Showdown in Buffalo: The candidates for governor meet tonight for their only debate !!!

[adirondacker]

http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/buffalo-news-editorials/showdown-in-buffalo-the-candidates-for-governor-meet-tonight-for-their-only-debate-20141021

"Tonight in Buffalo, for what is likely the only time in New York’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign, the candidates will gather for a televised head-to-head debate over the issues confronting New York.

This debate, co-sponsored by The Buffalo News and WNED/WBFO, will feature the Democratic incumbent, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo; his Republican challenger, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino; Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins; and Libertarian candidate Michael McDermott.

It may be interesting to hear what Hawkins and McDermott have to say, and their performances could strengthen their parties for future races, but the meat of this debate will be in the give-and-take between Cuomo and Astorino. One of them will win this race, and for voters who haven’t made up their minds, the debate could be decisive.

Here are some questions we hope the candidates will answer. Voters should listen for responses that are clear and informative and that don’t seek to dodge the issue."

<SNIP>

The one-hour debate is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., and will be streamed live on BuffaloNews.com. It will also be broadcast on WNED-TV and WBFO-FM, 88.7.

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Astorino is *really* good. No wonder Cuomo is dodging him.

If I were advising him, I'd just tell him to rerun clips of that debate. Trouble for him is traditionally GOP corporate $$$ has all moved over to Cuomo. Pay for Play. Astorino just doesn't have the cash.

Hawkins had the most to gain, and politically is the best candidate, but he evidently doesn't understand electronic media. Laconic recitation of litany of arcane facts doesn't cut it on TV. Howie must have on the picket line when everyone else was reading McLuhan back in the day. (And where'd the Tennessee drawl come from? He's from San Francisco, isn't he?) Simplify, Howie, simplify. Greens might think about recruiting some fresh talent for next time around. Hawkins has run this track several times already and Greens don't have much to show for it.

McDermott (Libertarian) was lively and incisive by comparison. That's how to run a third party challenge.

[adirondacker]

2. Excellent rundown Smarmie! Alan Chartock did a reasonable commentary ...

http://wamc.org/post/dr-alan-chartocks-morning-commentary-261

I like yours better, and yeah where did that drawl come from?

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. You're right. Chartock's analysis is good but mine's probably better.

He doesn't give Astorino enough credit ( he was sensational, stylistically speaking) and spends a lot of time belaboring the obvious: Cuomo wants to debate as little as possible because he's got a big lead.

(What region is that station, BTW?)

Also he skips over the third and fourth party candidates. To me Hawkins was the big story of the debate... since I was never contemplating voting for any of the other three. His performance was.... frankly....poor. I'm not a Greenie... and used to go around ridiculing people who supported Nader in 2000 but times have changes and the DEM party in NYS is soooooooooooo *awful* is sooooooo many ways that I am, like many others, looking for an alternative.

Not being a hard core Greenie, I can only guess that the organized far left parties ( Marxian socialist in orientation and creepily cultish in style)) have made their presence felt in Green-dom out of proportion of their actual numbers. They've NEVER known how to connect to people even though citizens all over the place are yearning as never before for an alternative to this two-party, corporate, non-choice system.

But ya gotta sieze the day. One likely mistake: Greens should have nominated Brian Jones ( LT Gov candidate) for Gov and Howie for Lt Gov. I've seen him up close and Jones knows how to connect to people. Howie doesn't even make eye-contact most of the time.

I'm sure he's smart, I'm sure he's a great guy, I'm sure he's paid his dues.... but COME ON! I thought the goal in this race was to get a lot of votes.... make an impact... etc. If that's the goal, the Greens are going about it the hard way, if you ask me.

[adirondacker]

4. WAMC is out of Albany, but broadcasts on several stations in upstate....

http://wamc.org/coverage-map

I'm in the social democratic spectrum of the Greens. Mostly because I realize there is no perfect system, but one that can be fluid and vacillate around the center is Much better than what we have going on with the current neo liberal oligarchy.

I think you nailed Howie to the tee. His answers were smart, but the way he presents himself was gawdawful. I'll be on the lookout for Brian Jones.

I would have been completely content with Zephyr Teachout as gov and I think she would have mopped the floor with Andrew in a debate.
Such a shame

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. Here's a link to Brian Jones:

Agree completely re. Teachout and met her a couple of weeks ago at a book signing.

She'll be back. I'm not sure in what capacity but the political system is starved for people like her.

[adirondacker]

6. Wow! He's impressive! and I can't think of anything I could argue over. Thanks!

It's good to know people like him are around.