Finding Ulysses

The policy positions expressed by Chris Thomas seem to have caused such concern that some Ulysses Democrats began looking for another alternative to Thomas. Roxanne Marino, who has a great deal of experience on the Town Board already, has stepped forward, and intends to seek the nomination at the Democratic caucus.

The Ulysses Democratic Committee met on Thursday 8/20.  As I have reported here before, the committee unanimously opposes my recording these events.  I understand some of the reasons, such as it allows a more frank and open discussion, and if anything untoward is said about someone in the community, it need not become public.  But, [...]

Health care and financial issues make up the bulk of Scott Noren’s political agenda, though he does express his opinion on a few other issues as well. Noren believes in limited gun control legislation, supports the right of state governments to ban same-sex marriage, is pro-choice, and is concerned about illegal immingration.

What was happening at that meeting that the Ulysses Democrats don’t want us to know about? What were they saying that they don’t want the rest of us to hear?

Perhaps, yet again, the Democrats and Republicans will arrange to support the very same candidate. Perhaps Allen Carstensen’s Green campaign will force the Democrats and Republicans to actually compete against each other. The political situation is too fresh, and too unprecedented, for certain analysis.

Are you okay with Mike Arcuri’s opposition to health care reform? Are you okay with the way he’s helping the Republicans agitate against health care reform? If you’re a registered Democrat here in the town of Ulysses, how do you reconcile being a Democrat with your Democratic U.S. Representative aligning himself with a group of pro-Republican politicians?

Will the Ulysses Democrats communicate the concerns of constituents here in our community to Congressman Arcuri, or do they simply regard it as their job to represent Arcuri’s interests to people here?

Trumansburg Village Trustee announces a run for the Democratic nomination to become Town of Ulysses Supervisor. Also, Trumansburg dropouts increase, and a forum on protecting the community from the environmental impacts of natural gas drilling takes place tonight.

Yesterday, the Ulysses Democratic Committee sent a letter to our U.S. Representative, Michael Arcuri about his vote for the FISA Amendments Act. The Ulysses Democratic Committee also sent letters to senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Barack Obama has declared that he will vote for the FISA Amendments Act, even if amendments are not passed to improve the law.

The involvement of Congressman Arcuri in the effort to rush the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 through Congress without the opportunity for sufficient public debate is profoundly disappointing, and tarnishes his image at the very time when he is beginning his first re-election campaign.