Nassau GOP Watch

Too Soon? WTC Imagery in Kate Murray Re-election Signs

2011-09-06T13:00:00.002-07:00

Nassau County Republicans are shameless in self-promotion. They will plaster their names and faces on anything and everything. They will use every opportunity to remind residents that they exist and the residents should be thankful.
Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray has always taken self-promotion to the next level. She will make sure that everyone sees her name. But I'm wondering in her re-election campaign that maybe... possibly... she just went a little too far to make sure people know her name.
On huge signs that have gone up around the Town of Hempstead, signs different from the standard Nassau GOP signs, there seems to be what looks alot like World Trade Center Imagery.
(Click to enlarge)

When I saw the sign late monday night, coincidentally the week of the 9/11 anniversary, I did a double-take. The image in the stylized american flag jumped out at me. Those looked like the Twin Towers.
I had to make sure what I was seeing was right... no politician, especially here in NY, would be so shameless... so narcissistic.. that they would use a subtle 9/11 reference of their re-election signs. I got closer and yes, it did look like the WTC Towers and NOT a stylized American flag. The image was distinctly two seperate columns. Even the stripes make them look like buildings.
(click to enlarge)

If Kate Murray and her campaign are using subliminal, subtle 9/11 imagery in their campaign, they should be ashamed of themselves.
Kate Murray needs to apologize for this disgusting attempt to link herself to the 9/11 tragedy the week we remember the victims, comfort the survivors and honor the heroes of that day.
There is no place in politics for this and yet it seems that Kate Murray and the Nassau GOP have no problem with it.
Murray will try to explain this away. But she shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

We're Back

2011-09-06T13:00:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah.

Funniest Thing I've Heard Today

2011-04-27T05:51:00.000-07:00

Peter Schmitt cares about minority voters. I'm surprised he could say it with a straight face.

Sen. Dean Skelos Accepted a Bribe, Lobbyist Admits.

2011-03-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

Rent Stabilization Association President Joe Strasburgspoke to a crowd in Brooklyn and was unaware he was being recorded. Capital Tonight has the video...
"…So, in the last 48 hours [of the elections last year], RSA – and we’re not ashamed of it – we gave and donated and supported all the Republicans. We basically emptied our piggy bank in order to make sure they recaptured the Senate.”

“And Dean Skelos, who understands how important you are as an industry – and it’s selfish – but he understands clearly that if he doesn’t hurt us or he tries to avoid hurting us, we will be there for him next time around, and next time around is two years from now, and you need resources in order to achieve and maintain being in power.”

The Dissembling of CSEA Local830 President Jerry Laricchiuta

2011-03-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

What is right, standing up for your Union members who elected you or covering for your political party bosses?
On Friday, Nassau County CSEA President Laricchiuta spoke at St. John's University which hosted a forum on the union-busting in Wisconsin. There, Republican Laricchiuta said "We find ourselves under attack by those in our party, mostly over to the far right."

"They have convinced many people in this country that the reason for the economic crisis is the pensions and benefits and salaries that public workers have fought for over the years... It's without merit. And yet they've got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attack labor and they're going to take it."

Laricchiuta is saying "they" and "far right" republicans are going after unions.

In February, Laricchiuta wrote an op-ed which was published in Newsday and many of the local weekly papers. There too he stated "Accusations by various groups and individuals that paint the county worker as the No. 1 reason why the county has fallen into this financial abyss, are wrong and baseless."

When it comes to the attacks on union workers in Nassau County, it isn't some "far right" republican group or any mysterious cabal, it is Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt. Both REPUBLICANS, just like Jerry.

Why didn't Laricchiuta just come out and say "Mangano and Schmitt have been maligning union workers"?

He does say "...the main message here is that the anger and venom being spewed today at the county worker are wrong and misdirected." But as the leader of almost 10,000 County Workers, he conceals the culprits to the detriment of the members. Why not let the workers know exactly who is attacking them. Be honest, it isn't some mysteroius, shadowy group or fringe individuals, it is the republican county executive and republican Legislature Presiding Officer. It certainly NOT the Democrats but Jerry in his dissembling tries to protect his fellow republicans as we head into the fall elections. The same people attacking his union members now, have gone hat in hand in the past to get endorsements and campaign contributions. Is Jerry going to endorse Schmitt and his republican rubber stamps in this years elections? He'll have a hard case to make to his members when they know without a doubt that Schmitt and the republicans are the ones attacking them.

It was Mangano, not "various groups" that demanded $60million in labor concessions and then threatened layoffs AND breaking the union contracts.

It's Mangano who has said “The costs related to our work costs have simply become too great for our taxpayers to fund through the real property taxes that are collected.”

And Schmitt who said "Nobody who works for private industry has some of these benefits and receives some of these benefits.”

Jerry Laricchuita needs to defend his workers against the clear union-busting Mangano and Schmitt are attempting with breaking the contracts. The Union Leaders in Wisonsin have not been afraid to name names and Laricchuita should follow their lead.

Schmitt and Police Union Get Into a Tussle

2011-02-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

Schmitt has always gone to the Unions for endorsements and approved their contracts so it was probably disconcerting for them to hear Schmitt attack them publically. Schmitt dismissed the Unions by saying "Name one of my legislators who needed police union support to win election. Who runs this county, the elected officials or the unions?"
According to Newsday, it seems the PBA has something to say to Schmitt who sent them a solicitation to buy tickets to a fundraiser.
"...when Schmitt this month sent Carver a solicitation to purchase $500 tickets through him for the Nassau Republican committee’s annual “Inaugural Ball” , Carver returned the letter, attaching a copy of the news article reporting Schmitt’s comments. “Dear Mr. Schmitt,” Carver wrote. “Your strong message in Newsday ...about not needing police union support was loudly received by the PBA and its membership. Enclosed I have returned your request for support.”

Carver cc’d Legis. John Ciotti of North Valley Stream, a Republican who has counted on PBA support in the past to win in his Democratic district.

Schmitt then replied: “Dear Jimmy, Do as you will — I do believe you supported Mejias over Belesi, Toback over Kopel, as well as Weitzman over Maragos. Hence my comment that they did not need your support to win.”

...Carver told Newsday, “He blindsides us in the paper with inappropriate comments about not needing union support. Then he has the nerve to send us a request to purchase tickets through him....He could have called me afterward and said, ‘What’s bothering you, Jim?’ Peter has the habit of going to the press without out ever speaking to anyone. He’s now being treated the same way he treats everyone else.”

Carver added, “There is no police officer in Nassau County that needs Peter Schmitt.”

I wonder if the Union will remember this in a few months when Schmitt once again asks for their endorsement.

Mangano Takes to the Airwaves to Look Ridiculous

2011-02-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

At 4am this commerical popped up on tv. It was a cheesy looking ad with lots of erroneous information. It was Ed Mangano (paying out if his campaign funds) taking an unnamed swipe at NIFA and touting some of his "accomplishments."
It's funny to hear him say he is protecting Nassau from "Propety Tax" increases. Of course he has to preface "Tax Increase" with the word "Property" because Mangano raised $60million in fees, shifted millions in tax burdens to school districts and tried to INCREASE the county SALES tax.
When he's pushing that broom at the end, you might wish that was the extent of his job responsibilities after what he has done to Nassau in a single year.

Got a Mid-Priced Home? Managno Raised Your Taxes.

2011-02-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

So much for the Tax Revolt and any promise Mangano made to "fix the system" and "protect taxpayers from property tax increases."
Maybe it's time to a Recall law in New York.

From Newsday:
"Nassau used a new and untested method for assessing residential properties this year that will shift the overall tax burden to middle-class homeowners while reducing taxes on high-end and bottom-priced homes, County Comptroller George Maragos says in a draft audit.

According to the draft, obtained by Newsday, the new method will increase the overall property tax bills of owners of middle-range homes by an average of $227 each; owners of top-end houses will see an average tax decrease of $173, while owners of the least costly houses will see a drop of $55 on average."

"According to the draft audit, the assessment department dropped the use of comparable properties for determining the tentative residential assessment roll issued this January. Instead the county used the lowest of an array of values - including last year's assessed value, any reductions resulting from property tax protests and a recent sale of the property.

Auditors said the new method is not used by other municipalities, was not reviewed by mass appraisal experts and has not been tested to see if it complies with state law."

Ed Mangano's Sick Tax

2011-02-14T21:58:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the New Nassau County where County Executive Ed Mangano wants to save you from a property tax increase but sure as heck hopes you break a leg so he can close his budget gap. That's right Nassau County Taxpayers, if you are in a car accident, have a heart attack, fall down a flight of stairs, slip on some ice or just feel too terrible to take yourself to a hospital, Ed Mangano is making sure you do your part to help him balance the county budget. Up until January 31st of this year, your ride to the hospital in a Nassau County Ambulance was $400.
On February 1st, the Mangano Sick Tax kicked in and now it costs $1000 to get you to a hospital.
But wait, THERE'S MORE!
You need Advanced Life Support?
That'll run you $1200 (versus $550 previously)
And THERE'S MORE
Need even more Advanced Life Support??
Well, you get a sort-of discount at only $1250 (versus $650 previously)

And just when you thought you were being bled dry enough, Mangano and Schmitt increased the mileage surcharge over 100% from $6 per mile to $15 per mile.

So Nassau County, do your part and go out there and break a leg!

Mangano expects to make an additional $8million from this tax increase to balance his budget.
Mangano and Schmitt won't call it a tax but it is. And even if we just accept it as a "fee increase" then what happend to the campaign rhetoric of Schmitt and Mangano not to increase fees either? Oh wait, those were Tax Revolt Party lies.
Mangano, Schmitt and the Nassau County Republicans are trying to make more money off of sick and injured people. How Revolting.

In the meantime to get folks motivated to pitch in, we have a new Slogan for the County..

Sen.Dean Skelos: Not A Well-Liked Guy

2011-02-14T15:58:00.000-08:00

ZOINKS!
Some people poll low but jeebus, this is low..
Sienna Poll for New York State:
Favorable Ratings:
President Obama: 62%
Governor Cuomo: 77%
Sen. Gillibrand: 57%
NYS Assembly Speaker Silver: 19%
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos: 11%

Mangano and NIFA: A Modern Day Scorpion and the Frog

2011-02-12T05:42:00.000-08:00

The main crux of Mangano's lawsuit against NIFA is that NIFA is unconstitutional. He is arguing that a NIFA takeover violates the NYS Constitution.
Now keep in mind that NIFA was created to pull Nassau County from the brink of financial disaster caused by then Legislator Ed Mangano and Peter Schmitt.
Mangano and Schmitt voted for the creation of NIFA.
Mangano and Schmitt greedily accepted the money that NIFA could offer to fix Nassau's mess.
Mangano and Schmitt charged around Nassau during the 2009 elections practically calling NIFA reports that criticized Tom Suozzi the gospel.
Now that NIFA isn't a useful election tool, Mangano and Schmitt no longer have use for them.
Experts aren't siding with Mangano on this and the attorney for NIFA counters "A municipality can hardly claim that its domain has been invaded by legislation it asked the state to enact."

