Roosevelt Strategy Group Blog | Anthony Manetta

Interactive Map from Newsday | How Long Island Voted

2010-11-27T13:14:00.003-05:00

Newsday has a great feature on how Long Island voted in the 2010 campaigns. It's worth taking a look. You can see that there was a decent amount of ticket splitting across many races in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

http://www.newsday.com/how-long-island-voted-1.2417655?raceID=8

RSG is nominated for the second year in a row. 'Best Public Relations Firm'.

2010-11-10T19:23:00.002-05:00

Please vote for Roosevelt Strategy Group under the category best public relations firm.

http://bestof.longislandpress.com/vote/

Thank you Long Islanders and the Long Island Press for this recognition!

Sabato's Crystal Ball: Using the Generic Ballot to Forecast Gubernatorial Elections

2010-08-18T14:07:00.002-04:00

Here's an interesting article from Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball - enjoy.

Using the Generic Ballot to Forecast Gubernatorial Elections

Alan I. Abramowitz, Senior Columnist
August 12th, 2010

Governors are key players in the American federal system. In addition to administering complex bureaucratic organizations with vital responsibilities and multi-billion dollar budgets, they are expected to propose their own legislative programs, work closely with their state’s congressional delegation, communicate their goals to the public, and lead their state parties in elections. Moreover, in recent years the nation’s statehouses have frequently served as launching pads for presidential campaigns. Four of the last six presidents served as governors before moving on to the White House and several of the leading contenders for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination are current or former governors.

Given the vital role of governors in American politics, it is somewhat surprising that political scientists have paid scant attention to gubernatorial elections. While there is a vast literature on congressional elections, only a handful of studies have focused on gubernatorial elections, perhaps because they appear to be so idiosyncratic—shaped by local candidates and issues. But appearances can be deceiving. I present evidence in this article that gubernatorial elections are strongly influenced by national political tides and that their outcomes can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy by the same factors that predict the outcomes of congressional elections.
Since the end of World War II there have been dramatic changes in the frequency and timing of gubernatorial elections. During the late 1940s, 22 of the 48 states elected their governors every two years and about as many gubernatorial elections took place in presidential election years as in midterm election years. Over time, however, there has been a shift from two-year to four-year terms for governors with the large majority of gubernatorial elections taking place in midterm election years. Today only Vermont and New Hampshire continue to elect their governors every two years, 34 states elect them in midterm election years only, 11 states elect them in presidential election years only, and 5 states—Virginia, New Jersey, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kentucky—elect them in odd-numbered years.

As Larry Sabato documented in Goodbye to Good-Time Charlie, his pathbreaking 1978 book on the postwar transformation of the American governorship, the decision to hold gubernatorial and other statewide elections in midterm years was intended to insulate these contests from the potentially destabilizing effects of presidential coattails and other national political forces. However, the evidence in Figure 1 suggests that this effort has not been successful. This graph displays the change in the number of Republican governors in the 16 midterm elections between 1946 and 2006. The results show that despite the shift in the timing of gubernatorial elections, these contests have continued to be affected by national political tides. There have been dramatic swings in the outcomes of these elections with Republicans gaining as many as 10 statehouses and losing as many as 12 in a single year.

Figure 1. Net Change in Republican Governors in Midterm Elections, 1946-2006

Source: Congressional Quarterly’s Guide to U.S. Elections

Just as with seats in Congress, there is a strong tendency for the president’s party to lose governorships in midterm elections. Republicans gained governorships in 6 of 8 midterms under Democratic presidents and lost governorships in 7 of 8 midterms under Republican presidents. In general, the results of these gubernatorial elections corresponded fairly closely to the results of the U.S. House elections held at the same time—the correlation between the change in Republican governors and the change in Republican House seats is a strong .74, which is quite impressive considering the relatively small number of gubernatorial elections.

The results in Figure 1 suggest that gubernatorial elections are affected by the same national political forces that affect congressional elections. In order to test this hypothesis, I conducted a regression analysis of gubernatorial election results for the 16 midterms since the end of World War II. The dependent variable in this analysis is the change in the number of Republican governors in the election. The independent variables are the number of Republican seats up for election, to measure exposure to risk, the party of the president, coded as 1 for Republican presidents and -1 for Democratic presidents, and the Republican lead or deficit on the Gallup generic ballot question in early September, to measure the national political climate. The results of the regression analysis are displayed in Table 1.

Table 1. Results of Regression Analysis of Gubernatorial Seat Change in Midterm Elections, 1946-2006

Source: Congressional Quarterly’s Guide to U.S. Elections
Note: Dependent variable is change in number of Republican governors

These results clearly support our hypothesis: the outcomes of gubernatorial elections are strongly influenced by national political forces. All three predictors have strong and statistically significant effects. The variable with the largest influence on seat swings in gubernatorial elections is exposure to risk: the number of seats Republicans hold going into the election. The more seats Republicans hold, the more seats they can expect to lose or the fewer seats they can expect to gain. In addition, the party of the president has a substantial effect. Republicans can expect to gain about 3 seats in midterms held under Democratic presidents and lose about 3 seats in midterms held under Republican presidents after controlling for the effects of the other predictors. Finally, the national political climate, as measured by the Republican lead or deficit on the Gallup generic ballot question, has a significant effect on the outcomes of gubernatorial elections. A 10 point swing in margin, such as going from a 5 point deficit to a 5 point lead, would be expected to produce a net shift of about 2 gubernatorial seats.

The 2010 Forecast
We can use the results in Table 1 to forecast the outcome of the 2010 gubernatorial elections. The values of two of the three predictors in the model are already known: there is a Democratic president and Republicans currently hold 17 of the 37 governorships up for election this year. Only the result of the early September Gallup generic ballot question is not yet known. Therefore, Table 2 displays conditional forecasts of Republican seat gains depending on the generic ballot result.

Table 2. Predicted Results of 2010 Gubernatorial Elections based on Early September Generic Ballot

Source: Congressional Quarterly’s Guide to U.S. Elections and data compiled by author

The data in Table 2 indicate that Republicans are likely to gain between 4 and 7 governorships in this year’s elections. Since they currently control 23 statehouses, this would leave them with between 27 and 30 governorships. Since the Gallup generic ballot question has been averaging close to a tie over the past few months, the most likely outcome at this point would appear to be a Republican gain of 5 governorships which would give the GOP control of 28 of the nation’s 50 statehouses.

RSG, Finalist as "Best" Public Relations Firm on Long Island for 2009

2010-08-16T15:35:00.002-04:00

Let's match it again for 2010!

Roosevelt Strategy Group has been working diligently for our clients since 2001, let's keep the momentum going, please nominate today;

http://longisland.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=18983

Connect with RSG on Facebook

2010-07-08T01:33:00.002-04:00

Click here to connect with Roosevelt Strategy Group on Facebook - Thanks

Interesting Article: Is 2010 like 1994?

2010-06-18T13:45:00.002-04:00

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/aia2010061701/

A Free Speech Landmark

2010-01-25T22:20:00.004-05:00

Freedom has had its best week in many years. On Tuesday, Massachusetts put a Senate check on a reckless Congress, and yesterday the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision supporting free political speech by overturning some of Congress's more intrusive limits on election spending.

In a season of marauding government, the Constitution rides to the rescue one more time.
Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote yesterday's 5-4 majority opinion in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which considered whether the government could ban a 90-minute documentary called "Hillary: the Movie" that was set to run on cable channels during the 2008 Presidential campaign. Because it was funded by an incorporated group and was less than complimentary of then-Senator Hillary Clinton, the film became a target of campaign-finance limits.

The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Finance Act, aka McCain-Feingold, banned corporations and unions from "electioneering communications" within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election. Yesterday, the Justices rejected that limit on corporate spending as unconstitutional. Corporations are entitled to the same right that individuals have to spend money on political speech for or against a candidate.

