Paterson wasn't in the Governor's office long enough to know if he was just another Democrat thug or not. He served out Spitzer's term, and wasn't going to flex his muscles if he wanted to be elected to a full-term next time around. He dropped out of the race when it was discovered he was a crook. Inside every Democrat politician is a thug.
I can't think of anything he did as a state Senator or Lt Governor or Governor that compares to take no prisoners Spitzer and Cuomo. I always want a Republican sitting in Albany, but as Democrats go his was middle of the road.