Great idea. One the dem side of things I would put him near the top.

Oh, and he is carpet bagging into the NYC to be closer to Gietner and the Wall street team. Whats the point anymore.

Can we make sure AIPAC does not buy the candidates?

Of course he moved there 3 years ago for this excatly. The reason being of course NY has a good base of Dems that are going to vote for anyone with a D next to their name. However looking at the bank sellout Dodd perhaps there is a small ray of hope (sadly that ray of hope is the primary, or barring that losing the seat to an R so that at least the person was “honest” about who they server – other than the “I am going to lower your taxes” many R’s actually are quite happy to say who/what they server (business… I mean “small business” hehehe)

While Ford is indeed offal ;] and might lose the primary, he’d still be a spoiler by depleting Gillibrand’s coffers. I had such hope’s, years ago that Harold wouldn’t be a sellout. SOP I guess.

It would be more energizing if the alternative wasn’t the pseudo-liberal Gillibrand who described her own voting record as “one of the most conservative in the state”. Seeing as how she supports renewing the Bush tax cuts and voted for telecom immunity, this probably isn’t too far from the truth in terms of Democrats. In a lot of ways, a primary between Gillibrand and Ford would be a “pick your DINO” sort of event.

My favorite paragraph from the NYT story:

Some of the donors who have urged Mr. Ford to consider a run expressed alarm as Ms. Gillibrand, who as a congresswoman represented a conservative upstate district, has abandoned some of her previous positions on issues like gun control and immigration as she prepares to run statewide. Several executives interested in a Ford candidacy said that Ms. Gillibrand’s positions echoed Mr. Schumer’s and that the state needed a second independent voice in the Senate.

“Abandoned” as in “moved leftward”.
“Independent” as in “Joe Lieberman lite”.

I’d look at Gillibrand’s more recent Senate record, and realize that she’ll be up again in 2012 so there will be three more years of the same dynamic.

Newsflash…elections are decided by the independent moderates of the nation such as myself. Harold Ford is an effective politician that has the relevant experience to help get things done in the Senate. There will never be a time when all of the extreme policies of the right or left will rule the day…it will always be compromise and “deals” that win the day. It’s called balance without a perilous descent to either extreme, and is the reason that we have such a great and prosperous nation. Be proud of who and what we are! And continue your fight as it provides the “left” base for negotiations for which we independents are grateful.

Now that’s some “progressive” thinking for ya – win a battle but lose the war.

For christ sake don’t be purist morons – stop forming circular firing squads even before there’s a reason! If there is no progressive that passes the “lefty litmus test” in that contest than Ford is the best we’ll get. If we trash him without having a candidate with more “progessive” credentials in the starting blocks then all we’re doing is giving the rethuglicons an opening by “eating our own”.

Remember folks it’s “Ready, AIM, Fire” not “Ready, FIRE, Aim”. Leave that strategy for the teabaggers and GOPers.

WIN FIRST – Then sort out who gets the progressive pressure and who doesn’t…

Right On, powerball – Right On!

WIN FIRST – Then sort out the flavors for who might need the “progressive” cattle prod and who probably doesn’t. Besides, we’ll know before the elections who most likely will and who most likely won’t and that will make it simpler – and save batteries. Gotta always think green ya know..

The Dems are as bad as the Reps and it’s just fine to vote with your conscience, especially during a mid-term election after the Dems in congress completely deserted their base. We can’t see a difference between the parties anyway, so who cares if the Democrats lose and there’s a Republican Majority for the next two years. After that, let’s see what happens from 2010-2012 and decide what to do for the General election in 2012. Amy Goodman’s guest this morning said that Obama conducted foreign policy much like SARAH PALIN would have!!!! Here’s something from the interview: In an extended interview, award-winning journalist and activist Allan Nairn looks back over the Obama administration’s foreign policy and national security decisions over the last twelve months. “I think Obama should be remembered as a great man because of the blow he struck against white racism,” Nairn says. “But once he became president…Obama became a murderer and a terrorist because the US has a machine that spans the globe that has the capacity to kill, and Obama has kept it set on kill. He could have flipped the switch and turned it off, but he chose not to do so.” He continues, “In fact, as far as one can tell, Obama seems to have killed more civilians during his first year than Bush did in his first year, and maybe even than Bush killed in his final year.”

I loled.