Justice Kennedy emphasized that laws designed to control money in politics often bleed into censorship, and that this violates core First Amendment principles. "Because speech is an essential mechanism of democracy—it is the means to hold officials accountable to the people—political speech must prevail against laws that would suppress it by design or inadvertence," he wrote. The ban on corporate expenditures had a "substantial, nationwide chilling effect" on political speech, he added.

In last year's oral argument for Citizen's United, the Court got a preview of how far a ban on corporate-funded speech could reach. Deputy Solicitor General Malcolm Stewart explained that, under McCain-Feingold, the government had the authority to "prohibit the publication" of corporate-funded books that called for the election or defeat of a candidate.

That was a shock and awe moment at the Court, as it also should have been to a Washington press corps that has too often been a cheerleader for campaign-spending limits. Mr. Stewart was telling a truth already familiar to campaign-finance lawyers and the speech police at the Federal Election Commission. Former FEC Commissioner Hans von Spakovsky recalled yesterday that in 2004 the agency investigated whether a book written by George Soros critical of George W. Bush violated campaign laws. Liberals as much as conservatives should worry about laws that allow such investigations.

The Court's opinion is especially effective in dismantling McCain-Feingold's arbitrary exemption for media corporations. Thus a corporation that owns a newspaper—News Corp. or the New York Times—retains its First Amendment right to speak freely. "At the same time, some other corporation, with an identical business interest but no media outlet in its ownership structure, would be forbidden to speak or inform the public about the same issue," wrote Justice Kennedy. "This differential treatment cannot be squared with the First Amendment."

For instruction and sheer entertainment, we also recommend Justice Antonin Scalia's concurring opinion that demolishes Justice John Paul Stevens's argument in dissent that corporations lack free speech rights because the Founding Fathers disliked them. "If so, how came there to be so many of them?" Mr. Scalia writes, in one of his gentler lines.

The landmark decision—which overturned two Supreme Court precedents—has already sent the censoring political class into orbit. President Obama was especially un-Presidential yesterday, putting on his new populist facade to call it "a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies" and other "special interests." Mr. Obama didn't mention his union friends as one of those interests, but their political spending will also be protected by the logic of this ruling. The reality is that free speech is no one's special interest.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer vowed to hold hearings, and the Naderite Public Citizen lobby is already calling for a constitutional amendment that bans free speech for "for-profit corporations." Liberalism's bullying tendencies are never more on display than when its denizens are at war with the speech rights of its opponents.

Perhaps one day the Court will go even further and overturn Buckley v. Valeo, the 1976 decision that was its original sin in tolerating limits on campaign spending. The Court did yesterday uphold disclosure rules, so a sensible step now would be for Congress to remove all campaign-finance limits subject only to immediate disclosure on the Internet. Citizens United is in any event a bracing declaration that Congress's long and misbegotten campaign-finance crusade has reached a Constitutional dead end.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703699204575016843479815072.html

Newsday | NY fallout as Scott Brown wins Mass. Senate race

2010-01-20T00:48:00.003-05:00

NY fallout as Scott Brown wins Mass. Senate race

43 m ago By Dan Janison, Newsday, Tuesday January 19th.

The Republican Scott Brown won the Massacussetts Senate seat vacated with the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy -- dealing a clear blow to President Barack Obama in his role as national party boss.

From Sen. Charles Schumer, Democrat, whose partisan listen-up contrition is interesting:

“The country is speaking to us, and we will hear them in the agenda we pursue over the next year. Our focus must be on jobs, the economy and delivering for the middle class.”

From Anthony Manetta, who heads the Roosevelt Strategy Group in Babylon, which advises political campaigns:

"The Republican current that started with the Gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey, then making a stop over in Nassau County with Ed Mangano's win, is not only continuing but still gaining momentum as evident in Massachusetts. The Republican voter seems to not only be voting Republican again, but voting with ferocity."

This analysis by Gerald Seib in the Wall Street Journal is worth a look for the survey information it includes.

From the newspaper's edition earlier today:

"The Democratic party's problems, crystallized in the last-ditch scramble to save Ted Kennedy's Massachusetts Senate seat in a special election Tuesday, can be traced to a simple mistake: Many in the party misread voters' desire to switch parties in recent years as an ideological shift to the left."

"In fact, there is little sign that Americans' ideological tendencies changed much at all, even as voters gave control of Congress to Democrats in 2006 and handed President Barack Obama and the rest of his party a massive victory in 2008. Ideologically, the country remained throughout this period what it was at the outset: a center to center-right nation."

RSG brings on Fortune 100 Sales Pro Berkeley Swezey

2010-01-11T22:53:00.003-05:00

Roosevelt Strategy Group is proud to announce that Berk Swezey has joined the RSG team

Berkeley Swezey is an accomplished corporate executive whose talents have earned him a reputation as an industry leader for over forty years in sales and organizational management.

Mr. Swezey has an extensive background in corporate sales and finance having held high profile positions with a number of top companies in including IBM, Erisco and FISERV, this is in addition to helping start-up companies grow from the ground up. Berkeley has owned his own insurance agency and is one of the founders of Swezey Commercial Real Estate.

While employed by IBM in the area of sales and sales management, Berk specialized in selling financial hardware and software systems to Wall Street brokerage houses and other financial institutions throughout the country, eventually focusing his efforts on Credit Unions Nationwide. Swezey, well known for successful seminar sales, set National sales records that have not been broken to date. In addition, during his tenure as a member of their Headquarters Staff Support, he was instrumental in creating and managing National sales contest, training programs and customer service conferences attended by 30 to 40 financial institutions and their 500-600 employees.

After IBM Berkeley joined as one of the 13 stockholders of the then privately held company Erisco Incorporated, a leading provider of employee benefits software to Fortune 1000 companies. Berkeley was responsible for managing the National sales effort that resulted in Erisco’s gross revenue increasing from $2 million to $24 million dollars in five years. He also established a customer service department and developed and instituted customer service programs that increased customer satisfaction from 8% to 94% within the first 10 months of its inception. In addition he hired and trained the sales force, established and produced a workshop series and seminars for Fortune 1000 prospects, and managed the integration of major financial institutions. Berkeley’s efforts were a driving factor in Dun & Bradstreets acquisition of Erisco.

A graduate of Colgate University, Mr. Swezey subsequently attended St. John’s School of Law. He served his country for two years earning an honorable discharge from the army and the community in various capacities, including tenure on the Village of Freeport Board of Trustees. Berkeley Swezey is married with three grown children and resides in Babylon New York.

Mr. Swezey's work will be centered on improving the sales and customer service operations for RSG's management consulting clients.

Winners

2010-01-07T12:46:00.000-05:00

RSG wishes to congratulate our firm's winners during the 2009 Election Cycle. RSG provided general strategy, direct mail, creative media and get out the vote consulting for multiple campaigns.

Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco 2009 Radio Ad

2009-10-27T16:15:00.001-04:00

Radio Ad for the 2009 Re-Election Campaign
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN5SuDb5je8

New York Rep. Bishop Still Favored, But Not Safe

2009-08-20T00:36:00.003-04:00

CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS Aug. 19, 2009 – 6:04 p.m.

By Emily Cadei, CQ Staff

Timothy H. Bishop , a four-term House Democrat from New York, hasn’t faced any particularly tough challenges since his close initial House race in 2002 — even though he describes himself as a “left-of-center guy” in an eastern Long Island district that’s “decidedly right of center.”
But it appears that his run of easy re-election wins in the 1st District, over inexperienced Republican competition, is going to end in 2010. He faces an energized Republican party base and a challenge by wealthy Republican entrepreneur Randy Altschuler, who formally launched his campaign Aug. 12 and has the capacity to self-fund.

Reflecting the potential for a competitive contest between Bishop and Altschuler, CQ Politics has shifted its rating on the race to Democrat Favored from Safe Democratic.

