News Copy, New York

Tony Mele Taking On Eliot Engel: Latino Republican In New York's 17th Congressional District

Voice Strategies was asked by former Congressman (and now U.S. Senate candidate) Joe DioGuardi earlier this year to help out Bronx-born Tony Mele -- who was then pondering a run for Congress.

Mele is challenging Eliot Engel in the 17th Congressional District.

It's an inanely gerrymandered district that stretches from the Bronx like a squiggly line to Rockland County, literally hugging the shoreline of the Hudson River to cross the river at the Tappan Zee Bridge.

We first met Mele at Rockland County's Rally For America seminar, Blueprint For Change.

His hallmark line from that gathering, "We don't need government over-taxing, over-spending and over-reaching into our lives" continues to resonate with tea party groups.

As the following video from an April 15th Tax Day rally shows, Mele isn't shy when he addresses a crowd.

Mele is an Army veteran, raised in the Bronx until he was 17, and made his first foray into politics when he challenged Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence in 2007.

To get a sense of Mele's resourcefulness, he was able to work with his supporters to produce the following video that describes his military background. 

One thing that can be said about this Rockland businessman is that he doesn't let the grass grow under his feet.

Engel almost obsessively pushed the 17th out of the Bronx and into Westchester and Rockland since he was first elected in 1988.

Engel never wanted a primary challenge by Hispanic Democrat.

Puerto Rican and Italian, Mele has already begun to cultivate regional and national support among the Hispanic/Latino community.  He is also receiving fundraising help from associates of J.C. Watts, including reaching out to important donors in Rockland and Washington, D.C.

Being strongly considered for the seat by the Rockland County GOP leadership is York Kleinhandler, a former Green Beret and Chief Warrant Officer with the National Guard.

Mele has drawn the interest of Conservatives but it appears that the choice for the 17th will come down to a Republican convention -- with a format or date yet to be announced.

Liz Benjamin Continues To Rock The State Of Politics: New York's Front Page

I am incredibly biased about Elizabeth Benjamin.  She is the best journalist in New York State and my favorite read.

Now she's ready for prime time.  Well ... almost, taking over Capital Tonight and, of course, still maintaining a blog better than any wire service on the planet.

Liz Benjamin is New York's Rosalind Russell, better than any remake of The Front Page or His Girl Friday.  Yeah ... I will disagree with her but she would wipe the floor with me if we ever had a day going story for story.  There's no one like her in Empire State -- daily, hourly, up-to-the-minute coverage that leaves the body politic a bit more alive for her presence in Albany.

I have been lazy to update many of my links for my blogroll and first on my To Do List is the State of Politics Blog,

I am not sure what's left of New York's political system could function coherently without Ms. Benjamin's steady on eye on all the activity in the State Capitol.

I'm imagining that the Weekend Update portion of the Legislative Correspondents Association annual parody of political bedfellows will give Saturday Night Live's Tiny Fey a run for her money.

The Doctor Is In: Steve Katz Hunkers Down For Republican And Conservative Primaries

The doctor is in ...

... and he's taking house calls.

Attached is the first mailer from Dr. Stephen Katz, a Republican from Yorktown who is running for the 99th Assembly District.

Katz has been active in tea parties thoughout the Mid-Hudson Valley and lower Westchester, recently speaking at a rally in Carmel that drew over a thousand people.

He's also a veterinarian who is not afraid to expess that Albany has "gone to the dogs" ...

Katz holds to a platform of tax relief and improving how New York's lawmakers count.

This first time candidate is pro-life, pro-second amendment and firmly against illegal immigration.

As a small businssman, Katz is focused on job creation.

"I’m a veterinarian, a small businessman hampered like so many other merchants and professionals by too many taxes.  I share your dismay over the Metro-North payroll tax and rising property taxes.  We’re paying for debt and fraud in Albany that shouldn’t be picking our pockets."

With nearly $175,000 on hand, one significant mailer already sent out and an aggressive door-to-door approach, Katz has already admitted that he is hunkering down for at least a Republican and Conservative primary. 

Katz could be in a Republican primary against Putnam County Legislator Mary Odell, a Republican from Carmel.  Also in the race is Yorktown Town Councilman Nick Bianco, a Conservative leader who caught criticism last year for refusing to endorse popular Republican Terrence Murphy (without the Conservative line, Murphy still managed to lead the ticket in Yorktown with 5,700 votes).

Voice Strategies is managing Dr. Katz's race and expects a long hot summer campaigning in northern Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties.

Taxed Enough Already: Sleepy Suburbia's Media Finally Getting The Message?

Gannett newspapers finally turned the corner this week on covering tea parties and the problem of taxation in New York State.

The news media is still late to the party.

Featured were fellow tea party members and tax activists like Andy Rivera of Ossining (pictured above) who is organizing Overtaxed Citizens to ensure taxpayer voices are heard.

Tea party members like Rivera and Gary Murphy of the White Plains Tea Party (pictured below) have done more than just protest.  Murphy was one of many key volunteers who joined with the Republican Party to help to elect Bob Castelli to the State Assembly in the special election this February.

 
Murphy was one of many other extremely active residents throughout northern Westchester who are now looking to become even more active.  Such activism is happening throughout the communities of Lewisboro, Bedford, Pound Ridge in the eastern side of Westchester -- near the border of the distinctly less-taxed Connecticut (which got rid of county governmenty 50 years ago).

The civic engagement with tea parties is happening all over Westchester, all over the Hudson  Valley, all over New York State -- and it's not abating.

DioGuardi Bests His Republican Opponents: Poll Show Former Congressman With 3-1 Lead

The Albany Times Union reported on a poll released by the Siena Research Institute that found 27 percent of voters are prepared to re-elect Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

40 percent prefer “someone else.”

2010 is a good year to be someone else, I guess. 

Former Rep. Joe DioGuardi, recently-announced David Malpass and Long Island native Bruce Blakeman all want a shot at Gillibrand.

DioGuardi, pictured above with his daughter Kara celebrating his first election to Congress in 1984, has all the numbers on his side. 

“While she has three announced Republican opponents – all of whom are unknown to more than 80 percent of voters – and leads all of them by roughly 20 points, she can only muster 46 percent support against each of them,” Greenberg said. “When the three Republicans are matched up against each other in a Republican primary, nearly two-thirds of Republicans say they have not yet made a choice.  ‘Idol’ dad, Joe DioGuardi, garners 24 percent support among Republicans, while Bruce Blakeman gets seven percent and David Malpass has five percent.”

Siena's poll shows DioGuardi pulling away from the rest of the Republicans, except George Pataki (who has announced that he isn't running). 

With a million dollars on hand, DioGuardi is capable of raising much more.

I was with my friend Joe DioGuardi on Sunday at a gathering for 19th Congressional candidate Kristia Cavere in Tuxedo Park.  Incidently (or maybe not incidently), fellow 19th candidate David McFadden had Blakeman sitting at his table Friday night for Rockland County's annual Republican Chairman's Dinner.  Also running in the 19th, Nan Hayworth seemed to have skipped Rockland County GOP Chairman (and State Vice Chair) Vincent Reda's dinner.

David Malpass never showed up either -- and he has a million dollars on hand too.

Polls keep showing Pataki maintaining strong numbers throughout New York State.

With Giuliani storied again to be running statewide for governor (though how many times can Rudy hint to be running before it starts getting boring), one wonders if Pataki could be far behind jumping into the U.S. Senate race.

Jack Kemp and The American Renaissance: Back To The Political Future

An American Renaissance:  A Conservative Strategy for the 2010’s

While on vacation in March, I got a chance to read An American Renaissance: A Strategy for the 1980s by Jack Kemp. I could not believe how relevant this 196 page book is for the Republican Party today.

If there were three things every Republican candidate should be fluent in, it would be the US Constitution, The Federalist Papers and this book.

Jack Kemp served our country by representing the Buffalo, NY area for many years. He was the type of Republican that combined progressive elements of the Teddy Roosevelt GOP with the conservative principles and smaller government ideals from Barry Goldwater and William F. Buckley. Kemp’s proposal for across-the-board tax cuts soon became “Reaganonmics” under our 40th president and it created the economic growth and posterity in the late 1980s into the 1990s that every American enjoyed.

Today, we are dealing with a major shift in American politics and the conservative movement of the last part of the twentieth century is at risk of being lost. The Republican Party is putting forth many candidates for the House and the US Senate, but a unified message of lower taxes, reduced spending and economic growth is not being articulated clearly enough to penetrate the mainstream media and prevent the major shift back towards some “Great Society.”

We will need to define ourselves as a Party that demonstrates it can be a “big tent” without falling into the liberal trap of focusing on lesser important issues for members of congress.

An American Renaissance should be read by every Republican candidate in 2010 if we as a party wish to promote a clear and conservative strategy that would bring our country back to greatness.

It would be a great service for our candidates to read this book when defining their platform.

It is certainly a winning message that can help reunite the conservative and libertarian elements of the Republican Party.

Daniel Peterson is a political activist in New York City and former President of the New York Young Republican Club.

Editor's Note:  In 1980, there was substantive movement on the floor of the Republican National Convention to have Jack Kemp be nominated as Ronald Reagan's running mate (New York's State GOP delegation was particularly enthusiastic about Kemp that year).  Long after the 1980 election, Reagan Kemp buttons like the one above were still being handed out by Westchester Young Republicans ...

Congressional Murphy Has Some Explaining To Do: Will Republicans Take Back The 20th?

The following comes courtesy of Raquel Okyay, a Conservative columnist at http://www.raquelokyay.com

 

Rep. Scott Murphy (D) has some explaining to do.

 

He voted for the unpopular “health insurance reform legislation” even though District 20 has rejected government controlled health care and are calling for smaller government.  Murphy cannot claim to be an “independent voice” and “fiscal conservative” while at the same time approving legislation filled with congressional bribes, government bureaucracy, and huge tax increases.  He must think us fools if he expects us to believe he stands on fiscal conservatism, he obviously does not.

 

Murphy offers the same untruths, assumptions, and talking points on a health care “reform” package that Americans despise, want repealed and have mounted a campaign to do so.  His own words reveal a Congressman that either does not understand the fundamental problems with the legislation as he should or someone who chooses to appease his party’s Congressional majority, instead of his own constituents.

 

Murphy’s YES vote for a hotly contested, highly partisan, radically transformational, likely unconstitutional, law, which passed by using procedural tricks and not before seen propaganda-like tactics, will prove to be a mistake.     

 

At his website, Murphy claims, “The President’s health insurance reform legislation will stop the out of control growth of health care costs.”  Even an imbecile knows a bloated government cannot wave a magic wand and make rising health care costs disappear.  Murphy would be wise to start talking about the out of control growth of government that is the talk of the town, and maybe the public could take him seriously.  

 

Rather, he purports the same nonsensical points that did not persuade Americans to support the law before it was enacted, and is not persuasive now, “The President’s health insurance reform legislation protects our local industries and jobs from unfair taxes.”  This legislation does nothing of the sort and comes with a hefty price tag – all entitlement programs do.  It is not fiscally sound nor is it business friendly to ask the business community – through regulation and fines – to subsidize health care costs for the majority of Americans.  Murphy cannot pretend regulation helps industry, and that it is cost effective to redirect funds normally invested in the economy to the health care system.

 

“This bill is fiscally conservative and slows the growth of health care costs and spending…as a fiscal conservative, I can support a bill that takes strong steps towards reducing the deficit.”

This statement is no more plausible than Rep. Bart Stupak’s claim to be pro-life despite the fact he helped facilitate the largest expansion of abortion rights since Roe v. Wade.  The decision by Stupak to not seek re-election is telling.  Not only did he go against the will of his district which is bad enough, but he claims to be something he is not and no one likes a hypocrite.  Similarly, Murphy will have a tough time explaining how one can be a fiscal conservative yet supportive of every half baked idea from today’s Congress that uses borrowed money with interest, to fund. 

 

Touting Congressional Budget Office (CBO) numbers is not enough to claim cost efficiency.  The CBO, while non-partisan, still works at the pleasure of the Democrat controlled Congress.  The CBO, working with exaggerated projections of tax revenue and savings, submitted a preliminary report to meet a midnight deadline that concludes subjective and unrealistic figures, yet Murphy boasts the following, “[According to the CBO, the law] will result in dramatic savings for the American people by reducing the deficit by $138 billion the first decade and by $1.2 trillion in the second decade.” 

 

Officially the CBO is only meant to calculate one decade out, because of the uncertainty of forecasting beyond Ten years.  Indeed, the CBO emphasized that the report was preliminary and based on ideas and projections, not written and applied law.  Murphy utilizes these dubious numbers nonetheless, and ignores the reality that the economy is in big trouble because an absurd amount of reckless spending by Congress has caused the deficit to triple in one year. Promoting expansion of government control over finances and resources is not a fiscal conservative tenant – someone should tell Murphy he acts more like a back-stabber than a crusader for economic constraint.

 

Republican Take Back?

 

The good news is Murphy is up for re-election this year, in a district some say is vulnerable for Democrats, I say open season.  Murphy won the seat in a special election last year by fewer than 1000 votes against the Republican candidate, Assemblyman Jim Tedisco.  This year, Ten County Chairman of the Republican Party has endorsed retired Army colonel and decorated war hero from Kinderhook, Chris Gibson. 

 

Gibson signed the “Repeal It” pledge and advocates “job creation” as a top issue.  He taught American government at West Point, served one tour in Kosovo, and several tours in the Middle East; he’s the kind of candidate that deserves a second look for sure.  What moved me to publicly support Chris Gibson, however, is the following statement issued by the Hudson Valley Campaign for Liberty after meeting him in person:

 

As organizers of the Hudson Valley Campaign we hosted a meet-up with Chris Gibson last Thursday, April 1, 2010.  Five patriot groups were represented in the attendance with about 60 people present.  After consulting with the organizers and many individuals who were present, we can say on behalf of the freedom movement in our area, we enthusiastically support Chris Gibson!  Chris Gibson’s ability to listen was outstanding. We were pleased that he said that he would represent the people of his district, not special interests, corporations, or even the Republican Party.  We were happy that he promised to read the bills, as Congressman, before he would vote on them.  We believe that he is humble and willing to listen to the people and do their will in accordance with the Constitution.

 

There is a clear difference in this election cycle between the two candidates in District 20.  One willing to listen to the people and act in accordance with the Constitution, or the other who offers empty rhetoric, arrogant ignorance of what is important to the voters, and even more dastardly, pretends to be someone that he is not. 

 

Chris Gibson is the only candidate calling for a “change of guard” in Washington DC.  Let’s make that happen and elect Chris Gibson to Congress.

 

Word From National Republicans: Tony Colavita And Phil Amicone Running For State Senate?

The word floating around Washington, D.C. is that Eastchester Town Supervisor Tony Colavita is running for State Senate.

Well ... He's running for something.

Congressional run?

No.  We're hearing State Senate.  Republicans in D.C. additionally said that Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone is also running for State Senate.

This is coming from reputable and highly placed sources in our nation's capitol ... Not idle hearsay. Why sources close to the Republican National Committee would have any interest in a local State Senate race is a mystery to us.

Makes little sense.

Far-fetched?  Yes ...

We're hearing re-election for Supervisor, next year, and no campaigning by Colavita this year.

Local sources in Westchester County and the Bronx repeat that Colavita hasn't returned calls to State Senate leaders trying to find out the status of his speculated run against incumbent Democrat State Senator Jeff Klein.

However, sources our of Yonkers have confirmed that that Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone will challenge Andrea Stewart Cousins in the 35th State Senate District.

News Copy has no confirmation -- or indication -- from close local sources and the Colavita family that any of this is true.

