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I checked with the Board of Elections and that attack piece sent out on RICHard Dollinger’s behalf against Joe Robach is illegal — all political mailing must state who is paying for them.  Take a look for yourself. As we pointed out yesterday, Atlas Direct is a Long Island City (the people getting the “extra tax cut” — that Joe Morelle aka the Cat Whisperer voted for) mailhouse used by Senate Democrats.

RICHard needs to come clean on this.  He can’t get away with saying he didn’t know about it — there is no way this is sent out without his buy in.  If he claims they are sending this stuff out without his ok, how can he claim he will stand up for us?

As News 10NBC reported:

News 10 NBC took the anonymous mailer to Spencer Meredith, professor of political science at R.I.T. He said, “Setting this aside, this specific message here. Is it ethical to blame one person or one party for something that received support across parties and in different branches of government? Of course, it’s not ethical.

Dollinger had a reputation in the Senate of being a blowhard who was real good at giving speeches and accomplishing little — sounds a little like his tenure as Democratic Party Chair.

Liz Benjamin says that RICHard is having a press conference today to re-announce that Joe Morelle is supporting him — even after the negative Robach mailing that the Republicans could copy and use against Morelle (even if it is untrue). Let’s hope the local media asks the tough questions RICHard needs to answer! 

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, Joe Morelle, Richard Dollinger by Cincinnatus
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Hats of to Channel 10.  They did a story on anonymous mailing sent out on Dollinger’s behalf attacking Joe Robach and one for who ever is running against Jim Alesi for voting for the same budget that Dollinger’s political patrons David Paterson and Joe Morelle voted for.

There was no return address on it — I think this is illegal.  The bulk permit said Atlas Direct Mail a mailhouse used by state Senate Democrats.  Take a look at this expense report I found on the state BOE website.  Atlas was used by Democratic Senator Craig Johnson in that special election to replace Mike Balboni — the first and only rat to jump at former Governor Steamroller’s offer of a job to try to buy the senate.  Ironically, Atlas Direct Mail is housed in Long Island — the very place they say Robach gave tax cuts to — how’s that for nerve?

Channel 10 went to an RIT Political Science professor and here’s what he said:

News 10 NBC took the anonymous mailer to Spencer Meredith, professor of political science at R.I.T. He said, “Setting this aside, this specific message here. Is it ethical to blame one person or one party for something that received support across parties and in different branches of government? Of course, it’s not ethical.

Wait, Dollinger do something unethical?  I thought he was the great reformer?

The local media really needs to ask Dollinger about this.  He can’t claim a lack of knowledge.  If he does, it shows the political bosses are calling the shots.  If they are doing this during his campaign, what would it be like if he were to win?

And what about Joe Morelle, David Gantt and Susan John?  They voted for the same budget Robach did — why not criticize them?

Dare I point out that this all makes RICHard look like a hypocrite.  This reminds me of former Governor Spiter’s conduct.  Claim you are a reformer when you can’t even play by the notoriously lax rules of Albany!  Nice going.

This should give Sandy Frankel even more to think about!

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, David Gantt, Jim Alesi, Joe Morelle, Joe Robach, Richard Dollinger, Sandy Frankel, Susan John by Cincinnatus
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Did the Democrat political hit machine send this out?  If so, then the Democrats seem to be submerging themselves in political scandals lately.

In true Eliot Spitzer-esque fashion (no, it doesn’t involve hookers), the Democrats may have gone too over the top this time and could be in some serious trouble.

News 10 NBC reported this evening on an “anonymous political attack mailer” (their words, not mine) that targeted Republican state Senator Jim Alesi.  The news report stated that a similar mailer was also mailed into Senator Joe Robach’s district. [Read more →]

Tags: Articles, David Koon, InsidePolitics, Jim Alesi, Joe Robach, Richard Dollinger by InsidePolitics
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Now don’t get me wrong here, I love craiglist.org. My friends, family and I all use it to make purchases and sell stuff. I even advertised my garage sale on it and several people commented that’s where they heard about it. I can’t believe I wasted the almost $40 to advertise in the D&C. I had more people reference the craiglist.org posting.

