Two "class" acts

Let's see. We have Bryon Brown stiffing a member of President Obama's Cabinet in a rare visit to Buffalo and Chris Collins calling an orthodox Jew an "anti-Christ" and mentioning him in the same breath as  Hitler.

We know how to pick 'em in Western New York, don't we?

Let's start with Collins and a report from Bob McCarthy:

In a story first reported by the New York Daily News, the county executive -- who is exploring a run for governor next year -- referred to French seer Nostradamus' predictions that the world would experience three "anti-Christs" before the apocalypse. He then said it's generally accepted the first was Napoleon, the second Hitler, and was "pretty sure" the third is Silver -- an orthodox Jew.

Collins said it in the context of Silver as part of Albany's "three men in a room" budget process, in which the two legislative leaders and the governor make most budgetary decisions.

The remarks are already sending shock waves through the state's political establishment, and Collins has reacted, calling his choice of words "a poor joke."

"While we may disagree strongly on policy matters, my statement had no place in our political discourse and I am truly sorry to both the speaker and to anyone else who I may have offended," he said.

Are we talking poor taste, or something deeper?

I don't know, but let's examine Collins' recent track record.

His county attorney is steadfastly trying to block efforts by state and federal officials to find out what's happening at the county prison and holding center, in the face of escapes and allegations of prisoner abuse.

In his effort to elect four Republicans to the County Legislature, and tip the balance of power his way, he has aligned himself with the local Tea Party movement that includes some extreme right wing voices, as documented by the Buffalo Geek.

And, through the budget process, Collins has taken aim at numerous programs aimed at the poor and proposed a three-year funding freeze for a library system that is already hurting.

Does all this sound like a guy running county government like a business? Or a right wing ideologue?

Hey, I report. You decide.

On to the mayor.

Who do you see in the picture below. Or, more precisely, who don't you see?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's see, there's Brian Higgins. And Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and urban Development. And Chuck Schumer. All three flew in from out of town. Also pictured on the far right is, no, not Chris Collins, but Anthony Armstrong, of the Buffalo office of the Local Initiatives Support  Corp.

Why was Donovan here?

Schumer said the secretary came to Buffalo to learn more about the plan that he and Higgins are shepherding in Congress.

In other words, our lawmakers are hustling to set up a program that would likely help Buffalo, among other places, and the guy in a position to write the check wants to know more.

Brown was supposed to participate in the secretary's daylong visit. But nooooooooooo. He was too busy, according to Peter Cutler, his spokesman.

What was so important that the mayor couldn't meet with Donovan?

"It was just a busy day," Cutler said.

Busy with what?

"Some issues at the office."

No big deal Brown didn't take time out, Cutler assured me.

"He's met with the HUD secretary before."

But have near fear, Brown sent Deputy Mayor Donna Brown in his place.

"He wanted to make sure we had a presence."

I'm told by someone in attendance the deputy mayor showed up more than half-an-hour late.

Nice. I'm sure than made a good impression.

Now let me get this straight. The nation's top urban affairs official makes a rare visit to Buffalo and the mayor is too busy? The same mayor who shows up at every ribbon-cutting ceremony, who treats crime scenes as a a photo op?

Please.

I'm not in the guy's head, so I don't know for sure why he blew off the fellow in a position to bring a lot of money to the nation's third-poorest city.

But I do know that Brown was irate in March when HUD issued a report ripping the city's management of its block grant program, to the point where he called D.C. to demand that HUD silence Steve Banko, head of the Buffalo office. And I think it's pretty safe to assume hizzoner wasn't happy when HUD's inspector general agreed in July to audit the city's use of block grant funds.

So, was the mayor too busy, or still in a snit?

As I said earlier, I report. You decide.

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Comments

[Buffalo Libertarian]

Oh, please! Collins' comment had nothing whatsoever to do with Silver being an orthodox Jew. It's time to knock off all this political correctness whining where it's only okay to offend white, Christian males. Collins' feeble attempt at humor in the context of talking about New York's infamous governance by three men in a room was appropriate to the venue.

