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Carl Paladino
Paladino: What Happened To The A-Team?
Jan 29th - 3:01 pm
Just like Hannibal Smith, Carl Paladino may love it when a plan comes together.
But in a speech before the Conservative Party Political Action Conference this afternoon in Colonie, the Buffalo businessman and one-time gubernatorial candidate, pities the fools in the Senate GOP conference.
“It takes three to tango in New York state — to make something happen,” he said. “Did we send out our A-Team in what could be the last year we have a seat the table? Did we have our A-team out there? I don’t think so. What happened to these people?”
In a speech that touched on criticism of the Medicaid Redesign Task Force, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s push for education reform and the legalization of same-sex marriage, Paladino blamed Senate Republicans for not fighting back.
“We all worked very hard to get, to keep, a Republican majority,” Paladino said before adding that Medicaid was a means of keeping a “permanent majority” for Democrats.
Senate Republicans have been close with Cuomo on fiscal issues, backing his cap on property taxes in June and voting for his proposal to overhaul the tax code in New York that gave the wealthy slightly less of a tax cut than they would have been in line to receive.
Later, during a question and answer session with former Port Authority Executive Director George Marlin, Paladino said “there’s a complete lack of transparency” in Albany, and said Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb was “brave” after Cuomo leaned on him and the conference during the tax code debate.
Paladino also called U.S. District Court Judge Gary Sharpe’s ruling that Congressional primaries be held on June 26 protection for incumbents, given the lack of time for filing petitions.
Paladino ended up depressing himself by the end of the speech.
“I think I just convinced myself to think about moving,” he said to laughs.
Paladino Versus Brodsky
Nov 10th - 12:18 pm
In an alternate universe, Attorney General Richard Brodsky and Gov. Carl Paladino would likely be squaring off on a daily basis.
Alas, that did not come to pass. Thank goodnes for cable news.
While the rest of us where watching Rick Perry’s now-infamous brain fart last night, Paladino and Brodsky squared off in a somewhat shouty, but an at times surprisingly substantive debate on the Fox Business channel.
The topic ostensbily was about a union in Michigan “forcing” a family to union dues for handicapped kids. But it veered off into a broader debate about the role of unions in society.
Paladino Says Collins Vote Is Vote Against ‘Albany Cabal’
Nov 8th - 10:53 am
Never one to disappoint, Carl Paladino sent out a GOTV email and facebook post this morning saying that a vote to re-elect County Executive Chris Collins is a vote against the “Cuomo/Silver Albany cabal.”
Paladino, the tea party-backed 2010 GOP gubernatorial candidate, writes that Albany has become distracted by a “contrived” $10 billion deficit and the legalization of same-sex marriage, both of which made it difficult for the state to create jobs.
And he rails against “hand-picked” candidates by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The note also asks voters to back Chris Jacobs, who is running to replace Rep. Kathy Hochul as county clerk, and a handful of down-ballot Republican county legislators.
From the email:
Today, you have the opportunity to elect or re-elect candidates who have delivered and support the type of reforms we have sought. You will be saying NO to the Cuomo/Silver Albany cabal who with their special interests have continued to malign the citizens of New York and who now seek to control our County government. The last session of our Legislature miserably failed to address any issues material to lowering taxes and creating jobs instead distracting the people with a contrived $10BIL deficit and gay marriage.
Andrew Cuomo’s handpicked candidates will seek to return Erie County to those special interest groups who have little regard for the taxpayers.
We don’t need a tax-and-spend politician bought and paid for by unions. We need CHRIS COLLINS for County Executive. CHRIS has delivered 1) smaller government 2) lower taxes and 3) a strong fiscal plan of significant debt reduction and building a safe surplus to protect our future and most important, our kid’s futures. That’s why I’m voting for CHRIS COLLINS and asking you to do the same.
Poloncarz Plays The Paladino Card (?!)
