In the past few years, New York has not had good luck when it comes to governors. For some reason, the people who take office are supposed to be of a higher kind, the kind that don’t have affairs with prostitutes (Spitzer), threaten a woman not to testify on the man who is abusing her because he is connected to someone of power (Paterson) and allow the state to almost freeze because there is no budget (again, Paterson). But after November 4, (hopefully) those days will be far behind us. This time around, we need a model citizen, someone who will do what it is they are supposed to do: their elected job of governing New York and not be a faulty person that dabbles in misfortune.
This year, we have few candidates that seem to fit that bill. Candidates need to show themselves in a serious, can-do manner rather than lower themselves to controversy or making a serious issue comical. Two candidates that do just that are Carl Paladino, who was never taught at times is stuck in third grade when making an argument and Jimmy McMillan, who is saying the rent is too high, will most likely never be taken seriously. This time around, will New York have a straight shooter for a governor?
The candidate who has been making the most noise (and not in a good way) is Carl Paladino. Paladino is a Republican who’s candidacy is supported by the Tea Party Movement. His platform emphasizes fiscal reform and improvement of the states education system. Two things New York needs desperately, but two things he is not known for speaking about. I did not know those were the things he stood for until I googled him and found his Wikipedia page. All I’ve seen and heard of him are remarks about gays and him whining about people attacking him and not Andrew Cuomo. Since I’ve only heard and seen him speak on unimportant issues and not what he plans to do if he is elected, I’d say his chances of winning are 40 percent.
If Paladino’s theatrics weren’t enough, the afternoon pick-me-up of Jimmy McMillan emerged just weeks ago. McMillan is part of the ‘Rent is 2 damn high party, and has actually run for office six times before. He has ran for mayor as an independent in 1993, then governor in 1994 and mayor again in 2005 and 2009. Besides being connected to money, politics or putting hard work into something else besides climbing the Brooklyn Bridge or walking from Brooklyn to Buffalo, he continually comes up short with collecting enough signatures to just be on the ballot. Besides the fact that many agree ‘rent is too damn high,’ McMillan’s tactics for getting the vote are comical at best and can’t be taken seriously just like the video below of him promoting his party. His chances of winning are lower than Palandino’s: 20 percent.
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