This is rich: In a NYT Op-ed, Harold Ford explains why he's not running

[cali]

(poor wittle fuckwad was bullied by mean dems)

Why I’m Not Running for the Senate

By HAROLD FORD Jr.
Published: March 1, 2010

WHEN it was reported two months ago that I was thinking seriously about running for the United States Senate from New York, Democratic Party insiders started their own campaign to bully me out of the race — just as they had done with Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Steve Israel and others.

But as I traveled around New York, I began to understand why the party bosses felt the need to use such heavy-handed tactics: They’re nervous. New Yorkers are clamoring for change. Our political system — so bogged down in partisan fighting — is sapping the morale of New Yorkers and preventing government at every level from fulfilling its duty.

The cruel twist, of course, is that the party bosses who tried to intimidate me so that I wouldn’t even think about running against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who had been appointed to the seat by Gov. David A. Paterson, are the same people responsible for putting Democratic control of the Senate at risk.

These are tough times, and the New Yorkers I have met are facing economic adversity with grace and dignity. They worry about their future, care about their neighbors and hope this storm will pass so they can focus on better days ahead. And yet too few in the Democratic Party are really willing to break with orthodoxy to meet these challenges. We need leaders as good as the people they represent — leaders focused on creating jobs, keeping taxes low, helping small businesses and restoring faith in government.

Voting for health care legislation that imposes billions in new taxes on New Yorkers and restricts federal financing for abortions is not good for the people of this state. Voting against critical funds necessary to ensure the survival of the financial services industry — the economic backbone of this state — is not good for the people of New York.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/opinion/02ford2.html

[Swamp Rat]

1. Aw! I thought he was a tough guy.

:cry:



:D "Come in here dear boy, have a cigar, you're gonna go far..." :smoke:

[Umbral]

3. Riding the Gravy Train. nt

[ChicagoSuz219]

4. Actually being a NYer would've helped... n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

10. +1.

From here in NY. :hi:

[leftynyc]

2. In other words

He's not running because nobody likes him.

[SpiralHawk]

5. Take your carpetbag, and go home Harold

No one wants you. Deal with it.

[watrwefitinfor]

6. Sounds like typical Repub whining.

Tell me again why this guy calls himself a Democrat. Why is he even allowed in the Democratic Party?

Wat

[whistler162]

13. Welcome Freeper!

[JCMach1]

7. If you can be bullied by what stands for 'party bosses' these days

you need to grow a pair.

What we don't need is another spineless, corporate carpetbagger in the Senate.

[democrank]

8. Boo freakin` hoo, Harold.

Go away

[Rhiannon12866]

9. My early local (Albany) news is just now reporting on this, quoting this article.

I think that the actual reason is that he finally woke up to the fact that he would lose.

[SanchoPanza]

11. Sanctimonious ass

The party bosses bullied me out of the race. But they were right to do so. But they were mean about it, and are being mean to all my banker friends. Whatever. I would have won anyway, but I'm just too darned nice.

Now watch this drive.

[PVnRT]

12. Translation: I am a carpetbagging ass and there's no chance I can win

[spanone]

14. hey harold, we're fucking tired of chameleon politicians...

[whistler162]

15. Aside from asking you why they should support someone

from Tenessee. They probably told you yesterday, at least local Democratic leaders or whoever else was in on the conference, that they wouldn't support you!

note: company I work for hosted some type of telephone conference with Ford on the premises, top executives are big time Democrats.

[WCGreen]

16. If he couldn't stand up to suburban party "bosses", there really are no more bosses...

How could he stand up to Jim Bunning..

what a chicken shit.

He's on the Waaaaa train.

And Gov Patterson didn't appoint any of them.

[JNelson6563]

17. All this concern for NY by Ford. Very touching.

Cause it was never all about him, no he was just willing to take one for the cause of saving New York. Mmm Hmm. Sure.

Julie

[Arkana]

18. What a whiny piece of shit.

"WAAAGGGGHHHH THE DEMS BULLIED ME OUT OF RUNNING AGAINST HER WAAAAGGGGHHHH"

Maybe because you suck, Harold.