In the dark, Paterson circles the drain... - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum

Commodore · #1 (**permalink**) 02-08-2010

Spokeswoman: N.Y. governor is "not resigning"

Quote:

Paterson aide calls reports 'entirely fabricated' as scandal rumors swirl

updated 11:52 a.m. ET, Mon., Feb. 8, 2010

NEW YORK - New York Democratic Governor David Paterson is not planning to resign, his spokeswoman said on Monday, calling blog reports "entirely fabricated."

"This is a new low even by the standards of planet Albany. The circus of the past week -- entirely fabricated out of thin air and innuendo -- is an embarrassment for all who have played a role in fueling it," Marissa Shorenstein said by e-mail.

Paterson, a former legislator and lieutenant governor, became governor in 2008 after former Governor Eliot Spitzer, also a Democrat, resigned amid a prostitution scandal.

Since last week, media blogs, including the Huffington Post, have said the New York Times was on the brink of publishing a story so scandalous that Paterson would have resign.

Paterson trails Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in opinion polls ahead of November's gubernatorial election.

When he became governor, Paterson admitted he had been unfaithful to his wife. On a Friday radio show, he shrugged off a New York Post report about a lunch he had with a woman in New Jersey.

Paterson said the photographer who was seated across from him would not have missed taking a picture of anything improper. "Tell me, what photographer would have missed that shot?" Paterson asked.

Since last week, questions have also been raised about whether Paterson gave undue weight to political ties in choosing a consortium to run video lottery terminals at New York City's Aqueduct horse track in the borough of Queens.

After becoming governor, Paterson appointed Richard Ravitch, a financial expert and former chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to serve

I don't think there is anything out of him would surprise this state anymore.

He has a snowballs chance of winning even the party primary, and even the White House has admitted he's a drag on the ticket in November.

My guess is he gets a plush ambassadorship to someplace we've never heard of, never to be heard from again...

noahath · #2 (**permalink**) 02-08-2010

I think the one thing in his favour is ... surprisingly ... Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo seems to be more and more reluctant to challenge him directly, and would prefer him to stand aside so he can avoid a bruising primary. Andrew seems to be embracing his father's procrastination tendancies more and more. I think he's also a bit haunted by his last shot at the Governors mansion, when he lost the primary. I think the longer he waits the better Patterson's chances are ... which improves the GOPs chances. Cuomo needs to just announce already and muscle Patterson out.

CSA · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-2010

NY needs cuomo as Governor like a 18 year old needs to find out his first attempt as sex landed him genital herpes, and warts.

Commodore · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2010

Paterson said today the the only way he would leave office is through the ballot box or in a box.

Be careful what you wish for Dave.

He just isn't capable of reading the tea leaves.

Commodore · #5 (**permalink**) 02-25-2010

Finally, the shoe falls...

Question of Influence in Abuse Case of Paterson Aide

Quote:

By WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM, DANNY HAKIM, DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI and SERGE F. KOVALESKI
Published: February 24, 2010

Last fall, a woman went to court in the Bronx to testify that she had been violently assaulted by a top aide to Gov. David A. Paterson, and to seek a protective order against the man.

In the ensuing months, she returned to court twice to press her case, complaining that the State Police had been harassing her to drop it. The State Police, which had no jurisdiction in the matter, confirmed that the woman was visited by a member of the governor’s personal security detail.

Then, just before she was due to return to court to seek a final protective order, the woman got a phone call from the governor, according to her lawyer. She failed to appear for her next hearing on Feb. 8, and as a result her case was dismissed.

Many details of the governor’s role in this episode are unclear, but the accounts presented in court and police records and interviews with the woman’s lawyer and others portray a brutal encounter, a frightened woman and an effort to make a potential political embarrassment go away.

The case involved David W. Johnson, 37, who had risen from working as Mr. Paterson’s driver and scheduler to serving in the most senior ranks of the administration, but who also had a history of altercations with women.

On Wednesday night, in response to inquiries from The New York Times, Mr. Paterson said in a statement that he would request that Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo investigate his administration’s handling of the matter. The governor also said he would suspend Mr. Johnson without pay.