The Democrat Favored rating means 1st District voters still are considered very likely to re-elect Bishop, who took 50 percent of the vote in 2002 to unseat one-term Republican Rep. Felix J. Grucci Jr., then won his subsequent races with 56 percent in 2004, 62 percent in 2006 and 58 percent in 2008. But CQ Politics no longer deems the race as “safe,” or virtually certain to send Bishop back to Congress for a fifth term.

“I think it’s going to be a more competitive race than it has been,” said Chad Lupinacci, an assistant professor in political science at Hofstra University, located not far from the 1st District in Hempstead.

The Democratic Committee in Suffolk County, which includes the 1st District, has moved quickly to portray Altschuler as an “outsourcing pioneer” who has contributed to a loss of American jobs. Altschuler rejects that label and points to the businesses he has built that have created many jobs in the country.

“I have built several successful businesses from the ground up and I am proud that I have created hundreds of jobs across the United States,” he said in a written statement to CQ Politics.
Creating jobs and lowering taxes are the two key concerns in the district, according to local political observers. And Lupinacci said there has been a shifting political climate in the district, noting growing unrest in the area over the state of the economy.

Conservative grass-roots activity has spiked locally in response to a rising unemployment in Long Island’s suburbs of New York City — up to 7.5 percent in June — and the increase in government spending that has occurred since President Obama took office in January. A grim-looking Bishop found himself parrying with visibly angry residents at a testy town hall meeting in June, and video of the event quickly became a YouTube sensation.

Altschuler hopes to capitalize on the changing mood and the traditionally Republican nature of the district, which narrowly backed Obama in 2008. His campaign is focused on appealing to the district's fiscally conservative tendencies and playing up his business background as the founder of start-up companies OfficeTiger and CloudBlue.

And Republicans have signaled they intend to attack Bishop as too liberal for the district. A Congressional Quarterly “party unity” study showed he sided with most Democrats against most Republicans on 99 percent of House votes that broke mainly along party lines in 2008.
But painting Bishop as out of touch is easier said than done, cautions Anthony Manetta, a Long Island-based political consultant, who said that despite his voting record, Bishop has been able to “separate himself as more of an independent Democrat on some level.” Manetta added that Bishop “brings home a lot of money and a lot of projects, and his office has strong constituent affairs.”

As a result, said Manetta, the local constituencies who receive those funds “might view him a little differently than they view the national party.”

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko, a Democrat, said Bishop has done a “wonderful job” delivering money to the district from the federal stimulus package (PL 111-5). In fact, a list of the certified stimulus projects, available from the New York state government. shows Suffolk ranks among the top counties in stimulus funds received.

In particular, Lesko lauded Bishop, a former college provost, for obtaining stimulus money “that plugged a gap in the state aid for education.” If not for that, “you would have had literally hundreds if not thousands of teachers laid off on Long Island,” he said.

Lesko also dismissed the populist rage on the right as reflective of “a small but vocal element” in the district. Lesko, who is campaigning for re-election to his local office this year, said his interactions with voters in Brookhaven — the most populous town in the district — have convinced him that the protesters’ arguments are “not resonating with normal voters.”

And Democrats are already going after Altschuler, noting he only recently moved to the district, and painting his business expertise as one of exporting rather than creating jobs.

The blast from the Suffolk County Democrats claimed he “made his fortune as the founder and co-CEO of a company that specialized in replacing American jobs with Indian workers,” a reference to business services firm OfficeTiger, which Altschuler sold in 2006.

Technically, OfficeTiger did not outsource jobs because it did not eliminate U.S. jobs and move them overseas. But it did employ thousands of workers in Chennai, India, to supply business services to U.S. companies.

However, a laudatory 2006 article on the India-based Web site Rediff News described how Altschuler and co-president Joseph Sigelman had just sold the start-up to R.R. Donnelly and Sons for $250 million. According to the article, “The story of the two young men chucking their high-paying jobs” in the financial sector “to enter the outsourcing arena, from India, has become a legend now.”

Local observers say the debate over who is better situated to create jobs is likely to be central to the 2010 race, but the deciding factor will be political climate, both in the state and nationally.
Republicans are optimistic that GOP wins in local elections on Long Island in 2009 will provide a surge of momentum for Altschuler’s challenge the following year.

Democrats, however, predict the economy will gradually recover from the depths of the recession and will help turn the tide for them in 2010.

“This is a big transition time,” said Will Jenkins, Bishop’s communications director. “We’re coming out of some years that have been really difficult.” But, he added, “By the time the campaign gets under way, I think we’ll be in a different place.”

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003192856&cpage=1

RSG Launches New Website

2009-07-30T23:11:00.004-04:00

RSG is proud to announce its new company website at http://www.rooseveltsg.com/ . The site highlights RSG's expanded focus on coprorate advisory.

Thanks to Dave at Off Peak Design for his great work.

NICOLOCK 2009 Contractor Conference

2009-03-04T15:43:00.001-05:00

For more information contact: Media; Anthony Manetta, 631-232-9600

NICOLOCK 2009 Contractor Conference
Comprehensive educational training conference for all contractors involved in any aspect of hardscaping

LINDENHURST, NY (02/05/2009; 1237)(readMedia)--

Where: Long Island Sheraton, Hauppauge, New York
When: March 18, 19 and 20, 2009
What: Nicolock 2009 Contractor Training and Education Conference

NICOLOCK, a well-known leader in the hardscape industry, is sponsoring a comprehensive educational training conference for all contractors involved in any aspect of hardscaping.

The action-packed, three-day event is full of training courses, seminars and vendor displays.
There will be notable programs including: Installation "Best Practice" Training plus Business Building and ICPI and NCMA Certification seminars.

Attendees can also enjoy music and refreshments at the Rockin' Customer Appreciation Event that will take place on Wednesday, March 18th.

Those interested in registering for the event may do so by visiting the website at http://www.nicolock.com/, or phone 631-669-8193 for more information. Attendees who register via the 3D website will receive a free gift at the event.

-30-

Nicolock, a division of Nicolia Concrete Products, is a regionally based full service manufacturer and distributor of the highest quality paving stones and retaining wall components servicing the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Based in Lindenhurst, New York, Nicolock, with manufacturing plants in Maryland and Connecticut as well, prides itself in providing top quality products, exemplary customer service and expert contractor support services backed by their more than 50 years of experience in the industry.

Facebook

2009-03-04T15:40:00.003-05:00

Check us out on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Islandia-NY/Roosevelt-Strategy-Group/66079408483?ref=search

Happy 4th of July

2008-07-05T13:15:00.001-04:00

Happy 4th of July from everyone at Roosevelt Strategy Group.

Our Friend Michael Lavorata 'Man of the Year'

2008-06-20T16:50:00.006-04:00

Congratualtions to our good friend from the Village of Lindenhurst Mike Lavorata for being selected as the Rotary Club's Man of the Year.

Pictured is Anthony Manetta and Michael Lavorata holding a certificate of commendation from the Suffolk County Sheriff.

A shuttered Suffolk Life is a bad sign re-posted from LIBN

2008-06-19T15:02:00.007-04:00

June 19, 2008 by Henry E. Powderly II @ LIBN

Suffolk Life, a chain of community newspapers that have been covering the county for more than 4 decades, will close next week. And aside from the sad reality that many will lose their jobs in these down times, media appraiser Kevin Kamen worried that the news foreshadows a bleak future for the little guys on Long Island.

In his view, more independent media organizations, struggling to exist in the shadow of the Cablevision-Newsday monopoly, will fold soon enough.
Here are his thoughts on the matter. Do you agree with him?

http://libizblog.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/a-shuttered-suffolk-life-is-a-bad-sign/

Long Island State Senate Races are Advertising Hotbeds

2008-06-18T11:38:00.005-04:00

Long Island's state Senate races are advertising hotbeds

by Jeremy Harrell, 10/27/06

From an advertising point of view, the 2006 election on Long Island figured to be a snoozer.
The governor's race has effectively been over for months, as has the U.S. Senate race. None of Long Island's U.S. representatives face a serious challenge this year, and the Island's nine state senators - all Republicans - looked, as recently as four months ago, as though they would breeze back into office.

