Gov. Andrew Cuomo is the personification of everything that's wrong with the Democratic Party.

[Smarmie Doofus]

Cross posted to GD. ( And very *slightly* updated.)

I stopped contributing to the NYS party about 6-7 years ago because of the quality of the political culture in this state and particularly because of the criminals and mediocrities that the culture... esp. the NYS Dem organization.... was producing. The money I saved, I sent to individual --- invariably progressive DEM --- candidates. And or to PDA.

Alas, it's only getting worse. ( Maybe I should start sending the state party cash again? Dream on.)

This ran in yesterday's NY Times. Columnist Michael Powell is *very* highly regarded for his integrity, accuracy and bravery.

Background: Due to an exceptional # of high-profile Albany ( mostly in the legislature but some in other branches of the govt.) pols...( mostly DEMs, btw) who were indicted, convicted, copped pleas, resigned because of ethical and legal transgressions over the last few painfully embarrassing years.... Cuomo felt obliged to impanel this Moreland Commission that is supposed to investigate corruption in Albany and follow the trail from there. Almost immediately they wanted to subpoena real estate people who were big Cuomo donors. Cuomo's people weren't happy and the subpoenas were quashed. Now there's talk of disbanding Moreland altogether.

I, for one, am sick of shit like this. Some DEMS are actually proposing Cuomo for the national ticket in 2016. Cuomo is chief among them. (Are you shocked?)

If Cuomo's on the national ticket I'll vote Communist. And forget about $$$ and volunteering.

Can't the national Democratic Party do something about its New York affiliate?

Here's Powell's piece:

>>>“The politicians in Albany won’t like it, but I work for the people, and I won’t stop fighting until we all have a government that we can trust.”
Connect With NYTMetro

— Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, in a commercial shown more than 100 times last summer.

Three months ago, the governor rolled out the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption, with all of his now-familiar trumpets, drum rolls and rhetorical flourishes.

His commission would be the best, the grandest ever. Anti-corruption, campaign finance, transparency and courage would be its watch words. Commission members salute him.

“Governor Cuomo has made it clear that corruption in New York’s government will not be tolerated,” said Kathleen Rice, the Nassau County district attorney and a chairwoman of the commission.

“Governor Cuomo is taking an aggressive and necessary step to strengthen our laws so that we can more effectively combat corruption,” said William J. Fitzpatrick, the Onondaga district attorney and another chairman.

All hail and all that. Three months later, here come the asterisks.

The commission will never back down.* (*Except when the governor’s aides suggest that subpoenaing the Real Estate Board of New York, which helped lobby for multimillion-dollar special tax abatements, was a rude step too far.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/15/nyregion/governors-crusade-against-corruption-comes-with-too-many-asterisks.html

[immoderate]

1. For some reason...

I don't trust Cuomo.

--imm

[hrmjustin]

6. He is too slippery. Also when they get to Albany they sell their souls.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

2. and I had such high hopes when he got in. :(

thanks for this.

[Squinch]

3. He's even dismantling some of his father's signature legislative achievements.

Early Intervention is one that I am familiar with. That alone is going to cost NY taxpayers billions over the life spans of the unserved children.

Can't stand this guy.

[Nite Owl]

4. Something about the guy

said he couldn't be trusted. He is so far from his dad.
I voted the Green party candidate in '12. It wasn't likely that Paladino would come close to winning and I could vote my conscience.

[ABCin2014]

5. After nearly 40 years as an active Democrat

I've changed my voter enrollment and am no longer a registered Democrat. I will not be a member of a political party that would have Cuomo as it's purported leader within my state. I hope the Republicans are smart enough to run a legitimate moderate against Cuomo so I have someone to vote for aside from Paladino or Trump (though either one would be really fun to watch). Even a moderate would be to the left of Cuomo.

[hrmjustin]

7. The GOP does not have moderates.

Paladino will probably run again.

[ABCin2014]

8. I'm not so sure about this.

I agree that its difficult for moderate Republicans to get past the primaries for national office, but many in NY are moderate. While I was never a fan of Pataki, he certainly was not to the far right. In some respects, Cuomo is much farther to the right than Pataki (education, for instance).

Keep in mind, in many parts of upstate NY, you have to be a Republican if you want a career in local government. In my town, not many elections are even contested.

That being said, if Paladino is the only one to run against Cuomo, he gets my vote. I figure Paladino is a clown who will be really fun to watch, and will get absolutely nothing done. I'd rather have an ineffectual Governor than one who has no regard for the constitution, who's only legal experience is failing the New York Bar exam four times, and who is using the office only to advance his own political ambitions at the expense of the State. There is a reason Cuomo is referred to in Albany as the Dark Prince.