Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

One of the most egregious pieces of unfinished business from 9/11 is the continuing vulnerability of chemical plants to terrorist attack. The plants have done a certain amount on their own, but when Congress tries to mandate tighter security, the industry shamefully heads it off.

Now the issue is at our door on Long Island, because the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee is Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford). This summer, King committed himself to his own committee's strong bill. But he's now swatting down accusations that he's quietly backing away from it and seeking language that would help the chemical industry but stave off tighter plant security.

[snip]

[E]nvironmentalists, some leaders of 9/11 families, and other lawmakers say King is reneging, by trying to back-door weaker language into a different bill, one that funds the Department of Homeland Security. In effect, critics say, this language ties the department's hands and lets industry off the hook.

The people of New York's Third District deserve a representative who puts their interests above the interests of big business and the Bush White House.  Fortunately, this year, King has a Democratic opponent more than qualified to kick him out of office.

The DCCC has just added NY-03 to its list of emerging races that it plans to fund and support.  This competitiveness, which stunned those who are used to watching King sleepwalk to victory, is no doubt due to the impressive skills of the Democratic challenger, Dave Mejias.    As the Wall Street Journal recently reported:

Peter King, long considered safe, [was] recently added to nonpartisan analyst Stuart Rothenberg's watch list partly due to the credibility of his Democratic challenger, state legislator Dave Mejias.

Let's kick this asshole, Peter King, out of office.  Contribute to Dave Mejias's Actblue fund today, and help bring Dave one step closer to victory.

And if you live in New York's Third District and want to help, this diary is the official New York Third District roll call.

If you live in New York's Third District, and Peter King is your Congressman, please leave a comment telling us a little bit about yourself, and please leave contact information so I can get in touch with you.  I am planning something (something cool!) that may have an impact on the Peter King race, but I will need people who live in his district to help.

Even if you don't live precisely in King's district, but you nevertheless live in Long Island, near King's district, please leave a comment and your contact information as well.  You may also be able to help in this effort I'd like to put together.

And if you don't live anywhere near Long Island, I ask that you recommend this diary.  I'd like to get as many Long Islanders to help out on this project as possible, but I can't do that if this diary scrolls down into oblivion.  I need this diary to be visible for long enough that all Long Island people who are interested are able to leave a comment with their contact information.  

Thanks for your support, and now let's focus on taking back the House, the Senate, and New York's Third District.  It's time we got rid of Peter King (the one who is an. . . drum roll please. . . Asshole!) for good!