NY: Hysterical Police State Advocates and Drug War Zealots Want Mandatory Drug Testing for Teens

From CBS New York:

Assemblyman Joseph Saladino (R-Massapequa) has introduced a bill that would require parents of high school students to give their children annual drug tests.  “If they dont do it, the student would not be allowed into school,” Saladino told CBS 2′s Jennifer McLogan.  The proposal would mandate that parents administer the test and sign a statement swearing it was performed. The results wouldn’t be disclosed — not even to the school.

Is there really any difference between a police state and a nanny state?

NY: Independents Offer Alternative in Race for Ithaca Mayor

From the Ithaca Independent:

Independent political candidates are the outsiders, akin to being at a party without a name badge. Such un-affiliation with a single group can cause unease in voters seeking assurance from the familiar. But an increasing number of citizens both nationally and locally are turning to independents as an alternative to the idealogical logjam perfected by Democrats and Republicans. In Ithaca, two independent candidates have differing visions of the city’s future . . . .

NY: Green Party to Hold National Meeting this Weekend

From the Wall Street Journal:

The Green Party will hold its national meeting in upstate New York as it pushes to become a stronger third political party.

The Aug. 5-7 meeting in Alfred will focus on the group's platform that opposes war, increased coal production, and nuclear power.

NYC: Socialist Workers Party Scramble to Submit Petition in House Race

From Ballot Access News:

On July 13, the Socialist Workers Party submitted 7,080 signatures to place its nominee for U.S. House on the ballot in New York’s special election set for September 13. No other group or independent candidate submitted a petition. The law requires 3,500 for independent candidates, or the nominees of unqualified parties, for U.S. House, and the law does not reduce this number when the petitioning period is short (as it almost always is, in special elections).

The SWP collected these signatures in only four days. The only other candidates on the ballot will be the Democrat and the Republican, unless the Green Party exercises its right to nominate someone without a petition (the Green Party is a qualified party in New York, so it has this option).

NY: Greens See Influence in Passage of Gay Marriage Bill

A letter from the New York Green Party Co-Chair to the Green Party of Monroe County:

The New York State Senate gave final approval Friday night to legalize same-sex marriage. A big thank you and congratulations to everyone who help make this change including countless Greens.

In the past few months The Green Party of Monroe County has been active advocating for the passage of this bill through lobbying state Senators and state Assemblyman, phone banking, hand delivery literature, and of course attending rallies.

For the Green Party this journey started a very long time ago, legalizing same-sex marriages has been in the Green Party's platform since it's inception. Over the years we have been steadfast in our call for marriage equality, and full LBGTQ rights.

On February 27, 2004 our advocacy turned into real action when Jason West, the first Green to be elected mayor in New York State, began performing marriages of same-sex couples outside the village hall in New Paltz. Mayor West was on the Rachel Maddow Show, the day before this historic legislation was past, to talk about marriage equality in New York, and what role his actions had in moving the issue to the forefront on political debate.

Alison Duncan, the 2006 Green Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York and the first openly gay candidate for a gubernatorial office in New York, toured the state speaking on a wide range of LBGTQ issues, and pushing marriage equality in the political discourse here in New york.

Today I thank Mayor West, Alison Duncan, the founders of the Green Party, and the countless Greens and the countless New Yorkers, and advocacy groups that helped change happen in New York. Today we celebrate, tomorrow we continue to fight for equal rights for all.

-Jason Nabewaniec
Co-Chair of the Green Party of the United States

NY: White Runs for City Council as Green

From 13 WHAM:

Saying "we need more", Alex White announced he is running for City Council in the South District against political veteran Adam McFadden.

"I have nothing against Adam McFadden," he says.  "We need more, more pressure, a better voice, and more vision of how we can get there."

White who will run on the Green Party line is no stranger to elections.  He has mounted several city wide campaigns most recently running for Rochester Mayor in the special election last March.  He was defeated by Thomas Richards, a democrat, but received nine percent of the vote.

NY: Green Party to Hold National Meeting in Early August

From the Green party:

The Green Party of the United States will hold its 2011 Annual National Meeting at Alfred University in Alfred in western New York, from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7.

