Will He Or Won't He? Debate in Manhattan Beach Scheduled For 8/31

I don't know why, but I think this has to be the funniest video I've seen about "The 'Stache!" this whole campaign season. Whoever this NYPartyGuy is, I like his/her style!

"The 'Stache!" walked out on Juniper Park Civic. Will he do the same to the Manhattan Beach Community Group? Or will there actually be a debate in Manhattan Beach tomorrow at 8 PM at PS 195 on Irwin St.? We shall see...

On "Logistics" - A Theoretical Approach

(First, a little musical interlude...)

By now, you know that David Weprin (or I we call him here "The 'Stache!") no-showed the good people of the Juniper Park Civic Association at their scheduled debate on Monday night. His official statement:

The hurricane caused major logistical and scheduling problems for the campaign and thus David is not able to make the debate this evening.

Logistics, eh? UPS would be appalled. Back on topic, even the NY Times doesn't buy that lame-o excuse!

It was an eyebrow-raising explanation, especially given that his Republican opponent, Bob Turner, had been evacuated from his home in the Rockaways during the storm, yet still planned to make the debate.

This is an excerpt form one of many stories published today (see the bottom of the article for all the links I can find, including from the aggrieved Juniper Park Civic Association.) But no one has tried to look for another reason besides "logistics" for this latest move by "The 'Stache!" Let's explore, shall we?

THEORY NO. 1: He's chicken! It's clear that at the last live debate in Kew Gardens that "the 'Stache!" was rattled by the crowd and the rude reception they gave him. More than one news account hinted as much (h/t to The Daily Politics):

(Juniper Park Civic Pres. Bob Holden) also said Team Weprin had professed concerns about a debate format, preferring a forum without back-and-forth, and also said the campaign was worried about things getting rowdy, as they did at a recent face-off in Kew Gardens Hills.

Well maybe he's not chicken, just chicken like a fox. "The 'Stache!" knows that he can't get his message out with Turner supporters around - they're raucous, they're boisterous. Turner has them (them? US!) in a frenzy because Republicans in Brooklyn and in NYC have a candidate they believe can win - and will win. So you take the rock-star atmosphere away, you hurt Turner - or so the theory goes.

But this leads us to...

THEORY NO. 2: He's Cracking Up! According to early conventional wisdom, this was supposed to be a "coronation" for "The 'Stache!" A cake-walk. But it hasn't been. In fact, it's been the opposite. It's a horse race. As a result, he and his team are rattled. The crowd is against him, Ed Koch jumped party lines, Dov Hikind - a Jewish Dem from the Assembly - all BUT crossed party lines. He's in trouble, and doesn't know what to do.

And sources in the online media are noticing. In a quick email conversation with Colin Campbell, political guru extraordinaire of The Brooklyn Politics, he raised some interesting points from a journalist's point of view while this debate no-show story was breaking:

I've received five press notices from the Turner campaign this morning and afternoon, ZERO from Weprin. What is his team doing??? Monday mornings are the perfect time to send out releases. Even a flailing campaign can make some media efforts, weird stuff.

Further digging reveals that there's even more pressure - from online supporters of "The 'Stache!". Even an ardent "'Stache!" denizen tweeted today he left a "pretty angry message" on "The 'Stache's!" Facebook wall. He has since sanitized his Facebook page, but until today, there were several negative comments from "'Stache!" supporters about the direction of his campaign. So there's strife in 'Stache! Country!

Which leads me to...

THEORY NO. 3 - He Thinks He's Losing! There's no link here. No funny quote. But let's take Theory 1 and 2 and smoosh them together:

a) His Opponent has been in it since the first poll weeks ago. Not Good.
b) He's noticed the crowd is not all for him. Not Good.
c) Prominent Jewish Dems have endorsed his opponent. NOT good.
d) His campaign committed a BIG "unforced error" and then went radio silent for a long time. Definitely. Not. Good.
e) His own supporters are questioning his tactics. Totally. Not. Good.

This is not the signs of a well-oiled "machine" - pun intended!

So, that's what I got. Got your own theory? Wanna make one. Let's give you the tools - It's Linkin' Time!

Juniper Park Civic Assoc.
NY Daily News - Daily Politics
NY Post
NY Times
Politicker / NY Observer
The Brooklyn Politics
YNN Capital Tonight
Gotham Gazette
WNYC
Roll Call

That's (a lot of cyber-ink for) "logistics" . Maybe "The 'Stache!" will be the next thing shipped out of NY-9 by UPS.

