I reside in Rep. Chris Collins' 27th District. As much as I want Collins to be defeated in the upcoming election, I believe that he will probably win again. I would love to be proven wrong though. It is encouraging to see the Democratic candidate Nate McMurray getting some attention and financial support, but I am not confident that it will be enough. Collins has never represented the constituents of his district. He only cares about his business cronies a/k/a financial supporters who share his ideas and profit from them. But he has his devoted supporters who support him, like Trump has his supporters despite his behavior, so I hope that I will be pleasantly surprised if he is defeated in November, but I'm not counting on it.
5
Ahhhh…I see. When a Republican makes insider trading deals it's baaaaad. When a Democrat makes (or made) insider trading deals, like Pelosi, it's "just an honest mistake" and then the current administration at the time, changes the law to make it "not a good thing to do" if you are a sitting Senator or Congressman, but allows your family to make the trades instead…even perhaps with your own information. Tell your children well…
The only hope is that the Buffalo Republicans who vote will decide that they do not want one more corrupt Republican in Congress.
With the distraction that this indictment brings to Collins, he will not get anything done for them anyway.
3
I'm not optimistic, because tribal Republican voters seem to have zero objective standards.
I think we'll have a lot of "close but no cigar" moments where Dems nearly grab some seats, but fail to do so.
The national Democratic coalition has, sadly, still no decent messaging, no decent leadership (where did they dig up Perez) and few charistmatic candidates. Pelosi and Schumer need to bow out. Gillebrand needs to crawl away in shame for what she did to Al Franken. Decent people like Michigan's Gary Peters are quiet as churchmice, fearing apparently that someone will take offense if they get out there and clamor for progressive action.
I have given up.
4
@Kosher Dill
Don't give up!
I just gave money to Nate McMurray directly.
- https://votemcmurray.com/
I will not give money to the DNC. Instead, I pick and choose candidates to support directly. I mostly give in my own state and district, but I will occasionally give to out-of-state candidates strategically.
I don't care about Tom Perez, with his hipster goatee and his fiery indignation speeches. Instead, I do my own research and support candidates directly.
My wife (a former Republican) is organizing voter registration drives. And we will drive people to the polls on election day.
Most importantly:
VOTE!
10
I don't think the Democrats have a shot at this district this fall, not after Collins was arrested, finger-proofed, mug-shotted, perp-walked and bailed out. I think today's Republicans figure Collins is now one of their made-men and they will vote for him until the cows come home.
Betcha he'll get the Republican nomination from his cell in Otisville the next time around too.
4
Let's not forget he was one of the very few NY Congresspeople to vote in favor of eliminating the deduction for state and local taxes in the GOP Tax "cut" scam.
9
Has Trump tweeted his support for Collins yet?
2
How do we donate to Mr. McMurray?
4
This stinks so bad that it is not only a flagrant case, but a fragrant case. Only the GOP with their greed would think that they could get away with it.
4
According to an article in the WAPO today, insider trading by Congress was LEGAL until Obama banned it in 2012. I guess this was one of those Obama-inspired orders that Trump has been so eager to reverse. I guess it was too far down on his “Obama To-Do List” that he didn’t get to it in time to save Collins.
5
HRC was right about one thing- the "deplorables." Collins, in all of his arrogance and hubris, knows that he'll be re-elected. The "deep state is after him." All of the evidence- mere "alternative facts." This administration and the Republicans have always been about pilfering the U.S. Treasury and subverting laws that hold them accountable. This is where we are and it's not going to get better anytime soon.
6
Today's "Republicans" don't care about their candidates' or representatives' criminal behavior, moral issues, or flagrant and repetitive lying. They don't even care about their Russophilia. Collins could easily be reelected. Disgusting.
5
Trump likes to say he is draining the swamp. What about the Trump swamp or cesspool that resides in the White House and is contaminating our system of government with racists, liars and cheats.
5
In what alternate universe could any alleged Republican candidate this year not have the stench of Trump and Manafort completely baked in?
Trump has succeeded brilliantly at draining the swamp, and replacing it with an open cesspool.
7
No wonder mr. Collins is staying on the ballot, especially if he is conveniently able to continue collecting donations from his republican supporters, which in turn he and his office use to offset the piling costs of impending lawsuit and managerie of lawyers to defend him. Wow and he speaks of the swamp in DC!?
7
The case against Collins is overwhelming. He will almost certainly serve jail time.
One hopes our fellow New Yorkers will not reward this greedy, mendacious Congressman. Buffalo deserves better than a swamp creature like Collins.
9
Options for being off the ballot. “Mr. Collins can either die, move out of the state or run for different office.”
Death sounds like a real good one. Maybe drowning in a swamp.
4
If Collins wins, it means that Trump's corrupt government is here to stay.
5
Again, where are the Trump Tax returns...
6
He sold us out to the GOP administration’s tax cut that targeted New York taxpayers. He has voted against the interests of New Yorkers on healthcare, and he is going after social security. He is a corrupt GOP shill and should be voted out and then sent to prison.
8
I don't think I have ever seen such clear cut evidence of guilt by a politician, even in the court of public opinion. New Yorker's aren't dumb. He will be out in November.
7
A Republican is indicted for insider trading and says he'll run in November, yet the seat is still "likely Republican"?
