New York Governor David Paterson Will Not Seek Re-election

NYDailyNews.com:

A scandal-scarred Gov. Paterson is pulling the plug on his short-lived election campaign.

Paterson, under investigation by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for contacting a woman who accused one of his top aides of domestic violence, is making it official with an announcement from his Manhattan office at 3 p.m.

Top Democrats say stopping the campaign isn't enough: He should leave office now.

"If the investigation turns out the way many suspect, his resignation is almost inevitable," state Sen. Bill Perkins, who hold Paterson's old Harlem Senate seat, told WNYC.

"If that is the case, then it is in the best interest of the people of New York for him to cut bait now," Perkins insisted.

To be fair to Paterson, he didn't ask for the bitter mess that is New York politics. It was Eliot Spitzer's love for hookers that forced Paterson into the job and clearly from jump he's been overwhelmed. Paterson shouldn't resign tho, better to keep his head up and fight this latest scandal.

Gov. David Paterson: ObamaCare Will Punish New Yorkers

NYDailyNews.com:

Gov. Paterson Monday declared that New York is being "punished" by the national health care bill expected to be voted on by Christmas.

New York stands to lose between $1.1 billion to $1.25 billion a year if the bill is adopted unchanged, Paterson told Buffalo's WBEN-AM radio.

Even though the goal of the legislation is to get as many people insured as possible, Paterson complained that New York is hurt by already having provided government-funded healthcare to a larger share of its residents.

Under the bill, he said, other states are being rewarded by enlisting more Medicaid recipients.

"New York can't do that, we're at the limit," he said. "We are, in a sense, by the bill being punished for our own charity.

"If this bill is encouraging the idea of having fewer people needing health insurance, then you would think that since New York already complied with that standard, we would get some equitable benefit for doing what Washington is doing now."

He said that New York Massachusetts and Vermont were the hardest hits states by the legislation, but "sweetners" were added in recent days to help those other two states.

The Medicaid plan, he said, has long hurt New York because it reimburses states based on per capita income as opposed to the poverty rate.

While New York's poverty rate is 25% of the national average, its per capita income is among the highest, Paterson said.

Last year the state of New York voted overwhlemingly for Barack Obama to become President and this is the thanks they get. Funny that.

Rudy Giuliani's Not Running For Anything In 2010

Examiner.com:

Word leaked today that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will announced that he won’t challenge either incumbent Governor David Paterson or Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in the 2010 election. The former Mayor’s exit from two races in which he was never a formal candidate is good news for Governor Paterson, who has suffered in several opinion polls.

In more good news, Paterson’s job approval ratings have risen to a respectable 40%. (President Obama’s numbers hover around 49%-52%.) What does Giuliani’s exit mean for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, long rumored to be preparing a run against Paterson? It was reported recently that Cuomo’s camp warned Giuliani about entering the Governor’s race, because, according to various sources, Cuomo was likely to win.

In doing so, they may have jettisoned their strongest argument in a primary challenge against Paterson: that the Attorney General should be the Democratic nominee because he’d have the best shot of beating the former Mayor.

Shocked to say the least. All along I thought the governor's position was Giuliani's for the taking next year. God knows we don't need another Cuomo.

New York State Senate Says A Resounding 'No' To "Gay Marriage"

Can you believe that in talking about why he voted 'yes' to "gay" marriage, one of these liberal ass clowns had the nerve to say that he "leaves his bible at the door"?

NYTimes.com:

The State Senate defeated a bill on Wednesday that would legalize same-sex marriage, after an emotional debate that touched on civil rights, family and history. The vote means that the bill, pushed by Gov. David A. Paterson, is effectively dead for the year and dashes the optimism of gay rights advocates, who have suffered setbacks recently in several key states.

The bill was defeated by a decisive margin of 38 to 24. The Democrats, who have a bare, one-seat majority, did not have enough votes to pass the bill without some Republican support, but not a single Republican senator voted for the measure. Still, several key Democrats who were considered swing votes also opposed the bill.