This situation brings to mind the fable of the Scorpion and the Frog.

"One day a scorpion arrived at the bank of a river he wanted to cross, but there was no bridge. He asked a frog that was sitting nearby if he would take him across the river on his back. The frog refused and said, 'I will not, because you will sting me.'

"The scorpion replied, 'It would be foolish for me to sting you because then we would both drown.'

"The frog saw the logic in the scorpion's words, and agreed to carry the scorpion across. But when they were halfway across the river the scorpion stung the frog. The stunned frog asked, 'Why did you sting me? Now we will both die!'

"The scorpion replied, 'Because I'm a scorpion … and that's what scorpions do.'"

And if Other Republicans Say This About You.....

2011-02-11T12:43:00.000-08:00

Long-running NYC Republican website Urban Elephants had this to say about the NIFA takeover:

"A state financial control board set up to oversee Nassau County's finances has seized control of the county for failing to balance its budget, a humiliating rebuff to the newly elected GOP County Executive and GOP-controlled County Legislature.

If you can't cut a budget enough to balance it, you're not competent to govern."

NIFA Breaks News to Mangano and Schmitt: 'You're Our Parents!"

2011-02-10T11:57:00.000-08:00

After spending a few weeks calling NIFA "unelected", "unaccountable", etc, etc, NIFA responds to the Mangano/Schmitt lawsuit against them and says "A municipality can hardly claim that its domain has been invaded by legislation it asked the state to enact."
Yup, that's right.
Eleven years ago, Schmitt and Mangano in the Legislature voted to create NIFA to pull them out of the fiscal mess they created back then.
So, CONGRATULATIONS to Momma Mangano and Papa Schmitt. You can't disown your own kid.

New GOP Senator Jack Martins Needs a History Lesson

2011-02-09T15:06:00.000-08:00

Jack Martins who barely defeated Sen. Craig Johnson has teamed up with Lee Zeldin the newest Senator from Suffolk (and possibly the NYS Senate's very own Ted Baxter) to complain that money that was set aside before the election for community projects have been cut.
Martins and Zeldin write "...the former Democrat Majority in the Senate was directing state authorities to de-fund these very same programs worth over $12 million for the two districts."

Perhaps they should talk to their boss Dean Skelos who defunded projects for the 7th SD when Craig Johnson won the special election.
Not only that, after all Skelos' talk about "fair share" for school funding for Long Island, schools in the 7th SD got short-changed while republican districts made out very well.
Then take the case of Sen. Andrea Stewart Cousins, a Democrat that defeated a sitting republican. School aid for her district was cut after that election. Skelos said about that "This would never have happened if Senator Nick Spano was still there.” Classy.
Skelos didn't even try to hide that he was playing politics with education money.
I hope Martins and Zeldin feel that Skelos is also "... grossly irresponsible, devoid of integrity," and is "causing significant harm to the recipients including towns, villages, school districts, fire districts and not-for-profits who have been deceived by their actions."
'Cause otherwise, they would be huge hypocrites.

The next bit is one that really irks me because it is such a lie perpetuated by republicans to scare voters. "Once again, the New York City based Senate Democratic leadership have looked to Long Island as their ATM machine."
The FACT is that NYC gets $11billion LESS in money than they send to Albany.
NYC does not and never has taken money from Long Island. Martins and Zeldin need to look to upstate for that.

Republican Operative Arrested in Tax Revolt Party Fraud

2011-02-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

From Newsday...

"A part-time clerk at the Nassau County Board of Elections was arrested Tuesday and charged with writing false addresses on petitions in an attempt to get a candidate on the ballot back in 2009.

Imtiaz Insanally, 27, of Valley Stream, was arrested and charged with first-degree offering a false instrument of filing and one count of misconduct in relation to petitions, Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice said in a news release.....

"Rice said the alleged offenses occurred on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19, 2009, when Insanally "knowingly wrote false residential addresses for eight petition signers" on six pages in an independent nominating petition for Tax Revolt Party candidate Christian Browne...

"Whether you're talking about a highly sophisticated case of systemic corruption or something as simple as this case, they are both violations of the public's trust and of our democratic process, and my office will continue to have no tolerance for that," Rice said in the statement."

We brought this up two years ago..

Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt Unhinged and Dangerous

2011-02-07T15:32:00.000-08:00

Peter Schmitt has real issues he needs to deal with. He gets far too angry and turns beet red too often at Legislature meetings.
Now he has turned his anger on the members of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) and it's just very violent.
The Long Island Press reports that when Schmitt was talking about his conspiracy theories about NIFA to the Press he said "I’m just going to enjoy hitting them on the side of the head with a baseball bat.”
What kind of man is Schmitt (or lack of man) that he needs to say that?
It's not like he used a simple metaphor like "I'm going to beat them over the head with their conflicts of interest."
He stepped over the line by ratcheting up the violent imagery.
But then again, we should expect that from someone who a Federal Prosecutor once called "very unspohisticated" and "naive."

And of course Schmitt is unapologetic for his comments. "I will not reply to Yaturo’s rambling statement because she’s already had her chance and she struck out.”

Mangano Changes His Story on the NIFA Conspiracy

2011-02-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

It's amazing that Mangano can just plain lie about things he said that are documented quite well. In a new statement about NIFA released on his Facebook page, Mangano tries to back off from his and Peter Schmitts conspiracy theory about NIFA.
Mangano says "My supporters and the media should know that I am not concerned whether NIFA is politically motivated or bipartisan."

But just a little sampling of his comments immediately following the control period announcement show Mangano was all in on NIFA being a grand conspiracy against him.

"(Residents) should question (NIFA’s) motivations,” Mangano said. “It’s to discredit the administration,” - Levittown Patch

"At today’s Long Island Association Executive Breakfast....
Mangano suggested some members of the NIFA control board should be changed because their motivations are purely political." Long Island Business News

"This is just a game to have us boxed in to raising real property taxes, a political game so they can say ‘Ed Mangano and the Tea Party came to office with reform and were unable to accomplish it’,” WCBS 880

And it's even ON VIDEO!!!!

Perhaps Mangano realizes that he sounds less dignified when he spins conspiracy tales like Schmitt.
Mangano does go on to say "What concerns me is that the architects of Nassau's budget mess are now acting as its watchdog."

Really? Is that why Mangano wanted to "PARTNER with NIFA"??
"If the unions don't work with us to achieve real savings, the county executive will partner with NIFA to protect taxpayers, a Mangano aide said in a statement."

Sorry Ed, you can't re-write your own words.

Mangano Fundraising on NIFA Woes

2011-02-03T21:19:00.000-08:00

Just when you thought you couldn't get any more cynical about politics.
Accidental County Executive Ed Mangano vows to fight for Nassau County Taxpayers against the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) take-over of Nassau County finances.
While he is doing that, he wouldn't mind if you donated to his campaign.
That's right, while Nassau's finances are being taken over by a Control Board, Mangano has taken this opportunity to raise some cash for himself. (maybe he wants to go out to eat some more)
So what if the Bond Rating for the county is downgraded?
Who cares if the reputation of the county is made worse by Mangano's ineptitude!
It's all okay 'cause Mangano has money in his campaign account.

I was at a local forum and on the table was a piece of paper signed by Mangano. Mangano was there along with Peter Schmitt to lie to the folks about NIFA.
The handout has a color heading that reads "URGENT: ED MANGANO IS FIGHTING NIFA'S TAX HIKES and he needs your help!"
Now just as an FYI, NIFA can't raise your taxes but that is for another post.
The rest of the handout is the standard line Mangano has been spewing for the past week.
Then all the way at the bottom after his signature is a "P.S." asking for a donation.
Now this this says "Help Ed Mangano stop NIFA's tax hike."
Exactly how in the world would a campaign contribution help his fight?
Isn't it the County as an entity suing NIFA? It's not Mangano personally suing them.
Here is Ed Mangano using a terrible situation for Nassau to make some money for himself.
The bigger problem here is that Mangano was at this forum as his offical capacity as County Executive and he is handing out flyers asking for campaign contributions. Unfortnately someone will be suckered into donating thinking the money is going to help "fight NIFA."
Something seems very unethical about this.

Click to enlarge...

Mangano Living Well on Campaign Contributions

2011-02-02T21:37:00.000-08:00

According to Newsday, in a non-campaign year, Mangano is eating well on his campaigns dime...
"The political committee for Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano shelled out more than $10,000 for food in the last six months of last year — and it wasn’t even an election year.

There were four chits totaling slightly more than $3,000 at H.R. Singleton’s in Bethpage, in the same small shopping center where Mangano had his election headquarters in 2009. There were smaller bills at several establishments near the main county office building in Mineola, including Plum Tomatoes Pizza, Murphy’s Bar and Chris’s Deli.

And there were a handful of out-of-town establishments, including $255.57 at the NY Yankee Steak House in the Bronx, $256.60 at The Palm in Manhattan and $99.94 at Wolfgang Puck in Disney World, where Mangano had a fundraiser in early December."

Happy Anniversary Peter Schmitt!!!

2011-01-27T15:15:00.000-08:00

A very special Happy Anniversary to Presiding Officer Peter J. Schmitt. One year ago he pushed through a 47% raise for himself on a party line vote. After a major backlash and a week of him making cheap excuses he had his fellow republicans vote to recind the raise.
First month in charge and he goes right for the money-grab.

Mangano Tweets for Support... I DO want to "Help Protect" my "Wallet."

2011-01-17T18:47:00.000-08:00

Before you go any further, I have two words.. "Carnell" and "Foskey."
A career Judge who lost his election so he gets at $136,000/year job running Nassau County parks.

A Petition to Make Mangano Part of the Solution

2011-01-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

How About This Budget Solution..

2011-01-13T19:43:00.000-08:00

Before Ed Mangano and Peter Schmitt try to get more concessions from the County unions, they should give a little too.

Perhaps Schmitt will give up his leadership stipend and Mangano can cut his salary along with all of his appointees.