6
Collins will be re-elected. Republican voters have lost their moral compass.
5
@Chuck
Please, if you think stuff like this only occurs within the republican party you don't know jack. Nancy Pelosi and her husband have been accused of trading on insider information as well. Don't kid yourself. Greed has no party affiliation.
1
@Margo Channing, you're correct that greed has no boundaries. However, the GOP, my party, has lost its moral and ethical compass. We shouldn't be voting for people who violate the law and take advantage of others. Save the "look over there at what Nancy Pelosi allegedly did." No man is above the law.
I need a little help because I keep losing count. Is this guy one of "the best people" or not?
Thanks for the help!
13
I am a voter in Chris Collins' district. He is arrogant and dismissive of anyone who doesn't think just like him. There are many of us who have been ashamed to have him as our representative. We had little hope of unseating him before this indictment. Now let's hope we can give this tool his comeuppance!
24
@Mark - I also live in the 27th district. I agree with everything that you said. He doesn't represent his constituents, after all (as I'm sure you know) he refuses to hold town meetings and is proud of it. Remember the "Where's Chris?" billboard (with a pic of Collins looking like Where's Waldo) that frustrated people paid to be put up on highway? He could have cared less.
4
Based on publicly available information, this is one of the most flagrant cases of insider trading imaginable. Assuming a conviction is obtained there should be some prison time for Collins.
12
Of course NY can flip the district. NY will make America great again by kicking the Repugnants out.
8
Anyone who continues to vote Republican after what the party has done at all levels of Government over recent years frankly needs their head examined.
18
Collins is a crook, pure and simple. If the MAGA-heads in upstate New York are so benighted that they would rather elect a criminal to represent them in order to support Emperor Donald the Dumb, they absolutely deserve the representation they are receiving. If Collins did this once, imagine how many other criminal acts he has committed. Also imagine how many campaign donor dollars are going to defend him in court. If I were one of his constituents, I would be sick of this kind of behavior, but I actually care about the state of our nation. The Trump supporters clearly only care about being loyal to their cult (not even Republican!)
11
@William O. Beeman,
New Jersian democrats will no doubt re-elect a democratic crook of their own. None other than Bob Menendez. Spare us the holier than though attitude of the dems.
A proud indie voter.
1
@Margo Channing
FYI Trump's justice department dropped all charges against Menendez. We'll see what happens with Collins.
The rule of law is dead.
Ample evidence was available when greedy criminals savaged and crashed the world economy with absolutely no repercussions.
What deterrent is there for financial predators who have the destruction of America for personal gain in their sights?
6
@Grove
We can all thank Eric Holder fro doing absolutely nothing on that front. And now I hear he wants to run for POTUS. Perfect job for yet another empty suit.
1
@Margo Channing, do you think Collins would want to be up against Holder as a prosecutor on his trial? I bet not. Way not.
A sad irony is that if Andrew Cuomo didn't allow the NY senate to remain Republican, as a counter-balance to the Democratic controlled Assembly, Collins wouldn't be in such a GOP-leaning district. Take a look. His district is carefully gerrymandered between Buffalo and Rochester, with Democratic voting areas carved out. Moreover, that Collins practically can't be replaced on the ballot is due to our 2-term governor maintaining NY election law that today is one of the most complex, opaque, and bureaucratic (i.e., non-democratic) in the country.
5
Yes, Cuomo has been a complete coward in failing to confront the state GOP and the Dems who have played along.
1
That the Republican Party can continue to hold power in federal politics is remarkable. How do they do it? Lots of money, power, media support and confused voters. They have the Kochs and other assets from very wealthy supporters; Fox news, Hannity, Limbaugh, "talk" radio...that every moment of every day hammer what they describe as liberals who want open borders, dangerous illegal aliens, free benefits for everyone, destroy our military, and on and on.
Angry voters seem to buy this. When they get their news from these sources, including a President who will say anything so long as it's an attack on Democrats, how do Democrats respond effectively?
Democrats need more spine to take this on forcefully, with need leaders who can make it clear that it is the Democratic Party that is promoting their interests: environment, fair taxes, reduced weapons, a reasonable expense for military, help for elderly citizens, help for young students...and a concern that the monies spent by the government are not squandered.
Democrats need to promote candidates who are strong, evoke a concern for all of those not within the 1%, but don't allow themselves to be tagged as socialists or extremists.
Also, for the good of the party and for the country as a whole, Nancy Pelosi needs to resign now as minority leader. We need strong women, but while Ms. Pelosi may be a good fundraiser, she is hardly telegenic, too easy a target, and can continue fundraising without being minority leader.
8
@Peter Lobel: sympathetic ideas, generally speaking.
i, too, wish democrats grew a stronger spine, and fast.
and not just in the US but the globe over!
yet, may i ask, who, among the whole lot,
fits your definition of "telegenicity"?
is it about not being an "easy target"?
or about being physically appealing?
1
I hate to tell people this, but a lot of wealthy people don't see anything wrong with insider trading.
I'm serious. Someone I know who is not in the finance industry but who has plenty of money in stocks, asked me to explain what was wrong with it. Why can't people who are lucky enough to have information pass it along? When I offered a scenario, like, let's say neither you nor your financial advisor were in on "the secret" and you lost a fortune because of it while others avoided losing their shirts, wouldn't you think it unfair?