What we can share is that during our last conversation with Tony Colavita, who is the son of former State GOP Chairman Anthony J. Colavita, the ever-diligent local town supervisor didn't say no.

Colavita and Amicone would provide a one-two punch in lower Westchester that would additionally help Scarsdale Republican Bob Cohen against Suzi Oppenheimer in the 37th State Senate District.

Cohen, Colavita and Amicone could provide State Senate Republicans with three amigos keeping the Democrats on their toes all summer.

The word out of Yonkers is that Amicone, pictured to the right, has a committee formed to run.  There is no confirmation of Colavita has formed a committee.

We're still trying to figure out why Washington insiders would have an interest in the New York State Senate.

As trivial as this rogue information might seem to be, could it be that State Senator Jeff Klein is not running for re-election -- in deference to the 17th Congressional District possibly being available?

That would take a retirement by Congressman Eliot Engel.

That's not far-fetched.

Klein vacating the 34th State Senate District for a Congressional run would logically open up the dialogue within the Beltway that Tony Colavita could not run easily for the New York State Senate.

This one's for the peanut gallery.

Mission Impossible: Running For New York State Governor

Danielle Paladino Jacobs says her father Carl Paladino is not a racist.

Being accused of racism is the least of Paladino's problems.

The couch potato with an attitude apparently watches a lot more than television; including pornography and bestiality.

The Huffington Post had video of Paladino being confronted by reporters with copies of his emails.

But it doesn't compare to the scandal about to drop on Steve Levy.

It's a lot worse than his old roommate problem.

Rick Lazio never looked so good.

However, Quinnipiac's numbers show Andrew Cuomo strolling into the Executive Chamber.

• 55 - 26 percent over Lazio;
• 60 - 24 percent over Paladino;
• 57 - 24 percent over Levy.

Summon the Cuomo scandal, please.

Lazio drew some tea party applause on Long Island.

Our Disclaimer: Sometimes Bloggers Wear Many Hats

As a "blogger" and political wordsmith, I wear a lot of hats.

Sometimes, I'm just the guy showing up at a local town or school board meeting speaking up on an important issue.  Other times, I have actually been the candidate (and might be again, soon enough).  Obviously, I am active with several good government and tea party organizations.  I'm also a local party chair, a member of the Westchester County Conservative Committee -- and a political consultant.

Have laptop, will travel ...

So there isn't any confusion about what News Copy is and isn't, we aren't a newspaper or a political organization. 

By the way, there are a few Democrats onboard and several local initiatives associated with news Copy that have nothing to do with candidates or campaigns.

But, at the end of each day, I'm still a political consultant and an active political analyst whose on-air commentary and printed columns continue to circulate throughout statewide and national venues.

It's a job.  It's also a vocation, at times.

So ... to answer a few questions that have been posed to me, I submit the following disclaimer.

Full Disclosure:

Any statements, opinions, rants, raves and spin about candidates or causes on News Copy are mine.  I'm a political analyst and media consultant in New York who is civically engaged in numerous causes and local grass-roots efforts.

I write favorable posts about my clients and varying candidates because I believe in them and share their vision (though sometimes I'm just as likely to publicly give them a piece of my mind).

My professional and political relationships with candidates will always be disclosed.  Consider this statement as adequate disclosure for all my possible conflicts of interest now and in the future.  Additionally, all material on this site should be considered my personal opinion and may also not represent that of my clients.  This includes my comments on other sites as well as anything I say in person.

Finally, it should be noted that the opinions of guest bloggers do not necessarily reflect my own.

P.S. -- News Copy and Voice Strategies will be sharing a lineup of candidates soon ...

New York Republican Chairman Calls Tea Parties Allies: But Will GOP Back Tea Party Candidates?

Chairman Cox "Newsday" Opinion Piece

If GOP treads carefully, tea parties will be natural allies

by EDWARD F. COX

Edward F. Cox is the chairman of the New York State Republican Party

Republicans have a huge wind at our backs this political season. We'll benefit from the Democrats' health care legislation and other federal big-government programs that are opposed by a majority of Americans. The scandals and culture of corruption that have enveloped Albany - which is now completely controlled by Democrats - will drive voters for a change in leadership.

My father-in-law, President Richard Nixon, maintained that the Republican Party would not grow unless it became "the party of the open door." The vision of a Republican Party open to all who share our principles and want to work with us for a better America is a worthy goal. We must be the party of inclusion, not exclusion, especially in states like New York where we are sorely outnumbered.

Absolute Democratic control in Washington and Albany has produced skyrocketing public spending and debt. It has increased government intervention in the economy and elsewhere, reaching into the personal lives of just about everyone. In November, forgotten and abused taxpayers will be inclined to give Republicans the opportunity to lead - but the stormy political waters must be navigated carefully.

The tea party movement has flourished in this unstable environment. The movement embodies the individual freedoms that are the natural birthright of every American and the core DNA of our party. The Republican Party is a natural political vehicle for the anti-tax, anti-spend, anti-big government sentiment behind this decentralized movement.

At the same time, Republicans should tread carefully as we work alongside tea party members to end the tyranny of one-party rule. Our relationship with them must be one of mutual respect and cooperation. Any inclination to co-opt the movement must be resisted.

Karl Rove recently marveled at "the dynamics of the highly decentralized galaxy of groups that make up the tea party movement." Potential excesses in this decentralization could cause collateral damage to an associated Republican Party, while a formal merger would stifle the driving energy of the movement. The merged whole would be less than the parts.

A recent Quinnipiac Poll examined the potential influence of the movement in November's elections. The basics look good for us: Voters indicate by 44 to 39 percent that they will vote for a Republican over a Democrat for Congress. But a stand-alone tea party candidate on the ballot pulls from the Republican and creates a path to victory for the Democrat, who will help assure the passage of the very government programs that are anathema to the tea parties.

Tea party members have become the public face of voter and taxpayer dissatisfaction. They are rightfully given credit for delivering a body blow to President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats with the stunning upset Senate victory of Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts.

Here on Long Island, Dean Murray, a 45-year-old East Patchogue businessman who organized tea party protests, won a special election to the Assembly. He's believed to be the first tea party organizer elected to public office. Murray's district had been in Democratic hands for more than a dozen years, and he is only the third Republican to hold the seat in nearly four decades.

As the tax revolt unfolds, New Yorkers are paying attention to issues and results more than ever. Tea party members are giving voice to what most people are feeling: We need to finally make the tough choices to save our state.

You need only look at the governor's race to see the impact of the movement. Political newcomer Carl Paladino is attempting to brand himself as a member of the movement to jump-start his nascent campaign. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is taking his record of eliminating Suffolk's $238 million budget deficit and his plan for tackling Albany's costly dysfunction directly to tea party groups across the state. Levy's experience cutting taxes, creating a better business environment and taking on public employee unions are in line with the core drivers of the movement and the public generally.

What has become increasingly clear is that the thin rhetoric of hope and change has given way to a desire for real results and specifics to set the state on the right path. It's not as much about party as it is about principle. That bodes well for Republicans and for a healthy relationship between the tea party and Republican candidates.

Whichever way tea partiers tilt the balance, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other national Democrats - who once dismissed the movement as "AstroTurf" (fake grassroots) - are now changing their tune. But no matter how much verbal camouflage they apply, they can't shed their political stripes.

The party of the open door must remain open and ready to work in parallel with these concerned citizens, who exercise their right as Americans to engage vigorously in the political process. The growing numbers of Republican candidates who are active tea party members and supporters demonstrate the benefits of an unforced and loose affiliation between our party and the movement.

And it is similarly natural that Republicans, as individuals, will participate with people of all political affiliations in tea party demonstrations. A year ago, I responded to calls from tea party organizers and participated in an early and successful rally on April 15, at City Hall in Manhattan, and I have continued to participate in tea party events. The Republican Party should involve tea party members in our activities and, of course, individual Republicans will be drawn, from time to time, to tea party events.

What tea party members share with New York Republicans are our core values and principles, and a deep concern for our country's future under the present one-party rule. Local party organizations will miss an opportunity to grow and succeed if they don't foster strong and constructive relationships with their area tea parties during these uncertain and pivotal times.

Congressional Candidate Honors Duty Over Politics: Rosen Bows Out Of 18th

At the end of the day, it came down to duty for Lt. Colonel Mark Rosen.

The Journal News reported on Rosen departing the 18th Congressional race in deference to his military obligation.

The former West Point instructor announced his withdrawal today to prepare for potential deployment overseas.

"Should my unit be confirmed for mobilization, full time training for deployment could begin at the end of this year with likely deployment early next year." Mr. Rosen said. "I view service in the Active Army in the current wartime missions as honorable.  I want to serve, and I want to serve with the unit and troops with whom I have trained."

York Kleinhandler, a Chief Warrant Officer out of Rockland County vying to challenge Eliot Engel in the 17th Congressional District, presently denies being held to the same military obligation.  Sources have explained to News Copy that Kleinhandler's obligation as a Green Beret would depend on how he is classified as an officer, since an officer apparently has no limit on enlistment time.  Kleinhandler has insisted that his term of duty had ended.

Mr. Rosen, 48, an Executive Officer (XO) of a Military Police (MP) Brigade recently learned that his unit is subject to deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan.  He is a West Point graduate and a former airborne ranger, jumpmaster, and infantryman.

Rosen had been actively campaigning for Congress against 22-year incumbent Nita Lowey (D).

"... The voters deserve active representation in Congress and, were I to win this seat and be called to active duty, I could not fulfill that obligation to the voters.  So, with great regret, I am withdrawing my candidacy from the Congressional race for the NY 18th District."

Rosen is a father of five, a Senior Vice President of Strategic Sourcing & Procurement at Adecco Group North America, the largest staffing and recruiting company in the world.

Rosen served for 15 years in various Army command and staff positions, including at the Pentagon as part of the Army's Strategic Planning cell.  He earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University and served as an Assistant Professor at West Point.  Mr. Rosen lives in Larchmont, NY with his wife, Margaret, and their children.

Rosen's departure now leaves Republican Paul Wasserman as the likely frontrunner to challenge 11-term incumbent Democrat Nita Lowey.

GOP Consultant Eyes Senate Run Against Schumer: Jay Townsend Could Draw Political Blood

Republican political strategist Jay Townsend may no longer be "the man behind the curtain" in a few weeks, with the Times Herald-Record reporting the Cornwall resident talking about challenging incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

“If the cause is right, the votes and the money will be right where they need to be,” Townsend said.

It is estimated that Townsend has already made enough money off Nan Hayworth's Congressional run to at least self-fund the start of a U.S. Senate race.

Challenging Schumer will take more than a few hundred thousand dollars.  Some estimate it would take $30-40 million.

But those close to Townsend understand his ability to turn a phrase and disect an issue.

Never underestimate Mr. Townsend's ability to survive and work the media.

A Townsend candidacy is not far-fetched -- though skeptics call it a "stalking horse" for another candidate and/or political cover for something connected to a negotiation or a controversy.

Regarding Hayworth's race, Townsend says he will remain at the helm.

“One way or another, I will keep my hands in that through November,” he said.

Running for U.S. Senate and managing Hayworth's already muddled House run will be impossible.  It is likely that Hayworth's race will be handed off to a Townsend surrogate.  It's also likely that Townsend might be using this U.S. Senate run as a way to leverage some advantage for Hayworth, possibly an endorsement or some damage control.

The Times Herald-Record noted that Schumer's approval rating dipped to 47 percent in January (the latest poll has it at 51 percent).

CNBC commentator Larry Kudlow has a Draft Kudlow movement -- but it seems that more people believe Kudlow does more for America on television.

Schumer has $19.4 millions on hand.

Against a spinmaster like Townsend, Schumer could have $119 million and not stop the political bleeding.

Eliot Engel To Be Challenged: Candidates For 17th Congressional District Lining Up

Rockland-based and Bronx-raised Latino Veteran Anthony Mele has formed a campaign committee with the F.E.C. to challenge Congressman Eliot Engel in the 17th Congressional District.

Mele hails from Ramapo and has been an integral part of Rockland's tea party movement.  Mele has active support from Rally for America, a Rockland-based tea party group.

Mele was encouraged to run for Congress by U.S. Senate candidate Joe DioGuardi, a former Congressman who knows a thing or two about the Bronx.

Mele would be a nightmare for Engel, who has spent most of his poitical career gerrymandering the district out of the Bronx to avoid a primary by Hispanic Democrats.

The 11-term incumbent Democrat has another problem.  Engel lives year-round in Maryland.

Last week, News Copy wrote about the three Republican challengers to Engel.

Rockland Republicans have been cool to the idea of Mele running for Congress.  They would prefer that he runs for the Assembly.

Rockland County Republican Chairman Vincent Reda is touting York Kleinhandler, an active duty Chief Warrant Officer and Green Beret whose current military status may not allow him to run.  Also circulating an interest in the seat is Brigadier General John Cornelius.

News Copy can confirm that Mele has secured fundraising help from Washington, D.C. donors -- including associates of former Congressman J.C. Watts.  Sources close to high level national Republicans have identified Mele as the best challenge to Engel.

Meanwhile, Rockland Republicans continue to bypass Mele -- calling his background "dubious" and keeping him out of interviews with local committees.

The reality check on the 17th is that Republicans have never been able to put up a competitive challenge to Engel.

In 2008, Engel defeated Robert Goodman by over 120,000 votes.

In 2002, present Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef won Rockland County but lost the district by over 30,000 votes.

in 2006, Yonkers Republican Jim Faulkner lost by nearly 65,000 votes.

But 2008 was the Obama landslide -- a trend for the Democrats that was reversed in 2009 throughout suburban New York.  Vanderhoef's numbers in 2002 prove that Engel can at least be beaten across the river -- and what happens in the Bronx when a native son shows up for the fight?

Rockland County State Senator Thomas Morahan To Run: Republicans Privately Say Otherwise

Despite stories from the State Legislature and Hudson Valley Republicans that Republican State Senator Tom Morahan was not running due to illness, the Rockland lawmaker insists the rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated.

Morahan repeated to the The Journal News that he is recovering successfully from treatment for leukemia.

Republicans close to the State Legislative insist otherwise.

Rockland County Vincent Reda emphasized last month that Morahan has never been better.

The Times Herald-Record reported in March that doctors have given Morahan a "good prognosis" -- after 41 days in the hospital.

Democrats have been circling around Morahan like vultures.

Republicans from Rockland and Orange haven't been much better.

The back story here is that Republicans lining up for Morahan's seat don't want to be bypassed if he is retiring.

There are Republicans who openly suspect Republicans in Albany and Rockland will hold the seat for a candidate replacing Morahan until the last moment, making a primary challenge or negotiation impossible.  There are also those who believe the seat has already been negotiated for any number of Republicans, either in 2012 or this.

We're not listing the names of prospective candidates.  Not yet.  But those impacting this situation would be a who's who of every key Republican candidate and leader on that side of the Hudson River.

Also, Republican leaders rightfully didn't want a Morahan retirement earlier in the calendar that would have prompted Governor David Paterson replacing him with a Democrat -- and calling for a special election.

Finally, everyone genuinely wants to be respectful to the 78 year old Morahan -- particularly Rockland GOP Chairman Vincent Reda.

However, a Morahan retirement would trigger a floodgate of political dominos among Republicans and Democrats in Rockland and Orange counties that wouldn't be pretty.  Political observers also warn it could impact the races for the 17th, 18th and 19th Congressional Districts -- as well as a few Assembly races.

Don't forget about how the burden of another competitive State Senate seat would affect the funding and focus of other State Senate races around the Hudson Valley region and state.

