POLITICALLY, NEW YORK IS BECOMING THE LOUISIANA OF THE NORTH – AT 9:06 A.M. ET:  We are a laughingstock.  Disgraced Governor Eliot Spitzer and his harem of hookers; Charlie Rangel and his strange tax returns; Governor David Paterson and his monumental incompetence.  Now comes Andy.  From the New York Post:

ALBANY -- Gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Cuomo put state workers on notice yesterday -- naming a union-battling upstate mayor to be his running mate.

The surprise selection of Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy -- a tax-cutting, tough-talking ex-police chief -- was meant to bolster Cuomo's tack to the political right and deliver on his pledge to pick a lieutenant governor who would be ready to take charge immediately if needed.

At a Manhattan news conference, the Democratic attorney general praised Duffy's efforts to consolidate agencies and bring mayoral control of schools to New York's third-largest city over the objection of teachers unions.

COMMENT:  Huh?  This is a Democratic candidate for governor?  Unions?  Hate 'em.  Taxes?  Hate 'em.  Cops.  Love 'em.

I mean, come on.  This guy Cuomo is the Democratic establishment.  His father, a three-term governor, is a liberal's liberal.  These guys have been in bed with unions and taxers so long that they set each other's alarm clocks. 

Now, suddenly, Andy emerges as the reincarnation of Barry Goldwater, with a little bit of George Patton.

Will anyone believe this?  And why is he trying so hard?  The Republicans, true to form in New York, haven't even got a viable candidate for governor. 

Look, it's obvious.  Andy isn't running for governor.  That's just a watering stop.  He's running for president.  His father, strangely, never ran, giving rise to rumors that he was hiding a family secret.  But Andy's the son.  No one would hold him responsible for anything awkward in the family's past, if anything actually exists. 

But this posturing is hilarious.  This is like the queen of England coming out against horse-drawn coaches. 

As Cindy Adams likes to put it, only in New York, kiddies.  Only in New York.

May 27, 2010