He says, well, there's lots of things in life that aren't fair.
And I replied, yes, and sometimes we manage to pass laws to even out the unfairness. This is one of those times.
He didn't seem convinced.
From information another commenter has offered, namely that Mr. Collins' district is highly gerrymandered, I wouldn't be counting on the voters. The wealthy ones won't think insider trading is criminal; the poor ones will be easily convinced that the wealthy ones are right.
Are you allowed to be a U. S. Representative from prison? You know, I never thought I'd ever have to ask myself a question like that.
16
@CF
It is the system that suffers from insider trading. If all men were angels we would need no rules. It is actions like that of which the Collins gang is accused that destroy that trust. It is the even application of the law that restores somewhat the trust.
1
Martha Stewart did time for less.
15
@gnowell
Indeed, a whole lot less. Her take on that trade fro Imclone? Roughly $27K. The broker banned from the industry for life and she lost her company. Think on that.
3
The second-to-last paragraph of this article tells you all you need to know about why this year's elections will not be a cakewalk for the Democratic Party.
2
The Republicans will stand by their man. The party is led by a crook. Yep: this fish has not rotted from the top!!! So why expect anything to happen to Collins?
7
How sad is it that the district is still likely Republican? Goes to show that we all realize how many Republicans are willing to ally themselves with criminals and hostile foreign nations to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.
11
It's almost refreshing when it's just good old-fashioned Republican corruption instead of Republican treason these days.
23
Nobody is trying to force Collins to resign, most believing he has a right to a fair trial.
This is more consideration than Senator Al Franken got once Kirsten Gillibrand went after him. Franken wasn't even allowed to have the Senate ethics hearing he requested. Gillibrand plans to run in 2020 and she was in a hurry to get rid of a powerful rival.
21
Gillibrand is awful. I hope she is shunned.
@fast/furious
3
@fast/furious
I'm a woman and a Democrat, yet I will donate $$ to any rival of Gillibrand. She needs to be broomed away as fast as possible, at any cost.
3
I want to comment on this as a resident of Buffalo and therefore someone who’s has some local knowledge about this district.
NY 27 is a recently gerrymandered district that skirts the Democratic cities of Buffalo and Rochester and grabs up all the wealthy suburbs AND the rural voters. It’s a ridiculous district in that voters who live in two entirely separate metro areas (Buffalo and Rochester) share it.
Many of these voters are standard issue high income white suburbanites. That’s a very Republican demographic, but includes people who are not Trumps base, specifically white women who voted for Trump but seem, demographically, to have quickly lost their taste for him.
McMurray, the Democrat running in this race, is a moderate with an appealing background, also a suburban guy, an Eagle Scout. He may very well appeal to the kind of voters who could be peeled away from the R’s.
Collin’s ethical issues have been local news for a long time now. The Buffalo News has actually been all over this story for almost a year. Collins is also just an awful politician, he’s deeply unlikeable. He has absolutely NO personal appeal whatsoever, which is probably why he has consistantly refused to debate McMurray who seems quite charming.
I think under these new circumstances McMurray has a decent chance.
59
@Karen Nate McMurray has strong grassroots support. The Democratic Party would do well to put more cash into his campaign.
10
@Karen
Frankly, however much I want to believe this somewhat hopeful scenario -- I am sorry I just can't.
It is just hard for me to imagine people who voted for Trump to think rationally and vote for someone over a Trumpite. Be it suburban women, or what ever category name you call them by. They may do it by mistake -- but actually by thinking through the issues?
All of Trumps grotesque flaws were plain for everyone to see well before the election. Sorry.. It is like expecting rationality from someone who intentionally ate doggy do (just once) in the past.
3
Term limits would help to reduce the arrogance of politicians who over time develop "connections."
Tell me how else their net worth can skyrocket once they feel secure about being reelected. They all become robbers and crooks, and the system encourages them to do it.
The temptation to take a risk is too strong and, given time, wins.
They all do it, most never get caught. Documenting sources of their net worth increases at the end of a shortened term would undoubtedly discourage this "new normal."
5
I’m a cliche. Highly-educated suburban woman who went from soccer mom to first-time Democratic political activist. The values I hold dear—integrity, rationality, compassion, fiscal responsibility—have been trampled by the Republican Party. Therefore, I’m abandoning that party for good. I’d be “up in Dave Brat’s grill” with respectful questions, if only I could find him. Abigail Spanberger is on track to flip Virginia’s 7th. I have and will continue to walk miles to help her do it. As goes this district so goes the House.
22
@Karen Soule - To me you are a hero. Thank you.
11
@Karen Soule
Bravo, for standing up for those values, and for actively supporting a candidate who also upholds them!
Best wishes for success! Others around the world are watching, and hoping for positive change.
8
@Kelly you go girl.I have 100 women who have spent the last year getting out the vote,canvassing,registering and running themselves when possible across the USA.It's time women took over...men have had their chance and frankly blown it.
1
If the "good people" of his district re-elect him in November, it is clear that they are morally corrupt and just as bad as he is.