Through a spokesman, Mr. Paterson said the call actually took place the day before the scheduled court hearing and maintained that the woman had initiated it. He declined to answer further questions about his role in the matter.

The woman’s lawyer, Lawrence B. Saftler, said that the conversation lasted about a minute and that the governor asked how she was doing and if there was anything he could do for her. “If you need me,” he said, according to Mr. Saftler, “I’m here for you.”

So, one of Patersons goons beats up his girlfriend, and the Governor personally calls her to basically let her know that he knows all about it, and state Troopers, interceding in the NYPD's jurisdiction, encouraged her to drop the case.

Then today...

Aide's Legal Case Hits Gov. Paterson

Quote:

By JACOB GERSHMAN

New York Gov. David Paterson faced intensifying pressure Thursday to abandon his election campaign, as a senior aide quit his administration in outrage and the New York political world responded with disgust to allegations the state police and the Democratic governor interfered with a domestic-violence case involving a top aide.

Mr. Paterson's administration was plunged into disarray late Wednesday after it was reported by the New York Times that the governor and a member of his security detail had conversations with a woman pursing a protection order against a top administration aide, David Johnson, 37 years old, a close friend and adviser to Mr. Paterson.

The official who oversees the state police, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise E. O'Donnell, resigned Thursday, issuing a stinging letter that accused the police superintendent, Harry Corbitt, of misleading her about the state police's involvement in the woman's complaint.

"It was only last night when I learned from press reports the contrary details, including the involvement of the state police," Ms. O'Donnell said in a statement. "It is particularly distressing that this could happen in an administration that prides itself on its record of combating domestic violence."

The crisis unfolded just days after Mr. Paterson, a legally blind former state senator and lieutenant governor from Harlem who was thrust into power after Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a sex scandal in 2008, announced his intention to run for a full term as governor.

Mr. Paterson denied he tried to influence the woman to drop her complaint. The woman did drop the case a day after briefly speaking with the governor on the phone.

Mr. Paterson said he has asked New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo to investigate her claim, issued through her lawyer, that the state police, which had no legal authority over her dispute, had bullied her to drop charges when she sought a protection order.

The woman's lawyer claims the governor called her Feb. 7, a day before she was scheduled to appear before a family court to finalize her request for a protection order, and asked how she was doing. An aide to the governor who asked not to be identified insisted the woman initiated the conversation.

Either Sec. O'Donnell knew, and is trying to escape, or didn't, and didn't want to be around to be the scapegoat, left for Buffalo, in the middle of the biggest snowstorm of the year here.

Paterson was quick to call upon Cuomo, his chief rival for the Democratic nomination for Governor this year, to investigate, no doubt looking to spin the findings into an election year slime, and demand the AGs office drop or delay any investigation due to a lack of impartiality.

If you'll remember, Former Governor "Fracking Steamroller" Spritzer (D), was caught using Troopers to spy on Former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's travels.

It seems that this rapidly dwindling administration, and the Troopers themselves, think the state police are the executive branches personal SS, there not to protect and serve the citizens of NY, but to protect their bosses and slime their opponents. The halls of power Albany need to be flushed completely, and I dare say the city kicked out.

Tim · #6 (**permalink**) 02-26-2010

Paterson has just announced he will not run in November:

New York governor withdraws from race - paper | Reuters

Disillusioned_1 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-26-2010

Whew, I thought the story was going to be that he was doing nighttime street racing or something.

tsquare · #8 (**permalink**) 02-26-2010

This is more a study in how the New York Times wanted to change the course of the election thus timing their publishing of this story, now, early, to get Patterson to do as he is now doing... drop out. Now they (the NYT) can get someone to run that they want... maybe Cuomo, I don't know.

Had Patterson been a Republican, the NYT would have held this story and waited until it was impossible for another GOP candidate to take part, and then ran the story.

Think I'm wrong? Check out the timing of the Mark Folley Story in 2006.

