Eliot Spitzer Announces Run for N.Y. Governor

[Burma Jones]

NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/07/nyregion/07cnd-spitzer.html?hp&ex=1102482000&en=fac8ea1081f2e73d&ei=5094&partner=homepage

<snip>
ALBANY, N.Y. -- State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, whose investigations have shaken the nation's financial institutions, said Tuesday he will run for governor of New York in 2006.

"I have decided I will run for governor in 2006," the New York Democrat told The Associated Press.

"The state is at a point of crisis," Spitzer said. "The state is in dire need of leadership that will address budget issues, tax issues. We are bleeding jobs. We need reform in the process of government."
<snip>

[soleft]

1. Now we need a candidate for Mayor

[Stephanie]

4. So true.

How about Bill?

[DireStrike]

5. Oh man... if only. But seriously... Gifford Miller maybe?

[Stephanie]

12. Miller already announced, I think

At any rate it's common knowledge he will run. I don't know if he can pull it off though. Too young IMO. Let's get a rock star like Bill or someone huge like that. This is NYC! Where's the talent?

[TaleWgnDg]

62. Uh-uh. New York doesn't *need* Eliot Spitzer to run for

Governor of the state. Nope. Instead, New York *needs* Eliot Spitzer to stay where he is: one of the most effective, if not the most effective state Attorneys General in the country!

Where else has there been an Attorney General to hit the federal administration between the eyes with securities and other investigations whenever the feds failed to do so? No where. Nope. No where near the extent to which General Spitzer has hit the incompetency of GWBush and Company.


.

[Maven]

18. Fernando Ferrer.

Best shot we've got, I think.

[President Jesus]

31. snore

that guy runs every time.

[Renew Deal]

33. In that case

We're doomed.

[Maven]

48. Heh, I didn't say it was pretty.

But if you've been following local politics for the last year, you'll realize it seems he'll be the candidate.

I would prefer Miller to Ferrer any day, but as another poster already said, he may come across as too young for the job.

[namvet73]

40. Can you say "Spitzer for President?" YES, YES, YES

I like what I have seen and heard so far, but now I'm going to pay very close attention and learn more about Spitzer.

Among my biggest peeves are corporate fraud, corporate slavery, corporate welfare, tax breaks for offshoring, etc.

[MisterP]

42. Seinfeld?

:P
pity me, my Governator pinches his nipples on TV (well, that's exaggeration--but only slightly)

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

49. why not mark green again?

he would have won last time if guiliani hadn't let bloomberg ride in on his september 11th coattails

[Traction]

67. Ya know, Bloomberg is the most liberal Republican I've ever seen

Extremely liberal on gay rights, abortion, gun-control, and even against the death penalty and school prayer. Yet I despise him and don't know why. Anyone have any idea?

[mattclearing]

2. Rock on.

That is great news.

[Stephanie]

3. Sign me up!

I will be his number one volunteer.

[Renew Deal]

6. Sign up right here

http://spitzer2006.com/main.cfm

This is great news!

[Stephanie]

10. Thanks! I just did it.

Spitzer is awesome.

[PATRICK]

7. Now watch out for vote fraud

because the big money will be coming out against him openly now. After watching so many Dem lawyers, DA's and AG's let their states fall victim for organized fraud I am not completely confident Spitzer will not also be humiliated.

But our champion for state freedom and democracy as a model for party and nation? Yes, let's drive this candidacy together.

[Stephanie]

11. I used to send Spitzer evoting info ALL the time

And his staff began replying to my emails, so I know they looked into it. Spitzer won his first race in a recount, it was so close (1998) so I think he will be very sensitive to this issue.

[PATRICK]

14. Keep it up

Once into traditional campaign mode they often don't remember how few of those traditions are still viable.

That is still good news although talking to Edwards staffers, even how North Carolina itself was prey to BBV we were assured they were on top of it. I think they got their relative location wrong.

[trogdor]

16. Hard to do in NY.

Those 1950's vintage lever machines are notorious for being rock-solid reliable and pretty much idiot-proof. Besides, New York is not Florida.

[6th Borough]

39. Agreed (re: lever machines)

I'm only going by anecdotal information here (for the most part), but, out of all mechanical voting methods (punch-cards, optical scan ballots, E-voting), those old heavy lever machines seem to have the best records in regards to ease of use, fraud, and voter confidence.

They might be heavy as hell, but nothing is perfect.

FYI, I'm a South Florida (Broward County) voter who has previously lived in Queens, NY and Bergen County, Jersey (both of which used lever machines).

[Stephanie]

44. We will not have lever machines in 2006

We are getting Sequoia touchscreens, IIRC.

[Lavender Brown]

8. Alright!

:toast: I plan to volunteer too.

