Dan Mahony
05-07-2009, 02:12 PM
I was there. It was well-attended and did appear to be a sell-out as Chairman Bogsted and former congressman LeBoutillier asserted.
Bogsted mocked the GOP's boycotting cowards for coming down with the swine flu or having emergency vacations. LeBoutillier did criticize the GOP's leadership, but did so in a very measured analytical tone. While he did mention Chairperson Mondello, LeBoutillier faulted the entire GOP leadership from Bush to Pataki to the Congress for arrogance and failing to keep the conservative/GOP message up to date and relevant.
I noted a few GOP judges present and some past GOP judicial candidates, but saw no elected officials. Someone pointed out a GOP executive committeeman from Oyster Bay, but I wasn't familiar with him. Did see a few attendees sporting name badges that read "Nassu GOP Committeeman."
Was Chairperson's Mondello's boycott a success? Judging by the absence of elected officials, Mondello will think so. On the other hand, Mondello seems to prioritize fundraising over winning elections. By that mesure, the boycott clearly failed.
For my own part, I'm disappointed that no GOP elected officials attended. Really now. If Kemp Hannon or Peter King had shown up, what would or what could Mondello do? Run a primary? Mondello couldn't win a primary against any of his elected officials. When this starts dawning on them, maybe they'll realize that most of them don't need Post Avenue for anything.
Here's what I'm gonna do. I'm going to pick a Republican is a tight race -- maybe a challenger for countywide office, hold my nose and vote for the Democrat, encourage others to do so and let it be known that this isn't a vote for the Democrat or against the Republican, but a vote against the sorry leadership of Chairperson Mondello.
Bogsted mocked the GOP's boycotting cowards for coming down with the swine flu or having emergency vacations. LeBoutillier did criticize the GOP's leadership, but did so in a very measured analytical tone. While he did mention Chairperson Mondello, LeBoutillier faulted the entire GOP leadership from Bush to Pataki to the Congress for arrogance and failing to keep the conservative/GOP message up to date and relevant.
I noted a few GOP judges present and some past GOP judicial candidates, but saw no elected officials. Someone pointed out a GOP executive committeeman from Oyster Bay, but I wasn't familiar with him. Did see a few attendees sporting name badges that read "Nassu GOP Committeeman."
Was Chairperson's Mondello's boycott a success? Judging by the absence of elected officials, Mondello will think so. On the other hand, Mondello seems to prioritize fundraising over winning elections. By that mesure, the boycott clearly failed.
For my own part, I'm disappointed that no GOP elected officials attended. Really now. If Kemp Hannon or Peter King had shown up, what would or what could Mondello do? Run a primary? Mondello couldn't win a primary against any of his elected officials. When this starts dawning on them, maybe they'll realize that most of them don't need Post Avenue for anything.
Here's what I'm gonna do. I'm going to pick a Republican is a tight race -- maybe a challenger for countywide office, hold my nose and vote for the Democrat, encourage others to do so and let it be known that this isn't a vote for the Democrat or against the Republican, but a vote against the sorry leadership of Chairperson Mondello.