17
We have a great candidate running against Collins in the NY-27: Nate McMurray!
www.votemcmurray.com
Not perhaps what “some” Democratic power brokers wanted - actually the national and state party didn’t care and had written the District off. But turns out there has been quite the grassroots upswell (folks who feel totally unserved by Chris Collins and who decided to look for a candidate even a year ago.) Several potential candidates came forward, then grassroots activists instigated a process that called upon several of the Democratic County Committees to participate together and Nate came through that process as the endorsed candidate of four (I believe) County Democratic Committees in this huge district. A mini-primary of sorts. All this happened BEFORE Governor Cuomo decided he wanted to have Kathy Hochul land somewhere and out of the Lieutenant Governor’s race. But Nate McMurray, now the endorsed candidate, refused to step aside and Kathy really didn’t want in. Nate and Kathy have now endorsed each other. (Don’t get me wrong: I worked for Kathy in both her campaigns for Congress. She was a good fit for our district. But the timing this time was off and Nate is a wonderful candidate. Down to earth, with fire in his belly and humility and compasssion in his heart. And he shows it and promises to show up - (the polar opposite of Collins!)
18
Vote for the crook. It's important.
1
@Chris...what???don't get it
1
A recent Economist study cited Buffalo as one of the nation's most liberal cities with a population of >250,000 - https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2014/08/04/urban-ideologies -this district, however, is among the most conservative in the state. Here's why - NY-27 includes the second/third tier suburban, exurban and rural areas between Buffalo and Rochester. It is classified as R 11. NY-26 (Buffalo and Niagara Falls) and NY-25 (Rochester) are D 11 and D 8 respectively. It is a flagrant example of gerrymandering. Before the districts were redrawn in 2013, the seat was held by democrat Brian Higgins, who now occupies the seat for NY-26. I feel that most of the media outlets on this topic have failed to accurately describe this district or its history.
18
This is likely a common story. The Ohio special election featured a fraction of Columbus and near suburbs plus several more rural counties. Looking at the special election results, the Republican won in every county (some were close, some were not) except Franklin, where the city of Columbus is located. In Franklin, the Democrat won by an almost 2-1 ratio even though the district does not include the city center.
If the map-drawer included too much more of Columbus, the more rural counties might feel short-changed. As is, the seat was only competitive because the president is uniquely terrible and his party has mostly been spineless about countering him.
1
For the good of the countries survival America needs to shut the GOP party down. Their is so much corruptness with their leader Trump and his members. Since they souls their soles to Trump and continue to support these evil members they will continue to reap what they sow. This man supported him from day one. What else will they discover in his closet.
11
Amazing isn't it, that once upon a time when Bill Clinton lied about having "sex with that woman" ALL Republicans were aghast?! Republican-holier-than-thou types clutched pearls, nodded their coifed heads and pointed to their bibles as they judge and condemned Bill Clinton!
Republicans not only voted for a man who bragged about being able to "kill someone in Times Square and still get elected" and grabbing women by "their ...." AND they will reelect Collins...who is a crook and thief! Deplorable! See....Mrs. Clinton was right.
Hey Buffalo Republicans, you re-elect Chris Collins and you will prove that Republicans have sold their souls and have no moral compass!
Republicans can never again brag about character, family values, faith, morals, etc., etc. They are totally......corrupt!
34
Typical GOP liar and thief. Tip of the iceberg; the're ALL in on it every thieving one of them, they've been doing insider trading for years. JAIL for Republican crooks, liars and traitors - ALL of them.
17
@Ignatz Farquad
Does that same justice go for crooked Dems too?
@Margo Channing
Keep watching Fox News, Margo. This is the false equivalency nonsense Republican liars and crooks ceaselessly promote to distract a dumbed down Fox addled public from their high crimes and misdemeanors against our country, including treason in 2016.
For Democratic corruption, justice, yes. But in point of fact Democratic corruption is to Republican corruption what jaywalking is to murder. They hide 25 grand in a freezer, Republicans stash millions in off shore accounts.
And there is not one scintilla of evidence that any Democrat conspired with Russia to throw an American election.
Democrats: Inept, undisciplined, off message, perhaps moderately corrupt, spineless: yes.
Traitors, no. That honor - as well as a suite of jail cells - is reserved for Republicans.
"Mr. Collins had $1.3 million in his campaign account,"
Well, we know what he did to get those millions
Remember, this is the Republican Congressman who said that his donors told him that unless the Republicans passed their tax (give away to the wealthy) bill, he should not call them for any more campaign contributions.
https://www.businessinsider.com/chris-collins-donors-trump-tax-plan-bill...
He may have been the only pay-to-play Republican who said it out loud, but no doubt many other Republicans did the same, both for the tax bill, and, for NRA/Russian money fighting against even the mildest gun protections.
18
Democrats cannot count on such indictments to win.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
They need new strategies to take the House in November.
I suggest that they hold "idea contests" to find better strategies.
For example, what about democratic campaign songs old and new?
I was thinking of Pete Seegar's "If I had a Hammer". Another song I like is Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind". Here it is with lyrics:
One idea I have is to look for inspiring songs, such as Peter Seeger's "If I had a Hammer" song. Another song I like is:
"Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan. Here it is with lyrics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ele0YU-hH7A
The answer, my friend is blowin' in the wind...
2
Look, if Republican voters will put up with Trump, his lies, moral failings and economic nonsense -- and his slapdash foreign policy -- they will accept a thief. Insider trading sounds so technical.
I'm afraid if the guy stands upright and looks calm, Republican voters will return him to office, causing leadership indigestion. But they always come around, too.
