Somebody save us from "businessman politicians."

by: Adama D. Brown

Wed Jan 20, 2010 at 14:20:58 PM EST

There's plenty of examples, but the most obvious recent one is Chris Collins. At the Governor's State of the State address recently, Collins showed up and sat down in a seat being held by Assemblyman Joseph Errigo (R-Henrietta). What happens next I'll leave to the WKBW article to describe.

Assemblyman Errigo says he's never had anything against Collins before this incident. Errigo would not identify the woman involved because he says he's concerned there could be repercussions for her. Errigo tells Eyewitness News he was saving a seat for the woman but she was late, so when Collins arrived he took the seat that was being saved. When the woman eventually arrived that's when the Assemblyman says Collins made the inappropriate comment.

"She comes up the aisle and now this is a very crowded situation here and so she looked at me and said, 'I thought you were going to save me a seat,' and I said, 'Well, I told you to get here earlier,' and he (Collins) says, 'If you want this seat you have to give me a lap dance'," says Errigo.

"If you want this seat you have to give me a lap dance." Yup, that came out of the mouth of the Erie County Executive, a man who wants to be Governor. In public, to a respected--as well as, apparently, wealthy and powerful--member of the Erie County community who is well known for throwing around political contributions.

I swear to God I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

As with Collins' previous gaffe, he is fortunately being called out on it by decent members of his own party--including Errigo, who was one of a number of people to attest to how offended the woman was at the comment. Unlike Collins' previous gaffe, he's not apologizing, instead trying to describe the media accounts as having been "fictionalized." Which is a far cry from saying "No, I didn't make a completely inappropriate and public remark to this woman about a lap dance."

Collins is just the latest example of what looks increasingly like a trend: morons leaving the business world for the world of politics. First there was Bush, who apparently convinced all the idiots whose wallets outweighed their brains that they could do it too, so long as they grinned enough and had good hair. At least to his credit, Bush didn't publicly joke about getting corporate executives to strip for him. Even he wasn't that gaffe prone.

Now we've got Collins, and our other blight on the region, Chris Lee, who continues to demonstrate on a near daily basis that he's either an idiot or intellectually dishonest. I'm going to go with idiot. Not to mention incapable of math.

Somebody save us from "good ol' boys" who think that their country-club grin makes them qualified to be leaders.  

One down. Two to go.

by: Adama D. Brown

Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 15:26:11 PM EST

Fortunately, despite the ongoing propaganda efforts, the environment is still ripe to produce victories. A week ago, we proved again that even against the might of the national Republican party, and the smear machine they've brought to bear over the past year, we can continue the winning streak we've had for the last three election cycles.

We've removed 80% of the former Republican representatives from this state, electing open, accountable, and progress friendly legislators in their place.

There are now only two congressional seats left in New York held by regressives. NY-03, occupied by Peter King, whom most people here already know and despise. And NY-26, held by Chris Lee, a man with the intellectual prowess to rival of bag full of dried ferret droppings.

These two men continue to be a thorn in the side of all efforts at reform and fixing our national problems, and in my opinion they should both be prime targets in 2010. We in New York can do the same thing that our neighbors in New England did: kick the bums out. All of them.

As of today, it's 355 days until Election Day 2010. As the DFA trainers will tell you, the one thing you never have more of is time. That's why we need to start planning and preparing right now.

We in the GLOW Democratic committees recently have come into possession of some juicy material on Lee which you'll be hearing about in the future, but even so, it's going to take the combined efforts and support of people all across New York and the country if these efforts are going to have a chance.

That's why I'm asking everyone reading this to chip in, one way or another. Provide ideas. Volunteer time. Look for candidates. Contribute to the ActBlue nominee funds.

But we need to get mobilized. Healthcare reform is important, but so is insuring a healthy and growing progressive majority in Congress.  

NY-26: Looks like somebody's popularity is waning.

by: Adama D. Brown

Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 15:19:47 PM EDT

That's bad for him, since his cash on hand is now the princely sum of $390,000, minus the $250,000 worth of debt his campaign still owes from the election last year. Generally speaking, fundraising for incumbents is supposed to get better as you get closer to the election.

The list of disclosed donors is nearly as fun to look at. $1000 from Wal PAC, which is the lobbying arm of Walmart. $1000 from the American Council of Life Insurance PAC. $1000 from the American Bankers Association. $4800 from the president of Rettner Management, a "brokerage services" company in Yonkers, the president of which also donated $48,000 last year to committees supporting John McCain. $2000 from "Securities Industry & Financial Markets," a lobbying group based out of DC.