Lot of untied shoelaces out there ...

Paladino "Love Child" Major Setback For Indie Candidate: Something In Common With Albany

Ouch.

Carl Paladino is not having a good day.  The New York Daily News reports that Paladino has an illegitimate child.

Coupled with his active support of liberal Democrats and his already unorthodox style of campaigning, the Independence Party might have some problems if Carl Paladino is their candidate.

Of course, it has been said that no one can win in New York without a scandal.

By that measure, Paladino should have a lot of fun this year.

The Buffalo News asks:Is New York Ready for Carl Paladino?

With enough drugs, domestic violence and double-lives wandering the halls of the State Capitol Building to pen a few screenplays, methinks New York's body politic should get over themselves.

Sixty-nine of New Yorker say that the state will be better off if most legislators are not elected: Rasmussen Reports

As for Paladino's competition, Newsday reported how Steve Levy's competition refers to the Democrat-turned-Republican as a "party of one" on Long Island.

"He may wind up at the top of your ticket, they say, but don't expect him to be the captain of your team."

Elizabeth Benjamin of the New York Daily News blog Daily Politics reported that the regional chairs are jumping off the good ship Cox (or, at least, have been MIA) when it comes to Steve Levy.

"There were key names missing from yesterday's state GOP regional vice chairs letter in support of Suffolk County Steve Levy, and their absence highlights a growing rift within the party over state Chairman Ed Cox's handling of the governor's race and leadership style."

This is treacherous for Cox.

Elizabeth Benjamin noted that only five of the nine regional chairs signed the letter, plus First Vice Chair Vincent Reda.

Two of of the missing four, Westchester County GOP chair Doug Colety and Tioga's Don Leonard are supporting Rick Lazio.

This is treacherous for those chairs looking for cooperation from New York State Conservative Chairman Mike Long, who has been loyal to Rick Lazio (while many Conservatives are scratching their heads).

Republican candidates for Congressional, State Senate and Assembly seats that cover multiple counties will rely on Long's endorsement to get on the line.

Republicans Want Colavita In 34th S.D.: Former State GOP Chair's Son Sought For State Senate Run

Eastchester Town Supervisor Tony Colavita is highly touted to take on Democrat Jeff Klein in the 34th State Senate District covering parts of lower Westchester and the northern Bronx.

The problem is that Colavita has been mum on the subject.

Colavita is a popular local Republican and a fiscal conservative whose singular focus has been running Town Hall efficiently in an era when New York State's pension demands are near-bankrupting local governments.

Colavita's father served both as Westchester County GOP Chairman from 1979 to 1995 and as a popular State GOP Chair during the Reagan administration.  Indeed, few Republicans in New York State get the attention or the respect of Colavita.

But he's yet to show up for the fight.

Republicans need Colavita to run.

Favorite Son

The State Senate Majority under Joe Bruno had annually begged and bartered Colavita to run for six years.  In 2004, Assemblyman Jeff Klein took this open seat in a divided three-way primary.  The deals brokered then had Klein eventually running for Attorney General, after Andrew Cuomo.  Klein's best laid plans for statewide office never happened.  It doesn't appear this will be an open seat again, unless Klein suddenly primaries Eliot Engel (or Engel retires) in the 17th Congressional District.

The traditionally Bronx-based seat has found its way into suburban towns like Eastchester and Pelham over the past 20 years, including covering conservative parts of Yonkers and New Rochelle (and the Republican areas of Mount Vernon).  Out of a Republican bastion like Eastchester, one of only four towns in Westchester that voted in the majority for John McCain in 2004, a favorite son candidate like Colavita has a good shot of taking back the 34th.

But he's yet to show up for the fight.

Desperate Democrats

Local Eastchester residents were taken aback two weeks ago by a $100,000 donation by Klein to Immaculate Conception Parish for its gym.  The gym would double as a youth center for the town, a worthy cause, but such a large amount of discretionary dollars from Albany is being looked at askance.  The local school districts need that money and Klein's wonderful gift rightfully drew some skeptical opinions.  Finally, this is not the first time Jeff Klein has down up for a big check and not delivered.  Eastchester's local Little League was left empty-handed two years ago when the Democrat first showed up with a large paper check.

Partisan battles aside, Colavita has the experience and gravitas to defeat Klein.  State Senate Democrats wouldn't have scurried around to come up with $100,000 for a local parish gym if they didn't fear a Colavita candidacy.  The residential areas of the northern Bronx remain a strong Republican voting block, despite a migration out of New York City.  Additionally, a distinctly pro traditional family voting block among Hispanics (and Italian/Irish Catholics) could hurt Klein after his pushy advocacy of a gay marriage bill last fall that was sharply defeated.

History of Comebacks

The inside story on Colavita family is compelling.  After a car accident left his younger son blind and paralyzed in 1986, Colavita's father -- at the height of his power as a force in national and state Republican politics -- took a step back.  Though Colavita as Westchester County GOP Chairman would score continued victories as leader, by 1995 newly elected New York State Governor George E. Pataki would forge a coup against the longtime chairman.

Colavita would be sent into political exile.  Westchester Republicans have only recovered from The Chairman's ouster in recent years. 

Colavita's comeback would come through his son's own ascension as a local councilman in the 1990s and finally a highly-competitive primary for Eastchester Town Supervisor in 2003 that defeated Jim Cavanaugh.  That primary would literally pit the local Colavita grass-roots operation against the political machines of Nick Spano out of Yonkers, then County GOP chairman Cavanaugh and Governor Pataki.

... And to say that the good ship Colavita slayed a mighty big dragon seven years ago is an understatement ...

Colavita would not declare his intentions to run in 2003 until late April, so anyone counting out Eastchester's favorite son this year better think again.

Many from Albany to White Plains hope Colavita steps to the plate soon.

Tea Party Central: Tea Party Groups Prepare For Tax Day And Candidates Forums

This flag is growing on me.

The whole gosh darn tea party movement is growing on me.

That's why I am launching the Eastchester Tea Party with my friend (and Republican district leader) Dan Ventarola.

We will be joined by a lot of Democrats and independents too.

Taxed Enough Already = TEA

Eastchester will be planning its Tea Party protest and forum in recognition of Tax Freedom Day (April 9).

Of course, Tax Freedom Day keeps coming sooner every year -- yet we're not getting any of that extra revenue back from lawmakers.

"Tax Freedom Day is the first day of the year in which a nation as a whole has theoretically earned enough income to fund its annual tax burden. It is annually calculated in the United States by the Tax Foundation—a Washington, D.C.-based tax research organization. Every dollar that is officially considered income by the government is counted, and every payment to the government that is officially considered a tax is counted. Taxes at all levels of government—local, state and federal—are included."

Tax Freedom Day for 2010 is April 9, for a total average effective tax rate of 26.9 percent of the nation's income:

"The latest that Tax Freedom Day has occurred was May 1 in 2000. In 1900, Tax Freedom Day arrived January 22, for an effective average total tax rate of 5.9 percent of the nation's income. According to the Tax Foundation, the most important factor driving changes in Tax Freedom Day from year to year is growth in incomes, as the progressive structure of the U.S. federal tax system causes taxes as a percentage of income to rise along with inflation."

One of the more stark examples of taxation that generates for more revenue than projected is the gas tax, usually meeting projections by July 4 or sooner.  State and Federal officials have debated in recent years the premise of curtailing or reducing the tax on gas and oil once projected revenues have been met.

Don't hold your breath.  Lawmakers spend it before the pennies are in their hands.

Ulster County

This particular image of The Gadsden Flag comes courtesy of Pamela O'Dell with the Gardiner's Right Tea Party group in Ulster County (http://www.GardinersRight.org).

Gardiner's Right wanted to remind everyone that they are having a Gardiner Tax Day Tea Party on Thursday April 15, 2010 from 5:00-7 pm at the Rail Trail crossing of Rt 44/55 in Gardiner, NY.

Orange County

The Orange County Patriots will be holding a candidates forum on April 17th with former Tuxedo Mayor David McFadden, who is running for Congress in the 19th Congressional District.  Orange County native Kristia Cavere has also been invited to either be at the same forum or a future gathering.  Nan Hayworth and Neil Di Carlo have already met with the Orange County Patriots.

Anna Noto Wells has organized the Orange County Patriots and reported on the activities of the groups As A Mom, Let Freedom Ring, Orange/Sullivan 912, White Plains Tea Party and the Kingston Tea Party.  They all gathered in Goshen for a protest of the healthcare bill on March 21st -- and were joined by David McFadden. 

(http://www.orangecountypatriots.com).

Westchester County

Speaking of the White Plains Tea Party and my own neck of the woods, Nicole Delalla Katz (wife of State Assembly candidate Stephen Katz) reminded all her friends that the White Plains/Westchester group will be in front of the Westchester County Center on April 15th at 4:00 pm (198 Central Ave, White Plains, NY 10606-1102).

The White Plains Tea Party is coordinated by Jon and Cheryl Coolong, who recently organized a candidates forum for the 18th Congressional District.  Also active with this group is Tom Borelli of The National Center For Public Policy Research and his wife Denee, who is a FOX News contributor.

Putnam/Northern Westchester

Nicole and Steve Katz have played an active role from the start in the Northern Westchester Tea Party Patriots.  That entire group had been an integral part of the vote poll operation for Bob Castelli's landslide upset in February's special election (http://www.nypatriots.com).

The conversation has begun among tea party members on both sides of the Hudson River that the groups need to get involved with political campaigns.  Many want to ensure that the tea party movement has validity within the democratic process.  Though some remain rightfully skeptically of endorsing candidates (especially after Scott Brown departed the reservation on the jobs bill), many want to become district leaders.

There are a lot of options:

They could become Republican and Conservative district leaders, to start.  Others want to form a new "tea party" on a statewide level.  They are certain to be active in elections throughout the Hudson Valley.  They are already holding as many candidates forums as the Republican Party.

Rockland County

Rockland County's tea party movement, Rally For America, is holding another candidates forum this Wednesday with gubernatorial candidates Steve Levy and Carl Paladino.  Will Rick Lazio be there?  Has he been invited?  Congressional candidates from the 17th, 18th and 19th Congressional Districts may also be there.

Rally For America out of Rockland County is organized by Irene Tiburcio, who also singlehandedly coordinated many of the buses down to the 9-12 and Code Red Washington, D.C. rallies last year for Rockland, Westchester and Orange counties.

An integral part of Rally For America has been Anthony Mele. Tony's mounting an aggressive and public campaign against Eliot Engel in the 17th that is drawing increased interest everyday.  Much like the Westchester tea party groups, many in Rally For America are looking to become district leaders.  More important, their candidates forums are drawing countywide and regional interest.

Putnam County

In Putnam County, the Hudson Valley Patriots are led by Lisa Douglas -- and her daily newsletter/blog is just one example of how well these patriots tap social networking tools like Facebook or even basic email.

The Hudson Valley Patriots held a well-intended candidates forum for the 19th Congressional District candidates last weekend.  They are joining with the White Plains Tea Party for a tax day protest on April 15th in White Plains from 4-7 pm.

For weekend warriors, the Hudson Valley Patriots will hold a rally on Saturday, April 17th from 3-7 pm in Middletown with the Orange County tea party groups, Citizens 4 Freedom and Orange/Sullivan County 912 at the corner of Route 211 and Galleria Mall Road.

---

Finally, regional tea party groups are also expected to gather with the Northern Westchester Tea Party Patriots on Tax Day, April 15th at 6 pm in front of the Historic Putnam County Courthouse in in Carmel (20 County Center, Carmel, NY 10512).

... And there's more.

There will be tea party rallies throughout New York State, though some of the links are a year old (check out this link for a list).

Check out CNY912 (Central New York 9.12 Association).

It's all part of a national day of rallies in so many places that one wonder when anyone will get any work done that day!

Protest early and often.

Levy's Partisan Loyalties Questioned: Tug Of War Afoot Over State Senate Candidates?

New York's cross-endorsement laws are hard enough.

What happens when a Democrat-turned-Republican has his loyalties pulled over a State Senate race?

Rick Lazio wants to know where Steve Levy will be when Republicans need his help to win back the State Senate.

Newsday's blog Spin Cycle asked if Levy will help Republicans defeat Brian Foley in Suffolk County.

"What price friendship? Sen. Brian Foley (D-Blue Point) says his old county legislative buddy Steve Levy will not campaign against him as a Republican this fall."

Spin Cycle also indicated that Democrat State Senator Craig Johnson, who is making no friends calling for more bloated local school budgets (New York Post), could also get a pass from Levy.

The State Senate Majority is the Republican Party's sacred cow.  An unwillingness on Levy's part to support a Republican Lee Zeldin against Foley is a third rail.

Elizabeth Benjamin of the New York Daily News reported Levy's campaign that the Suffolk County Executive wants "help to create a Republican Senate."

But Liz Benjamin noted something else as important:

"Interestingly, the statement from Levy's campaign doesn't mention Zeldin or whether the county executive is endorsing him outright against Foley."

Carl Paladino will be fielding the same questions in the coming days.

What makes this political issue different for Lazio is that his campaign has obviously started registering a pulse.  Rick's fighting back, finally.

Glad to see this political patient alive on the table.  We were getting worried, Mr. Lazio.

Paladino Gave Substantial Donations To Liberal Democrats: Say It Ain't So, Carl

Paladino supporters were dealt a reversal yesterday when it was revealed that Carl Paladino had given New York U.S. Senator Charles Schumer $1,000 in June of 2009.

It's a bit worse than just Schumer;

Hillary Clinton, Eric Massa, John Kerry, Louise Slaughter, Richard Gephardt and Al Gore ...

... Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Brian Higgins also received donations from Paladino.

The amount of money to Democrats is substantial, particularly to Clinton and Higgins.

It's not like Paladino gave to Reagan Democrats or independents or conservatives either.

Rudy Giuliani -- whose liberal social stands have been at odds with the Conservative Party for years -- also received a hefty $2,300 donation as recently as 2007.  Perhaps an argument could be made about Higgins, who is not viewed as a cookie cutter Democrat, or even Moynihan. But Paladino's donations to liberal-liberal Democrats and Hillary Clinton send him farther off the Republican reservation than Steve Levy.

It's hard to reconcile what is going on here.  Paladino has some explaining to do.

Tea Party members and Conservatives received the following link on just Paladino's donation to Schumer in an email around 5:30 tonight.  The reaction has ranged from disgust to disappointment.

Paladino's ties to Golisano were never viewed as questionable -- but it's no mystery that former Upstate New York billionaire was never shy about linkage to Bill Clinton and many high-level Democrats.

There are a lot of Republicans on the list too, including John McCain, but the donations to Democrats obscure that.

The story that has circulated in recent days is that Paladino went through a major change of life after the tragic death of his son Patrick in a car accident last spring.  What has been expressed privately to members of the news media is that Paladino has emotionally channelled his grief into his gubernatorial run, that he is driven to putting every resource at his disposal into the race against Andrew Cuomo.

So could it be argued/rationalized that the Paladino who gave all that money to liberal Democrats is not the same man running for Governor of New York State today.

This won't be any ordinary damage control, for sure.

News Copy hopes to obtain a formal statement from the Paladino campaign along with Paladino himself on his history of giving money to liberal Democrats.

Democrats Continue Dodging Domestic Violence Questions In White Plains: Paulin Silent

A human being is innocent until proven guilty, so perhaps many Democrats and a few Republicans (and two Conservative leaders) are reserving comment until the trial against White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley on domestic violence charges is finished.

The Journal News reported today that five new domestic violence charges against Bradley were filed yesterday.

