New York Deserves A Qualified Senator

IBD Editorials ^ | December 16, 2008

[Kaslin]

Elitism: Is Democratic New York Gov. David Paterson his own man? If he is, he'll appoint an accomplished leader as senator. If he isn't, he'll kowtow to the party bosses and pick . . . a Kennedy.

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When the Empire State's legally-blind governor made a huge stink this week about an NBC "Saturday Night Live" skit that lampooned him, was he just conniving to convince New Yorkers how independent and determined he is — prior to caving in on Caroline Kennedy?

In the days since Gov. Paterson was depicted by comic Fred Armisen as confused and disoriented, holding charts upside down and wandering into the following sketch, our nation's touchy advocates for the disabled have taken umbrage at "SNL's" impudence and demanded an apology.

Paterson himself called it a "third-grade depiction of people and the way they look" that could lead people to think "disability goes hand-in-hand with an inability to run a government or business."

If he had any sense of humor — and really was as self-deprecating as his friends claim — he would show up on the set of the next "SNL" taping and take the sketch a step further.

Getting mad at comedians in an attempt to curry special-interest favor is no proof that Paterson, who replaced the disgraced Eliot Spitzer, makes his own decisions.

[ken21]

whatta joke.

[driftdiver]

New York deserves what they vote for. So far its not very impressive.

[doosee]

I am surprised the blacks arent all over this demanding black folk to be given the seat. If it was an NFL coach opening, they would be all over it. Where is Jesse and Big Al Sharpton?

[Tax-chick]

Why? When they vote, they elect Communist stooges and hangers-on. Why do they deserve better in an appointee?

[SunkenCiv]

[Senate Leader “Dingy” Harry] Reid says
Kennedy ‘wonderful’ choice for Senate
[so, ‘no’]
KMIR-TV / The Associated Press | December 16, 2008
Posted on 12/16/2008 6:08:21 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2149940/posts

[SunkenCiv]

'Saturday Night Live' mocks Governor Paterson's blindness, past drug use by Stephanie Gaskell Sunday, December 14th 2008 Saturday Night Live pushed the envelope last night with... Fred Armisen as Paterson during a segment on "Weekend Update." ...Armisen, as Paterson, says he has three criteria: economic experience, upstate influence and someone with a disability who is completely unprepared for the job - just like him. "I want to choose a senator not from the glitzy coke parties of Manhattan but rather from the shabbier coke circles of upstate new york," he said. "I'm tired of all these fancy, two-eyed smart alecs from the big city running the whole show. It's time we get someone from Utica, Syracuse or Schnectady - towns where people have something a little off about him. I mean, they don't have to be blind," he said. "I just need someone with like a gamey arm or maybe the giant gums with the tiny teeth. Let's get one of those in the Senate." The fake Paterson points out that he only became governor because of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer's prostition scandal. "Whoever is appointed senator must - like me - be caught totally off guard and be comically unprepared to take office," he said. "Come on, I'm a blind man who loves cocaine who was suddenly appointed governor of New York. My life is an actual plot from a Richard Pryor movie."

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ACTUAL HEADLINE:

Paterson In A Blind Rage Over 'SNL' Skit

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Governor Paterson proposes 'Obesity Tax,' a tax on non-diet sodas
by Glenn Blain and Kenneth Lovett
with Edgar Sandoval and Erica Pearson
Daily News Albany Bureau
Sunday, December 14th 2008

Gov. Paterson, as part of a $121 billion budget to be unveiled Tuesday, will propose an "obesity tax" of about 15% on nondiet drinks. This means a Diet Coke might sell for a $1 - even as the same size bottle of its calorie-rich alter ego would go for $1.15. Paterson's budget also calls for a 3% cut in education spending, a $620-a-year tuition hike at SUNY and a $600 increase at CUNY - and about $3.5 billion in health care cuts, a source said. The Democratic governor will not call for a broad-based income tax boost, but he will push to restore the sales tax on clothing and footwear... State employees again will be asked to forgo their 3% raises next year and defer five days' pay until they leave their jobs, the source said. In all, Paterson will propose about $9 billion in cuts, $4 billion in new taxes and fees, and $1.5 billion in nonrecurring revenue, a second source said. The so-called obesity tax would generate an estimated $404 million a year. Milk, juice, diet soda and bottled water would be exempt from the tax... Public health advocates welcomed news of the tax, saying it would help the fight against childhood obesity. "Raising the price of this liquid candy will put children and teens on a path to a healthier diet," said Elie Ward of the American Academy of Pediatrics of New York State.

