January 2, 2007
Spitzer Calls NY State "Rip Van Winkle"
Yesterday afternoon, Governor Eliot Spitzer spoke to the people of New York State during his inaugural address and claimed, "Like Rip Van Winkle, New York has slept through much of the past decade while the rest of the world has passed us by." That's some ouchie for outgoing governor George Pataki! Or is that a rebuke on State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, under federal investigation for dealings with a business partner, who said, "I don't agree with that" or a slam on State Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver, who said, "I think it was very clear that his references were to the prior administration."? But Spitzer did call Bruno and Silver "his good friends."
At any rate, it seems that Spitzer's no-nonsense, desire for ethical politics (ha!) is what most the state needs, the wake of a various revelations and scandals. At least, until the first Spitzer era screw-up. But you have to hand it to a Governor who runs a 2-mile mile in under 14 minutes to start off his term. The NY Times' Clyde Haberman looks at how Pataki's first inaugural speech 12 years ago sounded a lot like Spitzer's call for change and the Daily News' Errol Louis notices the display of diversity at the inaugural.
Other officials sworn in yesterday: Lieutenant Governor David Patterson and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Here's the text of Spitzer's speech and the Times Union has extensive coverage of the day's festivities. And, in a side note, there's some scrutiny over the 24/7 state police security detail Pataki was given. The security deal, approved by Spitzer and the State Ethics Commission, will cost taxpayers $20,000 a week. Attorney General Cuomo endorsed an independent review of the deal, according to the Post, but the NY Times points out that former Mayors Dinkins and Giuliani both had temporary security details after they left office.
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The Pataki security detail is total bs. He just wants to have an entourage of tough guys as he travels the country trying to be a presidential candidate. And he's no dummy -- to get on our dime, instead of his, is a sweet deal.
Spitz has already dissapointed me. According to The Brooklyn Papers, he told Shell Silver to greenlight Atlantic Yards so it would be off his desk when he took office.
If anyone can refute this, I'd love to hear it. But if it's true, and I fear it is, he just threw a lot of people who voted for him out in the street. Not exactly getting off on the good foot.
man, spitzer scares the shit out of me. he's got that totalitarian nanny-state "we love you" thing down pat.
Tim, that rumor was also mentioned on WNYC yesterday. No supporting evidence or facts were given so who knows if it is true or just conjecture by pundits.
welcome back, corruption!
Mario Cuomo era is back. High crime rates, high taxes and all the wonderful things of democratic party rule in the 1980's.
Anna! So happy you miss the old days! Such a sentimentalist you are! Cause, as you know, corruption hasn't raised its head in NY since! Did you get all of your talking points in there? Just making sure!
elderta, anna didn't say there hasn't been corruption since the Cuomo days. But you seem to be in denial that there was corruption in Cuomo's days. and like most Democrats, you probably think it won't happen again. Furthermore, you probably think all corruption in New York State in the Pataki days was by Republicans. Grow up. Both of you. Stop being so partisan. If the Dems think they are above such things their reign is going to be a short one. We always need to be vigilant.
Grow up apparently cannot read.
"Welcome back" implying (to anyone with third grade level reading comprehension) that corruption has been absent since the Cuomo years.
Furthermore, you chastise Elderta for reading correctly and then go on to make blanket (and asinine) assumptions about "what Elderta probably thinks."
Dear "grow up": You first!
Thanks, anonymass, for helping "grow up" with that reading comprehension thing. Funny how three words strung together as in "welcome back, corruption" can mean so much and yet still throw people for a loop. Weird.
anonymass is making no sense as usual