"Bradley was greeted by a crowd of 20 protesters as he arrived at the Westchester County Courthouse this morning.  Notably absent was Bradley's wife, who on Feb. 28 told police that the mayor closed the door on her hand. Her signed statement included other instances of abuse and led to Bradley's arrest that day on the third-degree assault charge. Her absence was in contrast to Bradley's earlier court appearances when she accompanied him to show support."

Last week, I had to listen to at least one local Conservative Party leader question Fumiko Bradley's sanity -- and another is taking Bradley's side in this private family matter.

I can understand Democrats reserving comment.  I can appreciate some Republicans asking that Bradley not be tried by protesters or on blogs.  That level is caution is reasonable, as much as Bradley's personal situation is deconstructing the political fabric in White Plains by the day.

But to go after his wife, to take Mayor Bradley's side, and to aggressively question a woman's sanity -- rather than wait for the court's decision -- is vile bias and political manipulation at its worst.  It is as corrupt as what the Democrats are doing.  It's worse than what Democrats and Republicans alike have done in Albany, looking the other way when women have been victims of sexual abuse and violence by State lawmakers.

This blind eye to domestic violence among the political set has to end.

If they want to look the other way like the political world is a private country club, maybe some of these supposed "leaders" need a lesson in how bad some of their political contemporaries have been in the past.

Maybe collectively the political leaders still pretending there isn't a problem need shock treatment to finally wake up.

Fumiko Bradley has accused her husband Adam Bradley of domestic violence.  Both the husband and wife deserve their day in court.  Ms. Bradley doesn't deserve to be demeaned by political leaders; whether these leaders are Republican, Democrat or Conservative.

It's particularly understood that some attorneys and anyone associated with their law practice have to do their jobs.  Adam Bradley is innocent until proven guilty.  These lawyers and their associates have a professional responsibility to defend Mr. Bradley.

But Fumiko Bradley struck me at least as scared last fall -- and she strikes many observers with her retreat on a claim against her husband as scared in the classic way victims of domestic violence backtrack.

Why don't some women involved in the political process in all the major and minor political parties (that coincidently endorsed Bradley) understand this basic psychological concept?  Or is the underlying problem a level of emotional denial that is also sadly typical of the way domestic violence is hidden, generation after generation?

Finally, what terrible message do we send to wives and children who are victims of domestic violence when a woman leading a political party chooses to go on the attack against a woman claiming to be a victim of verbal, psychological and physical abuse at the hands of her husband?

We betray women with that kind of attitude and woeful words.

It's almost enough to suggest that the District Attorney should additionally question all the political leaders involved with Bradley's long list of endorsements, to see if there has been additional corruption on the local judicial level -- or particularly in terms of key appointments involved in law enforcement in White Plains.

There is no telling how much else is being hidden in White Plains.

To be fair, NOW did show up.

NOW-NYS President Marcia Pappas, President of NOW NYS explained, "It is common for victims of domestic violence to retract their stories in fear of retribution. But fear of retribution thwarts justice. We must give domestic violence victims the power they need to stand up to their abusers. Fumi Bradley is obviously afraid of consequences that could come from continuing the criminal charges against her husband."

Pappas is "urging the District Attorney to pursue the charges against Adam Bradley." She says that "if he is allowed sweep this situation under the rug, Ms. Bradley will be in greater danger." Pappas continued: "We want Fumi Bradley to know that she has the community behind her, and that we support her in every way. Her safety is paramount."

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore has shown up.  County Judge Susan Capeci has shown up.  Many Democrats have started to speak up, as have Republicans and the local community has begun to see another side of Adam Bradley that is at least questionable.

Gannett columnist Phil Reisman acknowledged the White Plains Mayor's demons.

P.S. -- New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin is making herself irrelevant by remaining silent ...

Nan Hayworth Handlers To Broker Convention In 19th: Convention Format Questioned

Nan Hayworth is clearly planning to lobby local district leaders for votes at a five-county Republican convention to nominate a GOP candidate against Democrat John Hall in New York's 19th Congressional District.

In a sharply worded letter from her campaign manager John Hicks to the county chairman in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Westchester and Rockland counties, Hayworth wants some ground rules on everything from proxies to weighted votes county-by-county.

Attached is Page One and Page Two of Nan Hayworth's March 23rd letter to county leaders.

"For intra-party contests, each party adopts its own rules for how they determine the proportionality and procedure for voting.  The State law does not determine how that proportionality must be put into place, only saying that voting must be proportional."

What's at issue here is whether each county will hold their separate convention or have one five-county convention.  It also opens a Pandora's Box of legal challenges against the county chairs if the proportional vote is thrown up to question.

Hayworth's team is procedurally correct but this is all being done to make a public argument for a primary.

Nan Hayworth is ready to rumble.  She doesn't care one bit about the decisions by the chairs, especially since they apparently don't want her to be the candidate.  Of course, this works both ways -- and could yet bite back at the chairs.

The procedural preaching by John Hicks (who remains an embattled former Orange County GOP chair) is in sharp contrast to David McFadden's "Party First Pledge" calling for unity behind a candidate.

"While I do believe that the voters of this district very much deserve to have their voices heard, the reality is that should our candidate field take this to a contested primary through September, we will be handing the Democratic incumbent a significant political advantage in time, resources, and momentum."

Hicks puts forth demands on the convention that sort of bypass the control and discretion of county chairs, though it is a valuable primer on how a convention can be fairly brokered by either chairs or a candidate.

Hicks and Hayworth consultant Jay Townsend are rightfully planning to split the convention for Hayworth.  It's a legal strategy, more than do-able, though it also raises the spector of candidates dividing each other's political base.

Tom DiChiaro and Neil Di Carlo, for example, could pull conservative Republican convention votes from Kristia Cavere and/or David McFadden.  McFadden could pull Orange County votes from Cavere.  All of the pro-life Republicans could cancel each other and hand the nomination to Nan Hayworth.  Simple.

Hayworth may already have the math to divide and conquer this convention. 

It also basically lays out the argument that the convention vote won't offer a clear candidate.

This happens all the time in conventions.  It's a fairly potent way of working democracy from the grass-roots level, except it undoubtedly leads to a divided convention.

So basically Hayworth is ready for scorched earth.  One wonders if the rest of the candidates understand the ramifications of such an anal retentive approach.

Hayworth could take the nomination right out from under the pick of the county chairs at the convention.  It's a legitimate strategy, so each horse in this race better spend the money and the time reaching out to EACH district leader meticulously.  Otherwise, Dr. Townsend will win this race for Dr. Hayworth.

As for Dr. McFadden's kind olive branch of unity, the former Tuxedo Mayor and the other candidates could find themselves steamrolled at the convention.

As for the pick of the county chairs, he or she could be ungracefully scuttled at the convention with ease.

Meanwhile, Conservatives are bit more civilized in multi-county races (hah) and leave these decisions to State Committee members in the district, the county chairs and New York State Conservative Chairman Mike Long.

Engel And Lowey Draw More Challengers: New York's Suburban Liberals Get No Free Ride

Republicans have three challengers lining up against Eliot Engel, six challengers against Nita Lowey and five candidates against John Hall.

Crowded.  Apparently, crowded everywhere. Whether this is due to "low hanging fruit" or a new patriotism sweeping the country, the Republican brand has drawn more candidates than usual eager to challenge the Democrats.

18th Congressional District (Nita Lowey)

Paul Wasserman, Mark Rosen, Patrick Whalen, Patrick Gillespie, Alexander Block and Jim Russell addressed Westchester's town/city and district leaders last night in Greenburgh.  A number of high-ranking Conservatives from that county's embattled Conservative Party were also on hand.

Block is a Russian immigrant who became a U.S. citizen, a Scarsdale resident whose plain-speaking opposition to liberal Democrats reminded everyone what has changed in 2010.

"The concept of politics has always appalled me, so I have stayed away from it," said Block. "... The significant over-reach of liberal Democrats has awakened many people from a slumber."

Block's problem is that he is a registered independent.  But he is a welcome new face on Westchester's political scene and is expected to further bolster what has already been a Republican resurgence in the usually politically-correct Scarsdale.

Jim Russell's conservative views resonated with many Republicans but his campaign is stubbornly unwilling to raise money.  Having already run five times for Congress, sometimes ending up as a spoiler against Republican candidates, it seems impractical for the Mount Pleasant native to again chase this windmill.

But 2010 is the year of windmills, and conservative stands on issues, the unfunded Russell probably will force a divisive Republican primary.

Paul Wasserman is showing up with money, apparently over $200,000, but News Copy learned last night that the Ossining native only changed his registration from to Republican from Democrat in 2009.

News Copy made the mistake yesterday of posting that Wasserman was still a Democrat.  Wasserman did not change his registration before October 7, New York State's arcane deadline for changing party.  The Ossining Republican will need permission from party leaders (a Wilson-Pakula) to run in a Republican primary.

Wasserman clearly has a campaign organization, very strong on the ground and personalizing well with leaders.  However, it is highly unlikely that he will be allowed to run in a Republican primary (Maybe he should challenge Nita Lowey in a Democratic primary?)

Patrick Gillespie of New Rochelle drew spontaneous applause from Republicans when he aggressively stated that he was pro-life.  Gillespie is a latecomer to this race, with no campaign operation in place and no money.

Highly regarded Patrick Whalen of New Castle had the crowd on the edge of their seats but then suddenly announced he would not be running.

Mark Rosen of Mamaroneck continued to draw support and has formed a strong grass-roots operation.  Rosen's problem is the same of every candidate in this race (except Wasserman): Money.  Rosen has retained fundraising staff and formed a sophistical press/media operation.  The challenge in the coming weeks will be implementation of the ground game and raising money.

Handicapping this race, Wasserman would have been the capable sleeper -- if not for his registration as a Democrat -- and Whalen could have split the Republican base against Rosen.  The mystery candidate now is Gillespie, who demonstrated last night just how much of a political punch a pro-life stand can deliver with Republicans.  Russell will remain in the race, claiming that 30-35% of the general election vote without money is the best bang for the buck.

The problem for Russell and all the other candidates is that the remaining 15-25% against Nita Lowey can cost as much as $2 million dollars in television media and direct mail.

17th Congressional District (Eliot Engel)

With less than $200,000 on hand, Engel is in no position to be challenged by a Bronx Latino.  But that's precisely who he will have running against him if Tony Mele survives the minefields being set for him by Republican insiders in Rockland.

Mele was not invited to a candidates forum in Clarkstown last week.  He has been pressured to withdraw from the race and run for the Assembly.  Mele continues to draw the attention of tea party members throughout the Hudson Valley and he resonates extremely well with Conservatives in Westchester and the Bronx.

York Kleinhandler of West Nyack, a Green Beret and local business who is also Chief Warrant Officer is being aggressively touted as the frontrunner by Republicans to secure the GOP nomination in the 17th Congressional district.

The third name mentioned as a challenger to Engel is Brigadier General John Cornelius. Cornelius has lived in Suffern since 1983 but has not announced a formal candidacy.  The Rockland Times noted that all three men are not just veterans, but career military men.

The Rockland Times noted the split-personality of Engel's fiefdom,

"It’s a district that’s been under Eliot Engel’s control for 9 terms, and some would argue a district gerrymandered beyond recognition, composing portions of the Bronx, Westchester and Rockland.  As Engel celebrates his party’s victory on the health reform, the GOP is strategizing how to run a strong race against a man who commonly defeats his opponents by more than three to one. Even Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, barely mustered 33% against Engel when he ran against him in 2004."

Republicans fail against Engel due to some of the machinations presently working against Tony Mele.

What's wrong with a Bronx-born Latino running for Congress in both Rockland and the Bronx?

Cornelius, Kleinhandler and Mele have to raise money.

19th Congressional District (John Hall)

Putnam resident and Yorktown businessman Tom DeChiaro is showing up for the candidates forum for the 19th this evening in Putnam County at Villa Barone on Route 6 in Mahopac. DeChiaro's problems with the Yorktown political machine in recent years has turned him into a voice for reform.  His message is sure to resonate with those fighting political manipulations from Bedford to Brewster. 

Orange County native David McFadden has to show a strong FEC filing and make a compelling argument as an independent against John Hall.  McFadden has personalized his stands on the issues effectively.  He's brought the issues home, as they say.  McFadden is not likely to disappoint.

Fellow Orange County native Kristia Cavere will find herself head-to-head against Westchester resident Nan Hayworth.  Hayworth could spend the entire evening fending off questions on abortion.  Cavere could find herself tagged as inexperienced and unprepared, except it is ironic that Hayworth has a harder time fielding questions at times than the former Pentagon analyst.  Cavere needs a breakout moment this evening.

Neil Di Carlo claims God told him to run -- and is expected to over-talk as a political rainmaker to the point of surreality.  Di Carlo's enthusiasm for democracy is welcomed but his over-the-top religious zeal is starting to make some uncomfortable.  Though he brings an everyman's "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" perspective to the interviews, his presence in the race will be marginalized by his overtly-religious approach.

Tonight could be make or break for Nan Hayworth, who must do two things:  (1) She must address the abortion clinic controversy, and (2) the Mount Kisco moderate needs her own breakout moment.

With DeChiaro as an intriguing wildcard, anything is possible this evening -- and either Hayworth or Cavere could finally take the gloves off in front of Republican leaders.

That Other Race For Congress In The Hudson Valley: George Phillips Battles Hinchey

Republican Congressional candidate George Phillips is trying to slay Democrat Maurice Hinchey.

Phillips is up against a mighty difficult dragon.

At first glance, New York's 22nd Congressional District is predominately rural and above the frost line enough to be Republican.  However, a closer look reveals a number of small cities and college campuses that make it the "Run away, run away" district for the GOP.

It's gerrymandered to include Newburgh, Binghamton and Ithaca -- along with a long list of SUNY and private colleges. Hinchey, a nine-term incumbent Democrat, never had it so good.  Hinchey also benefits from representing a district so under the media radar that no one knows he is there.

The is the "other race" for Congress in New York.

Local Hudson Valley columnist (and former Queens Conservative) Raquel Okyay had this piece on Phillips -- and a few choice words for Mr. Hinchey:

Saying "No" To Maurice Hinchey

by Raquel Okyay

“Yes!” was the resounding reply when candidate for Congressional District 22, Republican George Phillips asked “Had enough?” to a crowd of Gardiner residents.  Indeed, the people have had enough; they are organizing, starting Meet-ups, Facebook groups the list goes on and on, all in an effort to get Congress to stop spending away their children’s future. 

In 16 years of office, all Progressive Democrat Rep. Maurice Hinchey has offered is highfalutin attitudes and non-stop spending.  Opponents call him the “poster child for waste,” as Pam O’Dell puts it, Organizer for GardinersRight.org. 

Hinchey’s most recent debacle brings us to the town of Shawangunk, where the Grasslands Preserve (566 acres) is located, and where an old airport is the topic of conversation. 

The Congressmen is in agreement to pay Michigan based not-for-profit, Ducks Unlimited, which works to conserve wetlands and waterfowl, the amount of $779,000 to dump dirt on the acreage, creating reportedly .6 jobs for New York.   

Installing a bird watching facility on the property left some people scratching their heads, after all, everyone who lives in the Hudson Valley knows that all you have to do is look out your window to see birds, plenty of them, so the last thing this area needs is a specially-made aviary.  No wonder people are calling the whole project for the birds!

“We have to stand up and say No!” says Roger Rascoe, Shawanunk Chairman of the Republican Committee, who spearheaded efforts to organize a protest aimed at forcing Hinchey to rescind the contract with Ducks.  Rascoe urged constituents to contact their County Legislature and voice their concern with yet another wasteful spending deal closed by Hinchey.

