“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it”-Ronald Reagan
Well, Mayor de Blasio admits his NYCHA Chairwoman Shola Olatoye failed to conduct thousands of required lead paint inspections on his watch and knowingly filed a false report, yet his spokesperson said, “Mayor de Blasio continues to have full confidence in Chair Olatoye and her work turning around NYCHA. We do not believe there is any evidence that anyone intentionally made any misstatements to HUD.” The Mayor’s statement sends the wrong message; essentially his administration does not have to perform at 100% and covering-up “mistakes” is perfectly acceptable. Disgraceful message; Mayor de Lusional is living up to his new nickname.
Less prisoners, higher costs in NYC. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the costs have gone up 44% in the last decade while inmate numbers declined by 30%. “City officials say that money is being well spent on skill-development programs for inmates designed to help them readjust to society after they are released. A Department of Correction spokesman noted $93 million in funding Mayor Bill de Blasio has invested since fiscal 2016 for such programs and job training.” More of your hard-earned dollars being used for programs to help others while you struggle to help you and your family.
E. J. McMahon explains a simple fact in his column Right Point, Wrong data; New York State is dangerously over-dependent on taxes generated by a relatively small handful of very high-income taxpayers. His numbers show how a loss of only 10% of high earners could really put New York’s economy in a tail spin.
Richard W. Rahn has more information and charts on the tax proposal in the Washington Times. Stephen Moore, also opining in the Washington Times, reminds republicans how important it is to extend the Budget Control Act of 2011, the best weapon against runaway federal spending in 30 years?
Life News reports,– albeit the case happened in Belgium, but if Physicians’ Assisted Suicide is adopted in New York, it could also happen here, — how a “doctor” euthanized a healthy woman aged 64 who suffered from mental health problems. What kind of “doctor” would euthanize a woman because she was depressed?
The Daily Caller writes that nonprofits unapologetically accepted millions in ‘Blood Money’ from opioid profiteers. It is an interesting, yet sad commentary on one family that donates opioid profits, not to organizations that would help the addicted, but to feel good “community free days,” sponsored by the Sackler Institute at the Dia Art Foundation. Would the participants enjoy the day knowing it was funded by opioid drugs?
Yesterday, we linked to an article on New York City’s campaign finance laws, today we offer Larry Horist’s article on the Federal Election Commission, a bad idea made worse over time. Both of the articles should make it perfectly clear that public campaign financing is a complete waste of our taxpayers’ money.
Remembering the Birth and Rise of Modern Conservatism, we just want to remind you that Arnold Steinberg’s great book, Whiplash! From JFK to Donald Trump, a Political Odyssey, would make a terrific Christmas present to a person who enjoys history and the conservative movement.
Nicole Malliotakis’ campaign manager, Leticia Remauro, had an election post-mortem in the Gotham Gazette over the weekend. You can read it here. Also noteworthy is the fact that Nicole is approaching 36 thousand in total votes on the Conservative line while Joe Lhota received slightly under 25 thousand four years ago. Nicole’s vote is over a 40% increase in the votes cast on line the Conservative line. Her Conservative Party total vote was the highest on the Conservative line since John Esposito in 1981. He ran solely on the Conservative Party line. With the exception of the Giuliani and Bloomberg elections, her vote on the Republican line was the highest total since John Marchi in 1969. Great run, Nicole, we are certain you have a very bright future in the political arena.
Even Michael Goodwin’s column, while not mentioning Nicole, indicated that the Mayor’s percentage of win was the smallest winning margin in the top races. As always, the rest of Mr. Goodwin’s column is excellent in his analysis of how the ex-DNC chair ruined Clinton’s chance at 2020.
Gregory Bresiger wrote in Sunday’s NY Post that a new Tax Foundation study found NYC is the cigarette smuggling capital of the US. We have had many articles on this subject Obviously this is a serious problem caused by the increase in cigarette taxes giving the black market a ready-made market while funding terrorist. Shamefully, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance officials declined comment.
Carl Campanile wrote about the Governor’s budget shortfall — that he will try to make us pay for instead of cutting spending.
More bad news for upstate: Schenectady will lose jobs as GE is set to cut $1 billion from their expenses. NY taxpayers just paid GE $3.3 million for consulting work in May. Have you had enough yet? I wonder how much GE has donated to Governor Cuomo…a little research will find out.
We have an administration that is bleeding taxpayers of every ounce of blood they have. The lucky can move; the unlucky will pay and pay and pay until we make the necessary changes. The November elections have started…get involved before it is too late.
New York’s economy – The current administration is bleeding hard working New Yorkers of every penny it can.
One year after President Trump’s stunning White House win, liberals are still waiting for the apocalypse they predicted after Hillary’s defeat, still angry at voters and still in a fit of rage. The left had a good week at the polls, and yet they still rallied to “scream helplessly at the sky” in protest of President Trump.
