13 Comments

1. chris smith says:

   October 28, 2008 at 12:40 pm

   on day one everything changes? the first step is admitting we have a problem? god never gives us more than we can handle?

   there must be a platitude that we can use to make ourselves feel better…
2. Chris says:

   October 28, 2008 at 1:01 pm

   “You had me at hello”?
3. lulu says:

   October 28, 2008 at 1:15 pm

   How about “Look what the cat dragged in”?

   Possible cost cutting measure: Abolish all NYS Authorities.
4. The Humanist says:

   October 28, 2008 at 1:16 pm

   Praise the Lawd and pass the K-Y…
5. Mav- says:

   October 28, 2008 at 1:46 pm

   Although nearly one third of New York State residents having attained a bachelors degree or higher, ranking us 9th among states for college attainment its worth asking if the candidates election messages speak more to “Joe the Plumber” rather than to “Joe the College Student”, leaving the intellectual and conservative voter disaffected. Intelligence is important in this race, as the Republicans that have endorsed Obama have noted and his surge of support suggests.

   Because of the quirks of New York State’s registration process, independent voters are difficult to identify. It is estimated that 40 percent of voters today are independent and these voters tend to be fiscally conservative, strong on defense, adamant about maintaining low taxes and balanced budgets, while open to moderate positions on social issues, civil unions for example. The plausible lesson of New York City, where despite an overwhelming democratic voter registration advantage Republican mayors are elected, is that many registered Democrats are, in fact, independents and thus open to the thoughtful conservative message.

   What happens in New York State politics, particularly the potential single party concentration of power should the Democrats win the Senate could have an effect on State finances, which in turn can influence the national and global situation. New York State is not just another State: unfortunately it is at present “ground-zero” for the world-wide economic meltdown, while having an economic meltdown of its own. New York State’s leadership, our “three men in a room”, need to ensure that actions taken at the State level do not precipitate any further damage to the economy generally, and in particular the financial and insurance industries headquartered here.

   In examining the three outcomes in the Senate race there is only one that is good for the nation – the GOP maintaining the majority. But let’s examine the three options to validate this conclusion.

   Option one: A 31:31 outcome precipitates a constitutional crisis, and the loss of one house as a partner in crafting a response to the State’s budget crisis which could send a destabilizing message.

   Option two: A flip will result in chaos due to the likely in-fight for power, leadership inexperience, and mass jettisoning of experienced personnel, plus the inevitable calls for the Governor to mediate when he can least afford to lose focus on more important issues. In this scenario the State is most likely to send a destabilizing message to critical industries and decision makers. After 9/11 many companies moved out of New York City and out of State. We cannot afford to send the Democratic message that we are poised and ready to tax and regulate to solve the State’s fiscal problems. We will lose critical industries and in turn, critical revenues thus triggering a vicious spiral.

   Option three: The Senate GOP wins thus bringing both experience at the legislative and staff level, and fresh leadership open to consideration of new ideas and solutions with a history of working with the Assembly and Governor to the table. This is the best outcome for Berlin New York…and Berlin Germany!

   USE YOUR BRAIN & VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN!

   Mav-
6. Ward says:

   October 28, 2008 at 2:16 pm

   Well, it seems like our State would do well to consider something like a 15% across-the-board departmental spending reduction to bring the budget under control.

   Can’t claim credit for this idea, though–it came from Mesi’s opponent. I’m sure SEIU, CSEA and PEF won’t permit Baby Joe anywhere near the idea.
7. Mike In WNY says:

   October 28, 2008 at 3:26 pm

   We were f*cked before, most people either didn’t realize it or wouldn’t admit it.

   Platitude: You made your bed, now lie in it.
8. mike says:

   October 28, 2008 at 3:43 pm

   Its takes a blind man to see the what the republican’s refuse too.
9. Bill Altreuter says:

   October 28, 2008 at 3:44 pm

   Mav– your analysis is premised on the flawed and discredited notion that government is the problem, and that if we can’t eliminate it, an accdeptable second choice is to render it incapable of action. The fact is that this is exactly what we have had in Albany for generations. It is difficult to imagine what a more dysfunctional government might look like. I have no love for either house of New York’s appalling Legislature, but it seems to me that the State Senate may have a greater concentration of knaves, crooks and fools than the Assembly. In any event, we are presented this season with an opportunity,unique in my lifetime, to see a number of the incumbents– the people who have presided over the collapse of the Empire State– voted out. This is too important to screw up. New York is in dire straits, and we are going to have to make fundamental changes across the board if we are going to escape insolvency. Much to my surprise, Patterson appears prepared to do what is necessary– let’s give him a Legislature that will work with him.

   Good grief, you can’t seriously think that tired old hacks like Darth Volker are going to be of any use in this crisis, can you?
10. Russell says:

    October 28, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Bill, that “flawed and discredited notion” as you claim, sounds pretty much like what the framers of our Constitution had in mind when drafting it.

    mike, I know the party line is to always blame the Republicans, but we’re talking about New York State. It’s just about as blue as they come. The Democrats have had a hand in the power in this state for as long as any of us have been alive, and longer.
11. Timothy Domst says:

    October 28, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    Voting out incumbents will not help when the “new blood” is made up of people like Mesi, who are pawns of the party bosses that perpetuate the state house rules which ensure that the corrupt “three men in a room” situation continues. Who cares if new people come in, without the rules changing? If a new assemblyman gets in thinking he could be the new Sheldon Silver someday, then nothing will have changed for the better. We need what both parties don’t want us to be able to vote for by either a candidate that would vote for changes to the rules or by amendments to the State Constitution, if that’s possible.

    My guess is that they will try to balance the budget by transferring some assets to authorities, make a few cuts, and keep the same rules in place. In a few years the same crisis will happen again.
12. TheRover says:

    October 28, 2008 at 10:05 pm

    New York State is a mess economically, we all know it. Has been for as far back as anyone can remember. Still waiting for all those jobs Hilary promised and Shumer, well, all he does is rant while looking for a camera to get in front of. Wish Mr “70% of the vote” Spitzer was still here. Maybe he could file a state lawsuit to force private employers to hire more people. But don’t worry. Give Obama, Pelosi and Reid to reins to the US economy and within 4 yrs the whole nation will be as “robust” as NY. That’ll be some kinda change, won’t it?
13. Timothy Domst says:

    October 29, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    Clinton and Shumer aren’t responsible for New York’s troubles because they aren’t in Albany, they’re in Washington, and the US isn’t even close to being as f*cked as NYS.