New York Governor David Paterson says the search is ongoing, but two people close to him tell The Associated Press they believe Caroline Kennedy will be appointed to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate.
Following continuing criticism of Kennedy, Paterson on Thursday threw down the gauntlet.
Kennedy appears to be the front-runner to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate, but Paterson said Clinton’s successor will have to win re-election on their own.
It was the annual New Year’s open house in Albany. Paterson and his wife, Michelle, greeted constituents. The governor was asked about his New Year’s resolution.
“To try not to talk about the Senate until I make the appointment,” Paterson said.
Unfortunately, just about all the questions Gov. Paterson was asked Thursday had to do with Kennedy and her desire to replace Clinton.
If Governor Paterson does appoint Caroline Kennedy, it will be a huge insult to the people of New York, who deserve a Senator who is qualified for the position — not someone who feels entitled to the seat because of her name.
Made a little more news on NY1 tonight, telling host Dominic Carter that she finally spoke to Hillary Clinton — who didn’t initially take her call — and that, if she’s not selected, she won’t run for the seat.
“We did have a very nice, you know, conversation, and obviously I’m not gonna talk about that, except to say that she said this was the greatest job that she’d ever had and could imagine having,” Kennedy said. “So, she was very encouraging, and that was, you know, that was nice because she’s a huge inspiration of mine.”
She was also asked if she’d run in 2010 if not selected.
“Well, if he doesn’t select me, I would support the person that he does select,” she said.
There’s a cop out if I have ever seen one. Pretty much anyone who gets selected will get a primary challenge in 2010. If she really cared about serving in the Senate she’d be willing to run for the seat in 2010… She was particularly insulting when she claimed that because of her name she would have to work harder if appointed. that is ironic since her name, and her name alone makes her a contender for the seat, which she doesn’t want to run a real campaign for.
Of course, the longer this is drawn out, the less her chances of getting appointed appear to be. She has been fumbling in the worst possible ways, and the potential blowback for Governor Paterson, combined with his ridiculous tax increases, would make him incredibly vulnerable when he goes up for reelection.
I am happy to tell our loyal readers here that on Christmas morning I asked my girlfriend Beth to marry me…
…and she said yes.
I have lots more to say… but I also have an apartment that is in serious need of cleaning after a long battle with wrapping paper and scotch tape… so I will tell you all more later.
UPDATE: …and for those who have been asking about the ring:
Right idea, wrong argument. The problem with Caroline Kennedy’s presumption to Hillary Clinton’s soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat is not lack of qualification or experience. The Senate houses lots of inexperienced rookies — wealthy businessmen, sports stars, even the occasional actor.
The problem is Kennedy’s sense of entitlement. Given her rather modest achievements, she is trading entirely on pedigree.
I hate to be a good government scold, but wasn’t the American experiment a rather firm renunciation of government by pedigree?
Yes, the Founders were not democrats. They believed in aristocracy. But their idea was government by natural — not inherited — aristocracy, an aristocracy of “virtue and talents,” as Jefferson put it.
[...]
No lords or ladies here. If Princess Caroline wants a seat in the Senate, let her do it by election. There’s one in 2010. To do it now by appointment on the basis of bloodline is an offense to the most minimal republicanism. Every state in the union is entitled to representation in the Senate. Camelot is not a state.
Perhaps Paterson should just let the seat remain vacant. It has been vacant for nearly two years anyway. By not appointing anyone, he avoids alienating upstate since he’d have likely picked a downstater anyway… he avoids the criticism he’d get by appointing Caroline Kennedy… I think politically, leaving the seat vacant my be the lesser of many evils.
Police agencies across western New York are strongly urging people NOT to drive this Monday morning.
Travel advisories are in effect for all of Erie, Niagara and Genesee Counties.
The town of Wales is under a travel ban, which means drivers there can be ticketed if they’re caught out on the roads.
The Town and Village of Lancaster are also under a travel ban, as well as a state of emergency.
Many major roadways across the area are closed COMPLETELY this Monday morning because of the dangerous driving conditions.
The 90 is closed all the way from exit 46 in Henrietta to exit 61 at the Pennsylvania state line. The 90 is open from Williamsville tolls to Pennsylvania line.
A dangerous mix of low visibility caused by drifting snow and slippery road conditions sent dozens of vehicles skidding off the New York state thruway overnight.
Caroline Kennedy took a page from Hillary Clinton’s playbook and began an upstate listening tour On Wednesday.
The road trip included stops in Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo to help convince Gov. David Paterson and voters she’s the one to replace Clinton in the U.S. Senate.
But it was a tough crowd.
The black SUV pulled up to Syracuse city hall Wednesday morning. It was stop one on Kennedy’s upstate tour.
But after meeting with Mayor Matt Driscoll, she ran into a buzz saw — angry reporters who wanted her to do more talking and less listening.
