So Far, Disappointing
So, what has Spitzer done to live up to the hope many people - including me - had that he’d really shake things up in Albany and make New York better?
This morning I saw that he is now abandoning his plan to give drivers’ licenses of some sort to illegal aliens. KTHXBAI.
What the hell kind of bold leadership is this? Spending in Albany continues to grow by leaps and bounds. There have been half-hearted attempts to reform workers’ compensation, and many of the statutes that help make New York one of the more business-unfriendly states in the union remain on the books.
On top of this, media that cover Albany are simply atwitter over whether or not Bruno improperly used state aircraft for personal purposes. In his showdown with Bruno over this issue, the two have gone to great lengths to see who can look more petty and sanctimonious.
I can’t explain in words how frustrating it is to look to Albany and realize that nothing is going to change. Not now, not ever. We continue to have three men control what does and doesn’t happen. We continue to have irresponsible public authorities that are used as dumping grounds for patronage, and a means for the state to borrow and spend off the books. The agendas continue to be driven by downstate lawmakers who have a very different notion of what is and isn’t important legislatively.
And before someone says “we should secede”, think again. We hardly subsidize downstate. Without a very wealthy and valuable New York City area paying the taxes and fees it pays, upstate would be in dire straits indeed.
Coming back to the license issue - Spitzer as Attorney General was quite comfortable in his role steamrolling over potential litigation opponents, and it was a strategy that worked for him. When an AG goes against someone, he can sue or prosecute. But a governor has to be more tactful and political than an AG. He squared off with Bruno and is locked in a standoff that’s become a massive distraction. He figured he could just push through the license-for-illegals plan but ran into massive opposition, and may have adversely affected Democratic candidates throughout the state. What kind of imbecile proposes something so controversial mere weeks before an election? Of course, Republicans throughout the state dove for the gutter, sending out mailings showing keffiyeh-clad terrorists with NYS drivers’ licenses. Who can blame them? Spitzer gave them red meat, and they gnawed on it (despite the fact that, e.g., the 9/11 terrorists were all in the country with valid visas and passports).
So, when Buffalo Rising posts two clumsily-written missives about the Common Council squaring off against the DOT on Route 5, remember that the DOT is a state agency and Spitzer has the power to do something about it - much more so than Higgins or the Common Council or Schumer or Clinton. When we bitch about a county control board that is, itself, out-of-control, remember that they are a state entity. When we complain bitterly about those irresponsible, expensive authorities, note that Spitzer has done bugger-all to change them.
Is Spitzer going to get his act together and start doing the people’s business, or is he destined to become another go-along-to-get-along Pataki? Is he going to finally replace the Pataki appointees with his own choices? Is he going to do something more than flit around the state announcing construction projects in Rome, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester? Because believe it or not, pretty shopping centers are definitely not the key to upstate’s revival.
I don’t know about you, but I’m rapidly running out of patience with New York State government, and I’m at a loss as to how we can bring about any real change there.
(UPDATE: Check out NYCO’s post, entitled “Wreck of the Eliot Spitzgerald“)
dave allen Says:November 14th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Amen. Spitzer hasn;t learned yet that he can’t run the governor’s office like he did the AG’s position. Leadership is more than trying to prove yourself the alpha dog.
Niagara Prognosticator Says:November 14th, 2007 at 8:07 am
BP,
Amen again. Between the do nothing Democratic Congress and the “steamroller in a bog-marsh” Governor, its no wonder that turnout and enthusiasm for Democratic candidates across the state was lackluster at best. Why should the public believe that electing Dems over Reps is going to change anything? Results matter and so far I’ve seen nothing to give me hope as a Democrat that government will be returned to the People. And I’m quite the partisan, involved Dem, thank you. If I feel this way, just imagine how the work-a-day masses feel about the Spitzer Administration. (Hint Gov : Take a gander at the polls).
In 2009, look for the Gov’s reelection slogan “On day 1096, everything changes.” to be trumped by the Republican slogan, “On day 1461, everything changes.”
Bill Altreuter Says:November 14th, 2007 at 9:01 am
It seems to me that his mistake has been in failing to make the process more transparent. He tried to do an end run around Bruno by seeking to discredit him, instead of simply pointing out exactly how the Legislature stands in the way of change. Of course, helicopter rides are sexier than governance, but I had hoped that Spitzer, a wonk, would have thought that governance was interesting enough for him to have tried to make that the story.
Ironically, one of the best governors in recent memory to have attempted to make good government the story was Jessie Ventura. Jessie was all about things like utilities regulation reform- dry, but the media has to run with it if it is the only story out there.
Russell Says:November 14th, 2007 at 9:25 am
It’s amazing how out of touch with the voters, even those in their party, Democratic pols are these days. It’s all the pols, from the leadership, to the officials, and even to the candidates. If things keep heading in this direction, next year could end up being a strong year for the GOP, even though people have been predicting their demise for some time now.
NYCO Says:November 14th, 2007 at 9:50 am
“Without a very wealthy and valuable New York City area paying the taxes and fees it pays, upstate would be in dire straits indeed.”
Indeed. So we have a choice between an Upstate in dire straits *as* part of NYS, or an Upstate in dire straits that would not be part of NYS. Ah… fear-based decision making at its finest.
Next question: In the event of a moderate to severe economic downtown affecting the entire U.S. economy, but also NYC’s much vaunted Wall Street-driven economy in particular, would you prefer to remain part of NYS, with all of the rights, privileges and restrictions that entails… or would you prefer Upstate go it alone?