It's amazing what people are willing to overlook for political gain.
10
What truly sickens me, is when I read or view that stalwart of integrity, Newt Gingrich contributing a sound bite, concerning ethics, morality and Congressional Law. The good Catholic, watch him try and spin this month's release of rapist priests....SNAP!
10
The comment section will be full of "Republicans and Trumpsters are corrupt" stuff, but, note how the Dems in the congress and senate will stay mum over this one. They all trade on their little secrets, and it started at the local level, when infrastructure projects created sweet future RE deals, or no bid contracts were given to friends. The Senate is filled with lifelong politicians who are quite wealthy, and their wealth grew dramatically while they were in office, performing public service on modest salaries. Collins was just dumb enough not to use a burner phone for these calls. They may be rich, but, still pretty stupid.
6
Perhaps, but it seems ...if one is counting there's a lot more corruption on the Republican side! If you do some research they are often the ones getting caught in a web of lies and debauchery!
13
The Clintons have declared over 250 million dollars in personal income since they left the White House, which is, what, about 18 years? 250 million dollars! In a pretty short period. Isn't that just a higher end, more polite form of corruption?
1
The corruption in Republican circles is overwhelming. If you think of Wilbur Ross' machinations you are kind of aghast.
I hope Chris Collins will be voted out in November. He is not bearable anymore.
11
Chris Collins, Roy Moore, Joe Arpaio, Donald Trump - there's a nest of them in the swamp.
21
@recharge37 "I alone can fix it". Donald Trump, July 2016.
Yesiree. Along with draining the swamp.
What did he fix, and what swamp was drained?
It may be true that politicians of all political leanings engage is shady practices, but, when the party in control continues to preach they are the party of good government it becomes laughable given the antics of Trump with his self-dealing and enrichment at the expense of the taxpayers along with the questionable antics of some of his cabinet appointees and the Trump hangers-on in our Congress.
I suppose those politicians that are caught committing crimes are following by example.
14
Has he no shame? Collins stood there and steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, when just hours before the FBI presented a litany of irrefutable facts pointing to his and his family's culpability in a vast insider trading scandal. Looks like the Collins Crime Family is joining the Trump Crime Family in America's deep well of opprobrium.
62
@H. Clark And don't forget that when the late, great Louise Slaughter raised a question about this very matter, Collins called her a "despicable human being."
1
It really does seem that the words "indicted" and "Republican" almost form a compound word; they ought to rhyme. Meanwhile, in Washington, the GOP bigwigs do... nothing.
8
Is there going to be 100 percent Democratic turnout? Is the Republican party going to grow a conscience? Is a multi-multi-millionaire going to get shoddy representation? Then yea, of course he's gong to have to resign when he's convicted.
6
The House Ethics Committee has been investigating Collins since last year. Now he is stripped of his chairmanship. If voters in his district re-elect him in November they deserve what they get. His seat will eventually open up. The publicly reported evidence against this idiot is pretty strong. Who knows what else the Justice Department has got on him and his son.
21
Republicans will very likely increase their support! He’s a perfect fit!
8
We need to start pairing the word corruption with Republicans.
11
@Mari,
So by that logic all Democrats are on the up and up and squeaky clean.
Last I heard Shelly Silverstein may be headed to the big house. No one party is immune to greed and corruption.
I went right to McMurray's website and did some research. He would be a HUGE improvement for the district. He's a Boy Scout. That is, he is an actual Eagle Scout. And a Fulbright Scholar. Born and raised in the area, Claims to have "Erie Canal water in his blood," which actually sounds kind of gross.
I sent along a contribution, and I hope he is getting a lot more. Frankly, the national Democrats haven't been particularly useful in upstart campaigns, even for people who ended up winning (cough Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez cough).
McMurray is for Medicare for All, sees the legalization of marijuana as a boon for area farmers, and looks like a great fit for the district.
The thing that will save the Democrats, if they realize it, is that they must be a party with members ranged well across the spectrum: from Democratic Socialists to Joe Manchin, and everyone in between.
93
Republican voters don't care about ethics. They voted for this president, didn't they? Insider trading will bounce off the surface of their consciousness and they'll blame their opponents for another witch hunt.
20
63 million people who voted for Trump knew what they were getting - a fraud and a fabulist who bilked people, had four bankruptcies, left others to deal with the weight of his debt, and WOULD NOT RELEASE HIS TAXES. And they voted for him anyway. They knew he was ethically challenged and they wanted him to lie and cheat for THEM. The swamp was the pesky regulation that prevented his rich buddies from making more money (a miracle that Price, Pruitt and now Collins are getting caught) and gave low income people a semblance of a break-read: food stamps, Medicare. Draining the swamp - was the swamp of poor who were losers. Repubs hooted and hollered their approval.
Trump never wanted to bring a new civic morality to Washington. Why, it is not how he got ahead? His shady dealings only brought him in contact with others involved in shady dealings (hello Wilbur Ross and Carl Icahn), otherwise known as the "best" people. 63 million people knew all along he was going to import his own rich swamp ("you don't 'mind if I appoint billionaires to my cabinet") and they hooted and hollered their approval. Republicans believe all this ethics hooey is for snowflakes. Real MEN are rich, cheat and don't pay taxes. NOT paying taxes and profligate profiteering is a Republican's divine right, so why would any of the sins of Manfort, Pruitt, Price, matter to your average Trump supporter? They admire ill-gotten gains and rapacious behavior and Trump and cabinet are their spirit guides.
