TOUGH TO STOMACH
As of this writing, Governor Pataki to whom we wish a speedy recovery, is still in the hospital recovering from a second surgery to remove a blockage preventing him from . . . well . . . defecating.

Sometimes, they just tell us too much. Certainly the Freedom of the Press advocate in me cries out for all information including the exact health condition of our elected officials. But sometimes, personal privacy matters are perhaps better off kept private. I first wrote of this intellectual dilemma in 1985 in my award-winning column QUIPS – Queens In Politics.

I remember it well.

In the summer of 1985, President Ronald Reagan’s health was cause for some concern. An earlier proctoscopic exam revealed a small polyp in the Presidential colon and then subsequent tests, as a result of small traces of blood in the Presidential stool, showed a second, more dangerous polyp requiring surgery. The dear First Lady had her astrologer requesting a delay because of something to do with the stars. The next thing we knew, the Presidential innards were all over the newspapers and picture tube. They showed Ronnie’s Presidential colon from inside out and upside down and in little tiny removed pieces. It was the first surgery I remember described in excruciating detail on the evening news – complete with pictures and illustrations. Thank goodness the B-movie actor had the intestinal fortitude to survive the surgery and embarrassment.

And now it was our dear governor’s turn to take his privates public. After his emergency appendectomy he was soon back under the knife. Published reports say it was because he couldn’t “move his bowels.” Now, did we really need to know that?

But thank goodness, the presidential wannabe, like Ronnie, showed the stuff he was made of. And now, as he recovers from the surgery and the public exposure, we are glad he is up and around, in good spirits, reading and doing the “business of state.”

Mr. Governor, get well quick.

TONY’S NEIGHBORHOOD
He’s gone overnight from independent Council outsider to a man with more political options than perhaps any of his Council colleagues.

Tony Avella, the hard-working, not always go-along-with-the-crowd Democrat, has more than occasionally found himself on the short end of insider favors because of his style and independence.

Around Christmas time. Avella, the first Councilmember to declare against any attempt to change term limits because the people had spoken, and I chatted about his political future.

“I want to run for Mayor in 2008,” he told me.

“But you can’t win,” I told him.

“So it’s a 1,000-to-1 shot, but it’s where I can make the most difference,” was the spirit of his response.

Tony and I chatted again last week about his political future and the changes that now offered him more than a windmill quest for Mayor.

David Patterson and company – before Patterson indicated he was seeking to become Lt. Guv – reached out to Tony asking him to challenge Republican Frank Padavan. Padavan, a very popular Republican old-timer in a Democratic District, has never been challenged by a proven vote-getter, nor a tough campaigner. Avella is both with strong name recognition in much of the Padavan District. In an election year with Hillary at the top of the ticket and seemingly no strong gubernatorial candidate or other winners at any level, this could be the year for the Dems to topple Padavan. And Avella is clearly their best hope.

And going to Albany as part of an election which could upset the Republican Senate stranglehold that shortchanges the City would enable Avella to make a difference.

But Patterson is on the way out and the Dems in Albany lack leadership. Someone better step forward, conduct a poll and make Avella a clear cut offer if they want a shot at the Senate District.

Because Tony could also waltz into the Assembly seat being vacated by Brian McLaughlin, who intends to pursue his labor-leading career. Tony lives in the district, is a proven vote-getter and has the where-with-all to scare off or beat all the other Assembly hopefuls.

With several wanabes ready to toss their hats in the Assembly ring, Tony’s chapeau trumps them all. However, Tony was undecided if this was his best course.

We told him being a new independent voice going to Albany, standing up and telling it like it is, and not being intimidated by leadership, he could make a difference.

But Tony said: “I want to run for Mayor in 2008.”
“But you can’t win,” I told him.

“So it’s a 1,000-to-1 shot, but it’s where I can make the most difference,” was the spirit of his response.

We think Tony is really considering his options and Albany is not all that very far away.

A SIX-LETTER WORD
I’ve been with Eliot Spitzer since before most of you heard of him.

I met him through our mutual friend Trib Associate Publisher Mike Nussbaum, sometime before Eliot’s first foray into politics in 1994. When AG Robert Abrams vacated the office, and his replacement Oliver Koeppel was perceived as weak, Spitzer jumped into the race. The party bosses denied Spitzer a spot on the statewide ballot and forced him to go the very costly petition route. Eliot lost the Primary to Karen Burstein who lost the General election to Republican Dennis Vacco.

But as a result of the campaign, Spitzer has been highly critical of the NY ballot access rules.

Four years later Spitzer was back and defeated incumbent Vacco going on to make a name for himself as a crusading Attorney General. In each of his races through 2004, this paper endorsed Eliot Spitzer – even way back in 1994 before you heard of him.

We admired what we believed was the reformer in Eliot.
Eliot had called for a change in the ballot access rules in our state being critical of a process which “imposes such hurdles” to candidacy.

Eliot, who seems to have managed this Gubernatorial race where he is the heir apparent with no real Republican candidate in sight and only an under-funded long shot Nassau County Exec Tom Suozzi challenging him on the Dem line, has for quite some time been perceived as the Governor in waiting.

Eliot, however, has indicated that he intends to manage the insider Dem Convention to prevent Suozzi from gaining a ballot position without resorting to the tedious and expensive petition route. Party leaders have frequently allowed several candidates to receive the required 25 percent giving the ultimate choice of final candidate to the people at a fair primary.

The principles of the Democratic Party and the concept of reform consistent with what Spitzer has called for in the past, demands that he support opening up the convention and allowing Suozzi a place on the ballot.

Forcing Suozzi to go the petition route merely reinforces Eliot as the inside player. During the upcoming campaign, Spitzer will have to define himself on the issues of the performance of the NYS Legislature, redistricting and ballot access.

Spitzer can establish his true worth by allowing Suozzi on the ballot, debating the issues before the people, and demonstrating that to Eliot Spitzer “Reform” is a lot more than a six-letter word.

ALBANY BEHAVIOR
Another rising star and Queens politician finds himself in the middle of scandal. Bright, independent State Senator Malcolm Smith has been served with a paternity suit. The service occurred in Albany in the middle of business adding to the publicity and perhaps humiliation that goes with this sort of unseemly situation.

Published reports don’t have Smith, who is married, denying the likelihood of the alleged fatherhood with his accuser and former staffer, but rather saying if he is the father, he’ll do the right thing. Now whispers of other rumors are beginning to dog the formerly fast-tracked Democratic Senator.

While sexual conduct and out-of –wedlock children have not prevented political stardom – often right up to the White House, it ain’t a good thing for a political career.

No, we are not referring to the Clinton Lewinsky blow-up.

In the presidential election of 1884, New York State’s Democratic Governor, Grover Cleveland, faced Republican James G. Blaine in a Presidential race marked by bad feelings and mudslinging. Cleveland had a sex-scandal to deal with. He was accused of fathering a son out of wedlock — a charge that he admitted might be true.

Republicans dogged Cleveland and chanted with naughty delight, “Ma! Ma! Where’s my pa? Gone to the White House! Ha! Ha! Ha!” attempting to destroy Cleveland in the era of Victorian morality. This very early instance of negative campaigning resulted in a narrow Cleveland victory.

Prior to the paternity suit, Smith was one of the hopefuls to succeed Lieutenant Governor wannabe David Patterson as Senate Democratic leader. The pending lawsuit is likely to end his candidacy.

And while we don’t know if sexual conduct scorecards are kept on elected bodies, this seems to be one area where the New York State legislature does not trail the other states.
Performing for the people, New York ranks last.

Sexual performance . . . well no one’s keeping score.