News Copy, New York

Bronx Court Ruling Finds That New York Assemblyman Carl Heastie Is Democratic Chairman

Carl Heastie is Bronx chairman, as far as I can see.

This can be appealed by the first department of the State Supreme Court (Appelate Division), according to News Copy's legal eagles. 

This is complicated.  It could impact the "gang of three" and Westchester-Bronx State Senator Jeff Klein's clout in the Majority Leader vote (which sources out of the courthouses are saying will not go to Malcolm Smith), including impacting others.

The West Bronx Blog has the judge's decision declaring Carl Heastie leader of the Bronx Democratic Party, calling it "a victory for the Rainbow Rebels" -- and Liz Benjamin of the New York Daily News had a summary of the ruling:

"State Supreme Court Justice Robert Seewald ruled that the vote at Utopia Paradise Theater that elected Heastie and his team of party leaders "was valid" and "in accordance with the rules of the Bronx Democratic Party and Roberts Rules of Order."

"He granted the petition filed by Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, a Heastie ally and new chairman of the Bronx Democratic County Committee, that sought to invalidate the vote that re-elected Rivera and his allies."

Courtesy of that blog and Liz Benjamin of the Daily News blog The Daily Politics, here is the actual court decision in the Bronx on who is ruling that borough as Democratic chairman -- by way of Scribd.

The "Rainbow Rebels" are allied with Klein, with sources insisting that at least of the "Gang of Three" is not in Klein's tent -- and the these three amigos will want Democrats to introduce a bill allowing a referendum on gay marriage.

So Skelos promises the referendum and grabs all the swing votes needed to be re-elected Majority Leader -- countered by Klein who either deadlocks or pulls the "Gang of Three" into his column.

When Politics Was Fun In New York: Long Island Says Goodbye To Joe Margiotta

Different era, different politics, but I could remember when Nassau County's Republican machine was discussed with awe.

Margiotta is gone, dead at 81, but the truth is that he had been gone for a while.  After an ungraceful fall in 1981, just as the GOP was recovering from Watergate, he did a rather self-effaced departure from the public scene -- I would suspect to allow his then farm team a greater chance to succeed.

As I once personally learned from a political boss out of Brooklyn in my youth, it takes as much guts and intelligence to fade away ... as it takes to stand and fight.

Long Island Republicans could fight.  And won, a lot, maybe more than any political machine in the country.  That was Margiotta.  I know the Westchester County GOP was often envious.  We also remember all those Young Republicans out of Nassau being "real Republicans" who believed in the GOP of Reagan.  They tended to stick to principle and they tended to stick together.

There's a lot to be said about the teamwork and effectiveness of this kind of politics.  There's a lot of bad too but I would still take Dean Skelos or Peter King over Sheldon Silver or Nita Lowey anyday. 

Long Island's Newsday paints a not so happy legacy of Joe Margiotta.

"It has gone this way for years. Joseph Mondello, who was Margiotta's hand-picked successor to run the once-dominant party, plods on as state chairman - while all five statewide elected offices sit in Democratic hands. This week, the state party meets - again - to discuss its coming winter of discontent."

The many deficiencies aside, most that never would have been allowed to happen under the old bosses, Newsday also profiled Margiotta's glory days as recalled by Al D'Amato and others like Peter King and Joe Mondello who rose under Margiotta's wing.

D'Amato said Margiotta was constantly on the lookout for new talent, young people who could be brought into the party to be future candidates.

"He rewarded people who worked hard," D'Amato said. "He was always looking for the best and the brightest to make the party better. He based it on ability. Anybody who talks about him objectively will tell you that."

In defense of political bosses and in praise of political machines, there is something missed here by the pundits and the new-thinkers that has to be re-embraced.

I grew up in Eastchester, a Republican town like Hempstead, whose rock-solid suburban machine maintained a steady quality of life and low taxes.  Long Island had Margiotta and then D'Amato.  Westchester had a legend, Francis Xavier O'Rourke, and the world of F.X. O'Rourke was a civic realm where people's needs locally were not ignored.  Following O'Rourke in the late 1960s was a young Town Supervisor named Tony Colavita, who went on to be both County GOP and State Republican chairman.

I only have good things to say about political bosses and especially political machines.  They could be organized, loyal, responsive and civically-engaged.  A lot of our society could use a bit of that discipline and direction.

Don't tell me what Bill Clinton had and what Barack Obama now enjoys isn't a political machine.  It's all the same. 

Yes ... there was corruption in Long Island's machine, like there was corruption on Wall Street, like Tammany Hall with the Democrats and even Mario Cuomo or Ed Koch's regime with the Queens  Democratic leader shoving a knife into himself (and many of the other borough bosses going to prison).

This Newsday story from over ten years ago puts a far more different and darker face on Margiotta's fall in 1981.

 The idealists have to take a breather, especially as their white knight approaches the White House amidst a Congress ready to be more than difficult with Mr. Obama.  As government and politics gets more transparent, is it going to be illegal to be powerful?  How is anyone going to get the job done effectively in the public sector without the balance of strong political parties?

Al D'Amato's answer to that might apply to a body politic only those who have been mired in this imperfect world would understand.

"He put party first," said D'Amato. "That's what got him into trouble."

It was a different time.  The tools and tricks of the trade have indeed changed, for the time being.

New York's Public Authorities: The Empire State's Hidden Source of Debt

New York's Public Authorities were examined by the Hugh L. Carey Center for Government Reform at Wagner College recently.

New York's "Secret Government":

Public Authorities Are Out of Control and Threatening the State's Fiscal's Health

Believe it.

It's worse than we all think.

Tom Wrobleski of the Staten Island Advance outlined the trap New York is already in.

"Adam Simms, the Center's Senior Research Fellow, notes that this year New York State's taxpayers will pay more than $5 billion in debt-service payments on more than $43 billion of debt owed by the state's public authorities.

"That $5 billion in debt service amounts to 35 percent of the $14 billion that Gov. David Paterson has asked the legislature to cut from the state's current budget deficit, the study says."

This year!!!  $5 billion.

Yet, the Carey study warns, the state cannot solve its deficit by canceling these debt service payments. 

Doing so would drive New York State into default.

Just ask the Nassau County Legislature what a default or near-default is like or Erie County's lawmakers (who had their own debacle with a medical center much like Westchester County's), or perhaps even Westchester's dimwitted Democrats who still remain as liable for the lending to that county's medical center.

Correction:  Westchester's taxpayers will be liable for that bill, if Westchester County Medical Center ever defaults.

By the way, does anyone out there understand the Constitutional predicament any state is in (ie: California, Massachusetts) if there is a default?   My own take on this immune level of governance is that public authorities are sort of like feudal city states that are like another branch of government ... sort of like Indian tribes without elections.

New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey Is Not A Placeholder: Permanent U.S. Senator Needed

If New York Governor David Paterson appoints a U.S. Senator, he should appoint a permanent U.S. Senator.

The Empire State only stands to lose more clout and influence in Congress if the appointment is temporary.  Someone only filling in for two years would be cast aside in Washington, D.C. -- and it wouldn't end the prospect of a U.S. Senate primary in 2010.

The Journal News in Westchester County quoted a professor from Cornell who touted the virtue of such a "placeholder" appointment by Paterson:

"I think it would take courage on his part,'' Lowi said. "I think that from the democratic standpoint, that's the highest step to make. That doesn't mean appointing someone who promises to not run, but to appoint someone with the understanding it's an open contest the next time the seat comes up.''

Politics does not work that way.

Courageous would have been Hillary Clinton running in Arkansas or her native state of Illinois, rather than pushing a generation of New York public servants out of the way to fulfill her ambitions.

If there's a gridlock of politicians who want this U.S. Senate seat, it's because the former First Lady ran a light in 2000.

Long Island's Dean Skelos: Republican Obsessed With Coalition Or Capitulation?

Skelos will be like any other Republican in less than six weeks.

The outgoing State Senate Majority Leader will rationalize that the deal with the teachers union was necessary to prevent further GOP losses in the State Senate.

The New York Times and Governor David Paterson asked him for a plan.

"The Republicans’ strategy is obviously to defer all the tough choices until next year when the Democrats will be running the whole show: the governor’s office, the Assembly and, at long last, the Senate. But while tactically shrewd in a narrow political sense, Mr. Skelos’s approach is fiscally irresponsible."

Skelos responded but still no plan.

"Senate Republicans understand the depth of this crisis, but the governor’s approach — midyear school cuts and millions more in taxes and fees — was unacceptable.

"It was Senate Republicans who reduced the sky-high spending in the Spitzer-Paterson budget and passed a constitutional amendment to cap state spending."

The 4 percent cap on school spending was well-intended but poorly implemented on the local level, where PTA moms and dads rule.  It was Tom Suozzi's brainchild but Republicans don't have the populism right now, especially after the way Long Island Republicans have bullied school spending for nearly 15 years.

Skelos harped on gambling, pulling from the "rainy day" fund and diverting business tax credits.  Sure ... put the state in debt, raise taxes and obsess on legalized gambling.

How about going after the unions, Mr. Skelos?

Now he's rationalizing a deal with New York's three political rogues.

Meanwhile, the Daily News reported that Skelos is maneuvering desperately for a "coalition government" with the "gang of three" -- as if the present Republican operation will be able to contain Carl Kruger of Brooklyn, and Pedro Espada and Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx?

Yeah -- Democrat-lite.

Changing The Channel: Keep It Simple, Stupid

 

 .  .   .

"Can you imagine what Ben Franklin and the
Founders would have done with a blog?"

 

 

 

 

 

New York Post On Citigroup Board: Off With Their Heads

The New York Post had this opinion on the bailout of Citigroup (and took particularly aim at former Clinton cabinet member Robert Rubin).

BOUNCE THESE BOZO BANKERS: RUBIN & CO. ORCHESTRATED THE FALL OF THIS BEHEMOTH

Sarah Palin's Turkey Misadventure Gets You-Tube Play: Another Day With Alaska's Governor

The poltically correct crowd is all upset that she followed her pardon of a turkey with a slaughter.

You-Tube now has a new audience of voyeurs who can see Sarah Palin in an entirely new context.

Saturday Night Live will have a field day.

Palin had no problem ("no worries") with backdrop.  It's educational ... right ("This was neat").

The uncensored video had no blood or mutiliation.  It's not like someone was killing a polar bear or a penguin or even a baby seal.  This is Alaska.

Also, it's not like nearly a few hundred million Americans didn't have a problem eating turkey Thursday.  But why does it seem that this woman takes extreme delight showcasing her life as a cross between Green Acres and Marcia Brady?

This was neat?

Sarah Palin:  A digital superstar (Politico)

Three Die On Black Friday: Human Stampede At Wal-Mart On Long Island Kills Worker

The following by Mark Silva of The Swamp blames everyone but God and the law of physics for the death of a worker killed by a crowd entering a Nassau County Wal-Mart:

"Lay a little blame at the feet of the government, for exhorting Americans to spend more money and shake off that recession gripping the nation. Lay some blame on the media, for stoking the hype surrounding one day of retailing which is, in fact, nothing more than the first of 28 shopping days left until Christmas, with cable news hawking footage of ravenous shoppers storming the doors of stores opening at 4 am."

