Are there no good candidates in New York without a legacy name?

[question everything]

After the good work that Andrew Cuomo has done with UnitedHealth

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3689465

as an American consumer, not a New Yorker - which I am not - I would love him to stay where he is, to expose more corruption.

UnitedHealth is the poster boy of what is wrong with our health care system. The former CEO, a trained physician, used to take home about $100 million of compensation. And he was so handsomely compensated because he made a nice return for shareholders, a return that came by squeezing consumers and health care providers alike. He had to resign because of back dating stock options.

But the whole system, where paper shufflers make big bucks, while doctors and hospitals have to deal with continuing reduced reimbursements is sick, sick, sick.

[aquart]

1. Yeah. I'd like Cuomo to stay put for maybe five or six years.

Then he can run for governor and then, if that works out, president. Which I think is what he's thinking, too.

Just a few more cases like this one. And that takes time.

Disclaimer: I once worked for his dad.

[Historic NY]

2. Rep. Hinchey is a 9 term Congressman who has a big district....

extremely progressive

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Hinchey

[clear eye]

3. Of Course There Are. It's the Media Who Love Legacy Names.

We have many excellent Democrat Representatives in the House from NY. I'm tending toward Carolyn Maloney myself, but there are others as well. A couple of people with the best progressive records unfortunately are of an age that will likely prevent them from giving us many years in exchange for the bonanza of two free years to establish incumbency before facing the electorate, e.g. Louise Slaughter, Liz Holtzman (former Rep.) and Maurice Hinchey. Nydia Velasquez has taken herself out of the running. And Schumer is calling in his chips to block Rep. Nadler--another downstate, Jewish male liberal who would have to appeal for funding from the same groups Schumer uses.

The last enigmatic statement from Gov. Paterson mentioned that he understood that many felt the need to add more women to the U.S. Senate. It looks as though he's leaning toward appointing a woman. And it's true that CK (she did not take her husband's name when she married, so all those sticklers who try to correct people calling her Kennedy are off-base) would save the state party enormous sums, but her public appearances have been disasters. She's shockingly inarticulate, and no policy wonk. Personally, I also fear her idol worship of our new President. She's said she sees her deceased father in him. The combination of her limited knowledge and her loyalty to Pres. Obama could lead to poor results for NYS on some important and costly programs.

I don't know if it's the constant media buzz, or public sentamentality, but Cuomo and Kennedy are the one, two public favorites, in that order. Maloney is a fairly distant third w/ 6%, which is still impressive given the low name recognition Representatives have outside their districts. I doubt she would have any problem getting elected in 2010 with the two year running start. We shall see.

[rpannier]

4. You got that right

If it had been rumored that it would be either Mahoney or Paris Hilton the media would have been camped outside the Hilton estate while1 or 2 reporters might have been assigned to Rep Mahoney's office -- they'd have been the food critic and the guy who proofreads the tv schedule

[MarcMus]

5. Health Care Scares Me

I want some solution to health care, and the massive upfront costs, as I am very poor. However, everyone keeps saying that all of our solutions will be years in the making. Is there actually any realistic way to get health coverage for people who need it within the next two years? If the answer is no, then so be it, but I can't believe that this is so hard to do. It is better for everyone.

[sabbat hunter]

6. Tom Suozzi

Nassau County Executive. Ran for Governor in a primary against Spitzer. Would love to see him run in one again, and win. He would be a great governor.