Oct 14th - 3:53 pm
Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz may be a Democrat, but he feels like he has a lot in comment with Republican Carl Paladino – the Tea Party darling and mad-as-hell Buffalo businessman who was defeated in the 2010 gubernatorial race by now-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Poloncarz is trying to unseat Republican Erie County Executive Chris Collins (a Paladino ally) in the upcoming general election. To that end, the comptroller has been trying to portray his opponent as a wealthy businessman who is out-of-touch with the sort of regular people who helped carry Paladino to his long-shot victory over former Rep. Rick Lazio in the GOP primary last fall.
To that end, I asked Poloncarz during a CapTon interview that will air tonight at 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. if he believes the burgeoning anti-Wall Street sentiment could give his bid an additional boost, and he said:
“…With regards to the gubernatorial election people felt that Carl Paladino was one of us, so to speak. He’s a blue collar guy, a lunch-bucket type of guy. And the same goes with me.”
“So, while you look at the polls, including the recent Siena poll, Governor Cuomo’s approval rating is very high in Erie County, people voted for Carl Paladino not so much because they were voting against Andrew Cuomo, but because they felt Carl was one of theirs. I think the same goes with my election this year.”
“Chris is out of touch with the voters of Erie County. I am not. I feel just as comfortable in a country club as I do a diner on a corner in a blue-collar part of the city. I don’t think the county executive can say that, and that’s why I feel confident that I am going to get the vote of the majority of the people in this community.”
Kind of an interesting approach from a guy who could really use Cuomo’s support right about now. I asked him if assistance from the governor would be forthcoming, and he told me to expect a lot more involvement in the race by Cuomo in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
All Aboard The Paladino Bus
Aug 15th - 12:39 pm
I’m not sure how we overlooked this one, but it’s a doozy: Carl Paladino is about to add “tour guide” to his already ecclectic resume.
The Niagara Gazette reports the Giacomo Hotel, a Niagara Falls property owner by the Buffalo businessman and failed 2010 gubernatorial candidate, will be one of the stops along a so-called Business Familiarization Tour local economic development officials are planning for Sept. 22.
The event’s organizers hope would-be developers will be motivated by Paladino’s tale of success in converting the Old United Office Building into a high-end, boutique hotel to do a little investing of their own in this down-at-the-heels WNY city.
“We found a good niche and it’s working,” Paladino told the paper. “Our apartments are full. We’re pleased with the result and we’re looking for other opportunities in Niagara.”
No one has ever questioned Paladino’s long-standing commitment to helping redevelopment Buffalo and its environs, although some – particularly his old nemesis, The Buffalo News and its reporter, Jim Heaney – have questioned his stewardship as a property owner.
Having been on the receiving end of some of Paladino’s less-pleasant tirades, and given his history as an outspoken critic of a whole host of things and people that piss him off royaly, I don’t think it’s going too far out on a limb to say that this tour will be well worth the price of admission.
Paladino: ‘Terrible’ That Golisano Left NY
Aug 4th - 11:48 am
Speaking on Curtis Sliwa’s radio show on AM 970 in New York City, 2010 Gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino went off on billionaire Tom Golisano for leaving New York and changing his official residence to Florida.
Sliwa asked Paladino why he has stayed when so many others have left and Paladino teed off.
“I think that is just terrible that guys like him decided to leave. They came here, excuse me, most of them were born here. And then they made their fortunes here. And instead of paying the taxes and standing up for the people to right things with their power, they move out of state and say its not my problem anymore. That’s not nice. I don’t like that,” Paladino said.
“That’s certainly not me. That’s not what I am about. Alright. I am very appreciative of the fact that I had opportunity here. And now I will do all I can to make sure the rest of the people in the state have that same opportunity. I think it is just terrible that these guys like Golisano move out of the state and they tout themselves as some kind of heroes for the state of NY but they are leaving now. Well, go ahead and leave. We don’t need you anyway. They never quite did the right thing for the people of the state.”
During the campaign, Paladino said he had received advice from Golisano, which makes these comments seem out of left field. Also, back in May, Golisano told us he was pleasantly surprised by Paladino’s success last year.
A Paladino Dance Party! (Updated)
Aug 2nd - 2:42 pm
I’m a little at a loss to explain this, as was the WNY political operative to forwarded it to me.
