Hey, Zim,
Thanks for the update.  Now, I was around at the polls during the Amedore campaign election.  I have a question that I don't remember the answer for.  Is there a way that the pollsters could tell exactly how many people actually walked into the booths to vote?  This MAY tell you the total number of write-in votes (subtracting the total votes from the number of the electorate to go in the booths) and give us a clearer idea of how things went.  Do we have an idea of how long it would/shoud take to get the results from the write-in vote?

Anyways, thanks for keeping us updated.

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..... a wake up call to Schenectady County Conservative Party Chairman Randy Pascarella that the rank and file members of the party are NOT supportive of his actions in endorsing liberal candidates to run on the Conservative party line and they disapprove of his mailing characterizing those of us who supported the conservative Republicans as "outsiders".  The battle may over but the war is not.  The fight for the hearts and minds of the traditional conservatives in the party has just begun.

Thanks Z for all of your input here. And I couldn't agree more with the above statement. And although this particular conservative 'group' is on a 'mission' to accomplish 'their agenda'....I do hope you are correct in saying that they will get the message from 'the  people'. Keep us posted, and thanks again!

Update:  An audit was performed of all of the voting machines as is customary on the day after an election.  Though I haven't heard any definitive results, the preliminary numbers of votes for Jasenski and Godlewski look to be reasonable.  There are, however, MANY write in votes.  Further, the number of absentee votes may be larger than estimated by me earlier.  Review efforts are continuing at the Board of Elections.  We will likely not know the final results until sometime next week after the absentee ballots are received and counted.  I feel cautiously optimistic.  However, I believe that this race may be decided by only a handful of votes.

Another example Z of how EVERY vote counts.  It is disheartening and sad that not all that many years ago women fought with their lives for the RIGHT to vote.  Now that right is tossed aside and considered too burdensome to accomplish in a busy day.  Only a few can be bothered with the task.  If people don't wake up and start paying attention to who is in charge of their destiny, things will remain the same or get worse.  This goes for Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, and Independence.  No one likes what is going on locally, statewide, or nationally, but most don't bother to do anything about it.  I say put up (vote for who you agree with) or shut up.

That's why I wouldn't be turning down an opportunity to vote.

Quoted from Rene

Another example Z of how EVERY vote counts.  It is disheartening and sad that not all that many years ago women fought with their lives for the RIGHT to vote.  Now that right is tossed aside and considered too burdensome to accomplish in a busy day.  Only a few can be bothered with the task.  If people don't wake up and start paying attention to who is in charge of their destiny, things will remain the same or get worse.  This goes for Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, and Independence.  No one likes what is going on locally, statewide, or nationally, but most don't bother to do anything about it.  I say put up (vote for who you agree with) or shut up.

AMEN to that....

Code If people don't wake up and start paying attention to who is in charge of their destiny, things will remain the same or get worse.  This goes for Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, and Independence.  No one likes what is going on locally, statewide, or nationally, but most don't bother to do anything about it.

I agree that the voter apathy has been low at the local, state and national levels in recent years.  However, the massive turnout for the July Special Election to elect George Amedore to the NYS Assembly and the very close race (that has yet to be called) for the Conservative party endorsement for the District IV seats on the Schenectady County Legislature are both testaments to the ability to mobilize the public when candidates have the right message, one of hope, promise, and conviction.  The voters need to have faith that they can make a difference in bringing about positive change.  With the lack of transparency in the working of our government and the absence of accountability, people have become disillusioned and detached.  Information is powerful.

If we are to retake our nation from corrupt politicians who place self-interests before that of the public and our nation, we must all become engaged.  I have committed to do so as have others on this board.  Each of you can make a difference!

As Mr. Amedore accurately prophetized, "A Change is Coming".  What we have accomplished in recent months and days is inspiring.  Who will be the next to be forced from office?  I look forward to each new chapter ...

I agree with you Rene. But people that I talk too are very discouraged with our political process. And they feel this way regarding all levels of government. They feel that they 'can not' make a difference. We must admit that government has gotten way out of hand. TOO BIG! They control everything in our lives today. Some people feel it is TOO BIG for them to make a difference. Some feel that politics is 'dirty'. And to some extent it is. They want to stay clear of politics and the process. I'm not agreeing with their mind thought, but I can understand it.

I couldn't agree with you more Bumble.  While the level of government I am involved in is at the ground level, it amazes and frustrates me when I can't get simple projects completed because of red tape.  Something that should have taken two months tops and cost XXX dollars ends up taking six months or more and costs three times more than it should have.  Government has become TOO BIG, no one is accountable to anyone.  It is a rotten shame people don't feel they can make a difference, but in most cases I don't blame them either.  We have allowed politicans to run rampant and do what they want for way too long. Many people have begged for government interference with their lives and may not even realize it.  Like the dummy that text messages while he/she is driving.  There should not HAVE to be a law to make that illegal.  It should be common sense that it is stupid to text and drive, but low and behold enough people do it that now there has to be a law against it. I have learned some hard lessons about politics over the last few months.  I would rather not have had the opportunity to learn them.  You know what they say.........Ignorance is Bliss.  But as a result of those lessons I will do more than ever have to make sure those I vote for and support are worthy.  I will also do all I can to make sure those who aren't get the boot. The lessons will also make me a better representative for the residents of Duanesburg...

Rene, you have just summed up why all the politicians in Albany and Schenectady, with the exception of a few hard working legislatures who work for our benefit, should be voted out and replaced with people who will do our bidding instead of taking care of their special interests. You're absolutely right about government being so big and accountable to  no-one and that has got to be changed or things will never get any better.

FYI, I just sent an e-mail to Mr. Santabarbara this morning and told him that I was willing to help out with the campaign for this November, along with some other things.  

The 2 points from his e-mail that I wanted to let everybody here know are the following, directly from his correspondence.

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Yes….we definitely can use more volunteers.  I will add you to the list and as things come-up, we’ll let you know.  

The write-in ballots will be counted today…hopefully we’ll hear good news.

So, if you're interested in helping out in November (or before), let him know...and we should have an answer to the write-in vote real soon.

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I agree that the voter apathy has been low at the local, state and national levels in recent years.

Doh, I meant to say that apathy has been HIGH.  That's what I get when I post late at night after my brain has shut down for the evening.  

We knew whatcha ment. I just hope there are no English teachers lurking on this board, cause sometimes I try tpying so fast that I either miss-spell or leave out a word or add a word where it doesn't mean to be. Sometimes the idea comes into my mind one way and out through my fingers to the keyboard the other way.

Okay, has anyone heard who won the primary as of yet? I thought they were being counted yesterday. And has anyone figured out who sent out that so called incorrect letter showing the 'incorrect' way to do a write-in? Ya know...the one that appeared(or prehaps was) to be from the conservs. Ya know, the conservs that backed the two dems (Jasenski/Godlewski). And I don't mean the 'real' conservs, I mean the 'motivated by their own agenda' conservs.They will probably never find out. But I have my own ideas here. So we will just have to wait and see.

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Okay, has anyone heard who won the primary as of yet?

Not a word of the official results.  I have heard that there are many write in votes being challenged and that there is talk about not opening some/all of the absentee ballots.  This is, however, third hand information.  I think that there should be some oversight of the process by the media and the public.  Otherwise, will the voters of the party, like myself, ever know the true results of the primary?

This is starting to sound like Bush/Gore 2000.   Perhaps the State Election Commission and the media should be contacted to ensure that the peoples will is done.