Why not blame those incendiary bloggers?  Blame the Republicans while you're at it.   Blame those evil conspirators on Wall Street.

Get a grip.  Maybe the media could stop telling Americans that everything going wrong is everyone else's fault.

The Associated Press reported 2,000 people waiting outside the store at 4:00 am.

All this over an over-rated/over-priced computer joy stick?

Worker dies at Long Island Wal-Mart after being trampled in Black Friday stampede:  Daily News

Two other deaths in California, a shooting in a store.  This was more like a rock concert gone very bad ...  

... or an overseas soccer match.

The headlines today will put a human face on the victim.

Gizmodo:  The Gadget Blog had coined Black Friday "The Consumer Battle Dome"

Like many others, I spent more time yesterday looking for a parking space.

We Have Now Gone From A Market Economy To A Political Economy: Charles Krauthammer

"Prudence will yield to politics"

Charles Krauthammer measures the reactionary nature of Wall Street now.

"... Word leaks of Timothy Geithner's impending nomination as treasury secretary. The mere suggestion of continuity - and continued authoritative intervention during the interregnum by the guy who'd been working hand in glove with Paulson all along - sends the Dow up 500 points in one hour."

For now, in our capitalist ("... the material, the material ...") world, perception has become reality.

Oh boy, are we in trouble. 

Or maybe we're not?

Wall Street Win Streak (5 days): CNN Money

 

This Wall Street Journal article profiles the "transfer of risk" to other parts of the U.S. economy a bit farther back.

"After the dot-com bust, investors began pouring their money into houses.  Wall Street's seemingly insatiable appetite for mortgage investments added fuel to the fire, driving lenders to aggressively market risky products.  Riskier loans were more profitable and, thus, more appealing to investors.  Lenders didn't worry about making high-risk loans because they weren't holding the loans on their books.  Just as with 401(k)s, much of the risk was transferred to individual consumers.  With adjustable-rate mortgages, interest-rate risk is shifted from lenders to borrowers."

Wall Street Sees Green On Black Friday:  Forbes

Stocks turned in one of their best week-long performances since the 1930s, so does this mean Tim Geithner is the fiscal messiah or another game of Liar's Poker by the Masters of the Universe?

Barack Obama Passed Ronald Reagan's 1980 Margin As Non-Incumbent

Barack Obama's victory is up there with Ronald Reagan's "Morning In America" and Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide.

According to FiveThirtyEight, it's also the most popular vote.

This doesn't really make me feel better.

Earlier this week, FiveThirtyEight noted that Obama's margin of victory was the largest ever for a non-incumbent.

Nixon (1972), Johnson (1964), Reagan (1984), Roosevelt (1936), Eisenhower (1956) all won by wider margins.

Who did Obama pass to top the newcomer list?

Ronald Reagan.

Of course, there were 75 million less Americans in 1980 and nearly 25 million less voted (and he ran against an incumbent), so the Great Communicator hasn't been eclipsed numerically ... 

... Not even close.  

Wikipedia had a comprehensive list of all the elections, going back to 1824.

 

The Thing About Black Friday: Shopping Until You Drop ...

 

Palin Leads All Republicans For 2012: Zogby Finds Jindal Right Behind Romney

Candidate	Republicans	All Voters
Palin	24.4%	13.4%
Romney	18.1%	13.7%
Jindal	15.6%	12.5%
Huckabee	9.7%	8.0%
Giuliani	4.9%	5.0%
Paul	2.9%	7.4%
Someone Else	8.2%	20.3%
Not Sure	16.2%	19.7%

I guess this means that this particularly conservative Republican was not the drag on the ticket everyone wanted to paint her.

"Among Republicans, she gets the support of 30% of Born-Again Christians, 32% of weekly churchgoers, 34% of National Rifle Association members, 28% of current gun owners and 29% of self-identified conservatives.  More GOP support comes from 32% of blue collar workers, 30% who shop weekly at Wal-Mart, 28% of NASCAR fans and 25% of both those with children under 17 and those with family members in the military…"

28 percent of NASCAR fans ... heh.

More Hot Air:  Zogby on 2012: Palin leads among Republicans, Romney leads among all voters

But Mitt Romney leads among "all voters"--

-- Bobby Jindal doesn't look half bad either, a change from a Gallup Poll a week earlier.

Gotta love a guy named Bobby.

Zogby also found that "someone else" and "not sure" account for 40 percent.

Gallup: 67 percent of Republicans ...

... Huckabee and Romney have to be thinking the political floor just collapsed right from under them.

Too soon, too much but Palin's not going away.

Republican Makeover In Sleepy Suburbs: New York State's Lost GOP Base

Westchester County's daily newspaper, The Journal News, devoted an entire editorial page on repairing the Grand Old Party.

The Republican Party in Westchester deserve something better than a liberal makeover. 

I'm not sure it needs a Perot makeover either.

Republican pretender Mike Edelman, former Congressman Ben Gilman, Putnam-based Assemblyman Greg Ball and Larchmont Village Mayor Elizabeth Feld all have their reasons for being -- BUT too narrow an agenda was chosen by all four.

The Big Tent

Liz Feld is correct that a therapy session has begun but the lack of tolerance within New York's Republican establishment is with conservatives, not liberals.  Social liberals like Feld have enjoyed a near-infatuation by the bosses statewide and close to home.

It's never been better for a "pro-choice" woman yet the well-funded Republican was trounced by an under-funded 12-term incumbent responsible for the highest taxed legislative district in the free world.

"As a mayor who ran as a pro-choice, pro-stem cell research, fiscally conservative state Senate candidate, endorsed by the New York League of Conservation Voters, I can't count the number of people who told me they agreed with my positions but just couldn't vote for a Republican this year."

Maybe liberal Republicans have to stop trying to beat the Democrats at their own game -- and Feld was a good candidate.  She may have been one of the best candidates fielded in a generation, so this isn't a conservative rationalization on my part.

Feld is right about the mistrust among voters but part of that detachment comes from a revision of Ronald Reagan's legacy.  Reagan won New York State in 1984 as a conservative Republican, opening that "big tent" she refers to for pro-life and center-right Republicans (and conservative Democrats).  It's when New York's Republican establishment became intolerant of social conservatives that they started losing election after election.

If New York is dogged by anything, it's the ghost of Nelson Rockefeller.

Self-Hating Republicans

Republican pretender Mike Edelman, who has hijacked the GOP's message in New York City's northern suburbs, naturally blames the Conservative Party.

" ... It's incongruous to make the argument that the government should "get out of your pocket" and "out of your bedroom" while requiring that all candidates adopt the position that the issue of abortion should come under government control, rather than being a personal decision between a woman and her physician. This has been the basic contradiction of those calling themselves "Conservatives.""

Edelman has always been obsessed with abortion.  It's his one issue.  He even made a living for a span of time as the legal counsel for the Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion.  

This is all a throwback to Rockefeller style politics, Pataki style politics and a breakdown of the base that has never worked before and won't work again.

His lack of tolerance for pro-life Republicans, conservative Democrats and independent-minded non-affiliated voters is part of the disconnect the Westchester County GOP has endured near nearly 20 years.

It's how they really lost so much ground in elections during the tenure of Governor George E. Pataki.

Or has Mr. Edelman forgotten that both the Conservative and Independence parties came out of times much like now of disaffected and disenfranchised voters who just felt the major parties weren't listening.  Maybe he and others should just start listening, rather than blame the voters as State GOP chair Joe Mondello did last week.

How would Edelman explain the success of Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, a Democrat who has at least been unabashedly pro-life in his sentiments for most of his political career?  Edelman's wrong and his reasoning is too narrow to be taken seriously, let alone put in print.

All Politics Is Local

As for former Congressman Ben Gilman's take on the Grand Old Party, his call for more "local" venues is critically important.

"... We should be reaching out to our youth and to our minorities, inviting them to become members of our political party, encouraging them to be active participants in public service, and to train and encourage them to become our future leaders.

At our local, state and national level, the Republican Party candidates should become more involved in engaging our electorate to participate in public forums, in town hall meetings and in political debates, in order to enhance their awareness of our nation's concerns.

Across the nation, the minorities have been drawn to the Republican Party on conservative issues and have additionally shown themselves to be steadfastly conservative on social issues.

The "right wing" has nothing to do with the elitism that has seeped into New York's politics.  The failure to lead and educate voters of all ages is a "closed door" problem that particularly plagues Westchester and New York's political operations.

It's a control freak game, right down to who gets chosen to speak for the Republican Party in the media.  The old blood of the Pataki regime had been a hangover from the Rockefeller era and political machines who have seen their best days.

Outside Looking In

And the fourth person chosen by The Journal News knows that reality better than any Republican in the Hudson Valley.  Remember ... Greg Ball wasn't even endorsed by this newspaper -- and he's been politically terrorized by the old guard.

Putnam-based Assemblyman Greg Ball forthrightly explains that the State GOP's ruination has been nearly 20 years in the making.

Ball's suggests engaging and enlisting the independents:

"... We must embrace the rise of a new force: unaffiliated voters. In New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Colorado, unaffiliated voters now outnumber either Democrats or Republicans. Those who refuse to register with any party are now the fastest growing group of voters in many districts. These voters represent a huge opportunity for a new Republican Party willing and able to meet their needs and tap into their frustration."

Feld speaks to the same approach:

"Republicans need to welcome those disappointed voters into their big tent. We need to give them the confidence to vote Republican again, regardless of their party. Nowhere is this more important than at the state and local level, where the current economic crisis will have to be addressed without deficit spending and gigantic bailouts. This will require a bipartisan approach for sure, but bipartisan doesn't have to mean principle-free."

Let's hope she and others mean it.

GOP Base Adrift

The only problem I have with Liz Feld and particularly Greg Ball speaking about reforming Republican politics is that they each come from deeply provincial bases.   Ball speaks more for me than any of the four, assuredly, but I know he wouldn't win in parts of lower Westchester -- the same way Feld's liberal politics would be unwelcome in the mostly conservative Putnam County.  I would have liked to have seen statements from Eastchester Town Supervisor Tony Colavita, the only town in lower Westchester where McCain actually won, and Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone, where Republicans actually get Democrats to vote for them.  Provincial bases too, no doubt, but both these men have shown results while taking on highly controversial issues and old guard political machines.

To be fair, Feld and Ball have  both tackled old guard political machines (and continue to get unfairly tackled back) -- but the true challenge will be whether their movements are just another novelty or long-lasting reform.

To his credit, Ball has fashioned the reputation as consumate reformer but he deftly avoided any mention of most true conservative reform in his own Ball-speak on change (and he mentioned that cult of personality Newt Gingrich twice too often). 

As one of those political mechanics who helped tear down a few vain Republican establishments in my day (including Speaker Gingrich in 1996 and Joe Bruno in 2004), I know Ball's right.  I also know he should be careful he doesn't believe his clippings too much like Newt did.

