NY Gov's Senator pick a pleasant surprise!

[Fatman]

Anyone that annoys McCarthy is a friend of mine! Here's hoping that her statement about 'supporting gun control but protecting hunter's rights' simply means status quo. After all, NY allows PIFs/EBRs with 8 round mags for hunting. 

People in NY, please give her your opinion.

NY gov picks upstate NY congresswoman to Senate
By MICHAEL GORMLEY, Associated Press Writer Michael Gormley, Associated Press Writer 4 mins ago

ALBANY, N.Y. – Gov. David Paterson appointed Democratic U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand on Friday to fill New York's vacant Senate seat, finally settling on a woman from a largely rural, eastern district of the state to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"For many in New York state, this is the first time you've heard my name and you don't know much about me," Gillibrand said at a ceremony in Albany. "Over the next two years, you will get to know me. And, more importantly, I will get to know you."

The appointment, which requires no further confirmation, came one day after Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy, abruptly withdrew from consideration.

Gillibrand, 42, has been considered one of the top contenders in Paterson's selection process, along with Kennedy and state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Gillibrand had served as Cuomo's special counsel when he was housing secretary under President Clinton and she worked on Hillary Rodham Clinton's first Senate campaign in 2000.

Paying tribute to her predecessor, Gillibrand said: "I can't tell you how many times she has personally inspired me to action."

Paterson stressed that he didn't choose Gillibrand because she was a woman or from upstate New York. "I believe I have found the best candidate to become the next United States senator from New York," he said.

The appointment lasts until 2010, when a special election will be held to fill the final two years of Clinton's term. Clinton is now serving as secretary of state in President Barack Obama's administration.

Kennedy, the daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, called the governor around midday Wednesday and told him she was having second thoughts about the job, according to a person close to Paterson, who said she later decided to remain in contention, only to announce her withdrawal early Thursday in an e-mail.

U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, who wasn't among the 10 to 20 people Paterson said applied for the Senate appointment, immediately criticized the expected pick. McCarthy, whose husband was killed by a gunman on the Long Island Railroad, said Gillibrand's support of more conservative issues such as gun ownership rights was out of step with most New York Democrats.

During the news conference, Gillibrand complimented all of the state's female House delegation, and offered an olive branch to McCarthy, who she said has "provided outstanding leadership in fighting against gun violence and keeping our children safe. I pledge to work with her on her signature bill for updating background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals."

Near the end of her statement, Gillibrand again brought up the issue again, saying she would support gun control "but also protect our hunters' rights."

Despite criticism from some corners, Gillibrand is a proven vote-getter in a largely rural eastern New York district that sprawls from the mid-Hudson Valley to north of Albany. She defeated a long-term Republican incumbent in 2006 and won re-election last year by a wide margin.

"Gender plus geography equals Gillibrand," said Doug Muzzio, a political science professor at Baruch College. He said her upstate base would help Paterson's 2010 ticket, which otherwise would be dominated by New York City residents like himself.

"On the minus side, she's an unproven statewide vote-getter, a conservative `Blue Dog' Democrat who could face a primary challenge in 2010 and face a tough general election," Muzzio said.

Paterson has said he hopes to avoid a party challenge to the appointment, saying he wants his choice to be good enough to hold the seat for a decade or more.

Gillibrand, 42, becomes the only woman on a ticket that will include Paterson, Cuomo, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and senior U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer.

The pick came after a week in which Kennedy surprisingly withdrew from consideration and Paterson revealed he was considering Cuomo, who had refused to publicly express his interest. In the end, Paterson chose the up-and-comer over more established names.

But Paterson has said the first task of a new U.S. senator should be bringing more aid in the federal stimulus package back to New York. It's uncertain that Gillibrand has the background or pull to do that.

She voted last year against the $700 billion Wall Street bailout bill.

This consideration, as the state faces a historic fiscal crisis, was considered a strength for Kennedy, who is close to President Barack Obama and may have been owed a favor for her early endorsement of him; and Cuomo, who has ties and experience in Washington as President Bill Clinton's former housing secretary.

Gillibrand was an official in the Housing and Urban Development Department during the Clinton administration. She worked as a lawyer before challenging Republican John Sweeney in 2006 to represent New York's 20th District. Her upset win came after a police report showing that Sweeney's wife had called 911 in what appeared to be a domestic violence incident was leaked shortly before the election.