So, you’re a stooge and thinly disgused plant for the GOPers and Teabaggers are we now ocean1? The bat-shit crazy right wing talking points you just posted is the give away dude.

Remember, we’re lefties not the village idiots.

I’m for free speech and all that but your post is more of a partisian smear than an informational comment.

Maybe your posts would be better on WND, the teabagger party site or the Beck-erhead radio show. I’m pretty sure you’ll know how to find them…

Shorter powerball, “Continue to be our bitches so we can Lieberman alls over yous.”

Jonathon Tasini is THE progressive candidate for NY Senate.

His FDL – Blue America page is here.

I wonder what makes Harold Ford think he could win an election in New York State? Because HRC did it? He seems to be one of the few candidates that can make Gilibrand actually look like a winner.

Yeah you decide. Take a leap.

I have a better idea, do the research of what is already out there and obvious.

So you are a “stooge” who will vote for anyone with a D next to their name and then “sort” them out and “prod” them.

WIN FIRST ! WIN FIRST !

Win what?

True but Tasini is in that primary too!

Win against the dreaded Republicans, go team! It really is time to start getting into the weeds on policy and issues, and not so much about personalities and winning teams. Ford is at best the understudy, second string, the last minute prom date and not a serious candidate in berry blue New York. Why on earth would they settle for this DLC hack when they could get a real progressive or at least a DLC hack that isnt so damned mealy mouthed?

Exactly. Gildabrand vs Ford is like Hillary vs Obama. The fact that they are pitted against one another doesn’t mean they oppose each other’s political views. They are racehorses owned by the same stable.

I have been watching the Fords for years and they are not nice people. The idea that Harold would carpetbag his way into NY is awful. Hillibrand is not a “good” Democrat but Ford is for sale to the highest bidder.

In 2006, I supported Harold when he ran against Corker for the US Senate seat from Tennessee. I even contributed to his campaign.

But between Gillibrand, Tasini and Ford, I would have to support Tasini as being the best of the three by far.

If it were just between Gillibrand and Ford, I just don’t know.

Why don’t we mobilize FOR Tasini, instead of AGAINST Ford. I fear you are playing into the centrist “lessor evil meme,” by mobilizing AGAINST Ford when Gillabrand is no prize either. I think the voters desperately WANT SOMEONE TO VOTE FOR AND NOT AGAINST.

If it were just Gillibrand and Ford, I would vote Green or writin.

Having done such a great job of getting elected in Tennesse Ford is now going to try his luck in New York.

Young man (or woman), You make a mockery of yourself and the English language. At least I can articulate my own thoughts and spell them correctly. Before you jump to your conclusions and publish them here, do some reading on FDL and see how my comments are all from the Left. I don’t need to justify to you or anyone what I think. Vote as you wish and good day.

Amen. I too am tired of having to vote against someone. Progressives have ideas, ideas that will work for Americans and that a majority of Americans support. It’s time to stop being afraid of our shadows and something worse and strive for something better.

Ooh, fight the Republicans in a defensive move, sure beats putting forth a proactive populist, progressive agenda.

Blue Texan’s regularly scheduled post is available: “Peter King (R-NY): Saying the Word “Terrorism” More Often Will Keep Us Safe”

mesa mick thinks that everyone not agreeing with him is a stooge, but he isn’t one for the dems at large. We want real progressives to vote for.

Guilty as charged there redX. Electing more “Ds” IS everything.

It’s politics, not some religious-like cult of progressive purists and the idea in politics is to WIN FIRST so you can get your agenda done, not get to progressive “heaven”.

Since my position seems to be lost to you let me try to explain. WIN FIRST means elect a large majority of progressives, liberals, dems and even blue dogs. That’s what it takes to get things done days, a LARGE majority not an ideologically perfect one.

Being a lefty of any flavor means that you should have a high tolerance for trying to “herd cats”. If that’s not in your DNA maybe you should think about joining the GOP – ideological purism has been their mantra for years. They thrive on the lily-white, pure as the driven snow political demagogury that you seem to be advocating as the best election strategy.

I respect you position redX but history shows more often than not ideological purism at any cost is a losing strategy in politics. Lets not try to be ideologically perfect at the eve of the 2010 mid-terms, lets get “Ds” elected than we can split hairs over their ideological purity and how best to work them over to our advantage…

Indeed, I’ll be writing in “Howard Dean” every time I see the Democratic Party advancing a DINO instead of a real Democrat.

