With the appointment of US Senator Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama's Administration, Governor Patterson has a big decision to make. Fred Dicker wrote today about the pressure he faces in making this critical call. The NY Post also gave odds to a number of potential Democratic choices.
Knowing the Dem's and their childish desire for political correctness, I doubt that the "best" choice will be made. Rather, Gov. Patterson will more than likely select a woman to replace a woman in the US Senate. I would think that this would make the selection of Manhattan/Queens Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney as the most likely choice.
First of all, she's a millionaire, which today is nearly a prerequisite for the job. Actually, she's worth an estimated $50 million, which would put her in the top 10 of Senate seat holders in the country. Selecting Maloney will ensure that most of her Democratic Senate caucus will not feel uncomfortable eating their caviar in front of her in the Senate chamber.
Secondly, Maloney is vice-chair of the Joint Economic Committee, a House and Senate panel that examines and addresses the nation’s most pressing economic issues and serves as Chair of the House Financial Services Committee’s Financial Institutions Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the nation’s banking system. With the economic difficulties facing the nation, it would make sense for Patterson to appoint someone who is well versed in the financial services world and is based in Manhattan - a place where most of the immediate financial pain of this downturn is landing.
Other choices may make political sense, such as selecting AG Cuomo - which will remove a potential competitor for the Governor's job in 2010, but a selection such as that will only raise more questions for Patterson's ability to handle the Chief Executive job in New York. The AG is NOT the best qualified person to take the job and there are many others in the NY Democratic establishment who have been "waiting in line" much longer.
Also, the Huffington Post has suggested that former Candidate for Governor, Thomas Suozzi, is the best pick. I think that the Nassau County Executive not well known enough nationally to have any value as the next Senator from New York and, therefore, would not be the best advocate for New York in that important body.
Some more contentious potential selections are out there. Ben Smith has even suggested that Eliot Spitzer could be a possible choice and Huffington has pointed out that the selection of Bill Clinton is not out of the question.
Again, I agree that there's much riding on this selection, but unlike some of the mainstream predictions being made, I can't see how Governor Patterson selects a male to replace Hillary. What ever decision he ends up making, it's critical for the GOP to start working on our candidate to run the next time around...
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written by spunky , December 03, 2008
Maybe Patterson will appoint Bloomberg. He'll fit in real well with the rest of the liberals in the Senate. And he's definately rich enough to hang out with those grey-haired, hot-air bags.
written by Alibaba , December 03, 2008
I think he should appoint Eliot Spitzer. He would fit right in and we could laugh our heads off.
written by Jay Golub , December 05, 2008
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12...142738.htm
Maloney's supporters are starting to grow, yet it seems that she's not really in the proper pecking order for the job.
If she doesn't get the nod, I wonder what these women's groups will say about the appointment?
written by Jay Golub , December 05, 2008
http://www.ny1.com/content/new...fault.aspx
Looks like Caroline Kennedy isn't out of the running here...
written by Jay Golub , December 08, 2008
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12...143173.htm
Oh it's good to be the governor these days. Which person and line of financial supporters will owe him for life...
written by spunky , December 10, 2008
Looks like NY Dem's like the Kennedy royalty more than the Cuomo's.
The NY Post reported today that:
"Marist College survey found Dems prefer Kennedy over Cuomo by 31-21 percent."
The rest of the field:
"Rep. Nydia Velazquez of Brooklyn is backed by 6 percent of Democrats and 4 percent of all voters, followed by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, 5 percent and 6 percent, respectively; Rep. Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan, 5 and 3 percent; Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, 1 and 3 percent; and upstate Rep. Kirstin Gillibrand, 5 and 3 percent."
I think whomever Patterson picks, there could very well be a Democratic Primary for the slot next November.
written by Jay Golub , December 10, 2008
http://www.newsday.com/news/lo...4017.story
Congressman King is in the mix officially. What do UE readers think?...
written by Sword of Truth , December 10, 2008
Jay I think you might have missed one here, view
http://www.gillibrand.house.gov/, 2nd term Upstate Congresswoman just won a head on battle with the old GOP guard by upstaging former New York State Secretary of State, Sandy Treadwell, who spent in excess of 4 million dollars of his own money in trying to unseat Kirsten Gilldrand.
The 20th Congressional District in years past has been largely a GOP win, till Gillbrand unseated John Sweeney, who caused his own problems. She is known as a Blue Dog Dem., closely tied to Mrs. Clinton, is a strong fund raiser, is a young mother, is extremely well liked, has the Union support and has the energy and Intel to be a good Senator. She is also from Upstate, with the downstate connections and now that New York's GOP have created their own hic-ups, Kirsten Gillbrand might very well be closer to the next Senator than some think and the polls show. Downside, the GOP might very well win back the 20th District House seat.
Cuomo has his eyes on the Governor, Patterson will get played as weak and will get dragged down by Sen. Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, whose Dem's will take controlled of the NYS Senate, if the new Majority Leader Malcolm Smith can figure out how to cut a deal with to bring three dissident Democrats, Pedro Espada Jr., Carl Kruger and Ruben Diaz Sr., from defecting to the Republicans.
