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Mayor Brown and the US Senate
January 10, 2009 10:58 AM
Comments: 11
To state the obvious - this has been a fairly epic election season. In particular, the US Senate remains in a state of flux more than 60 days after election day. Minnesota's election isn't legally over yet. It's unclear if Illinois will have a second senator anytime soon. And, of course, there's the New York senate appointment.
We've written about the jockeying for Hillary Clinton's senate seat before, but a lot has happened since. Caroline Kennedy, you know, has started a conspicuous campaign for the vacancy during which she's received mixed reviews, you know. Then, reports surfaced that indicated Governor Paterson has sent questionnaires to potential appointees Steve Israel, Carolyn Maloney, Kristen Gillibrand, Jerrold Nadler, Tom Suozzi, and, of course, Caroline Kennedy. Others have speculated that Andrew Cuomo, in his position as Attorney General, has already disclosed all the information on the questionnaire so that he needn't fill out the paperwork to be in consideration for the appointment.
One name that was previously floated as a potential appointee didn't get a questionnaire - our own Mayor Byron Brown. The Buffalo News headline read: "Brown left out in Senate search." Not a lot of people thought Brown was a serious contender for this appointment anyway, so this news didn't really surprise anyone. But it appears Mayor Brown or his staff may have called Governor Paterson to say "Hey, you forgot me" as today's Buffalo News reports that Brown has belatedly received his Senate questionnaire. It's debatable as to whether it's more embarassing to not receive the questionnaire in the first place or to receive it belatedly.
When asked who should be appointed to fill Clinton's Senate seat, 6% of Buffalo Rising readers voted for Mayor Brown. 6%. This isn't a scientific poll, of course, but it's somewhat telling that the Mayor lagged every other choice (including 'none of the above') by a wide margin in a poll conducted by a hometown media outlet.
On a related note, if you haven't read Geoff Kelly's recent Artvoice post on Mayor Brown, the BPD and Syaed Ali, check it out.
We've written about the jockeying for Hillary Clinton's senate seat before, but a lot has happened since. Caroline Kennedy, you know, has started a conspicuous campaign for the vacancy during which she's received mixed reviews, you know. Then, reports surfaced that indicated Governor Paterson has sent questionnaires to potential appointees Steve Israel, Carolyn Maloney, Kristen Gillibrand, Jerrold Nadler, Tom Suozzi, and, of course, Caroline Kennedy. Others have speculated that Andrew Cuomo, in his position as Attorney General, has already disclosed all the information on the questionnaire so that he needn't fill out the paperwork to be in consideration for the appointment.
One name that was previously floated as a potential appointee didn't get a questionnaire - our own Mayor Byron Brown. The Buffalo News headline read: "Brown left out in Senate search." Not a lot of people thought Brown was a serious contender for this appointment anyway, so this news didn't really surprise anyone. But it appears Mayor Brown or his staff may have called Governor Paterson to say "Hey, you forgot me" as today's Buffalo News reports that Brown has belatedly received his Senate questionnaire. It's debatable as to whether it's more embarassing to not receive the questionnaire in the first place or to receive it belatedly.
When asked who should be appointed to fill Clinton's Senate seat, 6% of Buffalo Rising readers voted for Mayor Brown. 6%. This isn't a scientific poll, of course, but it's somewhat telling that the Mayor lagged every other choice (including 'none of the above') by a wide margin in a poll conducted by a hometown media outlet.
On a related note, if you haven't read Geoff Kelly's recent Artvoice post on Mayor Brown, the BPD and Syaed Ali, check it out.
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January 10, 2009 11:37 AM
I prefer this photo -- it's more Chicago-style:
http://www.buffalonews.com/377/story/450012.html
January 10, 2009 11:05 PM
LOL: "6%? Well I'll just even those odds..."
January 11, 2009 10:43 AM
just curious, how does this post fit in with the goals of promoting the positive things going on in Buffalo? Newell, isn't that the mission of this site? Artvoice does not hide the fact that it has a political agenda. Something like this makes all the sense in the world for their site. I just don't see what place it has here.
