Monday, May 25, 2009

Nassau GOP Throws In Towel In County Exec Race

Ed Mangano (Who?) Slated To Get Lost In Party's Fading Shadow

Its Memorial Day.

We've marched in the parade, laid the wreath, saluted the flag. The B-B-Q is heating up. Now what can we do?

Wait. We've got an idea. Let's talk politics. Local politics (as in, "all politics is local").

Its official, Nassau County's "party of no" has chosen longtime Nassau Legislator Edward Mangano, little known outside of his district, to chase down Tom Suozzi in this fall's race for County Executive.

You mean to tell us Greg Peterson is busy?

"They've pretty much conceded the County Exec spot," said a Republican insider, speaking to this blogger on condition of anonymity. [What? You mean the GOP migh recriminate against their own for telling it like it is?]

And you thought the gauntlet would fall at Kate Murray's feet.

No way.

Even Murray, whose well known (by name, at least) in Nassau, and extremely popular (for reasons known only to God) in Hempstead Town, would have a tough time defeating the more popular Tom Suozzi. Why, even calling Tom a mysoginist wouldn't have helped her cause.

Anyway, sources close to the GOP Committee tell us that Murray was needed to run for re-election as Supervisor in Hempstead Town, the very last bastion of Republican control on Long Island (and perhaps on earth), where Democratic enrollment, and a mood of "enough already", threatens the very fiber of the eons-old Republican cloth coat.

So that leaves the GOP without a formidable opponent to take on Tom Suozzi, who, barring a disaster the likes of which took down Eliot Spitzer, is likely to waltz into a third term without having to break much of a sweat.

Used to be that the Dems had no one to run in Nassau County. For the most part, they still don't. But the GOP?

Well, the good old days are no more.

Its Ed Mangano's turn at bat (sort of like pinch-hitting for the pitcher with, er, another pitcher). This year's poster boy for an all but lost cause.

Mangano, who has sat on the Nassau County Legislature since its inception in 1996 [you remember -- back in the day when Ed and his GOP cohorts were rubber-stamping Tom Gulotta's budgets] will be taking his heftiest swings at Suozzi's policies and record.

In fact, Mangano vows to "save Nassau" from policies that have increased taxes, spending, and fees. [Gee, Ed. How do you save Nassau from yourself?]

There'll be high brows and low blows, to be sure. In the end, though, look for mighty Mangano -- a heck of a nice guy, by all accounts -- to strike out.

You're taking one for the party, Ed. Yes, the party.

On the national scene, that would be the party of Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, and Sarah Palin. Locally, its the party of Peter "deport the Muslims" King, Peter "full of" Schmitt, and, oh yeah, smiling Kate Murray.

Strange bedfellows, indeed!

And what happens when Ed Mangano, who will give up his seat on the NC Legislature to run for County Exec, is trounced by Tom Suozzi? Well, there's always the Oyster Bay Town Council.

As for the race for Town of Hempstead Supervisor (where many of us are still hoping to see Kate Murray go far-- as in far, far away), another County Legislator, Dave Denenberg, appears to be considering the challenge.

Can this David topple the GOP Goliath that has resided in Hempstead Town Hall for more than 100 years?

We can only hope. [Actually, we'll all have to do much more than merely hope should Dave decide to run against the GOP's fortress Hempstead, the equivalent of Darth Vader's Death Star.]

One thing's for sure, though. With temprement skewed against all things Republican, and Dems outnumbering Republicans on the rolls in GOP strongholds like Garden City, of all places, not even Hempstead Town Hall is safe!

6 comments:

  1. "we'll all have to do much more than merely hope should Dave decide to run against the GOP's fortress Hempstead, the equivalent of Darth Vader's Death Star."

    Indeed- we will have to fight Emperor Mondello himself.

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  2. "...Anyway, sources close to the GOP Committee tell us that Murray was needed to run for re-election as Supervisor in Hempstead Town, the very last bastion of Republican control on Long Island (and perhaps on earth), where Democratic enrollment, and a mood of "enough already", threatens the very fiber of the eons-old Republican cloth coat..."


    The times they are a-becoming quite different. Murray cannot be allowed to win that TOH election.

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  3. Well looks like Dave Denenberg is not even going to pick up the gauntlet of challenge for the Democrats of Nassau County seems he's worried that if he loses, he'll also be losing his Legislative position since he's up for re-election as well.

    Guess noone is going to challenge Kate for the top job in the Town of Hempstead

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  4. Not quite.

    Kristen McElroy, a fresh face in politics without the painted-on smile of Kate Murray, will be challenging the Supervisor this fall, in what will surely shape up as quite a race.

    McElroy narrowly lost to Senate oldtimer Kemp Hannon last year, this in her first run for public office.

    With Dems holding the voter registration edge, Indies fed up with the way TOH is being run into the ground, and GOPers running from that big tent like elephants from a mouse, don't for a moment count Kristen McElroy out!

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  5. Sure the Old Sacrificial Lamb of the Democratic Party - Try Try Try again!

    What this county needs is a new county executive!

    One that will state for the record that they will be there for the full term of their office!

    Not one that runs for any open seat in the state!

    Tom Suozzi the right choice if you don't mind him running campaigns for every position except the one he has!!!

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