NY gov race SHOCKER!

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Who'd've guessed Spitzer wanted to run for governor???

BUFFALO, May 30 — Promising to confront the culture of Albany with the same zeal he has pursued Wall Street executives, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer received the overwhelming backing of New York Democratic Party leaders today in his run for governor.

"For the last 12 years, as the economy has been transformed and the world has moved forward and our people have struggled, it is only Albany that has stood remarkably still," Mr. Spitzer, 46, said in his roughly 20-minute speech to more than 400 convention delegates at a hotel ballroom downtown. "If you have a problem, they don't have the answer, if there's a challenge to be met, they have an excuse to avoid it."

"On day one of a Spitzer administration, everything changes," he added.

In the race to replace Mr. Spitzer as Attorney General, Democrats overwhelmingly nominated Andrew M. Cuomo, the former Housing Secretary under President Clinton. He picked up support from 67 percent of the delegates, beating former Mark Green, the former New York City Public Advocate, who picked up 19 percent, and three other candidates.

Mr. Spitzer still faces a long-shot challenge within his own party from Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi. Though Mr. Suozzi did not participate in the state Democratic convention and his name was not even mentioned this morning, he is making appearances on his own around Buffalo and is pursuing a spot on the primary ballot through a signature drive.

But the party leadership has rallied around Mr. Spitzer and his chosen candidate for Lieutenant Governor, David Paterson, the minority leader of the state Senate, designating them to retake the governor's mansion after what Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver called a "12-year-long plague," referring to Gov. George E. Pataki's tenure.

Democratic Party officials hope sagging poll ratings for President Bush and Mr. Pataki might give the party a chance to sweep the executive branch of New York State's government. To that end, they presented a mostly unified front in Buffalo, with the only drama of the convention set for this afternoon, when delegates reconvene to tackle the most contentious race, attorney general, with several candidates vying to replace Mr. Spitzer.

But the morning was about Mr. Spitzer and Mr. Paterson. Considering that much of Mr. Spitzer's speech was devoted to blasting the culture of state government, Albany lawmakers on both sides of the aisle could find a Spitzer administration uncomfortable.

Little was spared: Mr. Spitzer said he would end "pay-to-play politics, where you do business with a politician one day and make a campaign contribution the next." He called the state's hundreds of public authorities "wasteful" and "secretive," adding that they "run so many aspects of our lives without telling us what they're spending money on and why."

He said there would be "no more lifetime appointments to the state legislature," suggesting that he might try to overhaul a daunting electoral system and fund-raising rules that allow legislators to easily win re-election.

And he promised to perform the miracles that most politicians promise to do: lower taxes while extending health-care coverage, improving education and reviving moribund upstate economies and struggling cities like Buffalo.

"Truth be told, it's going to be a pretty busy first day," he said.

Asked about Mr. Spitzer's comment that legislators effectively have lifetime appointments, Mr. Silver said, "I don't think they exist right now, but I'm there as his partner, will be there on day one, and we will make this government work."

As for Mr. Spitzer's broader comments about Albany, Mr. Silver added, "I think he was clearly talking about the second floor," referring to the floor of the Capitol building where Mr. Pataki has his office.

[red-beard]

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
"On day one of a Spitzer administration, everything changes," he added.

Hmmmm. Do you think he will fire the 5/6th of the NYS Governmental employees that have been hired since 1980? Do you think he can reduce taxes and change the business climate that makes companies and employers flee? Will he eliminate those laws which illegally restrict the freedoms of NY State residents and vistors?

Yeah, I didn't think so...

But will Bill Weld do this stuff either?

Nah, I didn't think so either...