WFB Dead

Breaking News Alert

The New York Times

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 — 11:25 AM ET

—–

 

William F. Buckley Jr. Is Dead at 82

 

William F. Buckley Jr., who marshaled polysyllabic

exuberance, famously arched eyebrows and a refined,

perspicacious mind to elevate conservatism to the center of

American political discourse, died Wednesday at his home in

Stamford, Conn.

 

Read More:

http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na

 

***

 

I remember as a high school senior, at a very conservative school, being taken into NYC to Hunter College by my civics instructor on several occasions to hear Bill Buckley.  His debate with Gore Vidal was epic.

 

I remember as well when his brother, James Buckley, moved to New York and was elected to the US Senate as one of the first new “carpetbaggers”.

 

Oil millionaire, CIA agent, author, curmudgeon, word smith, fervent believer (“God and Man at Yale”)…an interesting man, who didn’t scare me nearly as much as today’s new brand of wingnut.

Aubertine upsets Barclay in Senate special election

With all precincts reporting, Aubertine wins by more than 2,000 votes giving Democrats win

By WILLIAM KATES, Associated Press  Last updated: 10:32 p.m., Tuesday, February 26, 2008

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Democrat Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine upset Republican Will Barclay in special election Tuesday for the state Senate’s 48th district, a win that moves the Democrats a step closer to controlling the Senate. With all the precincts reporting, Aubertine had 27,901 votes, or 52 percent, to 25,345 votes for Barclay, 48 percent. With the loss, Senate Republicans now have just a 32-30 lead over Democrats in the chamber the GOP has ruled for four decades.  ***Read entire article

NY Ct of Appeals Gives Additional Line to Republican Candidate in Today’s Special Election for State Senate

CIVIL PROCEDURE, ELECTIONS, GOVERNMENT LAW, PER CURIAM

Fehrman v. New York State Bd. of Elections, No. 106

In proceeding to invalidate nomination for an Independence Party candidate for state senator, injunction preventing respondents from placing candidate’s name on the ballot is vacated where non-member of Independence Party lacked standing to challenge that party’s compliance with its own Rules. Read more…

M&T Bank Biggie Backs Bruno

Buffalo News (Tom Precious): Wilmers’ $50,000 aids GOP in key state raceOne of Western New York’s most prominent business leaders has given a well-timed $50,000 check to a Republican campaign committee as the party is fighting to retain its slim State Senate majority in today’s special election.  Robert G. Wilmers, chairman and chief executive officer of M&T Bank Corp., donated the money to a committee run by Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, who is fighting a pitched battle against Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer’s attempt to help his fellow Democrats narrow the gap. Via WFP’s newsletter: Sign up for Bacon & Eggs 

NYTIMES: 1199 S.E.I.U. Senses Shift in Political Winds

NY Times (Danny Hakim): Powerful Union May Be Hedging Its Bets in AlbanyNo group has been more loyal or financially helpful to state Republicans than the powerful hospital workers’ union, 1199 S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers East. But recent campaign finance filings raise an intriguing question: Is the politically astute union now quietly hedging its bets? In recent weeks, 1199 has been shoveling money into the Working Families Party, a labor-backed organization that has been mobilizing support for the Democratic candidate in a crucial State Senate special election in upstate New York on Tuesday. At the same time, the union has not contributed to the central campaign account maintained by Mr. Bruno’s Senate Republican operation in about six months.

“My friends” with John McCain… starring Vicki Iseman

Marriage v. Civil Unions

Hat tip to John Aravosis and his AMERICABlog.

Homemade Hillary Video–Camp or Cute?

Its gotta be a spoof–right?  

No “More Than a Feeling”

 

Tom Scholz, the chief songwriter and founder of the band Boston has more than a feeling that he’s being ripped off by Mike Huckabee. In a letter to Huckabee, Scholz complains that Huckabee is using his 1970s smash hit song “More Than a Feeling” without his permission. 

 

Hat tip to Kossack TrueBlueMajority for this:

18 Dem (sic) Sens Vote Immunity for Telecom Spying

The Senate vote on the Dodd/Feingold amendment, which would have stripped retroactive immunity from the surveillance bill was 31-67.  Crossing over to vote “nay” were Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Evan Bayh (D-IA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Tom Carper (D-DE), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Jim Webb (D-VA), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Kent Conrad (D-ND), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). Update: Here’s the official tally.Hat tip to Crooks & Liars