Gun Politics New York

More evidence of deal between the Senate Republicans and Gov. Cuomo:

“… Sen. George Latimer’s GOP opponent is still not decided.  But Republicans have submitted petitions for a potential candidate: Jean Maisano, director of public relations at The Guidance Center of Westchester … Asked whether she was planning on challenging Latimer, Jean Maisano paused for eight seconds. “I haven’t made a decision on that,” she said … When asked whether she was a placeholder on the ballot until the GOP could find a Latimer opponent, Maisano returned to her statement: “Like I said, I’m happy to help ensure that the seat will be contested this year.” …”

You’re a placeholder.

“… The Latimer/Cohen race in 2012 was one of the nastiest in the state, with Democrats characterizing Cohen as a New York City slumlord and an anonymous group hammering Latimer with a series of mailers and advertisements …”

Cohen lost by like less than 1%.  Don’t tell me this wouldn’t be a competitive race again if the GOP put up a candidate.  The question is why haven’t they?  Surely there is some local councilman or supervisor interested in moving up the political food chain.

“… Privately, Senate Democrats have been preparing for a similarly bruising battle as they attempt to keep the seat in 2014 …”

I don’t believe that.  A serious contender would have been preparing to run 6-12 months ago, building momentum and money.  That hasn’t happened.  Anyone who jumps in now would be little more than paper candidate.

The way I see it, there is one of two possible reasons the GOP isn’t contesting this seat:

1. Westchester Republicans are morons (not out of the question).
2. There’s a backroom deal with Democrats and/or Cuomo to keep Latimer in office.

I’m going with #2 as being more probable.

The Post reports Gov. Cuomo is hiding his Kathy Hochul from the public:

“… Key state Democrats told The Post that Cuomo has ordered Hochul “kept under wraps,’’ in the words of one, to prevent her more conservative views from upending his re-election campaign among liberal New York City Democrats, especially Hispanics …”

More proof that Cuomo has a huge problem with Democrats which the media is doing their best to downplay.

So, what makes her so horrible?

“… Hochul, who received a top rating from the National Rifle Association when she ran for Congress and strongly opposed former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s efforts to grant driver’s licenses to illegal aliens when she was Erie County clerk …”

If this is so bad for Cuomo, then why did he choose her in the first place?  I assume it was to pander to upstate, but for that strategy to work she would need to have a very visible presence in the campaign at least in that area which thus far she hasn’t.  That makes her pick a lose-lose for the Governor.

I haven’t seen any complaints from feminists about Hochul’s lack of visibility either.  I guess allowing women to speak and have their own opinions isn’t part of the “women’s agenda.”

Just how big of a tool is Dean Skelos?

Very.

“… Senate insiders describe GOP leader Dean Skelos as initially “stunned’’ by Cuomo’s action in moving the IDC to the regular Democrats’ side, even though the governor vowed to do just that a month ago in exchange for the WFP’s endorsement.  “Skelos didn’t want to believe what Cuomo was doing.  He didn’t want to face an obvious reality, until last week, when he didn’t have a choice any longer,’’ a longtime Senate Republican told The Post …”