Fire

[H2O Man]

The FBI presented a case to a federal grand jury, resulting in indictments being returned against New York State Senator Thomas Libous. Below are two links to regional newspapers’ reports on this corrupt republican:


http://www.thedailystar.com/localnews/x1927835487/Sen-Libous-charged-with-lying-to-FBI-agents


http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20140701/NEWS35/307010020/Sen-Thomas-Libous-Binghamton-charged-lying-FBI-agents


Why should D.U.ers be interested in this story? One reason is that, a couple of years ago, forum member H2O Man engaged in a hunger strike, to pressure Libous to meet with representatives of the pro-environment, anti-hydrofracking citizens. Will Pitt had authored an article for TruthOut about this. (Link below)

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/6074:in-the-clearing-stands-a-boxer-one-mans-fight-against-fracking


On the 8th day of the hunger strike, after I spoke to over 1,000 people attending a rally in the State Office Building in Albany, NY, state senator Libous finally met with me. Shortly after that, a group of environmental activists (including myself) met with Libous’s two top aides.

I have been following Libous’s legal and ethical “troubles” for years. In recent times, I had begun an effort to organize a run against him for later this year. Besides this case, he has recently been called out for failure to report his wife’s and his investments in the gas industry. More, he recently sold out upstate public schools.

Although Libous claimed he was going to run for re-election this fall, I have been told -- by way of reliable republican sources -- that he is being replaced by a local assemblyman. He might not know it yet. But the state party considers him damaged goods …..too damaged to back again.

Why should forum members care? For one thing, these news reports note something that I’ve spoken of here before: Libous is a close friend, and political partner, of Governor Andrew Cuomo. Indeed, Cuomo calls him his “mentor.”

That fact should be recognized whenever we discuss the concept of the Democratic Left’s relationship with the Democratic Party. Now, I’m a registered democrat. I voted for Andrew’s father, Mario cumo, in every election contest that I could possibly vote in. I met Governor Mario Cuomo a couple of times, on Native American business. I liked and trusted him. The son, not so much. The fact that he and Libous worked on a plan to make NY’s Southern Tier a “sacrifice zone” for fracking confirmed every bad thing I thought about Andrew.

And finally, I want to say one more thing that is important. At least, I think it is. I wanted to run against Libous. I could easily run 3rd party; however, I wanted to be on the Democratic Party’s ticket -- as well as on a 3rd party that I break bread with. However, it appears Libous is done. More, in discussions with party leaders in a few counties in this district, I found that two others planned to run. I would gladly have followed through on a primary contest, but there is another candidate that I can feel good about supporting.

Obviously, the issues I care about are most important to me. (I even rank them in significance identical to myself!) But we need coalition movements at this time. One candidate, who has experience on a county board, has two qualities that I think are important: she’s female, and a retired public school teacher. Now, not just any female or teacher would have my support. But she does.

So I think this case is important. It highlights the connections between government, big business, organized crime, and the “energy” corporations’ strangle-hold on democracy.

Divided, we are but individual fingers that our common enemy can easily twist and break. United, we form a powerful fist, fully capable of protecting all of our rights.

Peace,
H2O Man

[H2O Man]

1. higher

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, H2O Man.

[H2O Man]

5. Thank you!

My four children -- three of whom are old enough to vote -- are very excited about this news, and the candidate that I'm supporting. (Waiting for a return call now!)

It's getting to be busy around here, Uncle Joe! I'm finishing another paper for the FL candidate for the House of Representatives that I'm volunteering with. He met Bill Clinton last night -- a good sign that the Democratic Party recognizes him as a serious candidate.

[Uncle Joe]

6. That is good news, H2O Man.

Peace to you and yours.

[sheshe2]

7. Thank you for all that you do H2O Man.

Great news!

[H2O Man]

10. Though I may be old,

I can still rumble!

This campaign will allow me a platform for discussing issues involving public education. That's very important to me. As a school board member, I believe in advocating for students and teachers. Some of the crap being pulled in the state and federal government convinces me that there is absolutely a "war on public education." And that translates into a war on democracy.

[sheshe2]

12. An educated nation is a winning nation, again thank you.

We're not old H2O Man, we are just now hitting our stride.

[H2O Man]

13. Right!

The history of government aid to public education is fascinating for me. The first national politician to advocate for it -- Senator Daniel Dickenson -- married a young lady from the first family to live in this house. Daniel worked at a cloth & carding factory located at the waterfalls; my youngest son found the mill stone they used, buried a few inches deep, back in 1996.

Public education's primary goal, as identified by Dickenson, was to educate young people to be informed participants in our democracy. By no coincidence, both he and his wife had been school teachers.

[scarletwoman]

3. Thank you for this news. Sounds like this guy deserves all the "troubles" he can get.

I take it that you have found it unnecessary to run for office now. That's cool - while it would have been delightful to support you in a political campaign, I suspect your true calling and your true strength is something other than running for office.

Peace to you, too.

[H2O Man]

8. Thank you, my Friend!

I much prefer the "behind the scenes" things .....I'm writing for a friend running for Congress in Florida. We've made amazing progress in the past month. (I'll post links to some of my work there soon! I have to say, I impress myself, sometimes!)

I do think that, in a toe-to-toe competition, I'd have beat Libous. It was all about timing. Plus, two friends had some outrageous film from the State Office Building, that we've saved .... it exposes Libous for the petty character he is. It will still be used, somehow!

