I don't know if I like the idea of Chris Quinn getting back into elective politics, and that is not because she is gay. She is mean and too much of a chiseling politician.
It's claimed that Ms Nixon has no experience and should not run. I say Quinn has too much experience and should not run. If you want to clean up Albany, don't elect Cuomo or Quinn. No way.
It
All these comments lamenting about the inexperience of Ms Nixon are a continuation of why those on the coast, particularly here in NYC, still just don't get it. It's NOT about experience. It's about upending the status quo of that Cuomo is a representing.
The voters are FED UP with the Cuomo and his ilk of politicians that talk a good talk but are just as corrupt and beholding to big money as back in the days of the Robber Barons. They've just managed to game the system to put a veneer of respectability on their collusion and pay-for-play.
Albany is a cesspool of ethically challenged and, even worse, starry-eyed dreams. The first group are on the take as demonstrated by the recent conviction of Cuomo's "other brother" Percuco (sic). The second group is keeps pushing for impractical, budget busting proposals because like school equity. Why don't they start holding parents accountable for the failure to take responsibility for their own and their children' lives?
NYS, lead by Cuomo and the rest of the hacks in Albany, has the worst business climate in the country for small and medium type firms. They don't care since they are like parasites feeding off the bloat of Wall St and real estate interest that make this the most expensive city in the country.
3
When a sitting governor has the gall to rename the Tappan Zee Bridge after his own father, one must wonder what cesspool of audacity this guy is swimming in. You're a public servant, Mr. Cuomo, not a monarch.
2
We need more women in government!
1
Cynthia Nixon. TV personality. No experience on the political stage. Neophyte in business and budgets. Thinks DeBlasio is a great mayor. Nice lady. No clue.
2
She’s definitely qualified to be governor. Her executive experience, her managerial experience, her years of working with various national, state, and municipal governments and agencies make her a solid choice. Per Wikipedia she attended Barnard (doesn’t say whether she graduated) so she’s got the education thing covered too. Plus being a Nixon can’t hurt. That’s practically as good as being a Kennedy!
Good grief. We really are becoming an Idiocracy.
3
Im really tired of reading about how Cuomo constantly and fiercely protects his political territory and chances to run for president, rather than working with all other Democrats, rivals or not, for the betterment of working class and middle class people in this state. Im also just plain disgusted thst Cuomo has let conservative democrats caucus with Republicans in the Senate and allow them to continue to have a majority. Jeff Klein should be voted out of office for empowering a republican agendas!
2
The real question is not "who is Cynthia Nixon," but "who is Andrew Cuomo?" For years he collaborated with the Republican establishment to prevent progressive Democrats from taking control of the Senate and thereby maintaining his power to control the State. This undermined numerous progressive initiatives in everything from tax policy to education to election reform and housing. Stepping in now to say public housing in in crisis or trying to take back control over housing funds as he did last year or even closing the subways during a storm without consulting the Mayor looks like grandstanding. We don't know what the real Cuomo stands for.
4
I have no doubt Ms Nixon’s motives and goals are in the public interest. Given the atmosphere created by the current Federal Administration it is easy to forget public service is noble. Good for her to get involved, to be part of our solutions. However, she lacks any experience. City Council or state legislature first, gain the experience and political connections and the move up to higher office. Go forth, Ms Nixon, but learn first.
6
Preet Bharara For NYC mayor
Zephyr Teachout For NYS Governor
Cynthia Nixon can be NYC transportation commissioner or something
7
no. stop. being on tv does not mean your oppinons about how to run government should be automatically accepted...oh wait. remember that time that Miranda rode thre mechanical bull so hard her blouse poped open and everyone could see her bra? And just like that, another NBC Universal pensioner wants control of our lives.
6
Maybe she is a second tier celebrity because she lives a full and rich and varied life. I bet Jennifer Aniston wishes she could be a second tier celebrity. look at how we mob and isolate our movie stars. Poor thing couldn't maintain her relationship with her second tier husband because the public wouldn't allow her to live a normal New York life.
Cuomo just belittled and attacked his potential opponent with an ad hominem. That is a fallacious argument. He is obviously threatened and is showing he is not a man led by a strength of character, but is using his position and power to oppress diversity of voices.
Enough Cuomo. Stop acting like such a loser.
1
The Percoco case exposed Cuomo yet again as the sleazy Godfather of corruption in Albany. The guy who kneecapped the Moreland Commission when it was getting too close to him and his associates hasn't a shred of integrity, for that reason alone I would vote for any decent Eggplant or Cantaloupe over Cuomo for any office you care to mention.
