NY's only statewide political program
George Pataki
Carl Hugs It Out
Jan 30th - 4:25 pm
Carl Paladino, who jokingly referred to his penchant for hugging as a secret weapon on the 2010 campaign trail, is still spreading his unique brand of love.
CapTon reporter Nick Reisman and executive producer Michael Johnson caught this “awww” moment of the Buffalo businessman embracing George Pataki after the former governor’s speech at the state Conservative Party’s political action conference this afternoon.
As you’ll recall, Paladino once referred to Pataki as a “degenerate idiot.”
The former governor, ever the political pragmatist, did not let that stop him from jumping on the Paladino bandwagon after the mad-as-hell Queen City champion defeated Pataki’s preferred gubernatorial contender, former Rep. Rick Lazio, in the 2010 GOP primary.
Pataki: Anyone But Obama
Jan 30th - 3:17 pm
Former Gov. George Pataki boiled down the ideal candidate to run for president: a fiscally conservative, small-government Republican who can make America feel proud again.
He just won’t say who that Republican is.
Pataki told Conservative Party Political Action Conference that he wanted anyone but Obama to win later this year. But, like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, he’s keeping his opinions on the specific candidates to himself.
“I think the weakest Republican candidate would be an improvement on this president,” Pataki said.
Pataki briefly considered running for president himself last summer and former aides went as far as putting together a mock website.
Pataki ultimately decided not to run, but urged New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to start a white knight campaign. Christie did not run, but endorsed Romney.
Pataki wouldn’t say if he wants Christie to appear as the second man on the ticket, but said he hopes the firebrand governor would be part of a GOP administration.
Like Florida’s Bush, Pataki not picking a side may have something to do with 2016. Neither of the former governors have ruled out running for president in 2016.
“That’s so far off,” Pataki said. “I hope we have a new administration coming 2013 that I can be supportive of.”
Pataki For Altschuler, Officially
Jan 5th - 12:48 pm
Former Gov. George Pataki has joined the growing group of GOP leaders backing Randy Altschuler’s second attempt at unseating Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop in NY-1 this fall, saying the Long Island businessman “has the kind of experience and common sense we so desperately need in Washington today.”
“In Congress, Randy will rein in spending, hold the line on taxes allowing the private sector to create jobs and get America back on track,” Pataki said in a statement distributed by Altschuler’s campaign. “I proudly and strongly endorse him for Congress in New York’s 1st District.”
This endorsement is a blow to Altschuler’s GOP primary opponent, George Demos, who has numerous ties to Pataki – not the least of which is the fact that two of the ex-governor’s political advisors, Rob Cole and Arthur Finkelstein, are running Demos’ campaign.
Demos stole Altschuler’s thunder, however, by responding to the Pataki endorsement long before it was officially announced (on Dec. 29, to be exact), effectively ending any hope Altschuler might have had of a big rollout.
Still, there’s no question that institutional support is far greater for Altschuler in this race, which is a significant difference from 2010, when the Conservative and GOP leaders in NY-1 were split over what was then a three-way primary between Demos, Altschuler and Christopher Nixon Cox, son of state GOP Chairman Ed Cox. Altschuler won the September election and came close – but not close enough – to ousting Bishop in November.
Altschuler called Pataki’s endorsement “tremendously important,” adding:
Governor Pataki’s endorsement speaks volumes about the continued momentum and strength that my campaign has demonstrated since I announced my intention to seek a rematch with Congressman Bishop last spring. I am fortunate to have the Governor on board with my campaign and know I can lean on him for advice and counsel.”
Altschuler now has the backing of Pataki, Ed Cox, state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long, Suffolk County GOP Chairman John Jay LaValle and Suffolk County Conservative Chairman Ed Walsh.
Pataki Switches Sides In NY-1?
Dec 29th - 7:12 pm
Former Gov. George Pataki appears to have turned his back on a former campaign aide – not to mention two key members of his own political team – by backing Long Island businessman Randy Altschuler’s second attempt to unseat Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop in the 2012 1st Congressional District race.
Oddly, I don’t have a formal statement from Pataki announcing his support for Altschuler. What I do have is a tersely worded one-line release from the campaign manager of Altschuler’s GOP primary opponent, George Demos.
“It’s sad and unfortunate that former Governor Pataki is unaware that Randy Altschuler outsourced more American jobs to India than were created in New York state in the last ten years,” said Kevin Tschirhart.
(Veteran Pataki watchers might get a bit of a laugh out of the wording of that statement. “Sad and unfortunate” were vintage Pataki administration responses to anything political and/or negative about the then-governor said by a critic or opponent; I can’t count the number of times I wrote “sad and unfortunate” while covering that administration for the TU).