As someone who has resided in lower Westchester all his life, I know Feld is right about the liberal part of that "big tent" but Republicans will never regain control gorging themselves on the liberal candy.

Her loss on Election Day proved a point that must be more closely examined by strategists.  If Liz Feld couldn't win as a liberal Republican in lower Westchester, perhaps no one in the GOP can or ever will.

The base is adrift and needs to be led, not followed.

Feld is Perot-like, which is not counter-productive, but I felt she was tearing down Ronald Reagan's Republican party too much for my own sentimental tastes.

The Great Communicator

Edelman and his ilk ridicule and antagonize that "disappointed" base (and he's often smug about it).  I always like reminding Republicans who bemoan the existence of the New York State Conservative that its principles (yes, we actually have "principles") are identical to the platform of Republican National Committee (RNC).  We are the "real Republicans" and we have been cooperative parts of many winning elections.  Conservatives have almost always been "the margin of victory" in statewide elections and the base continues to energize voters on the local level.

Conservatives are not the problem.  Self-hating Republicans pretending to be Democrats are the problem.  Edelman and the Republicans-in-name-only (RINOs) across New York State and regions like Westchester must allow others to speak for the GOP in the media.

Donors of any importance aren't giving a penny to political operations until they start seeing some authenticity to the Republican message (voters aren't fooled either).

There was a fellow named Ronald Reagan who accomplished that for an entire nation (and in the shadow of Watergate and the worst recession in 50 years)

... The Great Communicator ...

 Whether the Grand ol' Party runs registration drives, expands fundraising or adopts a Madison Avenue approach, the key will be communication and a populist "Main Street" approach ... to return to pride in principle.

Westchester Trims Budget: New York's Most Bloated County Government Still Gouging Taxpayers

The Westchester County Board of Legislators couldn't find three percent of Andy Spano's budget to cut .

Okay ... 2.87 percent.

Not enough.

These knuckleheads need to overhaul everything.

They're still giving non-union and union employees a 3.25 percent raise, a number they could at least defer.

This is the highest taxed county in the nation.   County Executive Spano and Board Chairman "Boss" Ryan could start telling the unions to wait.

I didn't say layoffs.  I didn't say salary cuts.  I didn't even say not give them a raise.  I said defer the raises.

Sales Tax Debacle

My other problem is the same problem with county government I've grumbled about for ten years.

Why must they rely on sales taxes?  These are wildly variable revenue streams, not reliable.   Spending resulting from these short terms fixes undoubtedly comes up short.  If you don't radically cut spending, those costs are passed o to homeowners in the form of higher property taxes.

Also, sales tax revenues will be down.  These holiday revenue estimates are inflated, translating into far less money this year and even less next year.  When assumed sales tax revenues drop even further this holiday season, property taxes will go up far more than anyone has warned.

It will be a "Sorry, folks" moment.   Westchester County Executive will declare "It's the economy, stupid" and blame everyone else for something he already knows he's coming.  Blame Bush.  Blame the State.  Blame the school districts (Andy Spano is).  Another Pogo moment.  The enemy is us, except that swamp on the ninth floor of the County Building is still remodeling.

Hidden Debt

How deep in debt Westchester runs depends on how much faith you have in them paying back their obligations on bonds, which in the case of the Westchester County Medical Center is already massive.

These lawmakers, fourteen Democrats in control of a 17 member legislative body, don't listen.  They haven't learned.  They've over-bonded and allowed a debt-ridden obligation at the Westchester County Medical Center to ridiculously bloat their executive staff.  They're raising fees at Playland and that will likely trigger a drop in attendance that reduces its revenue stream.

Westchester doesn't have a Tom Suozzi, yet.  Maybe one of the all-Democrat majority controlling this lower Hudson Valley county's State legislative delegation could step to the plate and express some fiscal sanity.

To Palin Or Not Palin: Who's Losing Whose Way?

I would have more respect for these critics of conservatives and Sarah Palin if they would just admit they are scared.

GOP Recovery:  Fire Rush Limbaugh: Roll Call

Mort Kondracke is right about following the lead of governors nationwide but what about the 30 states whose referendums rejected gay marriage?  He wants Republicans to follow the lead of what is happening in the states, a fair point, but he wants politicians to ignore the will of the people?

Without dwelling on the Constitutional arguments that may or not rule someday in favor of gay couples, the same-sex marriage issue is not a winner for Democrats either -- the same way pro-life Republicans watch their political backs in certain parts of the country (and win overwhelmingly in others) -- the same way either party wins on either issue depending on the demographics.

... And immigration flips back and forth too ...

So now it's pile on Limbaugh time (along with pile on Palin and whoever is in the way of the next candidate the pundits or a particularly pundit want to support).

I know portions of the Republican establishment deserve to be spanked but the self-hatred has to go -- and I'm not sure Andrew Sullivan really means it's an issue of complacency.

The idea of a conservative woman actually being popular nationwide, whether she is putting her foot in her mouth or not, has the politically correct bunch panicked.

The GOP failings are more about a lack of competence -- yet critics hold agenda after agenda over their heads as if they lost because they weren't Democrats.  Republicans have panicked too and now a more shifty game is afoot;  Huckabee and Romney elbowing for 2012, with Palin being disposable.

But is she ... disposable?  To Palin or not Palin.  What would Reagan do?

Hot Air had some hot air from someone I like, Peg Noonan.

Hat tip and Happy Thanksgiving to Karol at Alarming News.

An Argument Against Taxpayer Funded Bailouts: Laffer Speaks

An old voice, Arthur Laffer, argues against a federal bailout -- and even made a case against February's $170 billion stimulus package:

"From the standpoint of accounting, the government is $170 billion further in the red, and taxpayers are liable for an additional $170 billion worth of taxes. Therefore, for every dollar of transfer payment there’s at least an equivalent dollar of future tax liabilities. Those people with the increased tax liabilities will spend less, thereby dis-employing people who had been supplying them with goods they’ll no longer buy. And the reduction in spending of those with higher tax liabilities will lea"d to a multiplied reduction in total spending equal to and fully offsetting the increase in total spending from the recipients of government checks. There is no stimulus from the stimulus programs!"

Meanwhile, Laffer said last year a recession wasn't coming (also check out what the rest of the "experts" predicted).

The above is a shocking compilation of economic forecasts, almost all entirely blind to what actually happened.

Politics Doesn't Seem So Important Anymore: Pondering Black Friday

It just occured to me that tomorrow could be one of the most economically precarious days in the history of the United States, not in terms of anything getting tangibly worse yet (and it will get worse) but the prospect of too many tipping points.

There's Wall Street's next turn at bat.  The rocket scientists in Congress and out of the White House are about to dispense with several hunded billion dollars in opportunity that could either buoy the economy or send consumer confidence  spiraling into something worse than a recession.

There are the shoppers, who may or may not show up at the stores Friday morning.  Many will window shop.  It's hard to gauge what consumers will do.   Reuters reported this week that consumer confidence is the lowest it's been in 28 years.  Frankly, a further drop in retail sales dooms the other side of the economy -- the big malls and little Main Streets.  That would be a double-hit to the economy; further loss in profits nationally and less sales tax revenue.

The dual drop of a federal-state-local public depression (because when both states and local governments start to default, that's what it is going to be) and a further drop in economic indicators will leave the U.S. economy staggering at the door.

This piece from Bloomberg.com explains how the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) could or shouldn't be applied nationwide:

"Many cities, and some states, already are experiencing big drops in tax revenue. Desperate choices loom for some of them. They should make those choices. These are government entities with lots of options, not banks or financial-services companies or even homeowners -- all now the objects of TARP assistance -- facing bust."

As taxpayers, do we just say "no" to bailing out our local governments or further extend the debt upon future tax bills?

The pecking order will line up like a have or have not scenario leaving public and private fiscal entities at each other's bureaucratic throats.

Now terrorists-anarchists have also shown up for this party, with evil timing, prompting caution among shoppers and travelers on the very day the United States needs a morale boost.

Politics doesn't seem so important anymore.

Our true leaders, if we still have any left, could be left with little to fix by Valentine's Day, and with even less to fix "it" with.   Larchmont native Tim Geithner has been described as an "expert" on "collapsing economies" around the world -- so I suppose Barack Obama recognizes that this is indeed a Pogo moment ("We have met the enemy and he is us").

Geithner, apparent pick for Treasury, isn't a Wall Street man:  Los Angeles Times

"Obama should get an ‘A’ for a quick rollout of his economic team," said Tony Crescenzi, bond market strategist at Miller, Tabak & Co. in New York. "What is needed now is for the team to be clear, concise, and show conviction about what they plan to do so as to bridge a gap between now and January when they take power."

I tend not to shop on Black Friday but I'm heading out to the mall and I'm buying something.  Maybe it will be something as simple as one Christmas present or an extra cup of coffee or splurging on a movie.  I know it's time for austerity and I know I don't have the money in my pocket.

But we can't give up tomorrow, not with our enemies and worst fears at the gate.

It might be time to save but we should get out there Friday and shop.

Around the dinner table today, the family and relatives joked about how much each of us will spend this holiday season -- and at one point some of the estimates were equated to Wall Street's own drop.   There were six people at that Thanksgiving dinner who lost almost everything this past month; their jobs, investments and one person locked into a near-Enronesque pension spiral that saw it almost all go away.  That story has been repeated in homes across the tri-state area, across the country.

You see ... I hit my own rock bottom over two years ago and hit rock bottom again about six months later ... saving along the way, patching up what few debts I could, and hunkering down with a few side jobs.  The real estate market I was in -- and may be back in again -- has frozen.  It could be six months or four years.   I haven't waited for the grass to grow under my feet.  Humbling step as it might have been, I'm now making ends meet with jobs I haven't taken since I was in high school.

As for News Copy and a few other "corners of the sky" I still plan to lasso, I remain a wordsmith for hire.  Have laptop, will travel.  Can you imagine what Ben Franklin and the rest of the Founders would have done with blogs?  Seems to me such self-publishing venues are what freedom of speech and good journalism can all be about, even if it is only to make a little noise.  I kind of like the odds and have no intention of giving up ... And I hope none of you give up out there either.

Black Friday: It has to be big, and bold (CNN Money) 

There's something more than a war on terrorism upon us and it seems to me that Americans have never shirked from a challenge when our backs were against the wall.  Something tells me our country is about to rise to the occasion.

Happy Thanksgiving

Violence In India Evokes Thoughts of the Terrorism On 9/11

It's Thanksgiving and I'm thankful New Yorkers appear to be getting home safe.

On the other side of the world, an ongoing hostage crisis reminds us of another reality.

Brooklyn Rabbi and His Wife Caught in Mumbai Attacks:  The New York Times

Local Indian-Americans React With Grief, Outrage:  The Washington Post

Fox 5 covered a prayer service today at the Hindu Temple Society of North America in New York City.

"As New Yorkers, we know the toll that terrorism takes all too well," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during a prayer service Thursday at the Hindu Temple Society of North America. "I think Mumbai and New York have always been somewhat united, but today, never more so."

