Friday, September 29, 2006

This Democrat Stands Against Michael Arcuri

Michael Arcuri has been a terrible candidate from the start, but what he did last night is unforgiveable.

Michael Arcuri has announced that he supports George W. Bush on torture. Mike Arcuri has announced that he supports George W. Bush on revoking the right to habeas corpus. The Arcuri for Congress campaign confirmed to me on the telephone today that Michael Arcuri would gladly help President Bush dismantle the Bill of Rights.

Michael Arcuri said last night at a debate that he would have voted for HR 6166, a law passed by Congress this week that effectively rips the guts out of our democracy.

What does that mean, practically speaking?

1. I cannot support the candidacy of Michael Arcuri any longer.
2. Michael Arcuri will not get my vote.
3. I feel duty bound as an American citizen to oppose the campaign of Michael Arcuri for Congress.

Let me be clear: I do not support the campaign of Ray Meier. Ray Meier also supports this terrible law.

I will be doing as much as I can between today and Election Day to convince Democrats in the 24th Congressional District to do one of two things:

A. Abstain from casting a vote for any candidate in this race.
B. Cast a protest vote in favor of the third party candidate.

The third party candidate does not support the new law. I just spoke to Mike Sylvia, the Libertarian candidate for Congress in our district, and he said that he is against the torture bill, without equivocation. "I am horrified by the abuses of the Bill of Rights contained in this new law," he said to me. That's a word-for-word quote.

The Republican blogger who calls himself "Biggus Dickus" doesn't think that we Democrats are going to lift a finger in protest against this. He doesn't think that we'll oppose Michael Arcuri on this matter. He writes, "the truth is the far-left voters are going to be pulling the lever for Arcuri anyway. It's just amusing to watch them get all indignant before the inevitable happens."

Dick, you couldn't be more wrong.

Unlike the Republicans, we Democrats have more principles than partisanship. Michael Arcuri doesn't deserve our support, and he won't get it.

I don't want a Republican majority in Congress, but this is more important than party loyalty. This is about doing the right thing. Ray Meier and Michael Arcuri both stand for the wrong thing. So, the only right thing to do is to stand against them both.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

If you decide to reconsider, then take the advice of moveon.org and hold your nose while you vote.

Perhaps the best way to look at it is the worst Democrat is no better than the best Republican. And all because of George Bush.

24thIndependent said...

No, I won't reconsider.

I've been holding my nose all year with Michael Arcuri. He's been a terrible candidate with a rotten staff and an arrogant attitude. Ever since the other Democrats dropped out, I've been forcing myself to hold back on Michael Arcuri, in spite of his many flaws.

This is unforgiveable.

Michael Arcuri now says he supports the worst aspects of George W. Bush's agenda.

It doesn't matter if he's a Democrat.

I am against Michael Arcuri because Arcuri is completely unfit to serve in Congress.

Anonymous said...

You've put a lot of effort into this Blog Jon, and I feel for you over this latest development.

This law goes against everything this "creep" was taught in school about "our" Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Of course, as others have said, this country knows more about their "American Idol" contestants than who and how this country is being run. Very sad commentary, but true.

Anonymous said...

The lesser of two evils argument is how this country lost its way. It is time to stand for principle. Tell the Dems and Reps you won't take it any more. Tell the 60% of registered voters, that will likely stay home, that they can make a difference. If they have had enough of career politicians they can send an earth moving message. Silence tells the machine things are good enough. Things are not good enough. I will not settle for the current duopoly. "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" Shout it from the roof tops people! While you still can.

Mike Sylvia

Anonymous said...

Thank you, DCCC, for handpicking a candidate who stands for. . . absolutely nothing.

Jon, you're wrong to assume that Arcuri supports the bill. Arcuri "supports" whatever the DCCC tells him to support. It has nothing to do with him. He is the blank slate on which they write. And the DCCC told all their candidates who face a close race to support this bill so the GOP couldn't use non-support against them.

This is how these people think.

Don't believe me? Check:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2507485

Anonymous said...

I'd highly recommend we take a look at Mike Sylvia. He has principled and ethical stands on issues - a rarity these days!

FreeBob

Anonymous said...

Just hold your nose and vote?

You should be fucking ashamed of yourself for even suggesting that. This is exactly what that gang of fucktards in Utica said was going to happen. We were going to vote for Arcuri like good little sheep. Baah! Baah! We like Mike! Baah!

Now he comes out and says torture is great and all we can do is bite the pillow a little harder as he fucks us up the ass. Please Mike give us more! Baah!

The disgusting part is that we're nto just getting fucked by the assclowns at the DCCC, but the rethuglicans are laughing their asses off. This is exactly how they've pushed the Dems further and furhter right over the last thirty years and we're just going along with it. Baaah! We like Mike! Baah! Fuck us some more! Baah!

You can all do your happy dance right up until election day, but I'm with Jon on this one. I'm out. I'm not going to be Mike Arcuri's bitch. If your going to work to get this guy elected you might as well become a rethuglican right the fuck now because that's all you are. Baah! Fuck me some more Mike! Baaah!

Anonymous said...

thanks for your support. I'm sure you'll be very proud of how I serve you in Congress.
-Ray Meier

Anonymous said...

I heard his comments last night and KNEW this was coming. I knew there was no possible way you'd abide him after that. I do not think his support of this will make much of a difference in terms of harming his chances. Most in the district are not aware of the particulars of the bill, or, if they have some understanding of it, approve of it as "necessary to keep us safe"

What disheartens and sickens me is not so much his tacking to the right or the left. It is the fact that he's all tack. There's no meat there--he just doesn't care what he says, as long as he thinks it'll work. What does that say about his moral fortitude when it comes time for him to fight for us?

