BREAKING: Scandal in NY-13 Grows

Well, people here on Staten Island had a feeling this was going to break soon enough.

Our Congressman, Vito Fossella who was arrested in Virginia for DWI a few days ago.   When he called a lady friend of his to pick him up, people wondered who is she.  Then it came out that she was divorced about five years ago, but has a three year old child.

Fossella is married with three children.

Well, guess what....

A little while ago, Cong. Fossella released the following statement:

"I have had a relationship with Laura Fay, with whom I have a three-year-old daughter.

"My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry.

"While I understand that there will be many questions, including those about my political future, making any political decisions right now are furthest from my mind.

"Over the coming weeks and months, I will to continue to do my job and I will work hard to heal the deep wounds I have caused."

This statement was posted on silive.com, the web site of our local newspaper, the Staten Island Advance.  

I am certain that this will end his political career.  He may not resign, but I cannot see him running for re-election in November.  There are other local GOP representitives that could easily win the seat.  In a way, this may make a Democratic pickup of the seat more difficult.

I'll update when warranted.

•  It just keeps getting better and better.

  by red87 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:37:01 AM PDT

  •  The tip jar can be found

    here:  http://www.dailykos.com/...

    by lineatus on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:14:15 AM PDT

•  another great example of Republican family values

  by turn Virginia blue on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:37:32 AM PDT

  •  A true Republican supporting more than

    one family

    by Lawdog on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:42:55 AM PDT

    •  Is he a member of the FLDS Church?

      Seems to fit their values, perfectly.

      by dgone36 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:55:17 AM PDT

  •  Actually it is a human fraility abetted by

    the arrogance of power.  This goes on all over the world and is not relegated to any one political party or occupation.  

    But I would like to remark that Republicans usually have more repressed and distorted expressions of sex.  So this could almost be viewed as refreshingly normal.

    by leema on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:48:46 AM PDT

    •  Refresshingly normal is what I thought.......

      Nonetheless, I'm hopeing that there is another shoe that is yet to drop.  

      by duckhunter on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:53:12 AM PDT

      •  "Refreshingly normal", maybe

        but the Republicans have tried so hard to separate and elevate themselves above normal.  I don't like to delight in other's failing....but they have put themselves up for ridicule.

        by gdwtch52 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:08:57 AM PDT

        •  Exactly. Rather than delight in their failings,

          we could hope that they'd finally come to their senses and stop wasting so much energy legislating "morality".  Since they can't live up to the standards that they want to impose on all of us, maybe it's time for a change of focus.

          by lineatus on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:17:55 AM PDT

          •  I was raised on the family values of

            mind your own business, so this neo-conservative ideal of family values and compassionate(do as I say) conservativism has never sat well with me.  

            by gdwtch52 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:32:41 AM PDT

          •  But they cannot help themselves from using it,

            theat's the point.  They have always sold themselves on the basis of an idealized version of morality, an idealized version of patriotism (the American flag pin stuff) and an idealized version of free market economics and just cannot help themselves from using it as a club to beat up Democrats.  Democrats seem to accept these human situations and move on (with the exception of some truly spectacular situations like Elliot Spitzer and Jim McGreevey) and don't see them as s general statement about the morality of the party, the way that Republicans do up to the moment that they are exposed.  Were the Republicans a little less holier-than-thou about these things, perhaps Democrats would be a little less gleeful when the light of day shines on the questionable moral lapses of individual Republican officials.  

            by MrJersey on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:36:30 AM PDT

  •  At least

    there wasn't any live boys involved or soliciting of undercover cops in public restrooms.  Right there he's better than some of the other repub scumbags we've seen in the past few years.

    by DisNoir36 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:24:36 AM PDT

•  Tip Jar

  Tips for a blue NY-13 in 2009.

  by oxfdblue on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:39:55 AM PDT

  •  Except "easily win this seat"

    I think there's a good chance the tide is turning on Staten Island.

    -fink

    by fink on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:42:03 AM PDT

    •  Probably true

      If Jim Oddo, (the GOP Councilman for Mid-Island) ran, he'd have a good chance.

      He is an excellent elected official.  Never plays nasty politics.  I don't think I've ever met an islander- Republican or Democrat- who has a bad thing to say about him.  He has done a lot for his district.  (Yes, he is my counciilman.)

