Falling for Carl Paladino
We may disagree—Lord knows, we have have disagreed—about whether the victories of Tea Party candidates Sharron Angle in Nevada and Christine O’Donnell in Delaware did more harm than good. But nobody here on Ricochet or anywhere else can accuse New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino of doing any harm at all.
Last week, Paladino, a Buffalo businessman and the Tea Party candidate, defeated Rick Lazio, the establishment politician from Long Island, in the GOP gubernatorial primary. But since nobody believed that the Republicans would have a chance at the governor’s mansion no matter whom they nominated, the primary fight received almost no attention—and when on Tuesday night it emerged that Paladino had won, it never so much as crossed anyone’s mind to accuse him of having cost the GOP the race.
To the contrary. Paladino is so wonderfully shrewd, outrageous and—an important point in a big state such as New York—rich that in a matter of hours a lot of people had decided that Paladino might just mount a serious campaign after all. The New York Times last Wednesday, the day after the primary:
He is explosive, he does not play by the usual rules, and his throw-out-the-bums message has clearly connected with voters….That combination makes Carl P. Paladino, the newly minited Republican nominee for governor, a potentially tricky opponent for Andrew M. Cuomo.
Now Paladino has sent a letter to the New York Times challenging Cuomo to a debate:
It’s difficult to understand why you, a polished veteran campaigner, scion of a political dynasty and king-designate, would fear a simple businessman from Buffalo, who candidly has never been in a debate in his life—except maybe in a bar.
Beautiful—just beautiful. And if Paladino keeps this up, it can’t be long before the Times upgrades him from “potentially tricky” to just plain “tricky.”
For Paladino’s website, click here.
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May '10
Re: Falling for Carl Paladino
Would one of Ricochet's political masterminds kindly offer a brief summary of which governor positions truly matter?
Though my public school education abused me in oh so many ways, I trust it was true when I was taught that states vary widely in how much power each affords to its governor. Some are little more than figureheads, correct?
Re: Falling for Carl Paladino
Good question, Aaron. As I recall, the range runs, roughly, from the governor of New Hampshire (extremely weak; can't get anything done without the approval of a huge legislature--the New Hampshire House enormous--and a small council, which sits between the governor and the legislature) and the governor of Alaska (whose wish is quite often the legislature's command). The governor of New York is pretty darned powerful, with about the same leverage over the legislature that the president has over the House. (He appoints all the key people in the state government, he proposes the budget, and he can veto legislation. On the other hand, he simply has to work with the Speaker of the Assembly, now Sheldon Silver, who has for many years now commanded a Democratic majority of nearly two to one.)
Carl Paladino could hardly transform the state on his own, in other words, but he could make a very, very big difference.
May '10
Re: Falling for Carl Paladino
As a resident of New York, I can honestly say I've never seen a candidate like Carl Paladino before. I voted for Paladino in the primary especially because he wasn't yet another Republican establishment retread sacrificial lamb like Rick Lazio. Can Carl win? I don't know. The political pundits say no. How many thought Scott Brown could win? All I know is that I want change to the way this state and this country are run. I don't believe Andrew Cuomo can bring change (or wants to), but given a chance Carl Paladino will try.
Re: Falling for Carl Paladino
Paul, do you live upstate by any chance?
I grew up in Vestal, just outside Binghamton, and one of the things I find so appealing about Paladino is that he's from Buffalo. Half the population of the state lives north of New York City--and often finds itself all but ignored in Albany. Upstate, where voters are sick of big spending and tired of being ignored, Paladino could really catch fire. If he can do that, then produce a respectable showing in Queens and Staten Island, where there are a lot more conservatives than is often supposed, and if he can win at least the grudging backing of the Republican machine in Nassau County, turning out the Long Island vote--if Paladino can do that, then he could pull this off. He really could.
In the meantime, is there any candidate anywhere in the country who's more plain fun to follow?
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 3:49pmAug '10
Re: Falling for Carl Paladino
I understand that when Buffalo was a serious city, oh about a century ago, its major industry was...stevedoring. Also, how's that new World Trade Center coming along? I have absolutely no idea why New York or its politics matters or ever should. Upstate's got a certain rainy-day melancholy charm, but "On Rainy Days We've Got The Edge On Portugal" isn't very catchy. ("Unless You're Bicycling Through Downtown Binghamton In One" is likewise a dud.)
May '10
Re: Falling for Carl Paladino
I'm a lifelong resident of upstate New York (Rochester -> Buffalo -> Ithaca!), and this seems like the first time there has been a serious chance of upstate power in the state government in my 28 years. This ought to be fun.
Besides, I would wager that Paladino has a greater chance of winning than the milquetoast Lazio would have. If he wins, I think the most Paladino could deliver is a watered-down conservative agenda through compromise with the assembly, but that's hugely better than the alternative.
An aside: how much blame should former HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo receive for the housing meltdown?
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 5:48pmMay '10
Re: Falling for Carl Paladino
Peter Robinson: Paul, do you live upstate by any chance?
I grew up in Vestal, just outside Binghamton, and one of the things I find so appealing about Paladino is that he's from Buffalo. Half the population of the state lives north of New York City--and often finds itself all but ignored in Albany.
In the meantime, is there any candidate anywhere in the country who's more plain fun to follow? · Sep 20 at 3:45pm
Edited on Sep 20 at 03:49 pm
Peter,
I am from Webster just outside of Rochester. Northern California is a long way from Vestal!
I agree that the voice of upstate is mostly ignored in the political machinations of Albany.
The Tea Party is doing many positive things, not the least of which is providing fun people like Paladino to shake up the boring status quo.
May '10
Re: Falling for Carl Paladino
Aaron Miller: Would one of Ricochet's political masterminds kindly offer a brief summary of which governor positions truly matter?
Though my public school education abused me in oh so many ways, I trust it was true when I was taught that states vary widely in how much power each affords to its governor. Some are little more than figureheads, correct? · Sep 20 at 2:42pm
The Governor of Texas is a figurehead, and he isn't. Thanks to the reaction to reconstruction, the formal powers of the Governor very limited. His power derives, basically, from being the goddam governor. (Texans so revere that State that that stands for something in itself.) Many others are elected statewide, but he has that "G" magic. The Lt Governor, who presides over the Senate, and the Speaker of the House, have a lot more procedural mojo. But their names are known only to the wired-in.
W used this power well in setting the agenda and following up when he was elected.
Jul '10
Re: Falling for Carl Paladino
I really, deeply believe that this election cycle is less about the particulars than it is about the message. One does not turn the ship(s) of state with subtle political maneuvering. One does it with big, bold statements and personalities. The Paladino sounds like that kind of guy.
Besides, I've never met a guy named Paladino I didn't like.