The invite was accompanied by a gentleman by the name of Al Belardinelli, who is affiliated with the (very fractured) Buffalo-area Tea Party movement. That divide and the animosity it has generated was on display in the email that accompanied this invite, in which Belardinelli wrote:
“Oh – there will plenty of tar and feathers in case Mike Caputo and his cohorts should show up – lol (don’t worry they won’t). ‘Another one bites the dust’ (Queen)…ok – we won’t throw rocks – we’ll just ‘Rock On’….!!!!!”
Caputo, as you’ll recall, was the manager of Paladino’s failed guberntorial campaign in 2010. The two had a number of falling outs, including one connected to the Buffalo businessman’s disastrous comments to a group of Orthodox Jews about gay marriage. (I believe Caputo offered to resign over that incident, but was rebuffed by his candidate boss).
Since then, Caputo has clashed with Paladino over the selection of Assemblywoman Jane Corwin over David Ballavia to run in the NY-26 special election.
(Paladino, Erie County Executive Chris Collins, Erie County GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy and their allies backed Corwin, who lost the GOP-held seat in an upset to Democratic Rep. Kathy Hochul. As it turns out, Langworthy and former Niagara County GOP Chairman Henry Wojtaszek, both big Corwin boosters, made money on that race).
Also, since Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who defeated Paladino last November, took office in January, Caputo has actively supported one of his signature policy proposals, the property tax cap, even going so far as to urge Tea Partiers to support it.
Caputo also urged support for Cuomo’s first budget deal, which caused another former Paladino campaign aide and WNY Tea Party activist, Rus Thompson, to accuse Caputo of going rogue and acting without Paladino’s permission.
For those of you who are missing your daily dose of Paladino, I saw a Tweet from him earlier today announcing he would be appearing on Fox Business News at 4 p.m.
UPDATE: Caputo emailed a lengthy response that appears after the jump.
Former Paladino Campaign Worker: Carl Owes Me Money
Jul 25th - 9:32 am
A former campaign worker for Carl Paladino’s gubernatorial bid sent an angry letter to the state Bar Association to formally complain that the Republican businessman is reneging on debts to at least a dozen people.
Tim Suereth, who has been complaining for months that Paladino still owes him for relocation fees, travel expenses and “retroactive” salary cuts.
Suereth writes in the letter of complaint that Paladino, a licensed attorney, still owes him $6,300 for relocation fees and reimbursements — although he adds it’s likely much more considering his pay cut. He attaches expense reports and emails that he claims remain unfulfilled.
Suereth, a Miami resident, was hired at a rate of $12,000 a month to work on the Paladino campaign last year. But quickly that sum fizzled as Paladino cut pay and struggled to raise money.
Suereth says he later quit the campaign and stayed on as an unpaid volunteer.
“I was told not to worry about getting my money because ‘It’s Carl Paladino.’ I thought that to mean Mr. Paladino pays all his debts. I later found this to be untrue, as detailed by many past employees/staff members who have been defrauded by Mr. Paladino,” Suereth writes.
And Suereth doesn’t just leave it at the complaint over campaign finances in the letter. He dredges up the legendary “Sagamore Smackdown” with New York Post state editor Fred Dicker (whom he incorrectly describes as “the editor” of the New York Post and writes Paladino threatened to kill Dicker, a very debatable assertion).
“All other licensed attorneys have their reputations tarnished when other ‘rouge’ attorneys act out in such a public and reprehensible way,” Suereth claims.
Though Paladino had pledged to use his millions in the race, much of his money is tied up in real estate holding, making liquid assets difficult to come by during the campaign. The infamous Paladino video in which he claimed his Democratic opponent’s “prowess is legendary” was followed by an appeal for donations from chief fundraiser Nancy Naples.
NYS GOP Operative Gets New Gig
Jun 8th - 9:23 am
Matt Walter, a longtime NYS GOP operative who got his start working for the Senate Republicans, has a new job: Political director of the Republican State Leadership Committee.
Politico reported Walter’s hiring in the “Morning Score” today, calling him a “veteran of one of 2010’s tougher state legislative campaigns.”