"Stache!" Politics: Clueless on Social Security & Medicare

I think the pressure is getting to "The 'Stache!" As he is being asked the hard questions by constituents AND his own Democratic colleagues, his answers show detachment from the reality we as a nation face.

On a recent appearance on Dov Hikind's radio show, "The 'Stache!" was asked if he really believed that Bob Turner wants to destroy Social Security? Here's his answer:

A: I believe he said many times he supported the Ryan Plan last year and last November when he ran against Anthony Weiner, which would've privatized Medicare - vouchers for Medicare which would've cost seniors $6,300.00 more a year.

Wow. Where to begin...

First off, notice how the answer had nothing to do with Social Security - it's a talking point about Medicare.

Second, let's fact-check: there was no such thing as the Ryan Plan in November of 2010! The Ryan Plan was unveiled this year in April! Woops.

Beyond this un-truth, when you talk substance, I believe that whether you felt that the Ryan Plan creates a "voucher" scheme or a "premium support" scheme is a matter of debate. But in either case, Bob Turner is on record expressly stating his opposition to the Ryan Plan this year - when it ACTUALLY came out!

So that makes the entire statement an out-and-out lie.

Make no mistake - "The 'Stache!" is counting on misinformation to win. He wants to scare voters into choosing him, because he knows that's the only way he has a shot.

Because he has no real plan other than what he and other liberals have as their good ol' fallback - and you'll see that below.

Mr. Hikind gives his fellow Dem a second chance, asking if "The 'Stache!" agrees that something must be done to preserve Social Security for future generations - the answer shocks:

A: Well I think we can't rule out taxation. If you take a position that you want to give tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires and you don't want to have any taxation on corporations and you want to cut the budget then you have to look at changing Social Security and Medicare. If you have the right form of taxation and if you create new industries, you create new jobs, you can preserve Social Security and Medicare. I would make that a major priority and not look to eliminate or cut it or scale it back for future retirees.

So there you have it - definitive proof that "The 'Stache!" is a tax and spend liberal who sees nothing wrong with what the government is doing right now. According to him, all we need to do is tax more money from people (specifically rich people) and spend that money (or excuse me - "re-distribute the wealth") on a bottomless pit that, by all accounts, won't be there when the next generation retires.

Isn't that the same plan that drove this nation into the ground the past three years? Or if he ill equipped to be a Congressman, going back to what he knows and sticking his head int he political sand, hoping it'll all blow over?

I believe it's the latter.

VIDEOS: "The 'Stache!" is a "Party Guy!" - UPDATED!

A new YouTube video shows the hand-picked Dem challenger for the NY-9 Election for what I've said he is the whole time - another Obama mouthpiece parroting the Dem Party line. Give it a look!

UPDATE: Whoever made the above video REALLY has it in for "The 'Stache!" as there is another video up in the same day! Whoever you are "NYPartyGuy", contact Brooklyn GOP Radio!

Blog Returns On Monday

See you after Irene gets done with us! Stay safe!

This Week's Show Featured on BTR Homepage!

CLICK PHOTO TO LISTEN TO OUR FIRST FEATURED SHOW!

Those Who Forget History... NY-9 Edition

In searching out news to highlight on the ol' blog, I ran across a piece on NY-9 written by Henry Stern, former NYC Parks Commissioner and President of New York Civic. In what is part-nspiration, part-plagiarism, I decided to take a look back at the history of the representation in what is now NY-9 to see what we can learn about today's NY-9:

(By the way, the area wasn't always NY-9, I know. Basically, I'm following Mr. Stern's lead, seeing as how he's been around long enough to have experienced most of this first-hand.)

Meet Emanuel Celler - Democratic Congressman who served in office from 1923-1972.

Wait, is that a typo? It's not? Holy crap, that's a long time! He had to have won TWENTY FIVE elections! Not to mention survive at least 4 re-districtings!

In fact he's was the longest serving member of either house of Congress in NY's history. Celler's seniority ultimately landed him the Chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee. Celler was smack dab in the middle of a lot of history. As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 1949 to 1973 (except for a break from when the Republicans controlled the House), Celler was involved in drafting and passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the Voting Rights Act. He was even a target of McCathyism!