Mangano can cut his salary to $105,000 and no appointee can make more that $100,000.

Peter King Reacts to Shooting with Ridiculous Legislation

2011-01-13T17:21:00.000-08:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Battle of the Bans

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>

The Daily Show on Facebook

You Too Can Be Cool Like This Guy

2011-01-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

I have no idea who this is but golly, they voted the right way.

Get yours at the Nassau GOP Watch Gift Shoppe...

Long Island Press Wakes Up and Realizes Mangano is Failing

2011-01-07T14:51:00.000-08:00

After being practically an arm of the Mangano campaign in 2009 and virtually ignoring Nassau problems in 2010, the LI Press wakes up and takes a whack at Mangano.
Welcome to the party guys!

"Is Nassau Exec Ed Mangano In Over His Head?"

“He won and fucked up everything,” says a Nassau County political insider. “This is a man who was never used to being disliked. He was in the minority for years and you don’t piss people off when you’re in the minority. When you can’t get anything done, when you can’t kill a contract or you can’t hurt anyone, everyone likes you, and Ed was a really nice guy. I think he really wanted the county executive job but he didn’t want the job. Maybe he really is over his head.”

Re-Arranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic - Mangano Replaces Spokesman

2011-01-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

It's not the messenger, it's the message. That's what Mangano doesn't get. His spokesman Martino is talented and ran alot of interference for Mangano most of last year. But things are getting tougher for Mangano to handle and Martino came from the outside.
Mangano has circled the wagons and pushed spokesperson Mike Martino to Department of Public Works and brings in Katie Grilli-Robles, a connected local GOPer.
Martino was very adept in his messaging, I don't think Mangano realizes that the problem is he is just not suited to be County Executive.

A picture from happier times...

Newsday Calls for State Control Board Take-over of Nassau County

2010-12-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

Newsday joins NYPost in pointing out the failure of Mangano. But the control board take-ver will effectively end Mangano's term as County Executive and put the republicans in the legislature back into the minority.

Mangano needs NIFA control board

"The longer you wait to fix a problem, the worse it gets and the greater the damage. The same scenario applies to a leaky roof or to Nassau County's looming 2011 budget gap.

The speculative budget approved for next year is unsafe for taxpayers. It could put bond ratings at further risk and result in tax increases or draconian cuts in services. But who should execute the fix? Should it be done now or later?

County Executive Edward Mangano doesn't yet have the situation in hand. The Nassau County Interim Finance Authority, the state oversight board, sidestepped a decision last night on taking control. That was the right call. By next week, NIFA should make public its justification for a control period and the urgency for it.

Yet while a NIFA control period isn't the desired solution, it might be the only one.

Mangano's contradictory behavior is eroding confidence in his skills. He alternately claims the budget is balanced and then turns around the next minute to shake his tin cup. His efforts to get concessions from the police unions have been amateurish. He got slapped down by his fellow Republicans when he sought a sales tax increase.

NIFA, which was created for a much greater fiscal crisis in 2000, remains, but with reduced powers. It's clear that state law requires NIFA to take control of the county's finances when there is a substantial likelihood that the budget is out of balance by 1 percent, which amounts to $26 million for next year. While there are estimates that the budget is out of whack by more than $60 million, the law is vague about when the control period is triggered.

A control board would give Mangano the hammer power he needs to freeze wages, reopen contracts and cut staff. Besides, the leaders of the police and civil service unions are reluctant to make any givebacks unless NIFA gives them cover.

Mangano working with NIFA control could be effective. But politically, it's a hit the GOP doesn't want to take in the New Year, when the county legislature is up for election. If Mangano refuses to work with NIFA - or if the legislature refuses to cooperate - NIFA can turn the screws by halting all short-term borrowing, the county's fiscal lifeline.

NIFA has armed itself with a powerful law firm and auditors. Mangano responded by hiring his former law firm. Republican leaders are sending out Comptroller George Maragos to bang the partisan drums and discredit NIFA. What we don't need is an ugly, partisan battle and costly litigation. That's a fight the taxpayer loses no matter who wins.

After Tuesday's NIFA meeting, Mangano said he would partner with NIFA unless he got union concessions. That's a step in the right direction. If NIFA needs to execute a hostile takeover, however, it must make a persuasive case that a control period is urgently needed and justified. A control board actually controlling the county puts us in uncharted waters. But a county executive who finds himself lost at sea would be worse. hN"

NY Post Rips Mangano

2010-12-21T13:43:00.000-08:00

Naughty in Nassau

Last Updated: 10:09 AM, December 20, 2010

Who does Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano think he's kidding?

Mangano is scrambling as a state monitoring board eyes a takeover of his county's finances. The board, the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, plans a key meeting tomorrow; if it believes Nassau is likely to run a budget deficit, it can act.

Things are iffy: Mangano's budget contains "ongoing structural deficits" and $158 million in risks, warns Moody's, the credit-rating agency. And NIFA declines to declare Mangano's budget balanced.

So, on Thursday, Mangano announced $23 million in new budget "cuts," including a hiring freeze meant to "save" $15 million.

But wait.

The so-called "freeze" follows an early-retirement buyout program funded with $86 million that Mangano issued bonds to cover.

That temporarily cleared 500 employees off the books (though at a cost of as much as $600,000 per departee), but Mangano never ditched the payroll slots themselves. And he apparently was preparing to fill some of them with the $15 million he "froze" Thursday.

Good government?

Three-card monte is more like it.

Mangano told The Post he kept the

jobs to preserve an important "managerial tool" and that he may need to

fill them again one day.

No wonder NIFA's growing impatient.

Let's face it: Nassau is a wealthy county; its taxes are among the highest in America. A revenue shortage is not Nassau's problem.

"The county raised spending to unsustainable levels during the boom years," and then used stimulus funds to spend even more, the Manhattan Institute's E.J. McMahon wrote here recently.

Sweetheart deals with labor under Mangano's predecessor, Tom Suozzi, now have Nassau hemmed in. The agreements call for wholly unaffordable compensation for county employees -- cops alone average $126,000 a year -- and no layoffs through next year.

But rather than, say, actually slice jobs once and for all, Mangano wants to preserve his options.

Rather than play hardball with the unions, he offers generous -- unnecessary -- buyouts.

It gets worse: Though he took office vowing to cut taxes amid nationwide anti-tax fervor, he's now eyeing a hike in Nassau sales taxes in 2011.

Anything to avoid real reform.

NIFA needs to make it crystal clear to Mangano that it no longer will abide such flim-flammery.

Tomorrow would be an excellent time to deliver the message.

It's Always Good to Remember Who You Represent. I'm Looking at YOU, Legislator Belesi

2010-12-16T18:23:00.000-08:00

Seems the Legislator from the 14th District (Joe Belesi) doesn't quite remember that he's Legislator from the 14th District and...well... not the 13th District (pssst... it's Norma Gonsalves).

Belesi sent out one of his e-mail "newsletters" and, well, it's always good to give an e-mail a once-over before sending it out.... to hundreds of constituents.

Mangano has MORE Plans to Raise Taxes

2010-12-03T14:49:00.000-08:00

From the NY Post:

That's the depressing message coming from Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, who's reportedly pushing for a hike in the county's sales tax, perhaps by a quarter of a point.

That would bump the local rate from 8.625 percent to 8.875 percent -- tying New York City for the highest levy in the state (and that's saying something).

If that happens, it would stab Nassau residents in the back. After all, they dumped the prior county exec, Tom Suozzi, precisely because they were sick of high taxes -- and Mangano ran on a staunch anti-tax platform"

What's Old is New Again: Mangano Budget Channels Tom Gulotta

2010-10-01T12:19:00.000-07:00

If Accidental County Executive Ed Mangano wasn't just bad on his own, now he's cribbing ideas from former County Executive Tom Gulotta... and this is just ONE example.
From Newsday Spincycle:
"Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's proposed $2.6 billion budget is precariously balanced on three financial legs: $61 million in labor concessions, which the unions so far have refused to concede; $60 million in new fees or increased fees, even though Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) promised in his inaugural address that the legislature would not approve any fee increases; and an end to the county's guarantee to pay school districts' and towns' share of $100 million in property tax refunds each year because of erroneous assessments.

Although the county receives only about $17 million of the $100 million in taxes collected-- the rest went to schools, towns and special districts--Nassau must repay the full $100 million because of the guarantee.

Proposals to end the guarantee are new:

Consider this Newsday headline from Oct. 2, 2000 when a fellow Republican, County Executive Thomas Gulotta, was also trying to find ways to fill a multi-million dollar budget hole.

"GULOTTA: SCHOOLS SHOULD PAY SHARE OF REFUNDS / PLAN FACES OPPOSITION FROM DISTRICTS, ALBANY"

Gulotta's plan went nowhere."

Who is Jack Martins? New Website will Tell You

2010-09-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

Mineola Mayor Jack Martins is running for State Senate this year against Sen. Craig Johnson. A new website has emerged to make sure voters know the REAL Jack Martins - the one who gave himself a 61% raise amd raised taxes 31% in Mineola.
You Don't Know Jack Martins is full of useful information before you go to vote.

Visit:
http://www.youdontknowjackmartins.com/

Which Brings Us to Kate Murray

2010-08-19T06:21:00.000-07:00

With Accidental County Executive Ed Mangano falling flat on his face or stepping on a rake with every move he makes, has Kate Murray ordered her "Murray for County Executive 2013" signs yet?

Mangano's Favorite Felon

2010-08-11T04:26:00.001-07:00

A reminder of the quality brought to Nassau County by Ed Mangano..

"Of all the appointments made by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano since taking office in January, one in particular is drawing questions: a $90,000-a-year minority affairs job that went to a man convicted of participating in a scam to sell patient information from Nassau University Medical Center.

"Prosecutors said in announcing the arrests in 2004 that three hospital employees were bribed to pass along personal information about patients, mostly Hispanics who were admitted to the emergency room after car crashes.

Flores and the others "solicited accident victims, referred them to attorneys, coached them to exaggerate their injuries and transported them to appointments with attorneys and medical providers," according to the felony complaint.

Flores served as the liaison between the employees and lawyers, prosecutors said. The complaint said Flores "gave a cash payment to . . . a public servant employed by the Nassau University Medical Center. . .with the understanding that. . . would provide the defendant with patient records belonging to NUMC."

He was sentenced on Nov. 9, 2005, to 60 days in jail and five years probation on his plea to a D felony, attempted bribery of a public servant, records show."

This man is allowed to represent Nassau County. How sad. This is patronage at its worse.. payback to a campaign worker who can't be trusted.

