Tuesday, December 10, 2013

"Boy," the Independence Party and cross endorsements


To old timers in Rensselaer County politics he’s affectionately known as “Boy.” To state wide politicians he’s known as vice chairman of the powerful Independence Party. To everyday state Senate staffers he’s known as “Who’s that guy?”

Of course, I’m talking about North Greenbush’s own Tom Connolly, who is again making news for alleged campaign finance shenanigans.

CONNOLLY
The reason they call him “Boy” is because he learned the art of political manipulation from legendary Rensselaer County Democratic Party Chairman Ed McDonough. “McDonough’s Boy” was shortened to just “Boy” somewhere along the line.

Since the McDonough days – when Connolly was routinely found “sleeping” on the couch in Democratic Party headquarters and when he gave a painting he stole from the City of Troy to newly elected District Attorney James Canfield – he climbed the party ladder and is now a statewide wheel, or vice chairman.

The last moniker is in reference to Connolly’s jobs in the state Senate. First he worked for Sen. Karl Krueger, a Democrat from Brooklyn with close ties to the GOP, making six figures as a “special project coordinator.” If anyone can tell me what a guy Rensselaer County knows about setting up special projects for a senator from Brooklyn please drop me a line. I’m told he is hardly ever at the Capitol or the LOB so either he was always in Brooklyn setting up special events or his salary could be tacked onto what the Independence Party line is worth.

After the Haggerty fiasco – and before Krueger pleaded guilty to accepting bribes – Connolly got fired and now works for state Sen. Phil Boyle, a Republican from Long Island, making $75,000 a year. One would think the Republicans may want the Independence Party’s backing to ensure they remain relevant in the Senate, but only a cynic would think Connolly’s job had anything to do with that.

This time Connolly finds himself in the crosshairs of Gov. Andrew Cuomo - who might want the Senate to stay status quo - and his Moreland Commission. While there are some questions with the commission appointed to weed out corruption in the state Legislature, it did find some compelling evidence to suggest the GOP was padding the Independence Party housekeeping account to use on individual campaigns. Using those accounts in such a way is illegal, but it’s a section of Election Law ignored by many and enforced by none.

To briefly re-cap, the commission found that the stat GOP “donated” more than $350,000 to the Independence Party housekeeping account, which in turn presumably spent it to lambaste Democratic candidates for state Senate during the 2012 election. E-mails between Connolly and a GOP operative indicate there is in the least collusion between the two parties though they do fall short of saying where the money actually came from to pay for the ads – the party’s housekeeping account or another account from which money can legally be spent on campaigns.

Yes, there are donation thresholds and other complexities supposedly targeted by the Moreland Commission and reformers across the board but they are beyond the scope of this post. One simple reform the state could accomplish with little or no controversy is abolishing the ability of minor parties to endorse major party candidates.

As I have written before, the party is little more than a money and power grabbing sham that tricks people into voting on the line because of a catchy name. And it’s not much different than the Working Families Party or the Conservative Party. Depending on your ilk, voters may want to see themselves as independent, part of a working family or conservative so they enroll or vote on that line not knowing any better. The WFP and Conservatives may have a philosophical bent to stand on but still rarely run their own candidates. The Independence Party, on the other hand, really stands for nothing.

Just think, without the ability to cross endorse candidates, the four-year long voter fraud scandal would not have happened in Rensselaer County. It cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to of public money to investigate and prosecute and who knows how much the individual players paid out. Wait … it provided me with nearly endless fodder for nearly four years so by all means, keep cross endorsements alive and well in New York state – it keeps lawyers and journalists in business.

37 comments:

  1. Political Manipulation is defined as "you want to keep your doctor, you can do it." "you want to keep your plan you can keep it." Of course it was not boy who said it but it is a great example of political/election manipulation.

    The question is: was the law followed or broken? If the law was followed the problem is not with the person following the law, the problem is with the law.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Question is why does doughnut queen walk in at 915 to troy city floor. Does she get a rabbit pass

    ReplyDelete
  3. Frasier took his shirt off in the wine bar?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great tree lighting Canadian carnival Vito. Troy is lucky to have you. Lou is blessed to have you heading up special events for the city

    ReplyDelete
  5. Andrew really dropped the ball on NY State Health Plans that were dropped due to Obamawepayifyouwontworkcare. Many small business owners have lost their plans as of 12/31, and no one is doing a damn thing to help. Notice I said, business owners --not lazy asses with nice cars, & Iphones getting it all for doing nuthin.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cuomo will dance and play the Violin as NY Burns

      Also the Taxes will send retirees away when they looses there homes by the millions

      Delete
  6. I didn't recognize Tom's pic with his head not up Mirch's ass

    ReplyDelete
  7. Franco is back and getting his new bylines from the one and only, Bob Mirch. Bob, people really miss you, especially Harry and Rich, Kathy and Carmella. Did Ed Manny really beat you by over a thousand votes?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yeah Vito Rat Citizen just keeps getting those Disability Checks and Kathy J Thinks Vito is Dreamy with his Sperry Top Siders with no Socs Eventually Vito will slip on the ice and brake his neck !~~!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The CAT is back in town. Hide your women and children. And your absentee ballot.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The CAT is retired just look at the election results! The board of elections now doesn't need to hide the fraud it's open season.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Buckle up your seatbelt Troy cops....Capt Buchanan after one visit from the FBI put in his retirement papers! Wonder what he has to hide, the one thing for sure he has no backbone and will sing a long tune.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Next on the chopping block. Magnetto then Lou.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Terry like Lou is a good guy. Me thinks this has more to do with Ryan, Fitzgerald and Millington. The question is can they stick to the same story?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great hire Lou. You are telling me Monica couldn't bring any money to troy yesterday. Vic could have and he don't wear a skirt and hides the chest

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't make fun of people's physical problems they can't help it

      Delete
  15. Jim can you do some research into why Lou fired a seasoned city hall employee the day after her husband announced he was running against Gary guluski? I'm proplexed to here and to think I voted for him. #singletermlou

    ReplyDelete
  16. she failed the civil service test

    ReplyDelete
  17. so did Galuski about a dozen times, now he votes on the budget and makes it easier for poor folks to vote. you can't make this stuff up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Galuski's got bad vibrations all around he will be the last hold out for disunion on the Council

      Delete
  18. But Lou is a nice guy.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Bill dunne live alleys. First the redo of franklin alley now the alley up by lansingburgh high school

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jim, take your head out of Mirch's ass and check out Ch.13 news. Rodney already an embarrassment to the city.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But he has muscles.

      Delete
    2. Check out his Youtube video, sans shirt, giggling at his flying shark. I downloaded a copy for when he tries to primary Lou. Door to door with a laptop- election gold!

      Delete
    3. I watched it. He's like a mental patient Very weird guy.

      Delete
    4. Lou watches it all the time

      Delete
    5. Lou speaking in the 3rd person. Does anyone like this man?

      Delete
  21. I've got enough copies for everyone. Bare chested video // house -youknow. He may be the gift that keeps on giving. Hamburger Helper is just goooood all by itself

    ReplyDelete