Heinous attacks in Mumbai, Americans on the alert:  Arab News

World Recoils In Horror:  Daily News & Analysis, India

NYC-based Jewish group monitoring events in Mumbai:  International Herald Tribune

The Terrible Wait:  The Jerusalem Post

Reading through these stories, I can't help but realize how a broader cross-section of cultures and religions are affected this time ... as much as these countries overseas have dealt with daily threats upon innocent human beings for far long than September 11, 2001.

... And now Black Friday ...

New York State Governor Won't Appoint Himself To Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate Seat

New York State Governor David Paterson told NY1 that he won't be appointing himself to replace U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton.

Now we don't have to worry about the "Gang of 3" picking our next governor, since these three rogue amigos could tip the the vote for State Senate Majority Leader (who would then become the next governor if Paterson chose himself as U.S. Senator).

The "Gang of 3" could be doing a lot more than just tipping a few votes, reported the Daily Politics.

Overseas Terrorist Killings Raises Terror Concerns In New York: "Unsubstantiated" Terror Plot

Terrified Americans, Europeans describe Mumbai chaos:  CNN

New York City is on what appears to be a cautious alert but this situation is mounting, though nothing measurable has been corroborated.

NYPD Steps Up Security Following News Of Unsubstantiated Subway Terror Plot:  NY1

More Details Emerge About Subway Terror Plot: NY1

To quote one New Yorker interviewed by NY1, "When it happens, I'll duck."

Gothamist had more specifics:  MTA targeted, trains coming into Penn Station, involvement to Osama Bin Laden, FBI called the plot "uncorroborated, but plausible" (unsubstantiated?), "maximum carnage" -- and a quote from Congressman Peter King.

Long Island Congressman Peter King, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, told the press, "(The threat is) serious, significant and plausible. It is probably still aspirational, being discussed and possibly planned."

Former U.N. Ambassador Bolton on Terror Attacks in India:  FOX News

Bolton observed that the terrorists in India had a "global audience" in mind.

New York's U.S. Senate Appointment: Politics Knives Coming Out

This isn't 1994.  This isn't 2002 either.

However, to say Andrew Cuomo's enemies are coming out of the woodwork would be an understatement.

This New York Times article indicates a bit of "push-back" by fellow Democrat over the idea of Andrew Cuomo being appointed U.S. Senator to replace a possibly outgoing Hillary Clinton from that position.

"Two advisers to Mr. Paterson said on Wednesday that they saw Mr. Cuomo’s hand behind the drumbeat of news stories and political chatter proclaiming the attorney general as the only elected official in the state with the stature and popularity to serve effectively as New York’s next senator."

That's silly.  His name is Cuomo.  He's the attorney general.  He's the only prospective candidate for the job who has ever run a successful statewide race.  He's only the son of a former governor, who witnessed the operation of state government by his father's side for a dozen years.  By the way, he's also served in a White House cabinet as HUD secretary ... and been actively involved in statewide politics since 1982 (New York City politics since 1976).

Why wouldn't Andrew Cuomo's name be circulated?

Given what could be weeks of speculation, something tells me the knives will be coming out all over the place -- and not just into Andrew's back.

Mike Crowley of The New Republic doesn't take Tom Suozzi seriously.  New York Magazine is skeptical and identifies Fix Albany's fiscal conservation as a reason Sheldon Silver will paint a bulls-eye on the Nassau Democrat's back.

Ben Smith is going to keep having fun adding new names to the list (Carl McCall?).

"Several Democrats appear, with varying levels of intensity, to be positioning for the job: Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, who's name I'm hearing a lot, although not from people close to Paterson; Buffalo Rep. Brian Higgins; Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. But there's a range of others: Reps. Nita Lowey, Jerry Nadler, Greg Meeks, Anthony Weiner, and Carolyn Maloney get mentioned. So do Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand's name also comes up, though her seat might be tough for Democrats to hold if she vacates it."

I would see how Gillibrand's rare perch in a traditionally Republican Congressional seat would be reason enough to keep her there -- but she's still who I expect will be appointed.

The Governor will not be allowed to "proceed slowly" on Hillary's replacement, regardless of what his leaksters tell the working press.  Paterson will face criticism whoever he picks.

Jacob Gershman of The New Republic frames this in terms of voting blocs for the yet-to-be-elected governor,

"Will Paterson want to placate Hispanics (with Representative Jose Serrano, for instance), women (Reprepresentative Kirsten Gillibrand), or suburbanites (Nassau County executive Thomas Suozzi)?"

The case for Cuomo's appointment out of Abany is a political one, Gershman noted:

"He's got an approval rating of 61 percent, high name recognition, and broad support among Democrats and Republicans. He was the number one choice to replace Clinton among 43 percent of registered New York voters (including 50% Republican voters), according to last week's Marist Poll. Placing second were Puerto Rican congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and congresswoman Nita Lowey, both with 5 percent."

Perhaps Paterson is more concerned that Cuomo won't be appointed.

 

 

 

 

 

New York Schools Get Reprive From Governor: But 2009-2010 Will Now Be Worse

The Journal News blog Politics on the Hudson outlined Governor Paterson's decision to drop mid-year cuts in school aid.

“I acknowledge that your costs are rising, but I believe all levels of government must reduce spending,” Paterson’s letter to school boards and superintendents said. “This year, I have reduced state agency spending by more than 10 percent. In this unprecedented fiscal crisis, school districts, like all levels of government, will have to take a similar approach and find ways to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of their operations on behalf of taxpayers.”

But will they?

Here in the sleepy suburbs of Westchester County, from my perspective in Eastchester, neither school districts nor school parents will opt to cut the school budgets with any depth.

The concepts of increasing class size, freezing teacher's salaries and applying austerity-like measures won't happen without a fight.  Variations of at least one of those three approaches will be resisted -- but 2009 might also be the year many local school budgets are defeated.  People want the services.  They don't want to pay for them.

This former member of the Blind Brook School Board, Monroe Haas, targets the procedure for teacher negotiations.

"Negotiations are the reason for union existence. School boards have limited terms. Union leadership remains constant and forever. School boards have negotiations as just one issue and therefore are never as prepared as their union counterpart. The present procedure places districts in competition with each other. Unions reach out to their fellow unions while school boards generally negotiate in a vacuum."

All it takes is one school district with a high contract and the rest follow.

The Buffalo News reported that school aid funding is set to rise 8.8 percent, or $1.9 billion, next year.  Paterson called that a number "we simply cannot afford.”

Watching how anti-climatic November 18 turned out to be, I can't imagine December 15 will be much better.  All talk and no action. 

New York Will Lose 225,000 Jobs: New York State Comptroller On Wall Street Crisis

All bad news from Tom DiNapoli on Wall Street's fiscal crisis:  CNN Money

225,000 less jobs.

Loss of $6.5 billion in securities industry-related tax revenue.

DiNapoli explained that bonuses paid to lower level employees are often used to purchase goods and services in other industries, which benefits the overall economy.

"New York will feel a lot pain from a shrunken bonus pool," he said.

The State Comptroller's report estimated that tax collections, both personal income and business taxes, from Wall Street-related activities could drop by $4.5 billion for New York state and $2 billion for New York City by 2010.

Wall Street-related activities account for 12% of New York City tax revenues, up to 20% of New York state revenues.

Reuters reported on the Comptroller's office reading the riot act to several equity funds that were under-performing, terminating funds with investments totaling $2.3 billion in October.

Long overdue

Minnesota U.S. Senate Race: Absentee and Lost-And-Found Ballots Challenged

CNN reported Minnesota's Canvassing Board voting unanimously Wednesday to reject a request from Democrat Al Franken to count thousands of rejected absentee ballots in the recount of votes in his Senate race against Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.

Absentee ballots are still being recounted in Minnesota, reported the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, depending on what branch of government takes control of this election.

Senate recount: Lost, found, challenged

"Democrat Al Franken's campaign last week argued before the Canvassing Board that improperly rejected absentee ballots should be identified and counted -- and that the board has the authority to do it. The campaign of Republican Sen. Norm Coleman argues that it's a matter to be decided by the courts."

Meanwhile, those stray ballots continue to "pop up" at recount centers around the state.

Associated Press: Terror Threat Level Raised On New York's Trains

 The Associated Press reported police bolstering security in subways and trains Wednesday after the government warned that al-Qaida suicide bombers were contemplating an attack on New York's mass-transit systems during the holiday season.

An internal memo obtained by The Associated Press says the FBI has received a "plausible but unsubstantiated" report that al-Qaida terrorists in late September may have discussed attacking the subway system.

The internal bulletin says al-Qaida terrorists "in late September may have discussed targeting transit systems in and around New York City. These discussions reportedly involved the use of suicide bombers or explosives placed on subway/passenger rail systems," according to the document.

"We have no specific details to confirm that this plot has developed beyond aspirational planning, but we are issuing this warning out of concern that such an attack could possibly be conducted during the forthcoming holiday season," according to the warning dated Tuesday.

Al Qaeda may target New York trains, feds say: CNN

GOP Spiral: The Massachuss-ification of New York?

  Former State Senator Ray Meier has the right idea ...

“Our party, particularly in New York, has tried to hang on to power by cultivating relationships with special interests and, in the meantime, they've forgotten that elections are won and lost by how much you can appeal to voters,” said Meier.

... But how many news outlets actually picked up this story?

None.

Mondello To 'Barak' Voters: You're Deluded:  New York Daily News.

No one picked up this story either, except News Copy.

Three weeks ago, the following story ran in The New York Times:  Republicans Aim to Rebuild After a Bruising Election

John McArdle, a spokesman for the Senate majority leader, Dean G. Skelos, said, “Given the tsunami and overwhelming Democrat victories in this state and across the country, we did very well, particularly upstate ... "

They just don't get it and may never will.

Is Gerald Benjamin, a professor of political science at the State University of New York at New Paltz correct?  Are New York's Republicans on the precipice of what he termed “the Massachus-ification of New York?”

Democrats have lost control of everything like our easterly neighbor because -- as an active Republican in Westchester expressed -- Republicans lose ground when they're not the reformers.  The GOP will regain that edge when they admit the sky is falling.

Meier gets it.  Jim Tedisco gets it.  Dean Skelos would get it if he showed the intestinal fortitude to barnstorm the school districts of Long Island and tell them that delivering more dollars to them from Albany defeats the mission of lower taxes.  Instead, he makes a deal with the teachers union.

At least Governor Paterson is delivering the bad news to school districts:  Politics on the Hudson.

Sleepy Suburbia's Phil Reisman: Someone Who Cares About Westchester County

Another great story by Phil Reisman of The Journal News on Andy Spano's pretentious crap.

"Buried inside Spano's $1.8 billion budget is something he doesn't really want advertised. At least he hasn't mentioned it during any of his dog-and-pony presentations. It's an $890,000 item that includes 3.25 percent retroactive raises for a whole host of nonunion employees, including 23 commissioners and department heads."

Reisman's one of those veteran journalists whose institutional memory would daunt the political know-it-alls in most municipal buildings.  He's still also a reporter first, columnist second.

