Lockport Union-Sun & Journal Online

Tim Marren

October 23, 2010

MARREN: What a mess ... What. A. Mess.

Apparently the Rent Is 2 Damn High.

Who knew? God help us all.

As we all now know, the rent is high. A former madam is good at keeping her books straight and Carl Paladino is still Carl Paladino.

Not much has changed with the dysfunction that is New York state.

Same state, same state of affairs, different players.

During and after Monday’s gubernatorial debate, people joked about the seven-person candidate lineup at Hofstra University. I must say, it was something. Even in my seven years of covering politics, some of which have included state races, I’ve never seen anything like this cast of characters.

So what’s a New Yorker to do?

Another editor pointed out that the third party candidates are just as crazy — just in a different fashion — as Cuomo and Paladino, the more “polished” politicians. The Kristen Davis’ of the world may be colorful, and he’s right, seem just as “off” as the traditional candidates, so yes, they do deserve a say.

If we’re going to hear Carl and Andrew’s latest idea — crazy or not — we may as well give the third party candidates a forum.

My point to the editor that brought up the equal time point is no matter how much time you give any one of the seven running, when the dust settles, these are still the people we have to choose from.

One of these seven (let’s be honest, it will probably be Cuomo), will be our next governor. While Carl does his thing and Rent Is 2 Damn High guy continues to tell you, well, about the rent, Cuomo just sits back and says “Go Yankees.”

Do we have any idea what his plan is?

No.

And it’s because he doesn’t have to say anything. If he sits back and let’s the circus play out in front of him, he’ll look like the best choice.

But that circus is once again a snapshot of New York politics. Heck, those in California are even laughing at New York. How can they not.

If you’re like me, all you can is shake your head. Or pray.

It’s a mess. An absolute mess.

Maybe you have your candidate. Maybe there’s someone in that lot of seven you can align yourself with. I can’t. The choices are just horrendous.

Something is wrong that these are the choices we have. I’m glad there’s seven parties to choose from, but some are just a joke. I mean, The Rent Is 2 Damn High Party? This is democracy, I guess. Guess they are just as legit as Republicans and Democrats these days.

But it’s still just so discouraging.

The state of our state is not promising.

Tim Marren is managing editor of the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal. Contact him at tim.marren

@lockportjournal.com or 439-9222.

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Tim Marren
  • Tim Marren MARREN: I fought the good fight, I finished the race

    It’s never cool for a guy to cry. At least that’s what we’re led to believe early in life, right? Keep your emotions in check.
    But I’ll admit it, I cried my first day as an editor.

    October 30, 2010 1 Photo

  • Tim Marren MARREN: What a mess ... What. A. Mess.

    Apparently the Rent Is 2 Damn High.
    Who knew? God help us all.

    October 23, 2010 1 Photo

  • Tim Marren MARREN: Check those medical bills

    This past July, the weekend of my sister’s wedding, I sliced open the middle finger on my left hand during a cookout we hosted. I was trying to clean bottles off the deck. I had my fingers inside a few of the bottles, to make juggling a half dozen of them easier.

    September 25, 2010 1 Photo

  • Tim Marren MARREN: GLDC shouldn’t wait on Canal Street

    City officials revealed this week that Lockport developer David Ulrich’s proposal to lure the Niagara County Community College Culinary Institute to Canal Street isn’t the only option being explored.
    Good news, for sure.

    August 30, 2010 1 Photo

  • Tim Marren MARREN: Have an opinion, send it in

    A woman came in this week and asked why I think fewer letters appear on the opinion page these days. Seemed like a decent enough question. It’s one I’ve heard before, since many newspapers have seen a decline in letter submissions.

    August 21, 2010 1 Photo

  • Tim Marren MARREN: Dialect dominance not always great

    If someone came up to you, here in the good old U.S. of A., and asked you to speak to them in another language, could you? Could you just flip a switch and go from English to Spanish, or French?
    Some people reading this right now probably could do that, but not the majority.

    August 14, 2010 1 Photo

  • Tim Marren MARREN: All drivers need testing

    If there’s one topic that’s always in the news, it’s driving.
    And when I say always, it truly is ALWAYS in the news.

    August 7, 2010 1 Photo

  • Tim Marren MARREN: Kids write the darndest things

    Newspapers get all sorts of letters. Obviously “letters to the editor” are most common, but the newsroom gets letters from all different sources.

    July 24, 2010 1 Photo

  • Tim Marren MARREN: A smattering of opinion

    Here’s some post-vacation Timbits for you:

    July 17, 2010 1 Photo

  • Tim Marren MARREN: Summer reading should be mandated, tested

    There’s nothing worse than summer reading in high school.
    Just when you wanted to put all the books away for the summer, along comes the mandatory summer reading list.

    July 10, 2010 1 Photo

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