It's funny being a republican in New York State. Our numbers are consistently dwindling, and indifference consistently grows with each passing election. Democrats rule, republicans drool as far as state and county politics are concerned.
What kills me is the trouble the reps have had trying to fill Tom Reynolds's seat in the US House of Representatives. Marsha Henderson, the vice president for External Affairs, is now being offered the opportunity to run. While it's great that someone from UB might be on the ballot, what is she, pick number 10?
Well Marsha, we couldn't get Don Postles, so you're up.
Maybe the republicans should have thought twice before picking a local celebrity-anchorman. After all, who is really more qualified for the spot - Postles and his charming personality and fab head of hair, or someone with even the slightest bit of experience dealing with government, bureaucracies, anything really? Postles doesn't know the law, but he's just so charming when he tells us that Buffalo is going to get another nine feet of snow and someone else got shot on the East side.
Aside from being another ridiculous instance where celebrities with no experience are considered and elected to government positions (which Postles graciously turned down), this is yet another whack in the knees of conservatives.
The empty House seat is just another example in a succession of republicans basically giving up. We know we can't win, so we're done running for spots where, should we be elected, no changes will be able to be made because of where our party affiliations and loyalties lie.
It doesn't help that former big-name and once-popular republicans in local and state government have given us a bad reputation. Thanks for acting like a baby when you lost, Nancy Naples.
The irony is that Tom Reynolds is one politician that crosses party lines. Not too many people dislike the guy, and most agree that whomever the nomination goes to, Reynolds' absence will be noticeably felt.
Why are we giving up? Why are there some half-dozen or so potential politicians turned down a viable chance to add a notch to their political careers?
Hell, I'll do it - sign me up.
Republican politicians can't just give up, because young or old, there are still the people out there who need to be represented. Maybe the next candidate, like so many others in this state, will be elected to the seat and do very little with it because of the party they belong to, but isn't that better than just giving in and letting the democrats have it?
Besides, democrats sometimes waste their terms too. Look at Hillary Clinton - she's done...well basically nothing with her term in the Senate here, and New Yorkers still voted for her for the presidency (though barely). I'd rather see Obama actually do something than elect someone who fibs about all of the fabulous "progress" she's made here.
Republicans, you should be lining up around the block for the chance to run. Instead, the lot of potentials continues to cower away from a challenge like retarded house-cats do when the mailman comes.
It would be nice to someday be a republican offered the chance to go up against big time democrats in this state. It's no fun if everyone likes you - where's the challenge there?
Something tells me a college student wouldn't bring in the votes like a UB hot shot will. Ten years from now, I'd like to think that I'd jump for the chance to do this. For now, local politicians need to set the stage for years to come.
New York Republicans: the time to step up has come. New Yorkers aren't all democratic voters, and someone needs to represent us, no matter how small a voter percentage we may be.
Do it Marsha. Do it.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
