“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
A reminder that there were good people in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021 that the main stream media will not tell you about: What So Proudly We Hailed.
If NY city, NY State and other major governments run out of the COVID-19 vaccines due to poor management (disposing of them), why do so many left-leaning citizens want government to be in charge of their health care and other aspects of their lives? Someone please explain why when most everything governments handles is in a horrible mess (housing, unemployment, vaccinating citizens, elections, etc.) people vote for those who promise that government will take care of them?
With just days remaining in his term, President Trump was impeached in the House of Representatives in another stunt that was both a waste of time and counterproductive for America.
At a time in which tensions are high, a rushed impeachment with no due process and no trial, just a rushed vote by a Democratic majority, is shameful and set’s a dangerous precedence moving forward.
I want to thank six of our New York Representatives for voting no on the sham impeachment. I had the opportunity to speak with Congressmembers Stefanik, Zeldin, Malliotakis, Jacobs, Garbarino, and Reed. They were thoughtful and clear on why they were voting no. I applaud their transparency and willingness to discuss their rationale.
However, the State Conservative Party is disappointed that one New York Representative did vote with Nancy Pelosi to impeach the President. We consider Congressman John Katko’s actions to be ill-informed. It does nothing to bridge the divide, but it does everything to further aggravate it.
2021 Legislative Agenda
The Executive Committee of the New York State Conservative Party met last weekend in Brooklyn to finalize our legislative agenda.
Amongst the big-ticket items are repealing the criminal justice reforms passed by State Democrats in 2019, ending cashless bail, preventing defunding of the police, opposing the legalization of recreational cannabis, and vigorously defending New York taxpayers against the massive tax increases being proposed by the State Legislature.
As we finalize our agenda in the coming days, I look forward to going into more depth on what you can expect from us in 2021.
Minority Conference Legislative Agenda
For the third consecutive year, State Democrats will control both chambers of the State House in Albany and will surely be looking to expand on their progressive agenda.
The State Legislature that brought us dangerous criminal justice reform, looks to expand on that and continue to give criminals, often repeat offenders, just as many rights as those who abide by the law daily. Additionally, Albany Democrats have made it no secret that they will work to raise taxes, including massive tax increases on the wealthy who continue to leave New York State in droves.
Last week, the Republican Senate released its agenda, “Resetting New York.” Minority Leader Senator Rob Ortt has promised Republicans will oppose all tax increases and will introduce a hostile amendment every day that the Governor continues to hold increased executive powers granted to him by the legislature last year.
In their efforts to get the economy moving in the right direction, The Assembly Minority has also set their agenda called “Jump-Start New York: A Plan for Economic Recovery.” Assembly Republicans are also looking to decrease the Governors powers and increase local authorities’ powers during times of crisis. Additionally, they want to implement the “NY Business Emergency Relief Act of 2021” to direct unallocated funds to business relief purposes.
William Voegeli has an excellent article in City-Journal: About “Whataboutism”/When turnabout is never fair play, that I would encourage every reader of this blog to read and hopefully circulate to family and friends. Set aside a quite moment to read it; it is equal to some of my favorites written by Thomas Sowell and the late Walter E. Williams.
Today’s blog ends with these words of wisdom from Thomas Jefferson “An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.” Unfortunately, far too many today do not exercise his wisdom.
Here are two articles regarding the Governor’s State of the State delivered yesterday from an upstate paper: Cuomo vows to vaccinate 70% to 90% of New Yorkersand Vaccinations, boosting economy top Cuomo 2021 agenda. The focus of these two articles is COVID-19 and not the problems New Yorkers will face with the substantial budget shortfall taxpayers are facing. COVID-19 is a major concern for all New Yorkers (as well as the world’s population) but, the way government responds to the economic fallout must be questioned by those reporting on the problems. How do we expect people to understand the depth of the economic shortfall, and how it will be resolved, if the newspapers gloss over the seriousness of the budget concerns? The media has a responsibility to inform the public; our Founding Fathers realized that by elevating their importance in the First Amendment. It is time they accept that responsibility no matter how unpleasant it may be to report; government does not need cheerleaders as much as her citizens need to be fully informed.
The man will say anything to get the press’s attention. Schumer: Put Everyone Who Was in the Capitol on No-fly List. Yes, the people who stormed the United States Capitol were wrong and they broke the laws of our land and should face the consequences for their action; and they will.
