A Fifth Column on Staten Island: Dean Supporters Meet in G.O.P. Redoubt

[Khephra]

On Wednesday night, seven Staten Island supporters of Howard Dean convened beneath the trunk of a large bronze elephant head in a corner of the Sunshine, a cozy Sri Lankan restaurant in St. George, Staten Island. They were there to make each other's acquaintance, consume fish cutlets and talk campaign tactics.

Despite the elephant, these were not Republicans. Nirm Nagulendran, a 32-year-old lawyer from Manhattan, is a volunteer in the Dean campaign and had organized the meeting.

"Everyone in Manhattan thinks nothing happens in Staten Island, that it's a Republican stronghold," said Mr. Nagulendran, standing beside the group's long table and occasionally leaning out of the way of a rushing waiter with a sizzling plate of food. "But it's really important that we meet and get the message out that we're here and not -'' He searched for the proper word.

"Brain dead?" Bonita Rothman, a teacher, offered helpfully.

more............

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/07/nyregion/thecity/07dean.html

[Rose Siding]

1. Only one word for it

Adorable. Some of the things I run across in Dean's campaign are so damn cute I can't stand it.

In the Sunday mag, the reporter tells about the 900 unofficial campaign sites. He/she writes that a guy stood up a garden party to ask Dean a question. He said "I'm with Howard's for Howard" and Dean nodded in recognition like the guy had said he was with the AARP. Now THAT'S just CUTE, I tell ya.

And there is something incredibly reassuring for a presidential campaign to be secure enough to risk cute.

[jiacinto]

2. Not necessarily true

Staten Island (Richmond County) voted for Bush I in 1992. But in 1996 and in 2000 it voted for Clinton and Gore. While in local races Republicans win and it supports Republicans for Senator and Governor, it has been increasingly voting--along with Long Island's Suffolk and Nassau counties--Democratic for president.

[Rose Siding]

3. Really?

That's interesting. How do you always know how votes went, Carlos?

[jiacinto]

6. go to this website

www.uselectionatlas.org

[terrisel]

4. True

...and that twerp Republican congressperson they have has sold out the 9/11 families and is letting Bush stonewall the investigation.

[Jerseycoa]

5. Since 9.11

Staten Island is simply ripe for a Dem president.