Personally I don’t think a recession (or God forbid depression)-hit Wall Street would be feeling too generous toward the poor country cousins. Strong statewide leadership could lessen the impact of this, but is that forthcoming from Albany?
My Magic 8 Ball says “Ask Later,” but I don’t know if there remains that much more time to wait for an answer.
steve Says:November 14th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Dear Gov –
Abraham Maslow once said something like — when the only tool you have is a hammer, everything begins to look like a nail. That problem is compounded when you surround yourself with folks who also see every problem as a nail.
Just goes to prove that all the talk of election night mandates is just that — talk.
Best regards,
S.
P.S. Joe, Sheldon — Take the hint. Get a clue. Read between the lines. Whatever. Just, puh-leeze, understand that nobody wins these battles.
Mr. Pink Says:November 14th, 2007 at 9:57 am
What I find most disappointing is where the Governor has apparently chosen to spend his effort. When he came in with a landslide, the message was not:
1) Pick a fight over comptroller
2) Go steamroll the Senate Reps in a Long Island Senate race
3) Cave on your budget principles to get a deal done by April 1 and do it in secret
3) Have your staff use resources to “get Bruno” and then have it blow up into a scandal
4) Give dtriver’s licenses to illegal immigrants
And now, just wait to this set of stories on the Spitzer appointees paroling violent felons at 10 times the rate of Pataki starts to take hold. This will be the next fire.
My point is that the Govenror is right on so many issues why have they squandered so much time on this other nonsense? How did they work themselves into this much so fast? And with three years to go, how does he get back on track to deliver on his agenda?
hank Says:November 14th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Tom Suozzi for Governor!
EXCELSIOR!
What a load of bullshit.
Where’s the loving throngs that commented here during Spitzers coronation?
I didn’t say a lot, but I smelled a rat from the beginning. Not being a Democrat I knew what my opinions on Spitzer would be looked at as.
I try not to make judgements on people by how they look. But every time I saw a picture or Video of Spitzer, I would look at him and say–”I don’t know this guy, but he looks like a complete asshat to me”.
Turns out, HE IS.
Sort of back to Buffalo Girl’s analysis of Powers. “He’s a Democrat and he shares my views”. Well Whoopie Shit!–look what you can get when you vote for a “Democrat who shares your views”
WNY would have been better off with a Communist. At least a Commie would have whipped the Legislature into line.
I wonder if Buffalo Girl will admit she voted for Spitzer NOW.
Alan I share your frustration looking at Albany.
Back to Hank’s analysis of Reynolds seems fitting for Spitzer at this juncture. “Even a Retarded Chimp could do no worse”.
NYCO Says:November 14th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Don’t blame me - I voted for Suozzi.
(I call dibs on the bumpersticker rights to that one!)
Greg Says:November 14th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
The poll that came out yesterday must have really hit him hard
I never have liked spitzer, but that illegal alien thing was more assinine than I expected from him
MIke Says:November 14th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
bash bash bash, its always about some useless issue like the peach picker driving a car. Pink, the prisons are full and you don’t want one by your house, so what else can you do exept buy them a bus ticket for Florida.
And Hank, you heard it here first, he will get reelected, 3 years is along time.
hank Says:November 14th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Mike– I truly hope you’re wrong. But with NY voters voting the way you do, that’s probably where I’d put the smart money.
If it happens, God Save the State.
steve Says:November 14th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Mike — Hate to jump into the debate between you and hank, but…it’s Day Three Hundred & Eighteen. What, really, has changed? Who or what has he steamrolled, besides members of his own party by having a tin ear when it comes to issues and timing?
The gov is squandering the enormous opportunity he had in his huge margin of victory last November.
I’ll stop bashing when he does something that moves this state in any direction but down.
You’re right — three years is a long time. Time enough, certainly, to recover. But, is he capable? Is he capable of controlling his now famous temper? Is he capable of listening?
hank Says:November 14th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Steve–I didn’t think we were debating, just exchanging musings.
If this was Riverside in the 60’s I think it would be said that Spitzer “Blows for Jelly Rolls”.
That’s it. The State and county Party Bosses decided that it was this asshat’s turn to fuck the state over, and so they offered it up to the Blue Blue state of NY as a regular Easter Basket. And, with some notable exceptions, THEY BOUGHT IT. IFO was NOT surprised.
Nor am I surprised that by this late part of the year, nothing’s been done, or even started, and shit’s just as raggedy as it was last year, if not worse over this drivers license shit.
It’s November now. It’s Cold. Nothing’s Changed in Albany.
Not one freakin’ scoop of land has been turned over in the Inner Harbor, Bass Pro STILL isn’t building, The Southtowns Connector is still in the “Talk” stage, The Skyway continues to rust, the sheeple are still kept from their waterfront by a highway, Citistat has apparently not saved much money, but the Police Union is getting what they want from Lord Byron.
Just a typical year in NYS and WNY….Some nice festivals, same old shit everywhere else.
Except for this week at least, the Bills are playing better than .500 ball.
TheRover Says:November 14th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Hey, you people get what you elect. This guy was an idiot empty suit on Day One, on day 318 he’s an even bigger idiot and empty suit. But everybody fell for those slick TV ads. Agenda? He has none. Just another party backed stoodge. I think he’s a liar. I think he’s corrupt. He’s absolutely clueless. All he does is bark and snap. And with about 98% on New York voters being complete morons yeah he’ll probably get reelected, as long as he doesnt implode and is forced to resign, which is what I’ll put my money on.