      All the others would have a fight on their hands.

      This also may change the Democratic race- possible candidates who didn't want to face off against Vito might take a second look now.

      by oxfdblue on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:46:09 AM PDT

      •  oxfdblue. Alum? Just curious. nt

        by oxon on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:11:02 AM PDT

        •  Not really but...

          I did a summer program through the Continuing Ed program at Kelloog College back in 1998.  (History, Politics, & Society).

          It was an incredible experience and I fell in love with Oxford and when I came home with pretty much a wardrobe emblazoned with Uni logo...it became something for my friends to endlessly tease me with.  Instead of fighting, I joined in by starting to use this screen name for various things.

          by oxfdblue on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:35:58 AM PDT

          •  Ah. I know Kellogg well, as I

            spent the period from September 1995 to September 1998 living at 14 Wellington Sq.  DPhil from St. Cross -- archaeology.  In the summer of 98 I took a course ini archaeological surveying through Kellogg, so if you saw people doing surveying in the middle of the park, there, I was one of them.

            by oxon on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:48:06 AM PDT

            •  Wow...

              You know, I vaguely do remember seeing something going on in the park there!

              What a coincidence.

              The program I was in was held at Exeter, but I had to trek up to Rewley House for internet access.

              All this has in me in the mood for a pint at The Turf! :)

              by oxfdblue on Thu May 08, 2008 at 11:28:48 AM PDT

              •  Or better still, head out across port meadow!

                I'm HOMESICK!!

                by oxon on Fri May 09, 2008 at 09:31:00 PM PDT

      •  But we already have a great Dem Running...

        ... for it:

        Steve Harrison

        by msirt on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:11:30 AM PDT

      •  I've emailed back and forth with Oddo.

        And I gotta tell ya, from over here in Central Brooklyn, Oddo is one hell of a guy.

        He'd be the likely winner if he ran, even though I'm giving money to Harrison.

        by brooklynbadboy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:13:17 AM PDT

  •  We got John Hall

    instead of Sue Kelly in my district in 2006--we can get a Democrat in Vito's district this year.

    I also like how he lied to the police when first caught. Whatta guy!

    by JoeW on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:52:28 AM PDT

    •  Also, that piece of crap John Sweeney

      in NY's 20th district got tossed out after a series of scandals.

      I'm in the 19th, like you, and followed all of our state races pretty closely.

      by Randian on Thu May 08, 2008 at 10:15:57 AM PDT

      •  And when we've got an All-Dem delegation

        we can move on to electing some braver, more progressive Democrats in safe districts...

        by JoeW on Thu May 08, 2008 at 10:21:47 AM PDT

  •  You should update w/ link to donation page for

    the Dem candidate in the district

    by unertl on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:21:18 AM PDT

    •  Here ya go

      Links

      by msirt on Thu May 08, 2008 at 10:02:54 AM PDT

•  Recommend this diary

  NY-13 never gets the attention it needs. With Vito crashing and burning and the DCCC's eye on the district, New York City might have a completely Democratic delegation in the House next year!

  -fink

  by fink on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:40:47 AM PDT

  •  Thanks!

    Thanks... that would be cool.

    by oxfdblue on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:41:37 AM PDT

    •  I'm here in Upstate NY

      and we've got a pretty good shot at turning the most of the state's red districts blue in November

      by seesmithrun on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:50:08 AM PDT

      •  What district are you in?

        I'm in the 29th and that is exactly what I'm hoping for, too!

        by Ellicatt on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:57:31 AM PDT

        •  Same

          Go Massa!!!

          by seesmithrun on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:06:59 AM PDT

          •  Upstate? I love to see that!!

