Jerry Kassar’s foreign policy cred isn’t very widely recognized — but the analytic formula he applied to President Obama and events in Iraq does work on the local political whirlpools pulling down on his boss State Senator Martin Golden
“...What were their names ? Tell me, what were their names...”
The first part of Jerry Kassar’s column in the Home Reporter this week was devoted to pounding on the President for the catastrophic decline of everything related to U.S. interests in Iraq. Taken at face value, it is a fairly accurate though quite superficial critique of Obama’s policies and actions in Iraq over the last six years or so (See “Common Sense: Obama is ‘a sinking ship’” by Jerry Kassar, 6/24/14, Home Reporter/ Spectator [http://www.homereporternews.com/news/government/common-sense-obama-is-a-sinking-ship/article_f7dfa34c-fcc4-11e3-b1f4-0019bb2963f4.html]).
The second part of that column by Kassar, which mentioned Rick Perry and Rob Astorino’s appearance at some Conservative Party function, is a story for another day, especially this part: “Astorino takes the governor to task for the Start- Up zone program which he considers more of a highly advertised publicity vehicle than a true economic development program....” (Can you tell where that’s going to go ? Spoiler alert – it will be about Marty Golden ! But, as I said, that’s a story for another day.)
Clearly, as sinking ships go, Marty Golden plays more like the good old Reuben James when compared to Obama’s classically disastrous Titanic.
Like the U.S.S. Reuben James, Golden put himself into dangerous waters by getting into somebody else’s fight under less than ideal circumstances. At least the captain and crew of Reuben James were doing their duty and following orders patrolling in the North Atlantic prior to America’s formal entry into World War II; it is doubtful that Golden and his associates can make the same claim about their foolhardy entry into the re-election campaign of a beleaguered political ally, Brooklyn DA Charles “Joe” Hynes.
Those who read this blog, or the NY Post or Daily News, know that former DA Hynes’ legal position seems to be eroding as fast as the Iraqi lines north and west of Baghdad. So, if the eroding military position of Iraqi forces means that Barack Obama is a “Sinking Ship,” wouldn’t the eroding legal situation in and around Hynes’ 2013 campaign mean Marty Golden is a “Sinking Ship” as well ?
In fact, Golden’s current and potential position vis a vis the 2013 Hynes Campaign is far worse than that of President Obama vis a vis the government in Iraq — Golden has no predecessor to blame for his problems; and more important, many of the key operatives of Hynes’ 2013 campaign are Golden’s key players as well. As the Kingston Trio’s great rendition of Woody Guthrie’s song about the good old Reuben James asked, “...Oh, tell me what were their names ? Tell me what were their names...” ( See “"The Sinking of the Reuben James" by The Kingston Trio, You Tube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7jBbCQwJ0g] with a video scrolling of the names of the officers and sailors lost on the U.S.S. Reuben James [DD-245]). All of the links and connections between Golden and Hynes have not yet been disclosed, but there certainly will be more disclosures of shared people and shared resources — "Tell me, what were their names ? What were their names..."
So far, we do know the names and/or descriptions of several of Golden’s operatives that were active in the Hynes’ 2013 campaign, the most notable ones being Larry Morrish, Jack Malone, Dennis Quirk, some members of Golden’s staff and executive members of the Southwest Brooklyn Conservative Club and the Brooklyn Conservative Party. The “best and brightest” of those oh so shiny Conservatives is the very same Jerry Kassar, Chairman of the Brooklyn Conservative Party and State Senator Martin Golden’s chief of staff. Yes, that’s the same guy that wrote the column, “Common Sense: Obama is “a sinking ship.” Does anybody think he’ll be writing a column, “Common Sense: Golden is ‘a sinking ship’ ” any time soon ?
