Get America Working Again - Front Page

Congrats & Thank you

akokon — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:21:16 GMT

First of all, I'd like to congratulate Councilman McMahon on his victory last night. It was a hard fought campaign that increased the debate on important issues that concern all Americans.

At the same time, we must also congratulate Steve Harrison. Since his first run against Vito Fossella, he has been advocating for progressive causes and, as stated by the DCCC, Harrison paved the way for Fossella to be taken down. Harrison has inspired me personally and has always generously given time to sit down with me or anyone else who wanted his ear. When we look back at the fall of the Republican Party, we must not forget the contributions of that attorney from Brooklyn.

Thank you to an amazing candidate who gave us all something to believe in, thank you to a hardworking staff led by a campaign manager who took on the most Herculean of tasks and executed them with perfection and ease, thank you to the volunteers who powered the campaign and gave us all faith, and most of all, thank you to the voters for voting.

This truly has been an honor and we have made inroads with regards to progressive issues and innovative techniques in politics. We must all remember that the Internet is vital in the discussion of issues among voters. In the end, we all visit this website because we are passionate about our beliefs, one of which include a better America.

To all the voters in NY-13, let us do all that we can to have a Congressman McMahon and a President Obama come November 5th.

Democratically yours,
Ahmed Kokon

Poll Closings

akokon — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:47:43 GMT

Volunteers are heading out now to close polls.

For those who don't know, at 9pm - certified poll closers can take a look and see how many Democrats/Republicans voted at each voting machine.

I hope to have updates for you very soon..

Stay tuned!

VOTE!!!!

akokon — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:40:05 GMT

Why are you reading this?!

Go out and vote for Steve Harrison!

Already voted?

Call our campaign office to see how you can help:

718.720.VOTE (8683)

Rain, Rain..

akokon — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:46:48 GMT

Take your umbrella and go out and vote!

Today is the day..

akokon — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:54:28 GMT

Today is the day.

Today is the day you can go and vote your conscience, vote for the person who best represents you.

George Washington once warned us to be careful of forming political factions - and primaries are difficult for everyone involved.

But it is the voter's right for them to decide who they want as their representative.

Today, I urge you to vote for Steve Harrison.

If you'd like to volunteer in our Brooklyn or Staten Island offices, call (718) 745-2539 or (718) 720-8683.

And yes, we're open.

Let's go win this thing!

Clear difference

akokon — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:31:13 GMT

The "Walk of Remembrance" was meant to symbolize a strong community united in fighting for a better life for themselves and a brighter future for their children.

This community, which has had an unfortunate history of violence, is in McMahon's own district.

On the day of the "Walk of Remembrance", Steve Harrison stood shoulder to shoulder with the young men and women who attended the walk.

On the same day, McMahon apparently had better things to do..

Two days left

akokon — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:59:18 GMT

I've been traveling around the district today and I headed to the Harrison HQ in Staten Island.

After chatting with several of the volunteers inside, I decided to jump on the expressway to get to the Brooklyn HQ.

It was supposed to be a 15 minute ride but it turned to be a 30 minute ride.

Why? Traffic.

We really need a Congressman who will do something about that, don't you think?

Someone who will tear down those toll booths and put in High Speed EZPass.

Steve Harrison, where are you?

Looks like he's busy making phone calls to voters.

Let me step out of his office and get back to work here.

Talk to you soon!

"Major" Endorsement

akokon — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:35:58 GMT

Earlier this week, former Congressman Major Owens, author of the American with Disabilities Act, endorsed Steve Harrison for Congress.

McMahon's reaction?

"It's unfortunate that the Owens are still bitter from Chris' fourth place loss to replace Major in 2006. Council Member McMahon is proud to have earned the endorsement of the Staten Island Advance, New York Times, AFL-CIO, Sen. Charles Schumer, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Borough President Marty Markowitz and more than a dozen current members of Congress--including Rep. Yvette Clarke, who soundly defeated Chris in 2006."

It's no surprise that the NY13 Blog calls this a "very wrong move."

Especially coming from a candidate who wrongly accuses Harrison of constant attacks.

In my opinion the endorsement by Rep. Owens and even that of his son was not going to be ground breaking. They speak to a progressive audience most of whom are already breaking for Harrison. The endorsement never seemed like it would be damaging to McMahon and so I find this rebuttal so absolutely unnecessary and astounding. Alienating members of one's own party and former members of Congress who deserve a lot more respect than that shown is senseless.

7 days

akokon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:00:13 GMT

Seven days to go.

A Democrat will win in November.

The question for September is:

What kind of Democrat do you want representing you?

Do you support offshore drilling?

Are you not sure where you stand on the war in Iraq?

Do you trust the MTA and favor Congestion Pricing?

Do you believe that average donations of $700 represents you?

If so, vote for McMahon.

However, if you are a proponent of safe renewable energy..

If you are among the many Americans who have endorsed the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, co-authored by Steve Harrison..

If you are against Congestion Pricing..

If you believe in the grassroots movement..

If you are a Democrat with a strong desire for change..

If you are a Democrat who demands that more politicians have spines made of steel..

