All about guns, legislation and politics in New York
WPIX has decided to give up any pretense of objectivity and go all in for gun control. Here’s their general manager promoting “Gun Violence Awareness Month”:
Are you aware of “gun violence”? Yes, I am. So what? The general public doesn’t care about feel good nonsense like this.
If only the station and politicians featured in the ad had the courage to take a stand for something substantive, like demanding children get a quality education, everyone would be much better off.
As expected Governor Cuomo is pandering to the Fudds in an attempt to win back some votes he lost with the SAFE Act. He’s got DEC Commission Joe Martens going around around the state telling a bunch of B.S. to sportsmen:
“Joe Martens, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, is scheduled to meet with a select group of outdoors sportsmen behind closed doors Friday afternoon at the DEC Region 7 office in Cortland. The meeting is closed to the press, a DEC spokesman said. The reason for the meeting, scheduled from noon to 2 p.m., is to get feedback on a range of outdoor-related issues put out by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, including changes to the hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; the adventure license proposal and items in Cuomo’s executive budget for the coming year, including making crossbows legal for hunting …”
What possible reason is there not to have the media invited? The head of a state agency is looking for public input on the Governor’s budget. Isn’t this newsworthy?
“… A representative from the State Police is expected to accompany Martens to address any SAFE Act-related questions. “It’s always a hot button issue when we’re talking to folks,” said Christian Ballantyne, a special assistant at the DEC who helped contacted sportsmen about attending Friday’s get-together …”
This is why they don’t want the press around. They are guaranteed negative feedback because of SAFE and don’t want the media to cover it.
“… Ballantyne said he expects about a half dozen sportsmen representatives to attend Friday. He many of those invited were from a list of names recommended by the DEC’s fish and wildlife staff at the Cortland office …”
Known Fudds or other losers who aren’t likely to ask tough questions or expect serious answers.
“… Chuck Parker, of Mexico, who is president of the New York State Conservation Council, was among those invited but had to decline because he is attending a meeting of the state Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board today and Friday up at the DEC training facility in Pulaski …”
Case in point.
“… He said when it came to the SAFE Act, Parker said that Martens said he didn’t feel it had a significant impact on sportsmen. “We countered that yes it does,” Parker said …”
And what are you going to do about it? NYSCC has done nothing about SAFE.
“… Following that Albany meeting, Parker said he knows of meetings Martens has held with sportsmen at DEC regional offices in Region 9 (near Buffalo); Region 8 (near Rochester) and Region 3 in New Paltz. All were put together with little advance notice, he said, and to his knowledge there were no problems …”
I know someone who went to the R3 meeting. There were no “problems” because there was no real public input. The only purpose of these meetings is so the Governor can use them in his re-election campaign.
Op-ed from today’s Schenectady Gazette, “Cuomo should call special elections“:
“We’re told we live in a representative democracy. But that requires political representation, and right now more than 1.8 million New Yorkers, in 11 different legislative districts, don’t have any. For this they can thank Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has sole discretion to call special elections and shows no inclination to do so … Cuomo hasn’t given any real explanation for not calling special elections … He probably doesn’t want 11 different campaigns that may include criticism of his policies and programs; or controversial actions such as the SAFE Act; or controversial statements such as those regarding “extreme conservatives.” …”
And yet we are repeatedly reminded by media pundits, primarily those from NYC, that there is widespread public support for SAFE. If that is the case then it should be a non-issue and the Governor has no reason to hold up calling for special elections.
Back in January NYAGV Boardmember Justin Wagner announced his intention to run for State Senate again this year. Someone, presumably Wagner, is doing polling in the area. The questions the caller asked were:
The Trump for Governor farce is over.
Here’s a helpful tip for other rich people wanting to run for office: Cash is King. Hand out large bags of money before you announce your intention to run to buy party support. Don’t make vague promises of donations later if and only if you get a clear path to the party’s nomination.
The detestable Katie Couric (whose mummification process looks to be coming along nicely) interviews the even more detestable Michael Bloomberg on his legacy as Da Mayor.
On the topic of guns:
Some highlights:
“… Asked if he could outspend the National Rifle Association and other opponents of gun control measures, Bloomberg casually replied, “Oh sure.” But then added, “I’m not the only funder of this.” …”
True, he’s got the cash, but what he doesn’t have is genuine public support. That’s why after spending tens of millions of dollars over the years Congress blew him off. If Couric had any journalistic objectivity left she should have asked him why, if he’s got more cash and public support than NRA, did he lose?
I have said before that Governor Cuomo has problems with other Democrats, something the media refuses to acknowledge. Here’s some more proof:
“A labor-backed coalition is airing television ads attacking Governor Andrew Cuomo by name for a budget it says “continues to short-change our communities.” … The group, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, is also running a radio ad and has started an online site declaring “winners and losers” in Cuomo’s budget …”
Putting the issue aside, I believe this is the first time Cuomo is being attacked personally by other Democrats.
“… Since he took office, advocacy groups of all stripes have been hesitant to criticize the Democratic governor by name; in 2011, New York State United Teachers changed an ad to replace Cuomo’s name with “Albany.” …”
Advocacy groups of all stripes except one and one is all you need because “If you could make God bleed, people would cease to believe in him, there will be blood in the water, the sharks will come …“
Donald Trump continues to make noise about running for Governor. I still don’t see him doing it, especially now that Rob Astorino has declared. Nevertheless, he continues to make the rounds and was in Syracuse yesterday at a GOP function where he spoke on a number of issues including the SAFE Act:
“… You have the SAFE Act, which is a total catastrophe. It’s hard to believe it even got passed. Look, you’re sitting at home and a bad guy walks in with a gun. At least you want to have a shot at it, right? You don’t want to be defenseless … But this SAFE Act is a disaster. Whoever ultimately is going to be the nominee for the Republicans, they better bring it up very loud and clear because that act is a catastrophe. I call it the unSAFE Act …”
The NY Post reports:
“Gov. Cuomo is expected to unleash a $10 million package of TV attack ads designed to “define’’ his newly announced Republican challenger, Rob Astorino, as a “right-wing nut,” … The negative commercials will be primarily aimed at convincing independent and moderate voters, especially women, that Astorino holds what Cuomo has already branded as “extreme conservative’’ views on … gun-ownership rights … Longtime Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf said he expected Cuomo to unleash a series of costly harsh attacks — with a price tag of “about $10 million.” …”
Bring it on. Cuomo blew $400,000 last year on a series of ads last spring through his “New Yorkers for Gun Safety” PAC trying to convince people the SAFE Act is a good thing. Then he directed the state Democrat committee to spend probably over $1 million in a series of five full color flyers attacking Ed Manago for not support SAFE during last years Nassau County Executives race which Mangano ended up winning by 20 points. In addition, Astorino’s opponent last year Noam Bramsom spent heavy on antigun ads (1,2) and all that got him was a 10 point loss in the general election.