I could remember a toxic chemical incident in Yonkers when John Spencer was still mayor, not too long after 9/11.  This had initially been a homeland security scare; men in the spacesuits, F.B.I. and streets blocked off like there was a nuclear weapon about to blow up New York's fourth largest city.  I was driving against traffic going the other way.  It ended up being some rare food poisoning but any journalist showing up that night could have just as easily been exposed to bubonic plague.

There were the usual television suspects there, media van towers parked outside a hospital, but only two newspaper guys.  Modestly standing among the cameras and microphones was Phil Reisman, notepad in hand and not certain whether to be amused or innoculated.  Reisman had once been the Yonkers newspaper editor for Gannett's local daily and he was now a columnist for the same newspaper chain; and I thought, surveying what could still be a terrorist attack ...  this guy must still be a reporter at heart.

It reminded me of stories about my former boss, WVOX's William O'Shaughnessy, who had run out of his house in October of 1985 in his bathrobe during an earthquake to field over 200 phone calls that morning to his New Rochelle radio station.  This was a man who would call me every morning before the sun came up to see if I had a jump on the day's news.  Once a true news hound, always a news hound.

True members of the fourth estate are like firemen.  We run into the fire, not away from it.

Reisman's played the part of humorist as a columnist for a number of years now but it started getting serious again for him (as serious as suburbia's political situation comedy can be) when the County Board spin-meister Gary Kriss was caught gorging himself with taxpaper money on anime cartoon software for his novel.  Suddenly, Reisman had the reporter's hat on again and it fit well.

The best thing about Reisman's take on the county take is that he's as annoyed about his tax bill as any homeowner.  And it's not funny anymore.

This man cares.  Mad as hell and not going to take it anymore?  Sure.  Boss Ryan.  King Spano.  No one's spared.  It's about time.  Westchester is the highest taxed county in the nation, more akin to the budget of a socialist nation than a bedroom community.

Offbeat and sometimes cryptic humor aside, his columns over the past year on fiscal waste have led the charge for reforming Westchester County Government.

The RethinkingWestchesterGov.com crowd thanked Reisman last week for his humor, since he has moved their issue to the front page.

The move to at least try to downsize and clean up county politics wouldn't be happening without him.  Since Gannett's news operation in Westchester has a lazy history of cozying up to the liberals, Reisman's coverage additionally led an editorial sea change.  He's doing it with a smile.  Okay ... maybe he's doing it with an irrascible wit too, part burnt out and otherwise fed up with the status quo.

Here's his most recent column on King Spano's bodyguards:

"Wait a minute - he is taking a hit. He said he's going to cut his security by 15 percent. Still, it's hard to figure out exactly what the hell that means, so we're guessing he's going make those poor cops go on a 15 percent weight reduction diet, and lose 35 pounds."

Never change, Phil.  You're the pied piper for political reformers and getting better with age.

New York's U.S. Senator Lottery: The Case For Long Island's Tom Suozzi

Suozzi would be my first pic, except I'm a Conservative in my Republican sentiments.

I don't believe the present political establishment will ever allow a pro-life Democrat to ascend, let alone a good-looking guy from Long Island.

Would he join the GOP?  Nothing doing.  And I've asked him (the day he announced his candidacy for governor in 2006).  He's too loyal to his party -- and I like that. 

The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza makes the case for Suozzi (and Kirsten Gillibrand):

"Suozzi is known nationally (to the extent he is known at all) as the guy who ran a quixotic primary challenge against Spitzer in 2006. With two years of hindsight, however, Suozzi, the Nassau County executive, looks better and better. Suozzi's geographic base (Long Island) is appealing for Democrats looking for a statewide winner, and Bill Cunningham, the top political aide to Paterson, is also extremely close to Suozzi."

Cillizza is correct.  Also, Paterson would dominate the suburbs with such a proven fiscal reform on the statewide ticket.  Suozzi is not just talk.  He is New York's fiscal conservative voice.

Republicans should be ashamed of themselves that they haven't come close to cultivating their GOP version of Suozzi, or even Suozzi-lite.

Suozzi won't be chosen because he is pro-life, though he ranks extremely high on the "remove from Albany" list -- and his media-savvy good looks and cult of reform Fix Albany mind-melds well with national reformers.  This guy's a winner and will only get better.

Cillizza says Gillibrand comes next, at 5-1 odds:

"Gillibrand, who knocked off embattled Rep. John Sweeney (R) in 2006, is a political dynamo who received the most votes of any New York incumbent (177,667) earlier this month. Gillibrand's geographic positioning in Upstate, coupled with her fundraising prowess ($4.6 million raised in the past two years) and the idea of replacing Clinton with another woman, makes her a top prospect."

Everything News Copy said this weekend.

I don't agree anymore that Nita Lowey is under consideration.  I agree with Cillizza on Andrew Cuomo:

"Cuomo, the son of the former New York governor, is the biggest name (outside of the Kennedys) in the potential field. And, with Paterson on course to run for a full term in 2010, the Senate could be a nice landing spot for Cuomo. And yet, few party insiders take the prospect of a Sen. Cuomo seriously -- and we don't know why."

Embattled at times in his political career, I find that Andrew Cuomo is not the Hamlet on the Hudson his father played.  I dealt closely with Andrew as reporter at WVOX in the late 1980's during his time with Westhelp housing initiative for homeless women and children.  Before HUD, before statewide aspirations, Cuomo's tenacious personality made him many friends and enemies in the shadow of his father.

Andrew's only flaw now with people is his advantage; he's not his father.  And some political observers would measure that as a reason to take New York's Attorney General more seriously.

Two I don't take seriously are Gregory Meeks (who should be thrown out of Congress for defending Franklin Raines) and Nydia Velasquez (who anywhere else other than New York City couldn't be elected).

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is a distraction.  Left off Cillizza's list is Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.  On his list are Long Island's Steve Israel and Western New York's Brian Higgins.  Higgins would be long-shot dark house but not an implausible pick from New York's Congressional delegation.  Neither can light a candle to Gillibrand.

Suozzi would be a pleasant surprise, a dramatic reversal of fortune for conservatives, and proof that David Paterson is the reform Governor of New York State he wishes to be.

It sounds good but it won't be Suozzi.

Sarah Palin To The Rescue In Georgia U.S. Senate Runoff?

CNN reports Palin coming to Georgia.

She's taking a big chance.

The Huffington Post noted that Rudy Giuliani is down there too, reminding everyone that he isn't popular with the conservative base.

Meanwhile, McCain/Palin did 200,000 votes better than Obam/Biden in Georgia.

New York State GOP Still Trying To Figure Out Why They Lost

" ... Democrats created a wonderful political product, packaged it amazingly well, found the right “buzz” words and then marketed it using the latest information technology. If Ford could have been as effective as the Democrats we would all be driving Pintos."

New York State GOP Chairman Joe Mondello

The New York Daily News blog, The Daily Politics, described New York State Republican Chairman Joseph Mondello calling young voters "deluded" (that's from the Daily News, not Mondello, as far as I can see).

"In the end, marketing can only take you so far. Once you open the packaging, dig past the euphoria, consume the hype, there still needs to be something there that will stick to your political soul. The Democratic ideology is, and always has been, the creation of big government, requiring an ever increasing percentage of your personal disposal income."

"Newcomers to the work force don’t appreciate the implications of that simple constant, but they will over time as their take home salaries reflect the realities of their vote," the chairman concluded. "Wisdom acquired through life experience creates Republican voters."

He's blaming everyone but himself.  He's blaming everyone but those who work under him.  He's blame everyone but the State Senate Majority.  He's blaming everyone but the county chairs. He's blaming everyone but the political consultants.  He's blaming everyone but the pollsters.  He's blaming everyone but the candidates.

Joe Mondello blamed the voters!!!

The New York State Republican boss scapegoated this election on the voters.

Just wonder if Chairman Mondello will have as much guts to admit how "deluded" the Republican establishment has been since January of 1995.

We need a citizen revolt within the State GOP.

No.  Let's just declare that there no longer is a State GOP and declare a new organization.

They're too used to blaming everyone else.

I sadly witnessed this on the local level in my hometown of Eastchester, where a good Republican candidate drew nearly 2,000 votes less than John McCain -- and approximately 800 votes less on the Republican line!!!  This is Eastchester, bastion of Republicanism in lower Westchester County,  one of the few places downstate where McCain won, with 8,000 voters out of over 14,000 cast.  That Town GOP is yet to come to terms with why their candidate lost -- but this is like Pogo, folks (the enemy is us) -- and I'm sure this pattern is being repeated across the Empire State.

In defense of Eastchester and many other local GOP operations, maybe Mondello could have spent more money on McCain signs (damn McCain-Feingold), and maybe more support could come from the State GOP for county committees and local candidates.  McCain's statewide operation was based in ... New Jersey ... a two-state operation for the second largest state in the nation.

New Jersey?  Isn't it bad enough that the Jets and Giants play there?

Bring the same crew back in New York State?

Joe Mondello could start with Dean Skelos, advising the outgoing Republican State Senate Majority Leader to start considering the plight of property owners first and the not become so infatuated with the teachers union.

Mondello wants to know why the Republicans lost.  He should look at his own county -- where the fiscal reformer is a Democrat. Tom Suozzi wins and he succeeds as a conservative, not as a liberal or an establishment player.  Andrew Eristoff's productive rant aside, can we all please stop trying to be Nelson Rockefeller and John Lindsay?  Can we admit that the Pataki years were an abject failure, possibly worse than the the tenure of former Governor Mario Cuomo?

Quoting from an e-mail blast circulated by the State GOP, the Daily News reported that Mondello will soon appoint a "strategic review committee" to look at "all aspects" of the party, its candidates and its communication operation.

That should include no longer hiring most of the usual suspects who have done work for Republicans in New York for the past 10-15 years -- particularly those "consultants" who (a) keep losing and (b) keep charging too much money.

Choosing Hillary Clinton's Replacement From The Beltway Power Rankings

When I predicted Sarah Palin would be the GOP running mate over nine months ago, before anyone even guessed she would be under consideration, my fellow political rocket scientists were telling me I need to have my head examined.

In the same New York spirit, I will go out on the limb to say that Kirsten Gillibrand is the frontrunner to be our next U.S. Senator.

With Andrew Cuomo my second pick.

Ironically, they each have the least elected experience of anyone considered for the position.

New York Power Rankings

The Albany Times Union blog Capitol Confidential had the following "power" rankings from Congressional Quarterly on New York's Congressional delegation.

Some observations on the power calculations:

First, it won't be a pro-life Democrat and likely not a visible conservative Catholic politician.

Joe Crowley won't be appointed U.S. Senator nor Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.  There has already been some heavy lobbying by abortion advocates, women's advocates, minority advocates, upstate advocates ...

... Liberal advocates will have the last word on this U.S. Senate pick.

Second, the more powerful the Member of Congress, the less likely he or she will be plucked.  New York needs that representation.

Nita Lowey has more clout and more value to New York remaining in the House as a "cardinal" on the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

This should have been Lowey's U.S. Senate seat, nearly ten years ago.  It would make sense to hand it to a woman from New York's sleepy suburbs but sleepy is an understatement here.

