Cuomo’s on his way

Editorials

March 17, 2010

Naming an independent counsel in the Paterson probe was a wise move

Anonymous The Daily Freeman of Kingston The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Wed Mar 17, 2010, 11:51 PM EDT

LOCKPORT — The stars are aligning for Andrew Cuomo.

There’s still the little matter of a campaign followed by an election for him to hurdle, but if Cuomo doesn’t win November’s gubernatorial contest, it could go down as the biggest upset in the history of New York politics.

Here’s Cuomo, the state’s popular attorney general, son of a former governor, and the ultimate political operative, who has made few mistakes in his climb to the Executive Mansion (save for the big one of alienating the minority political establishment in 2002 when he foolishly challenged African-American state Comptroller H. Carl McCall for the Democratic nomination for governor), plotting a careful path to victory in 2010.

Building a favorable reputation as attorney general (just as did Eliot Spitzer before him, remember?), Cuomo has bided his time, not yet officially declaring for office and allowing unpopular David Paterson, the accidental governor, to self-destruct. Meanwhile, Cuomo has been working at (not necessarily with success) wallpapering his well-earned, longtime reputation as Albany’s Mr. Nasty.

With Republicans coming up with no better presumed opponent so far than Rick Lazio, a former congressman and unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate, and Paterson formally dropping out of the race, Cuomo has clear sailing, it appears.

But there is the matter of Paterson’s legal/ethics problems, some of which have landed in AG Cuomo’s lap.

That was a political pothole for Cuomo to navigate. So last week, Cuomo recused himself from the investigation and named the highly respected former Chief Judge Judith Kaye as an independent counsel to probe allegations that Paterson illegally secured World Series tickets and tried to interfere in a domestic violence case involving his top aide.

“This is a legal determination as to what is the best way to conduct an investigation,” Cuomo said. “... I want to make sure this is an investigation that is as free from political interference as is possible.”

He sure does. Because that aforementioned clear sailing toward the Executive Mansion was beginning to encounter choppy water, at least according to a Marist College poll, which showed Cuomo’s approval rating falling in the wake of the Paterson matter, particularly among the accidental governor’s African-American base.

Since Cuomo didn’t create the charges against Paterson, it’s likely the attorney general’s numbers will stabilize now that he can say he’s taken the high ground and handed off the investigation.

As the old saying goes, plenty can happen between now and Election Day. Once Cuomo gets the nomination, his past will be explored, flaws and all. His time as Bill Clinton’s secretary of Housing and Urban Development will be examined, particularly in light of the mortgage crisis that nearly brought down the nation’s economy years after he left office. His personal life, including a messy divorce with one of the Kennedy clan, will be fodder, as well.

But Cuomo got past all that in winning the attorney general’s job and he’s pretty much standing tall today.

His appointment of Judge Kaye as independent counsel is wise for him and the investigation.

—

Text Only

Editorials

OUR VIEW: Time for Mongielo to face the music
Town of Lockport auto repair shop owner David Mongielo has gone over the line in his violation of a town sign ordinance.

January 2, 2012
OUR VIEW: At dawn of New Year, a call for civility
Each new year brings with it an inherent hopefulness in our own lives and the larger world around us, this one in particular — if only because it isn’t 2011.

January 2, 2012
Have a safe New Year's Eve
This isn’t the Prohibition era, and we’re not into moralizing about alcohol consumption.
We have no beef about adults having a few drinks on New Year’s Eve, as long as no one else gets hurt in the process. Your choice — hangover, no hangover. Check yes or no.
But, with one very important proviso: Don’t drink and drive.
And we’re very much against hosts of a New Year’s Eve party sending their guests out to their cars when their guests have overindulged. Especially when there are safe options to avoid behavior that risks your life and that of others you may encounter on the road.

December 31, 2011
The bus stops here
The NFTA’s proposed cuts to local bus routes have the potential to really hurt the little guy, the rider who relies on the bus to get to work, to shop, to get to the doctor’s.
It just shouldn’t happen.

December 28, 2011
OUR VIEW: Lockport taxpayers lose again
We find it highly inappropriate that the City of Lockport — via its development corporation — is again punishing taxpayers for renovations to 57 Canal St.

April 26, 2011
CHEERS & JEERS
We applaud Lockport Town Court and Judge Leonard G. Tilney Jr. for recusing themselves from the driving-while-intoxicated case against local attorney Daniel E. Seaman due to conflict of interest.

April 26, 2011
OUR VIEW: Recharge N.Y. is a plus for us
We’re encouraged that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s visit to Niagara County this week brings a new and improved version of the Power For Jobs program to our area.

April 21, 2011
CHEERS & JEERS: The US&J’s view on the best and worst of the week
April 21, 2011
OUR VIEW: Cleanup is up the creek
New York state had an Eighteenmile Creek cleanup within its grasp — and now it’s trying to change horses in mid-stream. And that could leave the cleanup effort up the creek without a paddle.

April 21, 2011
CHEERS & JEERS: The US&J’s view on the best and worst of the week
April 21, 2011
More Editorials Headlines

Editorials

Search Results

Cuomo’s on his way

Naming an independent counsel in the Paterson probe was a wise move

Site Map

Contact Us