Collins should not have apologized. Instead, he should have told the New York Post and the rest of you media idiots to get over yourselves.

As for Brown, well, what can we say? He doesn't often show common sense when it comes to some things, does he?

[Sarah]

When people throw around the insult of comparing people to Hitler it is spitting on the graves of all the people killed by the ACTUAL Hitler. The fact that Mr. Silver is Jewish only increases that disrespect 10-fold. People need to grow up and stop acting like children on a school yard calling each other names.

[Chris S.]

Dear Western New York Politicians Who Wonder Why The Youth Are Leaving,

If the economy wasn't bad enough, check out your own mismanagement.

Sincerely,
A Young Professional Eager and About to Leave

[john]

As for Brown, well, what can we say? He doesn't often show common sense when it comes to some things, does he?

Posted by: Buffalo Libertarian | October 27, 2009 at 09:04 AM

Brown NEVER shows common sense! I'm no fan of Collins, but Silver IS a disaster that has destroyed New York State which is why I sold my house and am looking forward to getting out of this TOTALLY HOPELESS city, county and state!!!!! Moving on 11/21/09 and not looking back!

[Watcher]

Anthony Armstrong for Mayor!

[gravedancer]

What? A Jew can't act like a Hitler? Where in the laws of physics, humanity, etc, says he or she can't.

[Matt]

None of it matters because we have a worse problem: Dick Jauron is still the coach of the Buffalo Bills. (Yes, that's sarcasm.)

[Buffalo Libertarian]

Sarah, the fact that Sheldon Silver is an orthodox Jew is entirely irrelevant to the context of Collins' remark - the context being that Sheldon Silver is arguably the most powerful of the infamous three-men-in-a-room that really run New York State.

It was a feeble attempt at humor, nothing more. You people need to all get over yourselves!

[Buffalo Libertarian]

Watcher wrote: "Anthony Armstrong for Mayor!"

Who is Anthony Armstrong and why should we vote for him? Is he even going to be on the ballot? Was he at the debate that was supposed to happen between Brown and his Republican challenger?

[gimmeabreak]

Collins put his foot in his mouth and his attempt at cheap humor at Silver's expense blew up in his face. Guilty as charged, so let's move on.

The fact remains that Silver and his cronies are absolutely screwing this entire state and particularly WNY and THAT'S the direction in which where your outrage and insights ought to be directed. This community is going down the drain due to the entrenched status-quo-loving politicians and unions and here's a guy who's trying to buck the Shelly Silver system and bring some commonsense and a business-like approach to
government--like we always are clamoring for--and for his efforts you label him a right-wing ideologue. Are you blind to what's happened and what's happening around us?

I'm sure The News will be clucking on its editorial page tomorrow about Collins's horrific faux pas blah blah blah and completely overlooking the miserable, demoralizing state of the state of New York and Shelly Silver's leadership in the decline. And THAT would be a joke if it wasn't so pathetically true.

[CMS]

Byron is afraid of the east side. His armored convoy was probably in the shop that day. Besides, the lawn in that picture, while unkempt, is still fairly clean and the porch doesn't look like it needs a paint job yet.

[CMS]

"Moving on 11/21/09 and not looking back!"
We'll see about that. "Not looking back" obviously consists of no blog comments, rants, etc. You move to your new place and enjoy it so much that you all but forget the old.

We shall see.

[Neil]

Calling Silver or anyone else, other than a megalomaniacal despot, the "H" name is inappropriate and in poor taste. However, there is no doubt that Sheldon is the chief author of the exodus of private sector jobs from NYS and is a foul influence on this State's prosperity - at least to anyone not enrolled in medicaid, CSEA, or SEIU! I read an article yesterday which states a recent study estimated NYS lost more of it’s population between 2000 and 2008 then any other State in the Union while average wages also fell by 13%. Keep up the good work Shelly!

[Buffalo Libertarian]

Buffalo Libertarian wrote: "You people need to all get over yourselves!"