Pataki spokesman Dave Catalfamo said the former governor had indeed planned to endorse Altschuler, but he declined to comment further until a formal statement from Pataki is released.
Demos worked on Pataki’s 1998 re-election campaign – the one in which Pataki cruised to victory against his Democratic opponent, former NYC Council Speaker Peter Vallone, after coming from pretty much nowhere (the back bench of the state Senate) to oust liberal icon Mario Cuomo from the governor’s office four years earlier.
Working on Demos’ campaign are two members of Pataki’s erstwhile political brain trust: Rob Cole and Arthur Finkelstein.
The fact that Pataki chose to go against Demos is far less surprising than his decision to buck Cole and Finkelstein, two people who played long-standing roles in his political career. (Cole actually started working for Pataki as an intern during the former governor’s Assembly days in the early 1990s).
This is the second time Demos has battled Altschuler for the GOP line. He finished second to Altschuler in a three-way GOP primary last fall. (The third candidate, Christopher Nixon Cox, son of state GOP Chairman Ed Cox, finished third).
Altschuler came close to defeating Bishop, who is still viewed as vulnerable by Republicans. To that end, Republican and Conservative leaders in Suffolk County who were divided over the NY-1 race last fall have now united behind Altschuler in hopes of maximizing their chances of defeating the incumbent Democratic congressman.
To that end, I guess it’s understandable that Pataki picked sides so early in the game and choose to go against his own camp. Then again, he’s not exactly a major everyday player in GOP politics here in New York these days, and could have waited to see what happened in the primary.
That’s what he did in 2010, endorsing Altschuler in October – in other words, after he won in September and became the party’s standard bearer.
Committee To Save NY Hires New Firm, Launches New Ad
Dec 9th - 3:16 pm
The pro-Cuomo, business-backed Committee to Save Nwe York is back – as promised – and it’s getting an early jump on the 2012 session with a new TV ad that continues the governor’s new theme of “getting things done” in Albany while Rome Washington burns to the south.
The ad, which is the first in a series, hits the airwaves tonight in a “sizable” buy, according to the committee’s new spokesman, former Pataki administration spokesman Mike McKeon. (More on that later). The spot lauds the tax code deal, saying it gives a break to “all New Yorkers” and includes the “lowest middle income tax rate in 58 years.” Here’s the tagline:
CSNY spent close to $10 million to support Cuomo in the budget battle (such as it was) earlier this year, and has pledged to raise and spend about the same in 2012. The committee was gearing up for a fight against reinstating the so-called millionaire’s tax, but following this week’s tax code deal – which, by the way, every key CSNY player, from Kathy Wylde to Steve Spinola to the state Business Council, supported – they’ve re-tooled their agenda.
The top priorities for 2012 now include: Continue fiscal discipline by “working to reduce spending by $2 billion will help balance the budget and increase New York’s competitive edge,” enacting pension reform, passing mandate relief and regulatory reform, and legalizing non-Indian casino gambling. The committe has also re-launched its Website.
McKeon’s firm, Mercury Public Affairs, is replacing DKC in handling the committee’s communications and lobbying. I reported last month that DKC, which has strong and long-standing ties to Cuomo, had decided not to continue its contract with CSNY.
Mercury is home to a number of former Pataki administration aides – McKeon, Kieran Mahoney, Tom Doherty. But it has expanded considerably and also includes a number of Democrats like former Bronx BP Freddy Ferrer and former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez – among others.
This isn’t the first time McKeon has worked to support Cuomo. During the 2010 campaign he headed up a committee of Republicans who crossed party lines to support the Democratic governor – a move that didn’t thrill Pataki, who backed former Rep. Rick Lazio’s failed gubernatorial campaign.
Rival Endorsements In Suffolk Co Exec Race
Nov 2nd - 12:01 pm
As Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepares to make his first campaign appearance of the 2011 season at a GOTV rally for Democratic Suffolk County executive contender Steve Bellone this afternoon, his Republican predecessor, ex-Gov. George Pataki, has announced his support for Bellone’s rival, Angie Carpenter.
“Angie’s experience as a successful small business owner, county legislator, and Suffolk County Treasurer, makes her uniquely qualified to be the next Suffolk County Executive.” Pataki, New York’s 53rd Governor, served three terms from 1995-2006,” Pataki said in a just-released statement.
“…I have known and worked with Angie over the years and I want the voters to know that as Suffolk County Executive she will hold the line on taxes, control spending and promote a business climate that encourages the job creation that we need.”
