LET THE HYPOCRISY BEGIN – AT 8:33 P.M. ET:  What do you say about a guy who announces for governor, then tells a tale of woe about how his state has been run, lo, these many years, when his own father was governor during many of those years, and his own party has been in power the last four?

Does the word "hypocrite" come to mind?  From AP:

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo declared his candidacy for governor Saturday, delivering a full-throated call for political reform and pledging to make the notoriously dysfunctional state government more accountable to its citizens.

The announcement by Cuomo to seek the governorship once held by his iconic father, Mario Cuomo, had been widely expected. The Democrat disclosed his candidacy in a video released on his website before appearing before supporters later in the day.

Iconic?  What's iconic about Mario Cuomo?  No one here can recall what he did.  Oh, he was a liberal Democrat.  I guess that's what makes him iconic.

Cuomo made the announcement on the steps of the Tweed Courthouse in lower Manhattan, named for the leader of the city's corrupt 19th century Tammany Hall political machine. Cuomo said he did so because "Albany's antics today could make Boss Tweed blush."

And it wasn't thus while daddy was in the governor's chair?  Did these problems just begin?

"Enough is enough," Cuomo declared. "It's time for the people of the Empire State to strike back."

I guess that's a play on the movie, "The Empire Strikes Back."  How cutey.

Cuomo promised to cap the state's property taxes, which are among the highest in the nation, and to consolidate local governments and create a more favorable environment for job growth.

When did Dems like Cuomo ever have a problem with high taxes?

With his father standing nearby, the younger Cuomo cast himself as a populist crusader who would lead a "citizen's coalition" to restore integrity to state government.

"New York wasn't always like this. This isn't New York at its best," he said. "I represent the people of the state of New York and we want our government back."

When did you notice it was stolen, Andy?

Cuomo's effort to run as an outsider to reform state government will have to overcome some skepticism, given his deep ties to Albany and his membership in one of New York's most storied political families.

COMMENT:  That is one of the great understatements that I've read recently.

May 22, 2010