Anita Daly Clifton Park County Supervisor will be

Looks like Republicans will be forming a firing circle, with longtime former Congressman Sweeney pal Anita Daly facing a primary this upcoming September for her seventh term. The Saratoga Conservative Party has never been to thrilled with Mrs. Daly's flagerant infidelity, and looks like the Clifton Park GOP's general indifference towards female elected offcials (Town Councilwoman Lynda Wolinot was challenger was endorsed by town committee in 2001) is sending the signal that primarying incumbent Anita Daly would be welocomed. Paul Vandenburgh announced the name of the challenger, but I did not recall it by the time I started this post.

Albany Leaders Near Deal on a Budget - New York Times

Albany Leaders Near Deal on a Budget - New York Times

According to my sources, Spitzer's budget opposition (1199 SEIU) have halted their statewide operation. It looks like Spitzer has come to a compromise, State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno realized the budget had to be cut somewhere, Speaker Silver was already pushing for a middle ground. The budget cuts to healthcare will affect 96, 000 healthcare workers compared to the 300,000 as originally feared.

Spitzer Eases Up on Tough Talk of a Shutdown - March 27, 2007 - The New York Sun

Spitzer Eases Up on Tough Talk of a Shutdown - March 27, 2007 - The New York Sun

Coming to his senses a little bit Governor Spitzer turns down the steamroller rhetoric, admits the possibility there can be compromise from his plan of take nearly all the money from healthcare and give it to middleclass property cuts and suburban schools, and Senator Joe Bruno's plan giving away the store as if money grows on trees. In my honest estimation I do believe closing the government would play very well in the press for more than 2-3 days. The NY GOP needs some issue to make Spitzer look like the bad guy and the healthcare workers getting screwed by the Governor's budget would be able to mobilize school districts that depend on the budget being on time to form their budget that goes to people to be voted on in late May. When everyone is trapped in their own hyperbole of how horrible the other side is problems never can get solved and Spitzer being the most visable face he will get most of the blame. Joe Bruno and Speaker Silver will never win a popularity contest statewide but they do not need to, they only need half their conference (in the Senate and Assembly repectively).

Spitzer closing up shop to show he has big huevos

IT'S ELIOT'S MOVE - Editorials - New York Post Online Edition

The difference between Clinton's government shut down in 1994 and Spitzer's threat of government shut down next week; they are on opposite sides of the same issue. Spitzer fearful of raising taxes on corporations or the wealthy (which he is) boxes himself into a corner and forced to make the argument that the large aspects of social service are not necessary. Clinton's government shut down showed how much we did need a government which made Newt Gingrich kowtow back to Clinton and open up the government with new taxes on the wealthy that led to the budget surpluses in late 90's. Spitzer should have never made the campaign promise that he would never raise taxes since he has four years in which babyboomers retiring and going to all need social services like Access-a-ride, prescription drug benefits, Medicare and even Medicaid.

Enough with the Ivy League bravado, Eliot, tax the wealthy and give the people of New York the government we deserve.

Putting Students First - March 19, 2007 - The New York Sun

Putting Students First - March 19, 2007 - The New York Sun

So after being endorsed by 1199 just about a year ago, Spitzer is willing and able to leave the union and its members out to dry. You think that SEIU 1199 would have been so eager to push Spizter had they known that they would have made out to be the enemy in Spitzer's very first budget.

What of the rest of organized labor's bretheren? No other union is even attempting to put the squeeze on Spitzer or other state elected officials. This New York Sun article spells it out succinctly that next year the teachers union will be on the chopping block as Spitzer builds his street cred for being brass-balled-take-no-prisoner-tough. Spitzer for all his ivy league bravado fails see that weakening the bulwarks of the progressive establishment in New York State, weakens his own base.

To paraphrase Martin Niemöller
When Spitzer came for the Healthcare workers,I remained silent;I was not a I did not work in hospital. When Spitzer locked out the teachers, I remained silent; I was not a teacher.When Spitzer came for me,there was no one left to speak out.