            Above or below Albany?

            by gdwtch52 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:10:34 AM PDT

            •  West actually

              West of Syracuse and south of Rochester.

              by seesmithrun on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:13:30 AM PDT

              •  Old Ticonderoga "girl" here

                I'd love to think that area was going blue...

                by gdwtch52 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:29:38 AM PDT

                •  I think it is

                  Very much so! The way things are shaping up right now, if we can flip the 13th after this debacle, that really only leaves the 23rd as the only district thats not blue or turning! And 28 out of 29 'aint to shabby...

                  by seesmithrun on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:36:06 AM PDT

              •  and I'm in the far west of the district

                Cattaraugus County.  We sure do have a large district!

                by Ellicatt on Thu May 08, 2008 at 10:30:36 AM PDT

  •  MADE THE REC LIST !!

    by nytcek on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:05:32 AM PDT

•  I feel bad for his wife and kids

  NY-13 won't have to put up with his bullshit anymore, but his loved ones will.

  by unertl on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:43:00 AM PDT

  •  I also feel bad

    For the little girl in DC.

    by Rosalie907 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:45:10 AM PDT

  •  Why did he call his x-mistress not his wife

    after getting arrested? The mystery woman whom Rep. Vito Fossella (R-S.I.) called for help after he was charged with drunken driving in Virginia. Read the story? He said they are just friends now, but expect the NYC blood thirsty tabloids to go after this angle.

    by dopper0189 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:59:02 AM PDT

    •  also in the article

      Critics in his own party wondered whey he called Fay instead of his chief of staff, who also lives in Alexandria.
      The Republican, facing reelection in November, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 - twice the legal limit, cops said, and hired damage consultant Susan Del Percio with money from his campaign war chest.

      by dopper0189 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:00:03 AM PDT

    •  It's possible that

      he actually was going there, as he told the cops... in vino veritas...

      We are men of action; lies do not become us.

      by ER Doc on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:58:19 AM PDT

    •  He Could Have Also Called

      His chief of staff who lives in the area.  Maybe Vito wanted to get caught?

      by Rosalie907 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 10:47:32 AM PDT

•  LMAO

  Pure hilarity!

  by turneresq on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:43:21 AM PDT

•  Well well well....

  Pretty soon Peter King is going to be the last Republican standing in the entire state.

  by marcvstraianvs on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:43:22 AM PDT

  •  Peter King only got 56% in '06,

    and I believe I remember him running scared that year.

    I'm not sure he's so safe either.

    by lysias on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:57:10 AM PDT

•  "With whom I have a three-year-old daughter"?

  And he is married with three childen. Am I reading this correctly?

  How can that be?

  by Knarfc on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:43:35 AM PDT

  •  Yes you are. n/t

    by oxfdblue on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:46:58 AM PDT

    •  Then this guy of all people should oppose

      unwarranted government spying on Americans? Or was he already being blackmailed by someone in the government?

      by Knarfc on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:50:23 AM PDT

  •  Well you see there are the birds

    and the bees....

    The rest is too embarrassing to talk about.

    by yellowdog on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:48:08 AM PDT

  •  The stork brought his 4th baby

    to a different mommy

    by unertl on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:54:21 AM PDT

    •  yup.

      the stork had a .17 blood alchool level too.

      by OWO on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:08:15 AM PDT

      •  Maybe in this case, correlation is causation! nt

        by iconoclastic cat on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:34:03 AM PDT

        •  Stork, Point one seven. HA

          by andreww on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:58:46 AM PDT

      •  Commie stork ! nt

        by AllanTBG on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:59:52 AM PDT

•  Vito Fossella - Mr Family Values

  What a jerk.  Vito spoke of family values and I'm sure with 2 families he knew what they were all about.  He didn't give a crap about what he was doing and getting drunk, driving and then getting arrested is his values.  Next is getting him out of office.  

  There is a candidate that is poised to defeat Vito in November, having declared he was running last August.  Steve Harrison who ran against Vito in 2006 and got the highest percentage than any other opponent is running again.  Steve is honest, trustworthy and was endosed yesterday by DFNYC (among other endorsements he has).  Go to Steve's Act Blue page and help us defeat Vito or if the doesn't run whoever the Republican Party tries to annoint for this position.  You can link through Steve's web site www.steveharrisonforcongress.com

  by Rosalie907 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:44:01 AM PDT

  •  Does a Brooklyn boy stand a chance there?

    by unertl on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:44:59 AM PDT

    •  normally i would say no,

      but if he ever did, i think now's probably the time.

      by skyesNYC on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:45:42 AM PDT

    •  Yes

      As long as that Brooklyn Boy is Steve Harrison.  Visit Steve's web site at www.steveharrisonforcongress.com

      by Rosalie907 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:46:00 AM PDT

      •  Now...