In January 1965, Celler proposed in the House of Representatives the Twenty-Fifth Amendment. That's some clout right there, I don't care what side of the aisle you're on.

His longest fight was against isolationist immigration policies, which culminated in the passage the Hart-Celler Act, which eliminated national origins as a consideration for immigration, where he butted heads with FDR over expediting immigration processes for Holocause victims.

He was beaten in a primary by... Liz Holtzman? Really? A legislator who had been around THAT long taken down in a primary? What's that about?

The feminist movement apparently did old gent in. But geez.. a 50-year incumbent?

But back to Holtzman. She too was on the House Judiciary Committee, and had the pleasure of sitting on the Nixon impeachment hearings. She was also a member of the House Budget Committee and chaired the House Immigration Subcommittee. In 1978 she secured an extension of the deadline for state legislatures to ratify the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution. She also passed legislation to expel more Nazi war criminals who had immigrated to the United States, establishing the U.S. DOJ Office of Special Investigations to investigate and bring legal action to denaturalize or deport them. It didn't materialize into any real action, as the INS had kept a list of suspects but had not pursued them.

Anyways, Holtzman ended up vacating her seat during her failed bid for Senate. That paved the way for...

Chuck Schumer. Oh boy. I think we all know about him. Then came "the Weiner" - and I think we know MORE than we wanted to about him!

***
So what have we learned? Here's the big thing I've taken away from this little historical jaunt. Yes, the area has a long history of Democratic rule. But beyond that, the area doesn't take to change in a big way - even within the Democratic ranks. Fifty. Year. Incumbent.

It tookthe rise of feminism and ERA and the women's movement to bring about change. In other words, something BIG had to be happening for the area for change to be realized.

That's what makes what Bob Turner is in the process of doing so much more impressive - and it's also indicative of how significant these times are and how important the issues in the economy and the job market really are. The people sense that this is one of those moments in history where change is needed.

And that change is Bob Turner.

Thank You Turner HQ! Listen To The Show!

We want to thank the Bob Turner For Congress team for opening their doors to Brooklyn GOP Radio. Who knows? Maybe we'll do another show from there soon!

Listen to the show HERE!

Fun Fact of the Night- The Brooklyn GOP traveled out east for night of phone-banking. According to the campaign staff, close to 1,500 phone calls were made to NY-9 constituents throughout the district in the hour Brooklyn GOP Radio was on the air last night. Not one caller said they were supporting David Weprin. Hundreds pledged their support for Bob Turner. Wow!

Get involved! Volunteer for Bob Turner!

8/24 - BIG Show From Turner HQ!

If you're only going to tune into one show this year, make this the one!

Russell and I are taking the show on the road to the Turner HQ in Queens. We've been granted access reporters and bloggers could only wish they could get for a full hour in-house - and hopefully some time with the future-Congressman himself!

Get to know the people behind "The Man" - the everyday volunteers who take time out of their busy lives to pound the pavement for Bob Turner.

It's sure to be a fun night in Queens! Tune in at 8 PM on your computer, join the BlogTalkRadio chat, or call in and listen / be part of the show at (718) 506-1967! CLICK THE PHOTO TO GO TO THE SHOW!

Great Compilation Video of the 8/22 Debate!

Whoever made this video, Brooklyn GOP Radio would love to talk to you!

NY-9: Debate Blow-By-Blow

(photo unabashedly stolen from the Twitter feed of Colin Campbell's "The Brooklyn Politics" Call a cop, pal!)

The Dems didn't see it comin', but I think they now know that they have a BIG fight on their hands in the Special Election to decide the next represenative from the 9th Congressional District.

The match-up in Kew Gardens between Dem-Machine politician/place-holder David "The 'Stache!" Weprin and Bob Turner opened with what some likened to a "color war" with young Dem "volunteers" (who mostly looked more like Dem staffers than anything else) clashing with supporters of Bob Turner, many of whom were constituents living within the 9th CD.

While I'm sure you'll read some real debate analysis from your usual news sources, I wanted to give you a quick feel for the event - because this was indeed an event. From dueling signs to shouting, chanting, political arguments, noisemakers, whistles, clapping... the streets were alive with the sounds of politics. It was feisty. And it was fun - especially to see many a Dem unnerved by the competition's (a.k.a., us) pugnacious refusal to back down.