For the record, by "you people" I mean all of those - regardless of ethnicity or religion - who are whining about how terrible it was for Collins to make the remark he made.

[MD]

"as documented by the Buffalo Geek."

A nice, unbiased source, that. Click the link and the headline leads off with the "teabagger" slur so popular with the left. Of course he sees the Tea Party movement as "extreme right wing". While you're at it, why don't you add GOP astroturf, un-American and Nazi to the list? That way, you'd have all the lefty talking points covered.

As for Collins' "joke", I don't know about the world, but Silver sure is helping to bring about the apocalypse in New York.

All I can say is, Thank GOD I got out!

[Buffalo Libertarian]

Neil wrote: "Calling Silver or anyone else, other than a megalomaniacal despot, the "H" name is inappropriate and in poor taste."

But Collins didn't call Silver the "H" name, he said jokingly that Sheldon Silver must be one of Nostradamus' three anti-Christs. But, even so, one could reasonably assert that since Sheldon Silver is arguably the most powerful among the three-men-in-a-room who run New York State (and knows it) that he is a "megalomaniacal despot."

[JH = twisted extreme bias of flawed Collins]

Although Collins shouldn't be defended in the least about his remark, it's nothing but trashy lefty bias from James Heaney to write this about Collins: "he has aligned himself with the local Tea Party movement Tea Party movement that includes some extreme right wing voices"

Aligned himself?

Because 1 or 2 people who have made some very nutty statements then also volunteered an endorsement of four candidates for the Legislature... that means to Heaney that Collins has "aligned himself" with those 1 or 2 people?

[Buffalo Libertarian]

JH+Twisted wrote: "Although Collins shouldn't be defended in the least about his remark"

Politicians are free to make whatever stupid remarks they choose. This is America: there's no place for political correctness here!

[JH = twisted extreme bias of flawed Collins]

Lib, Of course I wasn't saying Collins' freedom to make stupid remarks shouldn't be defended. However, the decision to make that remark doesn't deserve defending - just as some remarks of Obama, Biden, and Reid don't deserve defending.

Yes, they all should have the freedom to make any stupid remarks and JH should have the freedom to twist facts to fit his bias.

Those freedoms don't mean the speakers and writers should never be criticized for what they decide to say or write.

[Tom]

Didn't you hear the Overture for this two-act play?
Send in the Clowns.

[Buffalo Libertarian]

JH=Twisted wrote: "Those freedoms don't mean the speakers and writers should never be criticized for what they decide to say or write."

Criticize, yes (though there really isn't anything in Collins' feeble attempt at humor to criticize). But to suggest no one should defend (and, in such suggestion, impose some sort of political correctness standard; notice that you said "Collins shouldn't be defended in the least about his remark"), no.

[Nickel City Blues]

As a former Buffalonian, It's obvious to me nothing has changed in the '3rd poorest ciy'! I am so glad to be out of that 'poor- pitiful-me give us some more money' mindset that has plagued Buffalo and all the other Liberal Democratic cities for decades.The Liberal driven media continues to perpetuate your woes so you can wallow and blame endlessly! Today's political correctness is so absurd, alot of people can't even smell or identify actual REAL problems and solutions anymore!! Very good at being offended however and now everyone has to apologize for hurting each others feelings. Are we in third grade?? Poor pitiful Buffalo

[Buffalo Libertarian]

Nicel City Blues wrote: "As a former Buffalonian, It's obvious to me nothing has changed in the '3rd poorest ciy'!"

That's why it's one of the best places to ride out the recession (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SmartSpending/blog/page.aspx?post=1337148&_blg=1,1336694).

I agree with you that all this political correctness nonsense is really absurd.

[pgr88]

How silly of Collins to say Silver was the Anti-Christ

When everyone knows that Eliot Spitzer is the real Anti-Christ!

[cms]

I'd like to remind everyone of the old schoolyard saying, "sticks and stones...". Meanwhile, Mr. Silver has been complicit in essentially breaking up countless families.

You tell me which one should be considered the greater offense.