News Copy, New York

The Limits of Power: Bloomberg's Legacy

Term limits was front and center in New York City today.

Even Mario Cuomo took a stand, against.

As The New York Times pointed out, that's been Cuomo's stand from the beginning of his political career but this is one issue the people own now.

It was novelty 20 years ago.  New Yorkers got used to it.  What started as a design to keep liberal Democrats from maintaining autocratic control of New York City has now morphed into their issue.

Bravo.

And I don't even like many of these liberal knuckleheads.  But they're right -- after after today it's doubtful term limits will ever be repealed.

What's all the fuss about Michael Bloomberg anyway?  He should cultivate someone to follow in his footsteps, to be fair, and since when does a billionaire deserve to have a monopoly on power?

Since when shoud we believe that the present Mayor of New York is the only individual capable of protecting the city's finances.  That's a sad state of affairs in a city so big.  Only one man can do the job?

Are Democrats like Cuomo actually admitting that New York City needs a fiscal conservative in charge to run things -- rather than the liberals in his own party?  Could it be the Conservative Party has always been right?

One wonders if any of these liberals will someday thank Mike Long and the New York State Conservative Party for heralding in this issue over 20 year ago.   The Conservatives stuck with this issue when the Democrats found it anathema to their way of doing business; machine politics that still remains backward and full of bosses.

This was the limit of Mayor Bloomberg's power, as it will be the limt of a Democrat's power after two terms, and this debate only will be settled with a debate on power ... not term limits.

Enter Golisano, another billionaire, as if reforms need a billionaire (ie. - Lauder, Perot).

Perhaps the question begged today is why campaign finance reform has failed to allow the next generation of Harry Trumans and Lyndon Johnsons (and, yes, Richard Nixons and Bill Clintons) to venture into public service.

The City Room (New York Times) reported with The New York Daily News on this "battle of the billionaires" that's actually been brewing for awhile with State Senate races.

Conservative Party Opposes Zeal for Repeal of Term Limits

We stand corrected.

The Conservative Party of New York State did issue a statement in opposition to the proposed repeal of term limits by the New York City Council.

State Chairman Mike Long said such a repeat would be a "defiant act".

Not a word about Bloomberg though, just a reference to Rudy Giuliani after 9/11 -- and the need for "experience" after such a crisis.  A tacit comparison between terrorism and deflation? 

Not a word in the media about the Conservative Party's stand either, unless we missed that too.