[hoosierblue]

9. Sounds like Elliot got a little push from the veto-override...

Of course, I would too. ;-)

Over Pataki Veto, Minimum Wage to Rise to $7.15
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/07/nyregion/07wage.html?oref=login
Legislature raises minimum wage, overrides Pataki veto
http://www.wrgb.com/news/local/local_news.asp?selection=article_25904

[Straight Shooter]

13. Good news.

Sure can use it, too. Nice to see someone like Spitzer positioning himself thusly.

[Patsy Stone]

15. Very, very nice.

That's the best news I've heard so far today.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. he will WIN BIG!

[aquart]

23. Really? Who's counting the votes?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

24. NY has yet to buy its new e-voting machines..we are on it to make sure

there is a paper trail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saugerties / Woodstock: Panel and Discussion on 'Technology and Voter Fraud'

Date : 8 December 2004 From : 6:00pm To : 7:30pm
Category : Political

Event Description :

Technology and Voter Fraud
A Panel and Discussion

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 paved the way for today’s mushrooming use of electronic voting machines, which are incapable of recounts and require additional expense and retrofitting to provide paper receipts. The companies who sell e-voting machines refuse to share their e-voting software source code for examination by an independent, nonpartisan third party. Yet in the 2004 presidential election, approximately 30 percent of voters, or 40 million people, voted on e-voting machines. In addition, the top executives of the most widely used e-voting machines publicly declared their allegiance to President Bush. Millions of citizens are concerned about the lack of objectivity in the electronic voting industry.

Nonpartisan websites such as verfied voting.org and votersunite.org have reported more than 30,000 "irregularities," including machine malfunctions, fraud, malfeasance, animosity at the polls, voter suppression and voter intimidation, in the 2004 elections. Meanwhile, a growing number of computer security experts have been warning that, without the ability to examine the source code to conduct an audit of any changes in election databases, or to safeguard the data, e-voting machines are neither trustworthy nor secure. To see the voting anomalies in the 2004 elections, go to verifiedvoting.org or votersunite.org.

This panel and discussion will cover the technology, politics and procedures behind elections and the rising number of citizen action groups who seek to stop and prevent voter fraud.

Presented by Hudson Valley Technology and Commerce, Inc.
Co-sponsored by the Saugerties Democratic Committee and the Woodstock Democratic Committee

At New World Home Cooking, Saugerties, N.Y. 845-246-0900

Admission is Free.

Panelists include:

* Professor Gerald Benjamin, Dean and Chair of the Political Science Dept. at SUNY New Paltz

* Larry Beinhart, award-winning writer, TV personality and political commentator

* Harry Castiglione, Commissioner, Board of Elections, Ulster County

* Irene Miller, founder and president of NYCCE – New York Citizens for Clean Elections

* Diana Cassidy, a computer science professional , and founder of Viva La Data

* Congressman Maurice Hinchey is an invited guest. If he must be in Washington, D.C., then a representative from his office will attend.

Cheryl Gerber, a journalist and technology business marketing consultant, will moderate.



More info : www.hvtc.org/

[aquart]

25. WHY are we going e-voting AT ALL?

Some Republicans not rich enough?

Are we incapable of learning?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

27. because bush signed the HAVA Help Ameruica Vote Act & it is the law!

all states must have new electronic voting machines by 2006

[aquart]

54. God, they pulled a fast one on us with those damned machines.

I want them banned.

[bemildred]

19. Yippee!

Sic 'em Eliot.

[GOPBasher]

20. That's awesome!

I wonder who the Repugs will run. I hope not Guiliani.

[HockeyMom]

21. Hillary

Personally, I think they would rather see Rudy run against Hillary for the Senate. They don't care that much about Governors.

[HockeyMom]

22. After thought

Besides, when you have a REPUBLICAN controlled State Legislative overruling a REPUBLICAN Governor on everything from State Budget to now State Minimum Wage, Patakai is TOAST with the Republican Party.

[DulceDecorum]

26. The Republicans don't mess with Spitzer

He is a man's man.
He can handle the Mob,
and he can handle Mobettes.

He made it in New York CITY.
New York STATE ain't half as tough.

[trogdor]

61. Lots of idiots Upstate.

I used to deal with them all the time in the Reserves. Now I'm in Fort Living Room with retirement orders on my wall in a frame (thank God), and they're in Iraq, doing their patriotic duty like good little Boy Scouts. They'd vote Pataki even if he got caught schtupping a 12 year old in the Carousel Mall food court.

[Traction]

66. Is Pataki even running again?

He's pretty moderate on social issues. How does the Conservative Party keep endorsing him?

[bettyellen]

35. Guiliani is the biggest weasel... Let's hope the rest of the

state hates him as much as I do!