Supportive of the protesters, George Phillips issued the following statement after attending the rally:

Events like this are a welcome expression of voters waking up to the rampant waste and abuse which are bankrupting the current system and burying our children in debt. This event was not pointing out an isolated incident. The government is flushing away our money everywhere we turn on everything from grape genetics and swine odor impact studies to saving the harvest marsh tit mouse. Americans have had enough, and it's high time we clean up this mess in Washington.

The dirt deal is just the tip of the iceberg with Hinchey.  His full agenda is much more sinister.  I shot an email to my good friend, Mitchell Langbert, Political Activist in Ulster County, and supporter of George Phillips, requesting a statement regarding Hinchey’s spending habits.  This is Langbert’s response:

 

Maurice Hinchey made national news when he made a public proposal to reinstate the kind of price controls on gasoline that led to the long lines and shortages in 1974 and 1979.  He has been a leading advocate of the fairness doctrine and would like to suppress the First Amendment rights of conservatives.  As well, he has been unfriendly to drilling of the Marcellus natural gas fields (see http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-02-03-naturalgas_N.htm and http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny22_hinchey/morenews/122309DECFrackingComments.html ).  

 

Hinchey has proposed to turn the Hudson Valley into a federal park and has submitted legislation requiring the US Parks Service to investigate means of doing so.  When he was a state assemblyman Hinchey was part of the committee that established the Adirondack Park that crushed the possibility of economic development in the Adirondacks. A federal park might mean the end of real estate development and industrial progress in the Hudson Valley.

 

Hinchey’s record shows a grim tale of mismanagement of tax payer dollars, allegiance to Nancy Pelosi-style politics, and maddening ignorance of constitutional rights. 

 

Who am I supporting in this year’s race?  George Phillips --  no contest.

Rockland County Tea Party Hosting Gubernatorial Forum: Cuomo Challengers Line Up

Rockland County's Rally For America is hosting a forum with at least Steve Levy and Carl Paladino next week.  Tentatively scheduled for Wednesday night in Nanuet, News Copy has learned that the tea party group will also extend an invitiation to Rick Lazio.

The event had initially been put together as equal time for Steve Levy -- since Carl Paladino had met with Rally for America last Friday -- but it is building as a gubernatorial "three amigos" that should draw the attention of a lot more than tea party members.

Apparently, Republican and Conservative leaders from the region will be invited.

Why not also invite Andrew Cuomo and really have some fun?

Public Sector Bill Will Be 90 Percent Of GDP: Government's Getting Too Expensive

The Congressional Budget Office has projected that President Obama's fiscal 2011 budget will generate nearly $10 trillion in cumulative budget deficits over the next 10 years, $1.2 trillion more than the administration projected, and raise the federal debt to 90 percent of the nation's economic output by 2020.

"An additional $1.2 trillion in debt dumped on [GDP] to our children makes a huge difference," said Brian Riedl, a budget analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation. "That represents an additional debt of $10,000 per household above and beyond the federal debt they are already carrying."

Worse, they are sending future generations the bill.

Republicans Could Gain Nearly 50 Seats Nationally: Voter Suppression Will Hurt GOP Candidates In New York

The Wall Street Journal's blog Market Watch had this analysis of Congressional races.

If you're in New York, just about every region of the state has a House race in play.  Political consultants are running around pitching their products and personnel.  At the end of the day, 2010 will be about "shoe leather" and tea parties ... little else.

Real Clear Politics had their outline of the Battle For The House.

Nan Hayworth's campaign was celebrating that the 19th Congressional District is now being rated a "toss-up" -- but I sure hope the Mount Kisco moderate is not taking credit for that upgrade.  Hayworth's financial association with an abortion clinic and her hefty donations from abortion doctors threatens to turn the race against Hall into an embarassing national story.

The 19th is a toss-up due to Barack Obama only winning this district by less than four points.  It's also a toss-up due to the Democrats dancing around the health care law like giddy lemmings.  But the fastest way to sabotage New York's true Republican "whip" district is running a pro-abortion candidate in this pro-life district.

The other way to lose the 19th is a primary, sadly on its way -- in the person of Nan Hayworth.  It wouldn't be the first time the NRCC floated a Frankenstein.

According to Real Clear Politics, Democrats should win the 25th Congressional District race in Central New York between incumbent Dan Maffei and Republican Anne Marie Buerkle -- but Obama only had 56% in the 25th in 2008 and Maffei only 54%.  Buekle's upstate New York's sleeper candidate.

Real Clear Politics has the 20th leaning to Democrat Scott Murphy ... Don't think so.  Congressional Quarterly has the 20th closer than the 19th -- and Republican Chris Gibson's candidacy is a steamroller.

New York's toss-ups are a Republican feast, potentially the best run of the political table for the GOP in a generation.

Districts 1, 13, 19, 23 and 24 read like Republican game-changers -- but candidates and consultants alike better not run scared.  Also, that's a lot of money for candidates to be raising in one state.  Neither the Republicans nationally nor the State GOP will be comfortable with this money drain by summer.  Also, New York's Republican establishment has a dominant goal in securing back the State Senate -- at all costs. 

Included in the strategy to win back the State Senate will be voter suppression, where Republican leaders and consultants will not want competitive campaigns drawing out Democrats in close districts.  That strategy alone could have Republicans at their throats by May/June, with few admitting or acknowledging how Albany's Republican rocket scientists intend to wn back the State Senate.

I dare them to publicly deny it.

In the 1st, a four-way primary is taking shape.  In the 13th, a two-primary between Mike Grimm and Mike Allegretti has the usual Republican bastion of Staten Island divided.  In the 19th, there could be at least a two-women primary between Hayworth and Kristia Cavere.  In the 20th, Gibson will probably not get a free ride -- and divisive challenges could bog down that race.  In the 23rd, Republicans appear ready to primary Doug Hoffman.

Upstate, the 24th and 29th appear to be seats ready to be taken back by Republicans.

In lower New York State, candidacies against Nita Lowey (18th) and a surprisingly under-funded Eliot Engel (17th) are taking shape.

Westchester residents Mark Rosen and Paul Wasserman are dueling locally for district leader support in a landscape that hasn't seen a competitive race against Lowey in nearly 20 years.  Rockland residents York Kleinhandler and Tony Mele (who is a Bronx native) could be primarying to challenge a Democrat (Engel) who no longer lives in New York. 

Pollster.com reports that Republicans continue to lead Congressional Democrats in polling, 44.9 - 43.8%, an advantage they have held since December.

But this is New York, where the landscape in spots can be more liberal.  Trends in liberal areas of New York's suburbs, particularly Westchester and Nassau, demonstrated last November and in February special elections that Democrats are either (a) not coming out to vote or (b) independents and fiscally disgruntled Democrats are showing up instead.  If that trend continues, Democrats like Nita Lowey in suburban Westchester outside New York City and upstate Democrats like Scott Murphy aren't going to win this year.

However, few political insiders believe this amazing trend can continue.  Tea party members would disagree.  It's hard to measure the "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore" factor in New York.

This trend could actually get better for Republicans, especially in the suburbs around New York City where the fiscal angst is being felt directly out of Wall Street. 

Stuart Rothenberg of The Rothenberg Political Report has argued that if it ain't broke, don't fix it -- as in the race to repeal the health care law may actually come across as "sour grapes" and slow Republican momentum.

Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball projects the 25th and 29th as best bets for Republicans in New York.

It seems little time or strategy is being committed to figuring out the rest of New York by many national pollsters and consultants, though internally they are scurrying around the state on races in search of a surprise win.

The problem will be money (as in begging for dollars) and, separately, how State Senate Republicans mangle local races with voter suppression strategies.

Prediction: Republicans could be working at cross-purposes to each other, both financially and strategically.

Another Prediction:  Republicans take back at least ten (10) seats if its Congressional delegation keeps antagonizing tea parties and acting clueless about Obama's fiscal failures.

New York's 19th Heading For Two Woman Republican Primary: Hayworth Versus Cavere

The inside word out of Washington, D.C. has been that Congressional Republicans are "gun-shy" about most of the races in New York State after the three-way debacle in the 23rd last year.

Greg Ball's abrupt exit from the 19th left the NRCC hesitant about the Hudson Valley, even with Obama  winning Democrat John Hall's district with only 52 percent in 2008.

Now the 19th is host to a four candidate race that observers are predicting should whittle down to a two-woman primary by summer.

There's a lot of work for party leaders and candidates to do before it whittles down to anything.

 

Nan Hayworth

The first casualty won't be Nan Hayworth, though the Mount Kisco moderate is spending money as fast as she is raising it.  Also, Hayworth continues not to resonate with all five county chairs -- thought astute political players fully expect her handler Jay Townsend to have substantial proxies in tow by the time a convention is convened.  Hayworth has pledged to primary the candidate designated by Republicans, so Sue Kelly's horse in this race will remain until September.

Critics have noted the embittered and sometimes obsessive approach of Hayworth's campaign manager John Hicks.  Hicks turned Hayworth's race into a jury on Orange County Republican Chairman Bill DeProspo -- and failed miserably.  Hayworth's operatives have also commingled shamelessly with divisive candidates in Putnam and northern Westchester counties.  Finally, the manipulative hand of highly-paid political consultant Jay Townsend has been felt and slapped away from the political machinations too many times to list.

Hayworth's loss of frontrunner status has been almost entirely a self-inflicted wound.

David McFadden

Former Tuxedo Mayor David McFadden has pledged not to challenge the Republican's pick and has asked his fellow candidates to join him.  McFadden's problem is that his newly changed registration leaves him ineligible to compete in a primary without permission from a majority of the 19th's district leaders or the State GOP chairman.  Frankly, McFadden cannot run as a Republican candidate without such a Wilson-Pakula -- so he is sadly a man without a party unless a political miracle happens.

McFadden has impressed gatherings with his speeches.  The Orange County native has ably diffused controversies about his tenure as Tuxedo Mayor.  He has fearlessly turned negatives about tax liens into a positive commentary on how he kept his company's employees from being laid off.  If anything can be said about McFadden, his resilience in this race has not been missed.  However, permission to run as a Republican is unlikely for him.

Working in McFadden's favor has been a well-oiled on-the-ground political operation, a surge of social networking tools and a visible presence on both sides of the Hudson River.  Working against him is the political tag but it bests the sleepy nature of this race so far.

Kristia Cavere

Newcomer Kristia Cavere is starting to demonstrate that she has an effective ground game.  Cavere has impressed tea party and committee members alike with her tough-talking tea party approach.  With this Orange County native's campaign projecting close to $300,000 raised, her next FEC filing date (March 31) could turn this into a much different race overnight.

Kristia hasn't formally announced (scheduled tentatively for the second week of April) and she has to hit the ground running to beat down what will still be a well-financed (and well-organized) primary challenge by Hayworth IF (BIG if) Cavere secures all party endorsements in May.

Critics have noted Cavere's absence of a website, campaign Facebook page or any visible campaign structure.  She could be one of the brightest candidates in the United States but Cavere's absence from the press -- coupled with not enough retail "shoe leather" campaigning could leave this former Pentagon analyst playing catch-up.

---

To beat John Hall, any of these Republican candidates must be ready to campaign 18 hours a day, seven  days a week, every single difficult day until November.

United Republicans?

Neil Di Carlo has an enthusiasm for democracy but it is hoped that the Southeast Republican won't carve away votes from Hayworth and Cavere in a crowded primary.  It appears that Di Carlo, though well-intended as a candidate, neither has the funding nor the organization to continue.

The 19th has been measured by Real Clear Politics to be a "toss-up" against John Hall and Republicans would be better off choosing Hayworth or Cavere in the coming days.

The decision on the 19th is likely not being made until early May.   News Copy's prediction is that Hayworth will remain in the race as a primary-consuming spoiler if the Bedford Republican does not get the nomination.  News Copy has also learned that tea party organizers have grown weary of Hayworth.  More important, local leaders will expect much more from Cavere or Hayworth in the coming days and weeks if either woman is to be viewed as the Republican candidate.

David McFadden could still survive as a sleeper if leaders on either side of the county don't start presenting a grass-roots candidate in earnest before April 15th.

Edge to Cavere, if she shows up for the fight.

Steve Levy Scrutinized By Conservatives: Voting Record Riddled With Liberal Stands

Courtesy of the New York State Conservative Party, this is Steve Levy's voting record in the Assembly from 2001-2003.

In 2001, Assemblyman Levy voted for:

1) A 2834 -- Provided an opportunity for members of the NYC Teachers’ retirement system to receive retirement service credit for time they were laid off during the fiscal crisis. 

2) A 6615 – Increases the time (from one year to two years) an employee is entitled to be on leave of absence for disability resulting from occupational injury or disease. 

3) A 4395 – This bill related to payments to health care providers for services rendered to a person injured as a result of operating a motor vehicle in an intoxicated condition.  (helps eliminate personal responsibility)

4) A 9371 – Appropriated $11 million from the general fund for services and expenses related to the Environmental Quality Bond Act of 1986.

5) A 9458 – Final Budget Bill made appropriations to the state for increased spending.

6) S 9459 – Relates to issues deemed necessary for the state (allowed for casino gambling, video lottery terminals and various other gambling initiatives to support government spending).

7) A 5416 – Voted for comparable worth.

8) A 1971 – Voted for SONDA,

9) A2003 – Voted for a bill that would allow for selective abortions.

10) A 2214 – Voted for all hospitals to dispense emergency contraception in emergency rooms.

11) A 228 – Voted to further restrict smoking in restaurants.  (Nanny State Government regulation)

In 2002, Assemblyman Levy voted for:

1) S 6084 – Voted for enhancements in HCRA (Health Care Reform Act of 2000)

2) S 6617 – Voted for the “bailout” of the Roosevelt Union Free School

3) A 8524 – Voted for public financing of campaigns.

4)  A 9943 – Voted for non-citizens immigrants to become  permanently certified teachers

5) A 9029 – Voted to permit members of public retirement systems to receive service credit for leaves of absence for childcare. 

6) A 9750 and A 9755 – Voted for Budget bills that were inflationary, contained member items and tax money used for abortions.

7) A 11805 – Voted to increase the minimum wage.

8) A 1971 – Voted for SONDA.

9) A 30001 – Voted for provision of coverage by health insurers of certain women’s health care costs (without regard for religious employers) and was a costly mandate on private industry.

10) A 11723 – Voted for the final version of the Woman’s Health Care bill that did not include a true conscience clause.

11) A 228 Voted for further restrictions on smoking in restaurants and A 7199 the Obesity Prevention Act.  Both bills support government intrusion in personal lives.

In 2003, Assemblyman Levy voted for:

1) The largest increase in government spending.  We used six budget bills.  The Omnibus Budget Bill included the largest tax increase in the history of the state, increased spending, relied on fiscal gimmicks, and led to a projected shortfall of $13 billion of the next two years (increased the state sales tax and personal income tax).

Assemblyman Levy was part of the Assembly leadership that voted to override the Governor’s line item vetoes. 

2) A 9020 – Voted to create a NYC transit authority safety advisory panel with the express purpose of keeping open token booths open after they were slated to close as a cost saving measure.

3) A 9117 – Voted to create the Buffalo fiscal authority to bailout the mismanagement of Buffalo

4) A 3998 – Voted for comparable worth

5) A 5936 – Voted for allowing private citizens broad authorization to commence civil judicial actions under certain titles of the environmental conservation law. 

6) A 6249 – Voted to enact the reproductive cloning prohibition and research protection act.  (While stating “cloning prohibition” the actual language of the bill did not rule it out).

7) RR 31 – Voted to allow tax dollars to be used for abortions.

