Pirro Bows Out
ByIt’s hard to say what the keyed Jeanine Pirro’s decision to drop her challenge to the Junior Dragon Lady from New York in 2006. It could have been Pirro’s husband, forthright though he may be, but embarrassingly public about it. It could have been State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, whose desire to maintain Republicans’ tenuous control in Albany has forced him to consider supporting Tom Golisano. And it may have been State GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik and the clatch of State GOP county leaders who not so subtly suggested she should run instead for state Attorney General.
In the end it was probably a combination of all of the above and more. But now it is certain that Jeanine Pirro will quit her campaign against Hillary Clinton and instead run for AG, a job she richly deserves and has a resume for that is unlikely to be matched by any Democrat in New York.
This gives Ed Cox the chance he’s been looking for – to get back in the Senate race. It gives the State GOP a chance to better channel its energies on 2006. And it gives Republicans two great candidates for two great races. Now we can start 2006 off in the right way – focused and ready to go to work.
It's the end of the post, now what?
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3 Comments
December 22nd, 2005 at 6:31 am
Sunday, December 18, 2005
His Name Is John Spencer – (From Newscopy.org)
Something we read this morning in The New York Post offended our sensibilities.
Actually, it’s something the newspaper didn’t say.
Amid a scathing editorial entitled WITHER THE N.Y. GOP, the author referred to former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer as “what’s-his-name from Yonkers.”
We have been told the editorial was written by Adam Brodsky. They normally would be written by Bob McManus, particularly state-related stories, and I can imagine that the entire New York Post editorial board would have been aware of Sunday’s editorial.
It rightfully drubbed the State GOP but it has drawn much criticism from people for the sarcasm against John Spencer, who is a Republican U.S. Senate candidate running a strong campaign against Hillary Clinton.
Shame on the Post.
His name is John Spencer, Mr. Brodsky.
Spencer was a two-term mayor of a city full of corruption when he started, a city that was nearly deemed unwinnable for Republicans (particularly conservative Republicans) and unmanageable — yet Spencer marched in to change that Westchester city for the better. It’s certainly a better place than when he started.
A few of our readers reminded us that it was buried under a Financial Control Board in 1995 when Spencer took over. It’s at least at a point where the city council is debating how to handle businesses wanting to site themselves in the lower Hudson Valley — rather than not having any business interested at all.
That was very much due to Spencer and deputy mayor Phil Amicone, who was elected mayor of Yonkers in 2003.
Spencer was fearless in a fight against federally-ordered housing, a fight that had not been properly resolved for twenty years before the Vietnam veteran struggled with what many considered to be “judicial tyranny.” He won a not-so-minor battle in getting the courts to acknowledge that the middle and low-income housing should be distributed on the basis of income and not race.
We believe the Post has printed a few editorials about that subject.
The Republican — and he is a Republican — brought a city past that pathetic chapter with his no-nonsense style, not too different from another tough mayor named Giuliani.
Those who know him, for better or worse, know John Spencer is more from the streets than from any executive boardroom — yet those reporters and editorial boards who have heard him out admire his pithy style. He’s less caught up in popularity and more focused on leading… and getting the job done.
New York State needs more John Spencers.
Yonkers is a city where beating up one’s political brothers is a daily sport — but we didn’t know the Post’s editorial board would stoop to that level. You have insulted an entire city, a bustling middle-class enclave of hard-working people with hard-fought hopes. Yonkers is more of a metaphor for the entire state and it deserves more respect than to disparage its last mayor — even if he’s disparaged by some of its own residents.
Spencer’s enemies over the years have been the rogue’s gallery of everything wrong with both major political parties, so he must have been doing something right.
It’s a city at least more aware of its failings than when Spencer started, despite divisions with the present Yonkers Mayor, Phil Amicone, that mark him. It’s a city focused on economic development, more akin to what Poughkeepsie, Albany, Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, Buffalo and many other upstate cities are struggling with.
Try covering those cities, Mr. Brodsky, or has the Post grown so provincial that you opt not to care about the rest of New York?
You have an Albany editor who can brief you, we’re sure, on the economic collapse in Buffalo or the massive layoffs in Rochester — and the local economies fighting to retain or find all kinds of employers. All of New York State is in the economic battle but your coverage is sadly myopic.
You’re going after Joe Bruno yet you miss how much John Spencer has been calling for reforms statewide for ten years.
It was Spencer who called for a state and federal investigation of his city. A lot of people within Yonkers like to point fingers at the former mayor — yet everyone forgets who encouraged greater oversight in Yonkers City Hall. A lot of people grumble about its board of education yet it was Spencer who engaged the State Senate in a public debate about school funding. It was Spencer who has never hesitated to speak up about the failings of the Pataki regime — and he’s been disparaged for it.
