From the Editor’s Desk:  I was totally surprise this morning when I checked my e-mail.  I couldn’t believe how many people sent messages and in various ways said they clearly understood how Golisano was trying to stuff his two candidates, Joe Mesi and Jon Powers, down our collective throat.

Amherst is a town of caring, well-educated people who can tell when someone is trying to jam an 800 pound elephant down our throats by sending tons of colorful flyers which don’t actually say anything.

Golisano will not taste victory in Amherst with his two parrots, but he will taste the bitter aftertaste of loss.  His money not only stuffed our mail boxes but overloaded our garbage cans and lined many bird cages.

Golisano, stay out of Amherst.  We can think for ourselves.

Robert L. Koch
Former Tonawanda Village
Justice and Postmaster
(1879 - 1884)

His great-great grandson
Dan Ward
“Before you know where you are going, you have to know where you have been”

Democratic Party Primary Day - Tuesday Sept. 9 - Vote Dan Ward NYS Senate, 61st District.Educated, Experience, Independent - “I’m looking to no Billionaire, No Political Establishment, No Special Interest Group…I’m beholding to you, the VOTER.

Golisano: Calling Any Candidate Who Will Do His Bidding

September 9th, is Primary day.  We, the public, have been showered with tons of paper in our mailboxes supporting mostly Joe Mesi and Jon Powers. This is Joe and Jon’s first turn at politics. Joe is running for a seat in our State Senate while Jon is running for Congress.  Both Joe and Jon have been lucky to have the support of a billionaire who is a ture believer in the American way of life.  If you have enough money you can buy anything and anyone!!!

Mr. Golisano comes from the land of billionaires.  Presently he wants to own politicians in New York, then he will start creeping out to other states, like a deadly cancer, to control other candidates who will do his bidding.

Politicians are being bought by allowing wealthy backers to pour money into their campaigns so they can overwhelm their competition with television ads, color flyers flooding mail boxes and unending radio spots.  The print and media material say things only an ignorant fool would believe, but then it is being written by individuals who want to control a state by ‘owning’ candidates; candidates who don’t care who pays their bills. 

If Jon and/or Joe win they become part of our governing body, or better said, part of Mr Golisano’s governing body.

These candidates should understand they are Mr .Golisano’s little hand puppets and he pulls the strings.  If they obey his every command their life in politics will be sweet and they will rise rapidly up the steps of government.  Would you like to control Senators in our in Congress to do your bidding? 

Mr. Golisano’s dream will become a reality unless common sense Americans in our area say, “No” to this repulsive man’s plot.

 j.j.Tricoli        

“I COULDN’T STAY SILENT ANY LONGER”: LaFalce Calls Kryzan “Head and Shoulders Above Her Opponents”

Today, Congressman John LaFalce did not mince his words – ‘Alice should and could win’

Amherst, NY – John LaFalce, a 14-term Congressman and long-time public servant, today endorsed rising star Alice Kryzan for Congress. A respected statesman, Vietnam era veteran, and popular leader, LaFalce said;

“I couldn’t stay silent any longer with such an exceptional candidate in the field who is clearly head and shoulders above her opponents. I felt compelled to make public my support of her, especially since I am now convinced she can and should win.”

LaFalce has represented many parts of what now constitutes the 26th Congressional District. Throughout his political career as a State Senator, State Assemblyman, and 28-year member of the US House of Representatives, LaFalce got to know the District and its residents well. It is this familiarity with the region and the issues facing it that convinced him to support Alice Kryzan for Congress.

Having served in Congress as Chairman of the Small Business Committee and the Ranking Democrat on the House Financial Services committee, LaFalce’s endorsement lends considerable weight to Kryzan’s platform of experience, environmental responsibility, and economic resurgence.

In making his endorsement, LaFalce added;

“I know all three of the candidates, especially Alice. There is no doubt in my mind that Alice Kryzan is exactly what the doctor ordered for Western New York. She has run a positive and responsible campaign we can all be proud of, and she has the intellect, experience, judgment and passion to get things done in Washington. America and Western New York face serious problems, and we need serious people to solve them. I am convinced that Alice, a lifelong Democrat, will be an exceptional Congresswoman. It is my pleasure, and duty, to give her my endorsement.”

And so reads the press release from the Kryzan campaign. I had the pleasure of attending the press conference at the Riviera Theater in the City of North Tonawanda, and speaking with both the Congressman, and Alice Kryzan - whom I first met about 1 year ago.

His endorsement was a resounding and energetic call for all the voters of the 26th District to give due consideration to Alice Kryzan before they cast their ballot.

What did he say that is not in the Kryzan Campaign press release?

Alice Kryzan acts according to her convictions, is the only true Democrat, is 100x more capable than Jon Powers, has a passion for Health Care for all Americans, believes war is the last option, and has a positive vision for the future.