Irony Escapes Ed Mangano

2010-08-10T06:02:00.000-07:00

There certainly is a disconnect with Mangano going on...
On his desk is a plaque that says "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
How do I know this?
It's in a picture on the full-color, four page mailing that Mangano sent out listing his so-called "accomplishments" in his first 100 days. These brochures are also piled up for the public all over the county.
He doesn't mind who gets the credit, as long as it's him.
Even if Tom Suozzi did it already.

Nothing like a huge banner to prove your humility.

Conservative Columnist Slams Mangano

2010-08-09T20:57:00.000-07:00

Raymond Keating in the NY Post let loose a volley of shots against Mangano that should have him and his supporters worried about a primary in a couple of years..

"Are New York Republicans any better than Democrats? It's not looking that way in Nassau County. After six months of GOP control in Nassau, things are largely business as usual. Rather than face the fiscal music, new County Executive Edward Mangano and the GOP-run Legislature are borrowing big-time, mistreating businesses -- and even gambling that gambling will bail out county government...

"In his State of the County Address in March, Mangano criticized the county's growing debt and blamed his Democratic predecessor, Tom Suozzi, for not budgeting enough to cover the annual refund costs. But Mangano is shifting the full cost of the refunds out of the operating budget onto long-term borrowing. That's a return to the bad budgeting of the past...

Then there is Mangano's plan to help the local economy -- or, rather, the lack of any real plan. He made a splash in April by making Nassau another hopeful in the game to get a Shinnecock Nation casino, which he'd put next to a new arena for the NHL's Islanders in Uniondale.

Casino revenues would help in closing the county's annual budget deficit, which is expected to top $200 million next year. But a Shinnecock casino is a long shot, at best -- and wouldn't be in place for years. In any case, gambling facilities come with costs to the community as well as benefits.

Borrowing to fund operating expenses; strong-arming businesses; placing a long-shot bet on landing a casino to close budget deficits: It all points to an unwillingness or inability to do the hard work of reining in county spending. That spells trouble for taxpayers"

Read the whole thing HERE.

Taking Credit for Something You Didn't Do is Lying, Ed. Part 2

2010-08-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

And the taxpayer funded mailing of lies continued with this great entry as an "accomplishment" for Mangano "Day 39 - February 8th: Announced the County's purchase of Grossman's Farm, a five-acre family farm located on Hempstead Avenue in Malverne."

Maybe Mangano announced the finalized purchase but it was County Executive Tom Suozzi who sought to buy it and started the process that led to the vote in January. In fact, some in the community were afraid that with Suozzi out and the republicans in, the sale would fall through.

Announce the purchase but don't list this as some sort of incredible 100 Day Accomplishment. It was Suozzi's Accomplishment, not yours.

GOP Assembly Candidate Rob Germino Needs Remedial U.S. Constitution Lessons

2010-08-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

Once again we see reactionary republicans have little knowledge of the document they say they hold so dear. Rob Germino, the republican candidate for the 13th Assembly District is upset but doesn't quite understand that his argument is false.

We''ll let Rob tell you why he's angry "Rob Germino asks that he join him in protesting a news ban on his campaign by the Anton chain of newspapers. This while the publisher continues to carry a weekly column by the incumbent, Charles Lavine.
"How can the publisher of Anton news continue to print a weekly column by my rival in the current campaign for assemblyman while refusing even a simple letter to the editor by me in reply? I think any fair minded person has to be aghast at such a policy, particularly at a time when censorship is behind us."

Germino is upset that the sitting Assemblyman is afforded space in a weekly newspaper to communicate with his constituents and that newspaper won't print his letter to the editor.

I doubt there is a "news ban" on Germino's campaign. My experience with the Anton papers is that they are more that happy to publish stories about upcoming elections.

And just so Germino gets a better understanding of the Constitution and Freedom of Speech, a private company cannot be accused of "...an egregious abridgment of the freedom of speech clause..".
The First Amendment deals specifically with what the GOVERNMENT cannot deny you.

Germino continues his assault on constitutional scholarship "As an attorney it must be immediately apparent to you that the Anton response, with its huge First Amendment implications, is not sustainable as a point of law."

In fact, Germino with is demands is attacking the First Amendment right to a Free Press.
For some light reading, Germino needs to check out Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974), where the Court unanimously struck down a state law requiring newspapers criticizing political candidates to publish their responses.

Taking Credit for Something You Didn't Do is Lying, Ed

2010-08-01T01:24:00.000-07:00

In Accidental County Executive Ed Mangano's expensive 4-color mailing pat on his own back, it says on the front "100 Days in Office Goes by Quick when you're been busy.... getting guns... off the streets."
Lie # 3: Mangano is referring to "Day 26 - January 15th... Announced with law enforcement officials, a "Gun Buy Back" initiative to combat illegal handgun violence."
Sounds like Mangano is starting a whole new program, right?
Well, he's just taking credit for a program that CE Suozzi started FOUR YEARS AGO.

So to pad his list of (cough-cough) "accomplishments, Mangano takes credit for something Suozzi did. And he hopes voters are suckers enough to buy it.
How very sad, Ed.

For Mangano, the Buck Stops Somewhere Else

2010-07-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Lie #2 is a combo. During the campaign, Mangano took a shot at all the "patronage" under CE Suozzi and Mangano pledged to make cuts, "...Ed Mangano is dedicated to shrinking Nassau County’s bloated patronage system."
Mangano decried the high salaries and how these positions are filled "....the current county executive doubled the size of exempt patronage positions. These positions are highly paid, appointed, and unregulated by civil service exams, many receiving over $100,000 a year...
...these politically motivated appointments are a drain on Nassau County’s resources."

So, how exactly does former (read: defeated) Judge Carnell Foskey fit into all this?
Well, he was appointed to be Parks Commissioner.
Does it matter that he has NO experience running a park system?
Of course not, this is a PATRONAGE job with a salary of $136,000.
What makes it odder is that instead of being replaced, former Commissioner Jose Lopez becomes Foskey's Deputy and keeps his salary of $136,00.
So Mangano ADDS an inexperienced political insider for a high salary and keeps the former commissioner on for the same salary.
This looks like the experienced Lopez will be doing the work and Foskey will be getting a pay check.
Exactly how is that "shrinking the patronage system?"

The second half of this lie is Mangano pledging to cut salaries. How was the Foskey hire a cut?
But there is more....
Three years ago, a commission recommended salary increases for the County Executive, Comptroller, County Clerk and District Attorney. The County Executive salary increased to $174,614.
Mangano opposed the raise and voted against it.
But since January of this year, Mangano has been cashing that pay check happily.
If Mangano was opposed to the raise and says he has "....county payroll by $22 million", why isn't he taking it to the next logical step?
Why doesn't Managno put his money where his mouth is and have the legislature pass a bill that would cut the County Executive salary back to pre-2007?
Managno is laughing all the way to the bank.

A Lie Keeps Growing and Growing Until It's As Plain As The Nose On Your Face.

2010-07-30T22:28:00.001-07:00

Republican County Executive Ed Mangano sent out a full-color, 4 page mailing (how much did THAT cost taxpayers) patting himself on the back for things he "accomplished" in his first 100 days in office.
Well, things aren't quite like he says.
We'll be going through his lies here on Nassau GOP Watch and making sure that the truth is known.
This post will start with Day #1 and Lie #1. Right out of the gates, Mangano is not quite telling you the truth.

LIE #1: "Repealed the Home Energy Tax." Mangano said in his inaugural address “The document I just signed makes good on my promise and that of my Republican colleagues, and the home energy tax is hereby repealed.”

Well...No, Not Really.

Sure Mangano signed a repeal but that was on January 1st. The "Energy Tax" stayed in effect until June 30th, a full six months later.
And he repeated the refrain of repeal for those six months and unless you didn't pay attention to your bills, you would never have known he was still collecting your money until the end of June.
When the REAL date of the repeal rolled around, the excuse pushed by Mangano and his republican cohorts was that it was the "earliest" they could do it "by law." And of course they don't say that they can get a waiver and have the repeal begin on DAY ONE.
Hey, how about a refund of all the monies collected from DAY ONE of the "repeal" to when it actually took effect?

The Fake Outrage of Peter Schmitt

2010-07-28T04:40:00.001-07:00

The King of Bluster, Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt let the outrage fly Monday night at a full meeting of the Legislature. During the debate on a living wage bill, Democratic Lg. Kevan Abrahams commented on how Schmitt runs the Legislature "...like a Nazi camp."
According to Celeste Hadrick at Newsday, Abrahams had immediately apologized after he said it and Schmitt said "I didn't hear it."
After the comments were read back to Schmitt he began his act "You have a hell of a nerve to draw that kind of inference."
Yes, a hell of a nerve.
Abrahams responded "You are dictating to us when we can ask questions....I am not implying you have any affiliation to the Nazi's."
But Schmitt would have none of that and said "You have some nerve. You are way out of bounds to use that language to anybody in this room."

To be honest, making comparisons of any sort to nazi's is always a sticky situation but Abrahams did apologize.

BUT the thing that makes this whole situation a bit of hooey from Schmitt's side is that 4 years ago, Schmitt said of CE Tom Suozzi, "He’s run this county like a stormtrooper for the last few years.”
And for some reason I'm not seeing Schmitt making an allusion to the white-armored Star Wars characters.
What comes to mind is exactly how the word Stormtrooper is defined:
“storm trooper (n. ) A member of the Nazi militia noted for brutality and violence.
One who resembles or behaves like a member of the Nazi militia."

So four years ago, Schmitt calls CE Suozzi a Nazi unapologetically but gets all bent out of shape when it's thrown at him. To use his own words, Schmitt has some nerve.
What a Hypocrite.

How Revolting Take 2: Rose Walker Gives Taxpayers the Finger Twice.

2010-02-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

During Rose Walkers run for County Legislator she said "I know the residents and they know me. All of the residents that I speak with talk about the high taxes. We have to take Nassau in a different direction."
Exactly what direction that is is clear when Walker voted to increase her new bosses salry by 47%. Walker dutifully voted in favor of the raise, falling lock-step with her new associates.
BUT the screwing of taxpayers by Walker didn't start in the Nassau County Legislature. Right after the November election, Walker voted with the rest of the republican Town Board in Oyster Bay to INCREASE SALARIES for her then-boss Supervisor John Venditto by 12% and the rest of the elected members by 10%.
Rose Walker did her old boss a favor and did the same for her new boss. What a gal... or rather what gall.
If that wasn't insulting enough, after running a campaign on high taxes, Walker sorta, kinda forgot she raised taxes in the Town of Oyster Bay by 41% in just 5 short years!
She insults the people that voted for her time and time again.
It looks like Rose Walker hasn't met a tax or a salary she didn't want to increase.

