Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

brooklynite

brooklynite's Journal
brooklynite's Journal
August 23, 2022

The biggest special election since Dobbs: What to watch on Tuesday's primary day

Politico

The special election in New York’s 19th District will be the last special election before November, pitting Ryan and Molinaro up against one another in a contest that has seen millions of dollars in spending from both parties.

Both candidates in this swing seat have centered their campaigns on topics that will be the center of their parties’ messaging in the fall: abortion, in the case of Ryan, and inflation for Molinaro. And the district is hotly competitive: President Joe Biden carried it by fewer than 2 points in 2020, after now-former President Donald Trump won it by about 7 points in 2016.

Ryan has eagerly played up the national implications of the race, saying in a recent interview with POLITICO that “a win here would validate that the ground is shifting.” But Molinaro has sought to downplay any larger stakes outside the confines of the district, saying he was focused on the Hudson Valley.

It could take some time to call the race if the results are close. Eleven different county boards of elections will need to post their results, including in places like Rensselaer — which makes up 10 percent of the district’s electorate and has been known to wait until Wednesday to start posting its results.

August 23, 2022

Florida man gets 5 years in plot to extort Matt Gaetz's father

Politico

A Florida businessman who pleaded guilty in a $25 million extortion plot targeting the father of Rep. Matt Gaetz in a convoluted scheme to secure a presidential pardon for his son was sentenced to five years Monday.

U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers sentenced Stephen Alford, 62, to 63 months plus three years supervised release after he pleaded guilty last year to one count of wire fraud, according to federal court documents.

Alford was alleged to have approached the Republican congressman and his father, Don Gaetz, a wealthy businessman who served as president of the Florida Senate, about getting the younger Gaetz a pardon. Federal authorities are investigating Matt Gaetz for allegedly having sex with an underage girl and paying her for it. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Alford later told investigators that he lied to the Gaetz’s about the pardon.

August 23, 2022

Paul Pelosi gets 5 days in jail, 3 years of probation in DUI

Politico

SAN FRANCISCO — The husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor driving under the influence charges related to a May crash in California’s wine country and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation.

Paul Pelosi already served two days in jail and received conduct credit for two other days, Napa County Superior Court Judge Joseph Solga said. Paul Pelosi will work eight hours in the court’s work program in lieu of the remaining day, Solga said during Paul Pelosi’s sentencing, which he did not attend.

State law allows for DUI misdemeanor defendants to appear through their attorney unless ordered otherwise by the court.

As part of his probation, Paul Pelosi will also be required to attend a three-month drinking driver class, and install an ignition interlock device, where the driver has to provide a breath sample before the engine will start. He will also have to pay nearly $7,000 in fines, the judge said.
August 23, 2022

Perry Hooper Jr., former Alabama lawmaker, charged with sex abuse in Montgomery

Monthgomery News

Perry Oliver Hooper Jr., 67, is charged with first-degree sex abuse, Montgomery police Capt. Saba Coleman confirmed Tuesday.

Details of the allegations against Hooper have not been disclosed and records on the case are not yet listed in Alabama’s online court system. Coleman said the alleged incident happened about 8 p.m. Aug. 16, 2022, in the 100 block of Commerce Street.

Hooper was taken into custody Tuesday by U.S. Marshals. He was booked into the Montgomery County Detention Facility at 11:56 a.m. with bond set at $15,000.

Hooper Jr., a Republican, served in the Alabama House of Representatives from District 73 until 2003, and remains active in the GOP.

He was the co-chair of the Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign in Alabama.

August 23, 2022

Oklahoma statehouse candidate in 2013 called gay people 'worthy of death'

USA Today

OKLAHOMA CITY - Two Republican lawmakers in the running to represent Oklahoma City in the state House will be on the ballot Tuesday as they vie for the seat being vacated by Democratic state Rep. Collin Walke.

Republican Scott Esk, 56, who faces Gloria Banister in House District 87, has made headlines lately for old Facebook comments he made in which he wrote gay people are "worthy of death" and "we would be totally in the right" to stone them.

He has defended the comments that he made in 2013, which surfaced when he unsuccessfully ran for a different House seat in 2014.

When contacted this week, Esk complained about a 2014 article about him in The Oklahoman that he called a "hit piece," although he did not elaborate on the content of the story. Esk declined an interview about his campaign and directed The Oklahoman to videos he posted on his YouTube page.

"I've stood up for what is right in the past, and I intend to in the future and I am right now," he said. "That's got me in trouble. The media are not my friends, as far as I'm concerned."

August 23, 2022

Today's Primary Elections...

