Good Riddance: Why Pataki Won't Be Missed (NY Post really lowers the boom)

[brooklynite]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12282006/postopinion/opedcolumnists/good_riddance_opedcolumnists_fredric_u__dicker.htm?page=0

December 28, 2006 -- AFTER 12 years and three terms, Gov. Pataki leaves state government far worse then he found it: Albany is scarred by notorious dysfunction, afflicted with pervasive corruption and marked by a torpidity unprecedented in modern times.

...snip...

While his many liberal political allies and plentiful media apologists delighted in portraying the betrayal as clever pragmatism in an increasingly Democratic state, Pataki's abandonment of his supposed core beliefs wasn't that at all.

Those who know Pataki best (and I've talked with many of them day-in, day-out during his three terms) say that it was actually a calculated effort by a selfish cynic to hold on to power at all costs - in order to use it for personal gain, social advancement and the enjoyment of millions of dollars worth of state-funded aides, servants, security services and a state fleet of aircraft, all providing a lifestyle even Donald Trump would envy.

...snip...

* Rarely did Pataki work at his job. When he could no longer avoid making a decision, he resorted to late-night cramming sessions. Friends calculated Pataki averaged about 15 hours a week of real work.

That left most of the work of actually governing New York to a ragtag collection of private-sector political consultants and public-sector political hacks, whose often-ignorant and abusive treatment of the state workforce destroyed a once-proud corps of professional administrators.

Post State Editor Fredric U. Dicker has been covering state government for over 25 years.

[Missy M]

1. What amazes me is he kept being elected....

in spite of being one of the most uncharismatic, do nothing politician's around. He was good at being in all the state commercials telling us what wonderful things he does and never missed a photo-op. The only reason he came to Western New York was for a photo-op. Now all of Upstate NY is struggling and bankrupt, thanks to Pataki. The only place thriving is NYC and he forgot there was the rest of the state.

[brooklynite]

3. Politics is a zero-sum game...

Someone has to win, no matter how bad, if the alternative is seen as worse. NYC Council Chairman Peter Vallone in 1998 and former State Controller Carl McCall in 2002 were uninspiring choices for the Democratic Party.

[Missy M]

4. The way I look at it is Pataki was so bad......

either one of the above mentioned would have been better.

[burythehatchet]

2. its the repubilc way

[flyarm]

5. i love these monday morning quarterbacks..where were they before elections??

where were these sob media types writing their articles when people had the chance to vote these bums out??

they sat mum...

they did not do their jobs..so if this writer wants to tell us now what a jerk and non 2orker Pataki was..why didn't he write this article..and tell NY'ers ..he was only working 15 hours a week ..when the voters could have taken action...

a little late i would say Post State Editor Fredric U. Dicker...pataki didn't do his job..but neither did you!!

media needs to be held just as accountable..if not more accountable..for their failure to do their jobs!!

4th estate....Post State Editor Fredric U. Dicker...thats your job..and you failed the people!!..and now you are a day late and a dollar short!!..the people spoke without your editorial ..that came 3 terms too late!!

oh and Mr. Editor..i hold you also responsible ..for ignoring truth..you are a fucker mr editor...remember when American Airlines had a flight crash in Rockaway..mr editor...and Pataki went on national tv and said..well those A300 pilots must have known they were going to crash...because Pataki parrotted the FAA Chief..saying..the pilots dumped the fuel...well mr editor ..if you had done your job you would have known Pataki was lying ...AA A300's had no capability to dump fuel...but you would have had to talk to a AA pilot wouldn't you have Mr. Editor!! Or an AA crew chief..or mantainance Guy with AA....but you didn't do your job MR EDitor..

so i see you Mr Editor as the pot calling the kettle black!! mr. editor!

fly

[Parche]

6. pataki attacki

And remember the 2004 repube convention, where he attacked Dems and liberals
with the conservative talking points, he was nothing but a lap dog at that convention
made me hurl, glad he is gone.

And the pilots of the AA A-300 flight did not have time to jettison fuel anyway even if
they could have, it was right after take off that it crashed.

[flyarm]

7. OH I KNOW....

BUT PATAKI SAID IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN..THAT THE PILOTS DUMPED THE FUEL...

AND I WAS FURIOUS AND I CALLED EVERY MEDIA OUTLET...

i was a flight crew for AA at the time..a 33 yr flt crew that flew that aircraft!!

fly