Gillibrand talks gun trafficking, women in combat and Chuck Hagel on MSNBC

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Strong appearance from Sen. Gillibrand on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports.

She discusses her bill to stem the flow of illegal gun traffick and provide law enforcement the necessary tool to ensure that gun purchases are done illegally.

She is asked about the military's decision to open up combat positions to women. Gillibrand applauds that the decision opens up avenues of opportunity for women to ascend to leadership roles in the military. As Rep. Duckworth demonstrates, women have long been serving in dangerous combat, they are merely now allowed to get credit for it.

Gillibrand also says she'll be meeting later to have a discussion with Obama nominee for the Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel. She intends to ask him some tough questions about how he intends to lead on issues of concern to women and gays in the military. She also has concerns about Iran and Israel.

Very good segment where Gillibrand advocates clearly and convincingly for the progressive position on all three.

Roll Call places Gillibrand among top female 2016 picks

Sen. Gillibrand got prime placement at Obama's inauguration ceremony.

Stuart Rothenberg at Roll Call handicaps the 2016 field. Included of course is Hillary Clinton, but Sen. Gillibrand is the only Democratic woman he mentions by name.

If Clinton takes a pass, another woman or two could well come forward (New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has received mention, but other names are sure to circulate, as well), and given the makeup of the Democratic Party, a serious minority contender certainly can’t be ruled out.

Don't rule out Kirsten either. There was much talk after her appointment in 2009 how vulnerable she was she wouldn't be able to keep the seat in the 2010 special, and again it was said (by fewer) about the 2012 general. Her 60%+ victories proved all the naysayers foolish.

Clinton commanding, Gillibrand popular in 2016 field

Hillary Clinton's prospects for the presidency look good according to a new poll released, showing her leading all major candidates in the hypothetical match-ups in the key state of Florida, according to Huffington Post.

Gillibrand was sworn into the 113th Congress,
with Vice President Joe Biden and kids.

Continuing with the general tone that 2016 will be a key year for women, Sen. Gillibrand is included in a slide show of potential female presidential candidates. Sarah Bufkin writes:

She credits Clinton with inspiring her to get into politics, and in 2006, Gillibrand won a House seat in the district that included her hometown of Albany, N.Y. Two years later, when her former mentor left to become the secretary of state, Gov. David Paterson appointed Gillibrand to fill Clinton's former Senate seat. Gillibrand lobbied successfully for the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and led a campaign to get more women elected to Congress. 

The slide show includes the option to vote by liking or disliking the choice. Unsurprisingly, Hillary Clinton leads the pack with 8531 likes, 2677 dislikes for a net of +5854 Points. 

Gillibrand, comes in second, with 4994 likes and 2182 dislikes for a net total of 2812 Points. 

Other candidates include California Attorney General Kamila Harris, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (nipping at Gillibrand's heels with a 2051 score). The site shows a significant partisan divide as none of the Republican potentials are able to achieve a positive "like" and "dislike" ratio. 

Democrats Want a Woman on the 2016 Ticket

New York magazine  declares, "Democrats Want a Woman on the 2016 Ticket."

The lineup above is the usual familiar faces, led by a favorite of this blog.

 The head of the Center or American Progress, Neera Tanden, told Politico:

“It’s critical that we have a woman on the ticket in some form or fashion. Given that the Republican Party has produced a woman VP candidate, I think it’s important that we ensure that the Democratic Party continues to lead.”

...

But after Clinton, EMILY’s List president Stephanie Schriock admits, there’s “kind of a gap” before the next Democratic women in line, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, and just-sworn-in Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. Luckily, there’s plenty of time between now and 2016 for the women to sponsor some big legislation and publish some memoirs. Or whatever one does to become presidential-ticket-worthy.

Well, I'd point out Gillibrand has already pushed "Don't ask, don't tell" repeal, the 9/11 First Responders bill, the STOCK act, and the just implemented Food Safety bill. She's doing quite well for only four years in the Senate.

The results of the last election make a pretty convincing case that if a woman is not on the ticket, Democrats will have squandered a demographic opportunity.

Forbes Asks: "Did America Just Elect Its First Woman President?"

We think so.

So apparently does Forbes magazine:

With Hillary Clinton’s firm denial that she will not seek the highest office in 2016, among the names most commonly mentioned on a shortlist of candidates by varying sources are New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (first lauded by the New York Times in 2008 as a good choice for her appeal with Middle America), former Obama staffer Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota....

The experts seem to agree that the first female president will not come from [an older generation of Senate women] (or Clinton’s) but from a younger, post-boomer pool of politicians.