UPDATE: THE “MARTY GOLDEN SPEND, SPEND, SPEND OUR WAY TO ‘...REMAIN COMPETITIVE...’ ” EDITION
ReplyDeleteIN SPITE OF SOME READERS' [AND SOME OF MY RECENTLY MOST ACTIVE “BAKER STREET IRREGULAR” CONTRIBUTORS'] URGES TO MAKE THIS AN “ALL HYNES – ALL THE TIME BLOG,” I MUST RETURN TO MY SEMI-REGULAR JOB OF BASHING MARTY GOLDEN, EVEN WHEN IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HYNES OR A HYNES-INSPIRED STORY
ANOTHER GOLDEN PRESS RELEASE ABOUT TECHNICAL MATTERS — ANOTHER NONSENSICAL MESS — THAT TELLS US, THE TAXPAYERS, NOTHING ABOUT HOW THE MONEY WILL REALLY BE SPENT
What follows is Golden’s complete release ( >>> WARNING DO NOT DRIVE OR OPERATE HEAVY MACHINERY FOR A PERIOD LESS THAT EIGHT HOURS AFTER YOU’VE READ THIS <<< ):
“Brooklyn – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn), the Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Science, Technology, Incubation & Entrepreneurship, today has issued the following statement praising colleagues in the Senate for passage of S. 6555 and calling on the State Assembly to advance this legislation in the future. *** Senate Bill 6555-A, sponsored by Senator Marty Golden, would establish the New York State Biomedical and Biotechnological Translation Research and Entrepreneurship Initiative. The legislation approved by the State Senate would allow medical schools to apply for state funds to assist in the recruitment and retention of top research scientists, allowing our schools to remain competitive with similar institutions in other parts of the country. *** Senator Marty Golden stated, “New York State must be proactive in creating a lab to market program at public and private medical schools in New York State, while ensuring that our medical schools can maintain and recruit top tier researchers and scientists. To greatly increase the presence of biomedical and biotechnological jobs and companies, we must create an opportunity for our State to partner and support our private and public medical schools.” *** States such as California, Texas, Massachusetts and Connecticut are investing heavily in active recruitment of top researches and scientists. To create an entrepreneurial culture in New York State, medical schools should collaborate with existing State programs, such as Business Incubators, Hotspots, and Startup-NY tax free zones, to incentivize public-private partnerships, speed the commercialization of research, and increase the depth of the research community. *** The bill was sent to the Assembly. Assembly Bill 9000 is sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph Morelle (D-Irondequoit, Monroe County).” (See “SENATOR GOLDEN STRIVES TO MAKE NEW YORK STATE A LEADER IN MEDICAL RESEARCH” Posted by Martin J. Golden, 6/2714, Homepage of State Senator Martin J. Golden, Assistant Senate Minority Whip, (R,C) 22nd Senate District [http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/senator-golden-strives-make-new-york-state-leader-medical-research]).
In case you fell asleep in the middle of all that, which was the obvious intent of this release, the take away line is this one right here: “To create an entrepreneurial culture in New York State, medical schools should collaborate with existing State programs, such as Business Incubators, Hotspots, and Startup-NY tax free zones, to incentivize public-private partnerships, speed the commercialization of research, and increase the depth of the research community.”
Ladies and gentlemen, and children of all ages, that is Obama-style crony-capitalism – plain and simple. Yet more proof that Marty Golden is no kind of conservative.
Btw, in case you missed the passing mention of it in the post above, GOP-Conservative gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino thinks the Startup-NY tax free zones, which were mentioned and supported by Golden, are “more of a highly advertised publicity vehicle than a true economic development program....” (As stated above the source of that information is Jerry Kassar, State Senator Golden’s Chief of Staff).
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteTwo comments above made what appeared to be charges without any specific evidence or attribution about various individuals and/or a class of such individuals
ReplyDeleteWhen I received an email from a source indicating that at least one key official of the Brooklyn GOP County Organization would be embroiled in the investigation(s) of the misuse of the Brooklyn DA Asset Forfeiture Fund I made a few inquiries.
I have been assured by someone that was a close observer of the Brooklyn GOP County Organization in 2013 that no checks or other resources were turned over to the Brooklyn GOP County Organization by or on behalf of Hynes or the Hynes campaign. That same observer doubts that any of the Brooklyn GOP County Organization leaders received any of the Asset Forfeiture Fund checks.
Yeah right !!
ReplyDeleteLarry Morrish was the only one to get checks because, lets face it, how can anyone run without the sage advice of Mr Morrish.
To my knowledge, only three names have been named authoritatively as having received Asset Forfeiture Fund checks thus far; with a possibility, subject to further verification, that a fourth person/entity might have received such a check.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have been assured by my source that there is ample proof of at least one other prominent person, whose name is well known in and out of southwest Brooklyn, who was quite active in the Hynes primary and general election campaigns and who received Asset Forfeiture Fund checks improperly. But those checks might not necessarily have been in connection with any services or activities for the two Hynes' 2013 campaigns.
Hmm !!
ReplyDeleteThe comment from 10:59 has what I want to know. Checks were cut but not for campaign work?
ReplyDeleteNone of the people that you and the papers said got these hinky-kinky checks got them for their campaigning for Hynes. That's not how it worked. You don't hang a sign on it, but you try to cover it up at least a little bit with some other reason, like PR, community relations, legal consultation, things like that. If this forfeiture fund was run like a real slush fund, don't be surprised if there isn't some flowers or candy for Valentines Day, because every good scandal has to have a bit of hinky-kinky romance in it.
ReplyDeleteThe only proof the exists on this blog is proof that its run by democrats, democrats, democrats.
ReplyDeleteNot once have i seen anything but unsubstantiated attacks on hard working republicans.
