I don’t know where the week has gone, but it has been filled with great experiences. Yesterday I actually officially became a candidate for the U.S. Senate, filing in the office of the Secretary of the Senate. While not required, I also registered to vote from the State of New York in Speculator, New York; (actually from the next town over Lake Pleasant, the county seat) last Friday.

Hamilton County, which has the smallest population of ANY county in ANY state East of the Mississippi is bucolic to the extreme. Not only does it not have have a single stoplight anywhere in the county, it doesn’t even have a four way stop.

The normal political candidate might not even visit this county; for me it is the fulcrum of my candidacy, and there is a general belief that I am the first state wide candidate for any office of either party who has actually stayed overnight in Hamilton County.

Its courthouse is a magnificent Georgian style white pillared brick edifice, and I regret o say that I’m having so much fun here that I will spend an inordinate amount of time here (in a sense, I already have). My new best friend is Mason Smith, a boatbuilder and novelist (a lean, mean writing machine); actually he’s not not at all mean and he will arrange for me to trade two weeks in August for using his log cabin with a great front porch in exchange for our condo in January or February when my wife and I are not using it

This week I also made my first appearance in Ithaca, home to Cornell, and Ivy League school which is also a land grant college. I also spent an evening with a professor at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University at her home in Cortland (a self contained town 27 miles south of Syracuse), a superb example of early 20th century residential architecture.

My belief that most Americans are unhappy if not downright angry has been confirmed by several polls, which means that the anti incumbent feeling that manifested itself in Massachusetts (even anti incumbent replacement campaigns). Party leaders are extremely concerned about my challenge (not because I constitute an electoral threat, but because of what I might say or do, but they need to be more concerned that the NY GOP might find a rational candidate to challenge Schumer, which could possibly spell his doom. Therefore, I have become a rational alternative; not just a quixotic aspirant.

Ron Santo and Gil Hodges

I also visited Cooperstown on a slightly drizzly afternoon, keeping one

of my campaign promises. Indeed I have demonstrated tremendous political courage in stating my support for the Cubs, Sox, Bears and Bulls, though I have opportunistically chosen the Mets, Yankees, Buffalo Bills and the Jets, as well as the Knicks as my second favorite teams. I did state that assisting in any way I can to get Ron Santo and Gil Hodges into the Hall of Fame will be one of my realistic goals, which I know Mike Royko would approve of. I also was able to buy for a very reasonable price an autographed photo of Ernie Banks from his induction day into the Hall of Fame more than 30 years ago.

SUPPORT FROM MOTHER IN LAW, MARTHA GALLION POWELL

Perhaps the most important thing that has happened to me this last week is that my Mother in Law insisted on adding another $2,275.02 as a donation to my campaign (obeying the federal limit) but not mine. However, individual contributions are still limited to $25 (she’s the exception), which may be made payable to Phil Krone for U.S. Senator and sent to Phil Krone for U.S. Senator, PO Box 188, Speculator NY, 12164. If thine Mother in Law is for you who can be against you?

There were 92 registered Democrats in all of Hamilton County. Now we are 93, but the local party is wary of me because I am getting such positive attention from the local newspaper which reflects the rock ribbed Republican flavor or the neighborhood. They don’t realize the news value of this to them, for which I am grateful.

It is important for Democrats not to have knee jerk reactions to Republican positions. Indeed, some of my own views have been altered by my real experiences.

I am keeping notes a and taking pictures of both scenic and architectural highlights and this experience is one I wouldn’t have traded for the world.

The British Election

On Thursday, May 6, the British electorate will go to the polls. While most of my friends in England are Lib Dems, I truly hope that Gordon Brown is able to win this election (LABOR). He is not responsible for Tony Blair’s errors, and those who want to get even with Blair by sacking Brown are making a big mistake. The Conservative Leader, Mr. Cameron, is not an ‘empty suit’, but he’s not quite full either. Brown will not be a lap dog for any American president, but rather a trusted and useful ally. His chances are considered dim, and I’ve named my ‘alternative’ pro Brown campaign, “Operation Lazarus.” There is a possibility that there might be a ‘hung’ parliament. If so, rather than calling new elections, I hope Brown would put together a progressive coalition combined of Labor and Liberal Democrats.

Since 1958 I’ve been a regular visitor to the sceptered isle, and, not being tired of life, I’m not tired of London. However, there are many aspects of British culture alive back in the 50′s, 60′s and even 70′s that are sadly missing today.

Gordon is a good man and a Scot. If elected in his own right I think he will do much to advance the cause of world peace and a more balanced and secure global economy.

OBAMA and NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION

I was overjoyed last week when President Hu of China and President Medvedev of Russia were both in Washington to discuss worldwide nuclear disarmament, just after the US and Russia signed a bi lateral agreement in Prague. The Senate must quickly ratify this treaty, and I believe that Senator Lugar of Indiana will be the point man to make this happen. The decision by Hu to come to the US has immense positive implications for the future. And Obama’s approach to Iran; including China and Russia, is the very best route.

But even with all these great results we still have to figure out a rational policy concerning Iraq and Afghanistan, including what kind of power we want to invest with the CIA in killing suspected terrorists and those who may be with them.

BUSH ADMINISTRATION TRAVEL PLANS

President Bush and Vice President Cheney have always extolled the greatness of America, and of course they are right. But I hope they and all the high level foreign policy and military officials and spokesmen from their administration will be careful not to travel outside the US where they could be arrested by foreign countries or international institutions as war criminals. May I recommend especially, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon as well as Zion and Bryce; the Florida Everglades, Manhattan and Philadelphia, the Catskills. Finger Lakes and Adirondacks, New Orleans and San Antonio, Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Louisville. There’s so much here that it should be no hardship for them. Personally, I would object to having any of my tax dollars, defend them for charges brought by other nations or individuals.

‘Nuff for now.

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Phil Krone is a political correspondent for the Chicago Daily Observer

image Hamilton County Courthouse