I have major beef with Cuomo (and that free college program really is just exceptional in how poorly constructed it was) but I honestly doubt there’s anyone with a better shot at winning than him. I just hope his presidential ambitions are dead…
Third question, what are your thoughts on the New York State Constitutional Convention? I think there’s some potential to do some serious work there but I’m also worried as many are about the potential harm to unions.
To answer these questions in order:
- I don’t think Cuomo has a particularly good shot in a Democratic presidential primary. He’s not well-liked by party activists because of all the shenanigans he’s pulled as Gov, any regional advantages he might have would be significantly curtailed with Gillibrand in the race, and he’s got a lot of skeletons in the closet.
- I disagree quite strongly w/r/t to De Blasio. While I don’t think his policies go far enough in every area, the list of progressive legislation is long indeed.
- As for the Democratic Party, I think the NY Democratic Party has the same problem that occurs in states where the Democratic Party is in overwhelming majority – you have a progressive wing that really wants to push the agenda, and then you have a “moderate” wing that joined the party only b/c it was in the majority, and which doesn’t want the agenda to actually come into being.
- As for where NY corruption comes from, I would argue that it primarily comes from the immense wealth of New York’s real estate and financial sectors, and how their fortunes depend on favorable treatment in law (mostly taxation, but also regulation), so there’s huge gains to be made through donations, lobbying, etc.
- I haven’t made up my mind on that issue, tbh.
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