Buyers remorse should be setting in shortly for the voters of the 17th L.D.

Schmitt is Just a HUGE Liar

2010-01-28T06:39:00.001-08:00

He has this gem on the Long Island Press website "I saw no moral indignation on their part when they voted to give a 60-percent raise to Suozzi and a 60-percent raise to [former Nassau Comptroller Howard] Weitzman, and a 60-percent raise to DA [Kathleen] Rice, all Democrats.”

See, the problem with this is that the raise was also for Maureen O'Connell the County Clerk WHO IS A REPUBLICAN!

Oh, and while we are at it, why hasn't REPUBLICAN Accidental County Executive Ed Mangano refused the increased salary?
Mangano can direct the Legislature to return his salary to pre-2007.
Why hasn't Schmitt done it either?

From Peter Schmitt's Opponent Last Year

2010-01-28T06:19:00.000-08:00

Actually, that would be me.
I just want to go on the record and say that if Schmitt can't handle the salary, I'd be more than happy to take the job.

Oh, and the Schmitt Raise was Retroactive

2010-01-27T21:35:00.000-08:00

Nice to make your own raise retroactive to get some more cash from the County.

(click to embiggen)

Dump Schmitt. It's Time for Peter Schmitt to Go

2010-01-27T05:14:00.000-08:00

Available at Politicsland Gift Shoppe:

More On Schmitt

2010-01-26T22:42:00.000-08:00

Schmitt is saying that the resolution for the raises were "...put it forth in the full light of day . . . and I stand by my decision."
The truth is that it was clocked in at the clerk’s office at 9:44 a.m. on Monday and the vote was held at 10:15am. It may have been light out but there was no time for discussion, debate or public input.
If Schmitt believes he deserved the raise he should have had the guts to hold a public hearing on it.
What was he so afraid of?
Oh, right.... He'd get raked over the coals and his spineless republican cohorts would re-think voting yes.

Happily the public is not taking this blatant money-grab so Schmitt is trying whatever he can to make excuses for why he is right. For years he has been attacking Democrats for what he perceived to be grave transgressions and in suggests he will be better than the Democrats. So why does Schmitt's excuse for the raises boil down to "Bu... bu...but... the Democrats"?
Schmitt says "All I did was what former presiding officer Judy Jacobs tried to do three times. I didn't see the Democratic legislators holding news conferences against her. . . . Nor did I see Democratic indignation when they voted to increase former County Executive [Thomas] Suozzi's salary by 60 percent."

Legislator Jacobs shines the light of truth and slaps Schmitt down "I never put any raise proposal for legislators to a vote. And the proposal for Suozzi and others came from a [recommendation by] a bipartisan, blue ribbon panel when the economy was better."
In fact the reason why the idea for raises never went far was because Democrats opposed it. Schmit was angry then because he really needed the money. Now he feels he gets what he deserved.

HOLY SCHMITT!!! Peter Schmitt Gives Himself a 47% Raise.

2010-01-25T14:15:00.001-08:00

Less than a month after taking over the Nassau County Legislature, Peter Schmitt and his republican cohorts have voted for a raise for Presiding Officer Schmitt and Deputy Presiding Officer John Ciotti.
Schmitt goes from from $67,500 to $99,500 and Ciotti goes from $62,500 to $84,500, a 35% increase.
It has been a long time since there has been a raise in the legislature and as a candidate I supported cost of living increases but this is still a part-time job.
To quote Schmitt himself from December 2003 when CE Suozzi wanted to give raises to people in his administration "These people are getting raises in excess of what anyone gets in the private industry. It's a disgrace." (Newsday Dec.30, 2003. sorry no link available)

Here is video Schmitt just three years ago when raises for County Executive, Comptroller, District Attorney and County Clerk. The budget was submitted to the Legislature and was subject to public hearings and a vote unlike the sneaky move Schmitt and his partners in crime pulled on Monday.

Schmitt is just a hypocrite. Here is Schmitt on News12 explaining why he deserves his raise.

He says that he is there everyday and if he is there everyday he should be compensated for it like it was full-time and that is the end of that.
County workers making much less than Schmitt does now and did previously when Schmitt made $63,000 went to work every day and worked a full day and never got raises like Schmitt says he deserves.

Just when you thought Schmitt was arrogant enough he keeps on going. He claims he has been "working for free."

No Peter, you have drawn a salary on the taxpayer dime for the past 14 years to the tune of $63,000/year. You have NEVER worked for free.

Bruce Blakeman Declares for Senate; Nassau Republicans Overjoyed

2010-01-19T19:23:00.000-08:00

What a happy looking bunch of republicans. Mondello has a sort-of smile while Peter King is shooting lasers from his eyes into the back of Blakeman's head. Schmitt looks like he would rather be at the Forest Inn (that's probably where he left his tie.) D'Amato is trying to figure an angle in this where he can make money and The Accidental County Executive Ed Mangano continues to look like a deer in the headlights.
It's like all that is wrong is gathered on one stage.

(Click image to embiggin.)

The Start of a New Error: Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt

2010-01-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

Mangano Doesn't Know the Meaning of the word "Plan"

2010-01-01T16:31:00.000-08:00

Mangano campaigned on the "Mangano Plan." He says on his website "Ed Mangano has a plan for Nassau County: stop wasteful spending; freeze and fix Nassau’s broken tax assessment system, saving $100 million dollars annually; repeal Nassau’s home energy tax; and, most importantly, create jobs and opportunities in Nassau County."

A "Plan" is defined as: " a : a method for achieving an end b : an often customary method of doing something c : a detailed formulation of a program of action d : a detailed program"

Suddenly after the election, Manganos "Plan" is just some vague ideas.
According to Newsday, at his inauguration, Mangano "...said he would create a "team" to study how to freeze property values for a period of years as he worked to improve the assessment system..."

Now after YEARS of complaining about the assessment system while in the Legislature and campaigning on fixing it, Mangano just shows he HAS NO IDEA what he is going to do. By now he should have had an alternate plan for assessments. He kept talking about his "Plan" but turns out it's all just hot air.
How long will this "team" of his "study" the assessment system?
Why does Mangano need more time?
He ran as a know-it-all and instead we get a know-nothing.

The Accidental County Executive proves me right from Day 1.

What we have to look forward to...

2009-12-06T19:00:00.000-08:00

Have alot to catch up on but here's a sample of what we have to look forward to in Nassau County. Mangano's choice for Deputy C.E. is current Assemblyman Rob Walker who thinks favors for the politically connected at the expense of the taxpayer is a good thing. This is a post from a year ago.

"The Albany Times-Union has all the gory details....

"A bill advanced by the Senate Rules Committee, controlled by Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and sponsored by Assemblyman Rob Walker, R-Hicksville, would improve Julie A. Cleary's benefits at the expense of New York state's pension fund and her employer, the Nassau County Board of Elections."
"Cleary is the former secretary for Nassau County GOP Chairman Joseph Mondello. In 2006, Bruno helped Mondello become the head of the state party."
"Cleary, who worked for the state Senate from 1998 to 2004, began working for the Nassau County elections commission in 2004, public records show. She is a $107,531-per-year executive assistant to the Republican elections commissioner."
"Records show a Julie A. Cleary, of Wantagh, will turn 55 this June.
The bill for her was first introduced by the same sponsors in 2007 to reclassify her as a Tier 1 employee instead of Tier 2. The improved status means many more benefits and a bigger pension, although the comptroller's office had no estimates.
If she is designated as a Tier 1 member, she can retire at 55 with no early retirement penalties. As a Tier 2 member with less than 30 years of service, she would face an early retirement reduction of 27 percent, according to the comptroller's office."
Nassau County officials say they have no record of Cleary being on the payroll until 2004.
Jennifer Freeman, a spokeswoman for DiNapoli, said the bill is unusual because it comes with a past service cost of about $51,800, which would be paid to the pension fund by all employers who contribute to the retirement system -- state agencies, municipalities and other public entities. This cost would make up for shortages paid to the pension fund during the longer period of Cleary's membership in the system."

Mondello on Election Night

2009-11-04T17:10:00.000-08:00

Newsday Spin Cycle reports that "Mondello, in the cheerier climes of Tuesday’s GOP gathering in Westbury, was widely quoted as saying: “This is a night to remember.”

Keep in mind that the sinking of the Titanic was called "A Night to Remember" too.

Take the Pledge, Mangano.

2009-10-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

Alot has been made of the rumors that D.A. Kathleen Rice is thinking of running for NYS Attorney General.
Then of course there are the attacks on County Executive Suozzi for the possibility that he may seek office outside of Nassau County. As if ambition is a bad thing.
So here is a pledge I would like Ed Mangano to take. He was compelled to run for County Executive because he wanted to "save nassau."
Now when Mangano loses, where does he go?
To the Town of Oyster Bay Town Council of course.
Town Councilwoman Rose Walker is running for Ed's open seat (and expects to win) so Ed can be appointed by Supervisor John Venditto to the Town Board. From there we are hearing that Ed will be running for Supervisor.
Basically, the fix is in.
So here we go: We ask Ed Mangano to PLEDGE to the people of Nassau County and the Town of Oyster Bay that he is in the race to become County Executive and not the next member of the Oyster Bay Town Board. Ed Mangano must PLEDGE not to accept an appointment to the Oyster Bay Town Council. Ed Mangano must PLEDGE to STOP the game of musical chairs being run by the Nassau County GOP.
Call Ed at his campaign office and ask him to take the pledge. Call his campaign office at 516-605-0245 and ask him to take the pledge.

Nina Bastardi vs. Ciotti - Let's Play Match Game!

2009-10-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

Joe Belesi, Richard Nicolello and Chris Browne Press Conference

2009-10-18T01:36:00.000-07:00

An Ed Mangano Press Conference

2009-10-18T01:34:00.000-07:00

Ed Mangano Looks a Little.... Different....

2009-10-18T01:07:00.001-07:00

Mangano is running on "new ideas" and "new leadership" as if he hasn't been in office for 13 years. As if he wasn't the one who voted for and approved policies and budgets that almost bankrupted Nassau County.
The "New" Ed Mangano has a new look.
Like the old "Pete and Re-Pete" from Highlights Magazine, see if you can find what is different.

