Higgins throws Paladino under a Greyhound bus

The Paladino campaign fired back today at the sources of his email leaks. While acknowledging that the emails were in bad taste and apologizing to anyone offended by them, Paladino campaign manager Michael Caputo contends that the source of the leak was none other than Congressman Brian Higgins:

" "If you get in this race, this is how I will hurt you,' " Caputo quoted the friend, blaming Higgins for leaking the e-mails.
"He will squirm and hide under a rock and deny it," Caputo said. "But this is a state Democratic Party hit delivered by Brian Higgins and a liberal Democratic blogger. The timing of it was measured very carefully."
Caputo said he now views the situation as "war, and believe me, we are heavily armed."

Brian Higgins is a good guy. I will always remember him as a young councilman. He worked hard to help me with the soccer program in the early years. But I think he has begun to be more Washington minded than constituent minded in recent years. A few years ago, he secured the appointments of Jeff Conrad and Tim Kennedy, two yes-men, to the Common Council and County Legislature, respectively. The South Buffalo Committeemen made the ultimate recommendation. But those members all follow Higgins' lead (in exchange for jobs for themselves and their family members.)Two years ago, he opened up a headquarters for Senator Bill Stachowski and told residents we needed more of Stachowski's 30 year"representation" in Albany. Last year, he actively helped Byron Brown against one of South Buffalo's own neighbors, councilman Mickey Kearns. Now, this year, he is working with megaweasel Steve Pigeon in an effort to unseat Stachowski, a guy two years ago he said we absolutely needed to reelect. Which is it? Higgins is too good of a guy to lower himself with the likes of Pigeon.

And now this. Paladino's emails were in poor taste. However, let's not forget how he got rid of the tolls and has fought for the average WNY resident. It seems odd that Higgins would oppose a man that has stood up for his constituents. It will be interesting to see what happens next.
Paladino draws derision from left and right : Home: The Buffalo News

Bad press can't stop Paladino's message

Carl Paladino has said from day one: he's not a politician and he's not politically correct. The reporters have the right to ask him questions about the off color emails he forwarded. He didn't write them but did forward them. However, I feel it's an attempt by the insiders to try and smear him as he gains momentum in the race for governor.

What's worse? The emails he forwarded or the way these clowns have run New York state into the ground with their corrupt behavior for decades? A few years ago, it would have been guys like Eliot Spitzer saying Paladino should apologize for being sexist. We all saw what he was doing behind closed doors. Then, you got Sam Hoyt writing poorly written love letters to his college interns. How long has that guy been a parasite to the taxpayers? Then, there was Republican Assemblyman Mike Cole from Clarence and his misgivings. To say nothing about former Congressman Eric "the tickler" Messa from Corning, rolling around on the floor with his male staffers, while you and I pay his salary.

Paladino is now viewed as a serious threat by both Democrats and Republicans. They keep saying he doesn't have any specific plans to change things, as if they do. He has decided to run to try and shake things up. This latest smear attempt is simply a smokescreen to try and keep you from talking about the real issues facing New York state. High taxes, a corrupt government, and a lack of decent jobs. Paladino is talking about these things and the career politicians don't like it. It's not good for their free ride on the gravy train and they fear he might expose their real corruptness. I'm a registered Democrat. But if he pays me $5, I'll switch parties and vote for him in the primary.

Paladino starts campaign to clean out the rats

Carl Paladino officially began his campaign yesterday...

ALBANY - Carl Paladino, his gubernatorial campaign less than 24 hours old, went on the attack today, linking Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to the nation's subprime meltdown, tagging Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver as the leader of a corrupt Capitol and questioning the intelligence of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.

You won't hear any other candidate talk like this. It's about time someone spoke another language besides Brian Higginsese.

"The professional politicians say I'm just mad and have no program for the future," he said. "They're dead wrong."

What's so funny about this is that is exactly what the professional politicians will say. I hope people aren't so dumb that they think they (the professional politicians) have a plan. Their "plan" is to accumulate as much money and pensions as they can and stay in office forever. Carl has a real plan: to expose them.

He said he would cut spending 10 percent, reduce optional services that make the state's Medicaid program the most expensive in the nation and "close the borders" to those coming from other states for welfare.

