IS UPCOMING TIMES STORY ON PATERSON PG-13 OR XXX?…SOLID REPORTING OR “PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE?”

Is the New York Times just about to publish a bombshell expose of New York Governor David Paterson’s public and/or private life that will lead to his swift resignation or worse? The buzz re this possibility in the Big Apple blogosphere of late has been so strong of late that even likely Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Lazio was moved to write a letter to the Times accusing America’s Newspaper of Record of launching a campaign of “psychological warfare” against the man he wants to replace and demanding that the Old Grey Lady either publish their story or get off the pot. A publication called Business Insider reported over the weekend that theTimes piece would come out Monday and that Paterson would leave office as a result. It didn’t’ happen.

In fact, we hear that a Times piece on Paterson is in the works, with NYT Albany bureau chief Danny Hakim doing the reporting along with Nick Confessore and “Metro” reporter Serge Kovaleski. However, apparently the reporters involved haven’t even submitted a draft yet nor will they interview Paterson until Tuesday.

A source close to the Paterson camp who is familiar with the the situation has been telling folks that the Times piece will be an in-depth profile of the governor focused on his personal character. There are likely to be new details about his already confessed marital infidelities, he promises, but not of the bombshell variety.

“The piece is PG-13, not XXX,” the source explained. “Not to say it won’t be problematic.”

Hopefully, we’ll see for ourselves soon.

Slaughter Hails Ruling Giving New York’s Wineries Level Playing Field to Compete

 WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28) today thanked the Administration for agreeing to her request to withdraw a proposed rule that would have hurt wine makers and distributors in Western New York and elsewhere. The decision means that they can continue to compete on a level playing field with wineries in other countries. A formal announcement from the Administration is expected shortly.

 “Across the country, wine exports have grown to total $1 billion in sales and this growth is due to the drawback program that we saved today,” said Slaughter. “Upstate New York ’s wineries are a treasure and we need to do everything we can to protect them. The drawback program levels the playing field so American wineries can compete.”

 Word of the proposed rule being withdrawn by Administration officials came today. The rule would have prevented New York ’s wineries and distributors from obtaining a drawback, or payment, for all duties, taxes and fees paid when a substitute product is exported. Also problematic, the rule would have undermined the expressed will of Congress which had passed legislation allowing drawback provisions for wineries.

 ”We greatly appreciate Congresswoman Louise Slaughter’s tremendous leadership and support to ensure that Constellation Brands can continue to be a leader in selling and marketing its wine brands worldwide,” said Jim Finkle, Senior Vice President of Constellation Brands, Inc.

 Constellation Brands, is the largest premium wine company in the U.S. and based in Victor , N.Y.

 On October 15, this program was targeted for elimination. In December, Slaughter wrote to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Homeland Security Janet Napolitano urging them to protect the provision.

 Over the past decade, the drawback program has enabled the domestic wine industry to dramatically increase exports despite competing with far greater government subsidies provided to its foreign competitors.

Slaughter Announces Newest Report on How NY Residents are Benefiting From Stimulus

 WASHINGTON – Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28) today said that new records show more than $329 million in funds from the Recovery Act were invested in her district during the last 3 months of the year.

 The 28^th Congressional district is one of four Congressional districts in Western New York and encompasses parts of Erie , Niagara, Orleans and Monroe Counties .

 “This new data reinforces what we have known for months, the Recovery Act has done Western New York a lot of good.  I encourage every single one of my constituents to take the time to visit www.recovery.gov, and enter his/her zip code to see a sampling of the incredible projects that have been funded in his/her community,” said Slaughter. “The plethora of new information available displays the real life impact that this funding has had at home.” 

 The entirety of Erie County has received $383,790,763 in grants, contracts and loans since the enactment of the Recovery Act. Niagara County  has received $102,078,294. In Orleans County , $12,710,586 has been awarded and Monroe County received $338,191,964.