        First- Hi Rosalie...nice to see another silive poster on DKos...

        The Dems here need to tell Recchia its over....period.  

        by oxfdblue on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:48:21 AM PDT

        •  Recchia Who?

          Hi nice to see you here too.  Recchia was toast before he even started.  Steve is the only Democrat that can defeat whoever the Republican Party chooses to run instead of Vito.  

          Everyone, visit Steve Harrison's web site at www.steveharrisonforcongress.com

          by Rosalie907 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:51:09 AM PDT

          •  But, beware of Jim Oddo.

            Oddo is a good city councilman, well liked and certainly well known after his "Get the fuck outta my office" YouTube fame. He is a true Staten Island local boy with deep roots in city government and plenty of good friends in North Staten Island's black and immigrant communities.

            He has tended his vineyard very well and could be potent.

            by brooklynbadboy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:58:08 AM PDT

            •  But isn't Oddo running for BP?

              At least that's what I've heard.  But I agree, Oddo is well liked and would be a formidable candidate
              (either for Congress or BP).

              by romperstomper on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:58:35 AM PDT

    •  Normally no...

      but after all this, a decent Bay Ridge fellow like Steve Harrison can certainly win over the people sick of the Molinari machine.

      by brooklynbadboy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:49:49 AM PDT

  •  here's a link to the Harrison page

    Harrison

    and

    The NY-13 Democratic Nominee fund

    by djs on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:48:11 AM PDT

  •  Get your links here!

    Hi y'all fellow 13-er's.  lots of good stuff on this thread but no links

    Here ya go:

    Steve Harrison

    Steve's Act Blue page.

    by msirt on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:16:43 AM PDT

•  Veni Vidi Vito...

  ah yes. Good ol' fashioned Republican family values.

  Damn paisan..what the fuck??? No CONDOM? Are you INSANE?

  by brooklynbadboy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:46:57 AM PDT

  •  GOP is against birth control

    I guess that he took all that stuff seriously.

    by theran on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:56:34 AM PDT

•  Kick the bum out!

  He's toast.  The only question now is if he'll bother serving out his term.

  by Team Slacker on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:48:34 AM PDT

•  We DO have a great Progressive Dem in the race

  Steve Harrison

  Steve Harrison For Congress

  Steve is one of the original signers of Darcy Burner's Responsible Plan for Iraq, support single payer health care and got 44% of the vote in 2006 even though out spent 13 to 1.
  Steve was endorsed just yesterday by DFNYC as I wrote in a diary then.
  diary
  If Steve can get funding this race can become a "national interesting" contest.

  by nytcek on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:48:40 AM PDT

  •  Is there any chance a Dem can win this? n/t

    by theran on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:56:58 AM PDT

    •  Way better chance than there was a week ago :-))

      by nytcek on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:01:17 AM PDT

    •  It will be tough, especially if the GOP runs Oddo

      by brooklynbadboy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:04:13 AM PDT

•  He's a Republican, so...

  ...there's no reason to believe that this will end his political career unless he loses his re-election bid. After all, being a scummy hypocrite usually helps a Republican's prospects within the party.

  by wiscmass on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:48:51 AM PDT

•  Vino is all about the families

  he has several of them afterall.  I really don't mind what people do in the bedroom, but it irks the crap out of me when this hypocritical, pompous, family values, in the bedroom of others, republican assho@#s try to impose morality and values on others, but can't conduct themselves in the manner they impose on others, it chaffes my grits!

  I hope he chooses not to run for re-election and we pick up this democratic leaning district!  Goodbye Vino Vossella

  by arogue7 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:49:25 AM PDT

•  Check out VinoFossella.com

  for a timeline of events.  Some fun reading.

  by Team Slacker on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:50:26 AM PDT

•  Vito is going down!

  Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!

  LMAO!!!

  by proudprogressiveCA on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:51:52 AM PDT

•  Hummmm

  What's next?  How could this get any more interesting?  A Gay lover in the background urging him to leave his two wives?  A drug addiction?  Involvement in a prostitution ring or in the international slave trade?  Gun running to Bolivia?  It may seem like this story has reached it's peak, but there might be more shoes to drop.