He's right. New York state might as well have a big sign when you cross the border. "Welcome to New York. Feel free to have both hands out. We'll take care of you. Just stay poor and keep voting for us." I understand people need help from time to time. But who hasn't heard horror stories of people on Medicaid calling ambulances when they stub their toe.

"Some of the people I oppose think they are entitled: "My daddy was governor,' " he said referring Cuomo and his father, former Gov. Mario M. Cuomo.

It almost sounds like Carl's been reading my blog. Brian Higgins, Sam Hoyt, Bill Stachowski, Andrew Status Quomo... All of their fathers were politicians and they feel it's their right to be in office collecting huge salaries and pensions. ENTITLED.

Hear Paladino's speech (in the following link) and decide for yourself.

Paladino officially enters race for governor : City & Region : The Buffalo News

Paladino's message to Manhattan Congressman: Piss off!

This is why we must rally around Buffalo developer Carl Paladino. I don't work for him. I don't know him. When he makes statements that get career politicians up in arms, that's a good thing. One thing Paladino doesn't claim to be is politically correct, and that's another good thing. Look what political correctness has gotten us. A bunch of phonies in Buffalo, Albany, and Washington. Grandstander of the week Jerrold Nadler took issue with Paladino's comments regarding 9/11.

Here was Paladino's response to the Manhattan Congressman/blowhard:

“Your statement drips with the pomposity and arrogance we have come to expect from our rotten ruling class, so busy clawing for campaign contributions they can’t find the time to understand the bill,” Paladino said in a letter to Nadler. “I am not impressed that you kissed enough [rear ends] to chair a committee of politicians in the Congress, and the fact that you are chairman of a House Judiciary Subcommittee hardly means you are an authority on the constitutionality of the ‘Obamacare’ law.”

Look for the New York city press to try and crucify Paladino because he doesn't represent their selfish interests. I'm not saying I agree with Paladino's stance on health care but I do stand for his right to express it. This clown from New York should stick to fundraising with the Manhattan elite and leave the real issues to guys like Paladino.

Paladino expands horizon for political controversy : City & Region : The Buffalo News

South Buffalo native among those mentioned for Liutenant Governor

Our sources at the Ellicott Square Building report that one of Carl Paladino's longtime associates, H. Michael Pascall, is on his short list for Lieutenant Governor. Pascall, pictured here on the left, would not confirm nor deny the report but it has been confirmed by two high ranking members of Paladino's inner circle. When reached by phone Pascall said, "I am honored to be mentioned for the position of Lieutenant Governor. Right now, I am concentrating on performing my current job to the best of my abilities. I would definitely entertain any offers to serve in Carl's administration but first, I'd have to ask God for guidance and consult with my family. Any speculation at this time would be presumptuous at best."

Pascall is a 2008 graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was also the winner of the prestigious Peabody Award for excellence in 2002.

‘Paladino for the People’ ready for liftoff : City & Region : The Buffalo News

Higgins labeled as out of touch with working man

Carl Paladino had some harsh words for Brian Higgins today on his blog. He feels Higgins has traded in his working class roots and developed "Washington eyes." Paladino feels Higgins is out of touch with you and I and only concerned with impressing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Here is the post in it's entirety:

Brian, you have a dilemma. Those overwhelming progressive liberal views that you suppressed in the past have now combined with an ego, arrogance and indifference that has outgrown our community and blossomed into an unacceptable conflict with the views of your moderate working class constituency.On behalf of the working men and women of Western New York, we warn you that the tax, social and business burdens of the democrat sponsored Health Care Bill in its present form, are overwhelmingly at odds with the best interests of the people you represent.

If you vote for it we will vehemently oppose your re-election. Your infatuation with Nancy Pelosi, as with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, is off the reservation. You should consider serving the interests of those who you represent.

Paladino for Governor

I thought this was a good letter from today's Buffalo News. I hope Carl Paladino does decide to run for governor. New York state is at a critical point in it's history. We have to decide what direction we want to go in. Do we want to keep electing guys like Eliot Spitzer, Mario Cuomo's son, or David Paterson? Things will never change if we do this. Here's the letter from Tom Cox of West Seneca:

Don’t knock Paladino for telling it like it is
Carl Paladino is an independent, outspoken guy who says it like it is even if a few toes get stepped on. Why is it that guys like him are usually right, but also usually the ones most criticized? John the Baptist, Patrick Henry, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Martin Luther King and Jimmy Griffin all come to mind, along with Paladino. Love them or hate them, we should all be glad they are around, because without them, the rest of us would get shafted all the time, instead of just some of the time. That’s my two cents worth.
Tom Cox
West Seneca


I don't even know how this could be a subject of debate for Buffalonians. We've had one clown after another represent us for as long as I can remember. You don't have to agree with Paladino on every issue to respect the fact that he's passionate about this area and continuously spends his own money to try and better it.