He also got $500 from the campaign of Lynn Westmoreland, a Republican congressman in Georgia. You may remember Mr. Westmoreland for his remarks calling President Obama and the First Lady "uppity," then denying he'd ever heard that term used in a racist way.

Unfortunately, OpenSecrets.org hasn't updated their numbers yet to reflect the new filings, so I can't give you an exact percentage of Lee's contributions from PACs versus individuals. I can tell you though that from looking at the donor list, it's not likely to get any better than it was last quarter, when 46% of all Lee's money to date had been gotten from PACs. Mostly PACs representing the financial industry--a whopping $90,323, about 20% of ALL his fundraising. Not surprising since he sits on the Financial Services Committee, which regulates those industries. Must be nice to have Wall Street as a piggy bank.

NY-26: It's about policy, not politics.

by: Adama D. Brown

Fri Oct 02, 2009 at 15:02:43 PM EDT

Let me make something clear: I completely understand the motivation for wanting to defend existing seats, and to avoid distractions. In some ways I even agree with it--in purely political terms there's not much to be gained from fighting over NY-26.

But to those of us who live here in the heart of the district, it's not nearly that simple.

I'm reminded of a scene out of the film Falling Down: a man being forcibly removed from a bank for having a breakdown, after being told that he is "not economically viable" for the loan he needs. The scene underscores the simple, sanitized way in which our society tells people that they're not worth saving; the disassociation between the math that dictates what is "practical" and the real world consequences.

I know that some people here consider me unreasonably obsessed about this district and this race. Let me tell you why. Every day that I drive down Main Street of my home town, I see more empty storefronts. I see small businesses that are just barely hanging on. And I know that without a change in the way that our area is represented, and a voice for our citizens that actually reflects their real needs, then one day in the not too distant future there's not going to be any future left out here.

Trying to make sure that my home has a representative worthy of it is anything but a "purely political" equation of who wins and who loses. It's about the continued survival of real people who go to work every day, and deserve more than permanent hand to mouth living for themselves and their children. It's about making sure that everyone has a voice, whether they live in a "viable" district or somewhere out here in the woods. That may not be the most politically practical thing to do. But it's the right thing to do.

NY-26: Lee Is 33rd Richest Member Of Congress

by: robert.harding

Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 13:58:39 PM EDT

Congressman Chris Lee is my representative. I don't have too many problems with Lee as a legislator. He is what I thought he would be. He votes with his party 90 percent of the time and has shown more of a willingness than his predecessor to vote on issues that more Democrats might support than Republicans (i.e. SCHIP).

But here is the thing about Lee: He isn't one of us. This district is full of working class folks. There are people here who have worked at Delphi or Kodak. Farmers can be found in every county in the district and dairy farmers are facing especially tough times.

So when CQ Politics released their list of the 50 richest members of Congress, it didn't shock me that Lee's name appeared on the list.

Lee ranks 33rd among members of Congress (and 19th in the House of Representatives) in terms of wealth. According to the CQ chart, Lee's minimum net worth (MNW) was $7.39 million for 2008. In 2007, it was $11.21 million.

Apparently, there is one thing that Lee has in common with the rest of us: He's losing money. But at least he has the "option" of getting health insurance via his government job.

Why is this an issue? Recently, Lee sat down with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Eric Massa for a hearing on the dairy market. Those who were in the room, both Democrats AND Republicans, were impressed with how Gillibrand and Massa handled it. However, they weren't too impressed with Lee. They didn't see him as someone who could relate with the problems that farmers face nor did they see him as someone who knew a lot about those problems.

It does help, however, that Gillibrand and Massa sit on the Agriculture Committee in their respective chambers.

Not all of us here in NY-26 are millionaires. Not all of us can say that we have a net worth of over $7 million. It would be nice to be represented by someone who can relate more with the middle class than someone who can relate more with the wealthy. It would be nice to see someone who can relate more with those in coach than those in first class. It would be nice to see someone who can relate more with those working the assembly lines than those in the top offices at corporate headquarters.

I know people have started to dismiss NY-26 as a throw-away because in 2012, it is possible that our district could be, well, thrown away. But I am not taking this election lightly. We would be running against someone who has served only one term. Now is the best time to challenge Lee. It might be the difference between NY-26 being broken apart and distributed in different parts to other districts or actually being able to keep much of the district in tact.

That wouldn't be a bad thing, especially if a Democrat is representing it.