The meeting will take place at the fourth bienniel New York Green Fest, "a gathering of folks interested in exploring the politics and practices that will help enable us to live in a sustainable world, and sharing a weekend of good discussions, good food, and good music" (http://nygreenfest.org).

"We look forward to meeting in New York, where the Green Party of New York State regained ballot status in 2010 with Howie Hawkin's Green campaign for governor," said Jason Nabewaniec, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States and a New York Green.

Green Party leaders will begin organizing for the 2012 election season, including the presidential race. The party will nominate a candidate for the White House at its 2012 national convention. The 2011 meeting in Alfred will also feature Green Party panels, workshops, meetings of the Green National Committee, and other events.

The meeting is open to the media and public . . . 

NY: Libertarians Open to Cross-Endorse Republicans who Support Gay Marriage

From Capital Tonight:

In hopes of countering the state Conservative Party’s threat to strip GOP senators who vote “yes” on gay marriage of the right to run on Row C, the Libertarian Party is offering those ousted lawmakers a place to land in 2012.

“The Libertarian Party does not believe government should have any role at all in marriage,” state Chairman Mark Axinn told me in an email this morning. “But inasmuch as it does, we certainly believe that such involvement should be on a non-discriminatory basis.”

“Various Republican State Senators have stated that they will support equal rights for gay New Yorkers and it is likely that the Conservative Party (and perhaps others) will shun them for that. We believe the opposite reaction is warranted. Those state Senators who indicate they oppose government discrimination are welcome to seek the Libertarian line in 2012, and we would be happy to discuss it with any of them should they be so inclined.” . . .

NY: Independent Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Ithica

From the Ithica Journal:

Local business owner and first-time political candidate Christopher Kusznir announced his candidacy for Ithaca mayor Friday on The Commons. Kusznir said The Commons are representative of the struggles of all Ithacans -- marked by empty storefronts and lost jobs . . .  Kusznir is the first independent to announce his candidacy in the race. Three Democrats have declared for the race . . . and one Republican . . . .

NY: New Ethics Law is Unethical, Unconstitutional, for Exclusion of Independents

From the Wall Street Journal:

The new ethics law being touted by Gov. Andrew Cuomo parcels equal roles to Democrats and Republicans in investigating lawmakers of both parties suspected of questionable conduct. What about independents?

"They don't exist," Mr. Cuomo said at a recent news conference, at which point he and legislative leaders standing beside him broke into a hearty laugh. But constitutional scholars aren't taking the matter so lightly.

They're warning that the state's new ethics body may be destined for legal challenges in federal court. By enshrining into law the perpetual dominance of Republicans and Democrats in overseeing ethics codes, Mr. Cuomo and lawmakers could be infringing on the rights of unaffiliated and minor-party citizens . . .

For more on the new law, see Poli-Tea.

NY Gov: Independents Don't Exist

From Capitol Confidential, via The Hankster:

The bipartisan structure of the to-be-created Joint Commission on Public Ethics is carefully balanced (to the point some have criticized it) between the Republicans and Democrats, so neither party could conduct a “political witch hunt” against the other.

But what about lawmakers enrolled in one of New York’s minor parties? “They don’t exist!” Gov. Andrew Cuomo jokingly said Monday. “We’re going to go back to drafting now and write that in.”

But there is currently one lawmaker who is an enrolled Independence Party member: Fred Thiele, of Suffolk County, a Republican turned Independent who now caucuses with the majority Democrats . . .

NY: Greens Call for Moratorium on Police Use of Tasers

From News LI:

(Suffolk County, Long Island) - “The Green Party of Suffolk is outraged to discover that Suffolk County has continued using Tasers against its residents,” said its chair Roger Snyder. “It is inconceivable that Suffolk has continued to use Tasers given the questions about the Taser-related death of Darryl Bain in 2009.”

Snyder repeated the Green Party’s plan to protect the lives of Suffolk residents: “In line with our pillar of nonviolence, the Green Party of Suffolk demands Suffolk County seek out ways to avoid the use of easily abused and potentially lethal Tasers. As an immediate step, the Green Party of Suffolk calls on the county to put a moratorium on the use or purchase of any Tasers. In the long term, the Green Party calls on the county to train the police in nonviolent methods of resolving situations.”