For all the control Democrats master over Westchester and the Tom Suozzi's own rule in Nassau, Lowey has no heir apparent downstate.  Lowey hasn't cultivated a successor.  In a state where women's issues are paramount, the power elite is still predominantly a boy's club.  Hillary Clinton sort of jumped the line, came from another state and hasn't yet cultivated her own understudy.

There isn't a farm team -- with much of the political blood in the State Legislature as old.

Can Democrats afford to part with a veteran lawmaker to fill Clinton's seat?

Third, demographics are deceptive:

This is upstate New York's time for a key federal appointment, especially since the body politic throughout the Empire State is top heavy with New York City powerbrokers.  Think Buffalo or Schenectady, not anywhere within the five boroughs or likely its suburbs either (though Steve Israel or Suozzi from Long Island and Lowey from Westchester would expand the statewide totals for Democrats).

Louise Slaughter could have an advantage here, as would Brian Higgins (so would Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown) but the dark horse is Kirsten Gillibrand.

Fourth, it could be a minority but it won't be.

Buffalo's Byron Brown could have the fast track here -- but he probably won't (which perhaps does not say much for New York's supposedly progressive political culture).   Brown's a natural pick for other reasons encompassing his urban base.  Brown is a mayor of the state's second largest city, a powerful urban demographic in itself, and that would give him a simpatico with urban areas across the state (think Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Albany, Poughkeepsie and the urban ring of Westchester's smaller cities -- Mount Vernon, Peekskill, including parts of White Plains and much of lower New Rochelle and south Yonkers).

Also, Brown's challenges in Buffalo deal with lower and middle income strife across all racial groups in Western New York.   

Fifth, it will be a woman who can raise money and whose political pedigree can be gene-spliced with politically correct power groups.

Gillibrand.  Carolyn Maloney and Lowey are the political veterans within this realm, except Gillibrand is media-ready and has proven herself formidable in a short span of time.

The problem with Maloney, Lowey and Slaughter is age.

Gillibrand at 41 might be considered too young, maybe.

Sixth, the next U.S. Senator will either be someone who Democrats have privately decided must be removed from Albany -- and/or someone the Beltway insiders have design on controlling.

Cuomo.  Suozzi might steal some fire here but his conservative stances make him anathema, for the time being, to the political leanings in the U.S. Senate.  Andrew Cuomo is ready made for Washington and his departure from Albany would free up a lot of political spinning wheels.

Finally, it may not be someone from within New York's Congressional delegation.

Cuomo.  Choosing Brown would facilitate something historic for New York's long-neglected upstate cities.  Tom Suozzi might be the most qualified pick outside the Congressional delegation but Governor Paterson wouldn't risk a contrarian choice on abortion.

Buffalo, Albany and Queens

News Copy views this as an extremely close horse race between Andrew Cuomo, Byron Brown and Kirsten Gillibrand.  This is as much a competition between upstate and downstate.

Upstate is going to win this time, as might the minority and Mayor Brown could be the surprise pick.

I personally hand the edge to Gillibrand but this is Andrew Cuomo's turn at bat.  More important, Cuomo in the U.S. Senate would be the shrewd pick by Paterson and remove his single greatest obstacle to remaining governor.  However, Gillibrand raised over $4 million in a Republican district -- against a Republican challenger who raised over $7 million -- and there isn't a political animal in the 50 states who has drawn that kind of national money for a House race.

All the talk about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is both symbolic and endemic of what Cuomo is up against. 

Cuomo is a reliable political brand. Much depends on how the legacy of Mario Cuomo casts a wider shadow on his son.

This could be good and this could be bad.

Andrew has moved far from that shadow and Paterson is best served by getting his potential competitor out of Dodge.  In a state where the next State Senate Majority Leader could be governor, Cuomo is already a scandal away from the Executive Chamber.

After Paterson, there are plenty of others who just want Andrew to go away -- and the U.S. Senate is a good place to keep him.

Andrew's climb up the political ladder has been slow, steady though seemingly daunted at times in both the state and nation's capitols.  After his failed gubernatorial run in 2002, a comeback seemed impossible yet he prevailed far beyond expectations in 2006.

Now the former governor's son is at the head of a very crowded pack of Democrats, some self-important and other names floated vaguely.

Cuomo may have to get past a political natural in Gillibrand to step into the U.S. Senate.  News Copy predicts that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will be the least of his problems.

Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand might be the only farm team player in New York State capable of surmounting the boy's club (and, ironically, she is also from an extremely well-established political family within Albany's political machine).  Gillibrand could become a New York powerhouse.  The right individual securing this U.S. Senate appointment could be running for President in 15-20 years or less.

She didn't raise $4 million with just a pretty smile.  Then again, Cuomo fashioned an impressive comeback to first secure the nomination for Attorney General in 2006 and then went on to win convincingly in 2006.

The two actually have the identical number of years (2) in elected office.

Cuomo's edge is obvious.  He has seen and experienced more of government than most heads of state.

The Player

If Democrats want to keep the seat and cultivate a national player, Gillibrand is the pick.

If Democrats want a local player whose turf and dominant concerns will always be New York, Andrew Cuomo's ascension would be productive.

... But Gillibrand's upstate compass tips the scale in her favor, dramatically.  Cuomo's five borough base is an edge, politically, but Chuck Schumer and Paterson already bring those votes to the table.

What would be missing from the statewide ticket is a woman, an upstate native who is media smart and fundraising capable.

 

Enter Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, whose political stock is about to rise.

Ben Stein and Neil Cavuto Yell At Each Other Over Bailout Projections

Watched this Saturday.

Obama is going to spend a LOT of money:  Reuters

$20 billion for Citigroup.

CNN Money reports there are more rescues ahead.

Tom Suozzi: Man With a Plan For Local Governments/Local Healthcare

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi wrote for Politico that he wants President Barack Obama to provide $50 billion for federal subsidy of local/county/state governments, feeding the money for public healthcare downstream:

"Phase I would be conditioned on implementation of cost-saving measures, including combating fraud and abuse, developing programs to prevent, detect ,and manage illness, reforming long-term care, and eliminating minority health disparities, among many others."

Maybe it's not supposed to be his job or the responsbility of local, county and state governments?

States, counties and cities would find a way to waste every penny (perhaps not in Nassau County where Suozzi runs a tight operation but not every government is the good ship Suozzi).

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Confirmation Torture Awaits?

The Telegraph, across the pond, quoted Obama transition staffers expressing concerns about Hillary.

"He's making a mistake." As one of the participants told a friend later that night: "She'll do a good job but she'll do it for herself, not for Barack. I can't bear the drama again."

But does she have the appointment?

U.S. Senate confirmation won't be a tea party.

Even if Clinton survives the vetting, she must survive the Republicans and the media -- and then survive four years in an Obama White House.

Barack Obama has New York's junior U.S. Senator exactly where he wants her, IN his tent.

News Copy will not be surprised if the dramatic announcement around Thanksgiving is that Hillary Clinton politely declines the White House appointment.

She will battle for national healthcare instead (again).

Ted Kennedy's offer this week to offer her a lead role in healthcare reform was obviously the parachute.

FOX News is already circling the wagons and not just around U.S. Senator Clinton.

There's Timothy Geithner as his Treasury secretary, Eric Holder as his attorney general, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for commerce secretary and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano for secretary of the Homeland Security Department.

The Huffington Post reported that Obama's White House will consider a commission on Bush administration torture, so confirmation hearings won't be the only place where political torture is being re-hashed.

Repairing New York's Water Supply: Patching The Delaware Aqueduct

20 million gallons a day would fill a lot of swimming polls.

That's how much New York's water supply is leaking daily from the Delaware Aqueduct, according to The New York Times:  Deep-Sea Divers to Repair a New York Water Tunnel

 

The above photo was taken in 1937.

"...The city has enlisted six deep-sea divers who are living for more than a month in a sealed 24-foot tubular pressurized tank complete with showers, a television and a Nerf basketball hoop, breathing air that is 97.5 percent helium and 2.5 percent oxygen, so their high-pitched squeals are all but unintelligible to visitors. They leave the tank only to transfer to a diving bell that is lowered to the bottom of the oval-shaped shaft, where they work 12-hour shifts, with each man taking a four-hour turn hacking away at concrete to expose the valve."

700 feet down.

Then there is Water Tunnel No. 3 (below photo is from 2006)

"It is the biggest public works project in New York City’s history: a $6 billion water tunnel that has claimed 24 lives, endured under six mayors and survived three city fiscal crises, along with the falling and rising fortunes of the metropolis above it."

Enter Tim Geithner: Obama's Treasury Pick Getting Good Reviews

"Timothy Geithner is a seasoned crisis manager with
a temperament to match that of Barack Obama"

The Economist (11/22/08)

The first word on President-elect Barack Obama's pick for Treasury Secretary is encouraging.

The Economist had the following on Larchmont native Timothy Geithner:

"First, he represents continuity. From the first days of the crisis last year, he has worked hand in glove with Ben Bernanke, the Fed Chairman, and Mr Paulson. He can continue to do so while awaiting confirmation. If Citigroup, for example, needs federal help, Mr Geithner will be involved. An unknown when he joined the New York Fed in 2003, he is now a familiar face to the most senior executives on Wall Street and to central bankers and finance ministers overseas.

"Second, he represents competence. He has spent more time on financial crises, from Mexico and Thailand to Brazil and Argentina than probably any other policymaker in office today. Mr Geithner understands better than almost anyone that in crises you throw out the forecast and focus on avoiding low probability events with catastrophic consequences."

CNN Money had a more sobering view.

This U.S. News and World Report blog dished out a more direct criticism (in addition to emphasizing that Geithner is NOT an economist):

"CNBC's Jim Cramer won't be happy, having called for a Senate investigation of Geithner because he supposedly was the prime factor behind the decision to let Lehman die. ("I think Geithner is one of the key architects of what went wrong here," Cramer said.) I am sure the Senate Republicans will be happy to make that dream come true with some very tough questioning."

So Congress will have another witch to burn at the stake?

No one in American politics gets a honeymoon anymore.

Stock up on the popcorn for all these confirmation hearings.

The New York Times put a kinder face on it all:  Change Is Landing in Old Hands

 

 

Albany's Five Men in the Room: Putting in a Lightbulb

Capitol Confidential had a compilation of the verbal wrestling between the now "five men in the room" on Tuesday.

I still believe Republican Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco was the only person in that meeting who really gets what New Yorkers want.

Bloomberg's Popularity Droops: New York City Mayor Still Polls Well

The Daily Politics had all the numbers on a Marist poll showing Michael Bloomberg's popularity has dropped almost ten percent since the term limits debacle.

King Michael polled well.

59 percent of registered voters in New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is doing either an excellent or good job in office, according to Marist.

On term limits, only 30 percent of New Yorkers believe the third term extension is a good idea.

48 percent think the court should overturn the law.

Only 19 percent support the Mayor running for a third term.

But no prospective opponent has dented him.

Anthony Weiner (37%), Bill Thompson (30 percent) and Tony Avella (28 percent) showed numbers offering some erosion of Bloomberg's popularily, with the incumbent hovering around 50 percent and nearly 20 percent undecided.