“Walter was a consultant to the RSLC’s effort to take back the New York state Senate last November, which very narrowly succeeded,” allen continued. “He’s a former executive director of the New York Republican Party and Rick Lazio campaign manager, and the RSLC says he’ll ‘play a key role in directing all RSLC political expenditures, expected to exceed $21 million for the cycle.’
“The RSLC – along with its Democratic counterpart, the DLCC – has already run ads in Wisconsin ahead of the state Senate recall campaigns this summer. RSLC president Chris Jankowski: ‘Matt is an experienced political professional who is ready to continue the RSLC’s groundbreaking success and take the point for the Committee’s efforts electing Republicans to state office across the country.’”
NYS GOP watchers will recall that Walter was brought in to run the Lazio campaign following a staff shake-up that ousted Kevin Fullington. The change didn’t save Lazio from getting trounced in the GOP primary by Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino, who went on to lose big to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the November general election.
Walter got his start in former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno’s press shop. He then went to work at the state GOP when Bruno’s ally, Nassau County GOP Chairman Joe Mondello, took over.
Walter eventually rose to the position of executive director, but was bounced from that post by Tom Basile when Ed Cox beat the GOP establishment candidate, former Niagara County GOP Chairman Henry Wojtaszek, to take control of the state party. Cox kept Walter on, but he was largely sidelined.
The RSLC is headed by former Rep. Tom Reynolds and former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie. The committee dropped about $1 million to help the Senate GOP in its quest to take back the majority last fall.
Paladino Still ‘Mad As Hell’, This Time Over NY-26
May 11th - 8:46 am
Failed GOP/Conservative gubernatorial contender Carl Paladino is inserting himself into the NY-26 race, slamming independent candidate Jack Davis for “claiming to be a Tea Party candidate, while supporting Nancy Pelosi, endorsing Barack Obama and supporting radical liberal policies like partial birth abortion.”
The Buffalo businessman sent out an email blast this morning with the subject line “I’m Mad as Hell”, which is not only the iconic “Network” catchphrase, but also the slogan for Paladino’s 2010 campaign.
“I’m still mad as hell, but this time it’s because Jack Davis is lying,” Paladino wrote. “He flew in a company from California to get voters’ signatures and create a fake Tea Party line on the ballot for the May 24 Special Election for New York’s 26th Congressional District, despite being told that the Tea Party represents a movement, not a political party.”
“Jack Davis supported partial birth abortion. Like Nancy Pelosi, he believes taxpayers like you should fund abortions, even if you don’t agree with it. Jack Davis spent nearly $9 MILLION of HIS OWN MONEY to run as a Democrat for Congress THREE TIMES before.
“Democrat Jack Davis also said he “couldn’t be happier” that he had a hand in creating Nancy Pelosi’s Democrat majority in Congress in 2006, which gave us trillions of dollars in new debt and millions of lost jobs.”
“Democrat Jack Davis also endorsed Barack Obama for President and took $6,000 from him during one of Davis’ runs as a Democrat. Jack Davis also took $7,000 from the disgraced Democrat Rep. Charlie Rangel. He may be running as a Tea Party candidate, but don’t be fooled – JACK DAVIS IS A DEMOCRAT.”
Paladino goes on to tout the GOP candidate, Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, lauding her for coming from the private sector – “like me” – and for spending 36 years to help grow her family’s business, Talking Phone Book. (Corwin’s credentials have come under fire this week, with the Buffalo News pointing out her 36-years-in-business line means she would have had to start work at age 8, but she has stood by that claim).
Paladino may be a polarizing figure, but it’s hard to deny his strong base of support in WNY. (Just as former Rep. Rick Lazio about that). Also, I’m not even going to try to parse the internal battle going on in the Buffalo area Tea Party movement, which has been roiling over NY-26 for some time now, thanks to the GOP’s rejection of Iraq War vet David Bellavia’s candidacy.
Bellavia is poised to announce his support for a NY-26 candidate and has made it clear his choice won’t be Corwin. It’s a safe bet he won’t be backing Democrat Kahty Hochul, either, so the smart money is on Davis.
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