In the end Alice Kryzan remarked that she will defend Social Security, will stridently work to make this district a hub of green and alternative energy projects, and was greatly humbled by the former Congressman’s endorsement.

Posted by Mike Wrona

Apparenetly every income level is dealing with rising prices.  Even high-end retailers like Saks Inc, and Nordstrom Inc. posted weaker results as their affluent customers start to feel pinched.  The old standby Wal-Mart was one of the few who posted higher August sales.

“Consumers are spending on necessities and looking for value and the lowest price possible. And it’s reflective again in the results that we are seeing,” the president of research company RetailMetrics, Ken Perkins, said.”

“Wal-Mart said that sales of groceries and back-to-school products helped its August same-store sales rise 3 percent. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a 1.6 percent increase. Including fuel, the retailer’s total same-store sales rose 3.5 percent.”
more…

Sarah Palin, Republican John McCain’s choice for V.P. is not Roman Catholic but a member of the Assembly Of God.  This sect has a history of intense hate for Roman Catholics and Jews.  In their comic book type of literature they refer to the Virgin Mary as the whore who slept around with Roman soldiers.

At a recent meeting at her church in Alaska the speaker told the gathered throng that the Jews in Israel should be killed because they do not accept Jesus as being the Son of God.  When asked to respond to this Sarah said she did not agree with his point of view.

All photos courtesy of Alden Pellett Photography

Rouses Point, NY – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today joined with Akrimax Pharmaceuticals Inc. Chairman Joseph Krivulka, and Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas, to tour the Akrimax facility in Rouses Point. Senator Clinton played a key role in helping to bring Akrimax to the Wyeth facility in Rouses Point following the announcement that Wyeth would be closing the manufacturing facility in 2008. The decision by Akrimax to come to Rouses Point will allow the local economy to retain approximately 800 jobs, and will help preserve one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing operations in New York State.

“In 2005 when Wyeth announced they would be closing operation at the plant it could have been a devastating blow to the region, but the people of Rouses Point saw it as an opportunity and a call to action,” said Senator Clinton. “With the assistance of Garry Douglas and the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce we were able to show Akrimax that there was a top-notch operation and dedicated workforce waiting in Rouses Point for the right company to move in. This is a victory for the North Country and for the hundreds of dedicated employees who depend on the success of this facility. I am proud to have had the opportunity to help make this connection, and I am glad that our hard work has resulted in a solution that benefits Akrimax and the local community.”

“Senator Clinton personally engaged with our entire team from day one, helping to maximize benefits for the Wyeth employees while also helping us to market the facility. Within months, she called us at the Chamber to connect us with Joe Krivulka and his partners and the rest is now history. Make no mistake. This was an extremely complicated deal and we were in direct competition with sites in other states. But she was right there, along with our other state and federal partners, every step of the way lending support and encouragement,” said Garry Douglas, President of the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce. “And the North Country needs to know that she continually calls us with prospects and contacts, and reaches out to prospective companies for us whenever asked, including an aerospace company just last week.”

“Senator Clinton was our first call when we considered acquiring this North Country facility. We are deeply grateful for her strong support and look forward to an ongoing relationship as we fulfill the legacy of manufacturing excellence at this facility,” said Joseph Krivulka, Chairman of Akrimax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The announcement in late 2005 that the Wyeth Pharmaceutical operations would be closing could have been a devastating blow to the village of Rouses Point and the entire region. Following the Wyeth announcement, Senator Clinton worked closely with Gary Douglas and a team of others to help find a dynamic company to come in and assume operations at the plant. After having met with Akrimax to discuss bringing their business to the North Country, Senator Clinton was able to facilitate the connection between the emerging pharmaceutical company, the area’s local leaders and the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce. Senator Clinton and her staff maintained this relationship throughout the process in order to assist Akrimax and the community with issues related to the transition.

During a two-year transition period, Akrimax will lease a portion of the manufacturing facilities to Wyeth, and Wyeth will continue operations until Akrimax integrates its own products into the facility’s operations. Akrimax will eventually hire nearly 800 employees from Wyeth. If a suitable company had not been found to take over operations, the closing would have resulted in the loss of hundreds of jobs and the need to redevelop a plant of considerable size.

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) invites local college and graduate school students interested in an unpaid internship to contact his office.  Openings are currently available in the Washington D.C. office.  

“The ability to participate in this nation’s democratic process and make a difference in our local community is an opportunity I treasure each and every day,” said Congressman Higgins.  “I encourage students interested in learning from and contributing to the governmental process to contact my office.”

Interns will have the opportunity work on a number of activities including:  constituent relations, research, staffing meetings, and writing projects.  A limited number of interns will be accepted each semester.

If you would like to apply for an unpaid internship in the Washington, D.C. office, please send your resume and cover letter to Molly Ritchie at molly.ritchie@mail.house.gov .                   

Part 1         

Mr. Rove has pushed Freedom’s Watch in particular, said several people who have heard him make the case.  He has told donors that he trusts the two longtime Republican operatives running the organization.