Paladino's the farthest thing from a career politician and is really a reluctant potential candidate. Remember, all the insiders are going to try and characterize him as "crazy". This is simply an effort on their part to dismiss Paladino because, in their warped minds, he is crazy for standing up for the residents of New York State. They perceive him as a threat because they know he doesn't need any of them and they will attempt to try and minimize him. Don't fall for it. If you're interested in becoming one of his volunteers or joining his mailing list, please go to Carl@CarlPaladino.com.

Paladino for Governor?

Carl Paladino is seriously considering a run for governor. I don't know Paladino and have never met him. However, he seems to be the only person willing to stick his neck out and make waves.

Mainstream politicians are going to tell you he's crazy. They said the same thing about Jimmy Griffin. Don't listen to them. In their minds, crazy means anyone that speaks out against the current system. A system that has been very good to them, but not the average citizen. Paladino vows to shake up Albany. My sources tell me that the Cheektowaga Deer Lady, the Earl of Bud, Conehead, and former Bison's batboy "the Butcher" are all on Paladino's short list for Liutenant Governor.

Shortly after doing this story, Channel 4's Mylous Hairston was arrested for promoting prostitution. B District police officers saw him standing downtown with his Indiana Jones hat and mistakenly took him for a pimp.

Paladino- No Fan of Darius Pridgen

I received a copy of this email sent from Carl Paladino to Tom Baurle regarding the Reverend Darius Pridgen. According to Paladino, the Lord has been very generous to the minister. I don't have anything against Pridgen. In fact, I've written two positive articles about him. I don't really know any of the other candidates. It will be interesting to see how this vacancy plays out. I still think Pridgen will get it at the end. Here are the allegations Paladino makes against Pridgen in the email to Baurle:

Tom, can someone please talk about the potential appointment of Darius Pridgen to the Ellicot Council seat? The man lives in a $400 k townhouse on the waterfront that is 100 % tax exempt. No church business takes place there but he still is able to avoid the taxes. This is public record however the reporters at the Buffalo News aren't allowed to talk about it. He just purchased this year alone a brand new Hummer & Cadillac (all tax exempt) under the name of his church as well. How can a church that serves some of the lowest income & impoverished people in Buffalo (and is funded by them) even explain having over a million dollars in properties (he has a summer home as well) and 3 luxury cars all over $50k regsistered to them. How can the Common Council or the citizens of Buffalo benefit from a person who lives within the district but doesnt even pay taxes? The other residents are paying $10 k a year in taxes on their homes where he lives and he pays nothing. Even his suits are tax exempt. I just cant understand why he isnt being questioned on this?

It will be interesting to see who the council selects. Darius Pridgen is friends with Byron Brown and Carl Paladino is no fan of Brown .You never know. With Pridgen's ethics now being questioned, it might open the door for a fresh face in local politics. Maybe, it will be this guy...

Water Board Approves Rate Hike-Paladino Vows Lawsuit

The Buffalo Water Board approved their rate increase at a meeting in city hall on Wednesday. No surprise there. However, local developer Carl Paladino has vowed to sue the Board and has called for the City and State Comptrollers to conduct an audit of them. He's also called for independent forensic auditors. That's my big phrase for the day, brought to you by Carubba Collision. Trust your car to Carubba Collision.

Watch how quickly the Water Board backs down now that they know the microscope is on them. They don't want the average resident to see who's on their bloated payroll and how much they are making. I have a feeling they won't get away with the proposed increase. It's just another effort to tax already overtaxed residents, support their huge salaries and payroll, and drive more homeowners out of Buffalo. Someone should show up at the next hearing and shoot water pistols at members of this board. Nice try losers. Next.
Water Board approves rate increases : Latest Local News : The Buffalo News

Paladino's Letter to the NY State Board of Regents

I know some of you read the South Buffalo News but I also know many of you don't. Unless there is a picture of one of your kids school activities in it, I don't blame you. I usually glance at it at my mother's house or at the Tosh Collins Community Center.

