Catsimatidis has placed himself squarely into the middle of the Queens GOP scrum with a personal defense of embattled Queens County Chairman Phil Ragusa. — Will John C do the same for Chairman Craig Eaton in Brooklyn, who was late-on-board the Catsimatidis bandwagon?
It’s been reported that John Catsimatidis has become personally involved in the Republican leadership squabble in Queens (See “NYC Mayoral Hopeful John Catsimatidis Fires A Shot In Queens Republican Party's Civil War” by Celeste Katz, 4/13/13, NY Daily News/Daily Politics [http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2013/04/nyc-mayoral-hopeful-john-catsimatidis-fires-a-shot-in-queens-republican-party-]). The intramural sparring in Queens has its parallel in Brooklyn, where state Sen. Martin Golden and supporters of party chairman Craig Eaton have also openly traded jabs recently. It all comes against the backdrop of recent federal corruption allegations involving GOP county leaders and an abortive attempt to get a Wilson-Pakula authorization for Democratic State Senator Malcolm Smith.
Catsimatidis, who has the backing of Queens Republican Chairman Phil Ragusa, attacked Republican City Councilman Eric Ulrich for his call to oust Ragusa from his chairmanship. John Catsimatidis criticized Ulrich for waging what he called a "character assassination" whisper campaign that's part of a "cynical, self-serving attempt to take control of the Queens County Republican Party."
Since a parallel civil war has arisen among Brooklyn Republicans, one has to wonder whether the mayoral candidate supported by the Brooklyn County Organization will similarly become embroiled in that flap as well. Many are arguing that State Senator Martin Golden is just as much or even more out of line trying to oust another Catsimatidis supporter, albeit a late one, Craig Eaton.
For some time now, Catsimatidis has given generously to various branches of the local, state and federal GOP; Eaton's Brooklyn GOP is no exception. For example, John C has been credited with largely underwriting the most recent of the Brooklyn GOP’s Holiday Parties; and it has to be assumed that since he will be a major honoree at the Brooklyn Republican Party’s upcoming Lincoln Dinner, John Catsimatidis will put up a chunk of cash toward that bash, as well. That’s why some think the supermarket and fuel oil mogul might be inclined to put his mouth where his money is in the County of Kings, as much as he has in the County of Queens.
It should also be noted that the logic of Catsimatidis’ public agreement with New York State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox’ opinion that management by revolution is not the way of the Republican Party, would apply equally to the fights in Brooklyn and in Queens. However, having already personally involved himself in the internecine strife ravaging the Queens Republicans, it might well be a very significant blunder for the wealthiest, but least subtle and most heavy-handed, Republican candidate for mayor to do exactly the same thing in a separate intra-party fight in the adjoining Borough of Brooklyn.
15 comments:
Great writing.
"...GOP insurrections were inevitable. The Brooklyn and Queens Republican organizations are virtual shell organizations, unable to muster many votes for their typically token candidates...."
The Barkan Report, April 12, 2013
UPDATE: Two former Queens Republican State Senators – Maltese and Padavan – send out letter to urge Queens District Leaders to stick with Phil Ragusa (See “Former NY Senators Come To Defense Of Embattled Queens GOP Chairman In Party War” by Celeste Katz, 4/14/13, NY Daily News/Daily Politics [http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2013/04/former-ny-senators-come-to-defense-of-embattled-queens-gop-chairman-in-party-w]).
The letter starts “Dear Queens District Leaders”; and in significant part it states:
“We realize that there are some who have been trying to replace Chairman Ragusa almost from the minute he was elected Chairman. We are appalled at their crass attempt to twist these unfortunate events into a tool to use to undermine Chairman Ragusa’s authority and to serve their own purposes and longstanding agenda. *** If these people had more experience, maturity and a basic sense of decency they might instead use this as an opportunity to bring people together and to rally the Queens Republican Party behind their leader and their fellow Republican candidates instead of heading down a path that can only result in damaging the Republican party and further eroding the public’s trust in their Republican elected officials, party leaders and candidates. *** We continue to give our full and unqualified support to Phil Ragusa as Chairman of the Queens Republican Party and stand ready to defend him against these transparent attacks from longstanding and predictable foes.”
Serphin Maltese is a notable supporter of John Catsimatidis and is part of the Catsimatidis Campaign. Frank Padavan has not announced any endorsement in the contest for the GOP mayoral line.
Does this mean Malcolm Smith is not running?
There is little doubt Malcolm Smith is running. What is less clear is whether he's still running FOR anything -- more likely, he's running from something ?
Thinking of my son when he was 6 or 7 and remembering his words of wisdom at a tender age.
Daddy why do people fight all the time?
I looked at him and told him it's not nice to be mean and to have anger in your heart, he looked at me and said Why can't we all be friends. I patted him on his head and told him that would be nice.
Maybe we should listen to the little child in all of us!
How foolish are all of the Republicans elected to public office and any of those Republican candidates trying to get elected to public office in 2013 that have involved themselves in either or both of these fights over the county leaders in Brooklyn and Queens !!! ???