FLORIDA (most polls close at 7 PM E)

FL-GOV-D:
Charlie Crist (D) - Congressman, Ex-Governor, Ex-Attorney General & Ex-State Sen.
Nikki Fried (D) - State Agriculture Commissioner & Attorney

FL-07-D:
Tatiana Fernandez (D) - Businesswoman
Karen Green (D) - State Democratic Party Vice Chair & Political Consultant
Al Krulick (D) - Teacher, Theater Professional & Frequent Candidate
Allek Pastrana (D) - Cyber Engineer

FL-10-D:
Jeff Boone (D) - Financial Executive & Bitcoin Investor
Randolph Bracy (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Businessman
Corrine Brown (D) - Ex-Congresswoman, Ex-State Rep., Ex-Educator & Felon
Maxwell Frost (D) - Gun Control Activist & Musician
Alan Grayson (D) - Ex-Congressman, Attorney & Frequent Candidate
Natalie Jackson (D) - Attorney, Navy Veteran & BLM Activist

FL-23-D:
Allen Ellison (D) - Corporate Development Consultant & Frequent Candidate
Michaelangelo Hamilton (D) - Recent College Graduate & Sole-Proprietor Call Service Owner
Hava Holzhauer (D) - Attorney, Ex-ADL Regional Director & '10 St Rep Candidate
Jared Moskowitz (D) - Broward Co Commissioner, Ex-FL Emergency Management Dir. & Ex-St Rep
Ben Sorensen (D) - Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner, Navy Reserve Officer, Consultant & Pastor
Mike Trout (D) - Musician, Progressive Activist & Frequent Candidate

NEW YORK (polls close at 9 PM E)

NY-03-D:
Jon Kaiman (D) - Ex-North Hempstead Town Supervisor, Ex-Dist. Court Judge & '16 Candidate
Josh Lafazan (D) - Nassau County Legislator
Reema Rassol (D) - Marketing Consultant & '21 Town Council Candidate

NY-04-D:
Keith Corbett (D) - Malvern Mayor & Attorney
Laura Gillen (D) - Ex-Hempstead Town Supervisor, Attorney & Law Professor
Muzib Huq (D) - Physician & Community Activist
Carriè Solages (D) - Nassau County Legislator & Attorney

NY-10-D:
Mondaire Jones (D/WF)* - Old CD-17 Incumbent
Dan Goldman (D) - Ex-US House Trump Impeachment Lead Counsel
Liz Holtzman (D) - Ex-Congresswoman, Ex-NYC Comptroller & Ex-Dist Attorney
Yuh-Line Niou (D/WF) - State Assemblywoman & Ex-Legislative Aide
Carlina Rivera (D/WF) - NYC Councilwoman & Ex-NYC Council Aide
Jo Anne Simon (D) - State Assemblywoman & Attorney

NY-12-D:
Carolyn Maloney (D)* - Old CD-12 Incumbent
Jerrold Nadler (D/WF)* - Old CD-10 Incumbent
Suraj Patel (D) - Businessman, Attorney, Ex-Obama White House Aide & '18/'20 Candidate

NY-16-D:
Jamaal Bowman - Incumbent
Vedat Gashi (D) - Westchester County Legislator, Attorney & Ex-United Nations Official
Mark Jaffe (D) - Ex-Greater NY Chamber CEO/President, Attorney & '20 St Assembly Candidate
Catherine Parker (D) - Westchester County Legislator, Ex-Rye City Councilor & '20 Candidate

NY-17-D:
Sean Patrick Maloney (D/WF)* - Old CD-18 Incumbent
Alessandra Biaggi (D) - State Sen. & Attorney

NY-19-S (old District):
Pat Ryan (D) - Ulster County Executive, Businessman, Iraq War Veteran & '18 Candidate
Marc Molinaro (R/C) - Dutchess County Executive, Ex-Tivoli Mayor & '18 Gov Nominee

NY-23-S (old District):
Joe Sempolinski (R) - Steuben County GOP Chair, Consultant & Ex-Congressional Aide
Max Della Pia (D/WF) - Attorney, Retired USAF Officer, Ex-Congressional Aide & '18 Candidate

NY-23-R:
Nick Langworthy (R/C) - State GOP Chair, Political Consultant & Ex-Congressional Aide
Rich Moon (R/WI) - Pharmacist & Businessman
Carl Paladino (R) - Ex-School Board Member, Real Estate Developer & Frequent Candidate

OKLAHOMA (Polls close at 8 PM E)

OK-SEN-R:
Markwayne Mullin (R) - Congressman & Ex-Plumbing Contractor
T.W. Shannon (R) - State Transporation Commissioner, Ex-House Speaker & '14 Candidate
August 23, 2022

Colorado Republican turns Democrat over 'existential threat' from GOP

Source: The Guardian

Announcing his switch to the Democrats, a Colorado state senator said Republican attacks on democracy were not the only “existential threat” posed by his former party.

“I have become increasingly worried about our planet and the climate crisis we are facing,” Kevin Priola said, in a letter posted to social media on Monday.

“The Republican party I joined decades ago created national parks, preserved federal lands and protected wildlife. President Nixon signed the legislation that created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Today, my Republican colleagues would rather deny the existence of human-caused climate change than take action.”


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/22/kevin-priola-republican-change-party-democrat-colorado

Profile Information

Name: Chris Bastian
Gender: Male
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Home country: USA
Member since: 2002
Number of posts: 94,740
Latest Discussions»brooklynite's Journal