Blog News
Eliot Spitzer, the next Governor of the Great State of New York, came to Fishkill on Tuesday to campaign with Brian and Congressional candidate John Hall. Spitzer, who has endorsed Brian, had this to say about Brian:
“I look forward to working with Brian in Albany,” Spitzer said. “From day one of our administration, the Spitzer/Paterson/Keeler team will work for real reform; transforming state government for the better every step of the way.”Brian added:
“We are pleased to be working with Eliot. Together we can create a NEW Team, for a NEW vision of the future, for a NEW sense of hope and a NEW New York.”
Senator Clinton Endorses Keeler for New York State Senate Senator Hillary Clinton endorsed Brian Keeler in his race for the New York State Senate in the 41st District, which includes most of Dutchess and all of Columbia County.
"Brian Keeler is a rising star in the New York State Democratic Party, and Dutchess and Columbia Counties will be well served in Albany by his vision, energy and ideas," Senator Clinton said. "We look forward to partnering with Brian in the years ahead to bring open government, accountability and fiscal responsibility to Albany and Washington."
"We are thrilled to receive this important endorsement," Keeler said. "Senator Clinton has been a wonderful advocate for the people of New York in Washington. I intend to be the same kind of advocate in Albany for people of the 41st District."
One of Our Own Declares Candidacy
by SusanG
Fri May 26, 2006 at 10:53:44 AM EDT
(Bumped -- kos)
Like a lot of progressives, I take politics personally. For me, and for the rest of the Daily Kos community, politics doesn't get much more personal than with Brian Keeler's announcement yesterday of his candidacy for the 41st State Senate seat in New York.
Brian - or NYBri as he's known around these orange parts - is one of the first examples of a candidate homegrown and nurtured by this very community. I'll let him tell his own story in his own way - and fill you in on his opponent and his district demographics here - but I know from my personal relationship with him that the fire, the commitment and the passionate desire to improve our country is a direct result of his involvement with this community. Like many of us, he cut his teeth here during Bush's first term, participating in comments, learning, writing diaries, howling at the direction in which our country's been taken ... and now he's taking OUR agenda out into hard, cruel political world.
Howie Klein’s Blue America: Brian Keeler, NY-41
By Howie Klein(It’s a pleasure to have one of our own, Brian Keeler, running for Congress. Brian will also be joining us in the comments today, so stop by and have a chat. — JH)
When people stood and cheered the inspirational candidate asking for their support at Yearly Kos in Las Vegas last weekend — or listened to Sam Seder interviewing him on Air America — there was more than a little pride. This was one candidate everyone — the Russ Feingold backers, the Mark Warner backers, the Gore and Clark hopefuls and even supporters of DLC candidates like Biden and Bayh — could agree on. But this candidate isn’t running for president or for the U.S. Senate or even for a House seat. Nope, Brian Keeler is running for a state senate seat in an obscure, upstate New York district. Why should anyone, outside of that district, care?Glad you asked. People who have been reading Daily Kos and Firedoglake for awhile probably recognize the screen name NYBri as belonging to a well-spoken, forthright, engaging progressive, bursting with positive energy, enthusiasm, great spirit and abundant intelligence. That would be Brian Keeler, and Brian is challenging a severely reactionary, entrenched Republican in New York’s 41st senatorial district: basically all of Columbia County and most of Dutchess County. The last time Dutchess County elected a Democrat as state senator was 1910. That freshman state legislator, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, did well in Albany — and… well, helped save America and the rest of the world.
Why Brian Keeler is a netroots hero
by kos
Fri May 26, 2006 at 02:36:19 PM EDTWe are all part of a movement that has, over the past two years, begun flexing its political muscle. We are a people-powered movement, using technology to aggregate the masses to bypass the entrenched media and political establishments. It's been exciting times, especially for those of us who believe in the wisdom of the masses over the wisdom of entrenched and monied interests.
My ultimate vision is to get away from the current politics, in which politicians tout their endorsements from various issue and constituency groups, toward a world in which politicians tout the sheer number of people engaging their campaigns. That's why I get excited when people contribute to Ned Lamont. Not because Ned is desperate for money (I mean, he's worth between $90-300 million). But because it sends a clear message that people are backing him, and are doing so by giving their time and hard-earned money. That's how people-power manifests itself -- with volunteer hours and small dollar donations.
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From Blogging to Politics
And you thought all this blogging was just navel gazing?
Ha, not so fast, says Brian Keeler.
Mr. Keeler started off as nybri, a rather anonymous name in the sea of blogspot.com. He went on to help start epluribusmedia a collection of self-starting investigative reporters.
Mr. Keeler, 53, is taking a shot at challenging Republican State Senator Stephen M. Saland. Now, it should be noted, challengers don’t have a great track record in making it to Albany. Cynics like to joke that lawmakers are more likely to be convicted than lose a re-election.
