A couple of quick updates on what's up with the Pataki crowd.
First, it seems that Pataki's relationship with his hand-picked Lieutenant Governor Mary Donohue is not all sweetness and light.
(Historic note: Pataki got rid of his first Lt. Governor Betsy McCaughey Ross at the end of his first term. BTW, there were a significant number of New Yorkers at the time who thought that she was the woman who sewed the first stars and stripes.)
But now rumors are flying that Donohue wants out (and perhaps a Federal Judgeship). But since the NY Post is the source of these rumors, they may be taked with a grain of salt (or your favorite salt-like-substitute).
From MSNBC:
Seeking to knock down a report of another unhappy lieutenant governor in New York, Republican Gov. George Pataki Monday said he has "a great working relationship" with Mary Donohue.The comments came after the New York Post, quoting an unidentified person close to the administration, reported tension between Pataki's staff and Donohue, Pataki's second lieutenant governor. The paper reports Donohue wants to quit."
...
"The Post says the Pataki camp is unhappy with Donohue spending a lot of time at her vacation home on Cape Cod and not hitting the road enough to help the governor with his policy agenda.
The tabloid says Donohue, a former state court judge and prosecutor, would like to leave the administration for a federal judgeship."
And on the "If Pataki doesn't run again" front...
NY Secretary of State Randy Daniels, who shows every intent to run and who some say Pataki is grooming for the race, has decided in the grand tradition of NY politicians for ages, that using taxpayers money to advance his fledgling campaign is the right thing to do.
One of Daniels' big problems is that he has very little name recognition around the state. Hmmm... how to rememdy that? Well, why not have the taxpayers pay to print up thousands of posters with his name and face front and center and place them in thousands of barber shops around the state?
Some quotes from the Glens Falls Post Star (subscription only):
"New York Democrats claim one of the Pataki administration's top appointees is wasting taxpayer dollars to promote his political ambitions.
Secretary of State Randy Daniels has sent posters of himself to 25,000 barbers and beauticians, asking that they be displayed in their establishments, the New York Daily News reported Sunday.
The posters include a full-color studio portrait of Daniels and his name in bold type.
"This is part of a new effort by the Department of State to support licensed establishments and set them apart from those who choose to disobey the law and operate unlicensed businesses," said Daniels' spokesman Larry Sombke.
Daniels' agency regulates barber and beauty shops. Sombke said he did not know how much the agency spent to send the posters to the businesses."