The renewed call for a moratorium on Taser use in Suffolk County was prompted by the death of Daniel McDonnel after he was tasered twice by the Suffolk Police. According to Newsday, McDonnel is the fifth person to die after being tasered by Suffolk Police. Amnesty International USA has found that at least 350 people died in the United States and Canada after being shot by Tasers since June 2001 . . .

NY-26: Davis Ain't Dead Yet

From WBFO:

The numbers may show a loss for independent candidate Jack Davis, but he says this is not the last you will see of him. Davis lost the 26th Congressional special election Tuedsay night. Davis hosted election party at Brennan's Bar on Transit Road in Amherst for his supporters. Davis says the independent candidates will continue to challenge the leaders of both the democratic and republican parties. . . . Davis said this race was only a milestone in an unfinished war.

NY-26: Independent Pulls 9% in Special Election

From Ballot Access News:

On May 24, New York voters filled the vacant U.S. House seat, 26th district. The results are: 48% for the Democratic nominee, 42% for the Republican nominee, 9% to Jack Davis (the independent candidate with the Tea Party label), and 1% for Ian Murphy, the Green Party nominee.

Independent Marginalized by Mainstream Press in NY-26

From the Suffolk County Liberty Report:

Voters in New York’s 26^th Congressional District in Western New York are preparing to vote in a special election May 24^th to replace disgraced Republican Representative Chris Lee, the married “Craig’s List Congressman” whose solicitations of women on the internet was exposed earlier this year.

The race, which should be a slam-dunk for the GOP, is instead a more closely contested three-way race because self-financed faux “Tea Party” candidate Jack Davis has done well in the district. A Siena College poll taken April 26^th-27th, the most recent, reliable, independent poll, showed none of the three candidates with a majority. The leader was Republican Jane Corwin (36%), followed by Democrat Kathy Hochul (31%) and Davis, the “Tea Party” independent,(27%). The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points, so the two major party candidates could be in a dead heat, but only because of Davis’ strong showing as an independent.

To read reports from the New York Times and the Associated Press, though, one would think this was only a two-way race. Davis, whose populist, anti-NAFTA, anti-immigrant, anti-Wall Street message has played fairly well among rank-and-file Republican voters, is barely mentioned in most news stories. The 27% Davis polls, and which comes mostly from Republican voters, isn’t mentioned at all. Instead, the liberal media portray the Davis’ candidacy as merely a “complicating factor”, practically a statistical blip in the scheme of things . . .

NY-26: Greens Protest Candidate's Exclusion from Debate

From the Green Party of New York, via On the Wilder Side:

The Green Party of New York State would like to express its deep disappointment in the exclusion of Congressional candidate Ian Murphy from the upcoming May 12 debate in the 26th Congressional District. The decision to exclude Mr. Murphy denies voters in the district the chance to hear a legitimate candidate with a unique platform, and is an act of censorship on the part of a private station which profits from use of the public airwaves.  Voters have a first amendment right to hear all ballot-status candidates, and WGRZ is a private station on public airwaves which believes it has a right to exclude candidates from a debate.

WGRZ has admitted it is blatantly excluding a ballot-status candidate from a debate because of a personal disagreement between a station employee, Scott Levin, and Mr. Murphy.  The unlikeliness of this happening to Ms. Corwin or Hochul, as Democrats and Republicans, makes it all the more obvious that this is occurring because of Mr. Murphy’s status as a Green Party candidate.   Indeed,Jack Davis, an independent candidate, has also called for Mr. Murphy to be invited to the debate. We urge WGRZ to reinstate Ian Murphy into the May 12 debate as both the right and democratic thing to do.

NY-26: "Wall Street Owns Both Parties" Says Tea Party Candidate

From Sam Wilson at The Think 3 Institute:

This month brings a special election to New York's 26th congressional district to fill the vacancy created by Rep. Chris Lee's embarrassed resignation over an internet flirting scandal. Lee won the regular election last November by a landslide, but the special election is proving more competitive. While many reports attribute the close polling so far to Democratic fearmongering over Rep. Ryan's long-term budget proposals, another important local factor is the independent candidacy of Jack Davis, a local businessman, on a "Tea Party" line . . . His appropriation of the TP mantle has caused controversy and is clearly hurting Republican chances. Davis had the support of 23% of respondents in one poll reported last month.

