Patterico's Pontifications

3/6/2010

Paterson Won’t Resign

Filed under: Politics — DRJ @ 12:04 am



[Guest post by DRJ]

The Los Angeles Times reports New York State Governor David Paterson has decided not to resign:

“New York Gov. David Paterson, his confidence apparently buoyed by a show of support from influential black leaders, said Friday that he would not resign despite facing two scandals, withering support from the public, and a shaken staff.

Paterson spoke briefly outside his Manhattan office, a day after the Rev. Al Sharpton convened a meeting of black political and civic leaders to decide whether they should urge Paterson, New York’s first black governor, to quit. They decided Paterson should remain in office.”

Paterson gained support from the black leaders as well as a recent Marist poll that 66% of registered voters want Paterson to finish out his term in office. Nevertheless, 62% say Paterson will not be effective if he stays in office.

— DRJ

19 Responses to “Paterson Won’t Resign”

  1. forcing him out would be both racist and unprecedented, not to mention unexpected.

    redc1c4 (fb8750)

  2. It’s amusing that we have the Democratic Party attack machine feeding on its own. What Clinton did was far worse. Yet many Democrats to this day claim Clinton was railroaded never having done anything wrong. Go figure.

    {^_^}

    JD (f3a33a)

  3. Maybe they just want to ensure that Blago will have some company in the pen.

    Icy Texan (8ce5cc)

  4. Hmm . . . .

    66% want him to stay. 62% think he’ll be
    “ineffective” if he stays.

    Or do they really HOPE he’ll be ineffective?

    It’s finally official. The American electorate wants its elected employees to be “ineffective”, at least for however long (I assume) that elected officials continue to define “effective” as “building MY own personal vision on your dimes and futures.”

    (I HOPE he at least leaves us with some CHANGE.)

    bobby b (4baf73)

  5. First, why is that these people, i.e. Rev Al and his ilk, immediately go to the race card? If Paterson is dirty then it’s an ethical matter and should be color/race neutral. Or are there different standards legally blind black guys because dey was o’pressed fo fo hunert years?

    Second, other than for personal gain, why would a public servant stay in a position where everybody and their brother knows that they will be ineffective? Paterson has only a few months left in office anyway so let someone else give it a go and maybe, just maybe, New York won’t as big of a cesspool when the next idiot takes over.

    PatriotRider (1729de)

  6. 66% want him to stay. 62% think he’ll be
    “ineffective” if he stays.

    Or do they really HOPE he’ll be ineffective?

    It’s finally official. The American electorate wants its elected employees to be “ineffective”, at least for however long (I assume) that elected officials continue to define “effective” as “building MY own personal vision on your dimes and futures.”

    Well, I was getting pretty discouraged about the US educational system but if they are turning out people who want ineffective Democrat politicians in office, I may cheer up a bit.

    Now, if we can get a poll that shows 62% support gridlock, I’ll be content.

    Mike K (addb13)

  7. This problem would be solved if anyone running for Public Office in New York State could produce a valid driver license.

    mike191 (5f2170)

  8. Hey, when you have Sharpton’s wind at your backside, there’s no stopping you.

    GeneralMalaise (04e9c2)

  9. GOOD! the longer that crazy train keeps rolling the better…

    rumcrook¾ (4a9bee)

  10. I’m so happy to have it once again confirmed that we are now living in a post-racial society.

    Dana (1e5ad4)

  11. Isn’t someone supposed to suggest a “beer summit” at this point? That’ll solve everything.

    Dmac (ca1d8c)

  12. Marist poll that 66% of registered voters want Paterson to finish out his term in office.

    That 66% must be the sum of all Republicans, Conservatives and independents in New York, plus all African-Americans in New York.

    Official Internet Data Office (40c230)

  13. “Isn’t someone supposed to suggest a “beer summit” at this point?”

    Dmac – Obama already strong armed him not to run for reelection and on the NY Senate appointment, I’m not sure Paterson would be too receptive to the idea of a beer summit unless they made a Sestak type offer to him.

    daleyrocks (5710d7)

  14. I volunteer to be on the “Caucasian community’s leadership group” to meet with Gov. Paterson and determine if he stays or not…
    I mean really this Group meeting to decide a sitting Governors fate simply because they are black?
    AND THIS DOESN’T BOTHER ANYONE ELSE? ARE WE NUTS AMERICA?
    Yeeee- freakin’-eeeeesh

    pitchforksntorches (888cb1)

  15. People, this is the best news all week! Paterson won’t resign so the turmoil and attention keeps hanging on the Democrats. Keep it up, Paterson! Keep it up, Dems!

    Metallica (bb58d8)

  16. Fine. Let him twist in the wind. Better for NY if he goes, but that’s on the Dems, now.

    Mitch (e40959)

  17. Paterson is black? Huh, I didn’t know that.

    Not that I care…sounds pretty mendoucheous by all accounts.

    EW1(SG) (edc268)

  18. #1 reason why Paterson should not resign, no matter what: It would trigger a constitutional crisis.

    The NY state constitution, like those of many states, and like the federal constitution until ~35 years ago, does not provide for the mid-term replacement of the lieutenant-governor. If the office becomes vacant, e.g. by its occupant filling a vacancy in the top job, it remains vacant until the next election.

    But a few months ago Paterson blatantly defied the constitution and purported to appoint one Richard Ravich as lt-gov, and four corrupt judges on the Court of Appeals voted to uphold the appointment. This amounted to a coup against the constitution, but since the senate crisis was resolved soon after nobody seems to have cared to do much about it. However, if Paterson resigns then there is no question that Ravich will attempt to usurp the position of governor.

    The state constitution is very clear that if both offices are vacant they should both be filled at the next general election, and in the meantime the temporary president of the senate acts as governor. That would be Malcolm Smith (also a Democrat). In my opinion, should Paterson resign, it would be Smith’s sacred duty to prevent Ravich from usurping the governorship, by all means necessary, up to and including calling on all armed citizens to his aid. Indeed, I would feel morally obliged to throw myself into this fray, and if necessary get arrested for this principle. I don’t want to do that. So I hope that Paterson has the gall to remain in office no matter what happens. And so should anyone who values the rule of law.

    Milhouse (ea66e3)

  19. On further reflection, it seems to me that if Paterson resigns and Ravitch usurps the governorship, then the proper constitutional resolution would be for the President to invoke the republican guarantee clause, and send in the national guard to oust Ravitch and install Smith as temporary acting governor until November. In November we would vote both for a governor and lt-gov to take over in January, and for a governor and lt-gov to serve out the remaining 7 weeks or so of the term to which Spitzer and Paterson were elected in 2006. Presumably these would be the same people.

    Would Obama do that? I very much doubt it, even though Ravitch is white and Smith is black. But it’s what the constitution charges him with doing.

    As for the four Court of Appeals judges who upheld Ravitch’s appointment, as far as I’m concerned they acted ultra vires, and should be impeached. Not that there’s a chance in the world of that happening, of course.

    Milhouse (ea66e3)


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