But imagine my surprise when I’m flipping through the job posting section and I come across this ad:

Full Time Political Fundraiser (Rochester)
Reply to: job-640915805@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-04-13, 2:33PM EDT

The New York State Democratic Senate Campaign Committee is looking for full-time fund raisers across the state of New York to work on high-profile State Senate races. Positions are available across the State (including Rochester) for both entry level and experienced fund raisers. Full training and supervision will be provided as necessary. However, an understanding and/or experience of political campaigns is helpful.
Please email resume and brief cover letter/statement explaining your interest in political campaign work. Applicants who do not include this statement will not be considered.

Successful candidates will be contacted for a phone interview. [Read more →]

Tags: Articles, Joe Robach, Richard Dollinger, stampede by stampede
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It has been said that leading Democrats is like herding cats.  I’ve never tried it, but it certainly makes sense — just look at the Presidential primary.  If that is the case, when you look at the handiwork of Democratic Party Chairman Joe Morelle in delivering his party’s nomination to a flawed candidate — RICHard Dollinger, the only conclusion is that Morelle is the ultimate cat whisperer (insert cat for horse in definition).

The Democrat and Chronicle had a piece Wednesday announcing that RICHard Dollinger has secured the Democratic nomination to run against Senator Joe Robach.  According to the D&C:

Dollinger received more weighted votes than the other two Democrats who were seeking the endorsement in committee caucuses held throughout the district, according to Sean Hart, communications director for the Monroe County Democratic Committee.

We at Monroerising.com have been very outspoken about the candidacy of RICHard Dollinger.  I have felt all along that Dollinger wasn’t really interested in the Senate.  The fact that he quit the Senate, took time off, then ran for Democratic Party Chair — gave a great speech and quit that a month later to run for Brighton Town Judge so he could quit that to run for Senate just doesn’t make sense.  I gave rank and file Democrats credit enough to recognize RICHard as a pompous, self serving hypocrite, who really only cares about what is good for him. Even liberals would see this, right?

Even after Mr. Peabody predicted that Chairman Morelle’s support would put RICHard over the top, I disagreed. But you have to give Morelle his due.  Based on what I’ve seen in the media, Frankel took the Brighton Democratic Committee and Dollinger took everything else.

Morelle’s support is the only thing that can explain this strong showing by Dollinger.  It will be interesting to see what happens now.  Sandy Frankel must be weighing her options.  She did well considering the deck was stacked against her.  The big question is whether Morelle’s support would have the same results if she were to take it to a primary.

To use your influence to deliver the votes of a couple hundred of the Democratic faithful is very impressive.  But I doubt even the ultimate cat whisperer could help Dollinger win a fair fight with Democratic primary voters.  Mrs. Frankel has a lot to think about! 

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, Joe Morelle, Joe Robach, Richard Dollinger, Sandy Frankel by Cincinnatus
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Earlier today, Joe Robach made his re-election announcement at the Roger Robach Community Center, the building named after Robach’s late father, Assemblyman Roger Robach.  I received an e-mail about the announcement and was able to attend the event.

First and foremost, if the number and array of supporters is indicative of what we can expect from the upcoming campaign, Robach will once again win re-election by another huge margin regardless of who his opponent is.  The building was packed with city and suburban residents, veterans, firefighters, law enforcement, democrats and republicans, union members, members of the faith community, community leaders, elected officials, family members and friends.  There had to be around 150 people there.  And it looked like every single media outlet showed up to cover it. [Read more →]

Tags: Articles, InsidePolitics, Joe Robach, Richard Dollinger, Sandy Frankel, Willa Powell by InsidePolitics
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Take a look at Water Buffalo Press’ take on RICHard Dollinger, Sandy Frankel and Willa Powell’s protest last week outside of Joe Robach’s office — It’s really well done:

What a beautiful day to grandstand

NYS Senate hopefuls Rick Dollinger, Sandra Frankel and Willa Powell could not have had better weather in which to grandstand, I mean demonstrate, outside the office of Senator Joe Robach yesterday.

