Reader Elmer sends Corning Leader columnist Bob Rolfe's take [pdf] on Tom Reed's run. Rolfe thinks that the run is a mistake and that Reed doesn't have much of a chance.
I think any Republican has a chance in the 29th, but I agree with this statement:
Platform? All you did last week was spout the party line – the line of what’s come to be known as the Party of No.
Reed needs a positive, New York-friendly agenda.
Comments
Does anyone see a disconnect between Mayor Reed raising taxes and Candidate Reed calling for lower taxes?
That vein has already being mined by the state Democratic party, and I'm sure Massa will also mention that when he starts campaigning.
I don't know how much impact it will have, since the previous mayor also raised taxes. The question is what spending Reed is going to cut to pay for his proposed tax cut.
Just for the record - Bob Rolfe is not exactly a middle of the road kind of guy. There are times like this that he makes legitimate points, but even if Reed had been able to cut taxes, Bob would have said something like "just because he can cut taxes in Corning, doesn't mean he can cut them in Washington".
I have known Bob since 1976, and we get along fine, but just wanted everybody to know that he has a slanted outlook on things.
I think it's fair to point out that cutting or raising taxes in Corning is pretty disconnected from cutting/raising taxes in DC, no matter which side of the fence you're on.
In general, I think we need to get away from the simple "raising taxes is bad" formulation and start talking about value for money. In NY, we have high taxes and a fairly high standard for services. NYS residents all want lower taxes but we never have the conversation about what we want to cut. I realize the way that the NYS Senate is organized has a lot to do with our current dysfunction, but the inability to have a reasonable conversation about the connection between services and taxes is a big part of the problem, too.
I.e., he's a liberal. Conservatives on the other hand, have a realistic outlook on things. ;)