(Cross-posted at Upstate Blue)

So far, in several rural and suburban Eastern Upstate New York counties, there is still NOT A SINGLE theater around playing Michael Moore’s new documentary devoted to corruption and greed in the health care industry. Unsurprisingly, though, many of the counties in question rank near the very top in the state in terms of their Republican registration advantages. In fact, the GOP organizations in these counties are so powerful that more often than not Republican candidates run uncontested cycle after cycle in most local elections.

(Cross-Posted at Upstate Blue)

News just broke from The Times Union Local Politics blog that the long controversial New Covenant Charter School in Albany, New York will be closing at the end of the current academic year. New Covenant, like many other charter schools across the state, has long dealt with severe academic and financial performance issues.

The third article in the New York Times series profiling 20th Congressional District U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand was just released today. It mainly focuses on the pack of losers thae are seeking to challenge her next year.

(Cross-posted at Upstate Blue)

Multi-millionaire Essex County Republican activist Alexander "Sandy" Treadwell today announced his intention to challenge U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand in New York’s 20th Congressional District next year.

Even despite all of Treadwell’s wealth and connections, his long history of being a strong supporter of the Bush Administration will likely make it difficult for him to overcome Gillibrand’s surging popularity and her strong record of reform, especially when many are speculating that 2008 could be one of the worst political years ever for the GOP (possibly even worse than 2006).

(Cross-posted at Upstate Blue)

Last week, the local media in my neck of the woods, especially The (Glens Falls) Post-Star, issued unfair, severely distorted, biased coverage towards the nomination of Pete Grannis to head the Department of Environmental Conservation, attempting to label him as ‘less than impressive’ and an ‘urban carpetbagger.’

In truth, Grannis appears to be an outstanding choice to head the DEC and has developed an impressive record on environmental issues throughout the decades he has served in the State Assembly.

(Cross-posted at Upstate Blue)

According to The Post-Star, Democrat Timothy Merrick of Plattsburg who challenged Betty Little in 2006 for the 45th New York State Senate District seat is mulling another run for office.

(Cross-Posted at Upstate Blue)

North Country Congressman John McHugh (R) has been charged with being partially responsible for ignoring the substandard conditions at Walter Reed Medical Center while chairing a subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee.

Word is coming out that Rethug Congressman Randy "Shotgun" Kuhl may receive a primary challenge from the semi-racist, ultra right-wing Bob Lonsberry

Elizabeth "Betty" Little (R - Queensbury), who currently represents much of the Adirondack region in the New York State Senate and is now mulling a run for the 20th Congressional Seat in 2008, appears to be largely bought off and firmly in the pockets of the pharmaceutical and health care industry.

Last week, Republican John McHugh, who represents much of Northern New York in Congress gave a speech on the floor "leading the opposition" to the Democratic resolution against the continued surge of troops in Iraq.

Saratoga County, New York, has long been in need of reform and a better, more open form of government. Anyone who's familiar with Saratoga politics knows that for several generations, the countywide politics have almost been entirely controlled by a quite powerful, well-entrenched, semi-corrupt Republican machine under the control of "Boss" Jasper Nolan. In fact, in most Saratoga County towns and municipalities, Republicans regularly run uncontested on the ballot every November, so effectively the "representation" is all really being hired by the Republican machine, and not really by the people. Because of this, there has been a continued abuse of power throughout the Saratoga political structure.

A blogger who goes by the name of "Mark Bowers" (I wonder if he's of any relation to Chris Bowers at myDD?) today launched a site urging 2006 Democratic candidate Eric Massa to rematch John "Randy" Kuhl next year in New York's 29th Congressional District.

Spitzer-style reformer may receive a "rematch" from a recently defeated, semi-reactionary Bushite Republican.

A new website has been launched by the 2004 and 2006 Democratic opponent of John McHugh, Robert J. Johnson, criticizing the North Country Republican congressman's voting record.

Some exerpts from the February 6, 2006 Watertown Times:

In political discourse, Dr. Robert J. Johnson argues, it is rarely reality that is proffered, but carefully tailored perceptions of reality. "One of the most incredibly frustrating things about running against John is that he has this perception of supporting things that he opposes, and opposing things that he supports," said Dr. Johnson, a thoracic surgeon who has twice campaigned unsuccessfully against Republican congressman John M. McHugh. "He is able to use the language in such a vague manner as to create a perception for the groups he’s addressing." Dr. Johnson, Sackets Harbor, has founded McHugh Watch, a blog that he says will contrast the perception of the congressman with his voting record.

These were the remarks that came out of McHugh's office:

Brynn A. Barnett, Mr. McHugh’s spokeswoman, said the congressman will not monitor the site. "Frankly, he couldn’t care less," she said.

Today I announce the launch of Upstate Blue, a new blog covering Upstate New York politics with a progressive slant.

A new ActBlue page, titled the "Upstate Progressive Majority Fund," has also been introduced to correspond with the new blog. The purpose of the new ActBlue account is to help raise funding to get more Democrats elected to Congress, the State Senate, and the State Assembly here in Upstate New York.

In news of interest to 20th district activists, the domain name www.treadwell2008.com was recently registered, and is now directing to a page stating "this site is under construction and coming soon," thus signaling that multi-millionaire GOP activist Alexander "Sandy" Treadwell may very well be gearing up to run against Gillibrand in 2008.

Hopefully Gillibrand's incumbency, and Upstate's traditional heavy bias towards incumbent candidates will be enough to get Gillibrand through 2008, but nothing is certain in a district which has 80,000 more enrolled Republican voters than Democrats.

Being a resident of Saratoga County, New York, after recently having the pleasure of watching the downfall of Congressman John Sweeney, I'm very hopeful that another one of my Republican representatives may soon go down due to massive corruption. This time it's Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, the highest ranking Republican in New York State.

This diary details the likely top battlegrounds in the Northeast for control of the House of Representatives in 2008.