Water is wet. The sky is blue. And Democrats aren’t friendly to taxpayers. These should be natural assumptions, of course, and in the age of Obama the later is more true than ever. But color powerful New York businessman Tom Golisano surprised that, even after he gave tons of cash to New York Democrats, he was treated like an annoyance when he asked them not to raise taxes in the Empire state.
Golisano says that he was ignored and shunted aside after his big money donations to New York’s Democratic power players in Albany and so he worked with Republicans to engineer the stunning upset that put the New York State Senate back in the hands of the GOP early this week.
I only have to ask: why did Golisano ever imagine that mere campaign donations would keep these Democrat leopards from changing their big taxing spots?
According to The New York Times, Golisano “spent heavily to help Mr. Smith and other Democrats win control of the Senate in the November” but was “angry to hear they were now planning to raise taxes on the wealthy.”
Golisano reports that when he, a big donor to Senate majority leader Malcolm A. Smith’s campaign, went to visit the leader in his offices, Smith “played with his BlackBerry and seemed to barely listen.” The shock of Smith’s arrogance and dismissive attitude was too much for Golisano. We all know what happened next. Golisano, the Senate Republicans and two defecting democrats made history in New York.
But here is the point that must be underlined: Despite promises of working with the business community, despite receiving donations in the hundreds of thousands from “the rich,” despite claims of wanting an Obamaian bi-partisan government, New York’s Democrats returned to type as soon as they felt it was too late to stop them from doing so. Out the window went all claims and promises and their true tax-the-rich policies came out to plunder the earners of the state. Out went any working with those that donated so lavishly and in went the typical, Democrat class warfare mode of operating.
The big question though causes one to wonder why Golisano and those like him all across the country ever think that Democrats will attend to their needs in the first place? As soon as they get fairly elected, Democrats revert to tax-and-spenders out solely to garner votes of those that are recipients of government largess. The Democrat Party is simply anti-business, anti-capitalist, pro-welfare and for greatly increased taxes. They have been since the 1940s when FDR realigned the party to socialist policies. Why does anyone think they’ll be any different when the last 70 years or so should have disabused all who are paying attention of the notion?
But maybe Golisano isn’t so foolish after all. Buried in the story is a line informing us that Golisano “recently moved his primary residence to Florida.” Why did he do that? Well, who can blame him for fleeing a city that has put so many unfair burdens on its higher earners and had until this week planned to indulge in even further plunder?
Not I, for sure.
(Photo credit: David Duprey/Associated Press)
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
"Mommy voted for the Democrats! Yes she did! Yes she did!"
6eorge Jetson (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 8:18AM EST (link)Sleeze or no sleeze?
llgm Wednesday, June 10th at 8:29AM EST (link)Golisano discovered that Republicans are more receptive to special interests than Democrats — the special interest being him. I don’t think this makes Republicans look good.
There is a difference between being friendly to taxpayers and doing special favors to big contributors.
I disagree
Warner Todd Huston (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 9:12AM EST (link)“Special interests” is EVERYONE. Do you think a government has no responsibility to be receptive to its citizens… even if they are **gasp** rich ones?
If gov’t should not be expected to ever listen to “special interests,” why, exactly, should gov’t listen to us here on RS when we argue to change the direction of gov’t?
Just curious WHEN it is you think gov’t should be receptive to people?
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Bigger influence peddling markets or smaller influence peddling?
6eorge Jetson (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 9:21AM EST (link)For starters, note that Golisano charity donations approach $100 million over his lifetime.
I don’t want the government wasting my or my children’s money. I guess that makes me a special interest, too.
You implicitly frame the issue as actions of a participant in the influence peddling market. In general, I agree with your acknowledgment that the siphoning of resources is endemic in government.
I see you’ve been registered for all of a day. Contributors to RedState, both front page insiders and mere posters like me, advocate for a conservative, small government agenda. Of the two practical options, the Republican party is by far the best vehicle to implement that vision. But as you imply, the temptation to self-deal is enormous where enormous sums of money lay waiting to be spent out of someone else’s pocket (taxpayers). Accordingly, we conservatives must engage in the eternal vigil to keep those that head off to state capitals and Washington DC from imbibing, and you will find that here at RedState.
Does Golisa’ switch reflect a switch of influence providers or giving up somewhat on the influence purchasing game as a whole? Very debatable.
Does your framing of government as a market of influence peddling argue for more or less government? The answer to that is clear.
Logically flawed like most things from the left
Joliphant (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 10:03AM EST (link)First you assume the conclusion.
What special favor was done for Golisano ? Is this a fever dream of yours or do you have some evidence it happened ?
Second you do it again
Just how did Golisano get the Republican Party, the party historically of low taxes, sound economics, and fiscal restraint to be more receptive to him ?
I know tossing out unsubstantiated charges is the meat and potatoes of the left but trying it here ? And so so badly ?
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
He's a ghost, now
civil truth (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 10:41AM EST (link)Couldn’t hide his PDS on another thread
The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. -C.S. Lewis
http://www.gmsplace.com/
obombanomics is a failure in New York State
bobojake (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 8:36AM EST (link)as well as the rest of the Nation.