Read the rest of Sam's analysis and commentary on Davis's independent tea party bid.  Davis has just released a new ad in the race declaring that "Wall Street owns both parties!"

NY-26: Davis Calls for Inclusive Debates

From WBEN:

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Tea Party candidate, Jack Davis says he would like to have all the candidates for the NY 26th Congressional seat participate in Thursday's televised debate. Ian Murphy, the Green Party candidate, is not being allowed to take part and Davis, in a statement issued today notes, “In a democracy, all citizens should have a voice, and all candidates should be heard. The media shouldn’t be deciding who gets heard and who doesn’t. Though I may disagree with where Ian Murphy stands on the issues, I believe in the First Amendment and he should be heard. Ian Murphy is on the ballot, and he should be in any debate televised on the public airwaves.” . . .

NY: GOP Conspiracy Theories Featured in New Ad Attacking Third Party Candidate

From Roll Call:

After largely ignoring third-party candidate Jack Davis in her first round of television ads, Republican nominee Jane Corwin is attacking the former Democrat as “the hand-picked candidate of Nancy Pelosi” in a 30-second television spot that began airing across the district today. The ad is her first since a public poll showed Corwin leading Democrat Kathy Hochul by just 5 points, 36 percent to 31 percent. Her lead would be far larger without the presence of Davis, a Congressional candidate with a history of switching parties who will appear on the May 24 ballot under the “Tea Party” line. Davis pulled 23 percent in the poll. “Davis was a handpicked candidate of Nancy Pelosi, and said he was proud to help her become Speaker,” says the narrator in the new ad.

The ideology that sustains the two-party state resembles nothing so much as a vapid conspiracy theory. This often appear to be just as true of the brain dead followers of the Democratic party as it is for the brain dead followers of the GOP. 

Excelsior: Michael Bloomberg's Address at the World Trade Center on the Death of Bin Laden

From NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's address at the World Trade Center today:

Good afternoon. In the dark days that followed September 11, 2001, Americans made a solemn commitment that we would always remember in our hearts and minds all those we lost.

In just four months, on the tenth anniversary of the attacks, thanks to the generosity of people from around the world, the National September 11^th Memorial will open, providing a powerful and permanent place of reflection and remembrance.

Already, there is a generation of children growing up who were too young to understand what happened on 9/11 – and they may be too young to understand what the news of Bin Laden’s death means. But it is our obligation in building the museum to ensure that the story of 9/11 is never forgotten.

In the dark days that followed September 11^th, we made a solemn commitment that we would rebuild the World Trade Center site. As you can see, Seven World Trade Center is standing and open for business. Four World Trade Center has risen above 25 stories, One World Trade Center is now above 60 stories, and both are stretching higher every day. This is the largest, most complicated construction site in North America – and one of the most important in American history.

In the dark days that followed September 11th, we made a solemn commitment – to the dead and the living – that we would bring to justice those responsible for killing more than 2,900 innocent people.

Yesterday, Osama bin Laden found out that America keeps its commitments.

Today, we have come to the site that terrorists attacked in 1993 and again in 2001 to re-affirm our commitments – to all those we lost, to the future we believe in, and to a more peaceful and just world.

And we come to say, with gratitude for the courageous men and women who made it possible, that the forces of freedom and justice have once again prevailed over those who use terror to pursue tyranny.

Osama bin Laden is dead, and the World Trade Center site is teeming with new life.

Osama bin Laden is dead, and Lower Manhattan is pulsing with new activity.

Osama bin Laden is dead, and New York City’s spirit has never been stronger.

The construction you see here is a rebuke to all of those who seek to destroy our freedoms and liberties. Nothing will ever return our loved ones – but we are rebuilding from the ashes and the tears a monument to the American spirit. New York’s way is ever forward, ever skyward . . .

Read the rest.   'Excelsior,' Latin for "ever higher" is the New York State motto.