NY-20 race (Sweeney v. Gillibrand) called a toss-up by CQ!!!!

[Cooley Hurd]

:bounce::bounce::woohoo::bounce::bounce:

NY-20: CQ: Sweeney Race Now A Toss-Up

By Greg Sargent
This one surprises us a bit, because the last couple of polls showed sizeable leads for GOP Rep John Sweeney, but CQ has now downgraded its rating of the race between Sweeney and Dem Kirsten Gillibrand from "Leans Republican" to "Toss up":

Gillibrand, an attorney and first-time candidate for public office, on Tuesday sent an open letter to Sweeney requesting he release information regarding police incidents earlier in his career, including an arrest for driving while intoxicated...

It was another step in Gillibrand’s efforts to tie Sweeney to the “culture of corruption” tag with which Democrats have been trying to bedevil Republicans throughout the 2006 campaign. In fact, Gillibrand was an early entry, issuing accusations as early as last January that Sweeney was joining lobbyists on ski trips while ignoring the district’s problems.
<snip>


Congressman Drinky-Drunk's in trouble!!!!

[Greeby]

1. Woot, she needs to get "Edward R Murrow" to make another ad

That'll seal the deal :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Cooley Hurd]

5. That was a great ad!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqmaj5W9grE

[mcg]

9. a longer version of video at youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaQiaxuon3w

[Cooley Hurd]

10. Even better! Thanks!

:hi:

[originalpckelly]

24. Such an incredibly great ad...

it was very eloquent and simple.

[Rhiannon12866]

46. I love this ad! Just brilliant! Thanks!

:woohoo:

[Cooley Hurd]

2. A whole bunch of reasons why Sweeney has to go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E._Sweeney

Controversies
In September 2006, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released its second annual report on members of Congress with ethics issues, titled "Beyond DeLay: The 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and five to watch)". Sweeney was one of the 20. The organization said "His ethics issues stem from a ski trip to New York, the exchange of legislative assistance for campaign contributions and the hiring of his wife as a campaign fundraiser"

Role in Florida recount in 2000
During the 2000 election, Sweeney helped to stop the third recount in Miami, possibly leading to his nickname from President Bush, "Congressman Kickass." He led the charge in November 2000 on the Miami-Dade elections commissioners by urging the Bush supporters to "shut it down!"; they then banged on the election commission's doors and the commissioners stopped the third recount. Sweeney used the words "thugs" to describe the Florida officials involved in the recount. He said his intent was only to stop the canvassing board's withdrawal from public view, and that his actions were "completely and absolutely legitimate."

January 2001 automobile accident
On the night of January 23, 2001, around 10:00 p.m., Sweeney lost control of his 2001 Jeep Laredo and hit a utility pole on a rural upstate road, shutting down power to the homes of several residents and to the nearby Willard Mountain ski resort, stranding skiers aloft on the chairlifts. Sweeney was not charged or ticketed, and the state trooper on the scene refused the offer by a volunteer-fire-department chief to send a crew to the site to direct traffic (instead, a local resident did this, for an hour and a half, with downed and live electrical wires about). In early February, a local newspaper reported that Sweeney had been in a bar before the crash. Witnesses came forward to insist that Sweeney had only one or two glasses of wine. The newspaper noted that Sweeney was not given a sobriety test by the state trooper on the scene.

Wife as fundraiser
On April 11, 2003, Sweeney began paying a company called Creative Consulting for fund-raising. The company had been founded a day earlier by Gayle Ford. Between April 2003 and December 2003, Sweeney's campaign paid $42,570 to the firm. Sweeney proposed to Ford in September 2003 and married her in 2004.

Sweeney spokeswoman Melissa Carlson said the congressman considers his wife "his best representative in the district when he's fund-raising." She said Ford, who had no previous fund-raising experience, receives a 10 percent commission on whatever she raises. Between January 2005 and April 2006, Ford was paid $30,879. Sweeney also has had a fundraising consultant on monthly retainer since June of 2004, who is paid $8,583 a month.

Ford also works for Powers & Company, the lobbying firm of former state GOP Chairman William Powers, Sweeney's longtime political ally and onetime boss.

Congressional Winter Challenge
The Winter Challenge was started in 1998 by Sweeney's House predecessor, Gerald Solomon, with the declared purpose of showcasing the Olympic facilities at Lake Placid, New York to congressmen and their staffers in hopes of getting federal funds; Sweeney has hosted the annual event since 1999.

