via the New York Times

Declaring that his administration would adhere to high ethical standards, Gov. Eliot Spitzer moved in early 2007 to ban his appointees from campaigning for political office, including fund-raising and spending to promote a candidacy.

But one of the top aides inside the governor’s office, Sean Patrick Maloney, has spent more than $30,000 over the last year from his old campaign account to maintain his political contacts. Since joining the administration in January 2007, Mr. Maloney has paid a consultant, held a party for dozens of supporters and a reunion of his campaign staff, maintained a political Web site, paid a software company to maintain his donor list and sent out thousands of holiday cards.

I came across this blog which was revealing. Food for thought! 

http://joeaddabboagenda.blogspot.com/

The Baldeo for Senate Committee is pleased to announce that at a meeting of members and supporters held on Friday, November 2, 2007, the decision was made to file a third party nominating petition in addition to the Democratic Party designating petition on behalf of Albert Baldeo for the 15^th State Senate district in 2008. Additionally, the Baldeo campaign has been encouraged by, and will continue to seek the nomination of the Working Families Party, the Independence Party and other third party lines for the General Election. 

From NY Times:

"Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s budget director mounted a blistering attack on Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposed state budget yesterday, asserting that it would create an $862 million shortfall in the New York City budget for the fiscal year that starts on July 1."

So is Mark Page (budget director for the city) right? Has the governor gone to far in cuts to the city for the benefit of upstate. While I am not the biggest fan of the mayor, I do respect Mr. Page and believe he is telling the truth in this situation and being very cautious about the spitzer plan.

Hey. How's it going? Everyone settling in nicely now that Pataki's gone? Congrats, too, on adding another Democratic State Senator. Slowly but surely, eh?

Anyhow, I want to talk with you a little bit about this whole Hevesi replacement situation.

See, I like Governor Spitzer. I voted for him. I am hopeful about his agenda to reform the way you guys all do business on the Hudson. I didn't vote for Shelly Silver. I didn't vote for Joe Bruno. Neither of those guys represent me, neither of those guys represent anyone in WNY, and none of them are particularly interested in what goes on out here in the stix, right? I mean, Silver is from the lower east side of Manhattan, and Bruno has a nice horse farm near Saratoga. I don't mind Silver running the Assembly or Bruno running the Senate. After all, they're elected to do so by their membership. What I do mind is that they see themselves as co-Governors of the state along with Spitzer.

On LunchBox today, host Adam Green on: Chuck Hagel, Tom Tancredo, John McCain, Sam Brownback, Ralph Nader, John Roberts, Hedge Funds, the Gladiator, Y2K, Henry Waxman, Global Warming, Fallujah, George Mitchell, Eliot Spitzer, Shelly Silver and more...

more about lunchbox here

And speaking of chutzpah, the personal-injury law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg -- also known as Shelly Silver's employer -- isn't exactly keeping its head down in the circles of government, or at least on their desktops.

Try Googling "Eliot Spitzer." The advertisement on the right addresses "NY Mesothelioma Sufferers."

The message: "Get proper legal aid for those who deserve it. Free case evaluation!"

News coverage of the recent Siena College poll was dominated by how much Eliot Spitzer and Hillary Clinton were beating their ill-fated Republican opponents; there was other interesting information.  Between Siena’s March poll and their May poll, George Pataki argued with legislative leaders about the state budget and began a tour of presidential primary states.  During this period, among likely voters in the state his favorable rating moved negative 30-points. 

Pataki’s favorable rating had been 53% favorable to 40%, a 13-point net positive after his hospital stay, which was up from January when he had only a 4-point positive.   By May, he dropped precipitously to a negative 38% favorable to 55% unfavorable, a net 17-point negative.  The governor even has a low rating among Republicans, who give him a paltry 49% to 45% favorability rating.  This, together with Bush’s declining poll numbers, adds to the problems facing Republican statewide candidates and should bring shock waves through the state’s Republican Congressional delegation.   

News coverage of the recent Siena College poll was dominated by how much Eliot Spitzer and Hillary Clinton were beating their ill-fated Republican opponents; there was other interesting information.  Between Siena’s March poll and their May poll, George Pataki argued with legislative leaders about the state budget and began a tour of presidential primary states.  During this period, among likely voters in the state his favorable rating moved negative 30-points. 

Pataki’s favorable rating had been 53% favorable to 40%, a 13-point net positive after his hospital stay, which was up from January when he had only a 4-point positive.   By May, he dropped precipitously to a negative 38% favorable to 55% unfavorable, a net 17-point negative.  The governor even has a low rating among Republicans, who give him a paltry 49% to 45% favorability rating.  This, together with Bush’s declining poll numbers, adds to the problems facing Republican statewide candidates and should bring shock waves through the state’s Republican Congressional delegation.