Paladino Parodies The Republican Titanic: Ed Cox And Steve Levy, A Love Story

Someone on Carl Paladino's campaign is staying up too late having a BIT too much fun.

Gothamist reported on the Cox-Levy love story, due out at a polling place near you in November if Republicans aren't careful.

"The New York Republicans and a dearth of leadership present an insiders deal production of an Ed Cox film: 'Titanic.' Produced by short sighted dealmakers with music by Sheldon Silver and the Upper East Side Manhattan Choir. Not near enough Republican Chairmen will back Levy to nominate him for Governor - and he'll be a Democrat through the entire campaign. Icebergs by the TEA PARTY. R-Restricted. You definitely don't want to vote for this."

This is almost as bad as the good ol' days when Al D'Amato stood behind George Pataki like he was Charlie McCarthy.

The New York Daily News reported that the creative missive comes courtesy of Paladino campaign manager Michael Caputo -- who learned his craft from the ever-outrageous Roger Stone.

Paladino's website "Paladino For The People" has a populist feel to it -- almost noir with a retro-deco touch.

The gloves and the socks (and probably the stockings) will be off before this race is done.

Republican Chairman Takes Fight To Conservative Chairman: Four-Way Race For Governor?

I saw Mike Long say hello to Ed Cox at the Monday Night Meeting and they appeared cordial with each other.

Despite endorsing different candidates for New York State Governor, Page Six of the New York Post reported the two state chairmen being civil.

A four-way face for governor is not civil.

Methinks Cox and Long have taken the gloves off (Daily Politics).

Liz Benjamin reported that Chairman Cox had no kind words for Chairman Long.

"...The leader of the Conservative Party rammed it through with the proxies in his hand and, as a result, and then went out campaigning with Mr. Lazio around the state. He obviously wanted to support Rick, and that’s what he did - to the consternation of a lot of other very good members of the Conservative Party who knew Steve Levy very well."

Highly placed Republican leaders close to the Nassau County GOP leadership learned that Rick Lazio missed a Republican fundraiser by County GOP chairman Joe Mondello that had drawn 1,700 people.  The previous week Lazio showed up in Eastchester -- but failed to notify former Republican State Chairman Tony Colavita he was in town (everyone else was given less than 24 hours notice).

Sounds like Lazio should be out of this race.

Conservatives made a mistake.

Sources within the State Conservative Party shared extensive details on Steve Levy's voting record as a State Assemblyman.

Levy doesn't belong on the Republican line.

Republicans made a mistake.

Andrew Cuomo continues to talk pension reform.

Maybe the State GOP doesn't want to win this race?  Maybe this is just another cycle of a voter suppression by State Senate Republican strategists who want to win by subtraction?  Republican fear and loathing strikes again?

Explanation: Voter suppression strategies rely on less-than-competitive top-of-the-ticket races to ensure that presumed strongholds by Democrats don't overcome Republicans.

Translation: A weak candidate against Cuomo ensures a lower voter turnout by Democrats.

I don't buy it.  It's a scared strategy and doesn't work in the current tea party environment.  People are coming out to vote in 2010 against tax-and-spend liberal policies.

Enter Carl Paladino, who spoke in Rockland County with Anthony Mele and Frank Sparaco at a Rally for America gathering.

Albany's Insanity had the videotape.

In person, Paladino masters a friendly confrontational manner that should give "business as usual" Republicans nightmares.  He's a couch potato with an attitude.  New Yorkers will like him.

Yes ... he managed to go after Sheldon Silver, Andrew Cuomo and Ed Cox with a smile Friday night.  It was almost standup comedy.  Rockland County Republican Chairman Vincent Reda, who is also State Republican Vice Chairman was in attendance.

After Paladino finished his speech, Reda and Paladino had words over the "open process" that chose Steve Levy.  There was a lot of fingerpointing by Paladino, who made certain his point wasn't missed.  Reda was civil but found himself verbally challenged by one tea party member who wanted an explanation why the door is not open to other candidates.  It was a difficult moment for Reda, who quickly left after his conversation with Paladino.

Paladino also had a warning/prediction about Ed Cox, who he said wouldn't be chairman for very long if Republicans continued to bypass his candidacy.

Buffalo News columnist Bob McCarthy outlined how State Republican leaders have thrown the dice on Levy.

"Cox and even those on the fence express disappointment over Lazio’s failure to generate any real enthusiasm or cash, opening the doors for Levy and Buffalo developer Carl Paladino — an enrolled Republican who can find his own way onto the primary ballot. Levy, meanwhile, must persuade the majority of state committee members in order to run as a Republican."

Meanwhile, Gothamist reported that Team Paladino had a little fun with the Cox-Levy romance.

Monday Morning With The Chairman: Republicans Ready For Busy Election Cycle

Will be on WVOX (1460 AM) this morning with Tony Colavita from 9-10 pm.

Catch us at http://www.wvox.com.  Please call in at (914) 636-0110.

The former New York State Republican Party Chairman will be talking about local, county, state and national politics.

Expect there to be a good conversation on the State Senate, particularly about his son Tony Colavita's possible run against Democrat Jeff Klein in the 34th State Senate District.  If it is going to happen, we will likely hear it on WVOX first (or here at News Copy).

Meanwhile, New York Republicans appear poised to run highly aggressive candidates up and down the shores of the Hudson Valley.

The Wall Street Journal's Market Watch blog had this analysis of Republicans taking back as many as 25-47 House seats.

News Copy's team met with Carl Paladino this Friday at a Rally for America Tea Party meeting.

Impressive fellow.  Think coach potato with a brain and a voice, whose average Joe persona can only go over well with voters in a year when they are showing politicians the door.

Paladino is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

Rockland Chairman Vincent Reda was in attendance, apparently reporting back to State GOP Chairman Ed Cox.  Paladino had a few things to say about Cox that could cause some pushback.  However, he aimed his fire well at Andrew Cuomo and Sheldon Silver.

We have video of the event.

 

Monday Morning With The Chairman: Republicans Ready For Busy Election Cycle

Will be on WVOX (1460 AM) this morning with Tony Colavita from 9-10 pm.

Catch us at http://www.wvox.com.  Please call in at (914) 636-0110.

President Barack Obama's Job Approval Continues To Drop: 47.5% From 61.5% Year Ago

Dan Senor Out, Malpass Has $1 Million: DioGuardi On Track To Secure Nod Against Gillibrand

With Dan Senor out of the race, former Congressman Joe DioGuardi could have an open road to secure all three lines by June to challenge U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

David Malpass has upped the stakes, donating $1 million of his own money to his race.  DioGuardi has only $100,000 on hand -- but few doubt the Bronx-born CPA's ability to raise money.

Former Nassau County lawmaker Bruce Blakeman is still in the race but sources within the Conservative Party insist that he been put up to run by former U.S. Senator Al D'Amato to help Gillibrand.

DioGuardi is focusing on barnstorming the state to secure so far nearly 20 endorsements from county committees around New York.  DioGuardi is New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long's pick to run for U.S. Senate against Gillibrand.  He is also by every indication going to be the Independence Party's candidate -- and Senor's departure removes what had been the last obstacle to courting the State GOP.

No sooner had Senor exited the race, Politics on the Hudson reported that Malpass had put $1 million of his own money into his race.

Painted as a D.C. insider, Dan Senor had been expected to challenge Gillibrand.  The rabid word of mouth out of D.C. for Senor had started to make DioGuardi look more like an outside than a former House member.

The outsider tag probably helps DioGuardi in this election.

The Daily Politics reported that Senor's campaign was supposed to announce this week.

Business Week reported Malpass formally announcing just as Senor departed.

DioGuardi expects a challenge to Gillibrand will require as much as $10 million.  With Senor out, the Republican nomination won't be as costly -- but any September primary would delay DioGuardi, Malpass or Blakeman drawing national money for the November contest.

DioGuardi has already secured the endorsement of his home county, Westchester, and Conservatives in that suburb of New York City are supporting him.  Republican candidates don't win statewide without Westchester in tow.

Healthcare Hangover: New York Times Declares Republicans And Tea Party The Bad Guys

Now that President Barack Obama's poll numbers are flushing farther downward following the procedural passage of the health care bill and him signing it into law, the media elite has again declared Republicans the bad guys.

Republicans, Conservatives and Tea Party members alike have been branded the prodigals.

The worst missive comes from New York Times columnist Bob Herbert, who characterized the Tea Party and GOP as having An Absence of Class.

"We can’t allow ourselves to remain silent as foaming-at-the-mouth protesters scream the vilest of epithets at members of Congress — epithets that The Times will not allow me to repeat here.

It is 2010, which means it is way past time for decent Americans to rise up against this kind of garbage, to fight it aggressively wherever it appears. And it is time for every American of good will to hold the Republican Party accountable for its role in tolerating, shielding and encouraging foul, mean-spirited and bigoted behavior in its ranks and among its strongest supporters."

Hardly the reality, this is coming from The Times -- and so it is liberal gospel this week.

Politics Daily had the reverse image of the tea party movement.

"Tea Party candidates -- if they were to jump into congressional races -- would draw enough support from Republicans to tip the balance to Democrats, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted March 16-21."

So The New York Times continues to be out of touch with America.  The poll numbers on Congress, President Obama and tea party enthusiasm prove it.

But the pulpit of the likes of Adam Nagourney continues to ravage Republicans.

"... There are elements of the bill, particularly in regulating insurers, that could well prove broadly popular, and it could be years before anyone knows whether the legislation will have big effects on health care quality and the nation’s fiscal condition. Indeed, most Americans with insurance are unlikely to see any immediate change in their coverage, and several Republicans warned that the party could pay a price for that."

It won't be 2014 before anyone notices what the control-freak legislation has done to insurance.

In the meantime, our taxes are going up.

The head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, offered a similar argument. “When this bill goes into effect, and none of the things Republicans warned about begin to happen — none of the death panels, none of the government takeover, none of the socialism — Republicans will have no credibility,” Mr. Menendez said.

The New York Times onslaught this week had a series of articles and editorials bathing themselves in a liberal flourish.

They even used the word in a headline:  Obama Signs Healthcare Overhaul Bill, With a Flourish

Overhaul ... rhetorical spin by reporters designed to make Democrats look like reformers.

Flourish ... As if the experience should be associated with some joyous jump to the finish line.

How about, The Democrats Cheated.

White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley Assault Charges Thicken: Democrats And Republicans Tested On Domestic Violence Claims

A man is innocent until proven guilt but White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley appears to be in a lot of trouble for domestic violence charges.

The Journal News in Westchester reported on new details surrounding assault charges against the former New York State Assemblyman by his wife Fumiko.

Several e-mails mention a questionable relationship between the mayor and the family's au pair. In one instance, Bradley tells his wife he was going to shower with the au pair and opens the door while she is showering, according to the e-mails. Soon after, Bradley and the au pair are watching television on the same bed together, and Bradley told his wife to "stay away."

I had the opportunity to meet Fumiko a handful of times this past year during the campaign of Republican Bob Hyland against Democrat County Legislator Bill Ryan.

My own impression of this situation can be supported by a dozen others.  Looking back, I know realize that she seemed like a scared woman who was subtly reaching out for help, amazingly friendly to Republicans at times when something just didn't seem right.

Fumiko Bradley stated in the e-mails: "I know you did this to all of your ex. I know you made it look like their issues. I know this makes your stress go away. This is your fun game. I do not want to be one of them. So I gave up. Our relationship is too toxic for me. Not honest at all. I want to get my life back!"

She also wrote that Bradley has characterized her as a mean and angry person to his family, City Hall workers and others in the public, though she reiterates that she is fearful in the marriage and doesn't want him to hurt her.

We all knew the stories about Adam Bradley's alleged domestic violence with his first wife, his alleged drug use and what at first glance has always seemed like a power-hungry approach to everyone -- in BOTH parties.

Something did not seem right about the Bradley campaign, the ruthless cross-endorsements by Republicans and Conservatives, the seemingly blind eye turned by certain leaders and officials.

Democrats should be ashamed of themselves but so should some Republican leaders who looked the other way when this mother of a child was in trouble.  Repeat: Republicans endorsed Adam Bradley last year. 

As News Copy as reported extensively on for over five years, Albany is ridden with this kind of domestic violence and sexual violence against women.

When are the women in the Democratic Party going to speak up?

But this wretched kind of secrecy has been going on for decades in chauvenistic political circles.

I personally believe these years politicos hiding their domestic violence is one of the reasons the late Carl Vergari as Westchester County District Attorney initiated planning for the formation of a domestic violence bureau in the 1970s and 1980s.  It culminated in the work of Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro to expand the scope of that bureau to include sex crimes.

... And now Adam Bradley is working the system to escape scrutiny, playing a game of denial.

The Journal News had done extended coverage on domestic violence in light of the charges against Bradley on February 28:

Recent Cases Show Women Still Protecting Their Abusers

Former State Senator Hiram Monserrate, Governor David Paterson's aide David Johnson, Sheldon Silver's former aide Michael Boxley ...

... Are the powers-that-be in New York State waiting for a woman to be murdered before they realize that the laws protecting women need to be given some teeth?

Meanwhile, Adam Bradley and his allies in both parties continue to walk around like cocks of the walk.

Male chauvenist pigs who need a reality check on their world view, if the charges against Mr. Bradley are true.  It doesn't matter how much judicial/legal, monetary or political power Bradley, Inc. wants to wield in White Plains.

The voters will decide when the next election for mayor comes around.  This is beyond partisan battles, by the way, though few Democrats are admitting Bradley may have a problem.

Assault Case Blurs Bradley's Future

"This will play out in the long-run rather than the short-run," said Liz Shollenberger, the city's Democratic Party chairwoman. "I think that being someone who's been known in the community for decades can only help him."

Not everyone is as forgiving. County Legislator William Ryan, D-White Plains, said Bradley should seriously weigh stepping down.

"The jobs are hard enough to do. You can't afford to have any major distractions in your life and hope to be successful," said Ryan, who has considered a run for mayor in the past. "Beyond tough, I don't think it's possible to do."

If former Westchester County Board Chairman Bill Ryan is smelling the coffee, this should be a wake up call for fellow Democrats.

"I've known Adam for many, many years — of great character, wonderful family person," Common Councilman Dennis Power said. "We're hoping these matters can be brought to some type of a positive conclusion."

White Plains Republican Party Chairman Brian Maloney, who cross-endorsed Bradley last year, defended Bradley when anonymous online critics pronounced the Democrat guilty without a fair trial.

"They're not engaged in fair politics," Maloney said. "They're engaged in gutter politics to destroy a man and his family."

White Plains would be one of the few places in Westchester where Rob Astorino would not get a majority of the vote in the county executive's race.

Now Maloney and the GOP have a chance to regain control of White Plains.

New York Tea Parties Discussing Petition Efforts: Carl Paladino Pledges To Beat "Prince Andrew"

Something's brewing among New York's tea party organizations.   A "Draft Carl Paladino for Governor" effort is being talked about by activists around the state.

For those who missed Carl Paladino's first campaign video, a new variation has the Buffalo millionaire pledging to form a petition to get him on the ballot.  Tea party members sound divided on backing a major party candidate (they're still jaded from Scott Brown's vote on the job's bill).  However, there is a sense that they would back an independent without much difficulty -- possibly to form their own party.

Elizabeth Benjamin of the New York Daily News blog Daily Politics had other details and the You-Tube video.

John Faso's New Yorkers For Growth had been the first to use the "Prince Andrew" phrase, as has Rick Lazio, and it seems to be catching on.