See our earlier post on the matter that caused all the hub-bub for the background on this story which led to the Rochester branch’s NOW-organized picket:

Barbara Moore, secretary of the Rochester chapter of NOW, said she didn’t think the candidates were using the issue for political gain.

“Economic justice, the economy, is the bedrock of the Democratic party and these are strong Democrats,” she said. “Democrats care about raising people out of poverty. They know something has to be done and they know pay equity is the way to do that.”

Uh-huh.  What Moore failed to mention is that Robach’s bill passed the Senate unanimously with bi-partisan support.  Moore also failed to address the mythological nature of discriminatory pay practices in New York and across the country.

Well done WBP!

Tags: Joe Robach, Richard Dollinger, Sandy Frankel, The Equalizer, Willa Powell by The Equalizer
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Add the Brighton-Pittsford Post to the list of organizations doing a better job covering local politics than the Democrat & Chronicle.  They have a story on the Democratic nomiation to run against Joseph Robach.  She throws down the gauntlet to Democratic Chairman Joseph Morelle:

Frankel said that with county chairman Assemblyman Joe Morelle endorsing Dollinger, it makes her job “more difficult” to secure the designation, but said she has been active in talking with committee members in her race for the designation.

“Joe (Morelle) doesn’t live in the district and it’s people who live in the district who really should be making this decision,” she said. (Editor’s note: It’s that what Maggie said about those judges who said the FAIR Plan was illegal?)“Democrats want to win the Senate back and I will do what we need to make that happen.” [Read more →]

Tags: Cincinnatus, Democrat and Chronicle, Joe Robach, Richard Dollinger, Sandy Frankel by Cincinnatus
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So, the gang of three seeking to run against state Senator Joseph Robach, Democrats Willa Powell, RICHard Dollinger, and Sandy Frankel, were in Greece yesterday grandstanding for the latest special interest group, NOW of Greater Rochester. 

They were protesting because they felt Robach didn’t support their cause — having government decide how much people working in various jobs should be paid.  Many feel this legislation is unnecessary because there is this thing called the “free market” that has worked pretty well since before the founding of our Republic.  The Democrat and Chronicle was the only media outlet covering the event – they sent cub reporter Kate Perry, to cover this event.

RICHard Dollinger was the biggest hypocrite of the bunch.  According to the D&C:

Dollinger, Robach’s predecessor who held the 56th state Senate district seat from 1993 to 2002, accused Robach of ducking out on a vote that would have released a stronger pay-equity bill from committee.

Wait a minute, isn’t this the same guy who “ducked out” of the Senate in 2002 when he found out he was going to have a tough race?  Isn’t this the same guy who “ducked out” when he was elected chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee because he wanted to pursue his life long dream of being a judge?  In case you don’t know, the answer is yes to both. [Read more →]

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, Joe Robach, Richard Dollinger, Sandy Frankel, Willa Powell by Cincinnatus
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Liz Benjamin had an interesting post on the new feud between state Senate Democrats and the Working Families Party.  This should be of concern to Rich Dollinger.  According to Benjamin:

To start with, they risk being abandoned by a key ally, the Working Families Party. The outfit’s top players are furious with the Senate Dems’ refusal to back up Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on the so-called millionaires tax.

In a heated conference call last Friday, officials of the labor-backed party deemed Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith a “disappointment” and asked whether continuing to help him would be a waste of time. The party has played a big role in bringing the Democrats to within spitting distance of wresting the Senate chamber from Republican hands. [Read more →]

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, New York State, Richard Dollinger by Cincinnatus
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