6
I would hope that Zephr Teachout would run again. She is a better candidate for progressive New Yorkers and she knows the issues inside out. She gave Cuomo a real scare last time around. Hopefully she could get the endorsement of the Working Families party this time. (Last time they endorsed Cuomo.)
7
I don’t think anyone in upstate NY has any idea who Cynthia Nixon is. And when they find out, they’ll be even less inclined to vote for her. It reminds me of the time I visited my relatives in rural western Massachusetts on my way home from college 25 years ago. I couldn’t wait to show them this new show called “Seinfeld.” They sat their stonefaced, wondering what the appeal was. Some things just don’t translate well outside the NYC area.
8
Hmmm... a New York celebrity, known primarily from TV, and with no political experience, decides to run for an executive office.
Seems we've recently tried that, and it's not working out so well.
12
I just left a NY State Agency that is full of misogyny and harassment. I would in a hot second vote for her. My fellow professional women coworkers are subjected to daily menu of mad men behavior. I can think of no one better to carry the torch. Please help us!
2
we should all be so lucky to work for the State of New York - great pay, extraordinary benefits (IVF!) - free parking and you only have to work 10 to 4:30.
3
That hardly makes her qualified to run the state.
1
Does anyone find it a bit ironic that only a few days after Cynthia Nixon announces her intention to explore running for Governor of New York -- the New York Chapter of NOW comes out with an unusually-early endorsement of Andrew Cuomo ...?
8
Cuomo is exhibit one as to why in 2016 Trump was able to run and beat a slew of Republican challengers in the primary and then go on and defeat the crooked Clinton machine. Like many of the Republican re-treads and Hillary as well, Cuomo has:
1. built his career riding his father's coattails, never having worked a real job that wasn't through political connections,
2. been ineffectual in most all of his policies and reforms, his few successes coming at great cost to the taxpayers of NYS,
3. been a part of the culture of inertia and downright corruption that has been status quo for decades in Albany,
4. been a political hack more interested in himself than in what is good for the people.
Cuomo barely got by Zephyr Teachout - his unnamed opponent in the last Democratic primary for NYS governor - because the bulk of the people in NYS are fed up with him. It's only on the strength of NYC's zombie like Democratic party members and the public sector labor unions that Cuomo continues to be a force in NYS politics. Yet, like a petulant child, he can't even see past his own ego to work with the Mayor of NYC for those that support him. Shameful!
Cuomo has been an unmitigated disaster for NYS and NYC. He needs to go.
7
Andrew Cuomo is the one who decided to raise the tolls on the GWB in order to fund the Freedom Tower. I call it the $12-Toll Tower. The GWB has NOTHING to do with the WTC and it’s a disgrace and an outrage that Cuomo saw this through.
5
When a man starts hurling insults at a woman like calling her 'a second tier celebrity'...he's scared to death of her fame. And this is not a shrinking violet, either. She can take it.
3
The response is NO.
Cynthia Nixon is an actor and perhaps a good one, but has no political experience whatsoever.
In New York ?
Oh please we have enough of inexperienced trump who is taking this Country over the edge.
6
This is just another sorry side effect of Trump's election - now anyone who's been on TV thinks they have a shot at running the country (or state). 2020 is going to be an embarrassing joke, with the Kardashians, Snoop Dog, Rachel Ray, and a whole host of other celebs enjoying the media frenzy whenever they hint that they're going to run for POTUS.
6
I don't have a dog in this race, but my distinct impression, just from keeping up with the news, is that Cuomo needs to be replaced. His national reputation is that of a corrupt showman, and that evaluation seems more fair than unfair. New York deserves better.
That's the impression of an outsider. Perhaps those who live there think quite differently.
2
Cynthia Nixon wants to audition for the role of governor of New York. Her script seems heavy on the message "women are victims, which seems to be a prominent but wobbly platform.
3
Nixon for Governor! Goodbye Andrew (Last Hurrah) Cuomo . Your act has grown tiresome and irrelevant. Thanks for your service.
1
If Ms Nixon is forcing Cuomo to the left, she has already won, as far as I am concerned.
1
Being from NJ I'm kind of on the outside looking in .. But I think Cuomo has been a pretty good governor. And if Ms Nixon is great friends, an ally with Mayor de Blasio, forget it, no way.
5
What we need are modest and honest candidates, with sufficient prior knowledge and governing experience to succeed.
Respectfully, those we don't need to run for Governor are Cuomo again, DiBlasio, nor his wife, nor Cynthia Nixon.
There have to be other, potentially competent candidates out there who can park their egos at the starting gate, and do a more credible job than those aforementioned.
3
Memo to Andrew Cuomo: Christine Quinn is the reason that the mandatory sick leave for employees in NYC is set at 5 days instead of the originally proposed 12 days. We do not forgive and we do not forget. If this is your idea of shoring up your base, then you need your head examined.