Ditto to the comment above.
ReplyDeleteThe comments above will be deleted as soon as Gale gets back from the Vinny Gentile rally.
ReplyDelete[I'm not deleting anything, right now. The stuff above is just too precious to waste.]
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked. SHOCKED ! Hynes was a Republican ? I never knew that.
Oh, oh, oh, then why did Charles "Joe" Hynes need a Wilson-Pakula to run on the GOP line in 2013, 2009, 2005, and other earlier years ?
BTW, TO ANONYMOUSES (RHYMES WITH "IGNORAMUSES") 8:59 AM and 9:35 AM --- obviously you don't read all of the posts on this blog; and you really need to check it out more carefully. I am a solid Republican conservative and I only bash so-called Republican-Conservatives who betray that, Locally, there are quite a few around.
Also, are many of my "Baker Street Irregulars" -- reporters and informants -- DEMOCRATS ? ABSOLUTELY !
It's time for people like Marty Golden and Michael Grimm to "... put on their big boy pants" and realize that a lot of conservative Republicans want them to exit the stage ASAP by whatever manner or means. A lot of us just don't want them re-elected under any circumstances.
[This comment was editted to change "IGBORAMUSSES" to "IGNORAMUSES" - although I'm sure that "IGBORAMUSSES" works equally well.]
The comment, “Galewyn Massey said... UPDATE: THE “HYNES’ TWISTING AND TURNING IN THE WIND” EDITION” posted on June 25, 2014 at 10:42 AM following your Monday, June 23, 2014 post, “Not yet reported in the Larry Morrish-Hynes coverage — his “Brooklyn District Attorney Neighborhood Office” or "outreach center" had no recorded official address” gives the following information - “Today’s report by Josh Saul in the Post says, “Hynes’ office sent Boykin a check marked “ASSET FORFEITURE” for $24,493.06 on July 8, 2013 as restitution for crimes committed by Long Island housewife Maria Albertina — who pleaded guilty to grand larceny in 2006 — bilking Judge Phillips and others out of their homes. *** Boykin and his lawyer characterized the check as “hush money” meant to quiet them down during Hynes’ campaign against DA Ken Thompson and said they should have been paid as soon as Albertina pleaded guilty....”
ReplyDeleteIn the comment of June 27, 2014 at 10:59 PM above, “Galewyn Massey said... To my knowledge, only three names have been named have been named authoritatively as having received Asset Forfeiture Fund checks thus far; with a possibility, subject to further verification, that a fourth person/entity might have received such a check.”
To have a little clarity or to set the record straight, the newspaper reports so far show that the names of four people are generally known to have received checks from something called the assets forfeiture fund. They are Mortimer Matz, Larry Morrish, Lisa Smith and the Reverend Samuel Boykin, for the Estate of John Phillips.
The Brooklyn DA’s Office sent a 2013 check to Reverend Boykin, which supposedly reflected $24,493.06 in “restitution.” That check was never cashed, but copies of it and a cover letter from the DA’s Office have been sent to various investigators. A notation on that check clearly states “Asset Forfeiture” and nothing indicates any “restitution” account. Something not reported in your blog is that representatives from the DA’s Office say current searches show that no record of payments to the Reverend Samuel Boykin or the Estate of John Phillips exist in their records. Even if the asset forfeiture check wasn’t cashed, the outstanding check should have been reflected somewhere on the books of the asset forfeiture account for the period of 2013 when it was issued.
You just continue to make this stuff up.
ReplyDeleteWhat part is made up ?
ReplyDeleteHave the Post, News, Times and NY Observer reports about this stuff been made up too ?
Anything that's reported here by me or put on this blog by others stands or falls on its own merits. Anything that appears to me to be untrue or unverifiable speculation, or other kinds of gratuitous nonsense are removed, but usually I give the comment makers a pretty wide berth.
Anything that you want to deny or refute, please, do so. Just be specific enough that somebody can tell if it has the ring of authenticity to it; or to allow detailed rebuttal when and if called for.
If you see something here first, please remember that you saw it here first if it should later show up in the papers or on other blogs.
UPDATE & BACKFILL: THE “THESE REPORTS DON’T REALLY LOOK GOOD FOR HYNES RIGHT NOW” EDITION
ReplyDeleteBEFORE LEAVING THEIR JAY STREET OFFICES, HYNES’ STAFFERS SHREDDED LOTS OF DOCUMENTS — LEAVING INCOMING DA THOMPSON BAGS FULL OF SHREDDED PAPER AND FILES
Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson has confirmed to TV host Errol Lewis that his predecessor, Charles “Joe” Hynes – now facing investigations of possible criminal activites while serving as the Brooklyn DA – shredded numerous documents likely related to things done by Hynes and/or members of his staff before his final term ended at the end of last year. Some of those destroyed documents may have been pertinent case files ( See “Brooklyn DA Thompson Confirms Ex-Prosecutor Hynes Shredded Documents” by Boruch Shubert, 6/27-6/28/14
by Boruch Shubert, JP Updates [http://jpupdates.com/2014/06/28/bklyn-da-thompson-confirms-hynes-shredded-documents/]).