For all these reasons, John Mangano, president of New Media Printing in Bethpage, figured this would be an off year, with fewer direct mail opportunities and fewer yard signs to make.
"But it's going pretty well," he said this week. "We're doing the same, if not more, than two years ago. More local candidates are putting out products. I don't think I see anyone rolling over dead."

Paradoxically, the same political forces that have turned the governor and U.S. Senate races into sleepwalks have made two of the Island's state Senate races advertising hotbeds. Since Democrats Eliot Spitzer and Hillary Clinton have sewn up their races, Republicans have redoubled their efforts on local races, said Michael Dawidziak, a Bohemia-based political consultant who mainly works with the GOP.

"People, generally, come out on Election Day to vote for the top of the ticket," Dawidziak said, and with no coattails to ride, the two Island state senators considered most vulnerable - John Flanagan, whose district stretches along western Suffolk's North Shore, and Caesar Trunzo in Islip - have been forced to blitz the region with advertising to beat back a larger Democratic wave.

"Republican incumbents are intensifying their efforts on every level," said Richard Guardino, dean of Hofstra University's School for Suburban Studies, who has observed little abatement in campaign spending this fall. "At a minimum, the Republican incumbents will want to drive out their base support and make sure they get to the polls."

The problem is compounded for the GOP, given the national mood, Dawidziak said. "The president's approval ratings are in the tank, and the congressional leadership looks like The Three Stooges," he added.

Guardino said 2006 is shaping up to be like 1974, when a Watergate-fueled backlash against Republicans filtered down to local elections, or 1984, when Ronald Reagan's enormous popularity lifted even the most obscure Republican.

"The Senate Republicans are spending everything they can," Dawidziak said. "That's probably smart, because it's going to be a Democratic tsunami."

By the time Nov. 7 arrives, Flanagan and Trunzo will likely have spent $1 million each on advertising, said Anthony Manetta, president of Roosevelt Strategy Group, a consultancy working on several Long Island and statewide races, including the campaign of Jeanine Pirro, the GOP attorney general nominee.

Republican unease is filtering down to other local races, too. Manetta said his client, Suffolk County Clerk Judy Pascale, has started running TV and radio ads for her re-election bid.
"I don't think that ad spending is necessarily down," he said.

Over an eight-day span in late September, for instance, Flanagan's campaign spent nearly $80,000 on television ads, according to the state Board of Elections. During the same period, Trunzo spent $40,000 on television spots.

Two years ago, state Sen. Carl Marcellino, R-Syosset, turned heads by spending more than $550,000 on his own campaign, with another $600,000 coming from state party leaders. Trunzo and Flanagan are poised to top that record amount, said political commentator Jerry Kremer, a former Democratic assemblyman.

Even if Flanagan and Trunzo aren't thought to be in dire danger of losing their seats, the state's GOP doesn't want to wake up Nov. 8 to find out it lost its precious Senate majority because it didn't spend every dime it could.

"Control of the state Senate is so important that they must empty out the checkbook to keep their majority," Kremer said. "They're going to break all spending records, and they're going to survive."

The focus on local races means that Cablevision Systems Corp. is positioned to reap most of the rewards, especially because standard broadcast advertising in the New York metropolitan market is prohibitively expensive, except for the most-endowed campaigns. A company spokesman declined to comment for this story, but a national trade group predicted $200 million in cable advertising in 2006, a significant increase from two years ago.

http://www.rooseveltsg.com/news3.htm

Congrats to RSG's Anthony Manetta on winning ...

2008-06-18T11:20:00.008-04:00

Congrats to RSG's Anthony Manetta on being selected as the winner at the ExecuLeaders Annual Awards Breakfast this morning. Anthony was awarded top spot in the 'Leadership in Public Relations' category. The keynote speaker at this mornings event was Nassau County Legislator Ed Mangano.

Awards were given to Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice & Police Commissioner Mulvey for "Community Leadership" - "Stop Drunk Driving" - Brian Lee of Newmark Knight Frank for "Leadership in Real Estate" - Ernie Fazio of LIMBA for "Association Leadership" - and Special Awards to Sgt. Jaret Radimer/USMC & US Army Spec Adam Drobecker for "Leadership For Our Country."

About ExecuLeaders
ExecuLeaders is an association dedicated to educating the business community in methods and techniques of sales, marketing and networking.

Created for the purpose of providing proven nuts-and-bolts methods of sales and marketing, ExecuLeaders is also committed to expanding your network beyond traditional borders, bringing you opportunities to reach out to other business leaders and organizations in the New York metropolitan area.

The association will also produce and be active in trade shows, provide and be active in industry educational courses and hone your networking skills for maximum effect.
http://www.execuleaders.org/index.cfm

Press Release: RAMP Motors: Science Bowl

2008-06-17T15:20:00.001-04:00

RAMP Chevy and Brookhaven National Labs Team up for Technology

The Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl for Middle School Students Long Island Regional Competition was hosted recently at Brookhaven National Labs and RAMP Chevy was on hand to help usher today’s youth into the technology of tomorrow.

More than 200 parents and students in grades 6, 7 and 8 representing 16 schools from across the Island were on hand for the combined model hydrogen fuel cell car competition and math and science Jeopardy-styled academic competition. A representative from Chevy was on hand to talk to visitors about hydrogen fuel cell technology and answer questions about the hydrogen fuel cell car that was hand for them to see. Representatives from RAMP who were in attendance at the event educated parents and students about the Malibu and Tahoe Hybrid vehicles and the future of Hybrid technology and also provided a $250 prize to be given to one of the winning teams.

For additional information about Hybrid Vehicles and RAMP Chevrolet visit http://www.rampmotors.org/

RSG News... Anthony Manetta nominated for Award ... June 18th, 2008

2008-06-17T14:58:00.006-04:00

RSG's President & CEO Anthony Manetta has been selected as a finalist in 'Leadership in Public Relations' by the over 300 member group ExecuLeaders.

About ExecuLeaders

ExecuLeaders is an association dedicated to educating the business community in methods and techniques of sales, marketing and networking.

The association will also produce and be active in trade shows, provide and be active in industry educational courses and hone your networking skills for maximum effect.

http://www.execuleaders.org/index.cfm

Press Release: 'Columns' by Robert McMillian

2008-06-17T14:48:00.001-04:00

MARILYN MONROE TO THE IRAQ WAR, ROBERT McMILLAN LAUNCHES NEW BOOK TITLED ‘COLUMNS’

Fascinating Book Spans 20-years of History and Personal Anecdotes

Robert McMillan forged a successful career as a governmental, business and community leaders. Starting his career working for former United States Senator Kenneth Keating, McMillan also worked and advised three presidents; Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Mr. McMillan was also involved with and was a direct participant in the Cuban Missile Crisis and was the former Chairman of the Panama Canal Commission.

On Long Island, Robert McMillan founded the Long Island Housing Partnership, and was host of the popular current events program, Face Off, on WLIW’s Channel 21.

McMillan’s latest book, ‘Columns’, takes his 20-years of published columns and wraps them into a clever crusade of current events and life stories about this Long Islander’s colorful life in world and national politics, marriage and life’s challenges. Over the years his column has appeared regularly in Nassau County’s Anton Newspapers and occasionally in Newsday, The New York Times and Florida’s Charlotte Sun.

Some of the book columns include; meeting Marilyn Monroe, his Private Audience with pope John Paul II, Billy Joel and the Long island Baymen, Footnote on the 1960 Kennedy/Nixon Election, AIDS is a World Threat, Ronald Reagan, and some personal discussion including Old McMillan’s Farm.

This is Robert McMillan’s second book; the first was Global Passage, the transformation of Panama and the Panama Canal. Robert is married and a resident of garden City. He is a practicing attorney with Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter & Donovan, LLP and is a director with Madison National Bank and the American Medical Association.

