IN PLAY-- BIG TIME-- NY-24. SHERRY BOEHLERT FINALLY PACKS IT IN. MIKE ARCURI LIKELY TO PAINT THIS DISTRICT BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT BLUE

For a Republican, Sherwood Boehlert wasn't that horrendous. But his voting record wasn't something to cheer. Yes, he's definitely to the left of Vlad the Impaler (especially on abortion, the environment and on education issues but he was usually worse than Lieberman, worse than Jim Marshall, worse than Melissa Bean... worse than the most reactionary Democrat in either House-- much worse. The last of an already dead breed, Rockefeller Republicans, Boehlert, first elected in 1982, has long been rumored to be sick of the right-wing nut cases who have taken control of his party (I mean imagine being the chairman of the House Science Committee with these kooks and religionist fanatics in charge!!) and ready to retire. Friday he did.

My old college house-mate came from this virtually all-white central New York district and she was Boehlert's niece. He always seemed like a decent enough guy-- for a Republican. Boehlert won in 2004 with 57% (with the neo-fascist he had beaten in the Repug primary, David Walrath, a Club For Growth shill, running as a Conservative and taking almost 10% of the vote). In 2002 the Democrats hadn't even bothered to field a candidate and Boehlert won with 71% (with the neo-fascist Walrath running on the Conservative Party line). In 2004 Bush had 53% and in 2000 he had barely beaten Gore, 48% v 47%. Walrath's campaign was hampered because he hadn't been paying his taxes.

Conservative State Senator Ray Meier is the favorite to succeed Boehlert, but he’s no moderate. Meier is 100% anti-choice, 100% against stem-cell research, and was 1 of only 8 State Senators to vote against raising the minimum wage in New York State. Also running is a real Wingnutia kook named Brad Jones, mayor of Seneca Falls. It promises to be very costly and very bloody and it is a very late primary (September 12 , less than 2 months in front of the general election), putting the GOP at a distinct disadvantage to the unified Democrats (for a refreshing change).

Mike Arcuri is the Democrat who might have been able to beat Boehlert and can certainly take on either Meier or the drooling nutcase from Seneca Falls. He's the first Democratic District Attorney for Oneida County in 40 years, and one of only three in the history of the County, which makes up about a third of the votes in the district. He is a nightmare to the Republicans because he is tough and a proven vote getter in a Republican County.  The guy has been reelected three times and is even respected and popular among local Republicans. His website indicates that he's not some kind of DCCC patsy who will be pushed around by Emmanuel and Hoyer. He's forthright and clear on the controversial issues that they have demanded Democratic challengers avoid. He wants our troops out of Iraq; he flat out will fight to support women's right to choice; he's going to be the bain of law-breaking Republicans' existence with his stand on illegal wiretapping; and when it comes to the Republican's favorite hot button issue, the demonization of gay men and women, Arcuri doesn't waffle: "I oppose unwarranted government interference in the private lives of consenting adults, and I support laws that provide equal benefits, for all citizens, to health and life insurance, inheritance and other basic rights like hospital visitation." Here's a guy with guts, brains and charisma who's going to make a really great addition to the U.S. House of Representatives.

He was strongly endorsed by his main Democratic primary opponent, Les Roberts in a unity move, and about a month ago another Democrat who wanted to challenge Boehlert, Cortland Mayor Bruce Tytler also dropped out. Democrats in the district are on fire for Arcuri and their enthusiasm is going to go a long way towards painting this district blue. New York's hugely popular Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate, Eliot Spitzer is campaigning for Mike too and Hillary Clinton will probably take some time out from her jihad to re-elect Joe Lieberman in order to lend Mike a hand too. You want to help? You can volunteer here and you can make a small donation here.