Who would've thunkit? The Dems' "coronation" of a place-holder for a "dead" district has turned into a knockdown-drag out!

I'm happy to report that the Turner supporters - we underdog upstarts - gave as good as they got from the monolith that is the Dem "machine". A tip of the cap to all of you who showed up to fight the good fight!

***

Now for the main event: To be sure, Bob Turner is the "Rocky" in this story, folks. He's the guy "the experts" have counted out and his opponent overlooked. And "the 'Stache!" is the anointed one. Much like another "anointed one" sitting in the White House now (well, not now. He's actually sitting in Martha's Vineyard). And at this debate, Turner "bloodied" the favorite.

It started with a few jabs:

"I'm a businessman, not a politician."

"I like to consider myself a citizen candidate."

Then, some shots with a little more mustard behind 'em:

"This is the most ridiculous and irresponsible government I've ever seen."

"I'm not a party person and the party doesn't have anything I want or need."

Then, some combos start flying in "the 'Stache's!" direction:

(Weprin is)"tainted by the system" (of politics) "and that's why he has to go"

"There aren't enough millionaires and billionaires" (to tax our ways out of economic problems)"

And to end it up, more than a few shots that brought the crowd to it's feet:

(On unemployment extensions) "When is enough, enough? There's a point & I think we've reached it."

"I'd repeal Obamacare."

"You need someone with the political courage to tell you the truth."

"If you want political nonsense or to hide from the truth, there's your man." (pointing at "the 'Stache!")

Granted, this is a partisan take of the night's events (after all, this IS Brooklyn GOP Radio, right?) but I think you get the point. There's a lot for Republicans and independents - and yes, even you conservative Dems out there - to get excited about.

In NY-9, a fight broke out at a coronation. Next round. Ding-Ding.

Is "The 'Stache!" Hedging His Bets?

While skimming the internet for the latest on the 9th Congressional race, I found that David Weprin has a website "under construction" for his re-election to his State Assembly seat.

And from the looks of it, it's a definite downgrade from his Congressional web presence.

Is this just the remnants of Weprin's changed plans to transition to a Congressional race, or is "the 'Stache!" taking out an insurance policy in the event that he loses to Bob Turner?

If he is, it might have something to do with the efforts of the Turner campaign to get out the vote for his candidacy. This past Sunday, the Brooklyn GOP and the Brooklyn Young Republicans were joined by NYS Young Republican Chairman Giovanni Scaringi and by Young Republican leaders from all over the state in a day of identifying voters, lit dropping and phone banking.

NY-9: Another Dem Crossing To The Winning Team?

Things are getting curiouser and curiouser in NY-9.

Tonight, Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind just went on the airwaves and said that he could not support David Weprin! This follows up on the coverage like this from David Freelander:

“I don’t know who I’m going to support,” he said of the Congressional race between Weprin and Republican Bob Turner to fill the seat left vacant by Anthony Weiner. “I do have a problem with David Weprin on a certain issue which I will talk about a lot more as we move on.”

So what exactly does this mean? Is an endorsement of Bob Turner in the offing? Right now, there are more questions than answers, but a Hikind endorsement could have a significant effect on this race. Let's analyze, shall we?

Assemblyman Hikind represents the 48th Assembly District. He won re-election after a tough challenge from our good friend and Brooklyn GOP Radio contributor Brian Doherty who garnered 38% of the vote on the R and C lines. So we know the people in the district can find the Republican and Conservative columns.

the 48th overlaps with the 9th Congressional in only 4 EDs, all of which Turner carried against all of them against disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner in 2010. So the impact of a possible endorsement by Hikind, a fixture in the Orthodox Jewish community for decades, is more about how it would resonate throughout the 9th than it is about winning in the 48th AD. Also, we should note that the Orthodox community is a small segment of the Jewish population in NY-9.

A Hikind endorsement at right about the same time in the election cycle last year played a significant role in Congressman Michael Grimm's victory in the 13th CD - could the same happen in the 9th this year? You know what they say about counting chickens before they hatch, but the possibility is there.

UPDATE: Here is the audio from Dov Hikind's radio show! (h/t to TheBrooklynPolitics)

Koch To Weprin: "Knock It Off!"

Ed Koch Scolds David Weprin from Bob Turner for Congress on Vimeo.