Insurrection: a violent uprising against an authority or government. Madam Speaker; you, and those you lead, may think President Trump was responsible for an “insurrection” but never once did he call for violence. You, Madam Speaker, used your office to introduce an impeach resolution. Shame on you and all your lemmings. Shame on the media for not acknowledging that you are pouring oil on a fire. Shame on President-elect Joe Biden, who superficially makes a call for unity, but does absolutely nothing, as he did all summer, to calm things down. You call yourselves leaders, you took an oath to protect our US Constitution (“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”) yet, you, Madam Speaker, today you purposefully and deliberately allowed a resolution for impeachment to be filed, to appease your base and you and your lemmings continue to divide our Republic. Shameful and sad that power means more to you, Madam Speaker, and your lemmings than this great Republic called America.
For Immediate Release
January 11, 2021
Contact: Shaun Marie
518-356-7882
www.cpnys.org @cpnys
Statement by Chairman Gerard Kassar on Governor Cuomo’s State of the State
Brooklyn, NY – Governor Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State was a pure political speech that failed to address the structural fiscal situation that multiplied the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There were no details as to when he intends to return control of the government back to its duly elected representatives, nor when businesses can return to their normal operations, in fact, he noted that further business closings may be needed.
Gov. Cuomo’s reliance on the federal government bailout is as shortsighted as his reliance on the sale of recreational marijuana and the institution of mobile sports betting. Bad ideas remain bad ideas even if it helps you gain revenue.
New Yorkers need a Governor that is willing to make the structural changes necessary and show the leadership to provide a path to economic recovery, not the Pollyanna statements made to placate progressives.
On Sunday the 117th Congress took their oaths of office and officially became United State Representatives.
At the moment our New York State delegation has grown by one member when Nicole Malliotakis was sworn in as New York’s Representative from the 11th district. Soon, I expect our number to grow again when Claudia Tenney’s victory is certified.
I want to congratulate our re-elected incumbents Rep. Elise Stefanik, Rep Lee Zeldin, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Tom Reed, Rep. Chris Jacobs, and newly elected Rep. Andrew Garbarino who was elected to replace the retiring Rep. Peter King.
I look forward to the future with our new slate of Representatives. Their futures are bright and they are eager to work on behalf of their districts.
Additionally, New York State Conservative Party staffer John Seravalli has joined the staff of Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis in Washington D.C. John will be traveling between New York City and D.C. and will continue as an active member of the party and State Executive Committee. Please feel free to continue to reach out to him at any time.
Finally, I would be remise if I didn’t comment on Wednesday’s terrible events that transpired at the U.S. Capitol, a not only historical complex, but a complex in which was holding our New York delegation and staff members.
As our executive director noted in Thursday’s daily update, “…what happened was wrong. When an election is lost, by whatever means, we examine how we lost, we hold our head high and we do not destroy all the good we have done. We are no longer kids in school playgrounds fighting about who dropped the ball. We must be the adult and demand that cooler heads prevail; we cannot criticize Antifa and the rioting that occurred all summer long, then let our anger react in a similar way, albeit, I do believe that some from Antifa were at the rally and edged on the crowd in Washington, DC.
I understand the frustration that people have; I understand how being out of work for 10 long months (and no real end in sight) can create resentment against a government who has forgotten that “We the People” run the greatest experiment in democracy. I understand that the politics of playing with people’s lives has caused many to lash out in anger, but, unbridled anger will not resolve the serious conflicts America is facing within.
We must regain the dream that our Founding Fathers believed in. We must remember our history and acknowledge, while not perfect, we have corrected our mistakes. Erasing our history, or not knowing it, can allow some of the same mistakes to be made again. We must focus on the generosity of Americans; those who serve to protect our way of life; those that give to those who need; those that create jobs for others to earn a living; those who worship God, not the statism that seeks to replace Him and we must refocus on the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Governor Cuomo Fumbles Vaccine Rollout
Governor Cuomo is running out of people to blame for his failures, but I don’t believe that will stop him from passing the buck on his inability to do his job.
Earlier this spring, in typical Cuomo fashion, he made President Trump the scapegoat saying they didn’t have enough ventilators or hospital rooms. Weeks later we would learn ventilators went unused and hospital rooms unutilized.
Now we learn of the 630,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccination delivered to New York State, less than a third had actually been administered according to a report issued last week. A chapter that is surely to be left out of the Governors next book.
Conservative/Republican Assemblyman Michael Lawler said on twitter this week: It’s very simple: @NYGovCuomo asked for and was given complete control of the pandemic response back in March of last year. He therefore is completely responsible for the consequences of his decisions: nursing home deaths and the failed vaccine distribution.”
The facts remain that the Governor has been given a free pass from the very beginning and continues to be absolved of all responsibility, no matter how much he has failed. While the Governor profited from tragedy, businesses and livelihoods were stripped from working class New Yorker’s. While he received an Emmy, businesses received orders to close. While he looked for more fame allowing nearly 7,000 people in an NFL stadium, he wouldn’t allow you to have 10 paying customers in your restaurant.