One year out.

by: Adama D. Brown

Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 00:42:19 AM EDT

I realized tonight that by the time you read this, it'll be one year to the day since the 2008 congressional primary, here in the New York 26th District. For all those of us who were involved in it, a pretty bitter anniversary, as I'm sure most of you are aware, and one that some around here (myself included) still grumble and curse at.

But the good thing is that elections come around pretty regularly. Being just a year out from our last disaster, we're also just shy of a year out from our next big chance to make things right.

Somebody asked me the other day why I want to strangle Chris Lee with his own necktie. Believe it or not, it's not entirely for partisan reasons. Yes, he's a Republican and I'm decidedly not. But that's not enough to put me in a froth like this.

It's simple, I told her: he's a walking hairdo. A stuffed shirt, an empty suit, a heartbreakingly vapid excuse for a legislator, the kind of man who throws a bone to decency by voting in favor of reauthorizing SCHIP, while voting against the deficit neutral Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Trumpeting fiscal responsibility while spending $22,500 on sending his constituents a mailer riddled with lies about healthcare.

Any regular reader here knows the man's record: He's got little traction or clout in Congress, so he's reduced to renaming post offices and reciting talking points on anything of substance, because he either can't or won't work with Democrats for the common good. He's a waste of a representative, at a time when our area desperately needs someone in congress to really fight for us and for fixing our local economy.

I'm sure that the suburbs are a bit better off, but out here in the middle of nowhere, the towns are slowly dying. Businesses are folding, people who can afford to are moving away, and those who can't are passing on their poverty to their children and grandchildren. Without somebody in office who's willing to do the right thing, in twenty years most of the small towns out here will simply be ruins.

The reason some of us are so serious about this is simple: we're fighting for the survival of our communities. We can't afford more of the same.  

If that's "business sense," no wonder you sold the company to the Chinese.

by: Adama D. Brown

Wed Sep 02, 2009 at 17:56:18 PM EDT

In the September 3rd edition of the Livingston County News, Congressman Chris Lee gave an extensive interview in which he claimed that his opposition to universal healthcare was based on "business experience." Rarely, however, have I seen a less practical and businesslike argument than the one Congressman Lee makes.

He says that "government isn't up to the task" of managing a health insurance plan, but he seems to forget that the government already manages half a dozen such plans: Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration hospitals, the Military Health System, SCHIP (which he should remember, since he voted in favor of it), and we must not forget the government-sponsored healthcare that he and all the other members of Congress get.

Indeed, Medicare is considered one of the most efficiently run healthcare systems in the world. Although the Congressman claims, according to the article, that "Private industry, with its drive to control costs and seek efficiencies, will always do a better job," what he doesn't mention is that they "control costs" is by denying all but the most basic healthcare needs even to the people who actually have insurance. And "efficient" is a word which anyone who's looked at the math would never use about health care in this country. Health insurance companies take 20 cents out of every dollar you pay them in profit, and another 30 cents for "overhead," the cost of the bureaucrats you fight with on the phone to get your medical bills paid. All that means that for every dollar you give to your insurance company, only half goes to actual medical treatment.

The government run Medicare system, on the other hand, takes three cents out of every dollar for overhead, and nothing at all for profit. Three percent of money "wasted" by government versus 50% by the insurance conglomerates. You don't need an MBA to know which is more efficient and the better deal. I'm willing to bet that any local businessman, offered the opportunity to cut healthcare costs for himself and his employees in half, would jump on it because that's just good sense.

Mr. Lee does get some things right: for instance, that the U.S. spends twice as much per capita as other countries spend on health care. And yet he completely ignores the big difference between how the US handles health insurance and the way other countries do. Canada has a public system which guarantees quality healthcare for all it's citizens, while not preventing anyone from having private insurance if they want it. In fact, the US is the only industrialized country that doesn't have universal healthcare--and we're also the only industrialized country where health insurance is so unaffordable, and insurance companies are allowed to treat their customers so badly: overcharging the healthy, rejecting the sick or injured, and dropping you from coverage the minute you start to actually need it. Even those who are happy with their insurance have to ask themselves, if I get sick, is my insurance company really going to pay up?

If Congressman Lee really thinks that government would botch a public health insurance option, here's my advice to him: don't use it. The proposed system is entirely volunteer, and no one who doesn't want to use it ever even needs to know it's there. Of course, Mr. Lee's stance is a bit odd considering that he himself has government funded healthcare as a member of Congress. If he's so confident that private companies can do better, why doesn't he reject his government coverage and buy privately?