Mr. Paterson made an unusual trip to the Senate floor minutes after the last vote was cast, saying, “These victories come and so do the losses, but you keep on trying.”

In a debate that in many instances was cast in unusually personal tones, many senators delivered emotional speeches on the floor of the chamber, equating the struggle for gay rights to the civil rights movement or the battle women have waged for equality.

But State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr. of the Bronx made an impassioned argument against same-sex marriage, describing his continued opposition as reflecting the broad consensus that marriage should be limited to a union between a man and woman. “Not only the evangelicals, not only the Jews, not only the Muslims, not only the Catholics, but also the people oppose it,” he said.

Good job by the New York Senate. Good for the state of New York. Good for the sanctity of marriage which is continually attempted to be brought down by the anti-God, morally bankrupt creatures on the Left. An unpopular liberal scum of a governor, David Paterson, tried and tried to force "gay marriage" on the state of New York and he got rejected.....big time (indeed, the vote against forced gay marriage was larger than most people expected). Most Americans clearly believe that marriage should stay defined as a union between a man and a woman. In the 31 states in which voters had a say on whether or not gay marriage was going to be the law of the land, they all rejected it. Yet, liberal politicians across the country continue to ignore the will of the people in order to cater to the evils of self-righteous, special interest groups promoting nothing but moral depravity. Thank goodness we have enough strong-minded pols in our state Senate to stand up to the bully tactics of the Left.

Politiks As Usual: In The News 11/9/09

"Sesame Street" Rerun Comes Under Fire From Conservatives

Judge Puts Restraining Order On Illinois Abortion Law

Tim Pawlenty Slams ObamaCare

Planned Parenthood: Your Tax Dollars At Work

Hollywood Morality: Teen Sex On TV OK Because Real Teens Already Do It

Texas Law Shelters Porn-Viewing Dad

Fort Hood Shooter Showed Signs Of Trouble

U.N. Fails To Act After Iran Caught 'Red-Handed'

Lesson From NY-23: Of Course Conservatives Can Win

Tom Tancredo Storms Off 'Ed Show' After Markos Moulitsas Insult

NY Gov. David Paterson Declares Nov. 10 Extraordinary Session For Gay Marriage

David Paterson & Wife Fight Back Against Obama's Disrespect

LATimes.com:

Embattled New York Gov. David Paterson has a wife named Michelle too, and she came out swinging today at the Obama White House.

Paterson became governor after Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal. With his poll numbers down and still-popular former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani lurking in the wings to challenge Paterson, the White House sent word to Albany that perhaps Paterson could fall on his sword for the party and just forget to file his re-election papers.

Today, in a series of interview with the Big Apple's panting news media, New York's First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson said it was wrong for the White House to get involved.

"David's the first African American governor in the state of New York and he's being asked to get out of the race. It's very unusual and it seems very unfair," she told the New York Post. "I never heard of a president asking a governor not to run ... I don't think it's right."

During a trip to upstate New York on Monday, President Obama told Paterson, according to Michelle Paterson, that he was "a little chagrined about how the White House handled the message."

The person who delivered the message -- New York Democrat Gregory Meeks -- said today he only laid out the case for retirement but didn't push. "All I was doing was telling a friend what the issues are that are out there," the Queens congressman told the Daily News. "It's up to him."

Nothing like a little liberal-on-liberal violence to make my day. But the Paterson's are right to be angry with Barry as he had no business butting in on the New York governorship in the first place. Once again, it's the overexposed Obama at his narcissistic worse--constantly on the scene, when most Americans are in need of a break. One would think he'd get the hint when you consider his sagging poll numbers.

Obama Asks Black Governor David Paterson Not To Seek Reelection In 2010

NYTimes.com:

Gov. David A. Paterson defiantly vowed to run for election next year despite the White House‘s urging that he withdraw from the New York governor’s race.

Appearing tired and agitated at a parade in Harlem on Sunday, the governor told a crowd of reporters that he would not abandon his campaign to seek a full term.