Then vote for Steve Harrison.

Ramadan Kareem

akokon — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:25:57 GMT

To all those celebrating the first day of Ramadan, Ramadan Kareem!

Hot Candidate

akokon — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:49:46 GMT

Following up on the endorsement by Democrats.com, ActBlue now has Steve Harrison in the Top 5 Candidates and Committees.

Our fundraising has picked up steam and many people are investing in a candidate who will get our economy back on track, brings our troops home, and achieve energy independence through safe and natural resources (not offshore drilling or nuclear plants!).

The only way we can win is with your help - contribute now.

Don't be hoodwinked

akokon — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:24:45 GMT

Today the Staten Island Advance came out with an editorial regarding endorsements:

And, if they succeed in getting the backing of the Amalgamated Widget Workers or the Friends of Ferns League, the pols trumpet those endorsements triumphantly, as if they've practically clinched the election.

First person I think of is Mike McMahon. When he first jumped into the race, before talking to constituents and discussing with them his positions on the issues, he lined himself up with the machine and has held those wield endorsements in higher regard than those he wishes to represent in Congress. Voters are not to be taken for granted.

About the National Organization for Women endorsing Harrison:

The rationale is somewhat puzzling because Mr. McMahon has supported abortion rights, even though he has run with the backing of the Conservative Party in his past successful campaigns for the North Shore Council seat.

WHAT?! It is a proven fact that McMahon voted for restrictions on what a woman can do with her own body.

The Advance, as usual, is the one that is puzzled but to their credit - they do have one fact correct - McMahon has had the backing of the Conservative Party.

That aside, Mr. Harrison has positioned himself as the progressive candidate in the Democratic primary race, and that probably suited NOW's agenda.

Harrison hasn't "positioned himself" as anything. Harrison IS the progressive candidate as opposed to McMahon, the conservative candidate.

And if the Advance wants to talk about suiting agendas - ask them why they are tripping over themselves in haste to defend a candidate who voted against Staten Island interests by voting for Congestion Pricing. It was the Advance themselves who reported that 74% of Staten Islanders were against it. Harrison was against Congestion Pricing. Why was McMahon for it?

I respectfully suggest to McMahon that he toss away the aura of entitlement he carries and bring his nose down from the air. That way, he can see eye to eye with the people and explain to them why he's for Congestion Pricing and explain to them why he's for offshore drilling and explain to them how he'd rather not have our troops come home.

At the conclusion of this election, a Democrat will represent NY-13.

The only question is: what kind of Democrat do you want?

The "Poll"

akokon — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:42:30 GMT

I'm sure most of you have seen some new poll numbers. The numbers are below:

Mike McMahon (D): 64
Steve Harrison (D): 18
Undecided: 18
(MoE: ±4.3%)

There are several things you need to know about this poll:

14% of Brooklyn was represented in this poll when it makes up 30% of the district
40% of those polled won't even vote in the General Election, nevertheless the Primary Election.
Harrison did best among the Conservatives sub-group.

Just by looking at number one, you can see how big of a difference that makes in a poll sample universe of 509 respondents. Since it is not properly weighted - the numbers do not accurately reflect vote percentages.

Considering number two & number three, progressives are the ones who vote in primaries and are those who are most knowledgeable, which shows you how skewed the data is when it shows Harrison winning over conservatives.

To give you a better idea, 81 (I'm being generous here) out of the 509 who responded to this poll will vote in the primary. The opinion of those 81 is what counts the most because they are the most knowledgeable and those who are most likely to vote.

Bottom line is - this poll didn't ask LIKELY VOTERS who their preference is but instead it asked REGISTERED DEMOCRATS with an emphasis on STATEN ISLANDERS.

Don't get me wrong - SUSA is an extremely accurate polling firm but there's a whole lot more to those numbers than you think.

NOW endorses Harrison

akokon — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:02:05 GMT

From the NY Times:

In one of the most significant endorsements of his campaign, Stephen A. Harrison, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress, received the support of the National Organization for Women today...
...“We were impressed with Steve Harrison’s grasp of and support of our core issues: constitutional equality for women, reproductive rights, equal economic opportunity, stopping violence against women and ending gender and sexual orientation discrimination,” said Shirley Ranz, the chairwoman of NOW’s local political action committee...
..Sherry Rogers, the secretary of the chapter, said that Mr. McMahon is “a political conservative who opposed choice when his vote counted in New York City Council,” adding that: “We cannot support someone who waivers in his support of our issues to placate his right-to-life constituency. They have the Republicans for that. Who will speak for women? Steve Harrison.”

Garbage

akokon — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:03:01 GMT

Have you read this editorial from the Daily News?

"Citizens Union believes that the names of elected officials appearing on garbage cans are an inappropriate form of political self-promotion. With their tax dollars, the citizens of New York pay for these garbage cans, not the elected officials who take credit for them."
..
Topping the list is Staten Island Councilman Michael McMahon, who has ordered up 84 baskets at $522 apiece. The baskets will add to the 167 he already has on the streets of his district, each bearing a plaque that reads, "Sponsored by Council Member Michael E. McMahon."