11 Comments

1. shopitall says:

   February 15, 2007 at 11:23 am

   The “daddies” still playing “mine’s bigger!”

   They should only spend as much time doing some work as they do preening and protecting their interests……….how dare they hire an unqualified political hack like DiNapoli?

   The next item on the agenda should be cleaning up that cess pool in Albany.

   UGH!
2. Haterade says:

   February 15, 2007 at 12:47 pm

   Substitute “jackass” for “tough guy”.
3. Chuck says:

   February 15, 2007 at 1:38 pm

   Let me get this straight. Three politicians in a room (Spitzer, Bruno & Silver) by-pass 212 elected State Legislators in favor of a recommendation from a non-elected panel of politicians.

   When the legislators with the constitutional power to appoint loudly protest and shout down the back room deal, those same legislators are widely criticized for renegging on the deal?

   And the loudest voices in outrage are heard from those advocates for reform who have been shouting the loudest against government by “3 men in a room?”

   Shouldn’t the reformers now be taking shots at the “3 men in a room” government that has produced this rancor? Shouldn’t there be calls for reform of the process to at least provide for a special election? Take it out of the hands of the 3 or the 212 and put it back with the People where it belongs?

   As far as our new Gov., I hope he gets his sea legs and learns how to effectively deal with the entrenched Albany establishment, as he has some ideas on real reform that NY sorely needs to see implemented. But, at least at this early stage, he seems perfectly willing to perpetuate the art of the Albany back room deal as long as he is one of the men in the room and he gets his way.

   And as far as quals, wasn’t Hevesi once City Controller? Where is he now? I have no idea whether or not DiNapoli will competently perform the duties of Comptroller. Here’s hoping that he is at least competent. But the deed is done and its time to move on.
4. hank kaczmarek says:

   February 15, 2007 at 5:01 pm

   The issue is about breaching an agreement. That’s what the legislature did. That’s what they need to answer for. Not to Spitzer, but to us.

   Absolutely Right.

   As for Chuck, he’s obviously forgotten a couple of items.
   1. Spitzer could have appointed anyone he wanted before the Assembly went into session, one of those “Recess Appointments”. This he chose not to do, and the Assembly couldn’t have done anything about it.

   2. Since Spitzer wanted someone who had the accounting background, as well as likely some public management background, he appoints a board of people who formerly held the job to give a list of candidates for the Assembly TO VOTE ON. The Assembly tells Spitzer to go screw himself and votes one of their own, who doesn’t pack the requisite gear, to do the job.

   I guess it matters not to the 212 elected terminal intestinal orifices who sit in the chamber that perhaps it would be in the best interests of the people who were ignorant enough to vote their asses back into office to do the right thing by them, and get a comptroller who could do a proper job.

   NYS–the New Banana Republic. Freakin’ shame.
5. Slim Pickens says:

   February 15, 2007 at 5:05 pm

   Either way, it is the legislature who holds the power to make the appointment. You want to change that, change the constitution.
6. thesportsroadtrip says:

   February 15, 2007 at 5:07 pm

   And right after the legislature vote, didn’t we see Dale hopping up on the back of a pick up truck to sip his champagne and mug for the cameras?

   Or did we see Dale at HSBC Arena with his pal Bruno, his head bobbing up and down in Golisano’s lap?

   This guy is one of the WORST pieces of dung in elected office, and looking at the cast of characters we have here in the WNY delegation, that is saying a lot.
7. hank kaczmarek says:

   February 15, 2007 at 7:00 pm

   Slim, Between the Gerrymandering of Districts, the Black holes of Authorities and IDA’s, and the current “Cast of Characters”, the NYS Constitution Shouldn’t be changed, it should be BURNED, and start over from scratch.

   No Authorities, no IDA’s, Assemblymen and Senators representing actual counties with boundaries, that could make for some actual REFORM!
8. Bob Catalano says:

   February 15, 2007 at 11:32 pm

   Volker is emblematic of the WNY delegation. He’s intellectually bankrupt, hanging in there, biding his time, padding his pension, making sure the boat doesn’t rock in the western reaches of the Empire, making sure the staus quo remains static, making sure nothing happens.

   In a recent TV interview he was asked about the possiblilty of removing the tolls. He laughed, mockingly: “You can’t eliminate those tolls. Where will the money come from to maintain the Thruway? That money is needed. Right now we’ll concentrate on moving the Williamsville barrier, then…maybe…in a few years, maybe we can talk about removing the tolls”. [paraphrased]

   Weeks later, after the lawsuit and public pressure came to critical mass, and the tolls were axed, a photo opp was scheduled at the Breckenridge barrier. Dale Volker was seen climbing over the tops of onlookers, frantically fighting to get into that picture, pushing women and children out of the way, determined to get his face into the shot, onto that bandwagon, determined to take credit for the removal of the tolls. And there was Volker’s smiling face.

   I would bet the farm that Volker mailed his smiling picture to thousands of his constituents proclaiming Dale’s victory in removing the tolls.

   And thousands of folks looked at the brochure and said ‘god bless you Dale”.

   Volker is not tough, he just talks tough. Like a lot of over the hill old guys, he talks the talk but it’s been years since he could walk the walk. It’s all a pathetic act. But that’s what our politicians do. What else can he do? Go back to the railroad? Nah.

   Maybe he will do the right thing and resign. C’mon Dale, take the pension and run. Fort Myers beckons.
9. Charles says:

   February 16, 2007 at 9:24 am

   Hank says:

   “1. Spitzer could have appointed anyone he wanted before the Assembly went into session, one of those “Recess Appointments”. This he chose not to do, and the Assembly couldn’t have done anything about it.”

   Not true. As usual, the operatives touting such point only tell half the story and the argument is at best only arguable. The legislature sure could do something about it.

   While the Gov may have been able to make a recess appointment, his power was quite limited by time.

   The relevant statute is the Public Officers Law.

   Section 40 provides:
   § 40. Vacancy occurring in office of legislative appointee, during
   legislative recess. When a vacancy shall occur or exist, otherwise than
   by expiration of term, during the recess of the legislature, in the
   office of any officer appointed by the legislature, the governor shall
   appoint a person to fill the vacancy for a term which shall expire at
   the end of twenty days from the commencement of the next meeting of the
   legislature.

   § 41. Vacancies filled by legislature. When a vacancy occurs or
   exists, other than by removal, in the office of comptroller or
   attorney-general, or a resignation of either such officer to take effect
   at any future day shall have been made while the legislature is in
   session, the two houses thereof, by joint ballot, shall appoint a person
   to fill such actual or prospective vacancy.