New Siena Poll: Ed Mangano The Invisible Man

2009-10-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

A new Siena Poll spells bad news for Ed Mangano.
Even with signs just about everywhere, Mangano can't catch a break.
In Nassau County, he has:
14% Favorable
11% Unfavorable
and an incredible 74% Don't Know/No Opinion.
It's Mid-October and Mangano has no traction whatsoever.

The big kick in the tuchus is the 76% Don't Know/No Opinion from REPUBLICANS.

By contrast, Suozzi has a 56% Favorable, 34% Unfavorable and only 10% Don't Know/No Opinion.

The question in the poll about who you would vote for if the election were today:
Suozzi - 54%
Mangano - 32%
Don't Know/No Opinion 14%
The only grouping that Mangano does well in is Republicans who give him 50%.
Democrats give Suozzi 79% and Republicans give Suozzi 36%
Mangano gets 11% of Democrats.

Fixed Belesi's Tax Revolt Sign for him.

2009-10-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

Sign Stealers: Nassau GOP Leaders Son Arrested Thursday Night

2009-10-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

The son of under-boss Joe Cairo was arrested last night by NCPD for stealing Democratic party candidate campaign signs.

Chairman Mangano and his Tax Revolt Party - A Party of Election Fraud

2009-10-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

Chairman Ed Mangano is going to court to sue the Nassau County Board of Elections because he wants a better ballot position for his Tax Revolt Party.
Chairman Mangano is the County Executive candidate for the Tax Revolt Party.
Actually, he is the ONLY candidate on the Tax Revolt Party line.
There were three other candidates for Nassau County Legislature on the line but they are off the line.
Why?
MASSIVE FRAUD.
In order to get the Tax Revolt Party line on the ballot and a candidate on the line, hundreds of signatures needed to be collected on petitions for each candidate in their districts.
Well, it turns out that first Chris Browne running against Legislator Joe Scannell submitted petitions so full of fraud that it was called the worst case of election fraud in Nassau history.
Then Joe Belesi who is losing to Legislator Dave Mejias had his petitions thrown out for fraudulant signature too.
And then Howard Koepel runnnig against Legislator Jeff Toback was kicked off the ballot for the same reason.
75% of the candidates in Chairman Mangano's party have been kicked off the ballot by a judge.
Not only that but the Nassau County District Attorney is investigating the petitions and the people who "collected" them under Chairman Mangano.

Ed Mangano is the leader of he Tax Revolt Party and needs to answer questions about his people committing election fraud.
Signtures that didn't match addresses.
Fake addresses.
Fake signatures.
Forged signatures.
The same handwriting on many signatures.
The list goes on and on.

Tell us Chairman Mangano, what did you know about your party committing fraud and when did you know it.

Mangano TV Commercial

2009-10-06T20:52:00.000-07:00

Just saw Ed Mangano's TV commercial.
It looks like it was shot on a 1983 VHS Camera on a videotape the was used over and over to tape Airwolf through its entire series and then copied over so Ed can make his commercial.
It is that bad.
I'll get the video asap so you can see for yourself.

Rose Walker: How Revolting!

2009-10-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

Oyster Bay Councilwoman Rose Walker is running to fill Ed Mangano's seat because once he loses the County Executive race to Tom Suozzi, Ed needs a place to go. So the plan is that he'll be appointed to what the republicans beleive will be Rose Walker's empty seat on the Town Council.
Gee, what will happen when Walker loses?
Will she step down so Mangano can slip onto the Town Board?

Anyway, it's kinda funny that Walker has "Tax Revolt" signs going up in the District (and outside the district - the picture below is from deep into Dave Mejias' district) considering Rose Walker voted to increase taxes in the Town of Oyster Bay 11% last year... for a total of 41% over the past 5 years.
Heck, you can say Rose Walker hasn't met a tax she didn't want to increase.
And she wants you (the voter as per her sign) to join her "Tax Revolt"?
She sure forgets her own record fairly quickly and hope you do too.
How Revolting!

New Items in the Gift Shoppe

2009-10-06T13:02:00.001-07:00

The Nassau GOP has re-branded so we're followed along. Get your new swag now!
T-Shirts!
Bumper Stickers!

And Much More!

EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Malcom Smith Accepts Invite to Box Dean Skelos of Charity

2009-10-02T06:16:00.000-07:00

Last night at the Nassau County Democratic Fall Gala, Majority Leader Malcolm Smith accepted an invitation to Box for Charity.
His would-be opponent? Dean Skelos.
The match will be thre 1 minute rounds sanctioned by New York State.
The invitation from LI Fight for Charity to Skelos will be extended today.
Will Skelos accept?
Sen. Smiths response was an immediate "yes" and the he got into a fights stance and said of Skelos "I'l make him dizzy."

Stay Classy, Mangano - GOP Thugs Destroy Suozzi Signs, Replace with Mangano Signs

2009-09-29T16:56:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh.... election season is finally here with GOP thugs stealing and destroying signs as if they own the county.
Here is an example of the fine goons working for Ed Mangano. If Ed can't keep his own people under control, how can he run a county?

Nassau Republicans are thugs and goons and nothing more. As they slip further and further into obscure minority status, they will destroy as much as they can. Cowards.

The first picture has a sign with moderate damage with the hand-made fake "grass-roots" look.
Hempstead Tpke, Levittown

The next picture is also on Hempstead Tpke in Levittown across from the BJ's/Best Buy. This one has more damage than the last.

The last one is totally destroyed by Mangano Thugs. It's in the lot by Tri-County on Hempstead Tpke.

These signs are are a stones throw away from Mangano HQ and of course the robots there will say they have "No Idea" who put those signs up. Liars.

Nina Bastardi: Not Just Some Girl

2009-09-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

"When asked who he's running against, Nina Petraro Bastardi's opponent answers "Oh, just some girl." - http://notjustsomegirl.weebly.com/

Nina is not "just some girl." She is an accomplished woman who has probably achieved more just reaching her mid-twenties than John Ciotti has yet to do in his fifties.

Nina is an example of the best and brightest we need in Nassau County. John Ciotti is the status-quo, do-nothing politician of the past.

Ciotti Blurring the Lines Between Campaigning and Official Duties. Is the Taxpayer Paying for This?

2009-08-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

John Ciotti is getting the race of his life from Nina Petraro-Bastardi who can be seen everywhere in the district answering peoples questions and listening to thier issues. This past weekend, Ciotti set up an official table as a Legislator at the Elmont Fair. Here is a picture of the official table with a Ciotti "re-elect" campaign sign with the "re-elect" blocked out.

Here are two photographers, one from the Town of Hempstead (on the left) and the other from the county hanging around the Ciotti table..

Here are taxpayer paid photographers taking a picture of Ciotti with the Elmont Fire Department. Looks like an official business photo-op, right? (click to enlarge)

Then what is County Executive candidate Ed Mangano doing there? He's a legislator from Hicksville which is at the other side of the county. The only thing that would bring Mangano out to Elmont would be to campaign. So Ciotti with Mangano are campaigning and taxpayer paid photographers are taking pictures?

Again, other to campiagn, Mangano has no reason to be in Elmont.

So the question now is who is paying for the photographers? Also, who will be using the pictures?

Do the photographers submit their timesheets to the campaigns or to the Town and County?We'll watch to see where the pictures end up and file a FOIL appropriately.

Nassau Republicans Re-Branding.. and Running Away From 'Republican'

2009-07-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

The end of an era. It took a while but the Nassau GOP has moved away from the old orange and blue color scheme. Republican county executive candidate Ed Mangano doesn't have the colors anywhere on his signage or bumper stickers and other candidates don't have the blue and orange either.

It looks like they are going for a sorta-red, white and blue.
The republicans have always been identified by the ornage and blue campaign material. You saw those colors and you knew the candidate was republican. Over the past few years candidates here and there strayed from alot of blue and orange. Now with a "standard" sticker for a few different candidates not having the usual colors indicates a change.
And what else is missing from the stickers?
Any indication that the candidate is in the republican party.
Democrats have the word "Democrat" on signage and bumper stickers. Why is the Nassau GOP afraid to announce that the candidate is a republican?

Even on Ed Mangano's campaign site there isn't any obvious graphics saying he is a republican. You have to look deeper to find a title of a link that says "Mangano" and "GOP."

The Mangano Mobile! Pimp My Ride: Nassau County Edition

2009-07-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

Here is Ed Mangano's pimped-out ride. (click for larger version)

He's on all sides!

Going for the Latino vote.

State Republicans Send Sneaky Mailer to Mejias' District

2009-07-14T23:51:00.000-07:00

Joe Mondello is so desperate that he coughed up some dough to send a anti-Mejias mailer to distirct voters in hopes it will help Joe Belesi.
The mailer is designed to look like an official mailing FROM the county with the words "Notice of Tax Increase" on both sides and includes an altered Nassau County Seal.

The seal is close.. it's just missing the county name....
Real Seal...

Fake Seal...

It's a clever mailing.. but fairly desperate this early.

Congratulations Democratic State Chairman Jay S. Jacobs

2009-07-14T23:45:00.000-07:00

Nassau County Chairman Jay S. Jacobs has been named the new New York State Democratic Party Chairman.
Jay will have the pleasure of not only kicking Joe Mondello's ass around Nassau County, but in state-wide races too.

Stay Classy, Chairman Mondello

2009-07-12T20:25:00.000-07:00

Joe Mondello is a class act. At the Nassau County Young Republicans Super Extra-Special Freedom Gala for America and it's Greatness Gala, Chairman Joe took the opportunity to attack Republican turned Democrat Nina Petraro-Bastardi and her husband Chris. During his tirade, he called them an "abomination."
That's kind of a harsh word.
But leave it to Joe Mondello to once again push the level of political discourse into the guttter.

Stop Lying, Kate Murray!

2009-06-04T22:37:00.000-07:00

Kate Murray repeats the same lies that she did two years ago. Murray says on her website that "Hempstead Town has earned the highest Wall Street credit ratings available (four grades higher than Nassau County’s ratings)."
If that were true, then Nassau County's rating would be close to Junk which it is not.
We busted Kate 2 years ago trying to pull the same fast one. Last time she used a graph to illustrate her point..

That looks real impressive if you don't know how to fake a graph.
It should actually look like this:

As I explained then, "If you count from "A" to Aa+", it does indeed look like "four steps higher than Nassau." And the graph dramatically shows the HUGE gap between Nassau and the Town of Hempstead.
Of course, this is not exactly where the truth lies. The "+" ratings are NOT full points but intermidiary ratings. And the chart has three versions of "A" and three versions on "Aa" which makes it look like there is a bigger difference."