News Copy is learning directly from Tea Party organizers throughout Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester counties that Carl Paladino is circulating aggressively around New York State.

It's not implausible that Paladino -- through tea party enthusiasm alone -- can get on the ballot.  Factor in $10 million on hand, variations of Doug Hoffman's ground team now helping him and a little help from Mr. Golisano (and perhaps the Independence Party) and the "mad as hell" businessman from Western New York appears poised to become the biggest political game changer in history of the Empire State..

Nita Lowey's Congressional Challengers Lining Up: New York's 18th In Play For Republicans?

The White Plains Tea Party covering much of Westchester County in suburban New York held a candidates forum for candidates in the 18th Congressional District.

Three Republicans were there but 11-term incumbent Nita Lowey didn't show up.

Taking questions from tea party members were Republicans Jim Russell from Mount Pleasant, Paul Wasserman from Ossining and Mark Rosen from Mamaroneck.

"We don't need Nita Lowey anymore," said Paul Wasserman. "It turns out that taxation with representation is not any better than taxation without representation."

Only three days after the House of Representatives passed the health care bill, one irony is that they didn't talk much at all about health care.

But the skepticism about Congress was in the air.

"They don't get it.  They're career politicians," said Mark Rosen. "Nita Lowey's been there 22 years.  It's time to retire Congress."

Most of the answers from all three questions were safe -- and the answers played to the audience of tea party members.

"A group of five or ten people can make a big difference across the county," said Jim Russell. "Together we can retire Nita Lowey."

Self-described as a fiscal conservative, Rosen roused the audience with this response on education.

"We need to privatize our secondary education system," noted Rosen. "It's called competition.  It gets rid of the bad teachers. It rewards the good teachers."

Up to that point all three candidates had portrayed themselves as fiscal conservatives, dancing away from social issues.  They also openly agreed with each other a bit too often for this observer's taste.

On abortion, the three began to disagree.

Previously viewed as a social conservative, Russell supported abortion rights in the first trimester.

Wasserman also described abortion as a choice and supported abortion rights, though gave no specifics on exceptions or time frame.

Rosen called himself pro-choice and pro-life, backing all the exceptions supported by the pro-life movement -- including a firm stance against partial birth abortion.

Finally, on the prospect of a primary or a third party candidacy -- all three candidates didn't seem to answer the question.

After being re-questioned, only Jim Russell hedged on whether he would primary the GOP's choice or run as a third party candidate.

Wasserman was slow and cautious to agree that all three candidates needed to pull together behind one challenger to Nita Lowey.

Only Rosen was direct in supporting his party's nominee.

"I will get behind the GOP candidate," said Rosen.  He added that a divisive third-party candidacy would hand the election to Nita Lowey

First Impressions

Jim Russell

Russell's the maverick.  That works good with Tea Party regulars - but his right-wing have never worked in the liberal to moderate sections of this district.  Perhaps his Ron Paul approach to the issues will do better in 2010.  The audience took to Russell's intellectual bantor and fiscal conservative sense.

He has never resonated as a candidate against Nita Lowey but had the guts to run when few would show up for the fight (he also as found himself in a few divisive primaries).  Russell knows the grass-roots on the issues in Westchester.

Paul Wasserman

Wasserman held his ground as a fiscal conservative.  The Ossining native shouldn't be taken for granted -- but he had no break out moment at this gathering.

Wasserman has a sense of humor, a candor that could come in handy as he meets voters.  Wasserman has also stepped out of the gate by reaching out to local party and district leaders,  What he lacks in media presence, he makes up for in personable networking.

Mark Rosen

Rosen wasn't afraid to call himself a libertarian.  He also wasn't afraid to say take a tough stand on education reform. 

Rosen also had a determined edge at moments but some Tea Party activists were expecting more. 

Already establishing media presence with the same consultants used last year by Rob Astorino, this fiscal conservative appears poised to put forth a far more substantive campaign than the other two candidates.

Money, Money, Money

Nita Lowey had nearly a million dollars on hand at the start of 2010.  One of these three candidates will need to raise nearly double that amount to win back thre 18th.  It's as hard a financial and demographic climb as any Congressional seat in the nation.

All three candidates came across as strong fiscal conservatives, so expect one of them to sharpen their pencil against Lowey.  Ideally, that should mean a flow of money from the New York City financial services industry to the Republican candidate -- particularly since much of that business sector lives in Westchester.  The problem is that skepticism about Wall Street and the Federal Reserve will be an issue in the 18th -- something pointed out throughout the forum (and about Lowey).

Start raising money, gentlemen.

New York Republicans Missing Opportunity: Will GOP Snub Tea Party Candidates?

Erie County's Carl Paladino with $10 million of his own money and the backing of Tom Golisano should have been courted by Republicans the moment Erie County Executive Chris Collins dropped out of the race for New York State Governor.

But they chose Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy instead.  The Democrat-turned-Republican from Long Island is not a bad choice.  Is he the best choice?

In Rockland County, there is a businessman named Tony Mele who wants to run for Congress in the 17th.   Mele was born in the Bronx and he is ready-made to compete in a Congressional District that stretches from his home county to his old neighborhood.  Mele has tea party roots that have already impressed volunteers in Rockland and neighoring Westchester.

Mele is a veteran.  He is Hispanic.  He is articulate and a self-starter whose resolve won't be denied this year.

Mele wants to challenge Bronx/Virginia Congressman Eliot Engel -- who reportedly lobbied to gerrymander the 17th to stretch ridiculously into Rockland to avoid primary challenges by Bronx Latinos,

Like Paladino, Mele seems a natural as a candidate.

GOP leaders are so far giving no ear or seriousness to either gentleman.

Welcome to New York.

The Rockland GOP's choice for the 17th is a man named York.  And that's all anyone is told.  He has a last name, Kleinhandler, but he is neither formally declared nor does the news media have any idea this man is running.  The story is that Kleinhandler has money, a million or more, yet he needs to raise $12,000 for a poll?

The story is also told that Conservatives have already chosen York -- yet Bronx Conservative Chairman Bill Newmark had not heard of the Rockland candidate yesterday.  Conservatives have not met to choose a candidate nor apparently have Independence Party leaders.

So what is going on here?

It's not fair to Mr. Kleinhandler to be treated so "under the radar" that his own chances of beating Engel are diminished.  It's not fair to the Rockland Republicans or other candidates running in Rockland, particularly in the 18th and 19th Congressional Districts.  It is also unfair to the esteemed State Senator Thomas P. Morahan from Rockland, who Democrats are crudely circling like vultures. 

What happens if Morahan does sadly retire, due to illness, as has been openly discussed?  Where does this leave the Republicans in the State Senate, that a popular tea party candidate is snubbed in Rockland and the Bronx?

Republicans need to learn from tea party members.  The GOP needs to empower them, listen to the people and quit the closed-door nonsense.

Where will this leave Republicans in the 34th State Senate District, a district that overlaps Engel's district in the Bronx, where Eastchester Town Supervisor Tony Colavita could be challenging State Senator Jeff Klein?

It is certain that Republicans and Conservatives in the Bronx can benefit from a Bronx-raised Hispanic running this year.  It is as certain that the tea party movement does resonate with the residential areas of the Northern Bronx.  Mele's candidacy makes sense in the Bronx -- and he made sense in Ramapo in 2007 when he drew nearly 11,000 votes as a town supervisor candidate.

But Mele so far is being shown the door ... though, to be fair, it may take Republican leaders time to get used to the tea party movement.  The problem is that tea party activism and partisan control don't meld well.

What if this pattern is being repeated throughout New York State?

What about Erie County and Western New York and the Golisano's reach into the Independence Party and the Tea Party movement and Conservatives -- all needed for the State GOP to have a successful slate of candidates throughout New York State?

Mr. Paladino should be heeded as much as Mr. Mele.

Republicans will be missing a once-in-a-century opportunity if they continue to disregard and pass over Tea Party and non-partisan candidates.

This is not to fault Steve Levy or his supporters.  They mean well and have clout among Conservatives (the jury is still out whether he has measurable support among Tea Party members).

This is not to fault State GOP Chairman Ed Cox, who I personally believe is a reformer. Cox is one of the most well-intendedparty leaders New York has seen in a generation.  I also won't fault Rockland Republican County Leader Vincent Reda.  Reda is a gentleman who has courted success for years in Rockland.  His judgment on the 17th and Steve Levy should also be heeded.  Reda is joined by Bronx leaders supporting Steve Levy because they are rightfully fed up with Rick Lazio's business-as-usual Republican campaign.

For that acknowledgment that something is broken, Vincent Reda and Ed Cox should be applauded for standing up to the old establishment.  They got it right.

So why didn't they give Carl Paladino or Tony Mele the same consideration, when tea parties across the state continue to grow at a rapid rate?

Something's happening out there.

Reagan would have been smiling.

Why aren't Republican leaders?

Paladino To Attorney General Cuomo: Take Legal Action To Stop Health Care Legislation

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino didn't wait for the ink to dry on the health care bill in Congress.

The Buffalo millionaire is calling on New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to legally challenge Obamacare.

"Sadly, the political elite in Albany don't have the courage to stand up to Washington on this vital Constitutional issue," Paladino said. "One of my first acts as Governor will be to work closely with the New York Attorney General to examine the issues and file or join appropriate litigation to stop Obamacare in its tracks."

Rick Lazio had a similiar response to the healthcare passage:

 "Andrew Cuomo's continued silence on this issue speaks volumes and is an act of policy cowardice. He will do anything and say nothing to escape having to defend New York when it's in his political interest to do so. Tonight, I call on him to stand shoulder to shoulder with the other Attorneys General of this country and immediately challenge the constitutionality of this legislation."

No statement yet by Steve Levy.

At least Lazio knew what to say last night.

No word yet from George Marlin.

Paladino's at least has shown up for the fight

Lazio is pledging to remain on Row D as the Conservative Party candidate through November.

Why do I have a suspicion Paladino will be on Row C as the Independence Party candidate?

Four way race for governor?

Time for a Tea Party.

Listen to Lazio and Levy on Larry Kudlow last weekend.

Vox Populi On WVOX In New York: Monday Morning With The Chairman

News Copy will share the airwaves Monday morning from 9-10 with former State GOP Chairman Tony Colavita on WVOX (1460 AM) -- webcast on http://www.wvox.com.

Bob Fois will join Tony Colavita as a guest on his call-in radio program.  Please call in at (914) 636-0110.

We will be discussing everything from last night's health care vote to New York State's growing gubernatorial field of candidates.

We also hope to discuss some local politics, including Westchester County and many new candidates jumping into State Senate and Congressional races throughout the Hudson Valley.

WVOX is based in New Rochelle, New York.

Vox Populi!!!

New York Congressional Delegation Passes Buck: Democrats "Slaughter" Themselves

John Hall voted for it, explaining his decision in a statement published in The Poughkeepsie Journal.

That's one less House seat the Democrats can claim in New York.

Barack Obama only won the 19th Congressional 52-48.  Hall's toast.

Democrats have also passed the reconciliation act on the Senate bill, 220-211.

The Poughkeepsie Journal also reported on how other local Hudson Valley lawmakers voted.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey from Westchester and Rockland embraced the madness:

"... It's clear this bill would protect people from the worst abuses of the insurance industry, rein in skyrocketing premiums, and protect Medicare for seniors," Lowey said in a statement Friday. "The New York delegation also successfully changed the bill to ensure our fair share of Medicaid funds, reducing burdens on local taxpayers."

Obama won Lowey's seat in the 18th, 63-37.

Michael Arcuri and Michael E. McMahon of New York were the lone New York Democrats who voted against the legislation.

Scott Murphy voted for the health care bill.

The New York Daily News noted that Murphy spent a long time hiding on the fence.

Murphy in the 20th, Bishop in the 1st.

McMahon in the 13th voted on reconciliation, so he split his vote -- burning both sides.

Elliot Engel in the 17th made no friends in Rockland and portions of his home base in the Bronx.

Democrats jumped like lemmings.

 

Health Care Debate Staging Ground For Midterm Elections: Democrats Walk Off Cliff

Congressman John Boehner  Declares "Hell No" ...

The Washington Post mused on the ramifications for Democrats in November's elections.

Former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean has often been at odds with the White House over the health-care bill, but he said the current version is worthy of support as a significant first step toward real reform and because it could help Democrats politically. "Our team's got to win this one, and if they do I think they'll be rewarded. . . . A 'yes' vote hurts Democrats much less as a party than a 'no' vote," he said.

But former Republican House speaker Newt Gingrich said Obama and the Democrats will regret their decision to push for comprehensive reform. Calling the bill "the most radical social experiment . . . in modern times," Gingrich said: "They will have destroyed their party much as Lyndon Johnson shattered the Democratic Party for 40 years" with the enactment of civil rights legislation in the 1960s.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is calling for a repeal.

A repeal.

Hot Air has an open thread on the passage of the health care bill.

Newsbusters reported syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer said "We're going to be a different country."

He added that insurance companies are now "utilities" -- and that there is no turning back.

Nationalized healthcare.

The government now makes all the decisions.

Gateway Pundit reported that Democrats applauded Stupak -- and that the Democrats denied a motion on reading the abortion amendment ...

National Review reported Joe Wilson calling this "a sad night."

He says "he's never seen such deal making" in his entire career. "Tonight is 'big-government night,'" he sighs, making his way onto the floor. "But I have faith in the American people, that we can pull this back. Right now though, it's just stunning to watch."

Michelle Malkin called Stupak a liar.

“This deal to pass the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade is a tragedy for America. We believe that Mr. Stupak’s choice to succumb to the intense pressure of the last week has resulted in his endorsement of a charade that does not even begin to address the anti-life provisions in this legislation. The American people do not support taxpayer funding of abortion and Speaker Pelosi and the President have undermined representative democracy by working to pass this legislation with this unprecedented contortion of the legislative process.”

- Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President & CEO of Americans United for Life Action

Wonder how people will feel in the morning?

Healthcare Bill Passes: House Passes Health Care Bill 219-212

216 votes.

It's over.

Not one Republican voted for it.

34 Democrats voted against it.

The bill passes 219-212.

New York Conservative Party Stands Behind Lazio: State GOP Sharply Rebuffed Over Levy

By a 5-1 margin, the New York State Conservative Party has endorsed Rick Lazio for Governor.

Conservative State Chairman Mike Long has read the riot act to State Republican leaders backing Steve Levy.

"Rick is exactly the person we need in Albany to fight for the people of New York. He's not just calling for change, he's calling for fundamentally changing the very way Albany does business," said Long.

Lazio stated that he is committed " to running on the Conservative line all the way through to election day."

He better.

Wouldn't be the first time a candidate took a party's line and vanished (ie. Andrew Cuomo and the Liberal Party, circa 2002).

Lazio cut deeply into Cuomo.

"Andrew Cuomo is appallingly liberal, a tool of the special interests, and has done nothing to fix Albany in thirty years," said Lazio. "Indeed, he has been a part of the Albany culture his whole life."

The New York Daily News reported that a lengthily and sometimes heated meeting took place in Brooklyn today, some holding out for Steve Levy and others for Carl Palandino.

"When push came to shove, the vote was overwhelmingly for Rick Lazio," said party Chairman Mike Long. "I didn't use the proxies. I didn't have to use them. Those present listened to all the arguments and debate."

"...It took a long time because I gave them all time to speak. Some spoke five or six times. Some of them got a little excited, but I just let it happen."

But the grassroots support for Lazio has not been overwhelming -- and Long's committee has now set a scenario in motion that holds them hostage to Finkelstein, Inc.

Lazio's campaign needs a swift kick in the ass.  Short of shock treatment, Republicans with clout need to shake the cobwebs out of the current Conservative-Republican establishment.

