Time to get serious, Carl

Yesterday was certainly the best day of your short political life, with the Quinnipiac poll putting your longshot Republican candidacy for governor within a mere six points of Andrew Cuomo.

Even more important, the poll had Cuomo under 50 percent -- a frightening bit of data for him.

Cuomo spent a year patiently constructing the edifice of an all-but-certain governorship in a state with a huge Democratic advantage. But by doing so, he made himself appear to be the incumbent -- in what promises to be the worst year for incumbents in modern times.

So you have a chance. That's amazing news. It's also a burden on you. Because you clearly like to say whatever you want and do whatever you want.

You enjoy being a loose cannon. But here's the thing: Loose cannons don't win come-from- behind victories in general elec tions.

Outsiders with a penchant for the outrageous do occasionally come from nowhere to win primaries, like you did. But you'd be hard-pressed to think of a case in which they prevailed unless they got serious and sober very fast.

There was a telling example in Texas in 1990. Clayton Williams, like you a wealthy businessman who funded his own campaign, ran for gov as a straight-talking Good Ol' Boy -- which is the Texas equivalent of the no-bull ethnic guy from Buffalo.

Podhoretz is right. Paladino needs to tighten his message, focus and hit every target.

He’s made a name for himself and put himself on the map. He’s in striking distance and now is the time to reinforce his executive skills and show NYers he can govern.

Don’t let up on Cuomo, but use surrogates for the hardest stuff. Paladino needs to float just above the fray and right into the winners circle.

Have you looked at the platform he outlines on his website?
He sounds like a cross between Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie, and a pit bull.

Solid stuff!!

TAXES
New Yorkers are taxed more than any other state in America and Albany makes it worse every year. As Governor, Carl Paladino will cut taxes by ten percent in the first six months of his administration. And to keep taxes low long after he’s gone home, Carl will change the law and require a super majority vote of both Houses - 60% - for the State Legislature to raise our taxes.

SPENDING
Spending is far too high in Albany because the ruling class is out of control. A successful businessman, Carl Paladino will cut state spending by 20% in his first year as Governor. He will evaluate every department and agency of state government for efficiency, effectiveness and necessity - and cut programs not directly benefiting the taxpayer.

JOBS
New York lost 247,000 private sector jobs last year but Albany has done nothing about it – except hire more bureaucrats. Carl Paladino knows only cutting spending and taxes creates jobs. He’ll give New York manufacturers a tax holiday to reinvest profits and create good paying jobs. A Paladino administration would be pro-business - keeping companies in New York and attracting new ones.

MEDICAID
Today, non-New Yorkers ride the backs of our taxpayers; they move here and lay down on our welfare rolls immediately. No longer. As Governor Carl Paladino will require a minimum one-year residency in New York before someone is eligible for Medicaid and welfare benefits. And he’ll cut wasteful Medicaid options that make ours the most expensive in the nation – and save New Yorkers $10 billion annually.

REFORM
As Governor, Carl Paladino will turn Albany upside down and reform the Legislature. That means 8-year term limits for state and local elected officials. No more full-time pensions and lifetime health care for our part-time Legislators. No more automatic pay raises; legislators will vote to raise their pay and face the taxpayers. And Carl will require FULL disclosure from ALL Legislators of ALL incomes to end ALL conflicts of interest.

And see this:

http://paladinoforthepeople.com/issues.php

He’s right. Clayton Williams in Texas lost the election against Ann Richards by saying that something or another was like rape, if it was inevitable you might as well relax and enjoy it. He let his good old boy schtick make him forget that he was running for office and there are lines of propriety. Paladino needs to think long and hard about what he wants to say and how he wants to say it BEFORE he opens his mouth. A tough style is ok. Saying the first thing that comes to mind is ultimately NOT in politics. Sorry, sad but true.

Correct. Paladino’s gotten the attention necessary to get within striking range. Now he needs to pull back on the throttle and take narrow, perfect aim.

We can’t be Leftists - perpetually running campaigns.

Conservatives must prove we can govern.

If he does that Paladino will win.

I think his one flaw is the 4 year term. It’ll take two terms to really even things out in NY. I don’t know if he’s got a succession plan.

NY doesn’t need a lame duck and then business as usual.

Easy. Same way as Reagan did and Christie is doing now.

I wouldn't necessarily call fixing New York "easy". The Legislature, from what I've read, is far, far more corrupt than New Jersey. The state is also financially much worse off than New Jersey or the USA when Reagan took the helm in 1981. Everything I've read about New York indicates the state is essentially insolvent now. Businesses and well-to-do citizens are fleeing the state (and their confiscatory taxes) in droves, yet the unbridled spending goes on. A prime example was Gooberner Patterson of New York when he joked about Rush Limbaugh decided to pull up stakes and move to a more favorable state. The guy is clueless as to where his state revenue comes from. Rush was by no means the only wealthy person leaving, either. I would hope that someone would return some sanity to New York, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the Federal gubmint, IOW, Federal taxpayers, will bail them out rather than letting them deal with their own self-made problems and that is neither a cure, nor a solution.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.