“I have said time and time again that I am running for governor next year,” he said at the 40th annual African-American Day Parade.

Mr. Paterson would not characterize what he was told by the White House, saying that he would not “discuss confidential conversations.”

“I’m not talking about any specific conversations,” he said. “As I said, I am running for office.”

President Obama had sent a request to Mr. Paterson that he withdraw from the New York governor’s race, fearing that Mr. Paterson cannot recover from his dismal political standing, according to two senior administration officials and a New York Democratic operative with direct knowledge of the situation.

The decision to ask Mr. Paterson to step aside was proposed by political advisers to Mr. Obama, but approved by the president himself, one of the administration officials said.

“Is there concern about the situation in New York? Absolutely,” the second administration official said Saturday evening. “Has that concern been conveyed to the governor? Yes.”

Wow, once again Barry sells out his Black constituents for his white liberal fanbase. Granted, Paterson, disgraced ex-governor Eliot Spitzer's replacement, has little chance to be elected on his own next year. But Barry has had no problem backing up Jim Corzine's bid for reelection, despite Corzine having similar approval numbers as Paterson. I've always said that a Barack Obama administration would do little to benefit Blacks and once again Barry proves me right. When will Black liberals ever learn?

Rudy Giuliani Says He's Considering Run For New York Governor

CNN.com:

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani tells CNN that he's thinking about running for governor of New York next year, but that's as far as he's going right now.

Asked by CNN's John Roberts on American Morning if he's seriously considering a gubernatorial bid, Giuliani said "I'm thinking about it but I don't know if I'm at the point of seriously considering it. It's a little too early."

Giuliani, who spent much of 2007 and the first month of 2008 running for the Republican presidential nomination, is often mentioned as a possible contender to take on incumbent Democratic Gov. David Paterson in next year's contest.

Recent polls of New York State voters indicate that if the election where held today, Giuliani would beat the unpopular Paterson. But surveys also suggest if New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo were the Democratic nominee, Cuomo would beat Giuliani in a hypothetical general election match up.

God, and I can't believe I'm saying this considering how much I despised the man when he was mayor of NYC, but I'd take Giuliani over Paterson any day of the week.

David Paterson Approved Rockefeller Drug Laws Reform Is A Boon To Drug Dealers

The deal that was reached some months ago (sponsored by the highly unpopular Gov. Paterson) to repeal and revise much of New York State's Rockefeller Drug Laws, a priority of the Left for some time now, could turn out to be a huge boon to drug addicts as well as drug dealers:

Here at the Daily News editorial page, we try to focus on matters of vital interest to readers. One such topic involved Albany's relaxation of the so-called Rockefeller drug laws.

We argued that softening the statutes as envisioned by Democrats in the Assembly and Senate, as well as by Gov. Paterson, would virtually decriminalize narcotics in New York.

So extreme were the provisions of the legislation in steering even recidivist traffickers and repeat quality-of-life offenders into treatment programs that we dubbed the bill the "Drug Dealer Protection Act."

The Legislature and governor refused to listen. But one incarcerated gentleman, who boasts a 27-page rap sheet, paid close attention. He found our editorials describing the law to be of perversely vital interest.

"They just changed the law," he said on a taped jailhouse conversation, adding that the statute was called the "Drug Dealers Protection Law."

That lawmakers might actually use such a title seemed plausible because we had detailed the many leniencies of the legislation. Among them:

Dealers would be eligible for probation after two, three and four convictions. Defendants could claim addiction with the aim of going into rehab. After rehab, dealers could seek case dismissals. Prosecutors would have to prove that big traffickers had made at least $50,000 in profit, an impossible task without accounting ledgers.

Said the happy inmate: "They can say that they have a habit, that they do sell drugs. And they got to prove that you make over 50,000 a year, and they said that's hard to prove with no financial records. ... So you know what they did, they just created the Beast. The Beast is coming home to be the juggernaut. ...

