True News Trends: April 2010

Saturday, April 24, 2010

All About Me Politics

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Soprano's Dr. Melfi:It Is All About Me Politics

It all About Me Politics
The Soprano's Dr. Melfi Analysis Today's Players

If mafia boss Tony Soprano psychiatrist Dr. Melfi was able to have today's top pols and media leaders as her patents this is what she would say What is clear is the pol never take into account if they actions hurt the public.

The New York City culture has changed. It not about pols stealing. They always have. It more about what happens when they get cough red handed and are not in front of a judge trying to reduce their sentence. It about pols thinking they can get away with anything even when their money making seams unravel in public. Brian McLaughlin taking money from a little league team, Tony Seminerio ripping off hospitals and Rev. Flake working for a gambling organization.

It also about the media replacing independent journalist over the last 30 years with weak clueless scribes who just report what the spin doctors who work for the politicians want them to. True News will be reporting on this trend in the coming weeks. He is how today's stories fit into what we call the American Cultural Change.

Paterson can't handle the truth: If Paterson ever told it, that would be news (DN Ed) *** 'Do-nothing' gov's budget defense ***Gov denies cover story

Dr Melfi Paterson has no ability to feel shame or differ from right and wrong. Takes no responsibility ever

Senators' stonewall John Sampson, Pedro Espada and Malcolm Smith are giving for trying to kill Inspector General Joseph Fisch’s subpoena for documents relating to the scandal-plagued Aqueduct racino deal.

Dr. Melfi There is not only a lack of personal responsibility, most Albany pols think they can get away with anything

Joseph Mercurio 11 million American households owe more on their homes than they are worth. NY Times

Voters May Prefer a Crusader in the Governor’s Race. But Which One?

'Open & shut' case is HS win Judge blocks city from closing 19 schools *** Judge Blocks Closing of 19 New York City Schools

Friday, April 16, 2010

Breaking News New York's Pay to Play Pension Scandal

Breaking News Meeks slapped with subpoena in federal probe of Katrina funds on the House floor

Breaking News New York's Pay to Play Pension Scandal

The Quadrangle Group, the private equity firm that was once run by the Obama administration’s car czar, has agreed to settle a corruption investigation with New York State and the Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Times reported.

HUGE: Quadrangle Settles Suit, But Specifically Slams Founder Steve Rattner The Business Insider* SEC files charges against Quadrangle GroupWashington Post

SEC Files Civil Charges Against Quadrangle In 'Pay-To-Play' Probe (WSJ) * Quadrangle sued in NY pay-to-pay probe Reuters * Quadrangle Group Sued Over Kickback 'Scheme' by SEC BusinessWeek * SEC Charges Private Equity Firm in Kickback Scheme Involving New York Pension Fund

True New March 14, 2010

Pension Fund Play to Play NYT scratching the surface

Next?
DiNapoli In Cuomo’s Crosshairs *DiNapoli Ensnared in Pension Fund Inquiry* The Wolf at Thompson's Door * True News: Wolf at Thompson Door, Part II . Avella Opens A Cut * DiNapoli: I’m Not Involved In Pension Mess

Next For Sure

Hevesi fallout widens to include Rattner, Global Strategy Group

Quadrangle Settles with Cuomo, Trashes Rattner; Global Fined Too

Global Strategies Group, whose CEO Jon Silvan will pay $2 million for serving unlicensed broker. Global, which did work for former Gov. Elliot Spitzer, is said to have received $1.3 million for helping facilitate pension fund investments in private equity funds managed by two firms.

Car Czar Steve Rattner Is All About "Chooch" - Chooch *

Steve Rattner, Obama's putative "car czar," was named in an SEC investigation claiming his investment firm funded distribution of a movie named "Chooch" in exchange for NY pension business. But what is "Chooch?

Pay to Play Liberal Party

Former New York Liberal Party head Ray Harding charged with taking kickbacks in pension fund scheme

Raymond B. Harding Pleads Guilty in Pension Fund Corruption .

Consultants Who Use Their Influence to Join the Play to play Orgy Malpass To Gillibrand: Dump Global * Gov. David Paterson initially hired Risa Heller, who came to Global from Sen. Chuck Schumer’s shop, to run his communications operation after he ascended to replace Spitzer in March 2008, enabling the firm to maintain its toehold in Albany. But Global and Paterson parted ways in February 2009. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is now one of Global’s marquis clients. UPDATE: Oh yes, and Global has also worked for…Andrew Cuomo (during the 2006 AG’s race) * Malpass Slams Gillibrand On Global Ties

* Lobbyist Was Paid for Pension Fund Deals, Cuomo Says * DiNapoli Meeting Under Investigation By AG's Office * Gillibrand won't cut ties with Global Strategy despite AG report * Gillibrand, Rice Stick With Global

