Independent voters looking for the return of the two party system in Ulster County counted on Mario Catalano to get the job done for us this year.
He failed.
Ok, Hinchey was not a viable target and realistically, the guy does a pretty darn good job as Congressman. Like him or hate him, Maurice Hinchey lets you know where he stands and you’ve got to appreciate that.
Bonacic and Larkin – ok, no problem, both swept without Catalano doing anything (were they even opposed???).
We had four local races where Catalano failed miserably.
Tom Kirwan – lost.
Robin Yess – she was certainly not the favorite, but she got CREAMED. It wasn’t even close. After Catalano convinced the powers that be to give her the Independence line over our home picked candidate of Kevin Cahill, he did nothing to raise money to get her any traction. Yess apparently angered many people and was not a good team player. As a result, she lost the support of the Assembly Republicans in Albany, and the money people she needed here to knock off Cahill – an Assemblyman with a lousy record.
Len Bernardo – he was also not the favorite but he had the money, so the GOP sucked him in and in fairness he was a respectable candidate. Obviously Bernardo was too independent from the powers that be and they never fully embraced him as the GOP nominee. Moreover, some of the party insiders were making side deals with Hein in an all too obvious manner. Bernardo, a complete neophyte bought his way to 43% of the vote by putting in real money and also by putting up a real hustle - all while Catalano did nothing to help and some of the good old boys and girls (Nina, we remember you), supported Hein.
Jim Quigley – Quigley’s loss is the saddest of all. Here is a guy who is much more qualified, much more capable, and someone who would be completely independent of any special interests (Bernardo and Yess would have been too we believe). Catalano held Quigley’s hand, Bernardo delivered the Independence line by pushing Dietrich Werner (the TRUE leader of the Ulster County Independence Party) to give him the line (only to have Bernardo’s handlers dump Werner in an incredible act of treachery which should have taught Bernardo what he was dealing with); and still Quigley could not pull through. All the unions, all the endorsements, all the special interests hustling for Jim Quigley, all the money he burned, and no victory. Appalling.
We hear that the GOP was united going into this thing. A big pow wow in Kingston led to Bernardo, Quigley, and Yess all signing on with the same campaign team, but then Dr. Doom – a/k/a Mario Catalano got involved and blew up the whole “running as a team” thing.
All of a sudden Bernardo was doing his thing, Quigley was doing his thing, and Yess was doing her thing (or should I say no-thing). Catalano, he was up in Greene County drilling teeth while Bernardo and Quigley were turning on each other, and Robin Yess was sitting by her pool.
These three losses are an embarrassment to candidates that collectively spent more than $1/2 million. We hear that the powers that be have lost all faith in Catalano and are now angling to put in someone who will actually go out and campaign, not lecture in a condescending way how to win campaigns.
The disunity wrought by Catalano by a team of people who 2 of them had a pretty good shot speaks volumes to his leadership capacity. A new Ulster County Republican Chairman is needed – now.
10 comments:
You hit the nail on the head. Campaigns are won and lost in the trenches not the planning room.
The GOP did not have any type of organized ground game on any level. The candidates (except for Yess whom I never saw once) pounded the pavement and did a good job getting out there. But there was not backup from the GOP, no organized efforts to get out the vote, or to get their candidates put out there (except what the candidates did for themselves). It was almost like everyone expected everyone else to take care of that part.
Now, I don't think the local democrats had much better of a ground game than the GOP. BUT Obama did, and the numbers that his campaign turned out could not be matched. Local democrats benefited from this.
Now I do not know what Catalano's efforts were or were not and how much support he received in doing it. If you say that he spent his time lecturing instead of doing, that is possible considering not many others seemed to be doing either. But I will say that something needs to change, and quick. Catalano needs to lead from the front or get out of the way.
Perhaps you should call me to get the facts straight about what really happened during this race.
James E. Quigley 3rd
845-594-8618
did you see the new blog
www.NoJobsInUlster.blogspot.com
What happened Jim, spill the beans. Why hide it? Get it out there! Who are you protecting?
Mario must go along with the rest of the executive board. Republicans need a fresh start. Get someone outside the committee system if you want real change.
What happened Mr. Quigley? The fact that you dumped $300,000 of your own money into a race only to lose due to inept County leadership gives you the right to tell it like it is.
If you have facts that we all should know, please let's hear them. Do not keep them to yourself, other Republicans need to know where the pitfalls are.
Like the man said, if you want to hear the facts give him a call. He is not hiding anything. I mean he even put up his phone number and all.
Sure ...... call Quigley and email Catalano, Get your name right on top of the bad republicans list.
You go 4:18!
Everyone knows Jim and Mario's phone number.
If you could say this shit to their face, people would.
This is how blog work. We write anonymous crap that express our opinions.
Mario and Jim are such babies for putting their phone numbers up. They need to both get a thicker skin.
Mario and Jim are just lucky that Blaber is out of business and they didn't get a speeding ticket in the Town of Ulster.
People write Anonymously because they are to scared to say stuff to peoples faces. Grow a set of balls!!
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