[and now, the buried lead:] The Paterson administration also announced steps yesterday to expand the state's social services net, including a 30% increase in welfare payments over three years starting January 2010, increased money for food banks and expanded access to the state's Family Health Plus program. Paterson also hopes to make it easier for people to enroll in Medicaid by eliminating face-to-face interviews and fingerprinting requirements.

[laweeks]

Hell, if we have a president-elect who’s not qualified for the presidency, then why would anyone expect the DemoKrats to pick anyone with experience?

[Intolerant in NJ]

What an insult to the former state comptroller and gubernatorial nominee Carl McCall, as well as to New York City-born Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, veteran Manhattan/Queens Rep. Carolyn Maloney...ah yes, there's a real example of meritorious election - the lady who won her Congressional seat because her husband was shot to death by some nut on a commuter train - and we wonder why we're going down hill fast......

[ldish]

they need someone qualified to replace hitlery clinton....please give me a break!

[ldish]

they need someone qualified to replace hitlery clinton....please give me a break!

[rightisright]

Actually you’re thinking of Carolyn McCarthy, from Long Island, not Carolyn Maloney from Queens/Manhattan (both big libs and gun grabbers so it’s an easy mistake to make)

[ScottinVA]

Damn, that’s funny! Hey, Paterson, Stevie Wonder came on SNL and lampooned his own blindness. Suck it up, fool. You want to be the top dog, take the crap with the kibbles.

[SunkenCiv]

New York Deserves A Qualified Governor as well. :’) Well, assuming they ever vote in one, they will. ;’D

[ScottinVA]

NY deserves an “experienced” Senator???

LOL!! Why?? Caroline Kennedy has a lock on that seat and will remain there so long as she wants it — we all know it. Why pretend otherwise??

[ClearBlueSky]

I’m so sick of the Kennedy’s I could puke.
They think they DESERVE to be in office and consider themselves America’s ‘royalty’. So of course, a Senate seat is a ‘right’ for Caroline Kennedy! Give it to her because of her name, because her murderous, bloated uncle is going to croak and it would make him happy...because she’s a younger version of Hitlery...whatever the reasoning it’s repulsive.

Can we ever get rid of this arrogant ‘dynasty’?
Well- I think Hitlery got rid of one. I’ll always believe she had a hand in the ‘accident’ that killed JFK Jr- who would have beaten her in an election for that Senate seat-just on his name. But...oh...whoops...a terrible accident! I have some waterfront property- free- on the Louisiana coast- for anyone who believes that!

[Alberta's Child]

Actually, you're thinking of Carolyn McCarthy, the former Congresswoman from Long Island. Carolyn Maloney is a "real" member of Congress, for all I know.

Your point is right on target, though. LOL. Here's an interesting item about her from Wikipedia:

On the April 18, 2007 showing of MSNBC's program, Tucker, the conservative pundit Tucker Carlson interviewed McCarthy concerning the Virginia Tech massacre and her proposed reauthorization of the Assault Weapons Ban. He asked her to explain the need to regulate barrel shrouds, one of the many provisions of the Act. She responded that more importantly the legislation would ban large capacity "clips" [sic] used in the Virginia Tech massacre and that the class of guns chosen were those used by gangs and police killers. After admitting that she did not know what a barrel shroud was, she ventured a guess, "I believe it is a shoulder thing that goes up."

[baiamonte]

New York deserves a Kennedy.

[Napoleon Solo]

I think you need to double check...she is STILL a Congresswoman from Long Island.

[Clemenza]

Carolyn McCarthy will have my childhood congressional seat until she either dies or retires. She is VERY popular on the South Shore.