  LOL

  by Ken in Tex on Thu May 08, 2008 at 08:55:46 AM PDT

  •  Don't laugh too loud, there have been rumors

    in NYC political circles for years that Vito is gay.

    by Tanya on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:06:43 AM PDT

    •  Well, with 4 kids from 2 women

      he can't be ALL gay...

      by mmacdDE on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:11:51 AM PDT

    •  maybe he was throwing people off the trail

      by John DE on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:20:56 AM PDT

•  Until the F.B.I. fraud probe of Chris Ward

  forced him off the NRCC he was also campaign treasurer to :
  Vito (No More Vino) Fossella

  Ward got into trouble with having access to many GOP accounts and moving the monies "creatively". One wonders how much money made it from voters/donors pockets into whatever child support Vito provided for his daughter. Did all of it come from his household money? I would guess he was hiding that from his wife.

  by nytcek on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:00:15 AM PDT

•  It's over

  I personally don't care about his baby moma problem, but Sten Island is culturally coservative, and they might. My issues are the DWI and abusive behavoir toward the police officer.

  by RandySF on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:05:32 AM PDT

  •  The real issue is the corrupt Molinari machine...

    but I doubt any of that will get any airplay. Believe me, they will fight like hell to hold on to that congressional seat which is the true source of their power.

    by brooklynbadboy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:07:00 AM PDT

    •  Which is why it's over for Vito

      I'm sure they will push him out. The question is, can the machine be busted by a Democrat?

      by RandySF on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:12:34 AM PDT

      •  Well

        my side of the district (Bklyn side) is trending bluer and bluer but Staten Island is stuck in some kind of white home owner 1980 time gap - I hope this is enough to tip them. I know people who voted for Vito just because his last name was italian, seriously.

        by joojooluv on Fri May 09, 2008 at 03:51:10 AM PDT

  •  Cultural conservatives will disapprove

    While in other times they might just Tut tut and point to his record, there was so much chewing of the scenery when Eliot (The Whoremonger) Spitzer  self-immolated that to back walk it now and excuse both boozing and bastardry might be too much of a stretch even for Staten Island Republicans.

    by nytcek on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:12:08 AM PDT

•  Support his Democratic opponent, Steve Harrison!

  Here's Steve's site.

  I grew up in NY-13, in Bay Ridge to be specific -- on the other side of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

  Steve Harrison is the big brother of one of my best friends, growing up.    I haven't seen any of the Harrison family in years, but I can tell you that they're great people.    Steve's a fantastic guy, a great Democrat, and he's been taking on the Republicans for years in a conservative district.

  Let's get him into office in 2008!  Here's a great opportunity.

  by chumley on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:06:44 AM PDT

  •  Steve is a fantastic guy.

    He came to one of our PAL events over here in Prospect Heights, per invitation. Got to shake hands with him and shoot the shit. Great guy. Old school Brooklyn peeps. Real mensch.

    I like him.

    by brooklynbadboy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:09:28 AM PDT

    •  Glad you had a chance to talk to him, bbb.

      Very down to earth guy.   And he's been giving Fossella a run for his money for a few years now.  

      Bay Ridge is in some ways The Land that Time Forgot in Brooklyn.   50s mentality, heavily Italian and Irish.  Quite conservative, in some good ways (old school neighborhood pride) and many bad (racism, rightwing kneejerk-ism).

      Steve Harrison has a chance to bring Bay Rdige and Staten Island into the 21st century, as only a guy from that neighborhood would be able to do.

      Hell, this merits a separate diary.  Guess that's my job.  ;)

      by chumley on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:14:24 AM PDT

      •  I'll look forward to it.

        by lineatus on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:19:07 AM PDT

      •  I know, thats why he has to come over here

        and in Park Slope to raise money, which I have no problem with at all. There's plenty of money around here for local Democrats and I'm happy to do my part in putting up some dough for the guy.

        I gotta say this though: I go to a butcher in Bay Ridge (Piazza Mercato on 3rd & 92nd) and I am always treated very well there.

        Of course, I've got enough sense to buy my meat and get the fuck out! lol!

        by brooklynbadboy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:21:03 AM PDT

      •  I, for one, look forward to it n/t

        by nytcek on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:24:16 AM PDT

      •  Now that the presidential is ending...