The Trump Administration in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies worked in record time to produce a vaccine. The Cuomo Administration had one job, administer it to New Yorker’s. He has failed to even do that.
Shocking Assembly Bill A416
Earlier this week Democratic Assemblyman Nick Perry introduced a bill so shocking I had to read the text twice.
Below is text directly from the Bill:
2.UPON DETERMINING BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THE HEALTH OF OTHERS IS OR MAY BE ENDANGERED BY A CASE, CONTACT OR CARRIER, OR SUSPECTED CASE, CONTACT OR CARRIER OF A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE THAT, IN THE OPINION OF THE GOVERNOR, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER, MAY POSE AN IMMINENT AND SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESULTING IN SEVERE MORBIDITY OR HIGH MORTALITY, THE GOVERNOR OR HIS OR HER DELEGEE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE COMMISSIONER OR THE HEADS OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, MAY ORDER THE REMOVAL AND/OR DETENTION OF SUCH A PERSON OR OF A GROUP OF SUCH PERSONS BY ISSUING A SINGLE ORDER, IDENTIFYING SUCH PERSONS EITHER BY NAME OR BY A REASONABLY SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIVIDUALS OR GROUP BEING DETAINED. SUCH PERSON OR GROUP OF PERSONS SHALL BE DETAINED IN A MEDICAL FACILITY OR OTHER APPROPRIATE FACILITY OR PREMISES DESIGNATED BY THE GOVERNOR OR HIS OR HER DELEGEE AND COMPLYING WITH SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION.
Yes, you read it right. New York Democrats want to give the Governor the right to forcibly remove you and place you in the “appropriate” facility.
As we continue to operate under one party control in New York State, the legislation coming out of Albany continues to expand the Governors powers and put New Yorker’s at risk of financial ruin or stripping us of basic rights. I fear this is only the tip of the iceberg and implore you to pay attention to the legislation and rhetoric coming out of Albany.
As we continue to lead the country in out migration, we are on pace to set New York back a generation. It is time we get serious about the challenges facing us and put an end to this assault on our basic rights.
Brian C. Adams writes in the City Journal about the dark days that have occurred since November 3, 2020. Some will be incensed about his words; some will agree. (The various newspapers and pundits all have opinions that will try and influence what you think.) The Party has received numerous comments on what happened yesterday in Washington, DC and what led to that ugly display of mob rule; some supported what happened; most did not. I am one who did not. I do believe that there were irregularities that occurred on election day; I also believe that the four years that Donald J. Trump was president, the media, the never-trumpers, the swamp, the power-crazed oligarchs did everything within there power to destroy a man who loves America and wanted every person to have the same opportunities to be successful. Donald J. Trump created an economy that lifted all those who wanted the opportunity to be lifted; he stood up for the unborn; he cut regulations where necessary and ran the country as an efficient businessman, not bound by the politics that Washington, DC craved. President Trump stood up for America on the world stage and brought together countries in the Middle East that no one thought possible. North Korea knew he meant what he said; as did Iran. President Trump ran on a platform to make America great again, and to the best of his ability, he kept his promise, despite the constant onslaught of those who resented the fact that a non-political person was elected the 45th president of the greatest nation in the world. Election day, November 3, 2020, should have been his re-election; but those who had worked so hard to destroy him for four long years, with the help of COVID-19 emergency changes made without the consent of state legislatures managed to maneuver the system to their benefit.
What happened was wrong; what happened in Washington, DC was just as wrong. When an election is lost, by whatever means, we examine how we lost, we hold our head high and we do not destroy all the good we have done. We are no longer kids in school playgrounds fighting about who dropped the ball. We must be the adult and demand that cooler heads prevail; we cannot criticize Antifa and the rioting that occurred all summer long, then let our anger react in a similar way, albeit, I do believe that some from Antifa were at the rally and edged on the crowd in Washington, DC yesterday.
I understand the frustration that people have; I understand how being out of work for 10 long months (and no real end in sight) can create resentment against a government who has forgotten that “We the People” run the greatest experiment in democracy. I understand that the politics of playing with people’s lives has caused many to lash out in anger, but, unbridled anger will not resolve the serious conflicts America is facing within.
Socialism isn’t what made America great. Socialism has never lifted countries out of poverty and provided freedom for all their citizens.