1
Ms. Nixon, celebrity or not, is to be commended for pushing back against Albany's culture of corruption. In 2014, Zephyr Teachout, with far less name recognition and very little money, got a startling 33.5 percent of the Democratic primary vote against the incumbent governor, so that's at least something to build on.
Gov. Cuomo's plausible deniability regarding the felonies committed by his confidant and enforcer Mr. Percoco (whom the governor has called "a brother" and his father's "third son") and all the other pay-to-play conflicts of interest on in the Cuomo administration involving high-rolling campaign donors strains credulity.
For an extraordinarily ambitious career politician with a reputation as a consummate detail-oriented control freak, the deniability seems, on the contrary, implausible. But his spin machine has desperately shifted into highest gear to convince us otherwise.
Spin, spin, spin away, while continuing to rake in tens of millions of dollars in campaign cash, but consider this voter decidedly skeptical. And missing Preet Bharara very much.
13
The "experience" that so many commenters here decry the lack of is really experience in negotiating the system, which means trading honor and integrity and doing the right thing for elected office. That is a system that just propagates itself and leads to insiders working an inside game to either help the public or, more likely, themselves. Yes, someone should have experience in government, and yes, a total lack of experience in the current presidential administration is what has gotten us into an awful fix. But the inside game played by Cuomo and his ilk is just as distasteful and deleterious to the public good.
5
Cuomo needn't fear Nixon. He's played serious hardball before; she doesn't even know she's in a game. And DeBlasio isn't likely to achieve much either. He may have a way with working the NYC scene but there is little to translate to a statewide bid. New York is like many states; there is much to be gained by running against the big city in the rest of the state. Also, I think the idea of trying to sell an inexperienced outsider with no qualifications got a lot dicier since you-know-who took over in DC.
7
I think some here are missing an important point: perhaps Ms. Nixon does not have the political experience to run the state of NY, but a campaign coupled with her name recognition may force Cuomo to move on some of the issues she is passionate about. So far no one else has stepped up to the plate to challenge him, and it will be a missed opportunity if he runs unopposed. Go Cynthia!
9
It’s grown to the level of frightening to me that Americans now believe that fame plus having the same political beliefs as they have equal being a valid leader. I agree with several of her positions and I am not a Cuomo supporter. With that said, more than ever we need to choose public servants based on policy knowledge, gravitas, political acumen, and strong community ties and not simply conviction mated to experience in front of a camera or copy on Page Six. This is not a popularity contest for student government in middle school.
20
To all of the people saying she is too inexperienced to run for Governor, let's not forget that Ronald Reagan had no more experience when he ran for, and won, the governorship of California.
She has spent more than a decade working as an advocate for issues that matter to the public and a grassroots organizer of the Working Families Party. She was also a lead campaigner for DiBlasio's initially unfancied, but ultimately successful campaign for mayor.
Cuomo is unloved and a liability to the state of NY; Nixon could win and be an improvement. At the very least we shouldn't rule her out before the campaign begins.
10
How ironic that a Nixon would run against the most (Richard M.) Nixon-like NY governor since the original waved good-bye in 1974.
9
If she's going to run, she should run against a republican. We need all the democrats and progressives we can get in office. Stop fighting each other and support each other.
6
Cynthia Nixon is no different than Pres. Trump. He's right, she's left. Both have no experience. It appears Ms. Nixon wants to serve which is wonderful. Governor Cuomo might not be perfect but he's a good Governor.
6
Unfair comparison. Nixon has been very involved behind the scenes in public policy. All Trump did was racistly question the citizenship of a sitting president.
7
Andrew Cuomo may be too experienced. He knows who has the money and how to get that money into his campaign fund. Unfortunately, that "how" sometimes includes lining pockets with state money. Why isn't some bright investigative reporter looking into why Cuomo insists on channeling hundreds of millions of state dollars into prettifying some subway stations when the MTA needs money for very basic structural repairs and upgrades? Is it conceivable that the contracts for prettifying are held by his friends and supporters?
8
Hubby and I credit Andrew Cuomo for the passage of the same-sex marriage bill in 2011. As long as he is in elective office, he has our votes. That simple.
And, don't criticize me for focusing on one issue. For us, that's all we need.
8
I absolutely understand your focus on one issue and why you would vote/credit Andrew Cuomo for the same-sex marriage bill passage. However, I assume Ms. Nixon (a lesbian) would have the same goal to keep same-sex marriage safe?
2
Reading comments. Please. Like Trump has experience. Run Girl RUN.
5
No, Trump doesn’t and it’s not a good thing. That’s the whole point.
