Michael Gaynor
Flip-flopper Bob Turner's still seeking New York's Republican Senate nomination. Why?
By Michael Gaynor
Expecting to win a three-way race against liberal incumbent Gillibrand and conservative challenger Long is sheer stupidity.
It took rookie Congressman Bob Turner two tries to win a House seat and now he's trying to win the Republican nomination for United States Senator from New York, undeterred by rejections at both the Republican and Conservative conventions last March.
In 2010 Turner, then 70, made his first run for Congress and lost to Anthony Weiner by 22%, 61% to 39%.
After Weiner resigned, Turner took a second shot at winning a seat in the House of Representatives in a special election held on September 13, 2011 and won by 5%, 51.7% to 46.6%.
It was apparent at the time that there would be redistricting and Turner nevertheless boldly pledged to run for re-election to the House.
"People have said the district will disappear," Turner told reporters the day after his election during a news conference at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in Manhattan. He added, "I will be ready to take the fight into '12, no matter what the district is called, and I just don't know who the opponent will be."
In 2012 New York's State Legislature failed to agree on redrawn maps and a judicially appointed magistrate then redrew the lines and eliminated Turner's district.
The announcement of that possibility did not deter Turner. He said that he would run in whatever district his house ended up in after the final decision.
Did Turner's word turn out to be good?
NO!
On March 13, 2012, Turner suddenly released a statement announcing that he would challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand instead.
"I will travel to the Republican State Convention in Rochester later this week and humbly ask for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate," Turner said in a release. "I will respectfully ask for the Conservative nomination a few days later at that Party's convention. I have made my intentions known to the other Republican candidates in this race."
How receptive were the Republican and Conservative conventions to Turner's "humble" offer to be their nominee?
First the Republican convention gave Wendy Long a near majority. Turner, the last minute candidate, won 27%, while George Maragos, who had been running for many months, barely got the 25% required to run in a primary without having to take the petition route.
Then the Conservative convention nominated Long. She got 91% on the first ballot, to 5% for Turner and 4% for Maragos. Then her nomination was made unanimous.
How respectful of the Convention results was Turner?
Not much. Turner opted to run against Long in a Republican primary and surely plans to induce her to give him her hard earned and fairly won Conservative nomination if he somehow wins the Republican primary.
How many times must Long win to replace Gillibrand?
The answer appears to be four.
Winning the Republican and Conservative conventions was not enough.
Turner and Maragos are contesting Long again in a Republican primary on June 26, 2012 and Long must win that too, and then the general election.
Whether it's sexist reluctance to have the Republican Party run a woman for United States Senator from New York for the first time or just sheer egotism, it's ridiculous.
Certainly expecting Long to cede the Conservative line to one of them if she does not win the Republican primary is sheer arrogance.
Expecting to win a three-way race against liberal incumbent Gillibrand and conservative challenger Long is sheer stupidity.
Turner obviously is not humble or a good loser.
Neither is Maragos.
Gillibrand must be pleased with both of them.
© Michael Gaynor
June 12, 2012
Expecting to win a three-way race against liberal incumbent Gillibrand and conservative challenger Long is sheer stupidity.
It took rookie Congressman Bob Turner two tries to win a House seat and now he's trying to win the Republican nomination for United States Senator from New York, undeterred by rejections at both the Republican and Conservative conventions last March.
In 2010 Turner, then 70, made his first run for Congress and lost to Anthony Weiner by 22%, 61% to 39%.
After Weiner resigned, Turner took a second shot at winning a seat in the House of Representatives in a special election held on September 13, 2011 and won by 5%, 51.7% to 46.6%.
It was apparent at the time that there would be redistricting and Turner nevertheless boldly pledged to run for re-election to the House.
"People have said the district will disappear," Turner told reporters the day after his election during a news conference at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in Manhattan. He added, "I will be ready to take the fight into '12, no matter what the district is called, and I just don't know who the opponent will be."
In 2012 New York's State Legislature failed to agree on redrawn maps and a judicially appointed magistrate then redrew the lines and eliminated Turner's district.
The announcement of that possibility did not deter Turner. He said that he would run in whatever district his house ended up in after the final decision.
Did Turner's word turn out to be good?
NO!
On March 13, 2012, Turner suddenly released a statement announcing that he would challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand instead.
"I will travel to the Republican State Convention in Rochester later this week and humbly ask for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate," Turner said in a release. "I will respectfully ask for the Conservative nomination a few days later at that Party's convention. I have made my intentions known to the other Republican candidates in this race."
How receptive were the Republican and Conservative conventions to Turner's "humble" offer to be their nominee?
First the Republican convention gave Wendy Long a near majority. Turner, the last minute candidate, won 27%, while George Maragos, who had been running for many months, barely got the 25% required to run in a primary without having to take the petition route.
Then the Conservative convention nominated Long. She got 91% on the first ballot, to 5% for Turner and 4% for Maragos. Then her nomination was made unanimous.
How respectful of the Convention results was Turner?
Not much. Turner opted to run against Long in a Republican primary and surely plans to induce her to give him her hard earned and fairly won Conservative nomination if he somehow wins the Republican primary.
How many times must Long win to replace Gillibrand?
The answer appears to be four.
Winning the Republican and Conservative conventions was not enough.
Turner and Maragos are contesting Long again in a Republican primary on June 26, 2012 and Long must win that too, and then the general election.
Whether it's sexist reluctance to have the Republican Party run a woman for United States Senator from New York for the first time or just sheer egotism, it's ridiculous.
Certainly expecting Long to cede the Conservative line to one of them if she does not win the Republican primary is sheer arrogance.
Expecting to win a three-way race against liberal incumbent Gillibrand and conservative challenger Long is sheer stupidity.
Turner obviously is not humble or a good loser.
Neither is Maragos.
Gillibrand must be pleased with both of them.
© Michael Gaynor
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