We must regain the dream that our Founding Fathers believed in. We must remember our history and acknowledge, while not perfect, we have corrected our mistakes. Erasing our history, or not knowing it, can allow some of the same mistakes to be made again. We must focus on the generosity of Americans; those who serve to protect our way of life; those that give to those who need; those that create jobs for others to earn a living; those who worship God, not the statism that seeks to replace Him and we must refocus on the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.
Today is a new day, with it comes hope. Hope that America will heal as it has in the past. I am committed to doing my part, are you?
Here is a very interesting article about health care: Amazon, JPMorgan, Berkshire to shut down health-care venture Haven. I can’t help but wonder how some of the most profitable, smartest run businesses in America can’t seem to make health care work for their employees. Did they decided it consumed too much of their profits?
For Immediate Release
January 5, 2021
Contact: Shaun Marie
518-356-7882
www.cpnys.org @cpnys
STATEMENT BY CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF NEW YORK STATE ON OBJECTIONS TO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE CERTIFICATION
Our Founding Fathers’ insight when creating the new United States of America continues to astound today’s citizens when we are faced with extraordinary circumstances that need to be resolved. It is a constitutional obligation to be certain that our elections take place as laid out in Article II of the US Constitution, and as of this date, questions remain that Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada followed or supplanted the election law laid out by the Constitution and/or the legislatures of each of these states.
The 74+ million people who voted for President Donald J. Trump have the right to have their representatives in Congress question the certification of the November 3, 2020 elections, and the votes cast by the members of the Electoral College, as liberals did in January, 2017. Which, by the way, wasn’t the only time objections were made regarding the certification of the votes cast by electors to the Electoral College.
Earlier, in 2005, Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, said at a press conference with Sen. Barbara Boxer, “How can we possibly tell millions of Americans who registered to vote, who came to the polls in record numbers, particularly our young people … to simply get over it and move on,” while questioning Ohio’s 20 electoral votes that a report by the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee found “numerous, serious election irregularities” in Ohio that led to “ significant disenfranchisement of voters.”
Much has been reported how the COVID-19 pandemic led to various changes in election laws that were not passed, as required by the US Constitution, by state legislatures. Every citizen who cast their vote in the 2020 elections has the right to know that their vote was cast according to the Constitution and/or state laws — passed by their legislature and signed into law by their governor — of their home state and not supplanted by those who did not have the authority to do so.
The government of these United States is run by its people; who elect representatives to speak for them; it is the obligation of these elected congressional representatives to be certain that every vote cast, was cast in good faith that the laws of the states were meticulously followed.
“The state’s economy, which Gov. Cuomo and de Blasio locked down, is failing to spit off enough tax revenue to fund the state’s spending plans, they’ll argue, so taxes must rise to fill the gap.” Albany is planning more pain for New York in 2021. “… New York’s future rides on stopping the loony left.”
Casey Seiler, writes in the Albany Times Union, about the Gov’s plan to allow 6700 football fans attend the Buffalo Bills playoff game on Saturday, 0109 2020. Well worth reading: Because the gov says so.
Janice Dean is a non-political person (meteorologist on Fox News) who suffered the loss of her beloved in-laws due to COVID-19. Fortunately, Mrs. Dean has a platform (social media presence) to speak for those who do not have a large platform to hear their concerns. Read her moving article here: Janice Dean: The tragic rise of Andrew Cuomo amid COVID-19 — a real American crisis.
Victor Davis Hanson writes his last article for National Review: A Guide to Wokespeak. Mr. Hanson appeared on Fox News (December 30, 2020) and restated all the reasons why the Jan. 5 US Senate election in Georgia is so important to our Republic. And then there is this from Mr. Hanson: What Will Historians Make of Our Annus Horribilis? Thank you, Mr. Hanson, always the straight shooter who lets us believe that America can come back stronger.
So, should one believe that when a potential Biden Administration appointee files a “conflict of interest” form, that they will be automatically able to disregard the prior arrangement they had with the potential conflict of interest? Janet Yellen made more than $7 million in speaking fees in 2019, 2020. Wouldn’t it better for any administration to tap a person without any potential conflict of interest?
Speaking of conflict of interest, do you think Alexander S. Mackler, who is serving on Joe Biden’s Justice Department’s transition team may have his own conflict of interest while serving as an advisor for Biden?
Progressives, note this: States of Growth and Decline. (Those who move from blue to red states, a piece of advice: do not bring your voting habits with you, duh, that is why you left! Sadly, sometimes, I think {when they continue to vote progressive} it is a plan to let the oligarchs take over because I can’t believe they would be foolish enough to continue voting for the same failed policies.)
Note to progressives and progressive wannabes who are elected officials in New York State: your policies have helped create this horror, what are you doing to keep your constituents safe?
