General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I now believe Joe Biden will run for President in 2020. [View all]Progressive2020
(713 posts)I don't think much of this stuff will stick to Cuomo. Skelos and Silver were not Cuomo's chronies; they were the Republican Leader of the NYS Senate (Skelos) and the Democratic Leader of the NYS Assembly (Silver). They were not Allies of his.
I think Cuomo's ethical record is a bit murky, but otherwise there is no "there" there. The stuff about receiving donations from appointees seems a bit obscure and technical and nothing has arisen out of it. I think Cuomo has already gone through a process of vetting just from being Governor, so I really do not think that anything like this, the Moreland Commission, etc, will amount to anything significant.
I am not really interested in Cuomo for his purity, but rather because I think that he would be a tough and dangerous opponent to Trump. Cuomo is not a progressive idealist, but is a tough-minded political pragmatist who gets stuff done and does enact progressive policies, from Gun Control to Marriage Equality to Free College Tuition.
We need someone who can counter-punch against Trump, and I think that Cuomo is cut out to do that. I think that some names that get floated for the Democratic Candidacy are either too wonkish or too nice to go up against Trump. I would prefer to have a progressive idealist as President, but what we need to defeat Trump is not a Saint but rather a Street Fighter. I think Cuomo fills that bill.
I do appreciate your points and do not entirely disagree with them, but I feel like the case for Cuomo as a candidate is still strong despite the drawbacks you point out.