7
Andrew Cuomo is concerned about Cynthia Nixon, really? She's a nobody, just like the show she was on and the character she play -- it was a horrible show and a terrible character.
Cuomo should be running for the US Presidency, in the next election. It's likely that the Trump/Pence team will have been found to have violated US federal election laws, negating their electoral victory and resulting in their eviction from the White House.
2
Your criteria is whether the role she played on a television show is likable? Really?
1
Not governor. She has no executive experience. Maybe Congress or even the senate. Not governor—too much at stake. Need a safe pair of hands.
10
I agree--even if she's had some experience as a grassroots organizer, it's entirely different from running a state government, even if she has experienced people by her side helping her.
4
Go, Cynthia! I am a loyal Democrat, but just about anybody who is willing to run against Cuomo in the primaries gets my vote.
9
Haven't we had enough of the inexperienced trying to run on their name to take elected office? If you like what de Blasio has done for our subways, housing, homeless, and education in the city, you'll love what Nixon will do for the state. Come to think of it, we've had of Nixons also.
9
It should be noted that actor Ronald Reagan knocked off the 2-term California Gov. Pat Brown who made the mistake of running for a third term.
In fact Republican Reagan defeated Gov. Brown by nearly 1M votes in the general election. However, Ms. Nixon is in a tough situation since she needs to win a closed Democratic primary. Maybe she can get the Green Party nomination to ensure her name is on the ballot. what about the WFP ballot line. In NYS, its a battle of ballot lines,
4
I am getting tired of tv and movie people wanting to be governors and senators without any experience in politics. Senator Al Franken was an exception.
21
Why is Franken the exception?
2
Why was Franken an exception?
4
I refuse to believe that Andrew is unaware of just how many of his supporters -- who buddy up to him and shake his hand when they need something -- actually vote with a plugged nose.
Like me.
He often comes through when it comes to things I care about. In fact, if we met, I'd thank him and compliment him.
But give me a plausible progressive alternative who didn't seethe with anger and mean-spiritedness, who wasn't mired in the very corruption he claims to be fighting, and I'll be gone so fast you won't even notice me leaving.
11
Bingo. His words and actions for Puerto Rico have contrasted so well against the paper towel tosser, but we can still do far better. We need to.
Trump came through the primaries like a one man wrecking crew. There's no guarantee another celeb could duplicate that perfect storm, no matter how astute at branding they are.
2
All that money in his campaign "war chest" won't cover-up the sleaze in Cuomo's resume- from closing down the Moreland Commission, to taking donations from his political appointees when he agreed at the start of his governorship not to, to his handling of the MTA & kowtowing to the unions in leading to the massive cost overruns in extending the subway to the strong-arm tactics of his father's "third son." You can put lipstick on a pig but its still a pig.
10
Why can't someone who has never held public office be governor? When we have elected officials who "come up through the ranks," all too often they are part of the system and keepers of the status quo by the time they get to higher office - no matter the party or political leanings. The fact they "understand the system" or "know how to get things done" means they might be blind to the changes voters want to see. Certainly, politicians with those qualities can - and repeatedly have - use those two qualities to accomplish things that are NOT in the best interest of the people they serve. I will be excited to see candidates with sound new ideas, new perspectives, given a fighting chance in the next election. I want to hear what candidates have to say, know what they plan to do and make my decisions to support them or not based on that.
8
No. The benefit of coming up through the ranks, so to speak, is that you learn how to work with others and to lead.
It's not enough to just be smart or angry.
You have to have experience.
18
Seen it too many times, by the time they get through the ranks, they owe too many people and their vision is narrowed to world they’ve come up in. In fact, most who come up through the ranks are approved by the apparatus they came through, which means they towed the line and they’re expected to continue to do so. Otherwise, they don’t get permission to run.
1
Cynthia Nixon is a fine actress, and I suppose a good friend of De Blasio's. Neither of those things gives her ANY qualification to be elected to public office.
De Blasio's entire time in office is starting to look like one big stunt after another, and this is just the latest.
I hope someone qualified comes along and beats Cuomo fair and square and sends him down to the minor leagues where he belongs. (And of course Cuomo and Christine "Quisling" Quinn are best buddies - since neither Cuomo nor Quinn cares about the rule of law, they have that in common.)
37
If ever NY subway user voted it would be lights out for Cuomo .
9
It would be great justice if a lesbian brought down the author of "Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo."
9
That slogan was used in support of Cuomo's father Mario. I don’t like Andy any more than everybody else, but get your facts straight.
2
Yes, by Andrew in support of his father. No one has ever claimed Mario did it.