"They said even if you have three or four, no, four or five convictions, you're still eligible for a program, and you know me, I got no sales on my records. All is possessions, so they got to give me a program. ... They just gave me the free-for-all. You know what that means? I'm burnin' the streets up when I go home. ...

"Well, the Beast is being created right now."

Such is the law from the pusher's-eye view, rather than from the fantasy perspective that street dealers, car boosters, store burglars and the like are merely addicts crying out for help.

The Legislature tightened provisions that would have given a pass to $50,000-and-up kingpins. But lawmakers and Paterson held fast to empowering judges to seal as many as four convictions on a druggie's record - even when the druggie applies to be a foster parent or a teacher or a nursing home aide.

The law is a get-out-of-jail-free pass. We told them so. And now the Beast has come to bite them.

Drug use is a choice, not a "disease" as so many liberals like to claim. No one would ever claim that a cigarette addict was suffering from sort of disease, but with liberals it's never about personal responsibility, it's always about finding some excuse out. The Rockefeller Drug Laws may have been harsh, in some cases racist and maybe even outdated, but considering the damaging effects that drug use has on families, neighborhoods, the workplace, our safety and society in general, stringent laws are needed for drug offenders. This doesn't mean that our federal government doesn't need to do more in our war on drugs or that treatment for first-time, non-violent offenders shouldn't at all be considered, but a literal get-out-of-jail-free pass isn't the right answer either. This idiot reform package by Gov. Paterson goes way too far. The safety of our citizens should always come first.

Blame Belongs To Gov. David Paterson For Republicans Taking Over New York Senate

NYTimes.com:

Republicans apparently seized control of the New York State Senate on Monday, in a stunning and sudden reversal of fortunes for the Democratic Party, which controlled the chamber for barely five months.

A raucous leadership fight erupted on the floor of the Senate around 3 p.m., with two Democrats, Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens, joining the 30 Senate Republicans in a motion that would displace Democrats as the party in control.

In a news conference in the early evening, Senator Malcolm A. Smith of Queens, leader of the Senate Democrats, insisted that the Republican-engineered vote was illegal and violated parliamentary procedure. He said the vote was illegal because it had already taken place after the meeting was already brought to an end.

Blame gay marriage. Backed by the likes of an adulterous, unpopular governor whose been feening for it, Senate liberals (and their minions in the press) have recently been trying to push gay marriage legislation down the throats of New Yorkers. Forget that some conservative Democrats in the Senate warned Malcolm Smith about what would happen if gay marriage was brought to the floor. Forget that most Americans oppose gay marriage. Forget that one-issue, gay Senator Tom Duane has been trying to bully fellow Senators into saying "yes" to gay marriage. Forget the fact that New York has hundreds of more pressing needs than catering to the radical liberal agenda, Smith and his leftwing cronies could care less--all in the name of getting NY some stupid name recognition (as the 7th state to approve of "gay marriage). Now how stupid do they look?

David Paterson, Renowned Adulterer, Trying To Push Gay Marriage Down New Yorker Throats

NYTimes.com:

Gov. David A. Paterson on Thursday will announce plans to introduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, according to people with knowledge of the governor’s plans.

Mr. Paterson’s move, which he first signaled last week after Vermont became the fourth state to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed, reflects the governor’s desire to press the issue with lawmakers in Albany as other states move ahead with efforts to grant more civil rights to homosexuals.

The action in Vermont, where state legislators overrode Gov. Jim Douglas’s veto of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, came less than a week after the Iowa Supreme Court granted same-sex couples the right to marry.

Mr. Paterson has said in recent days that the State Legislature should move ahead now with the legislation regardless of whether it can muster enough votes. His reasoning, which some gay rights advocates have challenged, is that New York should make a statement that it is committed to treating same-sex couples the same way it treats opposite-sex couples.

The announcement will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Mr. Paterson’s office in Midtown Manhattan, said people who were briefed on the governor’s plans but who asked not to be identified because they did not want to upstage the governor.

