An article in today's Rochester (NY) Democrat & Chronicle reported that Gov. Elliot Spitzer's "honeymoon" with entrenched State Legislators may be over. And he may well be responsible for the break-up.
The D & C reported that Spitzer, while in a heated telephone discussion with Assembly minority leader, Joseph Tedisco, alleged referred to himself as a "steamroller" who would "roll over anyone in his way". Moreover, Spitzer went on to say that he had done "more in three weeks than any other governor did in the history of the state".
Really?
I wonder if FDR, Averill Harriman, Teddy Roosevelt, Nelson Rockefeller, and Al Smith would agree. Gosh, DeWitt Clinton built the Erie Canal; that was probably worth something. Mario Cuomo is still alive, isn't he? Maybe someone should ask him if he thinks he accomplished anything while he was governor.
During his campaign, Mr. Spitzer clearly had the appearance of a man who was quite sure of himself. I often got the feeling he was channelling Bobby Kennedy. Someone like Lloyd Bentsen might say "You're no Bobby Kennedy".
Mr. Spitzer apparently needs a history lesson if he thinks that there were few accomplished past governors of New York. He also seems to need a humility lesson. I have a feeling that Sheldon Silver and Joe Bruno are working on the lesson plan right now.
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2 comments:
We have yet to see if Mr. Spitzer is the savior of NYS or just another politician impressed with himself. My hope is he will find a way to move our legislature, perhaps by exposing the individuals who do so much to protect their own interests. Joe and Shelly are a formidable duo, the governor will need more than a steamroller to be successful. I'm hoping he has a plan to outwit these two...otherwise it will be NY politics as usual.
Anonymous:
I'd say Spitzer has an ego problem. He's already thinking about the White House in'16 (after Hillary's second term).
He was elected overwhemingly and those voters want change. Silver and Bruno represent the entrenched interests who want the status quo.
Spitzer won his rep by "steamrolling" corporations into submission. But those CEO's didn't have the Machiavellian powers of the Albany twins.
We'll have to see which way this goes. Unfortunately, I'm betting on Silver and Bruno.
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