File under "Do as I say"
Just when you think perhaps Gov. Paterson gets it, along comes this report from the Albany Times Union on the pruchase of a $21,000, 10-foot-by-15-foot antique carpet for the governor's mansion. The vendor was a big contibutor to the Spitzer-Paterson ticket.
Described as a "Turkish patchwork collection (made of antique rugs in Turkey)," the carpet sold for $16,811.25, according to an invoice obtained from the state Comptroller's Office.
There was an additional $4,350 for labor, supplies and decorative stitch work.
Stark Carpet Corp. contributed $3,000 to the Spitzer-Paterson gubernatorial campaign in 2005 and 2006. The firm also gave $5,000 in 2003, according to state records.
When so called safety stocks like Citibank lose 25% in a day, the party is coming to a screeching halt. Share the pain is going to be in vogue for the next budget cycle(s).
Posted by: Mark | November 21, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Perhaps it's magic carpet that will wisk Paterson far away from this debt laden state.
Posted by: Don H | November 21, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Ah-ha-ha!!! Okay, Don H. THAT cracked me up! :)
On a more serious note, though, Mark is right. I had/have great hopes for Gov. Paterson. These "little things," however, do matter; the "little things" add up, both in money and in outrage -- and we're only about one staw away from breaking the camel's back. All of this private jet flying, pricey magic carpet buying and ridiculous golden parachute protecting garbage amongst the "out of touch" classes (be they CEOs or politicians) is going to have to end -- and I mean NOW. I happen to be a liberal but this goes way beyond the politics of "left and right." We're ALL fed up!
We, the members of the "regular folk"/working rabble, are growing edgy and irritable (to put it mildly). We're sick and tired of being told that it's time for US to further tighten OUR belts, while the rich continue to live fat off of OUR money and OUR labor.
I've said it before... I feel like we're living back in the bad old days of the "robber barons"; all that's missing are the top hats & monacles. If the "out of touch" classes don't start cleaning up their proverbial acts, they're going to have a nasty uprising on their hands. Seriously. There are, after all, more of US than there are of THEM.
Posted by: AdelleX | November 21, 2008 at 08:49 PM
This appears to be nothing more than a fishing trip by this blog's author as well as the writer of the original article.
Is this the best you can come up with?
Read the article. The mansion is a historic landmark and somewhat of a museum. What would you have them do? Go to Wal-Mart and pick up a cheapo rug made in China? Now that a few hack writers have made a stink about it, the rug is now probably worth 3 times as much as they paid for it. If anything NYS should put the rug on Ebay and see what they can get for it.
As for insinuating that there was something shady about this deal because of political contributions, think about this: Who are you going to buy products from? The guy who supported your opponent? Get real.
Posted by: Steve in Wheatfield | November 22, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I guess you could find this type of thing on any politician. I have to agree with Steve that the Governor's mansion is a historical treasure for the State of NY. Are we to get all huffy and puffy if Michelle Obama decides to get some new White House China. There are bigger fish to fry here in NY. High taxes, exodus of tax payers to other states and a looming budget deficit are the primary ones to contend with. Let Gov. Patterson deal with these rather than nickle and diming him on a trivial matter like this.
Posted by: RocketKid | November 22, 2008 at 03:39 PM