We find him damn eloquent on occasion and precisely the political contrast needed to test Ms. Clinton’s mettle.
Spencer has raised more money, made more connections throughout Washington, D.C. and collected more endorsements than any Republican statewide candidate. The best you can offer is a reference to him as what’s-his-name?
The more important point to be made is that no candidate should suffer the indignity of being called “what’s-his-name” and especially within an editorial noting a political party’s failings.
Oh… the fourth estate is quick to pick at the GOP’s bones but what purpose does it serve to discount those candidates who can breathe some life into New York? We suspect part of the problem is that tabloids like The New York Post don’t cover New York State well enough to realize the achievements or challenges of public servants in Yonkers, Buffalo, Rochester or any number of municipalities outside the five boroughs.
We also suspect that the Post would never deliver such a snub to Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, since those responsible for marketing at News Corp. have reminded their editors that Democrats in New York City buy newspapers.
Republicans buy newspapers too, Mr. Murdoch, as do many residents of Yonkers.
As much as the Post and other news entities claim to be fighting the “politically correct” with a supposed rightful bent, where is the coverage of candidates like Pat Manning, John Faso, Randy Daniels or John Spencer?
In an editorial where they can fixate themselves on Joe Bruno’s problems, how about covering the other guys?
December 22nd, 2005 at 6:33 am
(State Executive Committeeman) Jim Kelly – Leader of “Conservatives for Spencer” (My personal opinion, not speaking for the campaign, but as a Conservative activist) NYPDIrish@aol.com
My thoughts of the campaign thus far…..
Traveling with Mayor John Spencer for the last six months, I have witness a lot of excitement within the political Conservative & Republican grass roots organizations. Everywhere John Spencer & I have been within the Empire State, we have seen excitement of having a real Conservative Republican run against Hillary.
Many have explained on our travels that Republicans, Conservative and “Reagan Democrats” having been looking for a John Spencer type to run for elective office. People across the Empire State have not had anyone to vote for who stands on principles for the last ten years. Voters simply stayed home in past elections.
The one fact that stands in political experts minds is that President George W. Bush, without spending a dime or a day in New York State garnered 600,000 more votes then Gov. Pataki ever did as Governor on election day.
Meaning that “Reagan Democrats,” Republicans & Conservatives will come out to vote if a true principled candidate ran for elected Office in New York State. People need a real reason to leave their warm house on a cold night, pull a lever and vote. The base of voters is huge for John Spencer in New York. I don’t think the liberal media wants the citizens of New York State to know about these potential election numbers.
With Pirro out of this US Senate race, I concur with my Conservative Party State Chairman, Mike Long, when he said….” If he (John Spencer) gets the Republican
nomination, he will energize both bases. He will be a clear distinction
and the opposite of Hillary Clinton.”
Hay I’m excited to help John Spencer anyway I can. I really, really look forward to travailing around this State with John Spencer. I mean, If John Spencer can turn around this State like he did for his City of Yonkers it would be great deal for New Yorkers.
Everywhere I go in New York State, people are saying to us… “Hillary has done nothing for New York State.” I especially hear this rally cry in Western New York.
Nothing, I mean nothing, has been done for our citizens in Buffalo and the rest of Western New York by Hillary. No jobs are being lured into the promised areas. Niagara is full of vacant lots while across the falls (In Canada) is prospering with businesses. Main street in Binghamton has stores with “Out of Business” on their doors. One thing that a Senator does for their State is lure corporations to the home towns. It simply has not been done. United States Senator should lure business & corporations into their States, Hillary gets no credit for this at all by New Yorkers.
Further more, we need a Senator who would be in the Majority in the United States Senate. Hillary & Chuck Schumer sit in the minority. Together they could not deliver services to New York State as Al D’Amato by himself who was sitting in the majority.
If anyone is interested in learning more about Spencer I recommend them to visiting Joinspencer.com or getting a hold of me, I would be more then happy to assist.
In the Governors race, It’s really getting interesting. I can say that Pat Manning has been on the road meeting the leaders across this State. I know this because I have seen him on many of nights at the different events.
Conservatives seem interested and excited in Pat Manning. Without a doubt, Pat Manning has the fire in his belly and is right on the issues. That might explain why he has racked up the endorsements of the 10th Conservative Party County.
December 22nd, 2005 at 3:07 pm
On literally the same day Pirro dropped out of the race for Senate, I received a Pirro for Senate 2006 letter requesting a donation.
What are the chances, knowing those letters were hitting yesterday, she came public with her decision to quit the race before people had a chance to send in checks?