In January 2006, Sweeney, his wife, and about 60 other people spent a four-day weekend at the facilities, competing against each other in skating, downhill skiing and bobsledding events. The group included Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) and his wife, and aides to U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Representative Randy Kuhl (R-NY), and Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI). The weekend cost the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) $27,500 plus in-kind services it provided plus the costs of operating the Olympic venues for the competition (exact figures for the latter two were unavailable). ORDA is a part of the New York State government.

Issue of who decided who would be invited
In the fall of 2005, the House ethics panel told Sweeney in a letter that he should be careful to let the Olympics groups invite guests to avoid the appearance of an endorsement by the House. "Once the ORDA and the — without your involvement — have issued an initial invitation to House members and staff to take part in the trip, you may send a follow-up to that invitation," the ethics panel, known formally as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, wrote to Sweeney.

Invitations to the event officially come from ORDA and the U.S. Olympic Committee, a nonprofit group chartered by Congress. ORDA says the impetus for the event comes from the U.S. Olympic Committee. The U.S. Olympic Committee said it's really Sweeney's event. Three committees of the NY State Assembly have launched investigations of the Challenge, focusing on whether public money was put to good use. ORDA President Ted Blazer, speaking at one such hearing, said Sweeney’s office helped assemble lists of possible invitees to the event. Documents show that at least eight members of Congress, all Republicans, were also invited to attend the 2006 event but declined.

Issue of official business
The official invitation for the event read: "While this trip has proven itself to be an enjoyable one for delegation members in the past, it is, nevertheless, an official trip authorized by the House and Senate Ethics Committees . . . intended to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress and Congressional staff to inspect and evaluate the manner in which federal funds have been used to strengthen the area's tourism industry."

Despite the House ethics rule requiring all travel paid by others to relate to members' official duties, and the ethic panel's letter that said that recreational activities must be "merely incidental to the trip," Sweeney has said that the panel said "it's perfectly appropriate for me to promote the event."

Issue of lobbyists
The group attending the event included at least 15 registered lobbyists, including Pete Card, a former staffer of Sweeney's and the brother of former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, and Lisi Kaufman, a lobbyist for United Technologies Corporation, the sister of Andrew and Pete. In his request to the House ethics committee, Sweeney did not ask about lobbyists. A spokesman for ORDA said he does not know why the lobbyists were invited. Seven of the lobbyists had contributed a total of $12,400 to Sweeney's campaign in 2005.

April 2006 fraternity party
On April 22, 2006, Sweeney reportedly appeared at a registered party at the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity of Union College. Witnesses reported that, after leaving a bar, he appeared to be intoxicated. Photographs and videos captured some of the events. Sweeney denied being drunk and denied drinking at the party. His spokeswoman pointed out that Sweeney had been advised not to drink alcohol because of medication for vasculitis. A friend of Sweeney who accompanied him to the party denied that Sweeney was drunk or slurring his words and that he drank only half of a glass of wine prior to the party.

[mcg]

20. Sweeny named in '20 most corrupt' at www.beyonddelay.org

http://www.beyonddelay.org/summaries/sweeney.php

From the pdf...

"Son Avoids Jail
On August 19, 2004, Rep. Sweeney’s son John J. Sweeney and a friend, John J.
Manupella, became involved in a fight involving 15 to 20 people.80 During the fight, the
pair brutally beat another teenager, Matthew Brady. Mr. Sweeney knocked Mr. Brady to
the ground and kicked him in the head while Mr. Manupella kicked his ribs.81 Mr.
Brady’s skull was fractured in the attack and he continues to suffer from double vision.82
..."

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Kirsten Gillibrand has that report on her site, last I looked...

I really think that we have a shot at finally unseating him, this time around!:woohoo:

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Did I mention Thug Sweeney has a thug son?

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/121805ReverseJailSentence.html

GOP Judge Reverses Jail Sentence For Sweeney's Son

BALLSTON SPA---No jail time for the son of Republican Congressman John Sweeney despite him pleading guilty to felony second degree assault as the result of a fight which seriously injured the victim.

In a rare action, Fulton County Judge Richard Giardino reversed his earlier decision to sentence John J. Sweeney, 19, of Schaghticoke and John J. Manupella of Troy, also 19, to jail for a brutal assault of another teen last year that left the victim with long-term vision damage and recurring nightmares. He will also have to undergo reconstructive dental work after losing one tooth and having three other teeth chipped in the assault.