Most Americans do not agree with "gay marriage" and traditional marriage has served as the backbone of Western civilization, but why should a serial adulterer like David Paterson care? Especially when you consider that with his current approval rating hovering around 19%, Paterson has to do anything he can to win back his liberal base so he can get re-elected. Indeed, for liberals, marriage has become nothing but another instrument to exploit their self-serving, immoral agenda--and the needy pols are right there along with them to open the door.

David Paterson Idiot Edition: Calls Binghampton Shooting "Worst Tragedy In NY State"

Since when did being blind make you dumb? When NY Governor David Paterson opens his mouth:

The American Civic Association's president, Angela Leach, was "very upset" and worried about her secretary, a friend at her home told reporters. "For some reason she had the day off today. She doesn't know anything, she's as shocked as anyone," said Mike Chanecka.

Others were left waiting for news of friends and relatives. Omri Yigal, an immigrant from the Philippines, said his wife Delores had been in an English lesson. "At this point, I know the scale of what happened, but I just hope Delores is okay," he said. "I haven't got any information. The only thing I have right now is hope."

The New York State Governor David Paterson said the shooting was "probably the worst crime and tragedy in the history of this city".

Yeah, surely worse than the 3,000-plus who died on Sept. 11, 2001, right Governor? Not that I'm trying to politicize this tragedy like the Left is doing, but Paterson has the kind of foot-in-mouth disease that would make Joe Biden blush and this was just another example of it.

UPDATE: The story linked here was taken from a piece at LATimes.com which noted that Paterson said "history of this state". That original LATimes piece has now been corrected to show that Paterson actually said "city", not "state".

Polls Show Gov. David Paterson In Trouble

Newsmax.com:

A new poll released Tuesday shows Gov. David Paterson slumping to the lowest job approval and favorability ratings since he took office almost a year ago.

The Siena College Research Institute also looked at potential 2010 election matchups and found the Democrat trailing Republican Rudy Giuliani — 51 percent to 36 percent — despite a 2-to-1 enrollment advantage for Democrats in New York. They were in a dead heat a month ago. The poll shows Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo leading Paterson 51 to 38 percent in another possible contest. Neither Giuliani nor Cuomo have said they will challenge Paterson in 2010.

The grim news for Paterson comes as he most needs the power of persuasion and public support to deal with the state's fiscal crisis. He is under pressure from special interests that are mounting million-dollar ad campaigns to trash spending cuts in the austere budget he has proposed to the Legislature.

"The commercials against the governor's budget proposals are having an impact," said Steven Greenberg, spokesman for the Siena poll. "More than 80 percent of voters are concerned that the proposed budget cuts in health and education would adversely affect the quality of health care and education in New York."

I don't believe that Paterson is in as much trouble as the press makes it seem. Sure, he's done some dumb stuff (like bragging early on about extramarital affairs and his handling of the Caroline Kennedy-for-Senator episode was inept), but considering that he had to come in under the cloud of the disgrace that is Eliot Spitzer, deal with a state budget that's been a headache for eons and a struggling economy in general, unless he pulls a Spitzer and does something really stupid between now and then, I think he deserves to be the Dem choice for Governor come 2010...especially if Rudy Giuliani is the GOP pick.

Kirsten Gillibrand Is Not As Conservative As Liberals Would Like You To Think

Bloomberg.com:

New York Governor David Paterson designated U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand to succeed Senator Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state in the Obama administration.

Paterson chose Gillibrand, 42, a Hudson Democrat whose sprawling mostly Republican district is near Albany, bypassing better-known Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. The twice-elected congresswoman has opposed gun-control legislation and the $700 billion financial bailout bill -- positions at odds with Paterson’s.

Gillibrand was an upset winner in the 2006 congressional elections when she defeated four-term incumbent Republican U.S. Representative John Sweeney, 54. Her appointment takes effect Jan. 25, Paterson said.

“I believe I have found the best candidate to become the next senator from the state of New York,” Paterson said. “She is dynamic, she is articulate, she is perceptive, she is outspoken.”

