Wednesday, September 15, 2010

To the New York State Republicans: You Broke It, You Bought It

Congratulations, NYS Republican Party, you are now the standard bearer for lunatics, freaks, racists, homophobes and all other manner of mouth-breathers from the Hudson Valley to Lake Erie and beyond.  Never before has your monotone, monochrome worldview been more apparent, your cynicism more obvious or you general lack of humanity more complete.

Here is a short list of things you knew about Carl Paladino before you made him your candidate by a 2-1 margin:

He cheats on his wife.

He sends pornographic images of women and horses to people on his email contact list.

He sends racist jokes and images to people on his email contact list.

He believes that poor New Yorkers smell bad and need to be taught basic hygiene.

He wants to use state prisons as labor camps for people who need public assistance.

That's just the stuff that comes up during the course of a normal conversation about Paladino; we haven't even touched on how the vast majority of his fortune comes from a government he claims to despise or even his antics at local lesbian bars.


Well, Republicans, you own him now.  Every vile epithet, every smarmy offhand remark belongs to you and your party. You have laid claim to a morally defunct opportunist, or maybe he's laid claim to you. Enjoy.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Monday, September 13, 2010

Sean Coffey For NYS Attorney General

Sean Coffey called me a couple weeks ago and asked me if he could count on my support in the NYS Attorney General primary.  I told him, 'Absolutely!' and I'd like to tell you why.

It's not because of the free beer at the DRC, or the super-cool 'It's Time for Coffey' thermos I have in my kitchen cupboard.  Although free booze and campaign knick-knacks are great, they don't mean much when it comes down to crunch time.  A good friend of mine has told me on several different occasions that the average American will take a free t-shirt from his worst enemy and wear the hell out of the thing.

So, why Sean Coffey?  Since I started getting involved heavily in politics a few years ago, I've had the pleasure (and occasional displeasure) of meeting quite a few candidates for local, state and federal office and I've learned a few things about how to gauge them.  The most important measure of the candidate, of course, is deciding whether or not they are qualified.  All of our AG candidates this year are capable and ready to perform the duties of the office, but there are a few simple things that make Sean Coffey stand out from the herd.

One of the issues I've had to consider this year is the state of affairs in Albany.  Our capitol has gotten so bad that 'dysfunction' has become a truism; we need an Attorney General who is not a part of the current system.  Sean Coffey is that man and he'll take office free and clear of any ties to folks who are part of the problem.

We need to elect leaders who understand the average New Yorker.  Sean Coffey didn't get where he is today by accident or by luck.  He is a self-made man and he knows the value of hard work.

Finally, I want to talk about guts and Sean Coffey has about a mile's worth.  The thing about courage is that it translates itself into all of the qualities that we should look for from the people who serve.  Fortitude, leadership, the ability to make difficult decisions and the will to stand behind those decisions are just a few of those qualities that Sean Coffey exemplifies and they are at the core of who he is.

You want someone to stand up to Wall Street?  Sean Coffey can do that.  You want a strong voice in Albany for housing equality?  Sean Coffey can be that voice.  You want your Attorney General to prosecute corporations who are breaking the law and polluting our land?  Sean Coffey is all over it.

In a primary cluttered with candidates, only one man has stood head and shoulders above the rest, only one man has the determination, the ideas and the will to get the job done right.

On Tuesday, September 14th, head to the polls and cast your vote for New York's next Attorney General, Sean Coffey.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Carl Paladino Wants to See Your Pussy

When he's not thinking of new ways to put black people in internment camps or pondering the finer points of equine fetishes, Carl Paladino likes to spend his time getting drunk and asking women to show him their genitalia.  Carl prefers the vernacular though as evidenced by yesterday's WNYMedia story.

The thing that struck me most about Kinky Carl's most recent foray into the realm of the distasteful wasn't his 'Show me your pussy!' comment.  Over the course of my years I've had a few drinks and propositioned a few women and I 'd be a hypocrite if I sat here and pretended that I was always a saint about it.  No, my disgust with Paladino's behavior stems from his comments to the woman who was attempting to keep him in line.  According to her account, when she asked him to behave, Paladino said “shut up you fucking dyke. Don’t quit your day job.”

This is the sort of comment that we've come to expect from Paladino.  Some days it's minorities, other days it's poor people and, in this example it was gay folks, but whatever the case, it seems that the only  group of people safe from Kinky Carl's rage is wealthy white men.

The New York State Gubernatorial primary will be held next  Tuesday.  I'm on the fence when it comes to what I'd like the Republicans to do.  Part of me wants Paladino to win simply for the theater of it all, but another part of me sincerely hopes that Republicans in New York State can't find a way to identify with this man.

Elections should be about raising the level of debate and sharing ideas, but this one has become a sounding board for Carl Paladino's insane ramblings.  Whatever happens with the Republicans on Tuesday, at least I can be confident that Andrew Cuomo is ready to take all comers.  Cuomo has spent months refining his platform and gathering support from citizens all over the state.  When the general election in November comes around and Andrew Cuomo is our Governor-Elect I'll be happy and relieved to let the lunatic fringe stew in their own madness and plot revenge from their padded cells.