Dan, another non-story. Why are you covering the nots and bolts of the campaign rather than issues? I mean you could just have easily written this story as “Will Welch attack Pike or sit back and let him go at it with Dr. Trivendi (sp?)?” If you are going to do these process-oriented / insider baseball stories (which many academics caution against), at least focus on the real issues — who will and will not remain a candidate. Sept 30 is a real deadline that will impact this race.

It would be interesting to see what the Schroder, Costello, and Welch campaigns think about various hot button issues.

Here some all of the comments from Pike supporters about how great he is. Maybe while they are at it they can answer whhat hospital he served as chairman of:

From his website “He served for 10 years as the chairman of the board for a hospital.”

I posed this question a few days ago on the boards and none of Pike’s supporters could or would identify the hospital. If he is going to put that on his resume, the least he can do is identify the hopsital so we can know what type of job he did as chairman. Did the hopital go under or was it a great success? Did they do a good job of caring for patients, or was access restricted? Lets have the facts please!

Stosh: why so negative? Pressure getting to you at Trivedi for Congress HQ?

Hey ChesCo Tom,

I just wanted to clarify that, as an insider political news Web site, the so-called “inside baseball” stories are exactly what we are trying to cover.

I understand that the lack of issue-based policy coverage can be disconcerting. As a journalist who, frankly, agrees that my industry focuses too much on the nitty-gritty politics, I agree with you to a great extent.

But pa2010.com is a niche site, and the day-to-day political maneuvering is what we’ll be primarily focusing on.

That being said, as the contours of these races become solidified and the policy debates begin in earnest, rest assured that I am determined to make room on our pages for substantive coverage of the issues.

Thank you for your feedback. I hope this answers your concerns. Don’t ever hesitate to e-mail me at editor@pa2010.com.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

Dan Hirschhorn

Do a story on why Dike Pike’s hospital experience isn’t listed.

It’s because its a fabrication. Do a story, do a story!

Because I dare to question a huge gaping hole in Pike’s resume I’m suddenly being labeled a Trivedi supporter? The other day I was being called a Costello supporter by the Pikers.

And since when is posing a resonable question “negative”?

Must be easy to try to pigeon-hole anyone who doesn’t see eye to eye with your narrow world view as your “enemy.”

What hospital was it? What hospital was it?

I think this would be a mistake by Pike if he chose to focus too much on the Republicans before the primary. Trivedi is a strong opponent. Pike has money and he started early which clearly gives him the early edge. My impression is that Trivedi will be much stronger on the issues and will energize people better. I just think Pike has a horrible personality.

Go ahead and try to call me a Trivedi supporter but you would be wrong. I will probably be voting for a Republican (Schroder or Welch – leaning Welch). I say probably because you never know what happens and I have voted for Democrats before. I met Mr. Welch at a picnic the other day. Very impressive.

ChescoTom

Although I share your interest in policy issues, I also am interested in the nuts and bolts of the campaigns and candidate news. This site is unique, in my experience, as a provider of that info and I am thankful that it was recommended to me.

I suggest that you write here about policy whenever you wish; but, just because every story is not your cup of tea, please don’t suggest that no one is interested in the kind of things that Dan writes. If you read the comments, you’d know that there’s plenty of interest.

There’s room here for varied interests.

Just curious – ChesCo Tom wrote that “Sept 30 is a real deadline that will impact this race.” Is this there some sort of regulatory / election law deadline that occurs by 9/30? What happens after the end of the month? Thanks in advance

BRDakin-

The fundraising quarter ends Sept. 30th at midnight and all federal candidates must report their info to the FEC by Oct 15th.

What hospital did Doug Pike sit as Chairman of the Board of?

Just wondering why there was no mention of Manan Trivedi in this article. Is Pike just looking past him? If so, I think that is a huge mistake.

He seems like a legitimate candidate with a likable personality. Just the fact that he is ACTUALLY a doctor and hasn’t just supposedly sat on the board of one is enough for me to say he might be more qualified (And that’s leaving out the fact that he is an Iraq war veteran too!)

Although I haven’t made up my mind yet, just Trivedi’s resume would be enough to swing a lot of voters in my mind. The question is can he raise the money. TBD until Late October!

Any thoughts?

Thanks for your response Dan. I respect (and obviously misunderstood) the intent of the website. My apologies. I look forward to seeing more reporting in general about the issues and do not mean to discourage the point of this website. I share your concern that journalism has failed our electorate for several years now and the recent precipitous decline in broadcast and newspapers has only exacerbated the slide. I’ll look forward to seeing more substantive reporting as the campaign moves on.

In the meantime, can you do a story on fundraising? I think that might bridge the gap between insider baseball and popular concern. I think given the economic situation, the end of the 3rd quarter (September 30th) will be a very significant deadline for candidates in competitive races.

PEE PEE. POOP POOP. VOTE SCHROEDER!

Doug Pike was president of the South Oaks Hospital on Long Island.

Check it out: http://www.pa2010.com/2009/09/answering-a-question-about-pikes-biography/