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Friday, January 23, 2009

Where I Get to Brag About Something

Haven't had much to do so as far as my race handicapping goes lately, and I'm off to a miserable start today. So you know I'm going to point out that I predicted that Governor Paterson would select Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand as Hillary Clinton's replacement in the Senate way back on December 2 (scroll down please). And I defended it against mocking criticism here, stood my ground at the height of Caroline-mania here and here, and started to smell the finish line when Ms. Kennedy was a late scratch here.

Of course, I don't mean to ride too high on the horse because, after all, politics in New York is all about self-interest, and I find that far easier to decipher than the Daily Racing Form. But I think I'm due a fair amount of props here, don't you?

14 Comments:

Anonymous said...

What was your prediction of Senator Bruno's indictment. Press conference at 2:30 being held by the Syracuse US Atty. probably something in there about the racing franchise although I'm just guessing.

Alan Mann said...

Don't quite recall, but I probably predicted that the Feds would lay off once he retired. Guess I was wrong. They'll certainly be something in there about his broodmare deal with Earle Mack, and quite possibly some stuff about Abbruzzese/Friends of NY Racing/Empire.

steve in nc said...

Props props props.

Looking at the tote, Larry's Revenge is suddenly playable.

Anonymous said...

Alan,
I want to point out that I paid you the appropriate kudos yesterday, after the 'gate scratch' of Ms. Kennedy. However, if you need more applause, you have it. LOL. Meanwhile, if Sen. Bruno is going to have to defend himself on 8 counts, you can only wonder what tasty morsels from his years of politicking he might have stashed away for just this occasion...stay tuned. Should be some good old-fashioned, entertaining mud slinging coming, and it will keep everyone distracted from the fact that there are no slots hanging at Aqueduct yet.

Anonymous said...

The Feds held off on Bruno as long as there was a Republican President.

Get Bruno was on the top of the list of the new administration.

Anonymous said...

I just read the indictment. very little on horse racing. Abbruzzese is mentioned, more in light of the consulting fees he paid Bruno than the Empire Racing connection. Something about a horse partership with Jared as well.

SaratogaSpa said...

Bruno Indictment in PDF form can be found here:

http://timesunion.com/capitol/graphics/bruno_indictment.pdf

Anonymous said...

Sounds like there will be some push-back by Joe against Spitzer. Eliot and NYRA's Duncker were both out to get Joe, probably using allies like Getnick to assist. I still remember Bruno asking for the resignation of Duncker and Karches. Let the games begin.

Alan Mann said...

SSpa - Thanks for the link. Now I can't decide whether to spend the night handicapping tomorrow's races, or plowing through this indictment!

Anonymous said...

From Bruno's remarks fater the indictment hearing:


“After three years of cooperating with the investigation…and waiting. All the while, watching prosecutors turn a blind eye to the flagrant abuse of gubernatorial conduct.”

“I want to get this case out from the cloak of secrecy….I want it to be in front of a jury, that is open to the public.”

Bruno said the investigation is a “fishing expedition that smells really, really bad and stinks, to use plain english.”

“I am going to fight this fight and we are going to be back together and there’s going to be a number of things that happened here to bring daylight.”
___________________________________

My guess is Spitzer beware and any person or organization that assisted in Bruno's destruction.

steve in nc said...

The new administration is still figuring out how to work the phones & computers. It could be that the indictment process got freed up from political holdbacks after the election, but lawyers who post here, wouldn't the indictments needed to have been prepared by the attorneys in place before 1/20/09?

Anonymous said...

Elliot Spitzer says

" where I get to brag about something"

ok you have earned a cherry without the whip cream.

Anonymous said...

Nice shout out to Alan in the New York Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/

Anonymous said...

Needless to say I am rooting for ol' Joe. Hopefully El-yut's fingerprints will be uncovered as well as numerous others. Joe, take a lesson from Blago- just mention the Albany version of Rahmbo Emanuel and other Obama insiders and you may find some help coming from unexpected quarters.

I just love NY politics as a spectator sport- politics here in the Green Mtns is a total bore since there is no real $$$$ at stake, just idiotic Green idealism, yawn. We haven't had a pol cited for malfeasance in years here, and we also have been runnning in place for years as well.

I loved The Fonz jumping into the photo op at Kirsten Gillibrand's unveiling yesterday! What was that all about?! The Post had a field day with that one, about how all of the liberal Dems had their noses bent out of joint with The Fonz stealing the show! Even Obama had to play second fiddle at this performance.

Yup, upstate needs one of the two U.S. Senators, it's only fair. I hope NY has an open primary so Republicans upstate can vote for Kirsten should some downstate hack challenge her. She's a breath of fresh air, is young, attractive, and appeals to rural, upstate voters. I expect Alan will agree since he picked the winner against all of the conventional wisdom including mine.
/S/greenmtnpunter