2
I thought name-calling was a tactic now solely owned by Trump. But it appears that Cuomo, seeming more and more like a second-tiered politician, with no great chances of being elected to any higher office, has found that bullying may indeed be a weapon of choice. While he continues to fail New York City, politicizing a feud, it is a huge disappointment to recognize that he has not inherited his father's wisdom grace and statesmanship. It is also interesting to be reminded that Christine C. Quinn advocating for the homeless women and children, lent her full support for the East River Marine Dumping Station, telling us there would be no environmental impact to air quality, juxtaposed to East Harlem with one of the highest rates of childhood asthma. Such depressing anger that those elected serve not their constituents, but their desperate egos and hunger for power.
5
If we want to avoid hypocrisy, those of us who scorned Donald Trump for his hubris in seeking high office without any qualification or experience will do the same with Ms. Nixon. By and large, anyone with the hubris to think she or he can do better than others--with no objective reason to believe that whatsoever--is not the sort of person we want in executive government positions.
9
Last time I checked, Ms Nixon is an adult citizen of this country and thus is entitled to run for any public office she desires.
As an actress she is first rate. I have heard her speak on political matters and she expresses herself very poorly, using too many "ya know"s and "like"s in her delivery. That may be correctable with coaching, but there seemed to be little depth to her thinking.
20
Cynthia Nixon has long proved herself intelligent, articulate, informed, sensitive and caring — a real-life Miranda, if you will. California has now had two governors who stepped into office directly from having been actors and spokespersons, so it's hardly unprecedented.
1
If I were to choose anyone for public office who is not a politician, an actor/actress would be one my last choices. She has no governing experience, nothing relevant at all. One has to wonder why she is running? Probably for the publicity, to boost her probably sagging career.
13
It is hard to believe that Randy Weingarten, the head of AFT, is literally lying down with Cuomo, a governor who has chronically underfunded SUNY and CUNY, while UUP, the union representing SUNY faculty and staff has worked 20 months without a contract. Add in his support for charter schools at the expense of public education and you have to wonder what principles AFT has left.
3
I think it would be fantastic for her to run. I don't live in New York, but if I did, I would vote for her. Do it, Cynthia!
7
The only comfort I take from your comment is that you are obviously not eligible to vote anywhere you currently live. That’s one of the worlds few hopes.
6
With any association to the NIXON, with a backing from of all people,deBlasio, is a sure plan to lose election & tons of money, that could've been given away to a charity. Sorry Mrs. Blasio, your dream of running as Cynthia's vice are very foolish too, if I may say so!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
3
My write-in will be for Zephyr Teachout...unless she makes a move.
8
Texas was the first state to hold its primary and the Democratic electorate went pretty heavily for female candidates in many contested races.
Please, no more celebrities or inexperienced dilettantes running for high political office. If you want to start a career in politics after doing something else, stay humble and start with something at the local level. Work your way up, Ms. Nixon. Gain some experience, and our respect for that, before running for the top job in the state.
128
Because Trump, Reagan and Schwartzanegger were losers doesn't mean a bright, serious, moral Cynthia Nixon wouldn't do a great job. And it would be great to get Cuomo and his cronies out of Albany and out of NY.
5
Oh, I forgot Sen. Al Franken!
1
Helen Gahagan Douglas, best known as the title character of the film adaptation of the H. Rider Haggard novel "She," was an excellent congresswoman and would have been a great senator if she hadn't been red-baited during the campaign by her opponent, one Richard Nixon.
3
Perhaps Ms. Nixon should take page from the playbooks of Sony Bono or Fred Grandy. Mr. Bono started his political career as Mayor of Palm Springs from 1988-1992, and then went on to being a Congressman for California's 44th district until his untimely death in 1995. Mr. Grandy (Gopher from The Love Boat) was a U.S. House of Representative from Iowa from 1987-1993.
As the saying goes, "aim small, miss small". Instead of aiming for the Governor's seat, why not start small with something on the local level to at least build some experience, knowledge and credibility. I think the last thing the state of New York needs is another "Celebrity Apprentice", no matter how zealous, focused, dedicated or committed the candidate is. If there's one thing the American voter has learned it's NOTHING compares to a candidate who is competent, qualified and experienced.
19
It is a sign of the current political turmoil in our society that actresses (Nixon and Winfrey) get publicized as potential candidates for major office. Cynthia Nixon? My cat Cromwell would do as well. This makes a mockery of our political system, and makes the Mayor look silly. I have no loyalty to Cuomo, but surely we can produce a credible candidate for governor of New York State.
16
You mean like having a reality show president? That kind of mockery?
2
No, what makes a mockery of our political system is an established, embedded political class — exactly what the the Founding Fathers most feared. They wanted citizens from all ranks of life to step up to public office, serve, and step down.
