Absentee Ballots

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Friday October 22, 2010 · 9:43 AM PDT

2010/10/22 · 09:43

Two years ago, in the weeks leading up to the historic 2008 election, I was sitting on a small forward operating base in Afghanistan.

MattZellerNY29

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Tuesday October 05, 2010 · 10:51 AM PDT

2010/10/05 · 10:51

Since the beginning of my campaign people have asked me what I think about my age and relative youth. I've told them I think it gives me the energy and perseverance necessary to excel as a member of the US House of Representatives and it means that I'm far more likely to be open to new ideas and new innovative methods for helping our country prosper -- in short, it means that I'm not blindly set in my ways.

The other issue folks like to point out is that we, Generation Y, the Millenials, the "youth vote", whatever you want to call us, are the most apathetic and the least likely to vote. While this may be true, can anyone blame us? When we look around at our political leadership we see a level of childish infighting that prevents even the simplest of problems from being solved.

MattZellerNY29

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Wednesday September 29, 2010 · 7:10 AM PDT

2010/09/29 · 07:10

Recent polls have shown that most of my future constituents don’t know who I am. TV ads are clearly the quickest way to fix that. I could have gone the traditional route and run what I like to call the stereotypical political ad in three acts.

Act 1: The Politician sitting around a table with fellow citizens "discussing" the issues and a voiceover saying "so and so will cut taxes."

Act 2: The Politician walking "Main Street," meeting citizens, and a voiceover declaring "so and so will reduce wasteful spending."

Act 3: The Politician touring a "local business" (hard hat optional) and a voiceover claiming "so and so will increase employment."

MattZellerNY29

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Saturday September 11, 2010 · 6:23 PM PDT

2010/09/11 · 18:23

Two years ago today I found myself in Afghanistan, in the midst of war, reflecting on how much had changed in my life and the world, and how I had wound up in a distant land, embroiled in war. As I did on many occasions, I decided to write home to many of you and share my thoughts. Reading them now two years later, I find they ring true more than ever – and I'd like to share them with you again today.

We have to unite if we're to solve the problems before us. Today, on this most somber of days, I ask that you reflect back on all that's changed, remember those we lost nine years ago, and vow to strive towards the promise the future holds - we owe it to those who aren't with us today to do better.

After the jump is the letter I wrote home from Afghanistan on September 11th, 2008.

MattZellerNY29

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Tuesday September 07, 2010 · 12:29 PM PDT

2010/09/07 · 12:29

Its been almost one year since my opponent received $1.18 million from NY State to help pay for the restoration of the Bath, NY Masonic temple - which he co-owns. I decided on a recent visit to Bath to check out the site and see how our tax dollars have been put to use. What I found was a building that continues to sit in disarray and in serious need of restoration. In short, nothing seems to have changed. So, what have you done with our money Tom?

MattZellerNY29

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Wednesday September 01, 2010 · 1:09 PM PDT

2010/09/01 · 13:09

As an Afghanistan combat veteran I know that the United States must have leaders in Washington who will put national security ahead of politics. Unfortunately, my opponent, medical debt collector Tom Reed, still doesn't get it.

Here's what Tom Reed had to say today:

"As the nature of our mission in Iraq changes, I urge President Obama to stand firm in the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every day of young democracy in Iraq is a long-term blow to Al-Qaeda and Islamic extremists. And every day that the Taliban is held in check in Afghanistan is a safer day here at home."
- Messenger Post Newspapers Online, 9/1/2010

Enough is enough! We need leaders who don't romanticize war or use our military as a political football. We need leaders who know what it means to send our sons and daughters into harms way. I've led our nation's soldiers - our most prized possessions - in combat. I know what sending someone off to war entails in a way that only one who's been there can ever understand.

More after the jump.

MattZellerNY29

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Wednesday August 18, 2010 · 11:32 AM PDT

2010/08/18 · 11:32

It has been 37 days since my Republican opponent, medical debt collector Tom Reed, told a Rochester newspaper that he supported denying Social Security benefits using so-called "means testing" and that all options should be on the table – including privatization.

At a time when more Americans than ever are depending on Social Security to keep from falling into poverty, senior citizens here in Western New York and the Southern Tier have been asking where Tom Reed really stands on privatization and cutting benefits.

On Sunday, I publicly called on Mr. Reed to come clean about his position on Social Security - and now we have an answer:

MattZellerNY29

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Tuesday August 17, 2010 · 11:07 AM PDT

2010/08/17 · 11:07

Clean energy jobs are our nation’s future, and earlier this month, I had the chance to visit a local business here outside Rochester that is ready to start creating hundreds of new jobs - but they're being held up by banks that won't lend to small entrepreneurs.

We here in Western New York and the Southern Tier are uniquely suited to play a major role in the development and implementation of our coming clean energy economy. Already, many of our small and self-employed businesses are ready and willing to lead our district into this exciting new future.

MattZellerNY29

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Saturday August 14, 2010 · 7:29 AM PDT

2010/08/14 · 07:29

Hard work. Honesty. Integrity. Taking care of neighbors. The American Dream throughout our nation's history has a core concept: if you work hard, live honestly, and conduct yourself with integrity, you'll be able to live a happy life and provide for your family. Work hard, get ahead, take care of those around you.

Social Security is at the core of this uniquely American compact: we take care of our own through our hard work and honest living. For 75 years, Social Security has provided honest, hard working Americans with the trust that, should the worst happen, they would not be left destitute.

Sadly, my opponent Tom Reed doesn't believe that hard working Americans are entitled to this lifelong guarantee.

MattZellerNY29

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Thursday August 05, 2010 · 9:33 AM PDT

2010/08/05 · 09:33

The job of our nation’s leaders is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States from all of its enemies. America’s intelligence community plays a central role in this effort, but it is also in desperate need of reform. Through my work in the Central Intelligence Agency, I have become acutely aware of the problems that face our intelligence community and how we could best to fix them.

As a candidate for Congress in New York's 29th District, this is an issue that we as a country need to address - not just for the sake of our national security, but to improve transparency, accountability and the protection of Americans' Constitutional rights.

MattZellerNY29

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Monday June 07, 2010 · 7:32 AM PDT

2010/06/07 · 07:32

I was going to use my first diary entry here to introduce myself to the community and talk about why I believe I am the best candidate to represent New York's 29th district in Congress, but that will have to wait for next time. On Friday afternoon, the news made my case for me – and illustrated the clear choice that voters here will have in November.

If you live around here (Western New York & the Southern Tier) you're probably familiar with the issue of drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale - a geologic formation that runs from southwestern New York through Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

Energy companies and their political allies have been pushing to open up this area for natural gas drilling using a technique known as hydraulic fracturing – also called hydrofracking – an extraction method that injects water and chemicals into the rock layer to release natural gas.

RSS

Absentee Ballots

NY-29: An Open Letter to My Generation

Looking for Leadership? NY29 has found it!

September 11th, 2008 from Afghanistan

$1 Million, No Jobs & Tom Reed's Masonic Temple [VIDEO]

War is Not a Political Talking Point

Now We Know the Truth

What's Really Holding Up the Green Economy?

[Updated] Join the Fight Against Privatization

Intelligence Reform is Needed to Keep America Safe

Another Drilling Blow-Out and a Clear Choice in November