January 11, 2009 2:39 PM
bflobr - There's nothing wrong with Buffalo Rising authors taking political stands, and it's nothing new. They've taken many. My guess is usually you agree with their political views, and in those cases it doesn't look political to you - it just looks like a "positive thing". Praising Sam Hoyt's endless ideas for money spending, positive. Whatever Kevin Gaughan says should be done, positive. Anything pro-Obama, positive. Or did you find those political stands out of place?
If people disagree with anything political, they're free to write a comment giving a different view.
January 11, 2009 5:19 PM
Well, whatever, there isn't really any political "view" taken in this post but to rub it in that the mayor is not really a candidate for the vacant US Senate position. I just don't see how this contributes to the mission of BR. Personally, I don't really care for the politics and whatnot. But, I hate to see this site further slide away from its intended mission (which I think has been positive on this (beta and local) community. I'd be curious to see what Newell's response is as to why this is a suitable story for this site. Maybe I'm missing something, I just don't see how this fits with what the good folks who have been running Buffalo Rising for years are trying to do.
January 11, 2009 8:58 PM
bflobr = Byron? Is it you?
January 11, 2009 10:20 PM
listen, i was just bringing up a perfectly rational and valid question to the hackjob of a story you wrote. does that mean i should be subject to being accused of being the mayor? I was merely making an observation that I believe even a lot of critics of the mayor would agree with. And by the way, you can look at my posts on this site through the years and see that I haven't shied away from criticizing the administration when i deem it appropriate.
January 12, 2009 9:42 AM
I wouldn't think that being accused of being the Mayor would be such a horrible thing. That worries me a bit.
As for the story, it is extremely relevant to this city and seems like something worth covering. I would agree with bluedevil that I'm not sure anyone in this city, and certainly not many people in this state, thought that Byron Brown was a contender for this job. While he does share certain characteristics with President Elect Obama, he seems to lack the charisma and leadership qualities that are necessary to lead in this country.
As I sit here and watch President George W. Bush give his last press conference, I cannot help but wonder if this city, this state, or this country will ever command the respect and presence that it used to.
January 12, 2009 10:00 AM
My gripe wasn't with being accused of being the mayor, but of the author downplaying my complaint about the story as me being the mayor and being upset about it. Glad to see Scott Norwood display such blatant racism as to say "while he does share certain characteristics with President Elect Obama...". Where was PE Obama even mentioned anywhere in this post or thread of comments? How is that relevant even in the slightest bit?
And to claim that Blue Devil's post is a "story" is laughable. He mentions an actual story in the Buffalo News, and a non-scientific poll that is hardly representative of a cross-section of this City. How is that a story? If you want to make a case against the Mayor for his support for demolitions over preservation/rehab, his support for the Wingate hotel, etc., I think that is fair game; but to just rub it in that he isn't a legitimate contender (which is essentially regurgitating the article written by the News) is really below this site. I just don't get it. Would it be appropriate to write a post about Sam Hoyt's love for early 20s interns? Of course it wouldn't. Leave those kinds of stories to the smutty sites like Illuzi and Artvoice. Thats just my opinion. I have no ownership in this site. Although, I'd still like to see Newell come forward and give an editorial explanation as to why he believes this story fits with the mission of this site.
January 12, 2009 10:15 AM
I was referring to his lack of experience in government positions, but I guess we all know what you are focused on bflobr.
As for Newell's editorial response, he isn't the editor as far as I know.
January 12, 2009 1:45 PM
bflobr - I understand your complaint better after your follow-ups but still don't agree with your criticism of BR in this case.
It looks like the only reason Brown was ever mentioned as a "contender" was his political team falsely spreading that. (Can't prove, but seems likely right?) So considering Brown's team was lying to boost his reputation, it's fair game when some bloggers "rub it in" back at him. Typical politics on both sides. If it's any consolation, Brown will have the last laugh. Barring a major scandal he's sure to easily win re-election.
If Buffalo Rising didn't mention the ethics investigation about Hoyt's interns as you say they didn't, then I'd bet that was because BR supports Hoyt so strongly - not that they considered themselves above mentioning it. Sam is The Man to them, and they're pretty clear about it. If there's ever an ethics investigation involving interns of Brown or Collins or any local pol other than ones they like a lot, then I won't be surprised if BR writes about that.