Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
I'm telling you, the New York gubernatorial candidacy of Carl Paladino is turning into a joy to behold. The latest? Former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, and former State Comptroller Carl McCall issued an open letter, calling Paladino "unfit" and "dangerous"--and prompting some really gorgeous journalism in response. In the Buffalo News, columnist Donn Esmonde cuts loose:
Al D'Amato, Ed Koch and Carl McCall took it upon themselves Wednesday to stand up for the sanctity of elective office in this state. Unfortunately, there is no such thing. I barely got past the letter's second sentence: "This state has a long history of electing highly qualified, forward-looking statewide candidates."
These guys must have been passing around a bong. The state has a history all right. In recent years, we had a governor resign after a sex scandal. We had a felonious state comptroller resign in disgrace. We had the ex-Senate majority leader -- one of Albany's triumvirate of power -- jailed for violating the public trust. Our current governor admitted to marital infidelities and past drug use, and was targeted in a baseball ticket scandal. And that is just the shortlist. In that company, Carl Paladino -- even at his crudest -- raises the bar...
The biggest problem I have with this letter is the cluelessness at its core. The Three Stooges have unwittingly proven Paladino's primary point: that the guardians of Albany's taxpayer-abusive political culture are arrogant and out of touch, and think that they know how the system should work -- and who should be part of it. It's their club. We just get beaten up by it.
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Jul '10
Re: Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
Well, it's good to hear from former Sen. D' Amato. Every time I consider the tragedy that is Chuck Schumer's career I think of D'Amato. In that context, Schumer is... well, horrible. But I feel a little better after remembering the Republican Plunkitt.
Jul '10
Re: Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
The obtuseness of it all is just amazing. This is the attitude displayed by Murkowski and Castle and so many others. People who feel they are entitled to run things. And when that is threatened they lash out like spolied kindergartners. And they exist on both sides of the aisle - although the arrogance fits better with current-day liberalism.
This is exactly what the Tea Party is about. They just cannot see that.
This is the sort of thing that keeps tipping me farther towards a "toss 'em all out" mentality.
Jul '10
Re: Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
Mr. Robinson, this comment is also related to your previous post about Paladino. To preface, I'm originally from Nasasu County, my elder sister went to Cornell (Go Big Red!), I went to SUNY Geneseo (Go Knights!) and my younger brother is currently at SUNY Binghamton (Go Bearcats!). My father moved to New York from Toronto in 1977, and my mother has been here since 1982. We are a VERY New York family.
I think the previous post's analysis of the political situation is also spot on; Paladino can expect unwavering support Upstate, and needs strong showings in Staten Island, parts of Queens, and Nassau and Suffolk Counties to be a real threat to Cuomo.
However, the open letter by Al D'Amato makes clear that Paladino will have some trouble securing the support of the Nassau Republican Party. The real person to watch as to whether the discipline and effectiveness of the Nassau Republican apparatus can be put to use in favor of Paladino is Party Chairman Joe Mondello. Paladino will need to court Mondello if he wants to secure the Long Island vote. Whether his Tea Party sensibilities will allow this or not is another story.
Aug '10
Re: Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
This reminds me of a sting the FBI did in NY back in the 80s. They bribed all 112 county road supervisors and 105 took the bribe - the other 7 didn't because it was too low...
Re: Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
Humza Ahmad: Paladino can expect unwavering support Upstate, and needs strong showings in Staten Island, parts of Queens, and Nassau and Suffolk Counties to be a real threat to Cuomo.
However, the open letter by Al D'Amato makes clear that Paladino will have some trouble securing the support of the Nassau Republican Party. The real person to watch as to whether the discipline and effectiveness of the Nassau Republican apparatus can be put to use in favor of Paladino is Party Chairman Joe Mondello. Paladino will need to court Mondello if he wants to secure the Long Island vote. Whether his Tea Party sensibilities will allow this or not is another story. · Sep 20 at 5:54pm
An astute analysis, Humza. And I wonder: Can Paladino appeal to the Republicans of Nassau and Suffolk counties over the heads of party operatives such as Mondello? To some extent, I'm sure he can. But those are very expensive markets in which to advertise--to reach Nassau, you have to buy media in the city, perhaps the most expensive market on earth. And Mondello controls the get-out-the-vote apparatus. We shall see.
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 8:40pmJul '10
Re: Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
Paladino's a rich man, as you mentioned, so buying airtime and newspaper ads shouldn't be a problem. But having grown up on Long Island, I can say that TV, radio and newspaper ads were not how you noticed local candidates. It was the ubiquitous orange and blue lawn signs, the bumper stickers, the leaflets tucked into your front door, and the fact that on every block there was a local Republican committee member telling everyone they knew to vote for their guy. Perhaps Paladino can inject more capital- and technology-intensive PR means to get the word out in Long Island, but he will still need a small army of motivated boots on the ground to make up for the Party's support.
We shall see.
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 9:49pmMay '10
Re: Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
Silly Rabbit, there ain't no pulse to politics in this here state...
May '10
Re: Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
Humza Ahmad, do you really think D'Amato et al have any significant sway in 2010? I'm just hoping that Paladino can force Cuomo to spend/raise money that siphons it off from elsewhere. This state is hopeless; it needs to fall a lot further before anything can turn around.
Jul '10
Re: Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
I don't think D'Amato himself holds any direct influence on the outcome of elections, but the support of the Nassau County Republican Party can, for two reasons. First is the discipline and motivation of the membership in supporting candidates on a local level, as I described before. The second is as you alluded to in your previous post: New York voters (at least in Long Island) don't seem to be getting as motivated for or against the Tea Party as in other parts of the country. I'm optimistic that Paladino can motivate the electorate and make this election about issues rather than simply which party individual voters favor in general.
The Empire State never has been and never will be hopeless, my friend. What's needed is to light a fire inside individual New Yorkers to go vote, and elect leaders that will rectify a century's worth of government mismanagement and political atrophy. Here's hoping that Paladino can do that.
Sep '10
Re: Paladino "Unfit"? Ha!
Perhaps Paladino can inject more capital- and technology-intensive PR means to get the word out in Long Island, but he will still need a small army of motivated boots on the ground to make up for the Party's support.
Humza Ahmad - great posts. And, although I would never doubt the earth-wobbling impact of Ricochet posts, as you said above, what Paladino - and all of the underfunded Tea Party candidates - needs is a small army of boots on the ground. But given today's technology, "on the ground" can mean anyone who has friends in those areas with an email address. We are the boots on the ground.
It's always delicate to advocate for something among friends without sounding like spam but it can be done, and there won't be another year like this for a long time.
If you want to see the momentum for Paladino build (by the way, I went to Alfred, Oswego and Rochester - go SaxonLakerJackets!) then email some friends, put up a sign, or contact the campaign.