NYorker · #9 (**permalink**) 02-26-2010

Patterson is a scumbag by all means. NY needs a goddamn governor that isn't corrupt and will serve the INTERESTS OF NY STATE RESIDENTS instead of using state police to harass women or state money to buy goddamn prostitutes. Is there not ONE just ONE potential candidate that actually cares about NY?? Oh yeah and Patterson you keep cutting funding to SUNY (State) Schools but you just keep in mind that we're all 18+ so you sure as hell are not getting our votes and I'm already involved in a student activist group to make sure everyone that I can get will vote against you. *continues mumbling to myself about Patterson*

CSA · #10 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

patterson is a joke, and would never have been elected. he got the job through spitzer getting caught.Its going to be Cuomo vs Lazio for governer, unless guiliani or hillary decides to jump into the race.

Commodore · #11 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010

NY Gov. Paterson mum as scandal claims top cop

Quote:

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. David Paterson remains defiant in the midst of a rapidly growing scandal that has now claimed two top law enforcement officials and threatens to take down his administration.
Just hours after Paterson told reporters Tuesday that he wouldn't resign because of his intervention in the domestic violence case involving a key aide, State Police Superintendent Harry Corbitt abruptly announced he would retire effective Wednesday. Last week, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise O'Donnell quit after criticizing contact that Paterson, his staff and the state police had with the woman at the center of the domestic assault.

NY's Paterson faces ethics charge over World Series tickets

Quote:

By MICHAEL GORMLEY, Associated Press Writer Michael Gormley, Associated Press Writer – Wed Mar 3, 6:14 pm ET
ALBANY, N.Y. – New York Gov. David Paterson, trying to hold onto office in the face of one scandal, was accused Wednesday of violating state ethics laws when he sought and obtained free Yankees tickets for the 2009 World Series and then may have lied about his intention to pay for them, according to a state report.
He faces penalties of nearly $100,000, and the case was referred to the Albany County prosecutor's office and the state attorney general for possible criminal investigation into whether Paterson or anyone else gave false answers to questions by the Public Integrity Commission or backdated a check to pay for the tickets.

And thats just today.

NYorker · #12 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010

...he makes 175,000 a year (NY Governor salary) and he cant afford freakin yankee tickets??????

Commodore · #13 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYorker

...he makes 175,000 a year (NY Governor salary) and he cant afford freakin yankee tickets??????

They should have just snuck him in as a ref.

The Paterson Death watch continues...

Some rats flee the sinking ship...
Paterson's communications director resigns

Quote:

ALBANY, N.Y., March 4 (UPI) -- The spokesman for embattled New York Gov. David Paterson resigned Thursday, saying he could not "in good conscience" remain in his position.

Communications Director Peter Kauffmann said in a statement his resignation was effective at the end of the business day Thursday, the New York Daily News reported.

"I have been honored to serve the people of New York during a difficult time in our state's history. As a former officer in the U.S. Navy, integrity and commitment to public service are values I take seriously," Kauffmann said in an e-mail to reporters. "Unfortunately, as recent developments have come to light, I cannot in good conscience continue in my current position. I have notified the governor that I am resigning as director of communications."

While other rats dig in...

Black Leaders Believe NY Gov Should Stay in Office

Quote:

Sylvia's soul food restaurant in Harlem/Kathleen Maloney

Posted: Thursday, 04 March 2010 11:14PM
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP/ 1010 WINS) -- Influential black leaders in New York City say they believe Gov. David Paterson should stay in office amid allegations he and his staff interfered in a domestic violence case involving a top governor's aide.

Meeting in a Harlem soul food restaurant that is the center of power for black politics in New York, the group led by the Rev. Al Sharpton agreed that Paterson should try to withstand the violence scandal and new ethics charges related to World Series tickets.

The meeting came the same day a third key administration official quit because of the domestic violence scandal. Communications Director Peter Kauffmann said he could not "in good conscience" stay on because of the controversy

NYorker · #14 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commodore

Black Leaders Believe NY Gov Should Stay in Office

I got nothing against blacks but Al Sharpton is the goddamn devil and if you don't believe me then just look at him during the day... notice he has no shadow thus no soul

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