THOMPSON AGAIN CHOSEN FOR MAJOR DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN ROLE

Nine months out from the next big battle over control of the Senate chamber, the Democrats’ political arm has once again tapped WNY’s own Senator Antoine Thompson to play a major role in its 2010 campaign efforts.

As expected, Sen. Jeff Klein will chair the DSCC, overseeing all its activites and playing a “key role” in fundraising. Klein had been eyeing a run for AG, but it appears he has instead decided to stay where he is and rededicate his efforts to helping the Democrats stay in power.

Senator Thompson, along with Senators Liz Krueger and Malcolm Smith will serve as DSCC co-chairs, heading up candidate recruitment and management, campaign management and incumbent protection and communications and message development, respectively.

“Under the leadership of Senator Klein along with Senators Thompson, Krueger, and Smith, I am confident that Democrats will grow the majority in 2010 because New Yorkers understand that Democrats are committed to creating good jobs and reforming our broken property tax system,” Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson said in a press release.
The DSCC reported having about $2 million on cash in its general and housekeeping accounts and almost no debt on Jan. 15. That leaves the Democrats in a far stronger financial position than their Republican counterparts.

The Senate Repubilican Campaign Committee, chaired by Sen. Tom Libous, of Binghamton, has about $1 million on hand in its three committee accounts. The Republicans have already targeted six Democratic incumbents including Senator Bill Stachowski of nearby Erie County and are planning to try to field candidates in other districts, too.

The Democrats have not yet settled on their top tier races, but plan to “go on the offense in more places than we ever had,” DSCC Executive Director Josh Cherwin recently said..

Niagara County Chairman Dan Rivera, and Supreme Court Justice James Dillon were among those who attended Tuesday night’s fundraiser for the NYS Supreme Court campaign of Catherine Nugent Panepinto at the City Grill in Buffalo. Panepinto is running in the Eighth Judicial Distict which encompasses an eight county area including both Erie and Niagara Counties

SEAN COFFEY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL: “A LONG RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE BUT NOT A POLITICIAN…IT’S NOT ABOUT ME. IT’S ABOUT SERVING OUR NATION”

 Son of Irish immigrants. Annapolis graduate. Navy Captain. Military Aide to a US Vice-President. Tracker of Soviet submarines. Wall Street prosecutor. Sucessful private attorney.

If you were looking for the ideal resume for the next Attorney General of the State of New York and found that of current AG candidate Sean Coffey, you’d probably assume your quest was over. As one of seven children of a native son of the Emerald Isle who worked in construction, Coffey learned the value of hard work and the vital necessity of strong family ties at a very young age. As a graduate of the US Naval Academy, he learned the importance of putting dedication to country above all else.

“If the people of WNY are looking for someone who has a long record of public service but who is not a politician as their next Attorney General, then I feel that I am their candidate,” Coffey told NewWNYPolitics, NiagaraFallsPolitics, and RochesterPolitics on Monday in an exclusive interview. “As a student at Annapolis, you learn the value of self sacrifice for the good of others above all else. You learn that it’s not about me, it’s about serving our nation. I believe that’s the kind of Attorney General New Yorkers want and need.”

Coffey’s priorities should he be elected AG next November, include chasing down corruption wherever he finds it and doing what he can to pave the way for job creation and economic development in the Empire State.

“In speaking with WNYers, and I’ve made three trips to the area so far, they tell me that taxes are too high and there is too much political corruption,” he notes. “They are concerned about corruption in Albany. I will use my powers as Attorney General to go after corruption in the political world and also on Wall Street. As a private attorney, I recovered billions of dollars for victims of corporate fraud. That’s why I was called ‘Wall Street’s New Nemesis’ by Bloomberg Markets Magazine.”

Raised mostly in the Bronx, Coffey went to kindergarten in Niagara Falls while his dad worked on the Niagara Power Project. Back home in the Big Apple, he watched as his parents stretched their nickles and dimes so they could send seven children to college. In Sean’s case, this immigrant pair couldn’t have been prouder when he graduated “with merit” from the Academy and then became an honors graduate from Flight School.”