So Kate, stop lying.
You got caught. Again.

Kate Murray Has a Campaign Website

2009-06-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

I fixed her logo for her....

There is a whole lot wrong with her website.
Let's start where she mentions the Lighthouse Project which she is dragging her feet on. "This past year Kate and the Town Board approved a commuter‑oriented home development in West Hempstead that offered higher development density in a location adjacent to a local development proposal for 150 acres of property surrounding the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The proposall includes a redeveloped Coliseum, housing, retail space, office space, a hotel, and minor league baseball stadium as well as other recreation and entertainment components."

Besides adding that extra "l" to "proposal", Murray is trying to link herself to the Lighthouse Project very subtley.
Why mention the Lighthouse Project (not by name though) when she obviously opposes it?

Massapequa Community Forum Kudos

2009-05-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

I attended a community forum (open to all) in Massapequa last friday night. It was hosted by a Tea Party group based in Massapequa. They invited politicians of every party to speak. I went with a little apprehension, knowing that the only Dem speaker Legislator Dave Mejias might not be very welcomed by the crowd. Laura Gill and the organizers did a fantastic job running the question and answer session and kept the crowd civil. The panel besides Mejias was all republican elected officials and for some reason candidate Joe Belesi.
Anyone looking for a good dialog would have found it at this meeting. Dave Mejias gave detailed answers to questions and held his own when a couple of audience members shouted at him. And again, the organizers tamped that down immediately so that eveyone had an opportunity to hear thier elected officials speak.
I'll have nmore details in a later post. (and some video)

Joe Saladino Follies

2009-05-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

Bashes Teachers Union at community forum tonight but took their endorsement last year.

Nassau GOP Gone Wild.... Actually Batshit Crazy

2009-05-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

Nina Petraro-Bastardi is a former republican runing as a Democrat for the Nassau County Legislature. Below is a video of Mondello's thugs trying to shut her up... and it doesn't work.
Pay close attention to the 'roid rage guy who comes a little to close to Nina and Tom Suozzi. NCPD needs to keep an eye out for angry people like him.

Support for State Chairman Joe Mondello

2009-04-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

Shams Tarek, DSCC spokesman says “The recent chorus of Republican officials calling for Joe Mondello to step down as State GOP chair is disappointing and a step backwards for New York.
“With the New York GOP’s recent loss of both the State Senate and the overwhelmingly Republican 20th Congressional District to Democrats, we couldn’t be more pleased with Chair Mondello’s work.
"For the benefit of a population completely fed up with years of GOP cynicism and dysfunction in both Washington and Albany, Chair Mondello should remain in place and continue to remove Republicans from office in New York.”

And we need Mondello here in Nassau County too!

Venditto the Tax Increaser Shows Nerve Speaking at Anti-Tax Rally

2009-04-30T08:40:00.001-07:00

TOBAY Supervisor John Venditto was one of the few local elected officials to speak at the Nassau Young Republican Tea Party. The rally with puportedly was about how we are being taxed too much is an odd place for Venditto to speak considering he increased taxes in the Town of Oyster Bay by 11%.
Venditto has an odd rationalization for raising taxes as he told the Massapequa Post "We all hate taxes but I think residents understand that the we've been mindful at a local level," said Venditto who added that the budget maintains the status quo on all of the Town's programs and projects"

What does Venditto mean by "status quo?" According to the budget, there is only a 2.8% spending increase. How does a 2.8% spending increase equal an 11% tax increase?

Venditto continues "The success of this Town isn't measured in budget tables but how well it serves its people," the Supervisor said. "When I start to work on a budget I think of about our young people, who may now be able to buy their first home or senior citizens who can now remain here," said the Supervisor."

But what Venditto isn't thinking much about or even talking about is the $400million in debt the Town has. And how does the Town "serve it's people?" By Bonding over $54million to make up fro lack of funds. Venditto and the all-republican Town Board borrows heavily on the backs of the young people who want to buy their first home.

The Post article continuies "Venditto called the budget lean, cost efficient and financially responsible.
"When we took over in the late 90's the Town was in dire financial straights with a $30-million deficit. I don't want to undo any of the good work we've done," said Venditto. "I think this budget is a fiscally responsible one that still allows the Town to continue its programs and services that make Oyster Bay a desirable place to live."

WHAT?????
I would call being $454million in the hole somewhat dire considering the downturn in local revenues. And again, it is the constant Bonding that allows the Town to continue it's programs and services. Without those bonds, there would be a deficit higher than the one Venditto says he inherited.

Venditto has real balls to stand up and speak at an anti-tax rally when he is taxing the TOBAY residents more and borrowing more money to keep his "status quo."

Venditto can't stand higher taxes unless he is the one raising them!

Nassau Young Republican Tea Party Draws One's of People

2009-04-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

The belated tea bagging by the Young Reps brought out a crowd that could fit in a booth at Friendly's. Not counting the Young Rep organizers and the speakers, the crowd ballooned to about 35-40. The speakers spoke from atop a flat-bed truck which provided an empty stage for the basically unknown featured speakers.

Brett Joshpe? Who the hell was he?

David Webb? Another unknown. And like Joshpe, from reading the hype on their websites you would think they were household names.

And then there was KT McFarland. You may remember her as being a possible candidate to challenge then-Senator Clinton back in 2006. McFarland gained some attention when she said that "Hillary Clinton is really worried about me, and is so worried, in fact, that she had helicopters flying over my house in Southampton today taking pictures."

I'd fire whoever booked the speakers.

Then there were a few elected officials like Assemblyman Dave McDonough, TOBAY Supervisor John Venditto and TOBAY Coucilwoman and photo-op queen Rose Walker.

The day was a rousing success if you measure success on a huge curve.

Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto Consolidates Special Districts.... Into Nassau County

2009-04-17T01:30:00.000-07:00

There has been a movement gaining traction from the County Executive, elected officials and regular citizens to consolidate the hundreds of special taxing districts in Nassau County. By consolidating these districts, tax payers would save money.
Supervisor John Venditto has made the leap and consolidated all the Special Districts in the Town of Oyster Bay. In the recent "Talk of the Town" propaganda mailing, Venditto shifts the Special Districts to the Nassau County slice of the tax dollar pie.

The FACT is that John Venditto is lying. Nassau County has NOTHING to do with the Special Districts. Venditto is just trying to shrink the percentage of tax dollars the Town collects and increase th percentage the County collect.
The REAL percentage for Nassau County is about 17.5%, NOT the 22.6% Venditto claims. The County portion of your taxes has been the lowest in years. It's Venditto who just raised your Town taxes by 11%.
The Special Districts are under the control of the Town of Oyster Bay. The Town sets the tax rates. The Town appoints board members. NOT the County.
The REAL FACT is that the Town of Oyster Bay slice of the tax pie is 17.8% NOT the 12.6% Venditto claims.

Venditto spent taxpayer money to send a mailing to LIE to those very same taxpayers.
What a disgrace.

More Massapequa Tea Bag Party Pictures

2009-04-17T00:57:00.001-07:00

Here are a few more pictures from the republican tea bag party....
(click pictures to enlarge)

This guy was manning a microphone and trying his best at arousing the tea baggers. He had a simple schtick in-between bad quasi-patriotic country music. At one point this guy says we have to "get rid of Nancy Pelosi" and either "send her TO China" or "send her BACK TO China." I'm correct in saying that Nancy Pelosi is a citizen of the country and born of Italian descent which makes it odd that she should go "back to" China where she was never from in the first place.
Then of course he gave us the "No Taxation Without Representation" rally cry. Again, I am correct in saying that we have duly elected representatives covering every inch of these United States. Maybe the genius missed the election last november.

Speaking of Nancy Pelosi, this poor soul seems to have missed the election too and assumes that Speaker of the House Pelosi ascended to the presidency.

And speaking of last november's elections, this poor dear believes that she is in the "majority." If she were, there would not be a President Obama and an overwhelming Democratic congress.

I wanted to ask this person who he/she (couldn't tell) believes is in congress and does not "Love the USA."

Here is a classic. "Abolish the FED!" Exactly what would replace the central banking system of the United States? Who will be a stop-gap for bank panics? Who will protect consumer bank users? I will assume the person holding the sign 1) knows what the "FED" is and 2) has a reasonable replacement in mind.

This guy wants to "save the children." And of course he missed the part where stimulus money was going to education and would save the schools from cutting programs.

And last but not least here is republican legislature candidate Joe Belesi in the suit, not the stupid hat. Joe here was a police union boss who retired from the county with a $400,000 pay-out and a $100,000+ pension and medical coverage for him and his family. He is now working for the drunk driver Minority Leader Peter Schmitt taking more money from county taxpayers.

Joe Mondello Answers with a Little Anti-Semitism?

2009-04-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

Mondello was asked about NYC Mayor - and likely republican candidate for re-election - Bloomberg's support of gay marriage and replies as a "practicing catholic", "Well, what can I tell you? That's going to have to be between him and his God, just like what I do has to be between me and my God."

Peter King gets Snubbed at Republican Dinner

2009-04-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

Last night the NYS Republicans brought out Newt Gingrich at their annual dinner. Newt spoke and had this to say about the NY GOP future "If we had Mayor Giuliani for governor and we had Gov. Pataki for senator, we would be a large step towards the tidal wave which will make 2010 comparable to 1994," he said, referring to the GOP electoral sweep in '94. "That should be our goal."

Hmmm... isn't Peter King the one that has been trumpeting his name as a potential winning senate candidate?
This is one heck of a slight.
Is Newt still holding a grudge against King for calling him "political road-kill" back in the 90's?

Massapequa Tea Bagger Brings the Crazy

2009-04-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a sign I pretty much expected to see....

This loon still believes that there is a grand conspiracy to hide the "fact" that President Obama was not born in Hawaii but in Kenya and is ineligible to be President.

The grand conspiracy involved the REPUBLICAN Governor of Hawaii who is keeping Obama's "real" birth certificate hidden, the Clinton campaign who had the money and the connections to dig up any dirt on Obama, and the State of Hawaii which does the bidding of a junior senator from Illinois, and the Department of State which issues Obama a passport and a whole host of other agencies.

Obama was born in Hawaii, you nut.

There is another nut job in Massapequa who spews forth on a local website who still clings to the birth certificate conspiracy among other things. It wasn't him holding the sign.. maybe just a fan. We'll get to him in a future post.