Press Release: AMAC: Meets with NYS Assemblyman Phil Boyle

2008-06-17T14:44:00.002-04:00

AMAC's Dan Weber and Rebecca Keifert meet with NYS Assemblyman Phil Boyle to introduce their organization and discuss the latest issues facing Long Island's Seniors.

Press Release: West Islip Fire Department: Masks to the Rescue

2008-06-17T14:33:00.001-04:00

Masks To The Rescue!!
West Islip Fire Department Receives Donation From Local Veterinarian

Thanks to Dr. William Herbold’s generous donation of three respirator masks, The West Islip Fire Department will now be able to provide respiratory aid to man’s best friends, both canine and feline, in times of emergency.

(L-R) Scott Harvey (Assistant Chief), Joey Badala (Assistant Chief), George Iwasiuk (Chairman of the Board), Mike Delgado (Chief), Dr.
William Herbold (Dr. William Herbold Veterinary Services), Dianne Howell (License Tech Manager)

Get Out and Vote

2008-06-17T14:30:00.000-04:00

Local Elections, Your Vote Counts!

The passion that gets exhumed by the electorate every four years to vote for President is unmistakable. Whether it's at work, the hair salon, the kids' soccer field or the local bar, personal opinions rear when it comes to the Presidential vote.

Stoking debate at every corner, even families argue over the dinner table as to which is the best presidential candidate; perhaps Dad is the lone conservative voice, while his opinionated left-leaning son is hot off the blogs and gearing up for a debate.

"I need to vote to protect my second amendment rights!" "We have to vote to make sure Roe v. Wade isn't overturned!"

It is these same hot-button issues nationwide which similarly set the stage here on Long Island, with close to 75% of the voting public in Nassau and Suffolk counties waiting on long lines on Election Day to vote for President.
That was 2004. That will be just as likely in 2008.

But while the media will have you believing that the 2008 Presidential Election is just around the corner (haven't we already seen the dozens of Presidential hopefuls debating), let's first look to the 2007 elections, which are in fact just a few short weeks away. In off years like 2005, a meager 27% of the voters on Long Island showed up to the polls to vote in their local election.
Sure, local elections may seem to lack the sexy issues that muster the zeal of the average voter. But we seem to forget that it's our local elected officials that have more of a direct impact on our daily life, especially when we consider meaningful quality of life issues like property taxes, park and beach maintenance, road repair, senior services, the quality of education in our schools, and the list goes on and on.

As many pundits like to put it, there's no Republican or Democrat way to pick up the garbage, only the right way. So with that, you don't need fiery polarized issues in order to take a look around at the quality of life in your Town and get out and vote this year in your Town elections. There's no question you're vote will certainly make a difference, whether it's a vote for change or a vote to maintain the status quo, there's no other way to say it than, locally you're vote counts!

Services: Business Development

2008-06-17T14:27:00.005-04:00

RSG can help create a business development a plan for your company that will increase your visibility within targeted industries. Our network will be opened and we'll build bridges into areas to achieve jointly created goals.

Services: Public Relations

2008-06-17T14:26:00.002-04:00

Sometimes it just doesn't pay to go at it alone. It's all about perspective, and at Roosevelt Strategy Group, we look at things from unique angles. We think of ourselves as pioneers in a nation filled with innovation and endless possibilities.

• Roosevelt Strategy Group will strategically manage your reputation and help you take advantage of opportunities you may have been missing.

• We will target your audience and expand your network with exceptional planning and execution of your public relations strategy.

Let us demonstrate how we can help your company grow in ways you've only imagined through our recognized public relations and communications services.

Press Release: Duffy, Duffy & Burdo

2008-06-17T14:19:00.003-04:00

James Duffy Featured on News 12 Long Island for the Thomas Burke Verdict, 5/16/08, video coming soon.

Press Release: Stallion Bus Industries: A New Breed for Today's Economy

2008-06-17T14:17:00.002-04:00

Stallion: A New Breed for Today’s Economy

In the competitive world of passenger transportation manufacturing there emerges a strong new contender…

Destined to revolutionize the transportation industry, Stallion Buses’ new breed of bus delivers a powerhouse punch in all aspects of concern to the transportation industry including safety, fuel efficiency, quality, durability and performance.

Straight out of the gate Stallion takes the lead over the competition by offering almost twice the fuel economy of the conventional coaches at approximately half the cost. The environment benefits as well, as less fuel usage equals less pollution and the fact that Stallion buses utilize four less tires than their larger counterparts means less waste rubber is dumped in our already overstressed landfills.

Jim Larue, Stallion’s Vice President of Manufacturing in Corona California says, “At Stallion Bus all efforts are made to go the extra mile in maintaining a true focus on our participation to keep the environment safe for the future.”

Companies who purchase a Stallion Bus increase their profit margin in more ways than one. In addition to their lower purchase price and the fact that they are much more economical to operate and maintain, the 40 passenger model as well as the soon to hit the road 30-seater deliver a far lower cost-per-seat (CPS) which results in both a lower operating cost and a stronger return on investment.

Stallion buses are built for extreme comfort and maneuverability. The heavy duty steel frame rails reduce flex, bowing and vibration. The front air suspension system of the innovative Freightliner XBR-Series Rear-Engine Pusher Chassis combine to give passengers a smooth quiet ride while the ZF independent and front suspension allows a 60-degree wheel cut, the best wheel cut in the industry today.

In addition the Cummins ISB diesel engine provides superior durability, lower maintenance costs and an excellent balance of low-end acceleration and high-end torque.

When it comes to maintenance of a Stallion Bus, Jim Larue adds, “A Stallion bus is truly designed and built with the Customer’s driver and maintenance department in mind. Ergonomics play an essential role in each vehicle produced. Placement of driver controls and easy access to vehicle maintenance points definitely make a Stallion Coach user friendly.”

Stallion’s commitment to the consumer doesn’t end with the delivery of their product. Every new Stallion bus is covered by a five-year/300,000 mile comprehensive warranty that stands on its own merits as being among the best offered in the industry. The companies unbridled efforts to provide the ultimate in customer service and support is evidenced by their exclusive service center as well as in the partnership with Freightliner Custom Chassis that operates 706 state-of-the art service centers from coast to coast and throughout Canada as well.

When it comes to customer support, once again Stallion proves themselves to be head and shoulders above the competition. The Extra Mile Club, an exclusive service offered by Stallion to their valued customers, provides a vast array of customer support services ranging from customized sales packages to business building strategies and much, much more. With all that Stallion offers their customers it’s truly fair to say that those consumers smart enough to choose Stallion buses for their fleet firmly place their company, their passengers and their pocketbooks into the winners circle.

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Press Release: AMAC: Free Memberships in 2008

2008-06-17T14:14:00.001-04:00

AMAC Offers FREE Memberships in 2008
Discounts for Long Islander’s 50 and Older

BOHEMIA, NY (01/14/2008; 1142- The Long Island based Association of Mature American Citizens, better known as AMAC, announced today that it would provide a comprehensive benefit package for new members at no cost to mature residents ages 50 and older during their 2008 Free Membership Drive.

AMAC President, Dan Weber, cited the economic struggles that many maturing Americans are facing in his decision to provide a no cost membership in 2008: “A growing number of seniors are being forced to work in retirement despite having spent decades in the workforce and raising families. We believe they deserve a break, and that is the purpose behind our 2008 Free Membership Drive,” said Weber.

AMAC provides seniors with a comprehensive package of neighborhood discounts and merchant benefits, and it serves the entire senior population through aggressive issue advocacy that focuses on reducing taxes and enhancing the economic status of maturing Americans.
AMAC’s popular quarterly magazine and merchant directory, The AMAC Advantage, boasts over 1,200 participating businesses ranging from Black Forest Bakery in Lindenhurst, Ace Hardware in Bethpage, Main Street Flowers in Center Moriches and Freedman Jewelers in Huntington. All AMAC members need to do in order to receive their merchant discounts is show their AMAC membership card.