6
It's a challenge, but yes we can produce a credible candidate for governor. It's worth a try, better than the first pretty face that gets in front of a microphone.
1
Does she even know the boundaries of the State extend far beyond Westchester County? She will be a very hard sell in the bedrock Republican farm counties in WNY and other economically depressed areas "upstate". More of the same "I'm an NYC celebrity so I'm more important and smarter than you" nonsense. Look no further than DC to see how that plays out. Next.
16
Your entire post is conjecture. You sound jealous.
1
aahhh, NY liberal, politics. From a pandering mayor and grandstanding governor to Hollywood celebrities posing as real political leaders.
8
Better stay in Richmond or Roanoke
1
Personally, I would like to know if Ms. Nixon has spent any time whatsoever traveling around New York State (outside of NYC) discovering the mindset of the citizens of this state. There are pockets of Democrats in Rochester, Buffalo, etc. but most of the rural areas of the state vote Republican. Our governors have switched back and forth between Democrats and Republicans for many years. Right now there are plenty of conservative Republicans who would never vote for Gov. Cuomo let alone a woman whose claim to fame is as an actress. who happens to be gay, and has no political experience.
Personally I am tired people trying to capitalize on their celebrity status to be elected to public office on the state and national level. I would never vote for a Republican, but I would not vote for Ms. Nixon either. Perhaps Ms. Nixon should consider running for a local race instead if she really is interested in politics.
37
Trump's Presidency should be teaching every voter that experience in government is critical to being able to run the government.
38
I have no idea how able Ms. Nixon will be in this job, but the backlash against actors in public office amounts to a kind of prejudice (and ignores, of course, the examples of Ronald Reagan, Al Franken, and others). Mr. Trump's deficits have little to do with his celebrity, and--while experience is somewhat important for any top-level job--there is nothing in either the federal or state Constitutions that specifies certain employment prerequisites for the job.
An actor--or a "celebrity," which the wonderful Ms. Nixon only became in the later stages of her career--is not, ipso facto, a tabloid figure of frivolity. Actors follow the news, read books, educate themselves on issues and strategies.
Tom DeLay was an exterminator before he was a politician. So what? Shouldn't our leaders in an actual democracy be pulled from all walks of life?
If you're well-known, intelligent, committed, and compassionate, go for it. And that goes for you, too, Oprah.
6
Don't get me wrong. I like Cynthia Nixon. She is educated, smart and articulate, and I like her politics. But she has no government experience, no managerial experience, not even any real political experience.
Governing New York State is serious business. Let's not descend to Republicans' level. Let's insist that our candidate have a proven record of competence.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
45
Why would anyone vote for her? He shouldn’t have even acknowledged her running. Another bitter little feud brought on by our below average mayor, who thinks he’s going to be president one day and wants to push his competition out.
10
And Mrs. Blasio thinks she'll be VICE to whoever, wherever!! Why doesn't she get on the payroll with a legit excuse to be a CIA bodyguard of her wild son? That is a real job!!!
5
Like how the Huffington Post refused to acknowledge Trump(when he was running).
How'd that work out for them?
1
Why doesn't Ms. Nixon learn from the ground up and run for city council first? That move would gain her more respect, and knowledge, than swanning into the governor's race full of optimism and can-do spirit but woefully unprepared for the realities of the job.
57
Ms. Nixon and her wife have long been fierce advocates for NYC public schools and for bettering education statewide. Ms. Marinoni, worked for the Dept. of Education until just recently. Cynthia is charismatic, bright, and may just have what it takes to beat the Cuomo machine. Don't count her out. A lot of New Yorkers -- and not just those in the city -- would support this determined woman.
36
You make an extremely valid argument, but I suggest she run for Mayor long before running for Governor. No one ever went from the crib to the Olympics without any training in between.
5
With all due respect, NYC and most of the rest of the state north of Westchester Co. are a bit different. I think that Ms. Nixon could do very well in a local race in NYC, but at the state level she would have to go up against Republicans like my Congressman Chris Collins who would make it their mission to paint her in an extremely negative light. Collins has made many negative statements against Gov. Cuomo. I can only imagine what he would say about Ms. Nixon.
11
No one? Really? Uhhh....Trump who is still in the crib.
She shouldnt run for mayor either because she has never been among working New Yorkers or people period, or she has been away from them for too long like Bloomberg and DeBlasio.
4
What qualifies her to run? Playing an attorney on a television show?
31
I love how people think politicians are somehow qualified to run for office.
3
I'm not hiring a plumber if I need bypass surgery on my heart.
We're learning that in the election of Donald Trump.