Massapequa Tea Bag Party Pictures

2009-04-15T21:30:00.001-07:00

I went to the Massapequa Tea Bag Party this afternoon. The Tea baggers were lined up on Sunrise Highway (some on the south side) with their signs causing traffic to slow to a crawl.
I wade into the crowd of about 150-200 to take some pictures and see what was up. The snippets of conversations I heard made my ears bleed. They might not be indicative of the whole crowd but what I heard was a lack of understanding of the issues. Then I heard "... FOX News..." and "... 770AM..." and that pretty much explained the lack of knowledge.

Here are a few pictures of the crowd.

These two seem to have forgotten that the economic mess we are in was caused by 8 years of George W. Bush and 6 of those years with a republican congress. Actually, the whole crowd seems to have developed selective amnesia, blocking Jan. 2001 to Jan. 2009.
I'd like to point out to these two mouth breathers the illegal wiretaps that were unconstitutional. Who did that again, guys?

Here is someone who believes that access to healthcare for all Americans will cause death. Universal Healthcare means access. It means healthier citizens. It means insurance companies can't deny treatment as they do every single day.
Universal Healthcare works fine elsewhere. Why not here?

I wonder if this fine fellow voted for George W. Bush. I bet he did.
Now I wonder if he was just as upset and took to the street when the debt increased 71% under Bush. That is a $10trillion debt President Obama INHERITED.
Does it matter that Bush inherited an annual federal budget surplus of $230 billion from Clinton and in just three short years turned it into a $500+ billion deficit? This negative turnaround of three-quarters of a trillion dollars.

More pictures later....

Tea Baggers Coming to Massapequa

2009-04-14T23:14:00.000-07:00

Today is "Tax Day" and the republican tea baggers are holding a Tea Bag Party in Massapequa. Newsday reports Head Tea Bagger "Laura Gill, the lead organizer of the Massapequa rally, said the protests are in response to the stimulus package "and we're going to have a voice and vote together. There is strength in numbers."
Actually, the "protests" are in response to Barack Obama winning the election.
The interesting thing is the "protest" is being held at the Massapequa LIRR station from 4-6pm.
Don't these people have jobs? What an odd time to have a tea bag party at the LIRR station.
Since I was a commuter for many, many years I can safely say that the 9-5er's will be arriving after the Tea Bag Party is over. Usually around 6:01.
And if any financial services employees do get off the train, ask them how bad it is that the government saved the banks and financial institutions they still have a job at.
I wonder how many bank failures, company bankruptcies, and massive layoffs Laura Gill feels is okay.
The stimulus money is plugging a hole in the NY State budget which is helping Nassau County, the Town of Oyster Bay and the Massapequa School District.
What is Laura Gill willing to cut if that stimulus money wasn't there?

I'm betting TOBAY Supervisor John Venditto who raised taxes 11% last year will be on hand for a photo-op. Expect to see Venditto Tea Bagging in an upcoming issue of the Massapequa Post.

Nassau Young Republicans Catch Tea Bagging Fever

2009-04-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

The Nassau County Young Republicans have taken up the new tea bagging fad and will be hosting a Tea Bag Party at Levittown Veteran's Memorial Park on April 25th.
This protest against grave injustices inflicted upon republicans like Obama winning the election in November and other things should go well.... considering there is no body of water at the park and on weekends, the park is a popular skateboarder hangout.
The Nassau County Young Republicans plan to take back America one Tea Bag at a time. They plan to stimulate debate and arouse the voters.

To get the party started right, the young reps will be hosting an Long Island Iced Tea Bag Party the week before.

Legislator Mangano Comes Close to the Truth

2009-04-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

The Legislature introduced a bill that would make college tuition free for Vollies. The Democrats apparantly kept refering to the idea as "brilliant." Newsday Spincycle reports "The back-patting went on for a while, and the “brilliant” word popped up a few more times, then turned into a running joke for the rest of the session.
“If ‘brilliant’ was a drinking game, we’d all be drunk by now,” Legis. Edward Mangano (R-Bethpage), said at one point."

I don't think Peter Schmitt needs to wait for a drinking game.

King Goes to Gitmo Part 1; Apples and Oranges Edition

2009-02-26T08:46:00.000-08:00

King has an op-ed in today's NYPost extolling the virutes of the Gitmo facility and attacking President Obama for preparing to close it. There are many points to look at in the op-ed so I'll do them bit by bit.
King says that at Gitmo "Detainees at Guantanamo are treated far better than most American prisoners in the US jails and prisons I've inspected over the years."

Umm.. Peter..... the prisoners in US jails have all faced a judge and jury and have been found guilty of a crime. The detainees at Gitmo have not had a trial. That is the problem.

It's fairly simple; have a trial and either find the detainees guilty of terrorist acts or send them back to thier own countries.

Here is a scenario King ought to think about:
When King went to Northen Ireland years ago as an IRA supporter and agitator, he stayed with and spent time with murderers and assorted criminals. If the British forces did a sweep and arrested King along with the other terrorists would King think that it is okay for the British to hold him indefinately without trial?
Would King feel good about languishing in prison for 4 or more years without contact with family and friends or a lawyer to represent him?

Wavering King May Lose Chance to Run for Senate

2009-02-20T01:01:00.001-08:00

According to an AP story, Republican Senate Campaign Committee head John Cornyn is looking to former governor George Pataki to run for Senate against Gillibrand in 2010.
King has consistantly performed extremely poorly in match-up polls against Gillibrand. And he hasn't been as gung-ho to run as he was against Caroline Kennedy.

"A person who spoke to George Pataki says national Republicans have approached the former New York governor about running for the Senate in 2010.
The person confirmed Tuesday's meeting in New York City between Pataki and Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who heads the party's national Senate campaign committee. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he isn't authorized to comment.
The person says Pataki, now in private law practice, hasn't yet accepted or rejected the idea. The race would be against Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton and said she will run.
Pataki didn't respond to a request for comment.
Cornyn's office referred questions to the committee, which didn't comment."

The Journal News gives a reason why Pataki would be the better choice...
"A Marist College poll last month found Gillibrand and Pataki in a statistical dead heat in a hypothetical matchup, with Gillibrand at 44 percent and Pataki at 42 percent.
"What he brings to a candidacy in a very blue state is name recognition, a proven statewide vote-getter, an ability to raise money, candidate experience. And those are many of the ingredients for success," Marist pollster Lee Miringoff said."

King can always run against Schumer..... Nah..... he doesn't have the guts to try.

Peter King in Trouble - Complete Unknown Beats Him in New poll

2009-01-27T11:23:00.000-08:00

A Gillibrand second term unknown congresswoman beats six term media-whore King in a new Marist poll.King has done his best to get his face in every newspaper and on every political talk show he can. He has been grandstanding on immigration and homeland security for 7 years. Kirsten Gillibrand is a big unknown outside of her district but she tops King 49% - 24% in the new Marist poll.
Looking at the polls matching King against Kennedy and Coumo, if we are looking for a pattern, it's that King is not liked.
This poll proves that King is not popular outside of his district.
At all.

King and Skelos Go Crazy Over Patersons Senate Pick.

2009-01-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

King and New York State Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos are demanding that Governor Paterson explain how he chose Rep. Gilbrand to fill the vacancy left by Hillary Clinton.
King spouts off alot of BS "There was a whole strange series of events," King told The Associated Press. "There is a crisis of confidence in the state. There is a cloud over Kirsten Gillibrand's appointment. To me, it's essential that the governor give a full explanation as quickly as possible."
There is no "cloud" over Kirsten Gillibrand. It's just that King really wanted Caroline Kennedy to run because he thought that would be an easier race.

Dean Skelos, the architect of the Republicans loss of the New York State Senate pipes in "What a disgrace... At least the governor of Illinois made a decision."
So Paterson didn't make a decision?
What a dumb thing to say.
Gillibrand is the new US Senator from New York. Get used to it.

King of course has no idea that Paterson doesn't have to tell anyone how he made his decision. So says that CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. King should read the 17th Amendment "When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct."
Paterson as Governor is empowered to appoint anyone he wants.
Kirsten Gillibrand is great choice.
And that is what scares them.

Peter Schmitt: Dumb Ass

2009-01-25T09:51:00.000-08:00

Ya just gotta love Peter Schmitt. He is so diabolically stupid. At a Nassau Losers.... er.. GOP meeting he calls for using tax increases against Democrats in the Fall elections.
Schmitt says "We're going to take that record and we're going to wrap it around their neck and we're going to push them in the lake and watch them go down."
I wonder how much KAte Murray and John Venditto were squirming when Schmitt said that. I mean Schmitt has to know that his buddy John Venditto raised Town of Oyster Bay taxes 11%, right? And that Murray raised taxes in the Town of Hempstead 6.6%.
Umm.. Peter, THAT will be hung around republicans necks.

Chicken a la King

2009-01-24T10:14:00.000-08:00

For a guy who had so much tough talk on Caroline Kenndy's possibel appointment to the US Senate, he sure back the heck off when Rep. Kristen Gillibrand was named.
King was itching to get into a fight with Senator Caroline Kennedy but has instead toned down his rhetoric on running. “If he appointed Caroline Kennedy, I was ready to file papers right away because she’s a superstar and you can’t let her build a head of steam – and she was totally unqualified in my perspective,” King told Politico. “With Kirsten, she’s entitled to be given an opportunity to build a record for the state.”

So King isn't ready right away to file papers against Gillibrand?
Of course not, because King knows Gillibrand will be a tougher candidate.
I mean if King REALLY wanted to run for Senate, he could have delcared to run against Schumer.... but he didn't.
King is all talk and nothing more.

Another Poll Shows King Still Losing Senate Race

2009-01-15T12:22:00.000-08:00

Another day and another poll for the NY Senate seat being vacated by new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. A Research 2000 poll conducted for the Daily Kos website doesn’t offer any more good news for Peter King or even Rudy Guiliani who would be the so-called “top-tier” GOP candidates.
Under Approval, King gets 39% Approval, 41% Disapproval, and 20% No Opinion.
Guiliani fares much worse with 38% Approval, 56% Disapproval, and 6% No Opinion.

In the head-to-head match-up, Cuomo beats King 45% to 32%.
Cuomo beats Giuliani 48% to 33%.
Kennedy still trounces King 47% to 31% and does the same thing to Giuliani 49% to 32%.

Congressman Steve Israel who is new to the polls and is very much an unknown compared to any of the other possible candidates beats King 34% to 31% and does the same to Giuliani 35% to 32%. That isn’t much but no one knows Israel.

King and Giuliani pull the same low number against well-known Dems and a virtually unknown Dem.