AMAC has been a strong and consistent voice in confronting state, federal and local elected officials on reducing burden of taxes on senior citizens. “We all know that with oil prices rising, health care costs spiraling upwards and the general cost of making ends meet, many older residents on fixed incomes need a helping hand. We want to do our part in 2008, our Member Merchants have stepped up to the plate to help by offering great discounts, and we hope that our elected officials from Washington to Smithtown will do their part as well by fighting for the tax breaks seniors deserve.”

If you would like to join AMAC, please call 1-888-AMAC-006 (1-888-262-2006). To learn -30-

Press Release: Sheriff Vincent DeMarco: Sheriff DeMarco Kicks Off Internet

2008-06-17T14:05:00.005-04:00

SHERIFF DEMARCO KICKS OFF INTERNET SAFETY INITIATIVE

Sheriff offers new internet monitoring software that enables parents to protect their children against online sexual predators and cyber bullies .

Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent F. DeMarco proudly launched his internet safety initiative today. The goal of the initiative is to assist parents with the monitoring of their children’s internet activities to safeguard children from sexual predators and cyber bullies. 43,000 copies of the software named Computer Cop were purchased by the Sheriff’s Office at no cost to taxpayers and will be distributed to parents in of Suffolk County . The software was purchased with funds seized from drug dealers and money launderers.

The Computer Cop program captures full text from online chat rooms, emails and instant messages. The software can also check your computer for sexually explicit words, inappropriate pictures, and language promoting drug use. Even if a child tries to delete these items, Computer Cop is there to make sure you still see the information that was erased through its advanced, yet simple to use, technology. Sheriff DeMarco says, “Parents are the first line of defense in the war against online sexual predators and cyber bullies. This program gives parents the tools they need to keep their children safe.”

Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents for Megan’s Law and the Crime Victims Center, applauds Sheriff DeMarco’s efforts. “Sheriff DeMarco is taking a pro-active step to combat online victimization by providing parents specific tools they can use to prevent their children from falling prey to sexual predators.” Sheriff DeMarco adds, “We are proud to have Parents for Megan’s Law as a strategic distribution partner in this initiative.”

Legislator Wayne Horsley, a member of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee said, “I want to thank Sheriff DeMarco for making this program available. Online sexual predators are a threat to our children. With the Sheriff’s program we are taking the fight to them.”
Lindenhurst library Director Peter Ward enthusiastically supports the Sheriff’s initiative. "Public libraries in Americahave always affirmed the responsibility and right of all parents and guardians to guide their own children's use of the Internet. Sheriff DeMarco's initiative with regard to Computer Cop makes it easier for them to assume that responsibility and exercise their rights as parents. The Lindenhurst Memorial Library fully supports this objective and commends Sheriff DeMarco for his efforts."

Sheriff DeMarco urged all parents to contact his office, or contact one of the pre-arranged software distribution locations to get their free copy of the Computer Cop Software program. Anyone interested in obtaining copies for their office please contact Sheriff DeMarco at (631) 852-2200 or any of the distribution centers below.

Press Release: Sheriff Vincent DeMarco: Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco Takes a Stand for Victims’ Rights

2008-06-17T14:02:00.000-04:00

Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco Takes a Stand for Victims’ Rights
Recognizes the new CrimeVictimsCenter for their commitment to victims’ rights.

During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Sheriff DeMarco recognized Laura Ahearn and the new CrimeVictimsCenter for their commitment to victims’ services. The CrimeVictimsCenter provides vital information and multi-agency service referrals for support and assistance to victims of violent crime. The CrimeVictimsCenter also links victims of violent crime and elderly, minor or disabled victims of crime to the New York State Crime Victims Board for medical and counseling expenses and essential personal property losses.

Laura Ahearn said, “On behalf of the CrimeVictimsCenter at Parents for Megan’s Law, I would like to thank Sheriff DeMarco for his recognition of our efforts at the CrimeVictimsCenter. A crime victim’s place in our system of justice must be a priority and not subordinate to any other component. The rights of victims of crime belong to them, and access to these rights and services must be readily available and provided with recognition of individual needs, with dignity and with respect. Working with supportive and collaborative partners in law enforcement, such as Sheriff DeMarco, we have made significant progress. We can all be proud of what has been accomplished as we move forward to confront the challenges to provide all victims of crime with the support and services they need and are entitled to.”

Sheriff DeMarco is also encouraging victims to use the New York Sheriff’s Victim Hotline Program, or access www.vinelink.com which provides valuable information about their offender’s custody status and notification of release.

“Injustice to victims weakens public safety,” said Sheriff DeMarco. “If victims are too discouraged to report crimes or serve as witnesses, our criminal justice system grinds to a halt. Every American has a stake in victims’ rights.”

Victims of crime have a right to know if their offender is in a New York correctional facility or back on the street. Simply by logging on to the VINE website, or making one toll-free call to 1-888-VINE-4-NY, a victim can immediately learn the custody status of any offender housed in any of New York’s county jails, or New York City or New YorkState correctional facilities. Also, the New York Sheriffs’ Victim Hotline can automatically notify victims by e-mail or telephone, if the offender’s status changes. This is a crucially important service for victims, their families and friends.

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Press Release: Sheriff Vincent DeMarco: The Iris Doesn't Lie

2008-06-17T13:59:00.001-04:00

The Iris Doesn’t Lie …

Sheriff DeMarco adds new technology to prevent the use of Aliases New eye scan system helps track criminals

Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent F. DeMarco unveiled ground breaking technology aimed at keeping track of new arrestees and inmates. The Iris Scan system, developed by SecuriMetric Inc. significantly cuts down the ability of criminals to use false names or aliases. Furthermore, the new system speeds up the process of discharging inmates from the jail and reduces the possibility of human error, eliminating the possibility of an inmates erroneous release. The objective of the new system is to identify inmates quickly, reliably and efficiently.

After being tested for one year and yielding positive results, the Sheriff has made the scanning system a permanent fixture.

Iris recognition technology is part of a new era in identification for law enforcement agencies. Compared to fingerprinting, iris scanning is much easier and requires minimal physical contact. The iris is the colored part of the eye beneath the cornea. The human iris finishes developing at about 18 months old and remains the same throughout our lives. An individual’s iris is so unique that even twins have different irises, and a person’s left iris is never the same as their right iris. The new system will cut down on personnel needed to identify inmates and will also reduce human error because the iris scan is so definitive. Sheriff DeMarco noted that this is the same innovative technology that the Department of Defense uses in military bases in the Middle East.

Sheriff DeMarco noted, “Reading fingerprints is a very lengthy process and is subject to human error. Iris recognition technology will never totally replace fingerprints because you cannot leave your iris at a crime scene. This new technology gives law enforcement the ability to quickly and reliably identify inmates and repeat offenders.”

Sheriff DeMarco pointed out that the Iris Scan system would also help law enforcement properly identify repeat offenders who do not have any documentation. This population often will try to use an alias when they are arrested. Sheriff DeMarco stated, “We need to make sure that everyone who commits crimes is properly identified in order to maintain a reliable record of their identity and criminal history.”

The equipment and software were fully funded through a grant and money confiscated from drug dealers. Sheriff DeMarco stated, “I cannot think of a better way to spend seized drug money than to invest it in the most advanced technology available to assist in the tracking of criminals.”

Sheriff DeMarco added that, “I have encouraged local police departments and the court system in SuffolkCounty to purchase iris recognition equipment so they can take advantage of our ever growing database.”

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Press Release: RAMP Chevy Steers Long Islanders Towards a Greener Future

2008-06-17T13:56:00.000-04:00

RAMP Chevy Steers Long Islanders Towards a Greener Future
RAMP Exhibits its Commitment to Environmental Solutions at Green Weekend Event in Celebration of Earth Day

PORT JEFFERSON, NY (04/21/2008; 0845)-- RAMP Chevy, Long Island’s #1 GM Dealer, is launching a four-day Green Weekend event (April 25, 26, 27, and 28) in recognition of Earth Day. The weekend event starts on Friday when RAMP will be presenting the Hydrogen Equinox along with two of their hybrid vehicles to the employees at Brookhaven National Lab.

