Governor Paterson made an impassioned speech to NY State Legislators yesterday, as they gathered for the special session he called to deal with the State's $3.2 billion deficit.
He said he was willing to take the heat for proposing unpopular budget cuts. Paterson emphasized the point by saying that he was willing to "mortgage his political future" over the steps needed to close the deficit.
Someone should tell him that given his current re-election chances, his political future won't qualify for a mortgage.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Arrogance In Washington
The Democrat leadership in the House of Representatives rammed through the health care reform bill last night. They did so despite the fact that a substantial and growing majority of Americans opposed the bill. They just do not care what we "little people" think.
Democrat leadership rushed the vote fearing defections by Democrats who might worry that a vote for this bill could cost them re-election next year. I hope voters have a long enough memory.
It is quite clear that the current Congress and Administration are led by the most left/liberal Democrats who have been in power in America for a long time (perhaps, ever). Nancy Pelosi and her Democrat leadership team, are fearless because they operate from safe districts of like-minded liberals. They are apparently willing to sacrifice some of their less secure members re-election chances on legislation like the health care bill and cap and trade, which will fundamentally change the country, or, at least, fundamentally alter the role and power of government in our every day lives.
While it is clear that Americans are more and more coming to understand the risks, and are increasingly in opposition to these liberal efforts, much of what is being done now may prove difficult or impossible to undo, even if the Democrats are thrown out of power in 2010 and 2012.
The "hope and change" crowd included a lot of people who should have known better. They cast cavalier votes for Obama so they could show that they were post-racial, socially astute people. They jumped on the anti-Bush, anti-GOP bandwagon despite the fact that most of them were both safe and prosperous during the Bush years.
I feel sorry for my kids. The costs of the left/liberal agenda that we have empowered will erode America's prosperity and preeminence. The next few generations will look back and wonder what we were thinking.
Democrat leadership rushed the vote fearing defections by Democrats who might worry that a vote for this bill could cost them re-election next year. I hope voters have a long enough memory.
It is quite clear that the current Congress and Administration are led by the most left/liberal Democrats who have been in power in America for a long time (perhaps, ever). Nancy Pelosi and her Democrat leadership team, are fearless because they operate from safe districts of like-minded liberals. They are apparently willing to sacrifice some of their less secure members re-election chances on legislation like the health care bill and cap and trade, which will fundamentally change the country, or, at least, fundamentally alter the role and power of government in our every day lives.
While it is clear that Americans are more and more coming to understand the risks, and are increasingly in opposition to these liberal efforts, much of what is being done now may prove difficult or impossible to undo, even if the Democrats are thrown out of power in 2010 and 2012.
The "hope and change" crowd included a lot of people who should have known better. They cast cavalier votes for Obama so they could show that they were post-racial, socially astute people. They jumped on the anti-Bush, anti-GOP bandwagon despite the fact that most of them were both safe and prosperous during the Bush years.
I feel sorry for my kids. The costs of the left/liberal agenda that we have empowered will erode America's prosperity and preeminence. The next few generations will look back and wonder what we were thinking.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Election Messages
A review of this morning's newspaper and the local political blogs, reveals that the D&C's Editorial Board and Joe Morelle appear to be unsure about the message sent by voters in yesterday's election. I'd like to help them understand.
Joe: The voters wanted you to know that a campaign consisting of nothing but scandal-mongering is not going to cut it. You need to at least appear to have a plan of action for governing if you want to get elected.
D&C Editorial Board: The voters wanted you to know endorsements ought to amount to more than just cheer leading for folks who share your "progressive" perspective. You really should not use the same criteria (e. g., length of time in office) as a good point for candidates you favor and a disqualifier for those you do not.
Other messages:
To Sue Swanton: Harold Stassen called. He wants you to replace him on Wikipedia as the candidate who defines "political also-ran".
To Mark McIntee: You can't fire the Town Attorney (Actually, that was a message from me, not the voters.)
To the D&C Editorial Board: Get a new Ouija Board. Your endorsements made "Dewey Beats Truman" look prescient.
To President Obama: Please don't spend another trillion dollars. We are paying attention. If you stay on the path you are currently on, Election Day 2010 will make last night look good for Dems.
Joe: The voters wanted you to know that a campaign consisting of nothing but scandal-mongering is not going to cut it. You need to at least appear to have a plan of action for governing if you want to get elected.
D&C Editorial Board: The voters wanted you to know endorsements ought to amount to more than just cheer leading for folks who share your "progressive" perspective. You really should not use the same criteria (e. g., length of time in office) as a good point for candidates you favor and a disqualifier for those you do not.
Other messages:
To Sue Swanton: Harold Stassen called. He wants you to replace him on Wikipedia as the candidate who defines "political also-ran".
