Cross Posted on DailyKos

Now that the furor over Spitzer's prostitution-prosecution scandal has died down and Governor Paterson has been sworn in, things can get back to normal in New York's Capital Region. The region is home to the 21st New York Congressional District, where two amazing things are happening.

First, we have five announced candidates in a Democratic primary to fill retiring Representative Mike McNulty's seat, something that has never happened in the district before.

Second, out of all these five candidates, only one, Phil Steck, is distancing himself from the pack by joining local doctors and advocating for full, single-payer, universal health care. He's doing this for two main reasons: first, because it makes sense, and second, because no matter who gets elected President this year, once we have the White House, we're going to need Congressmen who are able to push him or her to keep their promises.

More below the fold.

It was Thursday night. I was sick as a dog, and nobody would cover my closing shift in a little gas station in a little town. I sludged through mopping the floors, coughing and shivering, and I figured as sick as I was, nothing could possibly agitate my illness any further. So turning on the GOP presidential debate couldn't have been too risky, could it?

Crossposted on DailyKos.com

I thought I would be waiting until February 5th to decide for whom I would cast my primary vote for President. I thought I would weight out each candidate's positions and traits pragmatically, and decide which one best fit me, vowing to abandon any "gut" feeling that may cloud my judgment.