29
@Rob except that only a very small fraction of the 63 million have anything near a million. They just like the idea that it's OK for them to cheat, steal, lie and not follow rules so they emulate the rich people in behavior if not in actual wealth.
1
Trump, Collins, the GOP leadership...all birds of a feather. Corruption abounds in the Republican Party of today. We must get rid of all of them in the elections ahead.
20
The corruption is not that he may have used insider trading to short stocks with that information.
The corruption is that ANY member of the government is allowed to be on boards (without putting their businesses into blind trusts) in the first place, while they make the laws that govern said boards and businesses. It is by default insider trading.
The President is taking the whole thing much further by blatantly and consistently breaking the emoluments clause of the Constitution.
36
90% of the Republican Party supports a blatantly corrupt pathological liar as President of the United States of America.
They have outed themselves as a party of thieves and liars (for those of us that didn't already know).
The real Deep State is the global billionaires and their global corporations that dictate government policy (against the obvious desires of the majority of citizens) through secret donations.
One way that they hide secret donations is to give inside information on stock prices to politicians. One phone call netted Collins' son half a million dollars.
The country is "polarized" because the "center" has been hijacked by these global billionaires who also own controlling shares in all mass media outlets, either directly, or through six global conglomerates.
Trump calls others names that apply to him to distract and confuse the People, because he knows exactly how to manipulate mass media and its propensity to favor global corporations. (Look how the business media hyped the "sharing economy," without ever pointing out that no one was actually "sharing," which by definition does not involve payment.)
Trump calls people names that apply to him.
He calls people "liars."
He makes up fake news, then calls the truth "fake news."
He calls people "corrupt."
Trump brags about bribing all of the other candidates, then calls the Justice Department and the FBI (who investigate bribery) the "Deep State."
Trump is of the Deep State, and he is too arrogant to hide it.
30
"C.C." not only stands for Chris Collins, but now Crony Capitalism. He's the poster-boy for the corrupt cesspool that has replaced "the swamp." He needs to resign, but if he, like so many New York pols of both parties, has the arrogance and the chutzpah to stay on the ballot I hope the voters will banish this crooked Congressman. #DraintheCesspool
16
Trump as an individual does not represent the Republican Party or America. He embodies the ability of grifters to shamelessly display corruption in the name of governance. People like Price, Collins, Manafort, Gates, etc., etc,
are cut from the same cloth. Shame on those who allow this to continue to fester.
5
@Daniel B - I respectfully disagree. Trump absolutely represents the Republican party.
19
@Daniel B
"Trump as an individual does not represent the Republican Party or America."
He most certainly does represent the Republican Party, which shares his love of welfare for the wealthy, in the shape of tax cuts and friendly Supreme Court justices.
25
Donald IS the Republican Party! He IS everything they stand for! Pay attention and you too, will see it. Republicans are corrupt to the core!
11
Is it within the campaign regulations to use campaign funds to defend yourself personally for allegedly corrupt behaviour?
12
Don't believe it is. Good question.
6
Trump so blatantly and consistent defies the law, his buddy Collins just followed suit.
Bet Collins is counting on a Trump pardon already!
49
Given the facts outlined in the Law Enforcement news conference on the Collins insider trading indictment, by Trump appointed US Attorney for the Southern District of NY, Geoffrey Berman, it appears to me that Collins's defense attorney's assertions of confidence that his client will be fully exonerated are simply untethered from any recognition of the rather straightforward and compelling evidence presented by the prosecution. I'm heartened by recent instances of our legal system beginning to bring to account, white collar criminals such as Collins and his co-conspirators, Manafort, Gates, Flynn, and Cohen. All willing to break the law in the name of greed. I eagerly await the next revelations about Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, and the Conductor of this chorus of corruption, he of tax return non-transparency, the coin operated Russian Money Laundromat King, Don the Con Trump.
18
Well said!
2
Video of Rep. Collins at the Congressional picnic where he learned that the stock was about to tank shows him very focused on and bent over what appears to be his cell phone. That coincides with the alleged timing of his calls to his son to sell, sell, sell, which is a classic violation of insider trading laws. I hope that Buffalo’s Republican struggling middle class voters will not be duped into forgiving this egregious criminal conduct by an already very wealthy man ($66 million net worth in 2015 largely due to pharmaceutical and health products industries investments) whose greed apparently has no bounds. They and every other American deserve public servants who serve we, the people, and who don’t view public office as a means to enrich themselves and their families.
45
"...but would not speak about 'any issues related to Innate Immunotherapeutics outside of the courtroom.'”
Collins (in my mind): Voters, I have been accused of insider trading. There are phone records, texts and videotape of me. But I don't want to talk about that.
What's more important, my fellow Buffalans (Buffaloes? Buffalians? Buffalites?) is keeping me in Congress. Don't ask me about that thing I don't want to talk about; that would be a reckless disregard of your responsibility. Your responsibility here is to elect a Donald Trump crony, whether he's a crook or not (he is). Don't let the fake news make you actually think about what you are doing.