“But you’ve never held public office so what experience [do you have]?” one reporter asked.
Actually, she did speak briefly in Syracuse.
“I wanted to come upstate and meet with Mayor Driscoll and others to tell them about my experience and also learn more about how Washington can help these communities,” Kennedy said.
Her quick remarks fell flat. Reporters seemed to feel brushed off and they pursued her out.
“You’re not going to answer questions at all?” one asked.
“Where you headed next?” another demanded.
To the car.
Perhaps Caroline will realize she can do a lot for public image by staying out of politics and we can put this silliness behind us.
Now. I’ve always hated the Buffalo Bisons logo… so, I was pleased to learn today that as a result of the team’s partnership with the New York Mets they got a snazzy new logo.
The Buffalo Bisons are pleased to present for the first time an exciting new primary team logo, created by Phoenix Design Works, that depicts a bison charging from the Buffalo skyline. This new logo pays tribute to the team’s long-standing tradition and its strong relationship with the city.
By adopting a blue and orange color scheme, the Bisons also wanted to celebrate their new partnership with the New York Mets.
“We are thrilled to usher in a new era in Buffalo Bisons history with an exciting new logo for our fans to enjoy,” said Mike Buczkowski, Vice President/General Manger of the Buffalo Bisons. “With our team’s celebrated tradition in this great city and our new major league partnership with the New York Mets, we wanted our new logo design to take an old-fashion feel and give it a modern-looking twist.”
This is the first logo change for the Bisons since adopting the “sliding Buster” red and green design in 1998 to correlate with the team’s return to the International League.
An “iPod tax” that charges state and local sales tax for “digitally delivered entertainment services” - in other words, that new Beyonce song you download.
State sales tax at movie theaters, sporting events, taxis, buses, limousines and cable and satellite TV and radio.
Costlier driving with the repeal of the 8-cents-per-gallon sales tax cap on motor and diesel motor fuel, plus and increase in the auto rental tax.
Tuition increases at SUNY and CUNY, $620 and $600 a year respectively.
A 50 cent tax on cigars. The current tax is equal to 37% of the wholesale price, or 34 cents a cigar.
No more sales tax break on clothes and shoes worth $110 or less, except during two weeks a year.
Higher taxes on wine, beer and flavored malt beverages. He would also impose an 18% tax on non-nutritional drinks like soda.
The rich would pay more for luxury items through an additional 5% tax imposed on cars costing more than $60,000, aircraft costing more than $500,000, yachts costing at least $200,000 and jewelry and furs costing in excess of $20,000.
In addition, a host of a fees, including those related to motor vehicle licensing and registration, parks and auto insurance, would go up, as would various state-imposed fines.
I guess the good thing about this is that when it comes time for him to run for reelection he may drive the voters to beet him out of office.
Paterson and advocates for the visually impaired didn’t appreciate stock blind jokes that had Armisen pretending to be disoriented and wandering aimlessly.
“I can take a joke,” Paterson told reporters.
But he called the SNL spoof a “third-grade depiction of people and the way they look” that could lead others to believe that “disability goes hand-in-hand with an inability to run a government or business.”
Now, I saw the skit just before blogging this… I didn’t find it to be any more insulting to Paterson than Saturday Night Live is to anyone else they mock.
I thought the worst was behind me when I left Massachusetts… but apparently New York is just as bad, if not worse, than the Bay State when it comes finding new ways to rob taxpayer. As I reported earlier, Governor Paterson wants to start collecting taxes on tobacco products sold on Indian reservations… well he also other ideas to close the budget gap… including new taxes on clothing, gasoline. and a so-called “obesity” tax on non-diet soda.
Adding insult to injury, Paterson is increasing welfare grants and making it easier for people to get on welfare.
While taxpayers will struggle with a bigger tax burden, people on welfare will get more money they didn’t earn.
And then there’s this bogus “obesity” tax on non-diet soda. I am sorry but why is the government trying tell us what we eat and drink? This is what Big Brother is all about.
Gov. David Paterson, staring at a budget deficit approaching $15 billion, will sign a measure to have the state begin collecting taxes on the sale of cigarettes by Indian retailers, state officials and industry sources say.
The move comes after recent unsuccessful talks between Paterson and officials from the Seneca Nation, whose retailers dominate the nation’s tax-free cigarette business. Industry officials say the signing could come as early as Monday.
Assemblyman William Magee, a Madison County Democrat, said he has been told the governor will sign the bill Monday in Utica.
“I had hoped he’d be coming to Madison County, but we’re getting the bill signed,” said Magee, the Assembly sponsor of the legislation.
Paterson aides declined to confirm or deny that he will sign the bill, which was given final passage in the Legislature in August but was not sent to him for his consideration to give him time to work out deals with the various Indian tribes. The bill late last week was sent to him, beginning a 10-day clock in which he has to sign or veto it.
So much for respecting the sovereignty of the Senecas.