The pair had pleaded guilty to second degree assault last month in a plea bargain negotiated with the Montgomery County district attorney's office in exchange for a sentence of four months of weekends in jail or 45 consecutive days in jail plus probation and community service.

Second degree assault is a class D felony and they could have received up to seven years in state prison.

But when the pair appeared in court Friday before Giardino, he reversed his earlier decision, and negated the plea agreement. He suspended the jail time, granted them youthful offender status and sealed the court records.
</snip>

[Stephanie]

4. where's the story that goes with that photo

that was a hysterical story where Sweeney dropped in on some frat boys - do you have the link?

[Cooley Hurd]

7. Here's the TPM Muckraker article:

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000492.php

<snip>
Congressman John Sweeney, a Republican from the 20th district of New York State, appeared at a registered party at Alpha Delta Phi on Friday, April 22. The Congressman came from Geppetto's Bar and was described by witnesses as being inquisitive and engaging, while also acting openly intoxicated. Longtime friend and owner of Geppetto's Paulie Lichorat accompanied Rep. Sweeney. Lichorat was unavailable for comment regarding this issue.

The New York politician was barraged with a multitude of political questions and lighthearted comments from Union students when he arrived at the party. His attitude was described as cordial, and Sweeney was observed joking around with the students, sometimes even using profanity. It was reported that one student approached the Congressman with drug paraphernalia and asked to take a picture. The Congressman refused.
</snip>

:rofl:

[Stephanie]

15. thanks - I found the original blog I was thinking of - so funny >

Go to the link to see the other photos.

http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=983

Party Hearty
April 27, 2006 at 5:04 pm by Elizabeth Benjamin

As The Daily Politics has noted, Union College’s newspaper, The Concordiensis (affectionately known around campus as “The Concordy“) reports on its front page today that U.S. Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, attended a registered, on-campus frat party on April 22.

The paper has a photo, which Ben Smith has posted. I’ve spoken to the student who took that shot, Kenneth Falcon, 19, of Long Island, who was kind enough to email it to me, along with some others. He said they were taken around 1 a.m.



Sweeney’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Melissa Carlson, said today she has nothing more to say about this incident other than what she told the paper, which was:

“As a committed representative of the people throughout the area where he lives and works, he enjoyed the discussion he shared with the students from Union College. (Sweeney) was impressed with the energy and enthusiasm displayed by the students - particularly on a Friday evening.”

Union College, which is in Schenectady, is not in Sweeney’s district. It’s in the 21st CD, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Mike McNulty, a Democrat. A Union student who worked for McNulty is quoted in The Concordy story saying she told Sweeney about her connection to his fellow congressman and he was “very rude” about it.

I also spoke to John Tomlin, who wrote story. Tomlin described Sweeney in print as “acting openly intoxicated.” He told me the congressman was “very loud and cursing,” and also slurring his words while trying to discuss policy with the students.

Tomlin, 20, of Westchester, admitted he had been drinking himself that night, (although not inside the frat house). But he said he had interviewed a number of people who corroborated his recollection of the evening.

“If anyone from his district was there, they wouldn’t vote for him,” Tomlin said.

Sweeney came to the party with Paulie Lichorat, a longtime friend of the congressman who owns Geppetto’s, a bar popular with Union students that is located across the street from Alpha Delt. Sweeney was in Schenectady to attend the wake of a close friend, Carlson told The Concordy, although she didn’t say who.

Union College President James Underwood told the paper that just because Sweeney appeared drunk to the students (who, of course, have no experience in identifying someone under the influence) doesn’t mean he was.

[Cooley Hurd]

16. OMG! THAT picture is WAY funnier!

:rofl:

Thug Sweeney has quite a beer gut!

And this pic:

No doubt - Sweeney is FACED!

[Stephanie]

17. do you read Elizabeth Benjamin's blog?

she's great - love her

[Cooley Hurd]

18. Not recently, but I agree - she's great!

:thumbsup:

[Rhiannon12866]

25. What just occurred to me: these students are too young to drink legally!

When I was in school, the drinking age was 18. But now it's 21. Most of these students won't turn 21 until they graduate. So Sweeney is also condoning underage drinking!:wow:

[Cooley Hurd]

26. Yup - more reTHUGlican family values...

:thumbsdown:

[Rhiannon12866]

31. Sweeney certainly must know that!

Didn't it dawn on him that this wouldn't look good for him? Or was he too inebriated to care?:shrug:

[Cooley Hurd]

34. He was likely on the prowl for some sweet young thangs...

"Hey *burp* sweetie! I'm a congressman! Wanna see my *burp* 'poll'?"

[Rhiannon12866]

36. Does Sweeney like boys too?

In all of these pix, he's shown embracing boys...:shrug:

[Cooley Hurd]

37. Hmmm... maybe?

I'm not one to turn down a perfectly good rumor... ;)

[Rhiannon12866]

39. It's my belief that Sweeney is way too sure of himself to worry about this

There was an article in The Post Star, a few years ago, that said that Sweeney could have the job for life, if he wanted it. He must believe his own press... But what he didn't count on was the Republican backlash, or that the Democrats would finally offer a viable and well-qualified candidate... Before, he's had little or no opposition. We really have an excellent shot at unseating him, this time around!:kick:

[mdmc]

6. Spitzer and Clinton need to make this a priority

we can win!

[Cooley Hurd]

8. You know it! That thug son-of-a-bitch organized the Brooks Brothers riot..

...in FL during the 2000 recount!:grr:

[mdmc]

11. I get sick when I see this pic

:mad:
Might have to get some cash up into that race soon.
:mad:

[WePurrsevere]

12. Good! When we moved up here we moved out of that slime ball's district.

He truly is a wart on a worms butt (whereas our current RepubliCON Congressman is merely a worm's butt).

[Cooley Hurd]

28. Clifton Park (or, as I call it, "Stepford Park") is inundated with...

...Sweeney signs.:puke: But, for some good news - I've been seeing more and more Gillibrand signs there (more so than for any other Dem candidate, including Kerry in 2004). Perhaps even the self-absorbed sheeple in CP are fed up with the reNAMBLAcans? ;)

[WePurrsevere]

29. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, Gillirand sounds like just what NY

and our country need. :)

[Rhiannon12866]

33. When I got off at Exit 18, the ramp was flanked by Sweeney signs...

It really pissed me off, since so many people are going to see them!:grr:

But then when I went to get on, at the same exit, that was flanked by Gillibrand signs!:woohoo: I was very encouraged!:D

[Cooley Hurd]

35. That's fitting...

Sweeney's on the "off ramp," while Kirsten's on the "on ramp!" :thumbsup:

[Rhiannon12866]

38. Good point! Maybe it's a SIGN! LOL!

:rofl: I sure hope so! I'm counting on another Lieberman moment for another Bush* apologist, this time around!:bounce:

[mcg]

13. www.gillibrand2006.com

http://www.gillibrand2006.com

I'm seriously thinking of donating.

[Cooley Hurd]

I'm going to add the direct link to my sig!

:hi:

[Cooley Hurd]

43. I'm going to add the direct link to my sig!

:hi:

[Cooley Hurd]

14. Funny article in today's WP about attractive Dem candidates:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/13/AR2006101301753.html

Democratic Faces That Could Launch Thousands of Votes

With a Parade of Attractive Candidates, the Party May Benefit From the Politics of Beauty


By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 14, 2006; Page A01

AUBURN, N.Y. (Hey, that's MY hometown! :)) -- Maybe Democratic candidate Michael Arcuri is running strong in this Republican House district because he pledges to expand health coverage, balance the budget and raise the minimum wage.

Or maybe it's his piercing Italian eyes and runner's physique.

<snip>

The research is unambiguous that Ferrin is right: Attractive politicians have an edge over not-so-attractive ones. The phenomenon is resonating especially this year. By a combination of luck and design, Democrats seem to be fielding an uncommonly high number of uncommonly good-looking candidates.

The beauty gap between the parties, some on Capitol Hill muse, could even be a factor in who controls Congress after Election Day.
</snip>

That said, here's Sweeney:


...and here's Kirsten:

[nuxvomica]

19. The "Sweenster" frat party ad

This is a dramatization of Sweeney's frat party adventure. Regardless of my own prejudices in this race, it's a funny ad that I've watched over and over. :rofl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdtGQN_mUOw

[Cooley Hurd]

21. "That's Sween-o-reeno!"

:rofl:

That's GREAT!!!! Thanks, nuxvomica!!!:hi:

[nuxvomica]

22. My only complaint about the ad

They should've pixelated the other partiers' faces in the still photos. That would've made the whole thing look even sleazier. Nonetheless, it's a hoot!

[Rhiannon12866]

23. I love that!!! ROFL!!! Thanks... :D K&R!

:rofl:

[BootinUp]

30. Jim4Wes predicts

Gillibrand over Sweeney by a safe margin.