One is Executive Vice President Carl Forti, who is the former political director of the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney and the former communications director of the National Republican Congressional Committee. The other is Executive Vice President Tony Feather, who was political director for Mr. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign and is a founding partner in FLS-DCI, a consulting firm for corporations and political candidates.

Mr. Rove is not paid by Freedom’s Watch, but nonetheless has spoken highly of its efforts when asked by Republican moneymen where they should put their contributions this fall, said people close to the former White House strategist.

The result has been an uptick in contributions to Freedom’s Watch.

“It has raised our profile, and his confidence in the operation has helped legitimize it in the minds of potential donors,” a Freedom’s Watch official said.

The group spent $17 million last year, according to its latest public disclosure, and has spent about $20 million in total, a spokesman said.

Freedom’s Watch has begun to concern some Democrats, with its large bankroll and plan to play in multiple markets with hard-hitting attacks.

 Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the House Democrats’ fundraising committee, accused Republicans of having “essentially contracted out to Freedom’s Watch” to do their fundraising and attack ads.

“There are these shadowy groups out there who can spend an unlimited amount of unaccountable money,” Mr. Van Hollen said Thursday in an interview with The Washington Times. “That is what ‘Freedom’s Watch’ is geared up to do.”

Mr. Rove also has recommended that donors with strong pro-life positions on abortion give money to the National Right to Life Committee. The committee declined to comment.

Republicans have been at a disadvantage on the money front through much of this election cycle. Democratic candidates for president, the House and the Senate have outraised their Republican counterparts.

The Democratic re-election committee in the House has raised $109 million, $29 million more than the Republican committee. In the Senate, the Democratic committee has collected $93 million compared with $59 million by its Republican counterpart.

Only at the national committee level do Republicans top Democrats. The Republican National Committee has raised $457 million compared with $417 million by the Democratic National Committee, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is so confident that the trend will continue and that he will bring in large amounts of money that he has declined to take public funding for his general election bid. Mr. McCain, on the other hand, will accept and stick to the $84 million that the federal government is offering.

Mr. Obama’s supporters expect that he will raise and spend much more than $84 million this fall. His own funds will be supplemented by several efforts that will total hundreds of millions of dollars.

For example, the AFL-CIO has approved a political budget of $53 million and its affiliated unions are expected to spend an additional $200 million on political activities. The National Education Association probably will spend more than $40 million and the Service Employees International Union has designated $100 million.

MoveOn.org also will spend substantial sums, conservatively estimated at more than $30 million. Last week its political arm launched a $2.5 million fundraising effort to bankroll a drive to register 500,000 voters.

Major corporations also will spend tens of millions of dollars to counter labor unions, especially over the question of secret ballots in union certification elections. Companies are worried that if secret ballots are eliminated, their workers will be unionized with greater ease.

Independent groups often do not advocate the election of specific candidates, but buy commercials or send out fliers that support policy positions. The effect of the effort is often the same because candidates are named in the advertisements and are closely associated with the issues mentioned.

EXCLUSIVE: Part 2

Political strategist Karl Rove, freed of his White House role, is encouraging major Republican donors to give their money to organizations that operate independently of the Republican Party and are poised to spend upwards of $100 million trying to elect conservatives this fall.

Mr. Rove, the architect of President Bush’s election victories, has been telling Republican benefactors across the country that giving to official Republican Party fundraising committees will not be enough this year, according to people familiar with his pitch over the past few months.

They said Mr. Rove has regularly expressed concern that Democrat-leaning organizations such as MoveOn.org and labor unions could swamp the Republican Party’s money machine and overwhelm the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican.

GETTY IMAGES Political strategist and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has been encouraging wealthy Republican donors to fund outside attack groups such as Freedom’s Watch.

To counter that wave, Mr. Rove has been asking elite Republican fundraisers to pour their millions of dollars into nonparty groups like Freedom’s Watch, which is gearing up to spend tens of millions of dollars to help elect conservatives - primarily Republicans - to Congress and the White House.

Freedom’s Watch has purchased advertisements that help Republican candidates by emphasizing issues rather than the candidates and do so without coordinating with the Republican Party.

Independent groups such as Freedom’s Watch on the right and MoveOn.org Political Action on the left will fuel much of the on-air and on-the-ground skirmishing this fall between Democratic and Republican candidates. Well-heeled donors often prefer using these organizations as conduits for their contributions because they often can remain anonymous and because the groups’ expenditures are not disclosed until after they are made, if at all.

Mr. Rove declined to comment about his discussions with Republican fundraisers.

But his spokesman, Mark Corallo, acknowledged that Mr. Rove, when asked, has encouraged people to fill the coffers of groups that in effect act as adjuncts to the Republican Party.

The message, Mr. Corallo said, was: “Conservatives, when interested, ought to contribute generously to groups that advocate their goals.”

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