Rep. Peter King will be swinging for the fences in 2010 whoever the Dem pick.
written by Jay Golub , December 10, 2008
"Downside, the GOP might very well win back the 20th District House seat."
Not as long as a no-talent like Treadwell is running.
Also, it's doubtful that someone like Gillbrand will be selected as it doesn't help the NY Democratic Party's powerbase increase influence in D.C. She is not well known or infuential enough to get much done in the Senate - especially because it's controlled by such powerful national Democrats.
The Dem's aren't politically adept enough to understand how Gillbrand would be a difficult person for a Republican to unseat in 2010 - Patterson will not be thinking that way.
Sadly, it's human nature for Patterson - as the sole appointer of this seat - to think like his corrupt counterpart in Illinois. Patterson wants to "get something" for this selection. Picking Gillbrand may have all the positive attributes as you describe, but she's no pay-dirt for him and now the Dem's have to defend a difficult to defend seat in Congress that they just took away from the GOP.
Maloney, if appointed, will just pass her seat on to the next Democrat in line on the upper-east side - a much easier transition. I still put my money on her...
written by Jay Golub , December 13, 2008
http://www.politico.com/news/s...16512.html
nice wrap-up by Ben Smith on this topic at Politico.com...
"The question is experience," said Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran New York Democratic consultant. "Can she do what needs to be done?"
He also questioned whether the Kennedy name, so potent in the past, would enthrall 21st century New Yorkers.
"So they decided to rename the [Triboro] Bridge [after Robert F. Kennedy]," he said. "But if you went to the street and asked ten people under 50 who this guy was, they wouldn't know what you're talking about."
...those are some pretty harsh words for the Kennedy family coming from one of NY's most respected Democratic consultants. I think she's out of the running as there's no way Patterson wants the NY Congressional delegation - and other prominent Dems - furious at selecting someone like Caroline...
written by Jay Golub , January 07, 2009
http://www.politickerny.com/13...iet-please
King Bloomberg just can't help himself. he's so damn convinced that his opinion matters above all. It's actually embarrassing to watch...
written by Alessandra , January 07, 2009
I suspect that Paterson may want the Kennedy name at the top of the ticket when he runs again in two years.
written by chancehaywood , January 07, 2009
Do you think he is hoping for some positive impact from down vote brought about by the Kennedy name? If that is your logic it is a wee bit faulty since he would be at the topic of the ticket.
written by Alessandra , January 07, 2009
I think he believes that the Kennedy name helps him. Otherwise, it makes no sense at all. You know, uh. . .
written by Jay Golub , January 07, 2009
the reason Kennedy is in the mix is because Obama and the national Democratic Party are pushing it. This is why Patterson is in such a bind - as he needs the Dem's in DC, both in Congress AND the adminstration, yet he has internal NY politics to deal with.
Selecting her may been seen as helping his ability to get things from Washington, yet he could be challenged by some frustrated local dems.
Not selecting her may please his local dems, aiding in his re-election (especially if he picks Cuomo or Levy), yet considering how useless this bunch has proven themselves to be over the past few years in "bringing home the bacon," it may not be worth it in the long run.
Kennedy's potential selection has NOTHING to do with her name being on a ballot...
written by Quickjustice , January 07, 2009
This U.S. Senate seat has been auctioned off as much as Blogo's, but without federal wiretaps in Paterson's office.
The Kennedys and their supporters, including Obama, have promised Paterson as much money as he needs for his election campaign, plus the support of nationally prominent Democratic heavy -hitters.
Kennedy is a shoo-in for the appointment, assuming Hillary gets confirmed as Secretary of State. Her lack of qualifications is irrelevant. Her "glamor" is important.
We've been in the age of celebrity politics for some time. For the moment, the Kennedys remain political celebrities. And as for the rumors that Caroline and Pinch are romantically entwined? Who knows?
written by Jay Golub , January 07, 2009
I think that if either Cuomo or Levy aren't selected for this post, both of them will run for Governor. Both of them can raise enough money to get the job done no matter how much the national Dem's, Obama and the Kennedy's raise for Patterson. Additionally, NY State will fare quite poorly under this new adminstration. Tax hikes on those making over $250K only hurt a few locales in America, and NY is one of them. Although we already overpay our Federal tax bill to the tune of about $40 billion or so a year, the ratio will actually get worse and will leave NY State's budget woes essentially without a workable solution.
Patterson needs to be a fighter for New York, both because it is the only way for this state to financially survive and because it is the ONLY way for him to win re-election.
The "accidental" governor has fallen into a number of difficult decisions. How he handles both the two budgets that will be his responsibility and how he handles his relationship with Obama and Congress - including this crucial appointment - will set the tone for his chances for re-election.
If Patterson caves in here, he'll have a local mutiny on his hands and when Washington disappoints him, he will not have a positive record to run on in 2010...
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