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Post by tanouryjr on Feb 27, 2009 23:28:54 GMT -5
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Post by lioneljoe on Mar 1, 2009 11:50:37 GMT -5
Anyone who says that “ the other party (Republicans or Democrats) is screwing it up and if you just vote for my party (Republican or Democrat) and we will set things right” is selling Snake Oil and has no credibility.
The Mohawk Valley needs politicians who are unapologetic about putting the taxpayers first and who will vocally support other likeminded politicians regardless of party. I think a lot of young people go into politics with the best intentions and idealism. The problem is that it's nearly impossible to be a “Man of the People” and a “Man of the Party” at the same time.
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Post by bobbbiez on Mar 1, 2009 12:11:31 GMT -5
 Lioneljoe, ain't that sad but the damn truth!  What is needed is for the "taxpayers" to band together against both parties or nothing will ever change.  Now, the question is, will that ever happen and what will it take to get those out of their homes and start the battle? 
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Post by lioneljoe on Mar 1, 2009 12:35:16 GMT -5
What is it going to take? It starts with a politician who has the courage to speak out, even if it means criticizing members of their own party. Its starts with a politician who sees public service as a temporary public duty and not a career. The question is, where do we find someone like that?
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Post by Clipper on Mar 1, 2009 13:00:30 GMT -5
Well, lioneljoe, I am hoping that this is the quality that we see in Larry Tanoury Jr. He has stated in the past, that he WILL represent the people of his district against all evil, even if it means that he is a one term legislator. I like this young man, and I sympathize with his plight as a junior legislator trying to buck the trends of generations of party politics in the county political arena.
I read from afar, living here in Tennessee, but I seem to see that there are a few other young legislators that seem to vote along the same lines as Larry on issues of importance.
I only can hope and dream that they will be able to start an undercurrent and make enough difference to bring about a change at the polls. Keep up the good works Larry, and I hope that you are successful in unseating at least part of the old political guard and exposing their backroom games.
ANY CHANGE YOU CAN MAKE IN AS MANY TERMS AS YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL IN BEING ELECTED, IS CHANGE THAT HAS LONG BEEN NEEDED!
Just try as hard as you are now, to keep the wishes of the people of your district your main objective, as opposed to the wishes of the party, and you will forever be respected by the voters and your name will known as being an honorable and sincere representative. That is something that many start out to accomplish, but fall short of, under pressure from party bosses and pressures from influence peddling outsiders.
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Post by lioneljoe on Mar 1, 2009 15:57:29 GMT -5
Clipper,
Well, I like Larry Tanoury also but I'm not sure he is the guy. I would like to hear more from him directly on where he stands. On one hand he has shown the politcal courage to go against the grain like his vote against the New Hartford PILOT program. On the other hand, his letters to the editor in the OD give me the impression he's a "Party man"
Like I said, I am very suspicious of anyone, Republican or Democrat who calims his party has a mononoply on solutions for our region. Here is an excerpt from Larry's letter that give's me pause:
As a 29-year-old county legislator, I'm writing to encourage the people of Oneida County to support Barack Obama and the entire Democratic ticket on Nov. 4. Today, we have come to see what happens when you allow the Republican Party to control Oneida County; higher taxes, a dwindling tax base, political patronage, out-of-control spending and a lack of long-term planning. This year, we have a chance to try something new. I know change is hard, but I also know that it can't be worse than what we've been doing for the past 30 years.
I ask you all to think of the next generation when voting on Nov. 4. I love Utica immensely and can't bear seeing her mistreated any longer. Vote Democrat.
LARRY TANOURY JR.
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 1, 2009 16:29:33 GMT -5
Geez, LionelJoe, you gotta allow Larry to practice politics at least a little. He's a politician, not Joan of Arc. He has to get elected. He needs to work for the voters, but he has to work with his party somewhat, or they'll have him out of office faster than he can say "Gerald Ford."
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Post by lioneljoe on Mar 1, 2009 19:14:19 GMT -5
Hi Dave,
Practice politics? If it was just that letter maybe... but later there was another letter to the OD that said the Republicans were "parochial" then here he posted a link that "County Republicans are on the defensive". There is a pattern here...
If Larry is going to carry the water for the Democratic Party then he is just another career politician. It doesn't make him a bad guy but it does mean he is no longer unique. He loses that maverick status he has cultivated the past year. If he really believes that voting a straight Democratic ticket is the answer to the Mohawk Valley's woes, then he's not the guy. If really doesn’t believe that but he wrote it to pay his “political dues” to Bill Morris then he's still not the guy. We have plenty of those kinds of politicians here in the MV. What we have in short supply are independent minded people who are going to do what’s right regardless of party affiliation. I had high hopes that Larry was that person but based on his own words, I’m starting to have doubts. I posted here that as a Republican I would vote for Larry for County executive over Mr. Picente. I want the best people for office, Democrat or Republican. Anyone who says their Party has the monopoly on good ideas loses credibility. Anyway, I’m trying to keep an open mind here but I really would like to hear from Larry on where he truly stands.