The Western New York heart may say Brian Higgins. But the head says Andrew M. Cuomo.
It will be more than a month before Gov. David A. Paterson announces his choice to fill the Senate seat now occupied by soon-to-be Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The governor has received no shortage of unsolicited advice about who he should pick. Only recently in this space we argued that, for once, someone from Western New York should be considered.
But as the speculation revs into a higher gear and more names drop into and out of consideration, hopes receed [sic] that Western New York Congressman Higgins, Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown— or anyone who lives west of the Hudson — can win the nod.
Instead, the Great Mentioners are increasingly focusing on two possibilities with famous names. One is New York Attorney General Cuomo, son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo. The other is New York attorney and author Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy.
Of the two, Cuomo is by far the better choice, and a much more favorable selection for Western New York.
Of course it isn’t hard to be the better choice when the only reason Caroline Kennedy would even be considered for the job is is her surname. Of course, the Democratic Party’s new obsession with unqualified candidates for office does mean that Kennedy has a shot. She is apparently considered the favorite for the position – which baffles me.
At this I have to hope Brian Higgins gets the appointment. But, not because I think he’d be a good Senator… but because he’d only be Senator for two years and he’d leave an open seat for the GOP to try to take back.
Last week, the Erie County Legislature Republican minority caucus introduced a budget plan that is fiscally responsible and reduces the size of our government. The goal of our proposed budget amendments is to eliminate the entire $16 million property tax increase, not just a portion of it. At a time when all of the residents of our county are paying some of the highest taxes in the country, and are doing more with less, we demand that our government do the same.
This has been a difficult year and we applaud our colleagues on the other side of the aisle for attempting to craft a plan to avoid some of this year’s proposed tax increase. However, we have a different perspective.
Our plan cuts $8.75 million in non-personnel expenses. A significant savings was derived from utility charges, which we have reduced by 20 percent due to the massive decrease in prices on the fuel and energy markets. Experts predict that this trend will continue.
We have also identified $9.23 million in savings by shrinking government. We believe that the time is now for deeper cuts to the work force. We are not eliminating current employees, but derive massive savings by cutting vacant positions. Taxpayers should not be paying for empty seats.
We do, however, recognize the value of investing in organizations that give taxpayers a high return. Our proposal restored critical funding to Cornell Cooperative Extension and Erie County Soil and Water. These programs bring more than $2 million back to the local economy. Unfortunately, our proposal was quickly discarded in committee.
New York Gov. David Paterson is getting rave reviews as one of the Gridiron Dinner speakers over the weekend.
The Gridiron dinner is an off-the-record dinner with journos and pols who sing songs, do skits and make fun of each other in the great wide open.
Paterson’s speech was certainly no exception. Even though he became governor of New York in quite a surprising fashion, it’s not the governor title that he wants, apparently. Paterson’s real goal, he said, is to follow in Barack Obama’s footsteps and be President of the United States, because: “Once you go black, you don’t go back.”
Any politician, regardless of his or her party, ought to be judged on their record, not on their race. If Comrade Obama fails miserably, it will be a reflection of his incompetence – not his race. I find it insulting that Paterson, even as a joke, implied that the performance of one politician reflects that of another solely on racial
Now, some might say I am overreacting, but let’s say that Comrade Obama is defeated in four years by a White Republican. And let’s say that Republican, at a White House Correspondents’ Dinner joked “I guess once you go black you can go back.”
On the basis of a newly-released New York State Department of Transportation study, Congressman Brian Higgins said, “This report, completed in October of this year, confirms what many in this community have argued for some time – maintaining the Skyway comes at a much higher price to this region than demolishing it will.”
Bridge rehab costs, projected to be $125 million over the next 75 years, coupled with a reduced average daily traffic volume led Higgins to make this claim. Preliminary estimates place the cost of Skyway demolition between $30 and $40 million.
The report, released by the NYSDOT, was called for by Higgins in August of 2007. The “New York State Route 5 Buffalo Skyway Management Study” outlines maintainance costs along with bridge usage.
Higgins surmised, “If we don’t pay the price to demolish this 52 year-old structure, this community will pay the price in terms of lost development opportunity and future maintenance expenses for years to come.”
I am all for removing the Skyway. I drive over it every day on my way to work. I just wish Brian Higgins was a bit wore serious about getting rid of it. Right now, he hasn’t convinced me he is interested in doing anything but talk about getting rid of it. This summer, he said that for ”the next five or 10 years, the Skyway will continue to be subject to debate,” despite the fact that for years he has argued that the bridge wasn’t safe.
If the safety of his constituents wasn’t a good enough reason to move with haste to tear down the Skyway, are really expected to believe saving taxpayer dollars will motivate Higgins?
I thought the worst was behind me when I left Massachusetts… but apparently New York is just as bad, if not worse, than the Bay State when it comes finding new ways to rob taxpayer. As 