Gutsy move by Gov. Paterson who clearly picked Gillibrand in the hopes of winning over GOP and conservative voters in upstate New York when he runs for re-election in 2012. Of course, being pro-gun has all-or-nothing liberals upset with Paterson's pick, which is good, but Gillibrand isn't nearly as conservative as the leftwing loons would like you to think. Indeed, Gillibrand is pro-gay marriage and pro-abortion, so don't buy the liberal spin that she's conservative just because she supports gun rights. However, to be fair, Gillibrand has proven to be strong on illegal immigration as well. All in all, considering this is New York, Gillibrand looks to be the best pick a conservative like me could get.

Caroline Kennedy Takes Herself Out Of Senate Bid

NYTimes.com:

Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn from consideration for the vacant Senate seat in New York, according to a person told of her decision.

On Wednesday she called Gov. David A. Paterson, who will choose a successor to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Her concerns about Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s deteriorating health (he was hospitalized after suffering a seizure during President Obama’s inaugural lunch on Tuesday ) prompted her decision to withdraw, this person said. Coping with her uncle’s condition was her most important priority, a situation not conducive to starting a high profile public job.

Mr. Paterson had indicated to her that the job was hers if she would accept it, the person said.

She was planning to issue a statement on Wednesday evening.

Good. She wasn't at all qualified to be Senator, sounded like a second-grader when she spoke publicly and came out of nowhere so she sneak in on the back her last name, a surname that's inexplicably treated like its royalty by liberals. But then it's outrageous that Caroline Kennedy was even considered for the job, New Yorkers should remember that when David Paterson comes up for re-election.

Entitled Princess Caroline Kennedy's Anti-Family Views

Caroline Kennedy, a woman who rarely votes, has a thinner political resume than Barack Obama and has never governed a tea party, much less a political office, yet feels that her surname alone entitles her to a soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat, finally speaks on some of her views. Not that anyone should be surprised at which way she leans:

Caroline Kennedy has gone public with her stance on the issues in response to a wave of media inquiries after Kennedy, virtually unknown in the political world, announced her interest in the New York senate seat Hillary Clinton will leave open when she becomes Secretary of State.

As was widely suspected, Kennedy emerged as firmly entrenched in favor of abortion and same-sex "marriage" in keeping with a strongly left-of center persona. In email responses to questions from the New York Times, Kennedy's spokesman Stefan Friedman described her as supporting "full equality and marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples."

Answering the question "Would she oppose legislation that would require minors to notify a parent before obtaining an abortion?" came the response: "Caroline believes that young women facing unwanted pregnancies should have the advice of caring adults, but this should not be required by law."

On the question of late-term abortions, Kennedy was said to "support Roe v. Wade, which prohibits third-trimester abortions except when the life or health of the mother is at risk." Kennedy told the Buffalo News that she opposes the death penalty. A Roman Catholic, Kennedy has no public service record and largely avoided the spotlight until she joined Barack Obama's pre-election team earlier this year, and has since consistently expressed a very high opinion of the President-elect and his policies.

Gov. David Paterson is an idiot if he picks Kennedy for the Senate seat. As New York Congressman Gary Ackerman summed up best: “Everyone knows who she is, but I’m not sure what she is,” Ackerman said. “Eventually she has to get in the ring and face the public.”

“DNA in this business can take you just so far,” said the congressman, before joking, “Rembrandt was a great artist. His brother Murray, on the other hand, Murray Rembrandt, wouldn’t paint a house.”

Caroline Kennedy Has No Business Being Senator Of New York

Liberals are gushing about Caroline Kennedy's interest in replacing Hillary Cilnton in the New York State Senate. Why? Because she's a Kennedy, that's why. And according to liberals, as long as you're a Kennedy you have a right to whatever it is you want:

While Caroline Kennedy is maintaining her public silence about whether she wishes to succeed Senator Hillary Clinton, her uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, has been working behind the scenes on her behalf, according to Democratic aides.

