Hillary Clinton Accepts Secretary of State Nod
The New York Times has reported that Hillary Clinton was offered the secretary of state position by President-elect Barak Obama, and she has accepted.
What does this mean to Buffalo? This past week, Eileen Buckley of WBFO interviewed both Mayor Byron Brown and Congressman Brian Higgins about the "ifs" involved in Clinton's move to secretary of state. It's been rumored that if she did accept the nod, Brown or Higgins would move to her senatorial seat.
Brown was guarded in the interview with Buckley, saying that he'd listen "if [Governor Paterson] calls," but that he had no plans to make the leap out of Buffalo and back to a Senate seat, this time representing the United States, rather than New York. Higgins, on the other hand, answered that he thought he was probably a good choice and would be ready if called.
In further speculation, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, son of former NY Governor Mario Cuomo, was also being looked at for the seat.
Will Hillary remember Buffalo? Could this be a good thing all the way around?
Photo by Glenn E. Murray, Esq.
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Comment Options
heathersmiles
This is great news! Hillary Clinton hasn't done much for the people of NY beyond cutting a few ribbons and adding her name to a few absolute wins like the waterfront or Junior National tournament.
It is about time that we actually get representation in the Senate, because Hillary was absolutely worthless for the people of New York.
Let's hope that Brian Higgins doesn't forget where he came from when he gets to Washington!
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allfit
The loss of Higgins or Brown is a lot more significant to Buffalo than Hillary accepting her new position. She was only a Senator to further her political ambitions, we were just a stepping stone to her failed bid for the White House. Good luck and good riddance.
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buffawakening
dont let the door hit you on the way out...
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Bufago
Come on, Brown, a loss? Get real!
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d_a_n
speaking as someone who's politcial bent is generally center-left, i can't wait to get this carpet-bagger out of our state.
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bsnack
Please please please, Brown to Washington...unless that means Casey becomes the new mayor. Uh, scratch that.
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buffawakening
to make clear on my last comment however, she was a terrible senator yes. and i am a republican. BUT i also think she has the potential to make a great secretary of state.
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oldwaiter
I think that she will be known as the Most Cheated On Secretary of State in our history---Gennifer Flowers, Monica Lewinsky, Paula Jones, etc. Disgraceful.
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sbrof
I agree with alfit on this. We were used. Simple as that.Let her go and get someone who can fight for Buffalo in that seat. Unfortunately I am unsure how much pull a senator really has in regards to helping a singular city like Buffalo. That would be my fear if higgins left. We have a lot of problems IN state government. Not necessarily above it. Let Brown go.. no loss there.
except the whole Casey thing... sigh
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dagner
Why would Brown expect a call from the President? The govenor chooses the replacement, according to this New York Times article: " David A. Paterson, who according to the United States Constitution would select a Senate replacement". http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/nyregion/20paterson.html?ref=politics
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Brette
Well, Hillary would be perfect to help us head off the war with the Canadian slumlords. Ron Rienas and his crowd in a room with Hillary and her crowd, would be a smackdown worthy of pay-per-view.
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Boz
Some clarification -- Brown would not be going "back to the Senate." Mayor Brown was formerly a state senator, not a US Senator. There will be lots of competition from downstate on this. And all of this trash talk of Hillary Clinton is unwarranted -- she spent more time in Buffalo, with the exception of Schumer, than any other US Senator in memory. And everyone living in Artspace has her to thank for it.
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ECB
Dagner and Boz-
I'm sorry. I got giddy.
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Biniszkiewicz
There is no way Brown or Higgins get appointed. Andrew Cuomo and a hundred others with ambition and clout downstate would beat out these two. Off topic, but as long as I've been alive I've never seen a governor I liked better than Patterson.Very glad Spitzer picked him for backup.
As for Clinton, IMO she was a good senator. Didn't always agree with her, but I think she proved capable and successful; she worked hard. I expect she'll be a good Secretary of State. I'd like to see her finish her career on the Supreme Court--she's a good lawyer, has experience in the legislative branch and is familiar with the executive branch. That experience would be useful in interpreting legislation, as judges must do. Sandra Day O'Connor cited her own legislative experience as quite useful on the bench.