In a prospective Democratic primary, Congressman Weiner polled 34 percent, City Comptroller Thompson 26 percent, Council Member Avella 10 percent and 30 percent undecided.

Hackers Attacking Pentagon: Chinese Suspected

                                                                                          

What does a U.S. President do when he learns that overseas hackers are threatening homeland security?

FOX News reports that hackers have again breached Pentagon security.

Chinese hackers are suspected.

It's nothing new, sadly.

China stealing 'vast amounts' of data from U.S. computer networks:  USA Today

The Madness of King Michael: Bloomberg Blocks $400 Rebate Checks

First, term limits.  Now, the rebate checks.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has taken hubris to a defiant level.  The New York Times reported a stultifying air to Bloomberg's pronouncements,

"... The mayor’s bluntness has always been part of his appeal, making him appear a less scripted and typical politician, and his aides have suggested that his popularity stems in part from his making unpopular decisions."

Newsday reported Bloomberg saying, "We have no money" for $400 rebate checks to property owners throughout the five boroughs.

King Michael's actual popularity will be clearer on Friday when Marist publishes its poll numbers on the New York City Mayor and others running for mayor next year, noted Liz Benjamin of The Daily Politics.

"A reader who received the Marist poll call Monday night said he was asked whether the term limits extension, which was signed into law by the mayor on Nov. 3, has had an impact on his feelings about Bloomberg.

"He was also asked about hypothetical match-ups between Bloomberg and three different Democrats - all of whom insist they're going to challenge the mayor in 2009: Comptroller Bill Thompson, Rep. Anthony Weiner, and Councilman Tony Avella."

The New York Times argues that Bloomberg can't legally deny the rebate.

Bloomberg's rationale ignores other fiscal obligations:

"Look at it this way: If we don't do that, we're going to have to cut another quarter of a billion dollars out of our expenses" NY1 reported that a court date of December 11 has been set over the checks.

The financial wizard didn't know the city wouldn't have the revenue when he promised the rebates?

What could is Mr. Bloomberg's experience and financial know-how when he can't even balance a budget well enough to deliver $400 checks to homeowners?

Mired in an expensive occupation to nowhere in Iraq and an economic collapse, President George W. Bush was still able to find taxpayers a refund check this summer.

Where did the money go that was appropriated for the $400 rebate checks?

Dems to Detroit: Show Us The Plan

Democrats on Capitol Hill waited until after Election Day to do precisely what the Bush administration had done six weeks before.

CNN:  Dems want automakers to show bailout spending plan

These auto unions are about to get spanked.

Automobile Industry Rescue Stalled: Combust This

The Associated Press reports that the rescue of the automobile industry has stalled in Congress.

The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area in North Carolina conducted an unofficial poll where 59 percent of 441 respondents said the federal government should not bail out the struggling auto industry.

But not all the numbers fall that way.

In a poll released this week by research firm Peter D. Hart, 55 percent expressed broad support for loans to the big three, believing a GM, Ford, or Chrysler failure in the next few years could trigger an economic depression.

In Michigan, the Grand Rapids Press reported that voters hold management and labor responsible for auto industry crisis, 43 percent said management alone bears the blame, while 25 percent put the burden solely on the United Auto Workers.

"Asked a more general way, some 92 percent think corporate executives share some responsibility, while 81 percent feel the same about the UAW and 72 percent felt that way about the government.

"But even while respondents were harder on management, only 42 percent said they had an overall positive view of the UAW. In fact, 18 percent said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate backed by the UAW, while 39 percent said they would be less likely to do so."

The poll by North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling came out the same day that Mitt Romney argued that bankruptcy is the only way to save the U.S. automakers.

The Los Angeles Times published its own poll:

What should Congress do about the Big Three? (317 total responses)

• 12.6 % - Provide a bailout. The jobs are too important to lose.
• 12.9 % - Lend automakers more money to build factories that produce fuel-efficient cars, and hope Detroit learns how to profit from them.
• 6.0 % - Assume the cost of the Big Three's retirement benefits in exchange for them cutting new deals to bring labor costs in line with their competitors'.
• 28.4 % - Allow failing automakers to file for bankruptcy and reorganize, but cover the cost of honoring their warranties to reduce damage to the brands.
• 31.2 % - Do nothing.
• 8.8 % None of the above.

The AP reported the Big 3 automakers doing some of their own campaigning for a bailout.

They have even launched a website:  Jobs Per Car

"The company bought banner ads on some Web sites, its executives penned articles for newspapers' opinion pages, and it released a poll Friday that it had commissioned, which showed 55 percent of respondents think the automakers should get the loans while 30 percent disagree."

Mitt Romney Takes On Detroit:  The Washington Post

Huckabee Defends Criticism of Romney:  The Boston Globe

2012 ... It's too early for this ...

By 2012, one wonders if there will be an American automotive industry (as we know it).

 

New York's Highest Taxed County In Fiscal Denial

 "Anybody who is rational and responsible knows how valuable county government is."

Westchester Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz

 

Anyone rational and responsible knows the above is dishonest spin. 

Phil Reisman of The Journal News penned a column this morning on Westchester's fiscal fibbing (that's "Boss" Bill Ryan, the County Board Chairman next to "Boss" Spano).

Reisman called it "jive-talking" by Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano.

"He's the first to tell you what a heckuva job he's doing. The county is the best prepared, best managed and has the highest level of technology and oversight of any. There are no crooks in his regime. There is no waste. Efficiency is a hallmark.

And yet hearing him talk about the limited discretion he has in actually steering the great, indispensible ship of government, you begin to get the idea that a fairly well-trained chimp could be county executive.

What do you want from Bonzo, anyway? Those generous contracts handed over to county workers - hey, don't look at him. Larry Schwartz, Spano's righthand man, negotiated those deals. Go ask him. Besides, don't be fooled by the raises and fringe benefits because productivity in county government today is so high it would make the slave-driving pharaohs of ancient Egypt jealous."

Former Westchester County Executive Andrew P. O'Rourke, who preceded Spano and who had finally started downsizing county government his last few years in office, used to call Westchester the Athens of county governments.

Well ... its Tammany Hall now and, as the following headline in The Journal News highlighted, taxpayers are starting to take action:

Westchester group launches Web site urging elimination of county government

The Democrats run this dysfunctional government.

Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz called Rethinking Westchester Government's mission unrealistic:

"County government makes up 15 (percent) to 18 percent of the tax bill. We're not the reason taxes are high," he said. "County government has been the solution to holding down property taxes; it has not been the problem. The people that are behind this effort are going to drive up property taxes."

County government makes up a lot more than 15-18 percent of the tax bill, at least nearly HALF of the town portion of a taxpayer's tax bill.  Off-budget items, reduction in local subsidies to towns, interest from debt service and obligations on lending to the debt-ridden Medical Center are further future fiscal shocks.

Blaming schools and taxpayers is a low brow way to scapegoat a problem away from those responsible in county government.

You can see the real boss of Westchester County on this video (when does Gannett start using You-Tube).

In response to the movement to eliminate county government, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano suggested the elimination of local government.

Rethinking Westchester Government: Rethinking New York's Media

Group Trumpets Anti-County Agenda was the online headline in The Journal News, as if the reformers are the problem?

"A group that wants to eliminate, or at the very least downsize, Westchester County government is going global. Rethinking Westchester Government last night launched its Web site and wants to show residents they can indeed live without county government, a view that county leaders don't share."

One problem with this story though.

No mention of Sam Zherka or his proposed date of April 29, 2008 to protest County Government.

I guess the reporter must have been at a different meeting.

Jerry McKinstry, a good reporter, could have at least mentioned April 29, 2008.

To be fair, Zherka is controversial (and, theoretically, a competing news outlet).  Controversy can distract from such venues but this group has not formerally or even informally dissassociated from the publisher of the Westchester Guardian, as much as some members of Rethinking Westchester Government did privately express reservations about Zherka's presence at the meeting (Why not present that story?).

But to also be fair, on this issue at least, Zherka is right.

And the working press in Westchester County, particularly its only daily The Journal News, has a responsibility to cover the entire story.

The entire media in New York State has a responsibility to better cover all of the state, since it's a shame that Westchester's notorious ranking as the "the highest taxed county in the United States" is still under-covered by the New York City television affiliates viewed by suburbanites and the New York City tabloids read every morning by commuters.  Not to single out the New York Daily News, finally acting aware to the fiscal rout in Albany, and the New York Post, a publishing operation that has always been awake to New York's fiscal ills.

The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal should wake up to the local fiscal woes affecting a major portion of those who work in Manhattan and Wall Street.

The story about the highest taxed county in the United States is not being adequately covered.

The Journal News started six months ago, as corruption was uncovered about one employee of the County Board of Legislators but they are 35 years late to this party.

They were part of the problem.

If the editorial stance of this newspaper will be to ignore and/or edit out comments by a competing publisher criticizing the current political establishment (or, at least, avoid covering the contentious under-belly of issues prompting such hyperbole), this newspaper will continue to be part of the problem.

Organization Mobilizing To Abolish County Government Statewide

April 29, 2009.

Mark the date.  It's a Wednesday, two weeks after taxes are due on April 15th.

This is the day when taxpayers throughout Westchester will come together to call for the abolition of county goverment statewide.

Wednesday night, 200 people gathered in White Plains to listen to the good government group, Rethinking Westchester Government.  They detailed the histories of neighboring Connecticut (1960) and Massachusetts (1998) eliminating county government.

However, there is a big different between the abolition of a dozen counties in a small state and the end to 60 county governments in New York.  The group has launched a website that covers the wasteful spending and taxation by Westchester County -- where the fledging and rapidly growing group is based.

The Journal News blog Politics on the Hudson had more on the county abolition movement, who also coin Westchester County Government as "Wastechester" -- in light of the fact that New York City's northern bedroom communities encompass the highest taxed county in the county.

The organization was started by Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner and Yonkers Councilmember Joan Gronowski. The group's website, RethinkingWestchesterGov.com is being designed as an educational tool to demonstrate how Westchester County can live without Westchester County government.

Yes we can.

Wasteful Westchester

Notably lurking at last night's meeting was Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz, who is mocked by many fed up residents of Westchester as "the shadow" county executive or hatchet man for Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano.  Schwartz was not viewed as a friendly attendee and only drew disgusted stares from those who recognized him.

For example, New York's most affluent county is host to a County Board of Legislators that just allowed a six-figure salaried public information officer to just retire with over $70,000 in sick and vacation pay, despite the fact that he is presently under indictment for theft of county government services.

The Journal News reported on County Board lawmakers conveniently letting Gary Kriss just walk away with a hefty sum of money, just as he would have finally been fired him after six months of public controversy over wasteful mis-use (and alleged theft) of taxpayer-paid resources.

Most Republicans MIA

Baffling has been the absence of many high profile Republicans from these meetings.

Most Democrats were missing in action (MIA) too but municipal cost-cutting is a Republican issue.

Three Yonkers City Council members were present; Democrats Joan Gronowski (one of Rethinking's founders) and Denis Robertson, along with Republican Liam McLaughlin.