Can you say schummer-obomanomics????
Tenuous and Ugly
naraht Wednesday, June 10th at 9:53AM EST (link)I have no doubt that who is in control of the New York Senate will end up in the State Supreme Court by the end of the month.
And the two democrats two did jump the fence aren’t anyone’s idea of poster children for anything good. Monserrate has been indicted on assualting his Girlfrend and Espada has serious corruption issues being investingate with the Soundview Health Clinic.
If Representatve Jefferson(D-Frozen Assets) had wanted to jump to the Republicans in the house and would have given the Republicans the Speaker’s chair, would that have been deal have been made?
Agreed
Warner Todd Huston (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 10:31AM EST (link)Agreed about the jumpers for sure.
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They Did NOT Switch Parties
IJB Wednesday, June 10th at 2:26PM EST (link)They only indicated that they were switching their votes in terms of who was organizing the Chamber.
And, so, if William Jefferson had offered the same deal to the House GOP they likely would have, and *should* have, taken him up on it.
There’s no ‘stink’ on the NY Senate GOP from this, and anyone who tries to sell that line is doing the work of the ObamaMedia.
Bottom line: It’s not the NY Senate GOP’s fault that the NY Dem Senate leadership are a bunch of corrupt, lying, back-stabbing cusses. All they did is take advantage of that fact…
No one
Warner Todd Huston (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 10:52PM EST (link)No one was saying they switched parties. “Jumping the fence” was just being used to describe their current leanings. Sorry to give that impression if that is what happened.
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Well...
The Grognard (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 10:07AM EST (link)NY governance has been in bad shape for a long time. Everything in NY at the state level is done in back room deals with no transparency to the public or input from the voters, and is basically controlled completely by whoever is in charge in the legislature (read: NY Senate).
Golisano has run for governor before as an independent, and he says he’s all about reform of the NY government, (which IS definitely needed btw).
Now combine that with the fact that the NY Senate (the legislative body I described above) has been in the hands of “Republican” politicians for decades, and we can have some understanding why Golisano hitched his star to the Dems this time around.
Was it a smart move? Ok, maybe not. But was the choice? Back NY’s almost-as-liberal Republicans so that THEY could stay in power longer and refuse to reform and uproot the corruption of Albany?
I understand saying that we shouldn’t trust the Dems, but in NY we need to understand that the Repubs aren’t that much better.
And this is the problem with the Republican calculus that “conservatives can’t win in these deep blue states.” When Republicans control the state for decades, and are just as liberal, sneaky, and corrupt as the Dems, there are few clear choices for the voters. Further, letting the state go for years and years under the “leadership” of liberal Republicans does nothing but move the state further and further left.
This is where “brand distinction” comes into play. In NY, we have one brand to vote for (for the most part), and that brand is liberal.
Thus, Golisano’s move isn’t really all that surprising. If the Dems made him promises to reform Albany that Repubs wouldn’t (given that the Rs in NY likely wanted to hold onto their power in Albany), then I think its more fair to say that Golisano rolled the dice. Maybe he didn’t think he was going to get everything he wanted, but I’d bet he didn’t think he’d come up with a result of “snake eyes” either.
The only way to break the corruption in Albany is to essentially destroy the liberal political machines that control this state. And for decades, those liberal political machines have been quite bipartisan.
Take back New York State
fisk2521 Wednesday, June 10th at 10:32AM EST (link)Why did Galisano move his residence to Florida? Read: From http://www.speakupwny.com/
This move would save him $13,800 a day – - a day for heaven’s sake.. Read his letter because he explains what is happening here in the state of New York…which, contrary to theh popular NYC beliefdoesn’t stop at Yonkers!!! There is an incredibly beautiful, very rural state beyond New York City, but the city and their corrupt politicians control Albany and in doing so have got us where we are.
It is said Galisan engineered the coup in Albany…. thank heavens someone is trying to do something about the legislature. He is a hero in my eyes and maybe New York States hope for the future. The press, of course, wants to demonize Galisano, the Democrats want to take legal action against the two Democrats in the State Senate changing sides!!!! Hypocrisy is an ugly thing.
Galisano’s website explaining his organization and their mission is worth a read, whether you live in New York State or not….. http://www.responsiblenewyork.com/
Look at California, then look at New York State and you’ll see the “Obama future”…… let’s make sure it doesn’t happen anymore.
LDavis
If he contributed to those snakes
itrytobenice (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 11:58AM EST (link)he deserves to get fleeced. Only a moron hasn’t figured out by now that the democrats are a bunch of culture of death socialists.
Proper grammar saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
Re: who can blame him for fleeing...
The_Gadfly (Diary) Wednesday, June 10th at 12:44PM EST (link)Me for one. I’m tired of these morons who ruin their own states through their stupid support of incompetent political policies pulling up stakes and moving to another location when the inevitable finally happens. Let him stay where he screwed things up and fix them! They’re doing it to my beloved home state of Pennsylvania, they’re doing it to Virginia, and now they’re trying to do it to Florida. Enough is enough!