Mighty hot and humid here on the east coast. Dang near prepared the rocks for a sweat today, just to cool off. But all this political stuff has kept me mighty busy today!

[BootinUp]

4. K&R

[H2O Man]

11. Thank you!

[sheshe2]

9. KnR

[Hekate]

14. Thank you for everything you do, H2O Man. Thanks for this report.

Peace backatcha,

Hekate

[H2O Man]

15. And thank you.

For those who may be interested, I will likely be posting much more information on the legal case as it moves forward.

Libous, of course, would be a complete fool, to try to fight it. He needs his attorney to try to make the best deal possible.

Locally, members of the legal community -- including a couple regional leaders of the Democratic Party -- have voiced some mild support for Libous .....in large part, due to his having cancer. Obviously, that is a disease we wouldn't wish on anyone. But it is distinct from his corrupt activities.

One of the lawyers said (on FaceBook) that this is a minor charge. Not so. Some of the other potential charges, however, fall on the state level. And Governor Cuomo recently ended the state-wide investigation into corruption in Albany.

There is much more to this, as the old saying goes, than meets the eye. I suspect that some of what I have planned for DU will then be picked up by the corporate media. Kind of like with old Scooter Libby. (grin)

[Stuart G]

16. k and r..wonderful post about Libous and Cuomo...nt

[H2O Man]

17. Thanks.

I think it is essential that we recognize the partnership that Cuomo and Libous formed.

[Historic NY]

18. You should cross post this in the New York group

[H2O Man]

19. I wondered about that.

I normally only post in DU:GD and sports (about boxing).

[Renew Deal]

20. If people look at what Cuomo is up to, they will be shocked.

[H2O Man]

23. Right.

He's mighty close to politicians such as Libous and JG Governor Christie. That's not a coincidence.

[rustydog]

21. Thanks for the news and Peace out!

[H2O Man]

24. Thank you!

Much appreciated.

[malaise]

22. This is huge Waterman

Rec

[H2O Man]

25. It is going

to result in others being charged for being "organized corruption." That's what government has become, far too often.

I'll be reporting, here on DU, as this moves forward. This indictment is the tip of the ice-cube.

[malaise]

28. I will be following this one

Thanks

[Tetris_Iguana]

26. KnR

[H2O Man]

29. Thanks!

[gwheezie]

27. Fascinating thank you

I live in Virginia so don't keep up with many issues in other states so your post and links were enlightening.
It's good to know the inside story of people aiming for national office. I hope to read more updates.

[H2O Man]

31. It'll be interesting to see

if Andrew Cuomo continues to support Libous. I don't think loyalty is one of the governor's most notable qualities.

[panader0]

30. I liked this part:

"Obviously, the issues I care about are most important to me. (I even rank them insignificance identical to myself!)"

[H2O Man]

32. I have been

thinking about posting an essay on the way that coalitions can best present a united front. One of the ways that DU does reflect the larger culture is the manner in which many people here place their particular cause so far above all others, that it makes coordination difficult, or even impossible. Many of the petty disagreements we witness on this forum reflect the same nonsense that handcuffs those who should be working together for social justice.

[panader0]

34. What I meant

was that I deeply admire those who hold their beliefs so strongly that they have the same significance as their own being.
Admirable

[H2O Man]

35. Thank you.

I appreciate that. I do try to live my values, so to speak. Of course, I'm fully aware of my many shortcomings.

One of the things that I have learned is that it is not only important that we not judge others, with rare exceptions .... it is essential that we forgive. When we learn that properly, we can begin to forgive ourselves -- not make excuses, but accept that we, too, are sad and weakly human.

That provides, in my opinion, the proper foundation for our being able to reach our individual potentials in the struggle for social justice. To become part of the larger effort. If I've come close to accomplishing that in this strange life-time, then I'll be pleased.

Again, thank you. Your contributions on the OPs/threads I participate in make me feel good, in the sense that you always seem to know what I'm trying to say.

[Quantess]

33. K & R

[H2O Man]

36. Thanks!

[spanone]

37. k&r...

[H2O Man]

38. Thank you!

[Lone_Wolf]

39. I am a constituent of this corrupt P.O.S.

Last edited Thu Jul 31, 2014, 11:53 PM - Edit history (1)

It is amazing to me how he can maintain his "nice" guy image despite how corrupt he is. I also have been following him through the years. He has made his family, friends, and himself millions through shady partnerships, pay-to-play schemes, quid pro quo business arrangements, and the like. Him and his friends basically control the area and are masters of taking public money and making it theirs.

His involvement with Da Vinci II LLC he is very suspicious. I have reason to believe the documents he suddenly came up with that "showed" he and his wife divested from it in 2008 were forged to cover up the fact that he was caught with a vested interested in NG development in NY. Why do I think this? These were never filed with the state and Da Vinci II LLC still showed up on his financial disclosures as late as 2013. It doesn't add up.

I believe he is running this time around to primarily raise money to pay his lawyers. His campaign has spent around $75K so far. What is interesting is Jon Campbell, a former Press and Sun-Bulletin reporter, had a great story about how much money his campaign has sunk into his legal defense fees. This story was in many other newspapers throughout the state, except for the ones here in Libous's district. I don't think that is a coincidence.