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buffawakening
"she spent more time in Buffalo, with the exception of Schumer, than any other US Senator in memory."
thats nice. but how did she actually help us? i could elect anyone to be a puppet and just visit.
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AtwaterLouse
I doubt she did spend more time in Buffalo than the other recent senators, D'Amato or Moynihan, but when she did come here it would be such a media circus people notice it more and remember ot longer. I agree Schumer's probably been here more often than any. There's no way Brown will be appointed, and very doubtful Higgins. Someone from downstate would make more sense for Paterson to choose - maybe a hispanic or a Long Islander or a Kennedy.
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sonyactivision
Downstaters like Higgins. Cuomo has other plans, including a run for Governor. And Paterson is entertaining the possibility of appointing Bill Clinton for his wife's empty seat. Caroline kennedy would be a lousy senator, she's too introverted and disconnected, and Bobby Jr. wants to be head of the EPA.
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estreet
The Problem with Higgins, and obviously, Brown...is they would be have a hard time winning a statewide election. When the Democrats are so close to 60, why would they appoint someone who could turn around and lose a seat in a year or two.
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Quark
Higgins would do a great job in the Senate! I believe that after Higgins is appointed Sam Hoyt could and should win the Congressional Seat that Higgins vacates! What a win win for Buffalo and Upstate NY!!!
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sonyactivision
@estreet, lose to who? Rudy Giuliani? Are you serious?
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eliotspitzer
@sonyactivision -
Anyone with a fully formed adult brain knows that neither Brown nor Higgins could win re-election if they faced Bloomberg, Guiliani or any other notable downstate Republican. Higgins is well-known here, but that doesn't matter when all of NYS votes.
The chances that a Buffalo-area politician is appointed to the Senate is zero.
Can someone tell me the last Buffalo-area pol to serve in the US Senate? Sonyactivision - give me the name genius?
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sonyactivision
You're joking, right? Do you have a clue how hated Giuliani is down there? And Bloomie running for the Senate? Are you on crack? There isn't a Republican that could win a statewide race in NY. There is one dumb enough to try but his presidential run tells you evrything you need to know about his electability. And who gives an F about "the last Buffalo-area pol to serve in the US Senate"? That's as intelligent a question as "who's the last governor of Arkansas to serve as US President?"
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eliotspitzer
Well, the question about the last Buffalo-area pol serving in the US Senate is the right question as it reveals a fundamental structural disadvantage local politicians face in statewide races. See, for those of us grounded in reality, we understand there are more people downstate than there are upstate and, as a result, it becomes a fairly simple math problem. Indeed, that's why there hasn't been a Buffalo-area pol who has made any progress EVEN IN A PRIMARY for a Senate seat. Barring a very special person and a very special set of circumstances, it is hopeless for Buffalo-based pols.
That's the fact. And history proves that fact if you bother to think about it beyond empty and wrong-headed statements like 'there isn't a republican that could win a statewide race in NY' since a number of Repubs (see Pataki, D'Amato, Vacco) have won statewide races and no Buffalo-area pol has won a Senate race.
Math, because it involves numbers, sometimes causes headaches for folks like you. I understand. In the meantime, you should stick to opining on non-quantitative unverifiable topics like what color is prettier.
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sonyactivision
Goveror Paterson has said that he's inclined to pick an Upstater for the seat. Now the speculation has turned towards Leecia Eve who is originally from Buffalo and is a woman. Your idiotic claims that a republican could win based on past races only ignores The Incredible Unpopularity Of That Party Post Bush, The Incredible Unpopularity Of That Party Downstate (where the population lives) and The Incredible Mediocrity Of Those Remnants Of The Republican Party IN NY. Wake up, it's not 2004 anymore. You want math? Look at the '08 election numbers.
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blackrocklifer
Rudy Giuliani???? I think his time has passed, people have finally realized arrogant dictators are not good for America.
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