David Paterson Will Not Run for Reelection

Beleaguered New York Governor David Paterson is expected to announce today he will not run for reelection. Press conference planned for an 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM time frame.

 David Paterson

The New York Post confirms Paterson will not run. Politico cites Democrats calling for Paterson to drop his re-election bid, including President Barack Obama.

New York's black Democrats had been reluctant to publicly voice their private skepticism of New York's first black governor, but Perkins said the "disturbing" report that the governor had interfered in an aide's domestic violence case forced his hand, and that he would call Paterson to tell him today.

Michael Steele, Chairman of the RNC, made the following comment last September about Obama's involvement:

I found that to be stunning, that the White House would send word to one of only two black governors in the country not to run for re-election,” Mr. Steele said on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday. He also questioned why the White House had not exerted similar pressure on Jon Corzine, the Democratic governor of New Jersey, who has also suffered from very low approval ratings.

Paterson's scandals got hotter as one of his close aides, David W. Johnson, was suspended without pay, finally, this week on accusations of a violent domestic assault on his live-in girlfriend on Halloween night.

At every turn, the woman involved met a brick wall. She could not get protective orders served on Johnson. In the end, she talked to Governor Paterson by phone (unclear who made the to whom) and the next day, she failed to show up in court and her case was dismissed.

Attorney Andrew Cuomo, at Paterson's request, began an investigation into State Police and the Governor's office. Yesterday, Denise O'Donnell, a Paterson Cabinet official charged with overseeing the Police, stepped down.

Just yesterday Paterson was indicating he will run, but Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), a close friend of Paterson's asked Paterson to step out of the race. "Sometimes, friends have to speak unpleasant truths."

David Paterson's scandal monitor seemed to perk-up daily, after stepping into office to replace disgraced New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Polls are showing that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is the leading Democrat for the 2010 race. In 2008, a New York Daily News headline said Gov. Paterson admits to sex with other women for years. That wasn't the whole story. Paterson said both he an his wife routinely had extramarital affairs.

Related and Background:
David Paterson Aide Accused of Violent Assault - Suspended, No Pay

Steve Israel Shouted Down at Townhall: Stop Printing Money

Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) stood in front of his health care Townhall and listened to shouts of "stop printing money." The good news is, this was in New York's second district, which includes Long Island. See video below.

Steve Israel 

According to this report, Israel's audience of about 450, was largely against the administration's health care reform bills. Someone asked why tort reform was not part of reform. Chants of "tort reform" followed.

When asked if abortions would be paid for through health care reform, Israel told them not if they chose an insurance plan that banned payments for the procedure. What?

What the people are facing is a government wanting to pay for abortion - advocating paying for abortion. These are sad days for this country. Israel apparently didn't inform his audience that they will lose their private insurance if they change jobs. The option for private insurance is completely lost for new employment - and the government option is your only future - for the rest of your life. He apparently didn't mention that government plans to be the single payer, and the plan to put insurance companies out of business.

 Israel was told he was a "moron." He was told the crowd didn't "care what you think," he was called a "liar." Israel pleaded with the crowd to "listen." This was a serious crowd of Townhallers.

This district was previously represented by Republican conservative Rick Lazio who stepped down in a losing bid for the senate. This district was gerrymandered in 2002 which made a liberal win a sure-thing. Middle-class conservative South Shore was carved out, and the liberal North Shore became a part of District 2. I applaud the seemingly liberal voters in Israel's district for shouting down the lies. It's the only way any of us can be heard today. The video below is just prior to Israel's townhall. See New Yorker's concisely get the message out - and be ignored.









Steve Israel Townhall

Thanks to Moderate in the Middle