Thanks to PaulaT, who made the suggestion in Making sure they get the right message in 2010. I’m joining her effort to send the right message.

I’ve read your posts in more than one thread and I find your name calling very offensive. You seem to be new here and this isn’t a “D” site. It’s most certainly not your site, and you shouldn’t be telling others they should leave and go to WND.

OOOO! By the sounds of things it looks like someone might have seen through your smoke screen and might have caught you red handed as a GOPer plant there ocean1.

For the record I’m a Vietnam Era vetern and an old white guy who used to be a Goldwater-style republican in the 70′s. Now I’m a registered dem in AZ and trust me, that ain’t no picnic.

Now, if you’re still gonna be a stooge and secret bomb-throwing plant for the bat-shit crazies on the right go for it, but don’t try and hide it by dissing me or my opinion as a diversion to who you might be. This old dem knows when someone is pivoting or spinning to avoid the truth – I live in AZ remember? Be honest as to who you are, you might get a degree of respect for that…

Translation : He’s Corporatist tool like his pal Obama. He’ll get things done for Corp. A B & C.

If ever there was time to start fundraising for an advertisement, Harold Ford running in New York is it. I would happily donate to an ad campaign to make New Yorkers aware of what kind of politician has just slithered into their community.

Here’s a role reversal for you. Ford aims to appeal to NYC where “Gillibrand has trouble”. Gillibrand is strong upstate. It is very clear that Wall Street is trying to play the race card with this choice, and they had to go out of state to do it. Will it work in NYC?

Be aware that white Democrats (or progressives) are automatically cast as the foils in this little drama. Whatever is done better have some broad-based support.

I agree with what you’ve said. It doesn’t matter to me what letter designator is next to the name when the policies are the same. I’d rather clean the seat and have an R hold it for one term when a real progressive/populist can take it. Entryism has ruined the Democratic Party and Mesa Mick wants more of it. Her name calling is projection.

A little thin skinned are we now shekissesfrogs?

Politics is a bare knuckle game not a polite social club for latte drinkers trying to get in touch with their innermost feelings.

Deal with the reality of hardball politics and embrace it worts and all. That’s how “Ds”, progressives, liberals and even blue dogs get things done for the benefit of ALL Americans not just a handful of elitists on the right.

PS: For the record I’m a balding, fluffy, middle aged Vietnam Era vet that used to be a Goldwater style republican in the 70′s. I’ve “found myself” decades ago – good luck with your search…

Rattner et al are all Clinton Wall Street folks as is Gillibrand. Maybe The Clintons will run for the seat and Gillibrand can go back to practicing law at her law firm.

Oh you folks who have the luxury of voting for someone.

In 2010, I will be voting against Richard Burr. None of the Democrats come close to being the same as Burr. But none of them are progressive in the sense that Kucinich or Bernie Sanders is progressive. But I will be voting.

Harold Ford’s entry ups the ante on Tasini being a protest vote only if Ford and Gillibrand run relatively close in the polls. So watch the polls as the race goes forward before you decide definitely who you are voting for.

The perfect is never the enemy of the good in elections because no politician ever dreams of coming close to perfect.

Please do not confuse liberal progressive attitudes with the slimy type of person that Harold Ford is. You can present all the personality in the world and still be a slimy peice of excrement. I lived in TN and supported Fords run for a senate seat when he ran against Bob Corker. Dirty politics on the other side, hell yes. Reality came to the surface after the election and Harold Ford was exposed to simply be the latest in the Ford crime family. This latest round of “supporters” want someone who will stay bought. Look at what the Bush crime family has accomplished. Rape and pillage used to be in ancient times the rights of the victorious in war. These crime families that we keep turning the keys to the treasury over to continue the tradition of murder, rape and pillage. We are all brothers and sisters on this connected earth, we need to start acting like it. Peace to all

Ford is a conservative democrat and will fit right in with Obama and Rahm, he is definitely not someone who deserves progressive support. He is definitely one of them go along to get along politicians who wld sellout his constituents as soon as he received his first corporate check.

I’ll be willing to donate money and be willing to travel to NY. I’m also willing to mobilize against the conflict averse empty suit in the WH.

