Photograph of Governor Paterson regaling This American Life host Ira Glass from the Governor's Office

Governor Paterson may very well shut down the government—which would lead to ""unimaginable chaos— if the Legislature doesn't agree on a budget. But here's something else about Paterson: He loves talk radio. He calls into programs all the time. He loves it so much the NY Times has a front page article (see) about "David from Harlem" or "David from Manhattan."

The NY Times explains, "Paterson cannot resist the medium where he feels most comfortable: the radio. The governor can be heard up and down the dial, on sports stations, news shows, black-themed programs and religious ones, showing the qualities that he struggles to demonstrate in other settings: confidence, persuasiveness and fluidity." Paterson, who is legally blind, explained, "I don’t have to worry about looking at the camera, whether my tie is in place, whether my hands are flying in one direction. I think it’s the reason my conversation is a lot more fluid. In TV interviews, I have difficulty relaxing, because I’m trying not to look to one side of the room."

The governor listens to New York talk radio stations (WOR, WNYC, WABC) and news stations (WCBS or WINS) and "Before he goes to bed, he will turn on sports radio or the BBC." Paterson boasted, "I go places and people always stop and tell me, ‘I heard you on so-and-so’s show, and I really enjoyed it.' People actually tell me I should do it more.”

Just last month, Ira Glass was spotted in Albany, and the Governor's Offices has photograph of Glass apparently enjoying Paterson's anecdotes. Apparently This American Life is doing a show about the budget process—not a moment too soon!