Worse, Conservatives endorsing Lazio so earlier has placed Carl Paladino on the outside looking in.  It potentially alienates a cross-section of voters tired of business as usual by party leaders.

It could actually empower a third party movement behind Carl Paladino, whose ties to Golisano could bring him the Independence Party line.  It also opens the door for George Marlin to run statewide on the Conservative line.

Madness ...

The New York Post reported on Bronx Conservative leader Bill Newmark expressing his own concerns about Lazio's campaign.

"Republcans only win when they polarize...not by race....but by issues," he said.

"There's no enthusiasm (for Lazio) at all," he added. "Nobody wants to get out to work for him. The state senate will remain gone if Lazio's at the top of the ticket."

Bronx County GOP Chairman Jay Savino has been among Republicans leaders supporting Steve Levy.

New York Republicans Fail Again To Find Candidate For Governor: Want To Run For Governor?

Want to run for New York State Govermor?

George Marlin is being mentioned by high-ranking Conservatives.

Carl Paladino has been encouraged by Tom Golisano.

Rick Lazio was supposed to be the candidate.

And now Steve Levy has seemingly been crowned by the State GOP chairman.

I personally experienced the misadventure of Pierre Rinfret's selection in 1990 ('the horror, the horror"), working the New York GOP convention in Rye that year.

"It was said that he was chosen after 19 other potential candidates refused to run, and that his name was chosen almost at random, from some politico's rolodex."

Rinfret's nomination was presented to the public in a side lobby of the hotel, almost as if the Republicans wanted to get it over before anyone objected (or Rinfret escaped the building).

With State Republican Chairman Ed Cox now declaring Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy his candidate, Republicans throughout New York must be feeling as if their own leadership has left them behind.

Levy was a Democrat until a few days ago.  Though touted by a cross-section of Conservatives in Suffolk County, New York State Conservative Chairman Mike Long -- who has been supporting Rick Lazio -- told Daily Politics that he isn't part of this cabal:

"I believe it's insulting to me what Steve is doing - whether it's his idea of Ed Cox's - by trying to intimidate us to back off," Long said. "I initially wanted to work closely with Ed Cox. Apparently, while we were supposed to be working closely, he was out busy recruiting Steve Levy to run for governor."

Rick Lazio needs to fire Arthur Finkelstein.  If Lazio doesn't understand why, he shouldn't be running for governor.

I attended a wonderful gathering for Lazio in Eastchester, home of former State Republican Chairman Tony Colavita, but we all only had less than a day's notice from the Lazio campaign.  That's the mark of a poorly run campaign -- and is it any wonder than the State GOP chairman is searching for another candidate?

Maybe if the State GOP was spending less time talking to a Democrat, a Republican could be found to run against Andrew Cuomo.

Dan Collins of The Huffington Post called it pathetic.

"There haven't been any statewide Republican stars since George Pataki. And if George Pataki is your idea of a star ... A I said, it's pathetic.  Michael Bloomberg was/is a phony Republican. Rudy Giuliani was one for the first and better half of his political career. Mort Zuckerman, the Daily News publisher, was one for the three minutes that he contemplated running for the Senate."

Is it a repeat of 1990, where no one wants to run?  Or does this have more to do with New York State Republican Committee opting not to talk to certain candidates over others?

There are plenty of quality candidates to choose from; mayors of large and mid-sized cities, county executives, state senators, town supervisors and even a few effective members of the assembly who have the gravitas to propel a statewide ticket.

I'm not sure if Ed Cox is overwhelmed (a lot of well-intended leaders have found themselves inundated with new candidates this year), misguided or just unwilling (or unable) to make such a powerful decision as a leader.

But Mike Long has made the same mistakes, particularly with Pataki, and a treacherous number of Republican and Conservative county leaders have ruined a laundry list of multi-county legislative races for 20 years now.

Fred Dicker of the New York Post noted the irony.

Who would have thought the looming GOP primary would make Democrats in general, and Andrew "I'm still not ready to announce yet" Cuomo in particular, seem like old hat and a bore?

Gabe Pressman of NBC called it Machiavellian.

"Levy had choreographed his departure from the Democratic party efficiently. A succession of Republican county chairmen, quickly fell in line. He was endorsed by John Jay Lavalle of Suffolk County. Queens GOP chair Phil Ragusa. who had endorsed Lazio in January, switched to Levy. And so did the Bronx Republican leader, Jay Savino."

Pressman is reporting that Levy is also supported by John Faso, who ran for governor four years ago.

But why would Faso facilitate a rush to a Democrat, undoubtedly undermining his own fundraising prowess for Republicans?

I somehow doubt Faso is behind Levy, though it sadly smatters of the internal party divisiveness that plagued Jim Tedisco's run -- where the failure of rejected 20th C.D. aspirants Betty Little and Faso to support the upstate Assemblyman affected the outcome.  

Levy boasts of $4 million. Lazio had nearly $2 million on hand but Lazio now has $637,000.

Fox News called him a "new" Republican:

On social issues, Levy says he is pro-choice but is against partial birth abortion and on the topic of gay rights that he is in favor of civil unions but marriage should be between a man and a woman.  When asked about the healthcare bill, Levy said this is “not the right bill.”

Tea Party leaders met with Levy last week.  Some walked out.  Others expressed disappointment over his dodging of issues.  His failure to articulate support of Second Amendment rights also will doom him with Conservatives statewide and most of upstate New York north of White Plains.

Levy appeared finished on arrival last week.  Why is Cox risking the integrity of his leadership by floating a Republican in name only whose signature on the registration is still drying?

Enter Carl Paladino in Buffalo, who has $10 million dollars ready for a run and the backing of former Independence Party leader Tom Golisano.

Paladino could be announcing in less than two weeks.

Conservatives are meeting in Brooklyn today, debating a long list of statewide, state senate and assembly races.

One name that will be floated by Conservatives is George Marlin, a party member who doesn't need permission to cause trouble as a third party candidate.  Another will be U.S. Senate candidate Joe DioGuardi, a Republican who D.C. powerbrokers would prefer to see pushed out of the Gillibrand race in deference to Dan Senor

The difference between Conservative Chair Mike Long and Cox is that Long has a lifetime of leading (and managing) maverick independent candidates whose credentials seized statewide posts.

Love them now or hate them, Al D'Amato with his run in 1980 and Pataki with his challenge to Mario Cuomo in 1994 paved a path to victory.  Mike Long can also take credit for managing Jim Buckley's third party win as a Conservative in 1970 -- and nearly knocking Republicans in New York down to third party status with Herb London in 1990.

In other words, whatever the Chairman says this afternoon in Brooklyn should be heeded by all sides.

The Buffalo News reported Tom Palandino asking Conservatives to wait. 

 

 This man looks like he is for real.

Digging New York Deeper In Debt: Ravitch Plan A Fiscal Front For Unions?

E.J. McMahon of the Manhattan Institute explained why The Ravitch Plan Won't Save New York.

The Ravitch "Plan" is a scam.  New York's lawmakers can either expose its fiscal folly or perish with this pathetic era in New York State era.

New York is $9 billion short of cash -- a structural/functional deficit that took 35-50 years to accumulate.

Factor in off-budget debt that has piled up through wasteful deficit-driven public corporations like the MTA.

These "borrow as we go" parts of State government are only accountable to appointed boards, reliant on tax dollars to cover any accumulated debt -- yet no referendum or legislative system is in place to slow down that fiscal bleeding.

But just in the "normal" course of a fiscal year, New York would fail as a business.

It's the institutional approach to budgeting, almost worse than annual entitlements, that leave the New York State Legislature acting as if they must continue spending money on services the people of New York obviously cannot afford.  And the unions act as a lobby presuming it must be, that it would be wrong to make State government smaller, as if the tax dollars are guaranteed.

Ravitch is still pitching his plan as if it is the only solution.

The Albany Times Union covered his media tour.  Ravitch is trying to sell "the borrowing" as up-front borrowing:

One of the problems you have is you’ve got all the banks wandering through the halls of the Capitol, selling all the same kind of cockamamie borrowing schemes that got us into trouble in the first place. So at least this borrowing is up front, contains covenants, is done with the best possible credit and it reflects my judgment which—I could be wrong—says, ‘They ain’t gonna cut $10 billion.’ ”

The State Constitution already contains a few covenants of its own -- and part of Ravitch's panic is that New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is about to become a very powerful man.

Think ... Mr. DiNapoli could potentially turn the State Legislature and stop a LOT of spending, overnight, come April 1.

When did all this fiscal madness with the "credit card" style borrowing start?

Robert Caro in his biography of Robert Moses identified 1954 as the point of no return.  Rockefeller-era critics point to the changes in the MTA in late 1960s/early 1970s and New York City's municipal crash in 1976/1977 remains a cautionary benchmark.

McMahon of the Manhattan Institute cautions that New York City's fiscal collapse and borrowing to save the city can't be applied to New York State.

"The city was functionally insolvent after more than a decade of chronic deficit spending concealed by capital borrowing to pay operating expenses. The state government, by contrast, has spent the last two decades veering from huge surpluses to occasional big deficits, patched when necessary with borrowing and temporary revenues. As a result, roughly $10 billion of $60 billion in currently outstanding state-supported debt can be attributed to past deficit borrowings. In short, New Yorkers have gone down this road before, and are paying the price."

Before Mario Cuomo arrived in Albany, New York State was already over the fiscal edge.  Some older (and sometimes wises) political leaders will recall Governor Hugh Carey warning that the "days of wine and roses" were over in the mid-1970s.  By the time Mario Cuomo was done as governor, it was worse.  By the time George Pataki had departed the Executive Chamber, it was not better (and some say worse).

McMahon also noted that Ravitch (and Sheldon Silver) has so far ignored an important part of New York City's recovery -- taming the unions.

"New York City’s fiscal crisis in the 1970s established one key precedent Mr. Ravitch has so far ignored: the power of the state to freeze public-sector wages, notwithstanding contracts, in a fiscal emergency. Instead, Mr. Ravitch’s proposal would give legislative Democrats, led by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a rationale for permanently extending the large temporary personal income tax hike enacted by the state last year. This will suppress the economic growth the state desperately needs to grow its way out of its current problems."

Hence, Sheldon Silver's actual endgame with the Ravitch plan is a deceptive payback to the unions.

It is not too different than the TARP monies aimed for automobile companies that ostensibly would keep union benefits and salaries inflated.

Fred Dicker of The New York Post noted a near-delusional and contrarian attitude about the State budget by New York State Governor Paterson -- as if all was well.

Albany's burning, David.  Is is that Governor Paterson no longer cares -- or is this fatalism designed to prompt enough fiscal chaos to expose the entire corrupt house of cards?

Or is it just stubborn hubris?

Paterson was in Westchester last night.  He had a more direct and transparent approach there.  It was a stark contrast to the illusions being played out on bigger media stages.  Paterson admitted there was less money coming down to Westchester, less available to spend but is he okay with that situation because he expects the State Legislature to desperately approve the borrowing?

Westhester Gannett columnist Phil Reisman is so far still giving the embattled New York governor the benefit of the doubt.

"But things could be worse. The governor took pains to say that almost every state in the union is in worse shape. He listed the number of states that have furloughed public employees, closed schools or started early prison release programs to save money."

On this reasonable point, I must disagree with Reisman.

New York State is yet to acknowledge how bad its fiscal debacle will be ... with problems always put off to another day.

When New York finally adresses its debt, the interest on its off-budget debt, the off-budget debt and the projected debt, borrowing $6 billion to salve what is an estimated $60 billion debt will be viewed as reckless and a dishonest band-aid.

The bill to cover 55 years of openly deceptive accounting practices will likely turn to be the worst municipal fiscal crash -- per capita -- in the history of the United States.

DioGuardi Declares for U.S. Senate In New York: Gillibrand Facing Fiscal Conservative With A Bronx Cheer

Joe DioGuardi declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate today, with the expectation of securing the Conservative and Independence Party lines by May.

Grand Central Terminal hosted DioGuardi's announcement and he had been on Fox and Friends this morning.

DioGuardi also projected he could raised a minimum of $10 million against Kirsten Gillibrand, whose embattled stances with Democrats and Republicans alike has earned her the nickname of "flip-flip" all over New York State.

Reuters and the Associated Press framed this as "Kara's dad" goes to Washington -- but DioGuardi is a former Congressman (1985-1989).

He was the youngest partner in the history of the accounting profession, a Knight of Malta and one of the first (and few) practicing Certified Public Accountants ever elected to Congress.

Bottom line:  DioGuardi's credentials with the New York State Conservative Party are top-notch.

He is also extremely well-liked by Independence Party leaders.  Reliable sources close to the Conservative Party counted 18 endorsements from party chairs or committees.

And the real measurable sense is that State GOP chair Ed Cox also respects DioGuardi -- and for reasons a lot of insiders won't admit openly.

In New York, those who have been betrayed by the prior political establishments remains an exclusive (but growing) club.  Cox and DioGuardi are survivors.  There's an empathy here that D'Amato, Inc. can't diminish.

Finally, DioGuardi never sold out as a D.C. lobbyist, never cashed in as a D.C. insider (Joe's always been the consumate "OUTSIDER") -- and this hyperbolic type-a self-starter can raise money -- along with being a team player for a lot of Republicans around New York State.

DioGuardi's brings a Bronx cheer with an attitude.

Newsday emphasized DioGuardi's finanical acumen.

Most New York news outlets won't take Kara DioGuardi's father seriously until the country sees him a few times on national news shows.  One of the reasons New York State is in such bad shape is that the news media here has an insider's habit of discounting anyone daring to disagree with the establishment.

The Daily News covered Kara but was only due to the first volley of questions being about DioGuardi's daughter.

As would be expected by the liberal New York press, Gawker beat up BOTH DioGuardi and his daughter.

"Kara, one of the most obviously insecure people on television, is a judge on the popular television show American Idol, where she is generally considered an unpleasant usurper whose need for attention constantly distracts from the performances of the actual contestants."

Kara DioGuardi was a Duke University graduate with honors -- successful in the publishing industry with Billboard magazine, highly respected in the music industry as a songwriter and singer (literally one of the key "go to" people in music studios around the world) and already one of the single most recognizable (and beloved) faces in the music business BEFORE she joined American Idol.

New York Magazine called Joe DioGuardi's step into statewide campaign an audition -- but gave him a fair shake.

He's a certified CPA and a government-spending watchdog, and sounded a lot like a die-hard tea partier when he announced his candidacy at Grand Central Station this morning. "Are you ready to take your country back!?!" he shouted. "The new tyranny is Washington and Albany!"

News Copy will have more about the other candidates in this race at a later date, including David Malpass and Dan Senor.

Cuomo Under Fire For Not Investigating Working Families Party: Faso Under Fire For Pointing It Out?

John Faso's New Yorkers for Growth produced the following missive about Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

("Prince Andrew" from New Yorkers for Growth on Vimeo)

Now the Working Families Party wants blood, as in John Faso's blood, and so a vengeful "spin" back at Faso for going after Cuomo has commenced.

The New York Daily News reported that the Working Families Party wants Cuomo to investigate Faso.

Spare us the effluvium.

As for the fingerpointing by both sides, the U.S. Attorney's office is already investigating the Working Families Party -- and, apparently the U.S. Attorney's office would not normally want the Attorney General to conduct a concurrent inquiry.

An investigation of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips over being cc'ed documents on bidding process that would be re-started -- with a client who would withdraw from the process and never submit a bid?

At first glance, this is much ado about nothing -- on both sides -- but at least New Yorkers for Growth has a sense of humor.