[barb162]

28. I love Spitzer; he goes after the high and mighty when the SEC

won't. He's for the little person and I think he is honest.

[NNguyenMD]

29. Hell's Yeah! We're taking back NY

[orpupilofnature57]

30. Got my vote Elliot,send that sleepy eyed cheerleader packing

[President Jesus]

32. Spitzer's campaign donations

remakably active:
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=NY&last=Spitzer&first=Eliot

[TheDonkey]

34. 1 pickup for a Democratic Governor :-D

He's going tobe a strong candidate, I'm happy to hear.

[Just Me]

36. Wow. Maybe he'll stand on governorship towards presidential candidacy.

Ew. Wouldn't the corporatists just HATE that!!!

[0007]

37. I like Eliot Spitzer, and I think he can go right on up the ladder

[lostnfound]

38. Yay! A Democrat with spine in a leadership position! nt

[HootieMcBoob]

41. Woo Hoo!

[elshiva]

60. Spitzer is cool, Go Spitzer

Mr. Spitzer you are a wonderful corporate crime fighter! You were great on NOW with Bill Moyers. That fishy Pataki is going down. I am a Marylander so unfortunately I can't vote for you. Keep fighting the good fight.
CORPORATE CRIME=CORPORATE SIN
I PRAY FOR YOU!:toast:

[bunny planet]

43. Awesome, they will need him in NY State. I will be so glad to see Pataki

go already.

[UCLA Dem]

45. sweet. kick pataki out on his ass.

[Runcible Spoon]

46. GOOOOOOOOOO ELLIOT!

I love that man. Last honest politician in NY. :loveya:

[NNguyenMD]

47. RECRUIT ALAN KEYES FOR GOP NY GOV NOMINATION! That seals the deal in '06

for Spitzer to mop the floor with the GOP's ass.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

50. he's new to me-but i like the cut of his jig

kind of an electorally-viable version of nader

and for those of you who might take that wrong, i mean that in a good way

[delhurgo]

51. This is the idiot that wants to ban Grand Theft Auto.

Depending on who the republican candidate is, I may hope that he loses.

[NNguyenMD]

52. He's one of few attorney generals in the country with the balls to lay the

smack down on corporate and Wall Street crooks. I urge you my friend to read more about the great things he's done for the state of New York and how his crusade has inspired others around the country to do the same. In the mean time, there are plenty of other great games out there to try out, Halo 2 and the new Medal of Honor release I hear are quite good.

[Learning2Fly]

53. Good news for NY!

I really admire the way he is taking on and exposing corruption in the insurance industry. Let it be a lesson to other companys to start behaving ethically.

[Cooley Hurd]

58. Ah, so you're against him because of THAT ONE THING?

:eyes: No offense, but pull your head out of your Playstation...:eyes:

[sonias]

55. Good for Eliot and great for New York

He's a man with principals and that's what we need to get this country back on track. There is no reason why an extremely qualified man like Eliot Spitzer can't win a Democratic state like New York. Great move Mr. Spitzer and thank you for running.

:dem:

Sonia

[NJCher]

56. wonderful news

We need somebody like Eliot Spitzer to kick corporate ass. Gov now, prez '08 or '12.


Cher

[Cooley Hurd]

57. Fuggin-A!!!! Run Eliot, run!!!!

This man will be our President in 2008 or 2012, mark my words.

Eliot Spitzer - our man in the white hat...

[Ironpost]

59. I've been watching Attorney General Spitzer,

for the get go and I think he will make a good governor of N Y. Let me put it this way, he got balls. But what do I know I'm just an Oklahoman. He scares the hell out of the white collar fraudsters. Thank you Eliot Spitzer and may many more like you seek office.

[Sukie1941]

63. Did I hear something about Colin Powell

running for governor of NY against Spitzer?

Not sure where Powell is from, but I thought I heard something about a poll....

[fishwax]

64. Spitzer is fantastic

Thus far I've only been able to admire him from afar, but it's possible I'll be moving to New York in time to vote for him.

[Princess Turandot]

65. I hope that he goes after credit card companies before he moves on..

to 'understand' why they charge 24% interest rates with the federal fund rates hovering near zero. That will resonate with a lot of voters, even ones who are not in NYC.

People wrote him off when he ran as a rich man's son who was buying his way into politics etc etc. I always found him to be articulate, professing views that made sense. I never imagined that he'd be like Wyatt Earp vs the Clantons when he was elected; the fact that these major financial power brokers are all agreeing to settlements with him is rather telling.

I think he'll clean Pataki's clock.

Someone mentioned having Keyes as a republican candidate. I'd add another layer to that: talk Al Sharpton into running on a third party ticket for the hell of it and let him into the debates.
What a DVD that would make!