Let me tell you something about the Democratic Party in the State of New York:

[hedgehog]

Speaking as an Up-state resident, all too often our candidates seem to be selected by a small group of Manhattanites. Occasionally there is a primary challenge by someone from Brooklyn. Our primaries consist of selecting this person from NYC that we've never heard of over that person from NYC that we've never heard of!

I'd rather have Caroline Kennedy than someone who has a lot of political debts to people I've never heard of!

[merh]

1. what do you know?

I mean just cause you are in NY doesn't make your opinion more valuable than folks who don't live there.

:sarcasm:

[Cha]

2. I'm Upstate, too..and I want

Caroline Kennedy to be appointed by Gov Paterson.

[Captain Hilts]

3. I have friends in Utica and spent a lot of time there.

That's one thing that HRC gets dap for - she spent a lot of time Upstate. I met a woman from west armpit, NY - west of Binghampton and she said she met the old girl twice. She came there once stag, and once drag. She'd never seen a senator in those parts. D'Amato? Schumer? No way.

Utica, the Emerald of the Mohawk River Valley

[dmallind]

4. Ermm...

Isn't Kennedy an NYCer too?

Although given our WNY contingent I'm not sure I'd want to elevate any of them either to be honest - none of the potentials here(Brown? Come on!?).

But yes statewide officeholders are indeed slanted towards the city. Of course, so is population and money.

[hedgehog]

5. While she may be from New York City, I think it's safe to say that she's

not a member of the inner circle. Many people are calling her disqualified because she hasn't taken part in local politics. For me, that may be her strongest qualification!

[LynneSin]

15. Can you show me the part in the constituion that says Senators must have prior elected experience?

Because I can't find it anywhere.

[hedgehog]

16. I think we're in agreement here.

[Runcible Spoon]

6. as an Upstate NYer, I don't really feel passionately one way or the other about Caroline...

But yeah, having the entire State's agenda prioritized around metropolital Manhattan gets on my nerves too! JUST REMEMBER MANHATTAN I WILL PEE IN YOUR DRINKING WATER IF YOU PISS ME OFF! :evilgrin:

[hedgehog]

7. I wouldn't care so much if I thought the Party's agenda was dictated

by the needs of the City of New York. What bugs me is the impression that the Party's agenda and candidates are dictated by a couple dozen big donors in the Big Apple who view politics as a chic hobby!

[Raine1967]

10. Hilarious!

Do they still let you do that in the Ashokan? :rofl:

[Jennicut]

8. Upstate NY gets no love. My husband goes to Albany a lot

to play gigs there with his band. He loves driving up there from CT. Giving upstate DUers some love.
:hug:

[Runcible Spoon]

9. oooo I'm in Albany quite a bit!

what's the name of the band and do they have a venue they play a lot there?

[Jennicut]

11. Big Floppy Disk...they play lots of 80's tunes.They play the Bayou and Jillian's

Here is their website:
http://www.bigfloppydisk.com/
They are just really a party band. No originals, just covers. Some people are more into one type of band then another. He works hard for his $100 to $200 a night though. Travel, setting up the equipment, learning the songs. Its just a hobby but its a lot of work too.

[Runcible Spoon]

12. ohh badass!

thanks :) I quite like Bayou, have only been to Jillian's once since everyone always wanted Big House when we were in teh mood for a bar like that.

[Jennicut]

14. They are at the Bayou more. My hubby says the crowd is always great there

I guess they like 80's rock cover bands!

[TuxedoKat]

13. As a fellow upstate NY'er

I feel exactly the same way as you do! I would be thrilled to have her as our junior Senator.

[democrattotheend]

17. Good point...hadn't thought of it that way

That is one argument I have heard for Kirsten Gillibrand, is that there are no statewide politicians from upstate NY right now. As a South Jersey native, I sympathize...NJ politics is very north-centric, and I often felt like we got the shaft.