Liu Wants to Keep Money Manages
The manager of New York City's $98 billion pension fund, City Comptroller John Liu, says he wants to revoke a ban on middlemen who arrange private equity deals * Bringing Back the Fixers (NYT Ed)

Quadrangle Settles With Cuomo and S.E.C.
Statement by Quadrangle Leaves Steve Rattner Hanging
“We wholly disavow the conduct engaged in by Steve Rattner, who hired the New York State Comptroller’s political consultant, Hank Morris, to arrange an investment from the New York State Common Retirement Fund. That conduct was inappropriate, wrong, and unethical. We embrace the reforms in the Attorney General’s Code of Conduct, including the campaign contribution and placement agent ban, which are vitally necessary to eliminate pay-to-play practices from the public pension fund investment process. We urge others in the industry to follow.” * Quadrangle's Anti-Love Letter To Steve Rattner (WSJ) * Muck tracker - Quadrangle Group settles pension fund cases

What True News has written about Steve Rattner during the past years Steve Ratner Pension Mess Who's Afraid of Steve Rattner? Everyone? * bloomberg pensionMess * The Wolf at Thompson's Door * True News: Wolf at Thompson Door, Part II . Avella Opens A Cut * DiNapoli * pension pay to play * The Hevesi Team is on the Pay to Play Varsity Division * Investors and Developers Control Comptroller's Campaign * Organized Crime Politics: Comptroller Office for Sale $$$ * Rattner: Toxic Conflict of Interest; Is the NYT at Risk? * Mayor Won't Forsake Rattner

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Corruption Honor List

Eliot Spitzer resigned in disgrace as governor in a prostitution scandal.
His replacement, Gov. David Paterson is also under investigation.
Former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno was convicted of corruption.
Current Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada is under investigation.
Former Comptroller Alan Hevesi was convicted of and resigned for misusing of state funds for a driver for his wife.
State Sen. Hiram Monserrate was convicted of misdemeanor assault on his girlfriend.

Political Corrupt Costs Taxers More Money
It not enough we had to pay for ex assemblyman now federal inmate Tony Seminerio trial, investigation and his pension which he will get, maybe even in prison. We now have to bail out the hospitals that he rip off. Bill Would Aid Hospitals Linked to Probe New York City hospitals linked to a corruption scandal in Albany would be allowed to borrow an additional $160 million with state backing under a bill now being considered by lawmakers. The governor is also trying to give a loan to NYRA because of the funds it lost due to the funds it lost when the AEG deal was killed because of political corrupt in awarding the contract, which the gov and others are under federal investigation for. Paterson insisted NYRA will get a loan to enable racing at Belmont and Saratoga to continue as planned this summer.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

No Fault Pol Press and Politics

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Silence of the Pols and Press

Queens Mortgage Fraud Called Worst in the U.S.; State Still $3 Billion Short (Henry Stern, NY Civic)

The Silence of the Pols and Press
There seem to be a secret covenant between the pols and the press to avoid talking about problems. Pols who avoid negative stories tend to have high poll numbers. It is interesting to see examine Paterson spin and his poll numbers. The more he talked about the state's defect the more the public turned against him. A fact that has not gone unnoticed by the leading candidate for Paterson job Behind Curtain, Cuomo Runs P.R. Machine (NYT) Cuomo's 74% job approval, continuing a nine-month string of plus 70 scores, includes a 64% to 24% approval among Republicans. Q-poll * Cuomo's Numbers Show the Value of Silence

Silence: Increase Crime
Mayor Bloomberg has spinned in response to the crime increase that they will not be any cuts in the police department this year. The question that has not been asked of him or any pol in the city is where is the money going to come from to hire more police. Which pol will give up his or her lulus or member items and donate that money to the police? City's crime spike worse murders spiked 22.5 percent for the year and shootings nearly doubled for the week compared to last year. Even the public seems to be Silent when it comes to crime Stand tall for Syniah: Stop protecting the thugs who shot Brooklyn 5-year-old (DN Ed) Not one of these potential witnesses - not one single person - provided any meaningful information to the police

Silence: Hospital Closed
Could Congressman Nadler, Assemblywoman Glick, State Senator Duane or Speaker Quinn come up with the money to keep the hospital open? Who knows the press never asked them. Maybe they should watch some tapes of 60 Minutes Mike Wallace and his ambush interviews 3,500 at St. Vincent’s Get Termination Notices A SI congressman in a hard reelection is asking for federal help for a boy scout camp why have not the Manhattan pols ask federal help to keep a hospital open Rep. Mike McMahon, again, asks for federal money to save Pouch Camp.