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The Feeding Frenzy Over NY Gov. David Paterson (272 hits)

Regarding this story on the latest developments in the hunt for Paterson:

"Ethics Panel: Paterson Broke Law By Accepting Free World Series Tickets"

"As his administration crumbles around him in an abuse of power scandal related to an aide's domestic violence case, New York Gov. David Paterson now faces new charges that he broke state law by soliciting and receiving free tickets to the opening game of the World Series last year, and then lying about it."

"The New York State Commission on Public Integrity found in a report that Paterson got primo tickets -- for seats behind home plate, with a face value of $425 each -- for himself, his son, and a son's friend, in violation of a state gift ban."

"The ethics commission also found 'reasonable cause to believe' that Paterson falsely testified under oath that he always intended to pay for the tickets of his son and the son's friend. In fact, he allegedly wrote a backdated check for $850 to the Yankees only after a press inquiry on the matter."

"The case has been referred to the Albany County DA and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who is already investigating Paterson's role allegedly intervening in a top aide's domestic violence case."

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/...

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Given all the graft that goes on in politics under the rubric of "campaign contributions," and given that lobbyists spend 100s of millions of dollars every year "lobbying" congress and state politicians, you have to wonder what is really going on when suddenly, today, we find that the governor got World Series tickets from the Yankees for him, his son and his son's friend. The cost of these tickets total $1275, a sum that makes Paterson's contention that he had planned to pay for the ticket all the more believable. And him backdating the check is no indication of anything other than that he planned to pay for the tickets back then.

The feeding frenzy and the piling on, driven by NYC tabloids, seems strange even for them, given the ferocity with which they aer going after Paterson.

I would imagine if the same standard was applied to congresspersons in DC, the capital would be damn near empty.

I think the message is clear: Paterson is wanted out of the governor's office, not in ten months, but now. The question is, why?

People cheer the NY Times for bringing down Spitzer and now on the verge of getting Paterson. But the hypocrisy of all this is just sickening. Where the hell was the times over the eight years of Bush/Cheney, when they were lying us into a war that so far has cost the lives of millions? Where were their exposes and muckracking journalism then?

Its too easy to go after the relatively powerless; let them go after the real powers on Wall Street and in Washington, and then I'll be able to look upon what they are doing to Paterson as "business as usual."

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Wednesday, March 3rd 2010 at 5:35PM
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HI Clark:

I just posted a blog sharing a column in today's NY Daily news by Errol Louis, one of our clearest Progressive voices here in NY--and an African-American--who shines the spotlight on the real victim here--the woman whose abuse claims went unheeded and who was intimidated and cajoled into dropping her effort to get a restraining order for what turned out to be political damage control.

A number of women did not survive the effort to legally stop their abuser. The law needs to provide better protection for these women.

Wednesday, March 3rd 2010 at 5:52PM
Richard Kigel

Yes, Clark. Good point. Paterson is certainly not the perpetrator.

But if you read Errol Louis' piece he is focusing on the legal mechanisms in place that are supposed to protect absued women but failed miserably in this case and in case after case. That is why his piece is about the true victim whose legitimate complaints were ignored by agency after agency. And you are right--Paterson has nothing to do with that--except making the effort to protect his friend and advisor who was the accused.

It is a sad case all around.

Wednesday, March 3rd 2010 at 8:26PM
Richard Kigel

Wow, ClarK:

I remember that quote from Donovan at the time. It made headlines. I was teaching a college class in Critical Thinking and I brought the headline in to show my students the real world consequences of jumping to premature conclusions based on assumptions which turn out to be false.

I am so glad you brought that up.

The media loves scandals. Feeding Frenzy is exactly the right word for it.

You might take a little encouragement from a new Quinnipiac Poll in New YOrk State which conluded that a majority of New Yorkers want the Governor to stay on the job, at least for now. People are sick of revolving door political leaders and there is a common sense understanding that the media exaggerates things way out of all proportion.

He does, however, owe his constiuents some explanations. And he needs to focus on his job.

l

Thursday, March 4th 2010 at 3:48PM
Richard Kigel

Clark:

That is exactly right. It seems like you've been around New York politics all your life! His saving grace is that he is so well liked. I don't think he has any political enemies. However, the many people asking for his head are just fed up with what you call "bumbling" and lack of leadership.

And, rightly, the Democrats do not want to lose the statehouse in the next election in November. That might be the strongest incentive of all for him to remove himself from the scene.

This is the third major resignation in his administration. He is going to have to demonstrate to the citizens that he can hold it together.

Thursday, March 4th 2010 at 5:56PM
Richard Kigel

Pattern should have seen it coming is all I can say... & another one bites the dust. NY politics at its best!
Saturday, March 6th 2010 at 4:11PM
Jen Fad

What? a blind man-drugs, women, and ascending to Governor of the Biggest State in the USA. Will someone show him the door out of Our Lives.
Saturday, March 6th 2010 at 4:42PM
robert powell

Right, Irma (alias "Shorty")

Rachel Maddow is AWESOME!!!

Saturday, March 6th 2010 at 5:30PM
Richard Kigel

Clark, I am so glad to see this blog on abuse of power.."I" realize that a lot of things "I" say about what is going on in our society /here on site/ seen on our public air waves can make some believe I am only talking about skin color...but how can I even bring up a qusetion to you about ABUSE OF POWER without not being able to be telling the truth when if I ask you if this could be following a skin color pattern of what is a little, some, or no abuse of power as in abuse of public trust or even breaking a law when I see such unequality in our country/ pattern of behavior...