To Mark McIntee: You can't fire the Town Attorney (Actually, that was a message from me, not the voters.)
To the D&C Editorial Board: Get a new Ouija Board. Your endorsements made "Dewey Beats Truman" look prescient.
To President Obama: Please don't spend another trillion dollars. We are paying attention. If you stay on the path you are currently on, Election Day 2010 will make last night look good for Dems.
The Esposito Era
Last night's election was the first in over 20 years that did not include Ralph Esposito on the ballot.
As most of you know, Ralph is stepping down at the end of the year, after a fabulous 20 years as Gates Supervisor. The Democrat & Chronicle called him "a legend" and they did not know how right they were. Ralph guided Gates through both good and bad times and he is leaving the Town in better shape than he found it.
His greatest work was during the past several years, dealing with fiscal difficulties caused by Kodak's departure from the Elmgrove facility. Ralph and the Town Board managed to right the Town's finances while preserving all of the vital services that Gates' residents are accustomed to. His critics went after him over the past eight years; Ralph and Gates were prime targets for the Democrats. They never beat him, and they never got the best of him.
In fact, Ralph's legacy of good government was so powerful, that this year's crop of Democrats had no issues to raise against the Gates GOP team. The crushing defeat inflicted on the Democrats was, to a great extent, a message from Gates' voters that we should stay the course charted by Ralph and his administration. Ralph is leaving the way a superstar should, at the top of his game.
Message to Ms. Swanton, Mr. Gillette, Mr. Landers, and Mr. Asam; you never laid a glove on him!
As most of you know, Ralph is stepping down at the end of the year, after a fabulous 20 years as Gates Supervisor. The Democrat & Chronicle called him "a legend" and they did not know how right they were. Ralph guided Gates through both good and bad times and he is leaving the Town in better shape than he found it.
His greatest work was during the past several years, dealing with fiscal difficulties caused by Kodak's departure from the Elmgrove facility. Ralph and the Town Board managed to right the Town's finances while preserving all of the vital services that Gates' residents are accustomed to. His critics went after him over the past eight years; Ralph and Gates were prime targets for the Democrats. They never beat him, and they never got the best of him.
In fact, Ralph's legacy of good government was so powerful, that this year's crop of Democrats had no issues to raise against the Gates GOP team. The crushing defeat inflicted on the Democrats was, to a great extent, a message from Gates' voters that we should stay the course charted by Ralph and his administration. Ralph is leaving the way a superstar should, at the top of his game.
Message to Ms. Swanton, Mr. Gillette, Mr. Landers, and Mr. Asam; you never laid a glove on him!
BREAKING: Reports of Death of Local GOP Called Premature
Despite a growing disparity in party enrollment, despite a barrage of negative ads, despite the efforts of a scandal-mongering press and a partisan DA, the GOP in Monroe County swept the board on Election Day.
The GOP held its majority in the County Legislature, scored a big win in County Court, and had easy wins for the Sheriff and for Supreme and Surrogate's Court. The Town of Irondiquoit turned back over to the Republican party and, in Gates, which had been pegged as "the next domino" to fall to the Dems, GOP candidates thrashed their opponents for every position.
The reality was that the people in Gates and Monroe County were not going to turn over the reins of power to a party which offered no plan, no program, no vision. Joe Morelle's "all scandal, all of the time" campaign fell flat. Some of the ads, such as the McCarthy DWI ad and the slanderous "Robutrad" ad attacking Frank Allkofer and Elaine Tette, were disgraceful and well beyond the normal bounds of "rough and tumble" politics. If I were a Democrat, I'd want Joe out; as a Republican, I say, please Joe, keep up the "good" work!
I'll leave most of the analysis to pundits wiser than me. I'm sure there were some anti-Obama/anti-Paterson/anti-Washington and Albany Democrat effects at work. But I think a lot has to do with the fact that people around here are basically pretty smart and they know which team was the "A-Team" who understands how to govern in tough times. Add to that the fact that the GOP candidates and their supporters worked harder than ever. It was an insurmountable task for the Dems.
There's still some life left in the GOP yet.
The GOP held its majority in the County Legislature, scored a big win in County Court, and had easy wins for the Sheriff and for Supreme and Surrogate's Court. The Town of Irondiquoit turned back over to the Republican party and, in Gates, which had been pegged as "the next domino" to fall to the Dems, GOP candidates thrashed their opponents for every position.
The reality was that the people in Gates and Monroe County were not going to turn over the reins of power to a party which offered no plan, no program, no vision. Joe Morelle's "all scandal, all of the time" campaign fell flat. Some of the ads, such as the McCarthy DWI ad and the slanderous "Robutrad" ad attacking Frank Allkofer and Elaine Tette, were disgraceful and well beyond the normal bounds of "rough and tumble" politics. If I were a Democrat, I'd want Joe out; as a Republican, I say, please Joe, keep up the "good" work!
I'll leave most of the analysis to pundits wiser than me. I'm sure there were some anti-Obama/anti-Paterson/anti-Washington and Albany Democrat effects at work. But I think a lot has to do with the fact that people around here are basically pretty smart and they know which team was the "A-Team" who understands how to govern in tough times. Add to that the fact that the GOP candidates and their supporters worked harder than ever. It was an insurmountable task for the Dems.
There's still some life left in the GOP yet.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
GOTV: All That's Left In Ugly Campaign
GOTV or "Get Out The Vote". That's the only remaining job for politico's at this point. at least we are done with the mailers!
Its been a rough campaign season. The negativity that pervades National and State political campaigns has made it, full-force, to the local scene. I won't blame the Democrats; I think both parties bear responsibility. I do, however, blame the candidates who allow political leaders to draft unfair messages and try to avoid responsibility.
All of us in politics are responsible for the content of campaigns. Unfortunately, political campaigns like we have seen in Monroe County are becoming the norm. Worse, the politicians who employ these tactics, become our elected officials. We then see the same type of mentality exhibited in government.
Ultimately, this cycle will only stop if the average voter says enough. The voters must punish the purveyors of political porn by refusing to elect them.
Its been a rough campaign season. The negativity that pervades National and State political campaigns has made it, full-force, to the local scene. I won't blame the Democrats; I think both parties bear responsibility. I do, however, blame the candidates who allow political leaders to draft unfair messages and try to avoid responsibility.
All of us in politics are responsible for the content of campaigns. Unfortunately, political campaigns like we have seen in Monroe County are becoming the norm. Worse, the politicians who employ these tactics, become our elected officials. We then see the same type of mentality exhibited in government.
Ultimately, this cycle will only stop if the average voter says enough. The voters must punish the purveyors of political porn by refusing to elect them.
See The World Through Other Eyes
I was in New York City on Thursday to make an appearance at the US Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan.
The Court is located in what was once the US Customs House for New York. The building sits on the location of Fort Amsterdam, the original Dutch settlement in New York. It is on the southern tip of Manhattan island next to Battery Park at Bowling Green. This is also the beginning of Broadway and is near Wall Street and the financial district.
The Customs House has an important history. Until the onset of the Federal Income Tax, import duties were the largest source of Federal income and the NY Customs House was the biggest collection point. Also, Custom House employees were political appointees. The President appointed the four principal officers and these appointees had high prestige, great power and local authority, large incomes and enhanced social status. As Collector of Customs, Grover Cleveland developed political IOU's he later used to become President.
Despite all of this, I was there only to go to Court and I was oblivious to much of the history around me. I arrived early on Thursday and I did not want to go in (because you must surrender your cell phone/BlackBerry). As I waited outside, I began to notice how many tourists were in the area. More than 50% were foreigners, but there were also a lot of students and regular folks, too. They were taking pictures, oohing and aahing at the buildings and historical markers, and generally soaking in all of the fascinating sights that those of us who have become jaded take for granted.
I was happy that I had a little extra time that day. It gave me the chance to look around and appreciate my surroundings. Despite everything, New York is a great city in a great country. Its good to be reminded now and then.
The Court is located in what was once the US Customs House for New York. The building sits on the location of Fort Amsterdam, the original Dutch settlement in New York. It is on the southern tip of Manhattan island next to Battery Park at Bowling Green. This is also the beginning of Broadway and is near Wall Street and the financial district.
The Customs House has an important history. Until the onset of the Federal Income Tax, import duties were the largest source of Federal income and the NY Customs House was the biggest collection point. Also, Custom House employees were political appointees. The President appointed the four principal officers and these appointees had high prestige, great power and local authority, large incomes and enhanced social status. As Collector of Customs, Grover Cleveland developed political IOU's he later used to become President.
Despite all of this, I was there only to go to Court and I was oblivious to much of the history around me. I arrived early on Thursday and I did not want to go in (because you must surrender your cell phone/BlackBerry). As I waited outside, I began to notice how many tourists were in the area. More than 50% were foreigners, but there were also a lot of students and regular folks, too. They were taking pictures, oohing and aahing at the buildings and historical markers, and generally soaking in all of the fascinating sights that those of us who have become jaded take for granted.
I was happy that I had a little extra time that day. It gave me the chance to look around and appreciate my surroundings. Despite everything, New York is a great city in a great country. Its good to be reminded now and then.
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