34
I'm just sorry it's not Kim Cattrall, by far the smartest and most accomplished of that group of actresses.
But Cattrall has British-Canadian citizenship.
2
What do Cuomo, Giuliani and Christie have in common besides being proudly abrasive individuals? They were all former prosecutors and in making the transition to elected office allowed their zeal for retribution congeal into petty vindictiveness. Come to think of it, Spitzer is Exhibit D. In their minds, anyone who opposes them is no more worthy of consideration than lowest street thug and the feelings are soon reciprocated.
When his father ran against Ed Koch in the mayoral runoff, supporters plastered conservative neighborhoods with signs that read, "Cuomo Not the Homo." I can only imagine what Andrew, who ran his dad's campaigns back then, might try to do to Nixon.
3
There is no actress I adore more than Cynthia Nixon. I have met her personally and she is class and intelligence personified.
After experiencing what could happen when a neophyte moves from entertainment to the highest office in the land, despite all that I love about Ms. Nixon, I could never vote for her for an office as important as the governorship of New York.
Please Cynthia, take baby steps, gain credibility and credentials.
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I am a proponent of electing the smartest people in the room with the most experience. I am also a proponent of holding them to a higher standard ( not necessarily too high ) before and during their time in office. I want them to surround themselves with even smarter and experienced people. I want them to have a sense of duty and sacrifice for public office and to good for all of the people.
I do not want anyone that does this on a whim or out of political opportunism.
5
NY needs a Governor with experience in budgets, public policy, building coalitions..in short experience in governing. Elective office at this level should not be an option for people without experience. Cuomo needs to go, he has shown himself to be incapable of changing the corrupt culture of Albany, but an inexperienced actress is not the answer.
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He is the Godfather of corruption in Albany, of course he has no interest in changing it. Remember the Moreland Commission?
2
Do we really need another De Blasio.
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Albany needs cleaning out. It's deeper than a swamp and smells worse too.
4
I think De Blasio is a terrible mayor and if she is aligned with him, it can't be good. Having said that, I will listen to what she has to say. As a stage actress at least we know she can orate well.
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There is nothing second-tier about Cynthia Nixon. She's a first rate actress and a respected citizen who lives her life with dignity and truth. Ms. Nixon's qualifications for public office far exceed those of every person in the White House. Watch out Cuomo.
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First rate actress? Are you serious? She was on a vapid tv show. Before that a nondescript character actress.
Ive said it once and Ill say it again YOU DO NOT PRIMARY A DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT IN 2018. Not with the monster at 1600, his chief enabler Pence, 51 more enablers in the Senate, 292 in the House, and a 33-17 Republican lead in governorships.
Let Cuomo focus solely on beating the Republican considering Cuomo won only 54 percent of the vote last election in 2014 but will get a bump to Ill say 58-60 because of Trump. I predict a 58-42 win for Cuomo.
4
99% of us are respectable citizens who live life with dignity. That doesn't make us qualified for public service. She has zero political experience, much like that of every person in the White House. How is that a good thing?
13
Well, gosh, exceeding the qualifications of those in this white house is an incredibly low bar. We need better than that!
5
If Governor Cuomo wants to start acting like a real progressive, rather than a faux one, he would stop wanting to slash funding for SUNY.
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You mean the faux progressive who actually got free college tuition done in his state unlike Bernie Sanders? Signed off on same sex marriage in NY which allowed Cynthia Nixon to marry her wife if they married in NY? Led the charge for the highest minimum wages in the county at 11.10 an hour this New Years Eve and 12.50 next outside of NYC, Westchester County, and Long Island? Is the most vociferous pro-sanctuary city/state governor or second most after Jerry Brown? That faux progressive?
7
Except for marriage equality, he had to be brought kicking and screaming to support those policies.
Another "virgin" candidate running for office with no experience or qualifications, i.e., Donald Trump, Ben Carson - just to name a few.
I applaud her enthusiasm, her willingness and her eagerness to want to make a difference for the state of New York, but a celebrity does not a governor make.
If per chance she does get elected, if we ever hear her utter, "Learning the job of governor is harder than learning my lines on "Sex in the City", then the State of New York will be in serious trouble.
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I fear this is simply another example of an inexperienced celebrity like Trump--albeit with preferable views--who has absolutely no idea how to run an executive branch of government.
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Cuomo would be a horrible choice to run against Trump. His authoritarian style, corrupt methods and tone - deaf manner are not what are needed in 2020.
8
Maybe she should start with something like City Council or a Community Board? Why do celebrity amateurs all think they're entitled to go straight to the top?
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Ms. Nixon is a very poor candidate for a statewide office. I'm not sure how much she know about statewide issues outside NYC. Most of her platform revolves around issue specific to NYC. A run for a NY City Council seat might be more appropriate.
