Obama decides NY should not have a Senate primary??

[aquart]

<http://gothamist.com/2009/05/16/obama_steps_in_to_keep_gillibrands.php>

Obama Steps in to Keep Gillibrand's Election Path Clear

If a strongly-worded recommendation from Chuck Schumer wasn't enough to discourage Congressman Steve Israel from challenging Kirsten Gillibrand in next year's Democratic primary for Senate, party brass brought in the big boss to make sure he knew how serious the sentiment was. Israel announced that he had decided not to run yesterday shortly after receiving a call from President Obama. Israel said, "When (the president) asked me to take a leadership role in fighting for his agenda, I wasn't about to say no. He believes that at this critical time...that party unity is important." Carolyn Maloney may be next potential challenger pushed to the side, but it doesn't appear that there is any sign of retreat from Gillibrand's most visible foe since entering the Senate, Carolyn McCarthy. She may also have to face labor activist Jonathan Tasini, who told Politico, "Had the party leadership sought to “clear the field” in 2008 and control a vigorous debate about the direction of our party and our country, Barack Obama would not be president today."

I never voted for this woman. Now our leadership in all its wisdom has decided she should be my ONLY choice?

[Renew Deal]

1. I like Steve Israel, but this is good news.

There's no chance some puke will steal his disrict. The chances of Tasini doing better than 19% are very low. It will be another waste of time.

And Tasini is a clown. Someone needs to go find his anti-Dem comments after he lost his last primary.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. And why not? She's becoming a pretty good Senator, and...

I would hate to see McCarthy or Tasini screw it all up with a primary challenge. Obama, Schumer, and a few others know how this works.

Tasini got blown away by Clinton the last time he tried to get a promotion, but let's say he or McCarthy get enough downstate Dems to grab the nomination this time. Anybody think either of them can possibly win the general?

Nope, it just opens up a perfectly good Democratic seat to some putz like Peter King. That's the last thing we need-- losing a reliable Obama ally to a wingnut.

(Never, ever forget how everyone was all agog at how some bantamweight was going to unseat Lieberman and how well that worked out.)

[TomClash]

3. I agree

I understand the Persident wants to keep his 60 seat majority, but we never voted for Gillibrand. She's a pleasant woman but I'm not sure I want her over people who have earned it, like Maloney, or who have views closer to mine. There's nothing democratic in snuffing out a primary; that's not change I want to believe in.