“As a legislator she helped draft the first Cap-on-Spending legislation in Suffolk’s history and she sponsored legislation that requires an economic impact statement on all qualifying legislation. She was a watchdog for the taxpayers in the legislature, she continued in that role as county treasurer and I know she will be one as county executive.”
Bellone’s campaign is understandably excited about a visit from the state’s most popular and powerful Democrat, and is promoting the life out of the governor’s 4 p.m. appearance at the IBEW Local 25 Hall in Hauppague this afternoon. (The campaign actually broke the news long before the administration officially confirmed it, via a press release from Cuomo’s own political arm, Cuomo 2014).
This is actually the second appearance Cuomo has made on Bellone’s behalf, although the first was at a private fundraiser that was closed to members of the public and the press.
Pataki: ‘Herman Has Had A Message’
Oct 11th - 11:47 am
Former Gov. George Pataki attributed businessman Herman Cain’s recent rise in the polls to having an appealing message, even if it probably won’t be a winning one.
“Herman has had a message,” Pataki said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “He’s the only Republican including Mitt Romney, who has had a plan. It’s 9-9-9. I don’t think it’s a winning plan, but it has had a ring to it.”
Cain’s tax plan would mean a flat nine percent income tax, a nine percent corporate tax and nine percent national sales tax.
Pataki, who considered a late jump into the race himself, said the GOP presidential primary has suffered from flavors of the month. He urged New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to run, who backed out last week.
“It seems every two or three months you have the flavor of the month, whether its Donald Trump or Michele Bachman and tyhen Rick Perry,” Pataki said. “But what happens is they get out there and create this excitment, but then there isn’t any substance behind the message.”
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Pataki Urges Christie To Run For President
Sep 29th - 10:23 am
Former Gov. George Pataki took the unusual step today of publicly calling for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to jump into the race for president.
Pataki released a statement this morning through his No American Debt group, saying that none of the current presidential candidates have “leveled” with voters on the problems the country faces.
“America is in a crisis, and none of the current candidates or the President has leveled with American public about what needs to be done to rescue our future. This country needs a straight shooter and a proven leader. I urge Governor Chris Christie to run for President to fill the void and lead America forward.”
Pataki was said to be considering a run for president himself and aides even went as far as creating a mock website for his campaign. In the end, the former three-term governor decided it would be too much of a burden on his family to make a run.
Christie has been under pressure from the Republican establishment to make a run as Texas Gov. Rick Perry faltered and elites remain unconvinced of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Christie gave a speech at the Reagan library and museum earlier this week and did little to temper expectations he would or would not run.
Pataki Loves His Family
Aug 31st - 10:40 am
There wasn’t much to former Gov. George Pataki’s appearance on Morning Joe earlier today, unless you count the Republican announcing that he loves his family as news.
Pataki made his first TV appearance since announcing that he wouldn’t run for president last week, despite a few days of rumblings and half-finished websites that he would.
“I love my family,” Pataki said when asked by “Morning” Joe Scarborough why he wasn’t running for president.
Sources close to Pataki gave the same reason last week in the lead up to his formal announcement.
The former governor also discussed the need to reform the tax code in the United States, saying tax loopholes for the wealthy need to be closed, suggesting that a Pataki presidential campaign certainly would have had some different ideas than the rest of the Republican field.
And Pataki criticized President Obama for only proposing what he considers to be temporary fixes to joblessness.
“I think he’s tried, but he’s fired every bullet in the Keynesian arsenal,” Pataki said. “One of the sad things about this president is everything he does is driven by the polls.”
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Pataki To ‘Remain Active’ In 2012, But Not As Candidate
Aug 26th - 1:15 pm
Former Gov. George Pataki just released a statement formally confirming reports that he has decided not run for president in 2012.
A source said this morning that Pataki’s decision was based mainly on family concerns. And now we have this:
“Earlier this year I launched No American Debt to put a focus on our debt crisis. President Obama and his misguided policies are bankrupting America, stealing from our children’s future and he must be defeated next November. ”
“It is incumbent on our party to come forward with serious solutions to preserve our future and ensure America’s continued greatness. I remain committed to the advancement of real, politically viable reforms to entitlements and rolling back the size and cost of the federal government.”
“At this time, I will continue to do this as the leader of No American Debt and not as a candidate for president. Throughout the coming months I will remain active in this important discussion and support the candidate who offers the vision, the ideas and the leadership to bring an end to America’s debt crisis.”
Take Capital Tonight and the State of Politics blog with you everywhere you go with our iPhone app! The mobile application features our blog posts, interviews, and a report news tool to send us your political news tips.