Therein lies the enthusiasm for Gillibrand. “I’ll say one thing,” [Policy advisor Lisa Maatz at the American Association of University Women] says. “and that’s that Kirsten Gillibrand will be spending a lot of time in New Hampshire in the months to come. They now have the first all female congressional delegation, they have a female governor and their general assembly has more women than men. I don’t know what’s in the Kool-Aid in New Hampshire, but for Gillibrand it’s definitely looking tasty.”

There are in-state potential candidates as well, most attractively Jeanne Sheehan, who served three terms as the first female governor of the state before becoming the senior Senator in 2009. That the state is actively pushing women up the political pipeline is no secret.

Still, Gillibrand seems the most likely bet. Her recent address to the Iowa delegation during the Democratic Convention in September only added fuel to the rumors of her aspiration to higher office. “She’s a prodigious fundraiser, she telegenic and she’s smart,” Maatz says. “All of those things add up to a good candidate.”

Gillibrand works overtime to help New Yorkers worst hit by Sandy

Days before the 2012 election, Senator Gillibrand has essentially dropped all campaign actitivities in favor or minitering to New York constituents ravaged by hurricane Sandy.

She has been utilizing all her resources to provide references  to resource that might help.

Find Overnight Warm Shelter location list

As the temperatures continue to drop, I'm extremely concerned about those still without power and heat, particularly our homebound seniors. Please check in on your neighbors to make sure they're doing ok. If you or anyone you know is in need of shelter, call 1-800-733-2767 or text SHELTER & your zip code to 43362. Also, a list of overnight warm shelters in New York City can be found below.

New Yorkers are lucky to have her.

Someone is jumping the gun a little bit...

Let's let the Obama years play out first...

Via Michael Brett Walker on Twitter (@mikebrettwalker)

Meanwhile in imaginary land...

A forum post at the site US Elections Atlas imagines how the 2016 race might shape out. Authored in March 2012, it begins with the nightmarish assumption that Mitt Romney won the 2012 elections.

I'll give your stomach a moment to settle.

It spins a very in-depth and fanciful yarn of how the 2015 election cycle might play out, from both sides of the aisle. In January 2015, Hillary Clinton announces her decision to pass, and in May 2015, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has declared:

May 13th, 2015- "I believe it is time for a womans voice to be entered into this race. I will run for President of the United States. I am sick of our current President for claiming responsobility for our economic recovery. It is clear President Obama's policies led us here and we can't allow 4 more years to the pa rty which turned a solid economic situation into a disaster."-Kristen Gillibrand, New York City

Beyond the typos, I can't imagine Kirsten saying "I am sick of..."  She'd say, "I find is disheartening" or "disingenuous..." She's not afraid to fight, but also, not afraid to put her Dartmouth education to good use. But anyway...

The author imagines Gillibrand's announcement would have the following effect on polls:

May 19th, 2015- Following Gillibrand's entry new polls are released.
        *=declared
        Andrew Cuomo                    22%
        Mark Warner                        21%
        *Kristen Gillibrand               13%
        *Brian Schweitzer               12%
        Claire Mccasskill                   5%
        Martin O'malley                    5%
        Kay Hagan                           2%
        Undecided/Someone Else    20%

Cuomo drops out for reasons unspecified by the author. Popular consensus is that Gillibrand wins the June presidential primary debate with 65% of the vote against Schweitzer, Warner and McCaskill.

The post runs over a handful of updates. Frustratingly, the author ultimately seems to have abandoned it before he reveals the ultimate question, who bags the Democratic nomination? It appears to have become a showdown between Mark Warner and Kirsten Gillibrand in his imagination, with McCaskill playing spoiler. Claire gets an endorsement from Bill Clinton, who crosses his wife, who of course endorses Kirsten. I find this public split unlikely. Bill and Hilllary have been working a united front far too long to part ways over an election endorsement. Besides, Bill wouldn't undermine Hillary's protege. Those two know how to amass power.

The post is quite imaginative and detailed and includes fictitious, hypothetical world events that might play into the elections. It's worth pursuing if you get into that kind of thing. He even imagines incumbent Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois having to fight for his seat against challenger... Michelle Obama.

A former First Lady running for the Senate? Like that could ever happen!

Say cheese.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand meets members of the 106th Rescue Wing, Westhampton Beach, NY. (Mar. 2012)

This would be why the New York Daily News calls New York's junior Senator "telegenic."

Kirsten Gillibrand's senate ad touts her leadership on the The James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act. It's good stuff.