In November, Gillibrand defeated wealthy General Electric heir Sandy Treadwell. The former state Republican chairman was seen as one of the Republican Party's best chances to capture a congressional seat in New York.

Gillibrand graduated from Dartmouth College in 1988 and earned a law degree at UCLA in 1991. She is the daughter of Albany lobbyist Douglas Rutnik.

[1776 Rebel]

It is a surprise that Gov. Paterson picked her. But it has been circulating for a couple of days now.

What surprises me is how inept the NRA state organization handled this pick. The New York State Rifle & Pistol Assoc. had ZERO mention of it on their website. They made NO attempt to openly support her. They made NO call to the membership to reach out to the Governors office. They had ZERO coverage from NY press on the selection. I called and emailed the Governor and the Representatives office the other day supporting her appt. on my own. I reached out to the NYSRPA President and got NO reply.

I get so depressed sometimes in this fight. We have lots of folks who own guns, even run organizations that supposedly represent us, that just fail time and again to do the right thing. There seems to be few co-ordinated efforts to mobilize gun owners in mass. I said it before on this forum and my own blog that if we loose this fight it will be because of how our fellow gun owners/organizations act (or in this case don't act).

I hope she lives up to my expectations for her. One more vote in the Senate for us can mean a lot.

[ericire12]

Kirsten Gillibrand is backed by the NRA:

http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/InTheNews.aspx?ID=12036

[jaybet]

It IS a pleasant surprise. I heard part of the news conference where the announcement was made and she said, "I come from a family that usually shoots the thanksgiving turkey." Gotta love that. A state senator is already screaming about it and calling her an , "NRA Poster Girl". Of course the other senator lost her husband and son to a subway shooting, so she equates anyone who beleives in 2A with gun violence.

Anyway, pleasant surprise, and a good thing for New York State.

[tombogan03884]

It IS a pleasant surprise. I heard part of the news conference where the announcement was made and she said, "I come from a family that usually shoots the thanksgiving turkey." Gotta love that. A state senator is already screaming about it and calling her an , "NRA Poster Girl". Of course the other senator lost her husband and son to a subway shooting, so she equates anyone who beleives in 2A with gun violence.

Anyway, pleasant surprise, and a good thing for New York State.

She, of ALL people should be leading the fight against VIOLENT OFFENDERS, instead of harassing FBI certified good citizens who merely wish to exercise their Constitutionally guaranteed God given rights.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

ABC News radio report this evening identified her as a "card carrying" member of the NRA    I'm a Life Member and a recruiter, but I have never heard of "card carrying."  Gotta love the spin!

[fullautovalmet76]

Like everyone here, I was surprised at the pick for senate seat from NY. And even more surprising was this tidbit of information from New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01232009/news/politics/dave_picks_gillibrand_as_liberal_dems_ho_151502.htm

"Gillibrand, a mother of two occasionally resented by colleagues for being an aggressive self-promoter, was strongly backed for the post by Charles Schumer, the state's senior senator, who said a woman and an upstater was needed on next year's ticket."

You read that correctly- Charles "PIF Ban" Schumer. One has to ask, "What are these weasels up to?" My take is they have discovered what I have long feared: To ensure their majority status, they will back and support more conservative Dems to office where they believe they can unseat a moderate or liberal Republican. In essence, they are returning to the way they were in the 40's - 60's: big on national defense and pro-2A, while pushing a huge socialist agenda elsewhere. The sad truth is that millions of Americans went for it then and they will go for it now. Also don't be too surprised in the future to see Republicans jumping ship so they can have more clout.

As far as the 2A goes, this pick is good- provided she doesn't vote for a PIF ban or vote for an anti-2A SCOTUS justice. Like someone mentioned earlier about the NRA, I did not see anything about it on their website earlier today. It makes me wonder if the NRA has made some kind of deal with the Dems.....

[blackwolfe]

I saw PIF mentioned a few times in this thread.  Will someone please explain to a simple man what PIF stands for.  Thanks.

[MikeBjerum]

I saw PIF mentioned a few times in this thread.  Will someone please explain to a simple man what PIF stands for.  Thanks.

Politically Incorrect Firearm if I remember correctly, but feel free to correct me.

[Fatman]

I saw PIF mentioned a few times in this thread.  Will someone please explain to a simple man what PIF stands for.  Thanks.

Politically Incorrect Firearm; ie any firearm that makes an uneducated person nervous based on its appearance or the misconceptions fostered by the antis.