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Op-ed column: Tonko will be just one more do-nothing congressman
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Former Assemblyman Paul Tonko’s victory in the Democratic primary last Tuesday to replace retiring Congressman Michael McNulty virtually assures him a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. His Republican opponent, James Buhrmaster, who has an affinity for speaking in the third person, has only a slight chance to pull off an upset. Unfortunately, it will be one mediocre career politician replacing another mediocre career politician to represent New York’s 21st Congressional District. Rep. McNulty achieved little of significance during his 20 years of service. There is no major legislation he advocated or authored. He did not distinguish himself in any national debate. He failed to find one single, solitary issue to make a difference. I know because I saw him up-close as a press secretary for Republican members of Congress. McNulty’s legacy will never be difficult to summarize: He was a 10-term freshman member of Congress. More of sameExpect more of the same from a Congressman Paul Tonko. During his 24 years as a member of the Assembly, Tonko has been a reliable vote for the status quo policies that are driving New Yorkers out of our state for good — from tax hikes to excessive regulations to the explosive growth in state spending. In addition, he was a loyal yes-man for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who has become the reviled symbol of Albany’s ineptitude and incompetence. So how is Tonko rewarded by Schenectady and Albany County Democrats? They’re sending him to Congress. Excuse me, but where are all the so-called good government groups that have denounced Silver and his destructive, unethical leadership for years? Tonko came to office when Erastus Corning was still mayor of Albany. As a legislative super-lifer, how is he not possibly part of Albany’s dysfunction that has led to the stunning decay of our state? Tonko’s signature issue is energy policy. According to his campaign Web site: “Paul has gained a national reputation as an expert on energy and utility issues. From 1992 to June 2007, Paul has served as chairman of the New York Assembly Standing Committee on Energy.” Given his “national reputation,” Tonko also explained his energy plan thusly: “Paul is proposing a comprehensive plan to reduce the price of gasoline and fuel by; [sic] a national 65 mph speed limit, a national carbon cap and trade program, a national scrap and replace program, a national renewable portfolio standard, and acceleration of the corporate average fuel economy standards.” What is a “scrap and replace program”? Or a “national renewable portfolio standard”? This is I’m-the-smartest-guy-in-the-room incoherence. No substanceIt’s because of elected officials like Tonko that America will be dependent on foreign oil for at least another generation. Beyond appealing to carbon-counting environmental fanatics with slogans that ordinary New Yorkers don’t get, he offers nothing of substance. Paul Tonko and his Democrats are the reason the United States has not built a new oil refinery in 30 years. He opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as well as offshore drilling. In fact, there is probably not one square foot in the United States and our coastal waters where Tonko would drill for oil. Tonko never advocates the excavation of coal, new natural gas pipelines and the construction of nuclear power plants. Rather, he lectures New Yorkers on how to create a “green collar workforce” (whatever that means). He also brags about “taking on the oil cartels,” class warfare rhetoric more appropriate for 1908, not 2008. France’s energy grid is made up of nearly 80 percent nuclear power. We are the Saudi Arabia of coal and we are developing new technology for cleaner-emitting coal. In addition, we have vast untapped oil reserves not only in Alaska, and off our coasts, but in the Rocky Mountains. Tonko acknowledges none of these facts. Ever. He was the head of the Assembly Energy Committee for 15 long years, and what do we have to show for it in New York? Nothing. Unfit for officeTonko is unfit for office because he refuses to champion the energy resources America so critically must develop. He’s a Luddite. New Yorkers would be rubbing two wooden sticks together to produce energy if it were up to him. So here we have a machine politician with no record of reform in Albany, no idea how to create a workable national energy plan and no chance to rise above a thoroughly unimpressive career in public office that has lasted for over 30 years. Congratulations, Capital Region Democrats. You really outdid yourselves last week. Christopher Chichester lives in Albany and is a former spokesman for Gov. George E. Pataki, U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe and Rep. Lamar S. Smith. The Gazette encourages readers to submit material on local issues for the Sunday Opinion section.
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December 1, 2008
7 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Chris:
You have always been the worst sort of politico... A paid mouthpiece for the most wretched and foul-smelling parts of "Government".
From the "New York Hope" Blog (more like New York "Joke") attempting to promote disgraced - and indicted - Senate Majority Leader Bruno; to your escapades on the Capitol Confidential Blog - your inflammatory, and often baseless accusations, are a symbol for the shallow vacuous attempt at leadership shown by those at the front of your "Party".
You're right, you should know a lot about Congressman McNulty's career - you were an integral part of the dysfunctional spinsters what prevented any substantive progress on the national scene while he served our area dutifully.
Truly, the NYGOP and it's paid hatchet men (like yourself) are a disgrace to Republicans in New York State. Your smear tactics and negative campaigning didn't work up in the 48th Senate District - and they certainly won't hold water with the Voters of the 21st Congressional District.
At the end of the day, I just can't help but wonder how much more the NYGOP and it's "leadership" will continue to insult the voters of both parties in the 21st CD with their manipulative, baseless, and inflammatory statements - whose only purpose is to confuse, disorient, and distort the outstanding record of service shown in Paul Tonko's career.
It's no surprise that enviro-hating neo-conservative thugs like yourself don't know what a "green collar" workforce would look like; you, of course, have been one of the main forces preventing the investment into alternative energy development (thanks again, by the way).
7:12 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
I second 21stCDResident.
And also, a history lesson, since the op-ed writer mentions 1908.
At that time, the Republican President was a guy named Theodore Roosevelt, a progressive who created many of New York's beautiful state parks and is responsible for several of a natural parks. In that election year, he endorsed his vice president, William Howard Taft.
Four years later, Teddy was back to run for President again, this time in the Progressive Party because Taft had completely screwed everything up. The resulting split of the vote resulted in Democratic President Woodrow Wilson, who lead us to victory in World War I and who's propsal for a League of Nations was ahead of it's time, and, had it been created according his plan and not stonewalled by isolationist conservatives such as yourself, would have prevented the Second World War from breaking out.
Stay out of present matters if you don't know your history. Which, by the way, was made in the recent Democratic Primary in the 21st, and will be made again when Barack Obama is elected our 44th President. Peace!