12 Comments

1. buffalomom says:

   August 27, 2008 at 8:18 am

   Duh. And Jack O’Donnell was running Mesi’s operation earlier in the cycle.

   Barbra has completely disappointed me. I hope her judgeship is worth going to bed with all these scumbags. I used to have a lot of respect for her.

   Where’s the integrity?
2. 1776 says:

   August 27, 2008 at 8:57 am

   Right on, Buffalomom. Barbra Kavanaugh is running a sham-paign where she comes off like a know-nothing (not surprising since she is such a do-nothing). She has issued so many denials about involvement in any negative activity, and done so little that is positive or insightful on her own, she really looks like a puppet. The people pulling her strings are the worst sort of craven, power-hungry thugs.

   Steve Pigeon was an absolute disgrace as Erie County Democratic Chairman, and it was widely known that his moral compass malfunctioned on a regular basis. Golisano’s whole Responsible New York fund is just a huge boondoggle to allow Steve Pigeon to settle old political scores with Golisano’s money. They clearly don’t give a whit about real reform, or the committee would not have endorsed so many incumbents (something like 2/3 of their total endorsements).

   There is very clear evidence that Pigeon, O’Donnell, and Parenti convinced a number of the candidates now campaigning to run for office, so I find it hard to believe that they have cut off all contact and are just doing their own thing. That ethically challenged crew just doesn’t operate that way.

   I used to work for a political action committee, and we had to be incredibly rigorous about maintaining that separation. This allegation needs to be investigated by the District Attorney or the Attorney General.
3. Brian says:

   August 27, 2008 at 9:08 am

   It’s a shame that what could have been a very positive thing for NYS has been currupted by old-school politicians. I don’t understand why Tom Golisano didn’t bring in the best and the brightest to administer the PAC.
   Why would this PAC contribute to Barbra Kavanaugh is beyond me. The other day in the paper she advocated for increasing the income tax on high wage earners. She is opposed to the Property Tax Cap. Tom Golisano – Aren’t you opposed to high taxes…Isn’t that what is helping destroy the business climate in NYS!
   It is clear why Responsible NY has endorsed Barbra, and it has nothing to do with her policy positions. It is to settle a score Steve Pigeon and Steve Casey have for getting there butts kicked when they lost races in the Niagara and Delaware Districts, as well as against Maria Whyte.
4. Jean says:

   August 27, 2008 at 10:00 am

   yeah, I almost spit out my coffee when I read her quotes in that article. “I was as surprised as anyone” by the negative mailer and then “I’ve been very, very good friends with Jack for 10 years.”

   Also, is anyone else bugged that Golisano gets to have such a bigger voice than any of the actual voters in this election? And how the hell is that “changing Albany?” Oy, brain hurt.
5. Connors says:

   August 27, 2008 at 11:35 am

   I was hoping this headline linked to a story about Beetlejuice coming to Buffalo. Nope just more jack-off finger pointing.
6. Joe Mesi Needs a Job! says:

   August 27, 2008 at 1:19 pm

   Joe Mesi breaking election laws?

   Shocking! He should know better!

   Oh wait…he doesn’t know…anything. He doesn’t even know where he stands on abortion!

   Find out more at Joe Needs a Job!

   Find Joe Mesi a Job!
7. George Fontana says:

   August 27, 2008 at 3:35 pm

   The new co-signatory to sign checks for Kavanaugh, Barbara Kloberdanz is a political appointee of Mayor Brown and works in City Hall. Jeff Tooke is a 2008 political appointee to the Erie County Legislature staff by Chairwoman Lynn Marinelli. Let’s not forget that Jack O’Donnell was executive director of the County Democratic Committee under Pigeon and was Pigeon’s candidate against County Legislator Al DeBenedetti in 2001.

   If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.
8. buffalomom says:

   August 27, 2008 at 6:32 pm

   Hmmm, and Jack’s dad is up for re-election next year. Lining up the “friends” early it seems.

   I thought more of the O’Donnell crowd until this cycle.

   Near death experiences usually make people a little nicer and more centered. Guess not.

   The O’Donnells might actually be unfair to more than just fathers!
9. amherstguy says:

   August 27, 2008 at 7:40 pm

   Ya know Im not a fan but Pigeon was the only chairman that had balls. I will say that.
10. amherstguy says:

    August 27, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    Im sure Mesi is better off financially than most of the bloggers on this site. From what I know, he didnt do to shabby during his career.
11. Stephen Nazwisko says:

    August 27, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    Yeah a.g., too bad he blew it all on coke.
12. buffalomom says:

    August 28, 2008 at 10:27 am

    Here’s the nagging question.

    RNY is backing more incumbents than challengers. How in the hell do they say “Change is coming?”

    Their actions aren’t matching the rhetoric. It’s buying State government seat by seat. Change-schmange.

    If it’s change, you don’t fund mainly incumbents. That’s freaking nuts.