I wonder what MLK would have to say about Obama and Ford?

yes i can certainly get behind the lets drive a ford into a ditch campaign. harold ford is the SHAMELESS milk carton box boy for MISSING: “have you seen american democracy”? i detest harold ford and his DLC corporate boot licking and bribe donation soliciting

right, thats what the establishment pundits are saying. but whats the point of”WINNING” if the winners are indistuinguishable? in the case of ford its not even that complicated. hes just crooked. hes a completely self interested, self seeking careerist, who is completely in it for the money. he will act in what ever way large donors want him to and there is far far too mcuh of that already

Indeed he is. Tasini is the exact sort of candidate the Democrats should be running in elections across the entire country.

Unfortunately, good progressive Democrats get eaten alive in primaries in machine states, such as New York. Either way, perhaps we should rally behind an independent candidate should Tasini not be the Dem nominee, which is likely.

well said…thank you for the info.
Cheers.

Thanks for the definition. Appreciate all your comments. Cheers.

Mesa Mick, your comments are so left and “off the wall” you could pass for one of Harry Reids speech writers!

I suggest Progressives ignore the Gillibrand v. Ford fight. Whomever wins we’ll have a conservative/DLCer, so there’s nothing for Progressives to gain.

Put money behind the Progressive if you want, but I suggest looking to greener pastures where a Progressive can actually win if given sufficient resources.

As much as I dislike Ford, why shouldn’t he run? With conservative Democrats ruling the roost in Washington–particularly the Senate–what’s one more?

Were I a New Yorker, I’d vote for Gillibrand, and I think Ford’s anti-choice position in Tennessee should hurt him, even if he decides to flip to pro-choice to run in New York.

Only problem with that newsflash is that the new center is the old far right. Nixon’s domestic policei’s would be considered lefty today. He would be unelectable.

Sorry about that spelling.

Latte drinkers trying to get in touch with their innermost feelings?

Maybe as a country we need to get in touch with our feelings period. Did you know children are being raped by our soldiers in Abu Ghraib?

Innocent men and women are being killed in all our wars? Some would probably ask if Americans even have feelings. You would not hear them . They would be the brown skinned people who are seeing their families and community memebers murdered for oil.

So as a country let’s all try to get in touch with our feelings because something is decidedly wrong with US policy..foreign and domestic.

Now you’re a balding, fat-around-the-middle, Vietnam vet who has seen the light? The only thing you see is that now you’ve turned into a fatter, balder Vietnam vet who supports Democrats that are dinosaurs and you are no progressive. As someone has already pointed out, the D in front of a name means nothing. Do you really think a reptile such as Ben Nelson has ordinary people on his mind and agenda?

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand used to represent a conservative district. She voted more conservatively then, and of course people still remember that. Now that she is Representing New York in the Senate she is much more progressive. Nat Silver at fivethirtyeight.com calls her a “Lockstep Liberal”. At ProgressivePunch.com they have her listed as having the 16th most progressive voting record in the Senate.

Harold Ford Jr. is the current chairman of the DLC, he is pro-life as he descibes it, and he against gay marriage and voted for a constitutional amendment banning it. The right went nuts on him and falsely accused him of all kinds of things that are not true, so don’t believe everything you read about him.

sounds good to me.

The right? If you mean the Tennessee GOP, yes they did. But Harold is NO progressive and would not represent New York in the way Hillary Clinton or Robert Kennedy did…NYs past carpet baggers. He is a light weight with NO moral compass..the Tenn GOP had that right…who is an opportunist and a charlatan albeit a Ivy league one.

That’s all radical democrats need is another corpocrat. Ugh. I feel sick.

Actually, I consider myself a pragmatist – real solutions for the real world that happens to include a populous of various political stripes. Any student of history must acknowledge that ideological purism always ends in disaster – Fascist Italy under Mussolini; Communist Russia under Stalin; Nazi Germany under Hitler; Present day Islamic-fascist of the Middle East….these are the reasons that America is Beautiful. We have a thriving democracy in which our citizens have the right to hold whatever political views they desire and the right to run for office under that platform. As I said earlier, I applaud the work done by progressives and conservatives alike – I just happen to hold a more moderate political view. Keep fighting the good fight – America needs you!

Harold Ford vs Kirsten Gillibrand?

you’ve got to be kidding me. i don’t know why progressives would even give a shit.

single payer comprehensive universal healthcare. a real climate bill (something like hansen’s proposal, not the bullshit goldman bill now in congress), end the wars, jobs program for full employment,….

that’s the kind of stuff that motivates this progressive. i have no desire to spend one minute or one dollar supporting neoliberal politicians or neoliberal economic policies.

thank you.