Obama and Patterson - WTF?

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:39 am

So what's the whole deal with Obama and the White House getting hot and heavy with the coke-snorting, prostitute-pimping blind man from NYC governor's campaign?

Obama seriously doesn't seem to be doing well on the within country diplomacy. He seems as heavy-handed as bush except the spotlight is more on him to succeed.

Surgo · Post by **Surgo** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:09 pm

Are you confusing Patterson with the guy that he replaced as governor (Elliot Spitzer)? I don't recall reading anything about Patterson coke-snorting or prostitute-pimping (though Elliot Spitzer did that).

tzor · Post by **tzor** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:29 pm

Patterson's approval ratings are in the tank. They are so bad that the looser who tried to run against Hillary in the senate seat (as opposed to the other looser from the primary who claimed that black helicopters were circling her home in the Hamptons) has a 50/50 chance against him.

Still, when the POTUS gets involved in state politics it is so wrong on so many constitutional levels that it will be certain to backfire. I'm going to refrain from expounding on the old comment, "once a God Damned Chicago Politician, always a God Damned Chicago Politician."

Crissa · Post by **Crissa** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:38 pm

Ahh, the old, 'It's Okay If You're a Republican.'

Why shouldn't the leader of a party give a boost to their candidates in lower offices?

Paterson's approval ratings have little to do with his actions, it is true. But it's possible for the party to more easily hold onto the Governorship by choosing a new candidate, and they have one ready and more popular even before the Lt Gov took over for the philandering prior Gov.

-Crissa

Lago PARANOIA · Post by **Lago PARANOIA** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:46 pm

A Cynic wrote:So what's the whole deal with Obama and the White House getting hot and heavy with the coke-snorting, prostitute-pimping blind man from NYC governor's campaign?

Sheesh, A Cynic, this is so wrong that what you described is the exact opposite of what's really happening.

Obama wasn't boosting Paterson's approval ratings, though. He was trying to get Paterson to resign quietly, which isn't happening.

Anyway, the whole incident was brought about was because Paterson's campaign staff and supporters (specifically Harlem) threatened to go nuclear on the racial component and Obama is providing political cover for Cuomo. Paterson's approval numbers are entirely in the tank right now (even among black New Yorkers, he doesn't even have a third) but he has some powerful people supporting him.

Even though he would probably lose a primary, the resulting fight would be very damaging for the Demonrat party. I'm not surprised that Obama stepped in.

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:31 pm

I seem to have used the wrong expression. I meant heavy-handed rather than hot and heavy.

I know he asked for Patterson to resign. I was just wondering why. And I'm pretty sure that patterson has admitted to drugs and prostituting as well.

tzor · Post by **tzor** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:18 pm

Crissa wrote:Why shouldn't the leader of a party give a boost to their candidates in lower offices?

A boost? The "Commander in Chief," just kicked a standing governor of his own party in the groin and backstabbed him when he fell over. That's no "boost."

NYT Resisting Obama, Paterson Vows to Seek Office

Gov. David A. Paterson insisted on Sunday that he would continue his campaign for governor, despite urgings from the White House that he step aside for the good of the Democratic Party.

But if you really want to see the crap Chicago Politics at work, this is all about Rice.

Newsday Obama & Paterson: the Nassau fallout

President Obama signals Gov. David Paterson to drop his 2010 re-election bid, which opens the door for state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to challenge Paterson.

Which opens the door for Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice to spread rumors — perish the thought — that she really is interested in running for attorney general.

Why this sudden change of job for Rice? Well it seems it has something to do with recent events in my graduate alma matta, Hofstra

Her Republican challenger, Joy Watson, got some traction over the weekend when she demanded that Rice prosecute a woman who falsely reported she was raped at Hofstra University.

Hard to believe that the president would throw a legally blind African American under the bus for a mere country district attourney seeking higher office because she can't hold on to her current job. How low can you go Mr. President?

Crissa · Post by **Crissa** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:19 pm

I didn't know you were a conspiracy theorist.

Or that you thought 'Prosecutorial discretion' meant the opponent to the DA got to choose who to prosecute.

Weird.

-Crissa

Lago PARANOIA · Post by **Lago PARANOIA** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:03 pm

A_Cynic wrote:I seem to have used the wrong expression. I meant heavy-handed rather than hot and heavy.

I know he asked for Patterson to resign. I was just wondering why. And I'm pretty sure that patterson has admitted to drugs and prostituting as well.

Obama didn't ask Paterson to resign, he asked him not to run for governor again.

Even so, you answered your own question. Why would Obama ask for someone who intends to put the Demonrat party through a bruising primary and election battle that he has almost no chance of winning (if against a Republican like Lazlo or Guiliani)?

Still I bet the impetus for Obama stepping in directly rather than just letting nature take its course is to give Cuomo, his favored opponent in the primary, political cover against Paterson's backers. Even though he's currently at a 26% approval rating for blacks, the actual leaders of the community still back Paterson. So by stepping in Obama shields Cuomo or anyone else from the Demonrat party who challenges the current governor some wiggle room.

tzor · Post by **tzor** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:25 pm

You have to understand New York Grand Politics. NYS Attorney Generals are generally arrogant bastards who think if they can mess with the fat cats on Wall Street and get away with it they can get away with anything. Como, most blessed elder son of the great (only in his mind) Mario Como, wants to pull a “divine right of kings” pile of manure.

Not that this matters much, New York will probably go Republican in the next election.

P.S. Patterson can’t resign, it’s practically impossible as there are still major questions on the appointment of the current #2 in the state.

Absentminded_Wizard · Post by **Absentminded_Wizard** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:01 am

A_Cynic wrote:I seem to have used the wrong expression. I meant heavy-handed rather than hot and heavy.

I know he asked for Patterson to resign. I was just wondering why. And I'm pretty sure that patterson has admitted to drugs and prostituting as well.

IIRC, drugs yes, prostitution no. However, he did admit to past extramarital affairs.

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:44 pm

tzor wrote: P.S. Patterson can’t resign, it’s practically impossible as there are still major questions on the appointment of the current #2 in the state.

Well if he really wanted to, I suppose he can now that the NY court of appeals has said that Patterson's decision was legit.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/ ... nor&st=cse