Instead of addressing the real problems with the cost of healthcare, or the $4600 per person per year that's being skimmed off the top by the insurance industry, Mr. Lee is nibbling around the edges of the issue, like a man rearranging the living room furniture while the house is burning down. He'd rather talk about tort reform, which experts agree is less than 1% of the cost of healthcare, while giving a free pass to the big insurance conglomerates who broke the system in the first place. If this is Mr. Lee's business sense, no wonder he made his fortune from the sale of his father's company, International Motion Control, to the Chinese.

Whoever took six months in the betting pool, you win. Citizens of NY-26? We lose.

by: Adama D. Brown

Sun Aug 09, 2009 at 16:48:36 PM EDT

In the last month Lee has been on the attack over energy, cap and trade, and healthcare, just to name a few. The good news is, he's getting called on some of it.

Today there's an interesting article in the Buffalo News which mentions him and his recent $22,500 taxpayer-funded scare-tactic flyer. From the article:

Speaking of extreme stuff, residents of New York's 26th congressional district got some in their mailbox the week of July 27.

Paid for by taxpayers at a cost of $22,500, the "Special Report from Congressman Chris Lee" includes several dire claims about the Democratic health proposals.

Most notably, the newsletter said Lee, R-Clarence, is working to stop "a government takeover" of health care that would "create a government-run, taxpayer-funded health care plan that independent analysts say would result in as many as 120 million Americans losing their current coverage."

Lee's office attributed that figure to a study conducted by the Lewin Group, which said that if a new government-run health care plan were widely available, 131.2 million would join it ... including 119.1 million people who would switch over from a private health plan.

On in simpler terms, that 120 million Americans would be getting better health coverage, at cheaper prices. But that's only scary if you're an insurance conglomerate executive... or one of their paid lapdogs in Congress... so they have to lie about it.

In truth, one would expect that any congressman really representing our area would recognize the value of a public option. What's being discussed is very much akin to Medicare, and virtually everyone out here knows the value of Medicare.

Not that Chris Lee's in any danger of finding that out, of course: besides being a millionaire with government-paid health insurance already, he's taken the congressional recess as an opportunity to flee the country rather than listen to his consituents. He's on a special-interest funded junket in Israel, where his group is undermining the foreign policy of the last two administrations.

NY-26: Chris Lee's "Rally the base" tour of dishonesty continues.

by: Adama D. Brown

Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 15:12:42 PM EDT

I'm writing in response to Congressman Chris Lee's recent letter on healthcare, which I found riddled with political double-speak. The healthcare reform debate is hardly a "rush" as Mr. Lee suggests. We've been discussing universal healthcare for almost 100 years, and other countries have long since gone ahead with it. The facts are the facts; the only question is, what are we going to do about it?

There is no reason to continue dragging our feet in favor of the status quo. The American public is currently paying $2.5 trillion dollars a year for healthcare that only costs $900 billion to provide. That's what I call a swindle, and the vast majority of that money is being used to line the pockets of insurance company executives and the bureaucrats who are charged with making sure you get as little healthcare as possible. Contrary to what insurance lobbyists will tell you, Americans are less healthy than people in other countries that have universal healthcare, and we pay more for what we do get. We need to demand fair value for our money.

Mr. Lee, instead of being accurate about the various reform proposals, has decided to try and scare people with claims of increased costs and "government" control of healthcare decisions. This is simply false. Under a public health insurance option, treatment decisions would be made by doctors instead of the big insurance conglomerates that make them right now. The system is similar to Medicare, which has proven to be one of the most efficient and inexpensive healthcare systems in the world. The idea that we can trust the government to take care of our parents and seniors--as well as to control an arsenal of 6,000 nuclear weapons--but we can't trust them to administer an insurance plan for the rest of us is so absurd it's almost laughable.

Congressman Lee's preferred solution, on the other hand, seems to me like re-decorating the living room while the house is burning down. He suggests computerized medical records and billing transparency, while leaving in charge of the system the same wealthy executives who have made an art out of billion dollar profits at the expense of gouging the sick and injured. That's not reform. I encourage everyone to learn about the healthcare reform proposals themselves, and not let scare tactics result in the insurance industry continuing to steal us blind.

Adama D. Brown
Warsaw, NY

The Zombie Energy Plan, Part Two.

by: Adama

Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 10:07:34 AM EDT

Now, let's have a look at what Lee did see fit to talk up. What follows are a few excerpts from the "plan summary" on Lee's official website, along with my comments.  