Also on hand was Rob Astorino, a former Republican County Legislator and County Executive candidate, who appears more than prepared to sustain another strong run against three-term incumbent Democrat Andrew Spano.  Astorino lost to Spano in 2005 with nearly 42 percent of the vote, in an election where the Independence Party line could have brought the Mount Pleasant Republican within a few percentage points of defeating the Democrat.

The Conservative Party had three leaders on hand; White Plains Conservative chair Eleanor McDonald, who serves on Rethinking's board, Mount Vernon Conservative chair Kevin Reilly and Eastchester Conservative chair Bob Fois (who was joined by Eastchester Conservative vice chair, Tom Andruss).

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, who has led this group with Gronowski since its inception, was additionally joined by White Plains Councilman Glenn Hockley, both also Democrats.

Establishment Republicans haven't been showing up.  As Liz Feld learned this summer and fall, sometimes fighting the establishment brings out those craving the spending against you in an election.  Also, the establishment can kept off funding for an election and future political support.

Notably absent were Westchester County GOP chairman Doug Kolety from New Rochelle and Republican County Legislators Jim Maisano (also from New Rochelle), George Oros of Cortlands and Gordon Burrows from Yonkers.  Also not showing up, though invited, were the town supervisors of Yorktown, Cortlandt, Mount Pleasant, Mamaroneck and Eastchester -- in addition to several village and city mayors throughout Westchester County from both major parties.

Most of them Republicans -- and most not responding at least to the effort to at least reasonably downsize county government.  None of Westchester's State Legislative delegation were there nor had they sent any representatives.  No Democrats from the County Board were there either.

The presence of Larry Shwartz was likely intimidating to many Democrats and some Republicans, who genuinely fear political vindication by the County Executive's office.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Embattled publisher of the Westchester Guardian newspaper, Sam Zherka, proposed the April 29, 2009 protest -- and his call for a revolt on that day drew cheers from the crowd at the White Plains Women's Club.

Zherka is a story for another day, one covering everything from lawsuits over free speech infringement to strident public criticism of the Westchester County District Attorney's office that some have argued is politically motivated (the Westchester County District Attorney's race is a story for another day too).  Zherka brings controversy with him but the aggressive publisher (whose large font headlines harken back to the late Ralph Martinelli) appears willing to financially support and publicize the county abolition movement.

... And money for political reform in New York's sleepiest suburb is sorely needed.

With legal advisors for the group speculating some worthy constitutional arguments, including a request for an opinion from the justice department, the abolition of county government (or at least a change in what county taxpapers are obligated to support) could really capture the interest of people in the coming months. 

For now, Rethinking Westchester Government has a website and a growing following with a good civic mission.

Check out RethinkingWestchesterGov.com.

New York's Public Finances: Where Do We Go From Here?

WMHT Public TV-Radio assembled highlights from the November 18 emergency budget session.

Capitol Confidential reported that outgoing State Senate Majority Dean Skelos talked Tuesday like there was an ongoing process.

In less than two months, he's not one of the "three men in room" anymore.

The Long Island Republican may have just sqandered his last opportunity to impact the budget process as a leader.  In January, Malcolm Smith or another Democrat is the next State Senate Majority Leader.  In 2009, the "gang of 3" will have more leverage over the majority vote than any Long Island or upstate Republican.  Frankly, Democrats in Westchester County will becoming the "tipping point" within the State Senate -- as will at least two Bronx Democrats and likely State Senators throughout upstate.

Does Long Island now become politically irrelevant?

Sparring into the fray is the upstate battler, Jim Tedisco, whose massively out-numbered Republican Assembly Minority is long ago and far away from having any control in the conversation in Albany.  However, Tedisco's pithy entry into this process was most dramatic and effective -- and acknowledged respectfully by the Governor of New York State.

Remaining silent in the background is Sheldon Silver, who ostensibly controls the State Legislature now, yet had deceptively kept his words (his quotes) to a bare minimum Tuesday.

News Copy hopes to speak with the "alpha grandma" from Mamaroneck, State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, about whether her alleged intention to vote "NO" on proposed budget changes that include mid-year educational funding is the real thing.

Her clout is just one example of Westchester County's opportunity, if the Democrats who compose all of that sleepy suburban county's State Legislative delegation are smart enough (and quick enough) to realize how much power they now possess in the State Capitol.

Or maybe they will just "go along to get along" and lay fallow and/or submissive in the coming weeks ...

Changing The Channel: New York's Dysfunctional State Legislature

Tag Team Politics

As for Albany, the show in the State Capitol was entertaining ... albeit gestalt-like ... appropriate for a sadist.

Fred Dicker of the New York Post described a "humiliated, beaten and left looking forlorn" Governor David Paterson.

Dicker's many interviews with Paterson when he was State Senator were always some of the most transparent and buoyant conversations about New York politics, particularly Paterson's levity.

... So Dicker's view of the situation should be taken very seriously.

The word "pathetic" was used more often at the Legislature yesterday than it has been in a decade, as legislators, lobbyists, good-government advocates and journalists emerged from a failed "leaders meeting" called by Paterson with a rare consensus on the dismal new level of dysfunction that has descended on the Capitol.

New York can at least be grateful that we have a leader in the Executive Chamber, and a leader with candor.

At one point, as legislative leaders were arguing that they weren't to blame for the state's fiscal mess, Paterson humorously proclaimed, "I feel like I'm having auditory hallucinations."

Yet as the accompanying photo from The Post and AP shows, the "three stooges" weren't that somber:  Why Are These Men Smiling?

"Leaders" Of Misrule: Post Editorial

"As the process drags on, it becomes increasingly clear that New York's legislative leaders - Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver, in particular - have no intention of putting the people's interests ahead of their own. "Crisis" be damned."

Fiscal Chain Reaction

A "defiant" New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is denying homeowners their $400 rebate checks, according to The New York Times.

Maybe he can deny some municipal raises too, since he's feeling arrogant and dictatorial.  Bloomberg can count but so should everyone else.  Fiscal pain isn't an illusion.  The only problem is that the Mayor of New York is both breaking the law and being a bully.

The M.T.A. has another problem.  It can't count.

“The need for investment in the system is gargantuan,” said Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky, a Democrat from Westchester County who is chairman of a committee that oversees the authority. “Twenty-five years from now what we do on the capital plan will resonate much more loudly than what the debate is going to be about fare increases.”

Good.  Maybe everyone working for the M.T.A. can take a cut in pay or a salary freeze to pay for these repairs, especially since it has been their salary increases and incompetent fiscal practices that keeps rail so plagued with problems.

How times now over the past ten years has the M.T.A. been better financed to "invest" in the future? Too many times.

Maybe they can count -- and they know the fiscal crisis in Albany will leave them short, so they're begging early.

In another story on the state money drain, The New York Times had this expedient line from State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos:

"We could also access a small portion of the rainy-day fund,” he said. “Because governor, it is raining.”

Find an umbrella, Dean, and suck it up.

High Drama

The news blogs had the action covered, starting with an impromptu press conference Tuesday  night outside a restaurant where a supposedly secret meeting was supposedly taking place between the "three stooges" over what was supposedly to be a constructive meeting on Wednesday.

Capitol Confidential had obtained a video of the entire emergency budget session (4 parts, each nearly 20 minutes) from Kyle Hughes over at nysnys.com.

"... If you ever wanted to see our leaders in action, this is a fantastic display of each in their element, posturing but ultimately not actually getting anything done."

Part One starts off with Dean Skelos auditioning for a "deer in the headlights" look -- and Governor Paterson mapping out the seriousness of New York's fiscal plight.

Part Two is a scorched earth of contentious arguments; Smith vs. Skelos, Skelos vs. Paterson and Silver vs. Tedisco (and a productive bit of sparring from Jim Tedisco).

Part Three finds David Paterson admonishing Dean Skelos:

 “I’m not talking about when your back is to the wall, and you’ve been exposed for not doing any work, coming up with suggestions now.”

Part Four ends with Governor Paterson trying to put a happy face on everything.

Dog Eats Homework

But it looks more like Republicans and Democrats in both the State Senate and Democrats in the State Assembly just didn't want to do their homework, or put forth any accountable cuts in spending.

Tedisco's forceful statements against Sheldon Silver regarding over a thousand bills passed last year -- yet no rendering of spending cuts -- drive a point home that the Assembly Speaker is idly sitting back.  Tedisco seemed the most organized and the most respected by Governor Paterson.

Paterson observed that the Republican Assembly Minority Leader's ideas were "substantive" -- yet the Assembly Speaker said very little.  He let the other four men feed on each other.

Skelos kept harping for more organized gambling, repeating it so much that it came across as a shallow one note.

Also, Tedisco's presence at this meeting (notably in Part Two) was high drama that every news outlet throughout the Empire State should broadcast.  The interchange between this Republican Assembly Minority Leader and Governor Paterson (with Silver sitting back silence between the two smiling) is priceless.

Finally, Malcolm Smith and Dean Skelos get their decided shots at each other over their majorities -- including some estimates on clout and who might vote one way or the other (Westchester's own State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer was mentioned by Skelos as a "NO" that Democrats would not be able to rely -- likely over school aid -- as was Johnson and Diaz).

Skelos might be right about Smith's own majority caving in (particularly Oppenheimer) but the Long Island Republican also spent too much time being nice to Speaker Silver for News Copy's taste.

... Too much petty sniping and shallow ego for elected officials who are supposed to be the fiscal shepherds of New York's future.  Except for Tedisco and Paterson, these "five men in the room" looked disorganized and unprepared.

Paterson should order them back into a room, lock the door and hide the key.

Meanwhile, Dean Skelos made one knawing point -- that the Executive Budget for 2009-2010 would be only presented in three weeks (December 16th) -- so why not just present it now?

 

 

 

Hillary STILL Weighing Secretary of State Post

The delays continue.

At some point, it becomes obvious that Hillary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State is taking far longer than normal.

Bill Clinton has decided to open some of the books on his finances with Obama's legal eagles but in a way that probably could only taint his wife's cabinet appointment.

The Associated Press reported the former President of the United States indicating that he would step away from day-to-day management of his foundation, where he has raised millions from foreign governments and companies to help fight poverty and AIDS in the developing world.

"Advisers said they were still trying to figure out what to do about donors who had contributed to the foundation on the condition they would remain anonymous. Breaking that agreement with donors could hurt the foundation's fundraising."

The Los Angeles Times reported Ted Kennedy offering Hillary Clinton a chance to head the Senate healthcare team.

That's called a parachute, an escape hatch, a backup plan, the fallback ... and a nice way of indicating that she isn't getting the appointment.

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough: "If Al Franken steals enough votes ... "

MSNBC's Morning Joe, talking about pirates and elections, courtesy of Media Matters.

All I know is that it is 2008 and the advancement of modern elections hinge on paper ballots (take a close look at the Take America Back website).

I miss those mechanical lever voting machines, never to be seen again anywhere in New York.

Damn HAVA (Help Amercia Vote Act ... also know as the Hack America's Vote Act).