26
Democrats need only run on the rampant corruption of this administration[along with their regular platform of health care, the environment,infrastructure..you know, things that benefit everyone]In all my 72 years never have I witnessed such a group of sleazy crooks.Price,Pruitt,Zinke,Ross,Collins,Trump,his entire family.,Mnuchin ad nauseam..and let us not forget Trump Univ.and Trump foundation and this is just scratching the surface.So if everyone turns a deaf ear to the Democrats mantra, "we are all in this together," bring these grifters down for the good of we honest citizens.
23
@susan mccall
Great ad for the Trump campaign 2020...
"I pick the Best People!.... Flynn, Manafort, Gates, Papadopolous, Price, Pruitt, Zinke, Ross, Collins, Bannon, Porter."
7
@JM. You forgot the moronic betsy devos
@susan mccall
query whether the American people care about corruption anymore as long as their 401K is doing well, taxes are low, a wall is built, have their white privilege restored and it is perfectly acceptable to demonize people of color. Trump's negatives are not nearly low enough to reflect that people are tired of the grifting.
1
Every week brings yet another indictment, trial or conviction of a crooked Trump GOP lackey. Now it’s Rep. Collins, an early Trump follower. The Republican Party is now the party of grifters, liars, and con men: just like its leader Trump.
50
Who is the Democrats running against Representative Collins? Some "eliminate ice", pro illegal immigration individual? If so, I am going to guess that Collins will win re-election hands down.
(Separating children from families was and is wrong. The decision to do it came from the tippy top of our Federal Government).
2
@Butch
Republican response to Collins: Well I'm sure the Democrats do it all the time too.
5
@Butch
here is some information re Nate McMurray
https://votemcmurray.com/issues/
3
@Butch, don't be so cynical the message "abolish ICE, let everyone in" is simply a meme promoted by the GOP! The Republicans have no new ideas, nothing but lies and fear to get their base out.
Buffalo is a major Middle Class city, the Democrat has a good chance of appealing to the folks whose Medicare is about to be cut, whose kids needs healthcare and who need a pay raise!
4
With all of the gerry mandering of districts and the Russian hacking of voting systems, Democrats will never hold the House ever again.
1
@mrpisces
Have you noticed what's occurring in Ohio this week? True, the Democrat might very well lose the election, but using conventional wisdom, he should not have come within shouting distance and he's less than a whisper away.
5
Don't go and bet on this! Not only are Democrats fires up. But ALSO Independents and Moderates in the GOP! The FACT that in a very red district a young Democrat got within a percentage of winning....is prove enough that the Republicans are in deep trouble!
4
@mrpisces Jennifer and Mari you have to remember you can't lose your way to victory. The big news is that the Green Party is yet again a spoiler in a critical election.
2
For crying out loud, WHY was Collins allowed to hold a press conference AFTER his indictment?
12
@Robin Avery BTW, isn't Ghouliani obstructing justice with his public comments?
4
@Robin Avery As much as I detest a crook like Collins and believe the evidence outlined in Trump appointed US Attorney SDNY, Berman's news conference announcing the indictment of Collins and his co-conspirators will result in convictions, that due process of law has not yet taken place and Mr. Collins has the same rights as any citizen to express his opinions, via news conference or whatever other means he wishes. That said, I do look forward to him having that due process of law exercised and appropriate justice administered based on the evidence.
Lock him up!
5
Investigate the other lawmakers who were in on the stock deal; there were at least 4 of them. GOP is corrupt; power and money is their golden gods. Trump right at the top. Vote out GOP . Ray Sipe
68
Republican voters are not paying any attention to the scandals that are enveloping their representatives, or their president. Each new revelation of wrongdoing only causes the GOP faithful to double down and dismiss these charges as media bias.
The president’s upcoming appearance in upstate New York will serve to remind his supporters that the swamp is alive and well in Washington. Most Americans would be repelled by that reality but his base won’t care.
17
You are right, most of his base which is actually about 26% of Americans don't even read nor watch the news.
7
@Mari -- you are right, except that the base watches Fox News. The president was right when he said he loved "the uneducated people". His uninformed supporters out there elected him and he still scorns them, and they still don't know it.
GOP is corrupt. GOP voters leave a criminal? Not likely.Vote out GOP for Democracy. Ray Sipe
12
An associate in the Trump Crime Family, USA Division. At least he's not Russian. Right, GOP ???
21
"At least he's not Russian."
Maybe we can be sure, if only he'd show us his long form birth certificate and college transcripts...
6
At this point, I am not surprised at all by the level of corruption shown by our elected officials. I'm mainly disappointed that they're all so terrible at crime.
8
Throw Martha Stewart in jail, but Republicans want to re-elect male Collins for the same crime?
Misogyny, anyone?
Good thing Martha's white, or she might still be sitting there, in the white man's cage.
--from a white Grandma
78
@jlb I'm thinking Trump will soon be giving Martha Stewart a pardon as a warm up act for his post conviction pardon of Collins. Just as Trumpolini winked at Paul Manafort to let him know that he had him covered as long as he didn't snitch, by pardoning Scooter Libby.
3
@jlb
Well, easy there. I'm with you, but let's keep in mind he has not been convicted yet. So let's see how that goes.