Anonymous said...

Ok, everyone's discovered the depth of the evil that the Bushies are leading us into. Same thing happened over a century and a half ago.

March 4 1865: "On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it--all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war--seeking to dissolve the Union, and divide effects, by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came."

I'm fairly certain Bush is actually not intelligent enough to know what he is doing. Our job is to save our country from his destruction and the way we can do that is to deny him a Republican majority that can be bullied and swayed and manipulated.

The Republicans are self destructing in droves. Republican Representative Mark Foley resigned today in Florida after being exposed (bad pun) for soliciting males pages. republican Senator George Allen is self destructing over race in Virginia. Jack Abrhamoff had over 500 White House visits. repoublican Senator Burns in Montana insults every ethic and cultural group available.

Stu Rothenberg points out that Democratic candidates have high favorability than name recognition.

It's no time to stop the entire purpose of these federal campaigns. BLOCK BUSH.

Jon - This is no longer about Mike Arcuri or Ray Meier. It's about putting in Democratic majorities and Democratic control. It's about blocking Bush and investigating the corruption and finally about derailing his bandwagon.

It's time to lead, follow or get the hell out of the way. We would never have sunk this far without Bush to sink us and our only real choice is not to wail about our principles but to grab the reins, elect a Democratic House and Senate and put an end to this abuse.

NoMoreArcuri said...

Jon, unless everyone has a fit about All Involved Parties, we'll just be doing this all agin for some other campaign.

Some other gang of Usual Suspects.

It's how we got to where we are right now Jon. I'm not knocking Trumansburg, but Utica has a fair amount more "pull" than your pretty countryside. (I'll bet you Loooove Boehlert!) So Utica's weird Pols sorta drag you guys into the shit. Year after year, until, inbred, we are where we are today.

I'm telling you right now the Utica Area, indeed CNY, is just a sort of Wacko Politician Spawning Ground, like a School for Defunct Politicians, liars and subtle crooks.

The current Social Environment enables and fosters it, like Natural Selection for Degenerates for Office.

What can we say? Ray Meier, whom we support as a "revolt" againt Mike, also supports "Torture".

We've been telling you Mike Arcuri is "not to be trusted" for months Jon. Yup, albiet rudely and curt, but we know people are getting the point.

Let's just hope that its the "Kinder... Gentler" torture they're selling us on.

And trust people talking.

Look, Bush "ain't no saint" as they say, but either way, we're going to get a chance to change this in 2008... If we're still here.

Look: We're feeling you man, you're much more eloquant than anyone here, a media-edge asset.. and instead of welcoming you with open arms and ideas, you have met the cold, hard, Arcuri shoulder.

The results speak for themselves.

They shoulda been paying you.

Damn, there goes one of NoMoreArcuri's 5 Actual Reasons "We like Mike".

Anonymous said...

Time to grow up, Jon.
Back here in the real world, the DCCC's advice to its candidates on this issue is, God help us, the only advice that makes sense in this toxic political environment (with Fox, the O-D, and WKTV among the major polluters).
But then, in two years maybe we'll all be working on the reelection campaign of Congressman Sylvia, just like those Florida voters who two years ago were putting President Nader over the top again.

Anonymous said...

I can relate to the feeling, that supporting Arcuri now is like being herded like sheep. The Karl Rove types timed this bill perfectly. They've backed the Democratic Party into a corner just before a critical election. If the Democrats vote against the bill, they can be painted as weak on defense - despicable but effective. That's why Arcuri has been counseled by the DCCC to support the bill. Now, as progressives, if we react by protesting loudly against Arcuri, we become worse than sheep. We harm our chances of giving control of congress to the Democratic Party. I'm disgusted with any Democrat that supports this bill, but let's be practical. A horrible bill has been passed. 99% of Republicans voted for it. 20% of Democrats voted for it. Your only real choice now is to support the party that stinks less. A vote for a third party candidate is just throwing your vote away, like voting for Nader instead of Gore in 2000.

24thIndependent said...

No Allen, I disagree with you.

A vote for Michael Arcuri is like a vote for Joseph Lieberman.

Al Gore actually stands up to the Republicans and speaks out against them. Michael Arcuri promises to help the Republicans with their right wing agenda.

Al Gore never did that. Al Gore never said he would revoke habeas corpus if elected President.

Your comparison doesn't match reality.

Anonymous said...

"A vote for Michael Arcuri is like a vote for Joseph Lieberman."

No. Joe Lieberman doesn't follow the DCCC or the DSCC's advice. He follows Bush and the right wing Israeli lobby.

Anonymous said...

I don't think I've ever seen a worse display of spineless cowardice in my fucking life. Why don't you people pull Arcuri's cock out of your mouth long enough to listen to just how pathetic you all sound. Your a bunch of fucking sheep. Baah! Baah! Fuck us more Mike!

I'm ashamed to even be in the same party as you people. You've just shown the whole world that all your talk about fighting for what you blieve in is a load of bullshit. Your fucking cowardice is why our party has turned into rethuglican light. Baah! Baah!

Anonymous said...

10:21 - you remind me of a lone wolf soldier who decides to go over the top and kill all the enemy because he is so mad. It doesn't work.

You might not like the tactics, but we can only succeed as a team.

Anonymous said...

I like MIke - - SYLVIA!!!