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Kirsten Gillibrand Says Cuomo Should Run For President. Sigh!
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Feb 22, 2017
Modified Feb 22, 2017
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Feb 22, 2017
Modified Feb 22, 2017
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Kirsten Gillibrand's made a name for herself by being the only Democrat to vote against twelve of President Trump's 14 cabinet nominees, making her the biggest defense against this Administration of Horrors. Her fortitude has sparked rumors she might run against Trump in 2020, but Gillibrand says, no sirree—indeed, in an interview with NY1 last night, Gillibrand said it is not she, but Governor Cuomo who should attempt to valiantly defeat The Donald in the next presidential election. GIRL, WHAT. YOU WERE ONE OF THE GOOD ONES.
"He’d be a great candidate,” Gillibrand said. "He’s a great governor, he’s done great things in our state. I love the fact that he’s focused on paid leave and marriage equality, so he’s a terrific governor. I know he’s running for reelection, it’s what he said as well."
WHY ARE YOU ENCOURAGING HIM.
It is true that Cuomo has stepped up his progressive game over the last couple years, championing legislation on paid family leave, minimum wage hikes, and, in the wake of Trump's election, women's reproductive health and free state college tuition, to name a few. These things are good (keeping in mind the devil's in the details), and New Yorkers should hope Cuomo keeps pushing this kind of agenda.
But as we've pointed out before, Cuomo has his downsides. His upstate economic revitalization projects are expensive and deeply flawed. He signs off on his signature infrastructure projects without the ability to pay for them, while cutting spending on essentials like the MTA and CUNY. Several of his top aides and donors have been embroiled in bribery and corruption schemes. He vetoes common-sense progressive legislation like gravity-knife reform and creating a statewide public defender system. His proposed Airtrain to LaGuardia is one of the dumbest transit ideas ever conceived. And his feud with Mayor de Blasio is petty, self-serving, and kneecaps the city.
Although, one might suppose these are all now qualities this country prefers in its president.
It doesn't seem like New Yorkers are clamoring for a Cuomo run. The Observer reports that a Quinnipiac University survey found 56 percent of New Yorkers said they did not want Cuomo to run for president in 2020, and 54 percent though he would be a poor president.
And it looks like the Trump administration agrees. Last week, it was revealed the White House was looking into the backgrounds of four potential Democratic challengers: Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. A source told the Post Cuomo and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker had too many corruption probes in their administrations—meanwhile, the Trump administration allegedly thinks Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are too old to run.
Welp, President Bannon forever, I guess.
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election 2020
governor cuomo
kirsten gillibrand
Rebecca Fishbein
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