But yes, if I were Hillary Clinton I would be very interested in property in, oh, I dunno, Andorra? Montenegro? (slim pickings in terms of extradition) You, know, a "vacation" home. Because I do think this psychopath is gonna try something with her. He's pretty much boxed himself in with his base and his rally rhetoric and he has no sense of limits about anything.
1
By the way, this is what McMurray should say: "You, Mr. Collins, have said you will not talk about your arrest on insider trading except inside the courtroom. That's fine. I want our debate to be held in the courtroom."
15
If Collins is convicted of a felony can he legally run for congress? Can he legally vote in any election?
Can he legally be seated as a congressman if elected?
Does the felony go away if pardoned by trump, or just the jail time?
Isn’t this what Martha Stewart did prison time for?
Will they “ lock him up”?
16
Collins will likely lose his seat in November, then be appointed by Trump to run the SEC where he can Pruitt away more unnecessary regulations that are ruining our country.
1
I grew up in Buffalo and although I don't live there anymore my commitment to ethics, learned at Catholic schools there, continues to plagues me. So I hire a CPA to do my taxes, avoid ethical conflicts (as an NYC employee) with great determination, and try to live a decent life. My reward: a middle-class life with a stock portfolio that I hope will last until my wife and I die. Then I look at persons like Mr. Collins and his family members, as well as Trump and Manifort and their ilk, and see that folks have no regard for basic ethics. Their reward: millions in portfolios and secret accounts. I would like to believe that the Buffalonians I grew up with will not support Mr. Collins.
121
Collins does nor represent Buffalo, he represents the white only suburbs that surround Buffalo. He could never win an election if he ran in our district.
11
@MW
Being from a Catholic school background I'm sure you've heard the parable about the rich man and the eye of a needle. Maybe someday we'll find out how true that is.
6
Correct - NY-27 includes the second/third tier suburban, exurban and rural areas between Buffalo and Rochester. It is classified as R 11. NY-26 (Buffalo and Niagara Falls) and NY-25 (Rochester) are D 11 and D 8 respectively. It is a flagrant example of gerrymandering. Before the districts were redrawn in 2013, the seat was held by democrat Brian Higgins, who now occupies the seat for NY-26. I feel that most of the media outlets on this topic have failed to accurately describe this district or its history.
4
There's no telling what people who think that voting for DJT by 6 out of 10 is the right thing to do will do faced with the reflexive vote for a person who may, unlikely, be locked up on election day.
It's understandable not to vote against someone who is hospitalized, but the lockup?
Anyway, it's almost daily that someone who has been making big bucks as a Republican is either mustered out of a government job or indicted while in office or some such inevitability.
You may say I am biased. It is not a bias to recognize it's never a good idea to side with those who swear to cut out all your supports, even those hard earned by honest work and those who consider Social Security, a retirement that is bought and paid for, as an entitlement. It is an entitlement but only in the correct and fair meaning.
42
"The timing of the indictment, less than three months before the election, would seem to pose a disadvantage to Mr. Collins."
Key words: "would seem to." Never underestimate a Republican's ability to win by any means fair and foul, and a Democrat's ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
This guy is already using huge amounts of campaign contribution money to pay his lawyers and refuses to debate his opponent. He will assure his low-information voters that the charges against him are fake news and a plot by Nancy Pelosi to unfairly target him, and they will believe it with proud defiance. That's what McMurray had better be ready for.
57
@Pat
Yes
90% of the Republican Party supports a corrupt pathological liar to be president of the United States.
The rule of law is a search for truth. That is what Perry Mason was doing, getting people to blurt out the truth in court.
A pathological liar in charge of faithfully executing the laws of the land is a Constitutional Crisis, and they are cheering him on.
It is time for Democrats to stop trying to compromise with a party of liars and conmen and start fighting for the working people of this country. That is how you win elections and defeat thieves and liars.
10
Democrat Nate McMurray vs. Crooked, Corrupt Chris Collins Trump Republican Swamper, Buffalo.
Such a tough choice on November 6 2018, Buffalo.
An honest town supervisor...or a Republican Rip-Off Con Artist ?
What an agonizing decision.
126
The gerrymandered 27th District does not include the city of Buffalo, but its suburbs. These are towns where “Repeal the Safe Act” signs are a common sight.The Democrats will need to dig deep to have a chance even given the charges against Collins.
10
Nate needs to appeal to the Middle Class Republicans, talk about the shrinking Medicare budget cut by Republicans, and he needs to talk about how the number one reason for the elderly to fill bankruptcy is healthcare costs! Nate has to focus strictly on bread and butter issues.
2
@Socrates
And who will be surprised when the Republican Rip-Off Con Artist wins?
How does this happen?
2
I don't know what Trump voters were cheering for when he repeatedly promised them that he was going to "drain the swamp".If it was not indicting people who make a lot of money for friends and relatives by ignoring rules about illegal stock trading, I can't imagine what they were thinking.Price and Pruitt were banished for living high on the taxpayers dime- cheating in the stock market ranks right up there.This case will allow Democrats to assert that the swamp has grown and is flourishing.
86
@Janet Michael - That's OK, Trump voters didn't know either.
4
@Janet Michael
They were cheering for lying and stealing and greed and hate and violence, and 90% of the Republican Party still is.
There is no compromise with liars, because they lie.
8
@Janet Michael
"Drain the swamp" ALWAYS meant the folks trumpsters despise. WE are the swamp they intend to drain.
2