The George Bush/Chris Lee Energy Plan.

by: Adama

Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 15:15:59 PM EDT

Of course, Lee doesn't admit to any of that on his website, not even the fact that this is a rehash of the same old game. He's out there pushing it as his own, right down to using the same "all of the above" talking point that the GOP sent out with the folders.

If it sounds like "more of the same" would have been a better description, you're not wrong. In fact, the "new" plan is the same one that the Republicans were pushing last year, written by Indiana Congressman Mike Pence: a prominent science denier, and a supporter of the Bush energy plan that gave free ride to strip-miners and oil companies. Even the central theme of their "clean energy" ideas are unchanged from a year ago--drill for more oil off the US coast, drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, give more sweetheart deals to big oil, and assume that it'll work out as well as the deals which gave us $4 a gallon gas.

And when that doesn't work, start strip-mining our national parks for oil shale, even though it's known to poison the air and water.

In fact, somebody did a study and determined that this sort of pro-conglomerate energy plan, when it was used by the Bush administration, ended up costing the average American household an extra $1,100 a year in energy costs: $170 for electricity and $960 for gas. I for one don't have that kind of cash laying around, particularly since the Bush economic plan (which Chris Lee also believes in) cost me my last job. I can't afford more of the system Chris Lee supports.

Indeed, you'd be hard pressed to name the difference between the Lee/Republicans "American Energy Act" and the Bush administration's energy policy. Token words directed at clean energy and green jobs, while funneling taxpayer dollars into the maw of big oil and coal companies. Unless it's the fact that the Bush administration's policy almost looks good in comparison to the even more extreme version that Lee and company are pushing.

Tomorrow I'll dissect some of the public statements on Chris Lee's website, and see how they stack up to the facts.

Act Blue NY-26 Democratic Nominee Fund

Send Chris Lee and the Buffalo News a message.

by: Adama

Tue May 19, 2009 at 10:16:03 AM EDT

The problem with this article is that if you delve in past Lee's public facade, his "moderation" vanishes in a puff of smoke. Though he broke with the party on the high-profile issues of SCHIP and stem cell research, in every other area he has towed the party line. Whether that involved opposing any kind of economic recovery plan, or trying to stop the President's budget, or voting against fair pay for women, Lee has been a loyal soldier of the right, breaking only on the issues he needs to paint himself up for reelection.

Unfortunately, it's hard to push back against the impressions that are created when a newspaper practically puts their stamp of approval on a candidate. Particularly if, as in this case, you don't have an equally high profile way to deliver that message.

That's where the grassroots come in. I'm asking everyone who reads this to take a few minutes out and write a brief letter to the editor, then send it to LetterToEditor@buffnews.com with your name and phone number. Make your opinion known, and show Chris Lee that he can't have it both ways.

Congratulations, Congressman, on completely missing the point.

by: Adama

Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 13:37:22 PM EST

Freshman Rep. Chris Lee, one of only three Republicans left in New York's congressional delegation, said he opposed the stimulus package because it didn't include enough tax cuts for small businesses.

"It's important that the president sets the right tone with regard to the economy," Lee said. "Unfortunately, his hope was that the stimulus bill would have a positive effect on the stock market. But it hasn't."

NY-26: Chris Lee skips the stimulus vote

by: Exile on Ericsson St.

Fri Feb 13, 2009 at 14:50:08 PM EST

You can see the roll call here.  He was one of only two Republicans to skip the vote.  No Republicans voted for it.  

Update: This is probably related to the plane crash, which took place only two miles from Lee's home.    

If only common sense were more common, part 1 of infinity.

by: Adama

Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 14:51:50 PM EST

Last year, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act in response to the erosion of product-safety regulations that let toxic toys made in China onto shelves in the US.

The CPSIA required that any product intended primarily for children under 12 be tested for lead contamination and other dangerous chemicals, as well as gradually reducing the legal limit for lead from 600 parts per million to 100 ppm. Everyone loves safer toys, right?

NY-Sen: Reaction To Kirsten Gillibrand Being Named U.S. Senator

by: robert.harding

Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 12:59:51 PM EST

So far, some individuals and groups have issued statements about Gillibrand's appointment. There seems to be mostly positive reaction to Gillibrand's appointment.

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith:

"Today's appointment of Kirsten Gillibrand by Governor Paterson to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is a shining example of our democratic process at work.

I applaud Governor Paterson for being deliberate and thoughtful throughout this process. In his appointment of Kirsten Gillibrand to the U.S. Senate, Governor Paterson has made the right choice for New York's future. Throughout her career, Kirsten Gillibrand has exhibited the kind of leadership that has yielded results for the people in her district and the state of New York. She understands that the hard-working men and women of this state deserve tax relief, quality and affordable health care and every chance to receive the best educational opportunities for their children.