        ... there's room for it over here.

        by msirt on Thu May 08, 2008 at 10:09:05 AM PDT

•  Giuliani, Jr.

  Bye, Vito.

  by bink on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:07:09 AM PDT

•  Good for Fossella

  I commend him for acknowledging his three year old daughter

  How many pols keep their "other" children (or only child for that matter) in the shadows?
  
  
  ````
  peace
  
  

  by peace voter on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:08:42 AM PDT

  •  He only disclosed her existence

    to the cops to help him beat the DUI charge. And it took him a week to do so.
    :-)

    by nytcek on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:15:59 AM PDT

•  a man, a woman, then a child

  The Republicans are progressing nicely over the last two years. Child molester Foley and Diaper Dave Vitter are behind then, Larry Craig's crime is still simmering but the heat has gone out of it, and now we have just infidelity and bastardy. Clapping louder seems to be working.

  by Stranded Wind on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:12:41 AM PDT

•  Shouldn't you ID him as Republican

  before the last paragraph?

  I thought he was a Dem, it being NY and all, until I got to the very end of the story.

  Can you put his district and affiliation (R-Staten Island?) in parentheses after his name on first reference so we don't have to click the link?

  Thanks.

  by Brooke In Seattle on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:14:02 AM PDT

•  It Would Be Helpful

  If one (or more) of the Kossaks in the district could explain the local political demograpics and dynamics.  It sounds like the district is made up of Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, with Staten Island holding sway over the district.  A little more detail would be great.

  by feebog on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:15:01 AM PDT

  •  From the Politics in America District Profile:

    New York City’s only Republican district, the 13th includes all of Staten Island (Richmond County) and a small portion of southwestern Brooklyn across the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Nearly three-fourths of the district’s population lives on Staten Island.

    A large Italian-American, predominately Catholic population on both sides of the Verrazano gives the 13th a socially conservative edge, and its large retired population and white, upper-middle-class suburban residents have sent Republicans to the House since 1982. The 13th gave George W. Bush 55 percent of its 2004 presidential vote, making it the only New York City district Bush carried.

    One of the district’s largest employers is Staten Island University Hospital, and retail and construction jobs also provide work for residents. Once New York City’s primary landfill, the now-closed Fresh Kills landfill temporarily reopened following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to receive and process most of the debris. Staten Island lost more than 250 residents in the attacks, and a memorial to the local victims is on the north waterfront near the Staten Island Ferry terminal, where the ferry departs to bring Island residents into lower Manhattan.

    The least diverse borough, Staten Island is the only one in which whites make up a majority of the residents (71 percent). Hispanic and black populations live mostly in the borough’s northeast. There is an Asian presence in some of the borough’s north-central neighborhoods, and the 13th has the second-most residents of Arab descent in the nation.

    The Brooklyn portion of the district extends from the Verrazano into Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and part of Bensonhurst, before buttonhooking south of Cropsey Avenue and moving east to Ocean Parkway, taking in the Gravesend neighborhood.

    CQ Politics

    by AUBoy2007 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:23:59 AM PDT

    •  I saw the detailed map of NY-13

      on the wall at Steve Harrison's campaign office in 2006. The Brooklyn boundary looked like it was drawn by Vito, on a drunken walk carrying a bucket of paint.

      by nytcek on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:31:02 AM PDT

  •  Well for an area which is heavily

    white ethnic, Obama got 35% (36% in Staten Island) in the primary.  Not terrible given that it is Clinton's home state

    by IhateBush on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:29:15 AM PDT

  •  Conservative leaning

    Heavily Italian Catholic with a good chunk of Russian immigrants...and a slowly growing Muslim minority. The Democrats are not united in this district either. THe Staten Island Dems by and large back Steve Harrison for Congress. The progressive grassroots agree. But the Brooklyn machine (which is a MESS of corruption and cronyism) backs someone named Dominic Recchia who doesn't even live in the district and whose base of support is developer money.