A very similar report by Ross Barkan appeared in the NY Observer on Friday ( See “Ken Thompson Confirms Charles Hynes Shredded DA Documents” by Ross Barkan, 6/27/14
[http://observer.com/2014/06/ken-thompson-confirms-that-charles-hynes-shredded-da-documents/]). According to Barkan, “When the new Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson arrived at his offices on New Year’s Day, he was confronted [with] bags of shredded documents, sources close to Mr. Thompson told the Observer earlier this month....”
Both the Observer article and the one on the JP Updates blog continued to amplify the story along the same theme. This quote gets to the guts of it: “A source close to Thompson, however, said that the new district attorney was deeply troubled when he saw all the shredded documents. “It was absolute chaos. There were literally bags of shredded documents everywhere. Contents unknown. Hynes and his henchmen just arbitrarily shredded documents,” the source stated....”
Is the "Lisa Smith" who got an asset forfeiture check the ex-wife or the sister of convicted felon/City Council candidate George Smith?
ReplyDeleteUPDATE & BACKFILL: THE “ECHO CHAMBER GETS BIGGER AND LOUDER” EDITION
ReplyDeleteHYNES’ LEGACY AS WELL AS HIS CURRENT LEGAL POSITION NOW IN DOUBT
AP WRITER DESCRIBES ARC FROM “HOWARD BEACH” TO HYNES’ CURRENT WOES
A nationally targeted AP story about former Brooklyn DA Charles “Joe” Hynes opened with these lines: “Charles "Joe" Hynes broke onto the national scene in the 1980s as the special prosecutor appointed by then-Gov. Mario Cuomo to investigate a notorious racial attack in Howard Beach, Queens. *** In the decades that followed, Hynes established himself as a respected fixture as Brooklyn's district attorney. But a recent wave of bad publicity — an election defeat after six terms, the recent voiding of wrongful convictions won on his watch and a corruption investigation into his use of criminal forfeiture funds — is threatening Hynes' legacy....” (See “In bleak moment for NYC, Charles 'Joe' Hynes emerged as hero, but now faces threats to legacy” by Tom Hays, 6/29/14, AP/ Star Tribune [http://www.startribune.com/nation/265110121.html#o1hQ8K1O1jbeKYYT.97}).
After describing the former DA’s rise to fame largely based on “The Howard Beach Case,” the AP writer shifts gears. Tom Hays points out that dozens of cases are under review amid allegations that while Hynes was in office, prosecutors used tainted evidence to win several murder convictions. Hynes’ opponent and now the current Brooklyn DA made good use of this simple question against Hynes in 2013, "How did this happen on his watch?"
Whether this might lead to a revisiting of various aspects of the Howard Beach prosecution in the 1980's, while Hynes was special prosecutor on the case, many aspects of which were then and are still now controversial, remains to be seen.
UPDATE: THE “TOO BAD THEY CAN’T SHRED THE EMAILS ?” EDITION
ReplyDeleteTOP HYNES ASSISTANT SENT OUT A EMAIL THAT INCLUDED THIS: “... FILES MUST BE SENT TO THE APPROPRIATE FILE ROOM FOR ... SECURE DESTRUCTION...”
On November 13, 2013 “a deputy to then-Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes issued detailed instructions for shredding documents before the new man took over, according to a memo obtained by The Post....” (See “Hynes’ deputy sent email on shredding documents” by Josh Saul, 6/30/14, NY Post [http://nypost.com/2014/06/30/hynes-deputy-sent-email-on-shredding-documents/]).
The Post article went on to say, “Six weeks before staffers for victorious Ken Thompson moved in — and just months before scandal threatened Hynes’ 24-year legacy — the outgoing DA’s chief assistant, Amy Feinstein, sent an e-mail to staffers ordering them to destroy personal and case-related documents....” Then it gave these quotes from the Feinstein’s email: “All case and investigative files MUST be sent to the appropriate file room for proper archiving and/or secure destruction.... Exhibits, evidence and grand jury minutes (whether attached to a case file or not) cannot be just thrown out. No exceptions.”
Here is a very interesting question raised by all of this: Why might anybody think they could or should JUST THROW OUT things like “[e]xhibits, evidence and grand jury minutes” requiring a memo from a top ADA to send that material with no exceptions to an appropriate file room for various types of handling including “secure destruction.”