These fights won't help any Republican candidate, incumbent or newcomer, in their next elections, 2013 or 2014. As a result of what's happened in the last week or two, the GOP will be smaller, weaker and more dysfunctional in Brooklyn and Queens than they were before this all blew up.
Since I think what I said above is quite obvious to even the most casual observer, I'll get to my real point this morning -- a doubly compound question in multiple parts. Why did State Senator Martin Golden and City Councilman Eric Ulrich OPENLY launch their attacks on their respective county leaders, Craig Eaton and Phil Ragusa ? Why did they do it NOW, in April 2013 ? Were these attacks on the GOP leaderships in Brooklyn and Queens coordinated ? On the off-chance that they were coordinated, who could have done that kind of coordinating -- extending across two counties; involving two separate party organizations; and motivating and igniting at least two different GOP office holders and their staffs and other insiders ?
These electeds all lost because of funds the Democrats funnelled to Haggerty via Cathy Nolan and Josh Ehrlich.
Which races are you talking about ?
Which of the Haggerties are you talking about ?
UPDATE: Well, sort of — maybe not.... YOU TELL ME !
Is this news or is it not ?
This is what the headline says: “RUDY'S RETURN – Giuliani Cousin Considering Campaign for Dan Halloran’s Seat”; but then, this is what Rudy S. Giuliani is quoted as saying in the text: “For his part, Mr. Giuliani denied interest in the race when Politicker reached out yesterday evening. *** ‘Listen, as far as I’m concerned, there’s still a sitting councilman. Anything else is premature right now,’ he said. ‘There’s still a councilman’.” And the last line of post is this: “Mr. Halloran has denied all wrongdoing.” ( “RUDY'S RETURN – Giuliani Cousin Considering Campaign for Dan Halloran’s Seat” by Ross Barkan, 4/17/13, NY Observer/Politicker [http://politicker.com/2013/04/rudy-giuliani-may-run-for-dan-hallorans-seat/]).
What’s that all about ? I sure as heck don’t know.
Meanwhile, even though the elected Republican public office holders in Brooklyn and Queens have called on their respective GOP County Leaders, Craig Eaton and Phil Ragusa to resign, they still haven’t asked the elected office holders, State Senator Malcolm Smith and Councilman Dan Halloran, each of whom was actually charged with criminal activity, to do the same.
A wag that has as many opinions as I do says that, if Rudy S. ... were really interested in running in a special election for Halloran’s council seat, there would be a push for Halloran to resign. I don't know anything about that.
Now, let’s see if something like that happens any time soon.
Watson. Think in the original count this statement makes it clear (and others known and not known) 1 & 2 are known but they did not accept money or did they and the government is playing mind games with the not known and as the days go on the not known will become the known and then the Domino's will begin to fall one by one.
Fact Watson sometimes your worst enemies become your best friend and sometimes your best friend will become your worst enemy.
Maybe a good chairmen knew this and just maybe the Government knew this chairman has done more good then evil.
Take notes Watson for I take mental notes and "The rooms in the mansion are many but they lead to the same place and think again the coloring book is filling in quite well.
The answers are right in front of us Watson and you have to love our Government.
They do weight all the issues and wait for the crooked politicians to hang themselves with their own words and comments.
They that escape today will be judged in the tomorrows to come by a much higher Authority and I do mean all.
Sherlock Holmes is a completely inapt persona for you to assume while you press down too hard on your crayons.
I think I'm a little closer with this:
Rasputin had his Czarina Alexandra and other Ladies of the Kremlin, George du Maurier’s Svengali had his Trilby O’Farrell and Erik of Gastone Leroux’s “Le Fantome de l’Opera” had his Christine Daae... Aren’t these real and fanciful characters avatars of how you see yourself ? Tell the truth and shame the Devil.... Or maybe that’s something you can never do....
Who and what is the object of your obsession with the dramatis personae in the Brooklyn GOP ? Is your fascination with one or more of the actual warm bodies of the actors, or is with the characters that they play on the stage of Brooklyn Republican politics ? (And what a great stage that is !) Or maybe, with you it goes deeper than body or even character.... There is something very unresolved within and about you....
Wait a minute, perhaps I missed the closest avatar upon which you might be fashioning yourself. Just who was it that “Billy Blatty” put in control of the young Regan MacNeil ? While you’re thinking about that, come on, just tell us your name or even how you are known by your closest associates....
I have no need for crayons.
I am not an avatar in and out of a closet.
To be truthful the Sherlock was not to imply anything and it is just a name used and one day in the future tomorrows when you get older you will understand none of this really matters.
You will remember what I said and to be very honest you are a good writer and I like your style of writing and I am very truthful with this writing and please lets just leave it at this.
I quote a wise old man Illusions deceive. Colors circumscribe. Even divisibles are indivisible.
"Closest" not "closet" -- as in nearest or most like...
Well you see I am a moron when it comes to certain things especially words and names and my mind lives inside of so many names for I remember the pass, live in the present and I can sometimes predict the future.
Your mind creates what and who you will become and know one does it to you except yourself and sometimes your mind is your worst enemy and I guess in my own way I wish I could be like you with your flare for words and I do appreciate your comments.
Thanks
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