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Post by tanouryjr on Mar 1, 2009 20:09:50 GMT -5
Lionel, thanks again for your comments. I have never said that Democrats have all the answers. Again, I have voted AGAINST the Democrats on the Board MANY times. I have taken on our leader, our congressman, Mayor, etc. Likewise, I have given credit where credit is due. Letters to the editor give you 250 words to express your opinion. In a national election, that means I have to talk in generalities in order to get my point across. I am an independent minded person. However, I'm also a registered Democrat for a reason. I believe in the Jefferson Democrats. Fiscally Conservative yet open minded and progessive. I have had my share of battles with both sides of the isle. I'll continue to have them. I'll continue to listen to the people. Remember, I stood up to BOTH parties, and my Minority Leader in particular, when I fought against the pay raise for the Sheriff. This didn't make me any friends. But I did it. Trust me, not a single member of the local Democratic Party would consider me a "Party Guy." Sure, I'm a Democrat, and will support other quality Democrats. However, I will not blindly follow ANYONE (Democrat or Republican). I do believe that there is a Republican culture in county government though. It goes back a long long time. It needs to be broken. Nepotism and cronyism must be ended. That's just my opinion. That doesn't mean all Republicans are bad...just the ones that have ruled with an iron fist for many years. The same can be said about some Democrats on the city level.
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Post by Clipper on Mar 1, 2009 23:56:29 GMT -5
Exactly Larry. Well said. As Dave said, you ARE a Democrat, and you do owe a certain amount of allegiance to the party, but I truly believe you have done well, in standing up for what is right, and against what is wrong, with the legislature at the county level. I have yet to see any other legislators come aboard and earnestly discuss the issues with the constituency in such a forum as what we offer here. You have a good handle on the what is happening and HAS been happening for years at both the county AND the city level. All I can expect is for you to keep doing the best that you can to break that chain and bring SOME sort of reform to the system. Every little inroad you make against the backroom dealing, is a step in the right direction. NOBODY can expect you to put your head blatantly on the political chopping block in your first year of your first term.
Personally, I think that by exposing some of the wrong doing, you accomplish more than you could accomplish by simply sponsoring legislation and attending meetings and caucuses. The chambers have needed to be exposed, aired out, and openly taken to task for years, and finally we have one young man not afraid to let the tail go with the hide and bring some of this garbage to light.
I don't know about anyone else, but I LOVE the video that you post on your website. I sincerely wish I lived closer so that I could attend some of these meetings and offer you some REAL support.
As Dave said, you ARE a politician. You DO have to preserve your party standing, and you DO have to get re-elected. Just do the best you can Larry. You are doing fine so far. Nobody expects miracles, or perfection. Anyone that thinks they can do better need only pick up petitions at the county building when election time comes around, and get out there and run for office themselves. I have to wonder sometimes if people know the hours and the dollars that go into running for office. I wonder how many really realize the amount of desire that it takes to endure the bullshit that comes with putting your name on a ballot, and taking the mudslinging and hostility that comes with simply RUNNING for office, not to mention the abuse and criticism that you take after you succeed in getting elected.
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Post by lioneljoe on Mar 2, 2009 4:00:14 GMT -5
Larry,
I appreciate your response and the work that you have done. I would just add that if you aspire to a higher county office, you will need to build a broad coalition of Democrats, Independents AND Republicans so don't burn your bridges with us Republican voters. If do eventually decide to run against Mr. Picente, you have my vote.
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Post by Clipper on Mar 2, 2009 13:01:52 GMT -5
Lioneljoe, there is a glimmer of hope in some of the votes on issues in recent history. There are a couple of young republicans that also are voting their conscience and have voted along the same lines as Larry, rather than following the party bosses like sheep.
MORE NEW BLOOD is the answer. MORE representatives like Larry, that are there with no other agenda than to represent their own constituents and to legislate for the good of the majority of the county's citizens, instead of for special interests, relatives and friends.
I registered as a Republican for many many years while I worked at the base, and my mom worked for the republican congressman (Pirnie and Mitchell). I NEVER vote a straight party ticket, and Larry Jr has impressed me from the first time I saw his campaign agenda, and watched his run for office unfold. He is the first representative from the district that he represents, that actually can put a face and a name with an address. Most of his predecessors knew only a street address and a voter registration, and could not tell you the names of those in his district.
Most have simply used that particular district as a stepping stone to something bigger and better politically. Knowing Larry Jr as I do, and having known his father, and Larry Sr's sincere concern for the people, I am confident that Larry Jr will NEVER forget the people that elected him, to this job and to any other that he may aspire to run for.
While I am sure that Larry Jr will have his moments of making the wrong decision about one issue or another, I can rest comfortably knowing that his honesty and sincerity are unquestionable, and that the mistake was NOT a sellout to some special interest or patron.
Wear that honesty as a suit of armor Larry, and stand tall against rampant wrong doing and back room dealings. Keep up the good work.
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Post by frankcor on Mar 3, 2009 13:26:24 GMT -5
As a recent eyewitness, I can vouch that Larry is no waterboy for the Democrats in Oneida County. I've watched the Democrats roll their eyes just as much as the Republicans when he speaks.
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Post by Clipper on Mar 3, 2009 14:53:25 GMT -5
All one has to do is go to Larry's website and watch the videos. LISTEN to the audio, but WATCH the faces of the other legislators, and you can see who is a member of the band of thieves and who isn't threatened by, and nods in agreement with the many reform ideas proposed by Larry Jr.
Hell, he ain't no water boy. He carrys a BIG bat, and the biggest balls to enter the chamber in years. LOL.
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Post by lioneljoe on Mar 3, 2009 17:36:48 GMT -5
Well, I am open minded and fair enough to give Larry T a chance. As a Republican, I have walked the talk and have not been afraid to publicly take to task Republican elected officials in New Hartford who don't have the interest of the people in mind. For me, I don't care what party someone is... I just ask for quality. On the other hand, I am naturally suspect of anyone who says "vote my party across the board." I say name names and tell me in a logical and persuasive manor why I should vote for this person.
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Lioneljoe, ain't that sad but the damn truth! 