    The district leans Dem but also leans conservative, particularly on "social issues." Steve Harrison is unique in that he comes from a conservative Catholic upbringing but takes liberal (his preferred word over progressive) stands on social issues and can frame those issues in a way that conservative Catholics can understand. His problem has always been raising money. He is excellent at connecting with voters, but has lagged in fundraising. In 2006 he was outspent 13:1 but came closer to winning than any other Democrat has come in decades (he got 43% of the vote). With money behind him, he could win.

    The district is fiercely territorial. It is hard for anyone not from Staten Island to win, though not impossible (Harrison at least has family in SI). The Brooklyn end of the district and the North Shore of SI lean Dem, though the old school Soviet era Russians and the Italian Catholics lean Republican. The South Shore of SI is solidly Republican. Overall Dems have a slight edge.

    Does this help?

    by mole333 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 11:17:21 AM PDT

    •  Yes

      Very much so.  Sounds like it is going to be a tough battle even without the incumbent running.

      by feebog on Thu May 08, 2008 at 02:19:49 PM PDT

      •  Yes

        NYC Democrats aren't really all that good at fighting Republicans. We spend too much time fighting eachother.

        That said, I really think Steve Harrison could win if he had more money. He fits the district better than most Democrats while also being progressive. If only we could get him well financed we could kick ass. Sadly, almost every really excellent candidate I have met (with a few exceptions) can't raise money to save their lives. Let's talk NYC Public Advocate. You'd think the former head of the NYCLU who has been a Civil Rights advocate since the 70's would be a shoo in. But fundraising is the problem yet again. (Actually I think he's doing better this time around).

        by mole333 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 03:10:17 PM PDT

•  He's toast

  by Paleo on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:15:23 AM PDT

•  Republcians are bailing

  NY Daily News

  National Republican leaders have "lost all faith" in Rep. Vito Fossella and are poised to begin polling in the 13th CD on potential candidates to take his place on the ballot, despite the fact that he has yet to make a definitive statement about his future political plans.
  ...

  The poll could start as early as today, according to a Washington GOP source, and will likely include at least two names: Sen. Andrew Lanza and Staten Island DA Dan Donovan.

  Another national GOP source said Fossella's fellow House minority members were "shocked" to learn of his "double life," and his admission that he fathered a child out of wedlock with retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, Laura Fay.

  by RandySF on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:15:41 AM PDT

•  Can Republicans afford to defend this seat?

  NYC area races are ungodly expensive. I think the best scenario is Vito out early and take it to a special election.

  by RandySF on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:22:38 AM PDT

  •  I'll help Steve plug in to the

    fundraising sources here in Brooklyn. There's a network of young professionals around here in my parts that can easily afford to pony up $1000 a piece for Steve. This is almost completely Obama territory and theres plenty of interest in giving during an election year, thanks to Obama's people around here.

    With some help from the DNC, we could at least force them to shell out much needed resources to defend a safe seat. Our chances of winning it are pretty slim, but worth the effort.

    I'd do anything to break the stranglehold of the Molinari gangsters, because that Congressional seat is literally the fountain of their power.

    by brooklynbadboy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:27:09 AM PDT

    •  Yes You Can! ...

      ... (at least I hope so)

      by msirt on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:57:10 AM PDT

    •  Fantasic

      Steve is the best candidate and will make a great Congressman.  He's honest, listens and talks to you not at you.  He will be a refreshing change to what we currently have.  You can leave a message at Steve's web site www.steveharrisonforcongress.com and you'll be contacts.  This seat is winable for the Dems but only if Steve Harrison is the candidate.

      by Rosalie907 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 10:55:16 AM PDT

  •  Let's See

    What Vino Vito does between now and the cut off date which is July 1st.  He'll do what the Party Leaders tell him to do and I'm sure they don't want to rush into this and maybe select a candidate who's in worse shape than Vito.

    by Rosalie907 on Thu May 08, 2008 at 11:01:49 AM PDT

•  Bloomberg, we hardly knew ya.

  http://blog.silive.com/...

  Sad that Rudy and Bloomie dropped out of the race. Who's phonier?

  Is anyone further right than this guy Vino?

  by andreww on Thu May 08, 2008 at 09:25:11 AM PDT

•  New York politicians really party hard!

  Wow, I mean Spitzer, the new gov, this guy. Sex, booze, drugs, women and losing your job!

  by realwischeese on