:)

[Cooley Hurd]

32. Josh @TPM wonders "isn't he about due for another boffo moment?"

I think a few more unfavorable polls might drive Rep. DrinkyCrow to the bottle, and speed up that "boffo moment." :D

[Cooley Hurd]

40. Interesting posts from the Times-Union political blog:

http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=2413

4. Oh heck… “the Sweenster” has been a disgrace since at least his days of D’amato and Powers. Frankly, it goes back to when he was rewarded for his first DWI by being appointed Rensselaer County Stop DWI coordinator, a position that apparently had no positive impact on his own behavior.

This is a guy that went to the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) to lobby them to hire Jack Abramoff who then lobbied the US government to allow CNMI to continue it’s practices of forced prostitution and slave labor instead of enforcing US labor laws.

This is a guy that then worked with Abramoff through his associates Tony Rudy and Kevin Ring to appropriate millions of dollars through the aviation sub-committee to CNMI.

This is a guy that thinks elections should be decided via mob action and intimidation of elections officials rather than by allowing elections officials to do their jobs… as evidenced by his leading role in the only mob violence in Florida 2000.

This is a guy that voted to change Republican House rules to allow an indicted member (Tom DeLay) to remain in a leadership role.

(by the way, why is the convicted Republican Bob Ney still a member of congress?)

And of course, this is a guy that thinks it’s perfectly fine for a schnockered 50 year old man to go partying with teenagers.

And finally, this is a guy that doesn’t see anything wrong in Republican “leaders” Dennis Hastert, Tom Reynolds, John Shimkus, and John Boehner covering up for a child predator (a 50 year old man that wanted to do more then just “party” with teenagers).

John Sweeney disgraced and has been for a long, long time.

Comment by Andrew C. White — October 12, 2006 @ 1:39 pm

5. About those signs… maybe the mysterious (and mostly imaginary) sign stealer that “elena” refers to is sick and tired of $weeney desecrating our Flag. Despite his professed support of a “Flag-burning Amendment”, every $weeney sign I have seen (and that’s a lot of them along the roadways… just not many in people’s yards) has a depiction of our Flag, right above $weeneys name.

US FLAG CODE (4 US Code 1) Section 8 (Respect for the Flag) paragraph (i)

“The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.”

Sounds pretty clear to me. $weeney may as well be dragging our flag in the mud with every illegal sign he puts up.

I’m guessing that if any $weeney signs are actually taken, it’s just someone performing their patriotic duty.

Comment by SweeneyisGod — October 12, 2006 @ 2:10 pm

[mcg]

41. Sweeney one of the "Abramoff 65", tied to Abramoff in all 6 areas

see the Tip Jar post at
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/25/02227/9596

The quick key to the Abramoff Connections are
1-Money; 2-staff; 3-travel; 4-the public record;
5-CNMI invoices; and 6-Congressional favors.

Race: NY-20
Corrupt Republican: John Sweeney(R)
JA Connection: All 6 Areas
Democratic Challenger: Kirsten Gillibrand(D)

see 'Statement of Female Minor' at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2337682

"One customer bit my nipple so hard that I just slapped him. One time a customer punched me on my bare stomach. They try to push sex on me in front of everybody on stage. The customers at the bar were everybody, like local people. Some customers are crazy. My boss told me to light a cigarette from my mouth and put it in my vagina. He was so mad at me because I would not spread my legs. So many times I burned my legs. The customers would come up and light their cigarettes between my legs. I had to put my mouth on their private parts and sometimes they came inside me. Sometimes my boss told us girls to have sex together so the customers wouldn't get bored. They took videos of me many times on the stage doing "shower shows" and "cigarette shows" for commercials and to put in magazines."

These kinds of evil - and worse - are what these corrupt Republicans are enabling,
and Sweeney has played a major role in this. He's absolutely disgusting.

also:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2337933

[Cooley Hurd]

44. The Marianas issue burns me...

What hypocritical, lying, misogynistic SCUMBAGS!!!!:grr:

Thank you for the Kos link!!!!:thumbsup:

[Cooley Hurd]

42. A kick for the Saturday night crowd...

Please recommend this thread - it's a very important race. Sweeney was the architect of the Brooks Brothers riot in FL, 2000!:grr:

[Rhiannon12866]

45. And it looks like his days are numbered...

I'm hoping, once again...:-)