Appointed an Asst. US Attorney in 1991, he prosecuted many a miscreant before eventually joining the litigation law firm of Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman where he helped recover some $6 billion for the NYS Common Retirement Fund.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is that during my legal career, I continued to serve as a Navy reservist for 18 years, including periods on active duty during which I led armed flights in support of the embargo of the former Yugoslavia and later worked directly for the Secretary of Defense in the Pentagon,” he adds. “I retired from the Navy as a Captain after 30 years of service as a winner of the Joint Service Commendation Medal, among other honors.”

Having jumped into the race only a few months ago, he has already shown himself to be a highly competitive fundraiser while attracting the services of the highly prized “A Political” consulting firm, even before he raised a nickel.

“I am looking at the race for Attorney General as my next mission,” this 53 year old Naval veteran declares. “I’m running because I believe that New Yorkers deserve something better than what they are getting from Albany today and I want to play my part in giving them the kind of reform I know they need and want.”

RESEARCH 2000 POLL HAS GILLIBRAND AHEAD OF FORD 41-27%…CUOMO BEATING PATERSON 63-19%…AG HAS 8 POINT LEAD OVER GOV AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICANS

by Adama Brown

(First published on our sister site: www.rochesterpolitics.com)

A Research 2000 poll commissioned by Daily Kos shows incumbent Senator Kirsten Gillibrand beating presumed conservative primary challenger Harold Ford Jr. by a three to two margin.

The poll, conducted January 18 through January 20, showed Gillibrand holding a 41 to 27 point lead over Ford, with Jonathon Tasini at 3, at 29% undecided. Gillibrand beat Ford in all demographics, age groups, and regional breakdowns. 

46% of those surveyed say they approve of Gillibrand, 26% disapprove, and 28% are unsure or have no opinion. 

In other statewide news, Governor Paterson has recovered his personal favorable numbers slightly, rising to a 34% favorable and 54% unfavorable rating. However, this rise has not improved his chances in a primary matchup against current Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, in which Cuomo bests Paterson 63 to 19, with 18% undecided. In such a contest Cuomo wins all demographic groups, including an 8 point lead over Paterson among black voters. 

Though Cuomo is strongly supported in New York City, with 72% of NYC voters choosing him over Paterson, the number of undecided voters rises sharply to 26% in the suburbs, and 35% upstate. However this is not particularly good news for Paterson, as he fares even worse in these areas than in the city itself. 

Cuomo remains the most popular statewide official in New York, with a favorable rating of 71% and unfavorability of 15%.

MAZIARZ ENDORSES KUDLOW FOR SENATE…CNBC HOST SAID TO BE “DEAD SERIOUS” ABOUT UNDERTAKING “NOBLE CAUSE” OF CHALLENGING SCHUMER

Niagara County Republican State Senator George Maziarz has announced his support for CNBC host and yet-unannounced Senate candidate Larry Kudlow as the GOP nominee vs. two term Senatorial titan, Chuck Schmer, saying Kudlow “has the right message at the right time to address the economic challenges that lie ahead.”

Meanwhile, signs are growing that the business news cable network’s supply side economics specialist might actually put aside his lucrative TV gig to jump into a race in which the odds against victory seem great. For example, we understand that NYS Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long is telling the media that he had a “real positive” dinner meeting with Kudlow recently and came away believing the cable conservative spokesperson is “dead serious” about considering a challenge to Senator Schumer.

“He called me and said: ‘Look, I’d like to buy you dinner. I want to talk about what’s taking place,” Long reports. “I know him a long time. I’m going to be honest with you – he’s dead serious about considering this.”

Long said Kudlow seemed unfazed by the prospect of having to give up his TV show. He said Kudlow reiterated the line about retiring Schumer being a “noble cause.”

According to Long, Kudlow lives in New York City. He also has a house in Connecticut, where he’s been talked about as a potential Senate candidate in the Nutmeg State. Long isn’t sure where Kudlow is registered to vote. He didn’t ask.