At the RAMP location in Port Jefferson Station on Saturday, the Green Weekend will feature the Hydrogen Equinox and 2 of RAMP’s hybrid vehicles (Tahoe Hybrid, Malibu Hybrid) along with representatives from the Four Harbors Audubon Society will be in attendance to discuss “green” education. The entire weekend will be chock-full of information to educate Long Islanders about what everyone can do to protect our environment with Green auto care tips. In addition, customers can enjoy raffles, giveaways & food.

The 2008 Chevy Tahoe has already been ranked “best-in-class” on fuel economy and was recently named Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal. America's first full-size hybrid SUV has a hybrid propulsion system designed to operate in three ways: electric power, engine power, or any combination of electric and engine power. When you need the extra muscle of Tahoe's Vortec V8, it kicks in seamlessly. When you need to conserve, two small and lightweight 60 kw motors get the job done. This amazing hybrid offers up to 50% better fuel economy over non-hybrid vehicles, and much of the same can be said for the Malibu Hybrid, which has been named “North American Car of the Year,” at the North American Car of the Year Awards.
However the Hydrogen Equinox goes beyond hybrids in that it uses no petroleum and the only emission is water vapor. By installing the Hydrogen Boost Fuel Cell System to the Hydrogen Equinox you benefit yourself and your society in many ways. You drastically increase engine horsepower, there is a huge increase in gas mileage, and the effects of global warming are decreased.

RAMP Chevy’s Green Weekend will also demonstrate that hybrids are much more than the flavor of the month. Chevy has exhibited a real commitment to provide the public with efficient, environmentally safe, and cost-effective motor vehicles. Combining electrical power with gas power can enormously reduce “Green-House” effects and our dependence on fossil fuels.
RAMP will be offering Special Purchase & Lease packages for every vehicle with ratings over of 30 mpg’s, Hybrid vehicles, and flex fuel vehicles during their Spring Sales Event.

The owner of RAMP Chevy, John Rampone, has been a consistent supporter of groups who fight for our environment. One of his favorite charities is the Audubon Society. For every Hybrid, Flex Fuel or vehicle over 30mpg’s sold, RAMP Chevy will make a donation to the society whose mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems for the benefit of wildlife and humanity.

Press Release: RAMP Motors: Suffolk Safe Kids Launches Safety Program at RAMP Chevy

2008-06-17T13:53:00.002-04:00

Suffolk Safe Kids Launches Safety Program at RAMP Chevy
SafeKids helps over 60 Cub Scouts earn their Automotive Safety Patch

PORT JEFFERSON, NY (05/21/2008; 1304) Safe Kids Suffolk in partnership with RAMP Chevy, launched the first Automotive Safety Patch Program for Cub Scouts in New York State. This is a new component of the existing Safe Kids/Chevrolet “Safe Kids Buckle Up Program”. Scouts ages 6 to 10 participated in the program that involved the scouts navigating through five different interactive safety stations successfully to earn their patch.

The program includes different aspects of automotive safety including: preventing trunk entrapment, proper car seat and booster usage, teaching families NEVER to leave a child alone in a vehicle (including a parent check list with helpful safety tips such as instructing parents to always walk all the way around a parked vehicle to check for children) and how to contact OnStar in the event of an emergency.

The success of this New York State launch could be measured by the excitement of the kids and the focus of the parents. The children were as excited about earning their “Safety Patch” as they were to sit in the cars, examine the engines and learn about the inner workings of the Chevy hybrid vehicles and the non-gas-burning Hydrogen Equinox.

“One of the components of this program that makes it so effective is that it requires the cooperation of parents and children,” said RAMP Vice President John Rampone. “This creates a safety lesson for both that will last far beyond the program.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under. While the majority of these deaths are traffic related, 10 percent occur off-road when children become entrapped, are left alone in vehicles or are backed over in driveways and parking lots. Through proper safety training RAMP and Safe Kids are working diligently to achieve national and international statistical reductions in preventable childhood injuries.

Susan Katz, RN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Coordinator for Safe Kids Suffolk County notes “ People are unaware of the unseen hazards and unthinkable tragedies that can occur simply through lack of awareness. The mission of this program is to raise public awareness of the dangers children face, even in their very own driveways.”
Due to an overwhelming response to the first RAMP Safety-Patch program another training program has been scheduled for mid-June.

-30-

Commentary: The Color of Judge Money

2008-06-17T13:42:00.002-04:00

The Color of Judge Money
By Jason Boogmailto:Boogjasonboog@judicialstudies.com Posted 02-13-08

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has sent New York Supreme Court incumbents and aspirants back to our local carnival of judicial selection, the time has come to start following the money again. And there's a lot of following to do.

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous rejection of the challenge to New York’s system for selecting judges, judicial candidates are poised to hop back on the fundraising merry-go-round. But different jurisdictions offer different rides, at different speeds.Last year Supreme Court candidates in the five boroughs collectively raised nearly $144,000. Yet their counterparts in the major suburban districts stockpiled almost $754,000.

These fundraising numbers might give the mistaken impression that more judges are running in the suburban races. In reality, during the 2007 election season, 12 Supreme Court spots were open in the five boroughs, while only six seats were available in the suburban districts.Despite having double the amount of available seats, most judicial candidates in New York City barely worry about fundraising. Conversely, the suburban contests are driven by an often manic pursuit of dollars.

DEMOGRAPHY IS DESTINY
The wildly disparate sums reveal a pronounced demographic shift affecting some judicial campaigns. Last year’s biggest judicial fundraiser in the greater metropolitan region was not found in Manhattan or Brooklyn. The top money magnet was Justice Francis A. Nicolai, a former Westchester County Court Judge who is now Administrative Judge for the Ninth District. Nicolai raised a whopping $161,000 for a seemingly doomed candidacy.

During the course of his tumultuous campaign, the judge ran with only the Democratic endorsement — unsuccessfully taking his fight for minor party endorsements to court. Click here for the Judicial Reports coverage.Historically, candidates have depended on small party endorsements to bring crucial extra votes in close races. And unlike many jurisdictions dominated by one of the major parties, greater competition in both the Ninth and Tenth Judicial Districts means that every last vote counts.

In the Ninth, candidates seek votes across a vast swath that includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester Counties. Judges in the Tenth must cover both Suffolk and Nassau counties.While the Democratic Party has maintained a powerful hold over New York City, suburban voter registrations have begun tilting more Democratic in recent years.In the Ninth, the Democrats went from some 445,000 registered voters in 2002 to more than 490,000 in 2007, while the Republicans went from slightly under 366,000 to slightly more than 367,000. The Independence Party gained 12,900 voters in that same period.The Tenth shifted more dramatically since 2002. The Democratic Party went from just over 559,000 voters to just over 600,000 voters in 2007, and the Republicans lost roughly 31,000 voters from its total of approximately 705,000.

The Independence Party gained 16,000 voters. Click here to see a LexMetrics analysis of the shift.Nicolai’s massive fundraising effort paid off in the Ninth. In the general election, he and two other Democrats beat the nearest Republican-endorsed contender, County Court Judge and Acting Supreme Court Justice Rory J. Bellantoni, by more than 5,000 votes. (In the contest, eight candidates vied for three seats.)Bellantoni’s fundraising efforts weren’t quite as successful — he raised about $51,000 for his losing bid, ranking him seventh in the 2007 top fundraiser list. Justice Bellantoni has continued serving as an acting justice, and his County Court seat expires in 2013.