1. The governor of South Carolina and his use of taxpayer's monies to go cross state to see his mistress and leading to his wife being granted a divorce on a charge of breaking one of the 10 commandments, THE MANN ACT(?!>)

2. The governor of N.Y.

3. The congressman who has announced just today he will not be running for a second term in Congress because he has incurable cancer...the press says it is because of an offical charge of s*xual abuse of a Gay male on his staff? In fact I have only heard this report about the congressman only once today therefore right off the bat and although I say him give an interview I can not even remember his name...

Is any of these three an abuse of power, or just inequality in the public air waves as non have been charged with any crime...(I am not smiling)

But, you are the one "I" always turn to when I have no idea how to begin to look at a political issue like this I face right now that I come to this blog and see yet another news report on the N.Y. governor...(smile) thanks Clark...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

Hi "Cow" and Clark, please check out this lesson about the Republicans insatiable need to come after the Democrat governors to "resign" who breaks the Thou Shall No Commint Adulry while not going after the party with the Religion- Family values political party base...

# ...the governor of South Carolina's wife was granted her divorce from him for committing Adultry JUST last week...have you heard about this on the mass media frenxy governors abusing their public trust / political office??????????????????????????? $$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...S-M-I-L-E... OH, NOW MIND YOU THE GOV. OF S.C. OPEN AND MITTED ABUSING HIS OFFICE AND GOING FOR COUNSELORING WHERE OTHER POLITICIANS GO TO HELP HIDE AFFAIRS ALONG WITH MONEY LAUNDRYING WHILE GIVING PRAISE TO HITLER...(PLEASE SEE THE R.M. ON MSNBC PROGRAMS, 3-4-10 AND 3-5-10 ..."I" DARE YOU...HA, HA, HA...

On Friday Rachael Maddow had a Christan minister who watchs her program where thesE politicians go to get cOnseloring on their affairs on tHE tax payer's dime has ALREADY filed a law suit WITH the IRS for investigation of the "C- street church's" Tax exempts status which seems to be having lobby money payinY all oUR MALES IN CONGRESS'S bills at that (quote) "Church" !!!!!!!!!!!!

Rachael Maddow, you go girl in you one woman never giving up tryint to S-T-O-P brainwashing by way of those media frenzy giving the public only what you want them to come out and support you choice in who to teach how the pubic's public opinion judge and jury is being so successfully brainwashed until it is now, GUILTY themntake them and give them a "FAIR TRIAL" !!!!!!!!!!! *******$$$$$$$$ damn it to hell.(smile)

EDUCATE!!! EDUCATE!!! EDUCATE!!!...thanks again Rich.(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

robert, "I" am sure that due to the brainwashing that two things will not happen again after this country has gotten another "First" "Token" in the "White"house in the country of my birth, or..ONLY IN AMERICA... This country will not automatically get a Token,Governor (even in those cities in the given state like they did with those many, many mayors in the 60s becoming mayors of cities no one wanted in teh first place***$ I-T) or a Chair of the FNC as they did this time.("I" am so happy over this undercover 'racism' turning out to be a gigantic negative for brainwashing). (smile)

THE WAY "I" LOOK AT THIS IS IF THIS GOVERNOR IS NOT QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR A SECOND TIME HE SHOULD NOT HAVE RUN THE "FIRST" TIME...(COLOR OF SKIN SHOULD NOT BE A REQUIREMENT FOR RUNNING A STATE OR ANY OTHER JOB THAT IS charged TO PROTECT THE WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC...this includes a public street sweaper. ("I" am not smiling)

"i" KNOW THAT THE K.O.s AND THE R.M.s OF THIS COUNTRY HAS ALREADY SHOWN THEM THAT THE NEXT TIME AROUND PEOPLES WILL BE LESS & LESS ' BRAINWASHED' BY WAY OF OUR PUBLIC AIR WAVES ALONG WITH THE BRAND NEW CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT THAT HAS COME OUT OF THIS...looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

Hey Clark, The way "I" look at Paterson is how Hillary Clinton sat on Oprah's program and showed how she can still protect the "F-E_M_L_E_S from the "abuse of their husbands affairs like she has because, "She loves him"!!!!!!! but then her saying she had not read those papers to send our country to war in Iraq is only having the other like her not even reading it is now getting full press and guess why??!!???...IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS INFO COMING OUT RIGHT AT THIS TIME IS TO JUSTIFY THE COMING BOOK Of ROVE on our going to war with Iraq...ONLY IN AMERICA...

AND, WHY "I' HAVE NEVRE HAD ANY RESPECT NOR FAITH IN THIS N.Y. GOVERNOR...IT SEEM AT THAT TIME THERE WERE SO MANY POWERFUL POLITICIANS IN A s*x SCANDLE FROM ALL POLITIAL PARTYS THAT WHEN BOTH PATERSON AND HIS WIFE ADMITED GOING TO MOTELS TO HAVE EXTRA MARTIAL AFFAIRS... ALL WAS FORGIVEN THEREFORE LETS MAKE HIM A " FIRST ALSO, BECAUSE WITH A BLACK PRESIDENT WE HAVE N-O PROBLEMS IN AMERICA... I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THIS MAN NO MORE THAN O.J. WAS GOING TO GET FREE FROM WHAT THE PUBLIC BEHIND CLOSED DOORS BELIEVED WRONG AND THE PRESS AND THE (just like O. J.) NEED OF THE PRESS TO PAY ATTENTION TO HIM AND MAYBE WHAT THEY GOT AWAY WITH AS THEY ARE TOO SMART FOR THEIR PAST BEHAVIORS TO CATCH UP WITH THEM.(smile)

Nothing to do with skin color because, that, that is only going to happen to the other person and is not going to happen to me has no skin color bonderys for too many people. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA