Cuomo Is Noticeably Absent at Swearing In
March 18, 2008
Mario Cuomo’s picture could wind up on the side of state Capitol-area milk cartons following his conspicuous absence from Governor Paterson’s party-like swearing-in ceremony that could mark the end of Andrew Cuomo’s gubernatorial ambitions.
There were plenty of governors alongside Senators Schumer and Clinton in the same heavily-guarded V.I.P. section where Mayor Bloomberg was sitting, representing three states neighboring New York — Jon Corzine of New Jersey, Jodi Rell of Connecticut and Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. Former New York Governors Pataki and Carey were here as well.
Perhaps Mr. Cuomo skipped the swearing-in because he doesn’t think Mr. Paterson will be more than “a more-than-good governor.”
Mr. Cuomo was quoted last week with that tepid assessment of Mr. Paterson’s qualifications. He went on to add these not-so-encouraging words about the state’s new leader: “I think in his heart of hearts he’d rather be a legislator. It’s easier to intellectualize, to deal with problems as a senator, because you don’t have to solve them.”
The real problem for the Cuomos is that Mr. Paterson’s problem solving skills will now be exercised just down the hall from the younger Mr. Cuomo’s attorney general office. Mr. Cuomo’s first year as the state’s top law enforcer has been remarkable, and his latest investigation into health insurance reimbursements will likely achieve benefits for all New Yorkers and perhaps all Americans. But even lofty achievements of that enviable stature won’t change the new political calculus reshaping the state’s Democratic establishment at a pace matching the speed with which Mr. Spitzer deteriorated from a reformer into a caricature.
Now that a penchant for prostitutes has pushed Mr. Spitzer out of his job, Andrew Cuomo finds himself in line behind Mr. Paterson — who holds the unofficial but historic title, “New York’s first black governor.” Andrew Cuomo nearly destroyed his political career in 2002 by challenging Carl McCall’s efforts to win that title. Mr. Cuomo would have to be bold indeed to try running a primary against New York’s first black governor trying to make history by becoming New York’s first elected black governor.
Source: NY Sun Read the full story here
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