The AG Debate
Get the popcorn and TiVo ready.
The four Democratic attorney general candidates go head-to-head-to-head-to-head at their NY1 debate tonight.
As Jason Horowitz wrote this week, Mark Green has already been trying all week to get a jump on the debate with Andrew Cuomo. Sean Maloney came to Cuomo's defense, telling Green to "step off the ledge." Charlie King, who worked with Cuomo at HUD, hasn't been too vocal in correcting Green's charges.
In other words, this should be interesting. Predictions?
-- Azi Paybarah
Mr. Cuomo wins...
...the primary. No one will watch or care about the debate.
That reporters will be too lazy to actually do the research on who is right, Green or Cuomo, so they'll just say Green is being mean.
Mr. Cuomo loses...
...the general. And the Democrats watch in horror.
Jeanine Pirro laughs in delight as the 4 horseman give away Eliot's legacy...
f%^&k the popcorn we are gonna eat ice cream cakes!
Green and Cuomo were both nervous - unlike them. Maloney started charming, became smug, then purely a Cuomo hatchet man; and King was a joke.
Green and Cuomo were both nervous - unlike them. Maloney started charming, became smug, then purely a Cuomo hatchet man; and King was a joke.
Green did surprisingly well. He stumped cuomo with that pesticide question. The booing at the end by cuomos people was pretty unproffesional.
Cuomo had no substance whatsoever.
A lively and interesting debate. This one goes to Cuomo who appeared the most mature and statesman like of the four candidates.
I believe Sean Maloney won the debate last night because, unlike certain candidates, he didnt lose his temper or repeat shopworn talking points from the night before. Maloney was forceful but not negative and, based on my chats with a few people after the debate, they were impressed with the guy. He is the best candidate for the job.
Mr.cuomo, Speak up please, i don't think anyone heard you with that soft voice...and by the way, you should start by ANSWERING a question or two
I think I agree with Mark Green in this debate, Cuomo should have to answer for his record at HUD. I mean if candidates are not using their record as a basis for qualification, then what do we base our votes on?
He can't just pretend he's above everyone else and not respond, he has an obligation to the people to respond if he's asking for our votes.
Cuomo needs to answer Green on Cuomo's mismanagement of HUD about ripping off the poor and illegally using pesticides. Otherwise, I won't let him buy my vote with insubstantial TV ads.
I think I agree with Mark Green in this debate, Cuomo should have to answer for his record at HUD. I mean if candidates are not using their record as a basis for qualification, then what do we base our votes on?
He can't just pretend he's above everyone else and not respond, he has an obligation to the people to respond if he's asking for our votes.
Cuomo needs to answer Green on Cuomo's mismanagement of HUD about ripping off the poor and illegally using pesticides.
I won't let him buy my vote with insubstantial TV ads.
Mark Green is merely quoting the GAO, the Times and Spitzer.
As one who can stand neither Cuomo nor Green, I watched the debate to find a reason to vote for either King or Maloney. I was terribly disappointed.
While superficially impresive and clearly articulate, Maloney grew more glib and downright tiring as the evening went on. The "I'll just do my job" mantra radidly became very lame - especially in the face of credible instances of recusal that the other candidates provided. And the death penalty riff was just gratuitous - although it did serve the purpose of provoking Green's rediculous overreaction.
Maloney has potential and - not unlike Spitzer - may mature over time - but not this year.
King was even worse. Just check out that "hard hitting" question "demanding" that Cuomo join him in some BS conference. He realy seems to be running for a job with the new AG. King's answer to the lightning round questions were a real riot. Question: Would he have answered "YES" to the "Can public employees strike?" question if he knew the three other candidates would follow his absurd response with firm No's? Finally, how could anyone not named Cuomo possibly call Mario NYS's greatest governor? Greater than Al Smith, FDR, Lehman, Dewey, Rocky and Carey (at least in fis first term)? Yes, Mario was better than Pataki, Wilson and - possibly - Harriman, but the best ever??? Pleeease.
In light of this pretty ugly picture, I fear Pirro is beginning to look pretty, pretty good to the undecided voter.
PIRRO is by far the most attractive candidate of the bloddy lot.
PIRRO signed a fraudulent tax return.
How anyone could think the insufferable Maloney won the debate is beyond me. And as for Green's supposed overreaction to Maloney's ludicrous comments on the death penalty, I shared his dismay and disgust. Maloney's remarks were pure demogoguery, as Green said, and he was right to call that empty suit on it.
But for me the lowest point was all of these guys chiming up to support Hillary the Panderer for '08.
Maloney is a complete empty suit! No one buys his BS campaign.