I know that he is a journalist/columnist too; but didn't Bob Capano cross some kind of line by expressing his preferences for certain candidates for the state senate running in the Democratic Party Primary --- After all, Bob is the county chairman of a party other than the Democratic Party.....
What the heck !!! Bob is only giving Jerry Kassar a taste of his own medicine --- And as they often critically caution refs in all sports, don't call the rinky-dink fouls and penalties --- LET 'EM PLAY THE GAME.....
BTW, Capano's way of "playing the game" with Simcha Felder seems to be >>> put him in a headlock, not let go, gouge his eyes and try to bite his ear off.....
It's very clear that Bob Capano is going after both the Conservatives and two of their key endorsed candidates, and the Republican majority in the NY State Senate, all in one fell swoop in Capano's very heavy hammering of incumbent State Senators Marty Golden and Simcha Felder.....
Based on Capano's first paragraph in his column for Courier Life's Brooklyn Daily that came out a little while ago, he has made his opinion available, and it's clear and unambiguous: "Two Brooklyn Democratic primaries this week will determine which party controls the state senate. Currently, only one vote keeps the Republicans in control of the upper chamber in Albany...." (See "Today’s primaries decide who controls tomorrow’s senate" by Bob Capano, 9/13/18, Courier Life/ Brooklyn Daily/ Opinion [www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2018/37/all-right-view-2018-primary-2018-09-14-bd.html]).
Without missing a beat, Capano shows that he too has come down with "Golden Derangement Syndrome" [don't worry it don't hurt at all --- I sort of like it]..... His next paragraph goes like this: "One of the races that could shift this balance of power is the contest between Republican Marty Golden and the winner of the Democratic primary between Andrew Gounardes and Ross Barkan. A key consideration for voters choosing between these two Democrats will be who they believe has the best chance to take down the incumbent.... Flipping this district from red to blue would likely give Democrats control of the Senate. In addition, defeating a local Republican icon like Golden would be a bellwether for an even larger blue wave than expected in New York...."
CAPANO PUTS HIS FINGER ON THE SCALE IN FAVOR OF GOUNARDES
No surprise there --- Capano's Reform Party line has gone to Andrew Gounardes already. But here are Capano's words that actually show the Chairman-Columnist's "TILT !!!" on this one --- "It would seem that Barkan’s race to the left doesn’t fit this district, while Gounardes’ [ ] slightly more moderate views give him an advantage in his primary — and against Golden in a general election...." Then, Bob drives his point home with this bit of tea leaves reading: "[Senator Golden's] camp believes this as well as evidenced by his staff lighting up social media claiming Barkan won the NY1 debate. By pumping up Barkan and attacking Gounardes, Golden’s loyalists have made it clear that they view Gounardes as the strongest challenger in November...."THEN CAPANO WENT AFTER "DEMOCRAT" SIMCHA FELDER --- BOY DID HE EVER.....
Here's how Capano pitched the Simcha Felder -- Blake Morris race: "Democrats have 32 of the 63 seats in the senate, giving them a technical majority; however Simcha Felder, a Democrat, continues to caucus with Republicans. This gives the GOP the needed majority vote to control the power of the chamber. Not surprisingly, Simcha Felder’s primary challenge from Blake Morris is the other borough race that can determine control of the Senate.... If Morris [were] elected to the Senate, he would caucus with his party and give it its needed 32nd vote to take charge. But, winning this week will not be enough for Morris. He would still have to face Felder on the GOP line in November. That’s right, Felder will be on the Republican line so they will have a re-match if Morris prevails in the primary. If Felder wins, he will walk back into the Senate virtually unopposed in November...."Not so fast to finish on Simcha, Bob Capano had more to say about this particular race --- like this: "In a recent ad, the Morris campaign assails Felder for his relationship with the GOP writing 'While Simcha Felder works only for himself and his fellow Trump Republicans, he ignores the needs of his constituents.' Morris also points out Felder’s role in stopping the senate from renewing the city’s speed-camera legislation...."
But wait, there's still more: ".... Felder has also been involved in the “Yeshiva-Gate” issue that has been reported on during the past several months. He held up the state budget process earlier this year to change the law that lowers the educational standards for these schools that have already been the subject of a years-long city probe of their secular education proficiency. The Young Advocates for Fair Education even filed a lawsuit that this Felder amendment violates the religious establishment clause of the first Amendment of the U.S. Constitution by creating a special carve out standards for Yeshivas...."
