Robert Harding will be hosting Darius Shahinfar, Democratic candidate for Congress in the open NY-21 seat, tonight at 6:00PM eastern time for a live blogging session at The Albany Project.

Be sure and get there early so that...

... you don't have to stand in the back of the room.

It's Tuesday, Sep. 5, 2006. The day after Labor Day and the campaign season is officially on. 64 days to election day.

Kirsten Gillibrand candidate in New York's 20th Congressional District has already challenged incumbent John Sweeney to a debate on Iraq 3 times. Sweeney is ducking and running, hiding from Gillibrand, hiding for the issues, hiding from the constituents of NY-20. The best he has offered is sometime after Labor Day.

It is now after Labor Day.

Today, the Gillibrand Campaign came out with a new TV ad on Iraq and John Sweeney.

Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region
is hosting our
2006 New York State Candidate Forum
this evening:

Wednesday, July 12, at 7:00 PM.

Location:
SEIU 1199 building
155 Washington Ave, Albany, NY

Featured candidates are:

Neil Breslin, State Senator, 46th District

Ron Canestrari, Assemblyman, 106th District

Bob Reilly, Assemblyman, 109th District

Brian Keeler, State Senate Candidate, 41st District

Cross Posted from The 10,000 Things

New York State Senate Minority Leader and Democratic Lt Governor candidate David Paterson will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region on behalf of the Democracy for New York Coalition.

Who: Sen. David Paterson
When: Wednesday, June 14, 7:00 PM
Where: Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region
SEIU Building
155 Washington Ave, Albany, NY (Map)
(right next to the Albany Public Library)

Brian Keeler (known on-line as NYBri) is a New York DFA member running for the State Senate in the 41st district (Columbia and Dutchess Counties). I've know Brian on-line for a year or so now but met him personally for the first time at our Democracy For New York state convention last month. I think he'll make a great State Senator.

He is making his formal announcement and posted it on-line at DailyKos:

I'm told Markos will be featuring Brian's campaign today. If you are a DailyKos member please recommend Brian's diary. If not, please read and learn about Brian and his campaign. His is a very winnable seat. Democrats only need to win 5 seats to take control of the state senate and I think Brian's can be one of those 5.

Brian's district overlaps with Kirsten Gillibrand's (NY-20 CD) and you might consider helping out both campaigns over the summer and fall if, as I do, you decide Brian is one of your candidates for this year.

Please check him out!

I think you'll like what you see.

Cross posted from The 10,000 Things

Today was graduation day at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. My niece, 2-time All-American Sarah Elizabeth Berheide (Field Hockey and Lacrosse), graduated Magna Cum Laude today. Her story is already an inspiring one... and it is just beginning. I couldn't be prouder if she were my own.

Included with the 600+ Class of 2006 Honorary Doctorates were bestowed upon 3 distinguished guests, Douglas Greenberg, visiting professor of history at the University of Southern California and executive director of USC's Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education; Thomas Kean, former governor of New Jersey who was head of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the U.S.; and Arthur Mitchell, founder and artistic director of the Dance Theater of Harlem.

Cross posted from The 10,000 Things
Cross posted at DailyKos

Rep. John Sweeney (R-Alpha Delta Phi) is continuing his plan of reaching out to a wide range of constituencies.

Following on his successful outreach to the youth vote the increasingly desperate Mr. Sweeney is now working on securing women's votes.

In an article in Sunday's Troy Record Sweeney is quoted as saying in regard to his female Democratic opponent Kirsten Gillibrand...

"You can't take a resume and a pretty face from New York City and say to people this is good for you simply because we can spend a lot of money and raise a lot of money."

Judith Hope, former chair of the New York Democratic Committee and founder of the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee had this to say...

... than John Sweeney of the New York 20th congressional district."

So begins the endorsement today of Kirsten Gillibrand by Democracy for America.

"In addition to voting in lock-step with President Bush, enjoying ski trips with lobbyists, accepting thousands of dollars from Tom DeLay, and partying at college fraternity houses on the weekends, John Sweeney's found time to try to privatize Social Security and give away billions to the oil industry."

"Thankfully, DFA candidate Kirsten Gillibrand is everything that Sweeney is not. She's smart, ethical and will represent Upstate New Yorkers with the honor and dignity they deserve. Let's help Kirsten bring dignity back to DC."