Gibson blames the president for S&P's downgrade

In a stunningly partisan move that fails to take any responsibility for Tea Party brinkmanship, Congressman Gibson released a statement blaming President Obama and the Democrats for the downgrade in America's credit rating.

"This week, Congress passed and the President signed the Budget Control Act, which will cut between $2.1 trillion and $2.4 trillion over the next 10 years. This Act averted the immediate crisis of defaulting on roughly 40 percent of our federal debt obligations and influenced two of the three major credit rating agencies - Moody's and Fitch - to preserve our country's AAA credit rating. It was important to take action to avoid the chaos of the Obama Administration trying to sort through which bills to pay and which not to pay - leading to widespread panic across our country and the world. The consequences of this chaos would have been severe, resulting in a double-dip recession and possibly worse - our chances at an economic recovery wrecked. Without question, this bipartisan agreement fell short of what we needed to address our long-term debt crisis, but it was the best agreement that could be reached in a period of divided government. However, with S&P's downgrade of our credit rating to AA+, the Senate and White House must face this new reality and reassess their willingness to implement more comprehensive deficit reduction..."

Really, Congressman Gibson? President Obama was the one who created "chaos"? The fact that the GOP, fueled by the Tea Party, linked raising the debt limit with budget issues had nothing to do with it, right? It was the Democrats who refused to pass a clean bill to only raise the debt limit like it has been done every time before, right? It was Democrats who previously voted to raise the debt limit every time it came up without a peep who suddenly got religion and couldn't raise it again without taking a meat cleaver to social programs?

Reading statements like Congressman Gibson's makes one think they are in Superman's Bizarreo world -where everything is the opposite of reality on Earth.

And the Gibson gets away with it because his Tea Party supporters are low-information voters who believe what they want to believe.

Come to the Schodack Democrats' Annual Picnic

Join the Schodack Democrats for a day of family fun at the

Schodack Democrats’ Annual Picnic

 at the Schodack Town Park, Poyneer Road off Rte. 150

Saturday, July 16 from noon to 5:00 p.m

 Schodack Democrats' annual picnic is always a great time to socialize with friends, neighbors and other like-minded people
 
As always, lots of food, music, a silent auction and more

 
This year featuring free horse and carriage rides courtesy of 

Joe Hughes of Carousel Farms, Schodack!

 
The Schodack Democrats’ Annual Picnic is free and all are welcome,

but please RSVP at their
website so they know how many people to expect www.schodackdemocrats.com

Southern RenssCo Dems sponsor forum on consolidation

The Democratic Committees of East Greenbush, Nassau and Schodack

                are hosting a forum and

Bagel Breakfast

Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. at the

East Schodack Fire House 3071 Route 150, East Schodack

What will Gov. Cuomo’s Consolidation Plan mean to you?

Guest Speaker: Mark Streb

Capital District Regional Representative for Governor Cuomo

Also Featuring Rensselaer County DA Rich McNally and Investigator Gary Gordon

We will provide the bagels, fixings and coffee

you provide the questions

$5 suggested donation plus a non-perishable food item to donate to the food pantry at Consens-U

For more information and to register visit www.schodackdemocrats.com

Save the Date, RennsCo Dems!

Save the Date - May 23 - for the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee's Spring Fundraiser! A formal announcement will be sent to all town chairs and we will also post details here.


It is always fun to get together with fellow Democrats over food and drink so make sure you plan on being there.

Bagels and politics go well together

In Southern Rensselaer County, the Nassau and Schodack Town Democratic Committees have forged an alliance that is working to inform and motivate Democrats in both towns.

Their second co-sponsored event (the first being a victory celebration a couple of years ago) was a Bagel Breakfast held Saturday, March 5, in Nassau.

About 60 people showed up to chat and discuss local politics as well as hear Rensselaer County Legislator Peter Grimm and Linda Underwood, former Schodack school board member and two-time political candidate, speak about community and grassroots activism. 

The uplifting message was: being active in the community will lead to wins at the polls. Peter Grimm arrived at running for office after years of helping in numerous community projects in Troy.  Linda Underwood arrived at the same conclusion after years of grassroots activism and community involvement in Schodack.  

“We can’t just come out from under a rock before elections and expect to win,” Underwood said. “We have to be out in the community, supporting the fund-raising breakfasts and pizza nights. We have to pick up trash on the side of the road and collect food for the local food pantries. We have to be visible all year if we want to be taken seriously.”

Several others spoke about community projects that Democrats are involved in - Rain Worthington explained how the Nassau Sunshine Fund works (mini-loans to Nassau residents in need), Sam Whaley told the group about the Nassau Food Compact (devoted to providing a local market for food from local farms), and Tony Kirby from Schodack spoke about commercial design standards, not only for the Town of Schodack, but also the entire area.

Besides Grimm, elected officials in attendance included Nassau Town Board Members Sue Hains and Ray Seney and Castleton Mayor Joe Keegan. Former county legislator Brian Zweig was also there.
 

Town chairs Mark Berger and Elizabeth Gable were pleased with the turnout and the enthusiasm of the group. 

“I like the simpatico our committees are developing,” Berger said. 

We like it, too. And hope it spreads throughout the county.

Mark Berger and Rain Worthington welcome the group and discuss current events in Nassau.

Peter Grimm and Linda Underwood listen to other speakers at the Bagel Breakfast.

Tony  Kirby speaks about commercial design standards for Schodack and the Southern Rensselaer County area.