In recent days the Massachusetts senator has called Gov. David A. Paterson and Senator Charles E. Schumer, as well as Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who took over last month as head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee when Mr. Schumer stepped down.

Mr. Kennedy’s message, according to Democratic aides who were not authorized to discuss the conversations, is that Ms. Kennedy — backed by the Kennedy family’s extensive fund-raising network — would have the wherewithal to run back-to-back costly statewide races without having to seek help from Mr. Paterson or Mr. Schumer.

The ability to raise significant money is a key concern for Mr. Paterson, who has been deluged from every direction by politicians interested in the seat, which the governor is expected to fill early next year. Whoever is chosen will have to run in 2010 and again two years later.

Efforts to reach Ms. Kennedy on Monday were unsuccessful. A spokesman for Senator Kennedy declined to comment.

Funny how the liberal press never seems to be able to bring up what Mary Jo Kopechne's family thinks about the great Kennedy legacy. Surely they remember Mary Jo? The young lady and ol' family friend of the Kennedy's who was left to die in Cowardly Lion Ted's submerged car in a freezing river one July night of 1969. Boy would political news aficionados like myself just love to know what a member of the Kopechne family thinks about the Kennedy legacy. But getting back to Caroline Kennedy's bullshit bid to serve as Senator of New York Via Handout...Governor Paterson needs to simply say no.

By rejecting Kennedy Paterson will be sending a strong message that basically says that just because you happen to be a member of some political dynasty doesn't give you a pass when you've never run for political office in your life. And that just because you were born with unlimited money and power to get whatever you want in life doesn't mean that you can just call up one day and entitle yourself to a Senate seat. I'm sure that if he looks hard enough David Paterson can find someone much more qualified and deserving of Hillary's seat. Because by appointing Caroline Kennedy to a Senate seat, Patterson would be disgracing himself along with the entire state of New York.

NY Gov. David Paterson Calls Hillary "Desperate"

Damn, to think these two are pols from the same state so he has have some idea what he's talking about:

Gov. David Paterson, who is right now being interviewed by WAMC's Alan Chartock and taking calls from listeners on "Vox Pop," just disagreed sharply with his presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, on her last-ditch efforts to seat the Florida and Michigan delegations.

While he stressed that he continues to support Clinton and will do so until "she makes a different determination," Paterson, a superdelegate, said he doesn't believe the DNC should change the rules after the fact on Florida and Michigan and added that he's not buying her claims about leading the popular vote if the ballots cast in those states were counted.

"I would say at this point we're starting to see a little desperation on the part of the woman who I support and I'll support until whatever time she makes a different determination," Paterson said, adding: "I thought she was the best candidate and I thought she had the best chance of winning."

Paterson, who is a DNC committee member and was present at the meeting when a vote was taken to penalize Florida and Michigan for moving their respective primaries ahead of the traditional starting contests in New Hampshire and Iowa, said he thought that decision was "a little unfair" and he "didn't agree with it at the time."

But he also noted "nobody was screaming" after that decision was made, although some people were unhappy with it, adding:

"There was a process. I thought at the time everybody agreed to it. I didn't hear any objections from the candidates...So I would think the Democratic National Committee would leave it where it is."

It's the truth, Hillary Clinton only cares about Michigan and Florida because she needs their votes to have any chance of winning. If she'd won the nomination already, as she was long favored to do, she wouldn't give a rat's ass about the two states.

Politiks As Usual: In The News 3/18/08

Bill Clinton Whines: Media 'Mugging' Me On Race

New York Governor David Paterson & Wife Admit To Extramarital Affairs

Florida Democrats Will Not Be Doing Any Do-Over Primaries

Barack Obama To Hold Major Speech On Race Tuesday

Media Silent On The Myth Of "Safe Sex"

CBS Has Barack's Back: Rev. Wright's Words Compared To Jesus

Gay Ex-Gov Jim McGreevey Claims He Had Threesomes With Wife

Paul McCartney Ordered To Pay Almost $50mil To Ex-Wife