“Helpless” isn’t in the conservative vocabulary, and the Trump boom gives us plenty of reasons to cheer – so let’s turn this around on the left: What would you want to yell out to celebrate President Trump’s first year in office? That’s the first question of our new Weekly Poll.
Here is my take on this week’s election ups and downs here in New York – we had some great wins and some heartbreaking losses, and now it’s on to 2018 and our fight against Hollywood favorite Andrew Cuomo.
Nationally, the Democrats’ wins this week were a boost for the media and a wake-up call for Republicans in Congress – will they be energized to finally accomplish something? Tax reform is the do-or-die issue right now, but there are others – from repealing Obamacare to confirming President Trump’s nominees.
What do Republicans in Congress need to do to get conservative and independent voters on their side for the 2018 elections? That’s the second question in our new Weekly Poll.
This week we saw the media’s stunning indifference to a violent attack on Sen. Rand Paul – plus lots of “blame the victim” theatrics from the liberals. Federal charges are now expected – can you imagine if the roles were reversed and a conservative attacked a Democrat senator? Do you think the media would be paying more attention? That’s the third and final question in our new Weekly Poll.
Finally, I want to once again thank Nicole Malliotakis for her courageous fight against Bill de Blasio and the New York City liberal machine. She represented our conservative values with poise and principle, and I expect great things from her in the future. For right now, I encourage you to visit Nicole’s campaign Facebook page and thank her for leading the fight with us.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has a real problem in addition to former staffers with upcoming trials. Yesterday, on a conference call with the press, he continued to disparage those who dare to disagree with him. You can listen here to what he said and the tone used when he spoke about the republican tax plan and then defended the tax burden in New York State. Then he went on to say there are no more Rockefeller republicans, that this (the Republican Party) has been taken over by extreme conservatives. “They’re against a woman’s right to choose, that doesn’t sell in New York. In the midst of all of this violence, they want to roll back the SAFE act that I passed, the smartest gun safety legislation in the nation, and they want to roll it back. You stand with this president, who wants to savage New York on state and local deductibility, savage this state on health care. They are out of touch. They don’t know who New Yorkers are and what we value.” Governor Cuomo would have you believe that he promotes diversity and celebrates every New Yorker; his problem is that, by his own words, he does not. Mario Cuomo must be rolling over in his grave, and he was a man that didn’t agree with our philosophy either, but, did not publicly mock those who disagreed with him.
The battle for the stars; How states use your money to lure Hollywood. “The industry spends heavily on campaign contributions and lobbying to make its presence felt in state capitals. In New York, Gov. Cuomo has received $860,000 from contributors in the Los Angeles area involved in the industry, including $60,000 from studio executive Jeffrey Katzenberg and $60,000 from Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw. From in-state studios, Cuomo also received nearly $400,000 — including $125,8000 from the owners of Steiner Studios in Brooklyn and $110,800 from NBC Universal.”
Leading Republican considering 2018 run against Cuomo not fazed by GOP’s Election Night losses. Part of what Harry Wilson said is “…He said a cloud is hanging over Cuomo, who is expected to seek a third term. Potential pitfalls for the governor, Wilson said, include a worsening state deficit, upcoming political corruption trials involving some of his close associates, mass transit problems, and a “failing” upstate economy.”
The Washington Free Beacon runs an article on how George Soros continues to quietly pile up wins in District Attorney Races. It mentions he was pushed millions in DA races in Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico, but failed to mention the 2004 DA race in Albany County, NY. George Soros is doing his utmost to destroy America from the inside…and his plan is working and has been for quite some time.
Investor’s Business Daily opines that the GOP loss was a real wake-up call, and asks if they will answer it.
Staten Island, the county that knows Nicole Malliotakis best, gave her 70.71% of the vote cast. Staten Island also turned out 32.76% of their eligible voters, while the overall city turnout was approximately 23.77%. Kudos to Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis for a campaign well run. Rest assured, you have not heard the last of Nicole who has a bright political future.
What is difficult to understand, is why such a low turnout. New York City has over 5 million eligible voters and just slightly more than 1 million came out to vote. If Mayor Bill de Blasio thinks he has a mandate, he is quite mistaken. Mr. Mayor, you may tout your 66.16% win, but the reality is you garnered 14.37% of those eligible to vote for you, essentially 85.63% people did not support you.
Voters across the state overwhelming turned down the opportunity for a Constitutional Convention, every county in New York state said NO to the Con-Con. Who said opposites couldn’t work together for the common good. Statewide Proposal #2, allowing for forfeiture of a pension for certain felonies related to officials work, passed comfortably, without quite as many votes. Statewide proposal #3, while rejected by NYC Voters, squeaked by with the help of upstate New York. (It came as a surprise to me that downstate rejected Prop 3, since they are always calling for more environmental concessions.)
