Republicans Can Take New York. It Starts with Senator Gilliland. (UPDATED)
I think I’m going to like this new Senator from New York. She knows what’s important.
In the middle of her introductory speech, which was kind of important to her since she needed to make a good first impression (she’s not exactly a household name), she got a phone call. On the other end was President Obama wanting to give her the pro forma “Glad you’re on board” schtick. That put her in a bit of a dilemma. On one hand, she could stop her speech and take the phone call from the God King President of the United States. On the other hand, she could finish her speech and handle the call after she was done. She chose the latter.
Don Surber says that there’s likely to be a catfight between the President and Governor Paterson and Gillibrand tossed a couple more logs on the fire when she put the President on hold. I’m glad she didn’t. Her allegiance isn’t to Paterson nor the President but to the people of New York. Even if President Obama’s lapdog, Kos, puts a political hit out on her, which Surber says he’s likely to do, she did the right thing.
If Republicans are smart, they’ll do their very best to make her welcome in the Senate. She could be a huge asset to them if they don’t only pay attention to the letter behind her name.
I’m serious about this. I’ve been reading here and there some early rumblings that the GOP should push hard to beat her in 2010. That would be a huge mistake. Gillibrand is about as Blue as a Dog gets on several issues very important to the GOP (taxes, gun control, and the War on Terror, at least). If Senate Republicans can cultivate a good working relationship with her, she could be a reliable vote for them. Right now, the party needs all the help it can get. It can’t count on a good half-dozen of its own Senators to stay on the right side of the aisle as it is. If the GOP really wants to do damage to the Democrats, they’ll leave Gilliland alone and convince Congressman Peter King to run against Chuck Schumer.
Schumer right now has a 57 percent approval rating in his state. That’s good, but hardly unbeatable. What’s interesting about his approval numbers to me is that his disapproval rating in the 18-34 year old age group is higher than his approval rating, 49 to 47. That’s a weakness Republicans can exploit if they start hammering things like Schumer’s campaign ties to companies like Citigroup (his largest source of campaign cash) and his huge-government proclivities. They can also use their friendly relationship with Gilliland to prove that they can work with reasonable Democrats while pointing out that Schumer is anything but reasonable.
Imagine the gain for conservatives if in one election we go from having Senators Clinton and Schumer to Senators Gilliland and King.
UPDATE: The knives are out. The Kennedys want her head on a platter (and Governor Paterson’s, too). Leftist Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy is making noise about taking her on in the primary. The New York Times’ pet snarkophant, Maureen Dowd, let her inner green-eyed monster run wild and free.
Meanwhile, Ace says the Republicans aren’t in a position to run anyone in 2010. He mentions Giuliani, but I think that King is still the better choice and Gillibrand should not be the target. They’d be beyond idiotic to alienate her when she could be one of the best friends they have on her side of the aisle.
Other Posts of Interest:
- Paterson Throws Dem the Ol’ Knuckleball
- And They Want My Healthcare, Too?
- Senator Kennedy Again? Why?
Category: Featured, Our New Democratic Overlords, President Barack Obama, The Republican Minority
I dig this Blue Dog woman. Girlfriend has a nice folksy way about her along with a hardcore academic background (Dartmouth honors, etc.)
She reminds me of my daughter's uncle, Tim Johnson (D-SD). Practical, pays attention to the constituency and casts his votes accordingly.
I would say this lawmaker is not so much as a potential Republican, but a steady moderate. You and I may go to the mats on this one, dollin, but that's what this country needs – moderates willing to compromise so we can get it done, damnit!
Also, I've always had a great deal of shared anger with the upstate New Yorkers vs the NYC snots. It's about time someone was plucked from outside Manhattan. And, I say that as someone who used to live there.
BTW, Daily Kos is hardly President Obama's lapdog. The wrath from the ultra-left on Kos is just as nauseating as Limbaugh's call to have this administration fail. Both are in desperate need for attention.
I salute you from across the aisle (where I have scooted way over to the middle, so much so that I can see what the gracious Senator Olympia Snowe is scribbling on her notepad)
Just like Gov. Patterson this lady will be replaced! Acorn was her last act of partisan politics! Lets get going!