Her agenda to advance economic development opportunities and revitalize our communities is the kind of vision we need in Washington fighting for us. I have no doubt she will deliver for the people of this state and ensure that New York receives its fair share of the federal stimulus package. I look forward to partnering with her, as well as Senator Schumer, Governor Paterson and other legislative leaders as we work to get New York and the nation back on track."

Congressman Dan Maffei:

"It is an exciting day for all of New York to have Kirsten Gillibrand poised to be our next Senator. Kirsten has experience with many of the most critical issues in our State, from veterans and armed services affairs to government transparency, and she will bring a fresh voice to the Senate as she continues to fight for increased government accountability. She will be a partner in the Senate that all of the New York Congressional delegation can work with, and I personally am excited to work with a friend and colleague who has represented an Upstate district that faces many of the same challenges we do in Central New York and throughout the 25th district."

Congressman Chris Lee:

"Hillary Clinton has provided eight years of distinguished service as New York's junior senator. I know my constituents join me in wishing Secretary Clinton well.

"I am pleased that Gov. Paterson has selected a successor to Secretary Clinton from the upstate congressional caucus. Congresswoman Gillibrand understands the perilous state of Western New York's economy, and I look forward to working with her to forge swift, bipartisan action that will create jobs and ease the strain on middle-class families."

More reaction below the fold, including statements from NARAL Pro-Choice New York and Progressive New York.  

It's going to be a LONG time until the mid-terms.

by: Adama

Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 15:23:48 PM EST

I'm referring, of course, to Chris Lee, who gave an interview to the Batavia Daily news that you could find under the encyclopedia article for "cognitive dissonance."

More On Chris Lee And His Financial Services Committee Appointment

by: robert.harding

Tue Jan 13, 2009 at 14:06:06 PM EST

In a guest essay for the Democrat and Chronicle, Lee discussed his appointment to the committee:

This week, I learned that I will work on the front lines for these much-needed reforms as a member of the Financial Services Committee. I fought to serve on this panel because it oversees the very institutions - including the Treasury Department and housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - that failed to live up to their responsibilities. I plan to use this important role to change how Washington does business and reform the financial industry once and for all.

Forget about what Lee said during the campaign (getting government out of the way) for a second. Read what he wrote and then ask yourself this question: How does his appointment to the committee help the people of the 26th congressional district? In the guest essay at least, he does not tell us.

The thing about his appointment to the committee is that, because it is the Financial Services Committee, that will be the only committee Lee sits on. That means he won't be able to serve on another committee, like the Agriculture Committee.

There are some people (including plenty of Democrats) who are willing to give Chris Lee a shot. They want to see how he will differ from Tom Reynolds (his predecessor and the man who endorsed Lee to replace him). I won't give Chris Lee a shot. It might not sound fair, but considering this guy was hammering Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats from the get-go, I don't see anything different from Lee. He will be a younger version of his predecessor. That can't be disputed.

It is in the spirit of "keeping them honest" that I created Chris Lee Watch. I will set up a separate domain for Chris Lee Watch and make it look more exciting than it is right now. I have asked a couple of GLOW people to join me to keep Chris Lee Watch up and running. At first, you might see occasional posts. But as it grows, you will see Chris Lee Watch grow and be your one-stop shop for everything Chris Lee.

Because Lee is in the minority, we'll keep an eye on how hard he is working for the 26th congressional district. We will also watch to see if he puts politics above his district, which is likely.

Rural Democrats Respond to Congressman Lee's First Week in Office

by: Historical Pessimist

Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 12:53:00 PM EST

++++++++++++++++

Chris Lee Has Homosexual Appeal

by: robert.harding

Tue Dec 30, 2008 at 16:42:19 PM EST

Among the winners, my newly elected representative and conservative Republican Chris Lee.

This is what Fey Friends had to say about Lee:

Yes, we are totes BIPARTISAN and included some Republicans on the list! Chris Lee was elected to the House from the lovely Buffalo area. Before running for office, Lee was fired from a former employer for illegally hacking into company computers for personal financial benefit. He's also hot... and rich!

A female friend of mine who is very involved in politics once referred to Lee as "preppy." So this isn't the first time I have heard of Lee as having sex appeal.

Unfortunately for Lee, that's all he has. He will be a poor representative for our district and will just be two more years of Tom Reynolds.