Donna Brazile’s bombshell book coverage, did nothing to harm the democratic name, in fact, the democrats regained some of their momentum. If Republicans deliver, it won’t last long, if they fail, for whatever reason, last night was just the beginning of a long Republican draught. And they will only have themselves to blame. Republicans must realize that they have to overcome two fronts – not delivering on promises and they must be above reproach on ethical matters. Conservatives and some independents, who put republicans in control, expect both and if they fail, the media will gleefully report their failures. Something the media fails to do when it comes to democrats. Here is Guy Benson’s take on last night’s elections.
The Daily Signal tell us how to respond to those who want to ‘Do Something’ after Texas shooting.
Michael Goodwin’s Sunday column, New York Times’ coverage of Mueller is peak liberal bias, was brilliant and included today in case you missed reading it. It begins with “A friend likens The New York Times to a 1960s adolescent who refuses to grow up. In a perpetual state of outrage, it is a newspaper of college snowflakes who embrace all forms of diversity except thought,” and gets better with each succeeding paragraph.
Perhaps the best headline today – election day – is this ‘The Clintons are done in politics’ an article by Jennifer Harper in the Washington Times who is quoting Fox Business Network anchor, Stuart Varney.
This Daily News article gives the reader an insight to the just a portion of the problems associated with public campaign financing. What it leaves out is how candidates can (and do) hire relatives and purchase equipment with your tax dollars. Knowing public funds are available allows candidates to disregard fiscal prudency and will make it more difficult to have them understand the absolute need for being fiscally responsible.
Tomorrow the Polls are open from 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM. Click here to find out where to vote. Don’t forget to turn the ballot over(except in Chautauqua County) for the statewide and local propositions that are on the ballot. The Conservative Party recommends a NO vote on Proposition 1, a YES vote on Proposition 2 and a YES vote on Proposition 3.Exercise your civic duty and VOTE tomorrow.
Seriously, Mr. Mayor? Don’t you seen the problems in doing this? I guess after all the other ethical questions in your administration, this seems relatively minor. Perception, Mr. Mayor.
Do New Yorkers really want more of this: A lunatic plan for city garbage. Tomorrow is your chance to elect Nicole Malliotakis who brings common-sense solutions to the problems New Yorkers face.
President Trump is making America great again, and the American Dream is back!
As the Washington Examiner reports on new data by the Pew Research Center, “Three years after six in 10 Americans said their dream of a great life was unachievable, now 82 percent believe they’ve either achieved the dream or are on their way.”
How do you define The American Dream? That’s the first question in our new Weekly Poll.
To build on this momentum, President Trump and conservatives in Congress this week introduced the tax cut plan America needs – not a perfect plan, but a huge improvement on our current system. Here is a look at how individual Americans will benefit. Tax credits for illegal aliens and tax breaks for the NFL and pro sports stadiums are in the crosshairs – and this tax plan will make it impossible for Albany to hide the high taxes imposed on New Yorkers.
What do you think is the BEST reason to cut taxes and reform the tax code? That’s the second of our new Weekly Poll questions.
This week we saw that, even in a time of political divisions and partisanship, money-wasting ideas like the Constitutional Convention have the power to bring together people from across the political spectrum. I’m proud to say that the Conservative Party has led the way on this for the entire year.
This week we learned of Hillary Clinton’s hostile takeover of the Democrat Party, preventing Bernie Sanders or even Joe Biden from having a fair shot. Compare that Clintonian gamesmanship to the leadership being shown by (to use one example) Nikki Haley, who continues to put the UN on notice that America is once again standing strong.
New York is fortunate to have another example of great conservative leadership in Nicole Malliotakis – if you live in the city, make sure you get out and vote for her!
Finally, the terror attack that shook New York this week – the 100th terror plot on US soil since 9/11, and one that could have been prevented. I agree with the Daily Signal that we need to stop denying the obvious – radical Islam is the motivating factor behind terrorism as we know it.
There are many ideas for how to make the country safer in the wake of this latest attack – from ending the diversity lottery program championed by Chuck Schumer to more vetting of those entering our country to putting the death penalty and Gitmo on the table.
What do you think is the BEST way to prevent future terrorist attacks like the one New York City just experienced? Give your answer to this third and final question in our new Weekly Poll.
Did you miss the final NYC Mayoral Debate? You can watch it here, if you missed it. Watch it first, then read the news coverage of it, here, here, here and here. Aren’t you glad you watched it for yourself? Encourage your friends and family to do the same by forwarding this paragraph to then.
The New York Times agrees with the New York State Conservative Party: Vote no on the Constitutional Convention. If you read the whole editorial, at the very end, it appears that not only does the NY Times say no to the Con-Con, it hints that the NY Times could supports term limits when it states “…New Yorkers have it within their power, at the polls every two-years, to demand a full Albany housecleaning. There is no need to wait for a plebiscite every other decade – and no compelling reasons now for a costly convention with dubious prospects for essential change.”
State Vice Chairman Ralph Lorigo, has produced this TV commercial for the 2017 election cycle. Kudos for a job well done. (Click on the downloaded file.)