The Dems are quivering in their boots.

In response to the news that Bob Turner was within 6 points of David Weprin, constituents have received what the NY Post has called a "Mail-strom" of attack lit in their mailbox trying to characterize Bob Turner as an extremist.

Enter former Mayor Ed Koch to blow up the Dems' spot! Take a listen to his robocall slamming the Dems and Weprin.

If the Dems are THIS desperate, then Bob Turner and his GOP supporters are doing a lot right - and we need all hands on deck to keep up the effort! COme out to the Bob Turner HQ Tomorrow August 21 at 10 AM for a volunteer day with the Brooklyn GOP, the Brooklyn YRs, the New York State YRs!

EXCLUSIVE! NYSDC "Lurker" Caught In The Act!

I'd like everyone to meet our newly-found loyal listener - Lou R. Kerr! And look! He's with the NYS Democratic Committee!

For those of you who haven't followed: The NYSDC and the Weprin Campaign are trying to paint the future-Congressman representing NY-9 Bob Turner as an extremist based in part on comments he made as a guest on our show last year. So far, we count a Weprin presser and an NYSDC attack mailing that cites Brooklyn GOP Radio. Who knows? There may be more coming!

(As an aside: let there be no more doubt about just how influential - and apparently, feared - Brooklyn GOP Radio has become in political circles! Tremble at our might!)

But back to Lou. Actually, he's a quiet guy who likes to hang around in the background. He's always around - even when you think he's not there. He kinda blends into the background. But, every now and again, he'll make his presence known.

And when he's not listening, he's... umm... well, I would imagine he's carrying the great big tub of mustache wax for the Weprin campaign? Someone's gotta keep "The 'Stache!" looking spiffy!

Anyways, keep listening, Lou. It just shows how nervous you and the NYSDC are about NY-9 quickly slipping from your grasp.

UPDATE: Just got word that there is actually a Liz Kerr who works for the Weprin Campaign! Talk about a coincidence - I totally did not know that and hope that Ms. Kerr didn't think we were using a play on words with her name.

Aug. 17 - Special Show For You Weprin "Lurkers" Out There!

So after seeing this little nugget on The Brooklyn Politics (and a special tip of the hat to the site) about a recent Weprin press release attacking Republican / Conservative Congressional candidate Bob Turner with - of all things - remarks he made back in July 2010 on Brooklyn GOP Radio, we here at Brooklyn GOP Radio decided to cater to our new demographic!

So here's to you, o faithful intern, for finding the best little internet radio program in this here borough! In honor of all the diligent "researchers" / lurkers /wanna-be spin doctors that have become loyal listeners to our show, we encourage you to check out this week's show as we talk all-David Weprin, all the time. That's right! A full hour talking about the man who wears the 'stache in all it's awesome glory!

So until then, to tide you over until tonight at 8 PM, here's a little taste of our show. Resist the urge to join in, and talk to you tonight!

America's Mayor Endorses Bob Turner

From Celeste Katz's Daily Politics:


Republicans Bob Turner and Rudy Giuliani are getting the (endorsement) band back together, with the former mayor offering his endorsement of Turner as more than "just another career politician.

Click here to read the rest

The High Price Of Freedom

Matt Mills, 36

Tommy Ratzlaff, 34

Spencer Duncan, 21

Matt Mason, 37

Kraig Vickers, 36

Aaron Carson Vaughn, 30

Kevin Houston, 36

Jon Tumilson, 35

Jonas Kelsall, 33

Johm Douangdara, 26

Jason Workman, 32

Dan Zerbe, 28

Robert Reeves, 32

Bryan Nichols, 31

John Brown, 25

Brian Bill, 31

Darrik Benson, 28

Alexander Bennett, 23

Aaron Carson Vaughn, 30

Aaron Carson Vaughn, 30

These men were among the 30 Americans killed by the enemy in Afghanistan on 6 August 2011. Their dedication and sacrifice for freedom on the other side of the planet will not be forgotten.

May God watch over their families and the rest of our brave troops still fighting this ruthless enemy.

Marty Golden, Bob Turner, and the Brooklyn GOP Making Rounds

Show Canceled Tonight

Gene is stuck at the Board of Elections doing his "lawyer stuff" tonight.

Without him, none of us are smart enough to work the controls.

See you all next week!