From the "strange bedfellows" department: Democratic Rep. Steve Israel played host earlier this week to Suffolk Conservative Chairman Edward Walsh, who was his front-row balcony guest at Repubican President George W. Bush's last State of the Union address.
"It was like the Super Bowl of politics," said Walsh, who had a bird's eye view of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama avoiding eye contact as both presidential contenders were ushered into the chamber-- Clinton with Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware) and Obama with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D- Ma.). While Suffolk Conservatives have never endorsed Israel, the minor party was instrumental in his first election because it put up its own candidate in the race rather than endorse Islip's Republican then-town clerk, Joan Johnson.
Not long after the speech, Walsh also got a call from local party members who told him he was named the state party's "Conservative of the Year," which is also known as the Daniel Mahoney Award, named for the state party's founder. Walsh will receive the award at the state party dinner in Albany in April.
Comments (2)
and who ran that campaign....? and who financed the conservative victory for Richie Thompson......? Elaine Leirer, Chairman Emeritus of the Suffolk Conservative Party. She took on the then chair Pat Curcio and the Republican Party and she won. Oh for the good old days. Where is someone with your guts and stamina now ?
it is my opinion that the State is honoring him because they need him to raise money. Suffolk is the only viable organization left.