just answer their questions. For the most part we tried to answer all of them, despite what we would consider the hidden agendas. We had a good experience with the debate we organized in June and that the local LWV 'moderated'. They were responsive and very professional. We tend to think that had we made it through the ballot process, we would not be invited to debate because of the unreasonable 10% threshold that they demand from candidates. Here's our response to their last questionnaire;

We try not to strike current politicians here, because policy and philosophy are more important, right ?

None the less, it might be the last time to be more effective with some negativity before the new Kahuna finishes taking reservations for the Pepsi Ball. My favorite recollection of a NY governor was Hugh Carey after his hair turned orange. As I listen to the MSM AG debate, I shudder at the Cuomo voice coming back at me. As a lad in Middle School I joined the Conservative chorus against him because he was forcing me to use my seatbelt when I was finally old enough to drive. After that it was just waste money and try to cleverly rationalize with a uber-moralizing tone. When George came the speed limit went back up and nothing ever changed after that . . . Now here comes a new cape crusading part time King . . . Help quality people fight the system in the next four years - Vote Clifton Silberger !

The Times Union came out in favor of Kirsten Gillibrand on Sunday. Aside from the usual editorial pandering and self-righteous prattling they claim the following:

'She has been against the war in Iraq from its ill-conceived beginning and offers a sensible course that recognizes the failure of President Bush's mission and envisions a negotiated political solution that would allow a deadline to be imposed for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.'

Envisioning something and making it possible are two seperate things. The reality is that Mr. Bush was given a blank check and no freshman Congressman will persuade the powers to be otherwise in future forays. My recollection is that 'no permanent bases' and Iraqi's should have a stake in their country and oil. No tacit acknowledgement that the undeclared 'war' was unjust or unjustified. I recall the editorial board interview with the PostStar in Februaryand Ms. Gillibrand gave a qualified answer at best. Calling for the initiation of the War Powers Act would be evidence of opposition. Paid strategists would never be so bold in a tepid electoral environment like the 20th CD.

I'm not going to respond to posts at TAP in the form of a comment. I've already been called unreasonable by Andrew White and yet I maintain a high standard of not personally attacking anbody. Sometimes I chide, but typically I just disagree on principle and attack faulty logic. Knowing that my own traffic at this site is still significant I'll maintain the illusion of an audience and throw out some criticism of the current Congressperson. As 'devtob' seeks to play KG as this super special representative, this is what I would have asked in West Sand Lake yesterday if not for both children being very sick (this should deflect the call for me to ask her myself rather then my own special place on the net).

1. Would you support the initiation of the War Powers Act instead of a toothless non-binding resolution ?

2. If an attack on Iran is imminent will you tell your constituency in advance at the risk of being accused of compromising 'national security ?

3. Do you feel that a Declaration of War is required to invade and occupy another country ?

Preferring a simple Yes or No, I'll just speculate on the answers that would be given.

At the end of what would be my failed attempt to get on the ballot in the 2006 campaign, the LPNY Senatorial candidate, Jeff Russell and I crashed a MoveOn.org event. The purpose and the tone of the event was a criticism of the war on Iraq and a display of the opportunity cost for the district if the tax dollars stayed at home.

While we were there to criticize Hillary Clinton and John Sweeney for their support of the war , there were a couple cat calls in regard to the current Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand. She obviously had not taken a strong enough position against the war and the leftists and brave progressives were taking her to task about it. While its not very puzzling strategically to see why the Gillibrand campaign avoided this event, it remains equally dubious that the current mailer her five offices has mailed out amounts to fiddling with the tax code in light of the major crisis that Empire has driven. While it stresses property tax relief, one has to wonder whether the current CongressCritter would have been suited for the Assembly or State Senate instead of waddling around under the auspices of the nation's Capitol. It was a question many asked of me as I was running. My answer was always . . 'the war, the war'.

If you're still with with me on this post, which have been rare and infrequent here, here's an in depth criticism of the whole approach. Of course I saved the top shelf stuff for the real blog. This hardly seemed like worthwhile there, but it was something that had to be said in case there are a few willing donors to pop a few grand off a piece for another insurgent effort that dealt with the war and the trillions of dollars of unfunded mandates that our children and grandchildren are stuck with . . . .