This week, Carl Paladino took out a full page ad (remind me to do that after I strike it rich) in the paper. The ad was the letter he had written to the New York State Board of Regents. The South Buffalo News doesn't have a website so I've scanned the 12 paragraph letter at the top of this page. Please click on the pictures above to better read the letter. For those with limited time constraints, I'll summarize a few of Paladino's points here.

He basically is saying what we already know about the Buffalo Public School system. That their failure is the single most pressing issue facing our community today. Their policies and past performance are the leading factors people cite when leaving the city for the suburbs. Amongst other things, Paladino :

-Calls for the immediate resignation of the entire school board and it's ineffective superintendent James Williams. He calls for the creation of a Special Master, whose job it will be to look after the school children. Someone who cares about the students:now that's a novel idea. See clip at the end of the post.

-Points out that inept Board members, administrators, union leaders, lobbyists (puke), legislators, contractors, and consultants all prey on money set aside for public education. They fear Charter Schools because they know Charter Schools work and are a threat to their financial gravy train.

-States that Bflo. Charter Schools receive only 75% of the state funding allocation yet are far outperforming the traditional public schools by leaps and bounds. Charters cost $10,000/student whereas Buffalo Public Schools spend $24,000/student. Enough to send each student to Nichols. Where is this money going?

-Believes that the end result of a Buffalo Public School education for many is violent crime, which causes more residents to flee the city for their own safety.

-Reminds us that the School Board election is purposely held in May instead of November. This causes only 3% of the electorate to vote (those controlled by the union).

-Believes that Superintendent Williams was handpicked by former School Board President Flo Johnson and a search company that only looked at black applicants.

-Talks about how disruptive challenged students are mixed in with the general population and continue to disrupt the classrooms. An alternative school for these disruptive students would help solve the problem but the Scool Board lacks the will to change anything. Why should the majority of well behaved students have to be in the same classes as these students that bring serious emotional issues with them to the classroom? Teachers and other students are in a constant threat of danger from these violent students.

Paladino's critics try to paint him as a racist. This is simply not the case. He is speaking out in an effort to help black, Latino, and poor white students. In fact, my sources at the Ellicott Square Building as well as the Bolesario point out that Paladino employs a mix of blacks, whites, and hispanics for all his positions. This criticism is just a smokescreen because some people don't want to confront the real issues. It is not in their financial best interest to do so.

If you have the time, I recommend reading the attached scanned letter. Finally, Paladino is urging everyone to write to the Board of Regents at c/o
NY State Education Department
89 Washington Ave. Room 110 EB
Albany, NY 12234
or email them at Regentsoffice@mail.nysed.gov.

I will be emailing them a copy of this blog post. Please take the time to fire off an email. It is a very serious issue and I wish more people were talking about it. It only takes a few to get the ball rolling...

Here's an interview with Joe Clark. He was the Principal of a high school in Paterson, NJ. He was the guy who used to walk around his school with a baseball bat (see picture from Time Magazine at top of post.).He was the subject of the movie Lean on Me. He says some interesting things in this interview about school choice. The Buffalo School District needs more people like this guy and less of what we got now, bleeding heart fools with their heads buried in the sand...

I Hope People Are Listening To Carl Paladino

You'll hear leaders say, "he's crazy." That's what the critics like to say whenever they perceive someone as a threat to their seat on the status-quo gravy train. I can assure you Carl Paladino is not crazy. He's just a self made guy who doesn't need any of these politicians and wants to leave a lasting legacy of change on this region.

You might remember, Paladino's lawsuit was the impetus for the state deciding to finally tear down the toll booths on the 190. Until then, they said we could not survive without the "revenue". Their favorite buzzword for tax. He also has been an outspoken critic of the Buffalo School Board and Administration.

I ask that you please check out his Unanymous Declaratin of the People of WNY. In it, he's asking people to help overthrow tyrant Byron Brown, Stan Lypsey of the Buffalo News, "honest" Andrew Rudnick of the ridiculous Bflo Niagara Partnership, as well as our two borderline disabled Senators Antoine Thompson and William Stachowski. He's also calling for a two week boycott of the Buffalo News. (That should be easy since most people get their news now from this site anyway.)
http://www.wben.com/Commentary--Carl-Paladino-s--Declaration-Of-Indepe/5213496