DEMOGRAPHICS IS ECONOMICS
Arnold Linhardt, a consultant from White Plains-based Strategic Services, has helped a few Democratic judges in recent years. He said that demographic shifts have changed the fundraising numbers.“Has it got more expensive? I would say yes, at least on the Democratic side,” said Linhardt. “It was needed to get the message out, let people know who these candidates are. . . . On the flip side, I think Republicans are finding it harder to raise money.” The consultant attributed the shift to a flight to the suburbs by New York City Democrats escaping high rents.He also speculated that the shift signals the waning influence of the smaller parties. “Based on Frank Nicolai’s win, you might see candidates saying, ‘I don’t want to be held up by minor parties’, ” he concluded.

If so, it was an unintended consequence. Nicolai fought hard to overturn the small party endorsement processes after he failed to gain their support, but his ultimate victory might indicate that he needn’t have bothered.The Board of Elections general election figures didn't illustrate that conclusion just yet.In 2003 (a comparable ‘off-year’ without major Presidential or Legislative races to bring voters to the polls), the Independence Party delivered more than 11,000 votes countywide to cross-endorsed candidates who won the judicial race. In the 2007 race, by contrast, that party delivered 13,000 votes to Judge Bellantoni — their cross-endorsed candidate.Frank MacKay, the national chairman of the Independence Party of America, strongly disagreed that the minor party vote was fading. “[The 2007 election] was the exception, not the rule by any means,” he explained in an interview, drawing on his previous experience as chairman of the Suffolk County Independence Party.“Certainly in every close race in Suffolk and Nassau a so-called minor party can claim the margin of victory,” he added. “There’s nothing minor about the effect they have on judicial elections. For the most part, no one is winning these elections without the help from the Independence, Conservative, or Working Family Parties.”

TOUGH TIMES IN THE TENTH
The second biggest fundraiser of the year came from the Tenth, but his efforts didn’t pay the same dividend as Judge Nicolai’s. Robert W. Schmidt, a Republican Associate Justice in the Appellate Division, Second Department, raised more than $110,000 for his hotly contested Supreme Court race. But he ended up losing in a Democratic sweep — with his closest opponent beating him by more than 26,000 votes.Anthony Manetta has been a political consultant in Suffolk and Nassau Counties since 2001. He founded Roosevelt Strategy group, and has worked on a number of judicial races on Long Island.He said candidates face an entirely new financial reality.“If you’re going to run for Supreme Court countywide [in the Tenth], you need to come in with at the minimum $75,000,” he said. “I would recommend $125,000. The price tag has evolved. Over time things get more expensive — the costs of television ads have increased dramatically.”He also noted that judges like Schmidt might have to dip into their own pockets next time. “More and more what you’re seeing, especially with judicial candidates, is that many have to turn to investing in their own campaigns. You didn’t used to see that at all,” he concluded.

NEW YORK CITY IS DIFFERENT
Eight of the top 10 fundraisers of 2007 came from the Ninth and Tenth, a dynamic that has been reflected since the State Board of Elections began archiving campaign finance reports in 1999. Democratic Party dominance typically makes such dollar-dialing unnecessary in the five boroughs, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of electoral reformers’ case in Lopez Torres vs. NYS Board of Elections means that won’t change anytime soon.The top fundraiser from the five boroughs was Robert J. Miller. The judge raised $35,000 in his bid to secure the Democratic nomination and general election for Supreme Court.Miller secured the coveted Democratic nomination, and a cross-endorsement from the Republican and Conservative Parties. This made him the only candidate cross-endorsed by all three parties in that race where five candidates vied for three spots.Along with the two other candidates with the Democratic endorsement, Miller’s win was virtually assured. He beat his nearest Conservative Party opponent (who lacked the Democratic and Republican endorsements) by more than 60,000 votes.Most dramatically, only nine Supreme Court candidates from New York City even made the list of the state’s top fundraisers. The remaining spots were all secured by suburban judges forced to raise bigger pots for their elections.Indeed, the first candidate from the five boroughs to crack the post-1999 list comes in at number 35 — Acting Supreme Court Justice Judith Gische, who raised $70,000 in multiple bids for the Supreme Court. (Most recently, she lost a judicial convention bid in 2007.)

HIGHEST JUDICIAL FUNDRAISER EVER
The prize of biggest judicial candidate fundraiser since 1999 goes to Republican Janet DiFiore, who raised more than $300,000 for her 2002 Supreme Court bid in the Ninth. She came in first place out of four winners in that race with a cross-endorsement from the Independence and Conservative Parties.That 2002 election victory was the pinnacle of Republican power in the Ninth. Among all five counties, she collected 216,600 Republican votes that year. In contrast, no Republican won last year in that same district.DiFiore resigned her judicial post in 2005, choosing to run for Westchester District Attorney on the Republican ticket.

She narrowly won that race against the Democratic candidate, earning a nail-biting 51 percent of the vote.Perhaps in a nod to the tectonic shift of voter demographics, DiFiore announced last year that she was changing parties to become a Democrat.Consultant Linhardt thought that these fundraising aftershocks would lessen in a few years, particularly in the wake of Lopez Torres.“If the U.S. Supreme Court had upheld the lower court, then you would have seen a spike in expenditures,” he said. “Since the system remains the way it is, I think we will see a leveling out in two or three years.”The second-highest fundraiser was not so lucky. Justice Thomas A. Adams, an incumbent Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, raised more than $278,600 for his 2006 reelection bid.The Republican judge had received coveted cross-endorsements from the Independence and Conservative Parties, but he still lost the four-way race — losing to his closest Democratic opponent by more than 20,000 votes. As a consultant, Manetta is frank with his clients about this hostile environment for incumbents. “The universe is so large, it’s a very expensive campaign to run. They are more competitive than ever before,” he said. “Ten years ago, all a candidate needed was the Republican line. Now the Democratic line is very competitive.”

http://www.judicialreports.com/2008/02/the_color_of_judge_money.php

2008-06-17T13:39:00.006-04:00

Campaign Space 2008

2008-06-17T13:38:00.000-04:00

Let’s start off by saying that Congressman Ron Paul, who before the 2008 Presidential Campaign had hardly any name recognition beyond his Congressional District borders, raised $4.6 million dollars in one day… in one day.

Ron Paul and his team successfully created an internet fervor of activists who wanted another choice, rather than the anointed choices of the major political parties. Paul was successful in not only raising impressive sums of money online, but organizing his supporters in a movement dubbed, “The Ron Paul Revolution”. While Ron Paul created an impressive, and historic grass roots internet campaign, the other Presidential Contenders didn’t do too bad either.

The Presidential Contenders of 2008 have utilized the internet to amass millions in donations. But it just doesn’t start and end with candidates utilizing the web for donations, rather candidates need to successfully implement a complete interactive campaign.

Some believe that Barack Obama has gained such wide notoriety because of his online campaign that captivated the youth of the nation with a spirited change message. This is especially true during the primary where caucuses are held on such a grassroots level that organizers typically utilize the internet to garner support and coordinate their voting efforts.

Hillary Clinton has also put together an effective internet campaign. Her campaign has used the web effectively creating not only her official Presidential Campaign site, but also the ‘Hill Blazers’ and ‘Hillary Hub’, both effective portals for communicating with her volunteers and voters. On March 25, 2008, Hillary has over 138,000 Facebook supporters, and 194,000 MySpace Friends.

Republican John McCain is making a valiant internet push as well. He’s created an action center on his official website, along with having 48,000 MySpace Friends. McCain’s team capitalized on an unsavory New York Times story boasting that the day after the story appeared they raised the most funds online campaign to date.

Even here in New York, one party for sure is capitalizing on MySpace networking to promote their efforts with Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay boasting over 135,000 friends. MacKay’s page has the most unique mix discussing his background in the entertainment field, as well his political acumen with countless new articles and photos of him with the likes of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, President Bill Clinton and New York Giant’s Superbowl Champion Michael Strahan.

Like business 2.0, Politics 2.0 is now a major part of our electoral process. For candidates to succeed, they need to work with the new political landscape and connect with the masses not only on television and radio, but online as well.