News Copy, New York

The Obsession With Michael Boxley Continues

Speaking of conspiracies, Michael Boxley now works for former State GOP chairman Bill Powers.

As for our Yonkers Citizen, Anthony Iovine, confirming what my sources have told me about State Senate Majority staffers being the source of damaging fiction about more than one Republican, I will let everyone come to their own conclusion.

The following comment is supported by evidence I have known about for a long time, supported by sources I know and trust -- including being supported by court testimony and additional research.

I'm afraid the rapes by Michael Boxley will not go away -- and this story must finally be laid bare for the people of New York State to see.

First- I think it's evil to imply that Manning's chief of staff was staying in his hotel room the night she was raped. The entire hotel was booked with Assemblymen, Senators and staffers that night, as it was every night during session. That is a blatant attempt to smear the reputation of a rape victim. It was started by Shelly Silvers' staff in order to justify letting Boxley slide the first time, but it's nice to see that Molinaro's supporters have jumped on his band wagon. You are disgusting.

As for Boxley's guilt, his second victim just won a large settlement from the state, paid for with tax payer dollars, because they had been put on notice about Boxley's behavior by the first victim. That's the reason they were found liable.

Boxley put drugs in the second victim's drink at a bar, just as he had the first. He injured the second victim in exactly the same manner and location as the first. He said the same things to both victims afterwards. The two women didn't know each other or even work in the building at the same time. There is absolutely no question in anyone's mind about Boxley's guilt except a few scumbags who are trying to use the terror, pain and humiliation inflicted on two innocent victims for political gain.

That is evil and sick, and decent people on either side of this race shouldn't stand for it.

Nice group of supporters you have there, Marcus.

And I happen to agree with you about bringing up the Brawley matter in reference to Pagones. It was wrong and it shouldn't be condoned either.

By the way, I called Phil Alvea. There was no poll done by RACC. Just another of Team Molinaro's lies. He's starting to look pathological.

Patrick Manning broke "the rule" and spoke up when his staffer was raped.  Manning and his staffer have endured years of wretched lies about each of them since the night she was raped.  The truth is that the volume of State lawmakers and staff who know the reality -- yet remain silent -- is ultimately the most shameful aspect of this episode.

The covering up is as shameful.

The rule in Albany is to be silent.  The punishment in the past has been to shun a fellow lawmaker, to turn your back on him or her, to exile the elected official from Albany.  It amounts to a political blacklist and can extend into your professional career.

Lies have been told about Manning, tall tales, and I'm sure he has done some fibbing of his own.  However, the reality is that his staffer was raped and Albany's establishment was unresponsive.  Those who looked the other way are responsible for the second rape, in my opinion, and a lawsuit against the State of New York was won on those grounds.

Are State Senator Stephen Saland's vengeful designs on Patrick Manning worth this obsession with Michael Boxley?

Finally, Boxley ended up in the realm of Bill Powers -- and that sadly says more about New York politics than anything else.

Saland Challenged; Casale Bows Out; Ball Bullied

Saland Seat Getting Busy

Capitol Confidential reports that State Senator Stephen Saland will be facing a challenge from a Hopewell Junction Democrat.

His opponent will be Brian Keeler, who also blogs away on e Pluribus Media.

It looks very green and anti-Bush.

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Casale Seat Open

The Albany Times Union also reported on its Capitol Confidential blog that seven-term incumbent Republican Assemblyman Pat Casale has formerly announced that he is dropping out of the race in the 108th Assembly District.

This contest is looking very green too -- but as in cash raised by challenger Peter Santiago.  The 37 year old Republican from Bethlehem has already stockpiled $100,000 for this race and it's no mystery to State Capitol leaders that Santiago could raise much more.  In addition to managing Pat Manning's gubernatorial run, Santiago also managed the U.S. Senate campaign of Ed Cox.

Though Democrats are sprouting all over Casale's district to run, this is a Republican district that political analysts have all told News Copy will be won right in Santiago's own backyard of Delmar and Bethlehem in Albany County.

It's also a seat the Rensselaer County Republicans would like to hold.  They have a nearly 4,500 voter registration edge in that county over Democrats.

-- But Casale lost Albany County by almost 4,000 votes in 2002 to Democrat Tracey Brooks (where the GOP trails Democrats in voter registration by only a little more than a thousand votes).

Santiago would equalize the GOP's losses in Albany County and he already has significant backing from State Conservatives.  Multiple sources have confirmed that Rensselaer has so far been unable to field a candidate without high negatives -- and that insiders are now having second thoughts about boxing Santiago out of the committee process.

Count on Santiago having a decided edge if he is chosen by the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee (RACC) -- but resistance may come from the State Senate Majority.

This could become the first of many showdowns between Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco and State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, though Santiago's financial reserves could undoubted sway the top ranking Republican's point of view.

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Dirty Politics

This new blog, Albany Insanity (hosted by Western New York Media) posted this letter by conservative Republican challenger Greg Ball who is challenging long-time incumbent Assemblyman Willis Stephens in the 99th Assembly District.

News Copy was unable to obtain a copy of the original letter sent to Republican leaders throughout Putnam but Ball did e-mail to journalists and Republicans what sounded like a more than adequate background on his military service.

"While serving in uniform, along with thousands of other Air Force Officers, I was extended and accepted the opportunity to transfer my remaining Active Duty Service Commitment (originally May 2006) into a longer Reserve Commitment (until 30 May 2009). Thousands of other Air Force Officers followed the same path, and are now serving in the Air Force Reserve as part of Force Shaping measures instituted by the Department of Defense."

Ball called the anonymous letter (presumably from the Stephens camp) "delusional" and "absolute garbage" and described it as attacking his military service.

"I am saddened by this mindless attack. As politics goes, maybe part of the blame for this incendiary attack upon my character is mine, for I have not spent the time necessary detailing my biography to the public at large. Rather than focusing upon my record of public service and my opponent’s lack of military service, I have focused on the larger issues at hand."

Ball emphasized that he received an "Honorable Discharge" from Active Duty in January of 2005.  He explained that he remained in the U.S. Air Force Ready Reserve (IRR) and was "promoted to the rank of Air Force Captain (May 2005) 5 months later."  Ball also stressed that he is an "Air Force Captain in good standing with the Air Force Ready Reserve."

The Republican challenger also went on to describe his work in real estate and additionally sent out his own defensive mailer.

It seems obvious that the contest in the 99th is going to be a hoot.

Now that Greg Ball has reminded everyone that he was in the military, News Copy suspects that the response back from Stephens should be an education.

News Copy intends to post that anonymous letter -- and then share our own theories on who it came from.