45
Well I don't like Gov. Cuomo at all, I don't approve of most of his policies and I think he's shielded allies from charges of corruption. I view him as having coasted on his father's good name, and he fails to recognize that the most important thing about New York State is New York City.
So I generally don't vote for him. But in a primary with Ms. Nixon, I would vote for him against her. She is just an actor, she has no experience in governing whatsoever. She played a lawyer, which doesn't mean that she is a lawyer or that she understands the law. Just as with Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, Dwayne Johnson, and tons of other celebrities, they may be good at entertainment, but they'd be lousy at governing due to no experience.
I hope Ms. Nixon acts reasonably and does not run, instead supporting an actual politician and contender, like Zephyr Teachout. But if she runs, much as I disparage Gov. Cuomo, I'll support him against her.
15
Mr. Stackhouse, it truly appears as if this election could ultimately be a choice of the lesser of two evils. I sincerely hope for the state of New York, such a choice will not exist. As always, a very sound and reasonable comment.
2
Acting, no matter how skilled, is not adequate preparation for becoming governor. If I show up at the IHOP today and want to take pancake orders, the manager will rightly want to know if I have ever waited tables before. Money and celebrity are no substitute for experience.
24
Gov. Mario Cuomo's kid is a political disaster, from my Democratic point of view. I gladly wave goodbye to him.
While I think that citizens should consider a stint in politics, rather than just grousing about the state of it, I wonder about a political newcomer in the highest seat in the state. Perhaps she should get her feet wet first, before diving into deep waters.
On the other hand, we need to get The Kid out. If her name and celebrity can do that, hopefully the price we pay will not be too high.
5
On the national stage electing B list celebrities to public office is a total bust, see Donald Trump... let's not play this dangerous and irresponsible game on the state level. I hope we've learned that electing people without any experience except good talking head skills from your training as an actor will not carry the day. I still like hiring an accountant, doctor, lawn maintenance professional, with skills that I can count on, why are we so willing to hire someone without any skills for this very important job.
4
I would like to see Hillary Clinton run for NY Governor. It would be a great comeback (although I don't think that the presidency is something she should seek again) to show that an accomplished woman cannot be kept down, forever. I also think that the people of NY deserve the leadership and governance skill that Mrs. Clinton can offer. Ms. Nixon is awesome, but I would be concerned about her lack of administrative experience.
5
This is the worst idea I've ever heard in my life. The Clintons' time is past. The Democrats need to focus on the future, not the past. (And the future should not include someone whose first name is a section of Manhattan.)
14
No please no more Clinton's please. No more dynastic rule, voters don't want it and HRC is old news. Spare us. If she wants to run let her run for office in Illinois.
10
Kept down?? Clinton had the 2016 Dem Pres. nomination totally sewn up, through the use of superdelegates. Now, that's power! What a powerful woman.
7
Another Trump?
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I shouldn't have to read 2/3 of the way through the article to find out who Cynthia Nixon is.
2
Scott, what are you talking about? It was the first sentence of the second paragraph after a one sentence first paragraph. And I knew who she is. Where've you been the past decade or so?
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Why would a male from Oklahoma know her? Her fame was from acting on a show for and about women who live in and/or love New York.
3
Cuomo is an unmitigated portrait of corruption and hubris, but we don't need more inexperienced actors seeking to grab the reins of power. Ms. Nixon, please go away.
27
It's more than a little depressing that the state that gave America Al Smith, two Roosevelt's and a Cuomo named Mario in the last century is reduced to the latter's bratty whelp and an actress who is just now boning up on policy.
The times are indeed "a changin'". Just not for the better.
7
Go Cynthia. You have my vote and I'll work for you.
5
Wow, great news - looks like we need to move back to New York lickety-split to vote for Cynthia Nixon for Governor of New York! Remembering her when she started out in movies in "The Pelican Brief" 25 years ago as Darby Shaw's Tulane roommate, Alice Stark, in Alan Pakula's wonderful last movie staring Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts.
Millennial voters in New York State and N.Y. cities - take a look at Cynthia Nixon. She has the goods to beat Anthony Cuomo this year. She's brilliant, a cancer survivor, a mother of three who cares about the education of her children . She's so much more than the youngest "Sex and the City" star. Let's look at the Mid-Term Election, Folks! You never know - if Cynthia wins in November, she could be our first woman president in 2020. if Michelle Obama doesn't run first.
4
UM.......I think you mean ANDREW Cuomo.
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I'm hoping this is sarcasm.
7
NYS needs -- and deserves -- a REAL alternative to the likes of Cuomo, not another celebrity, who knows nothing about governing.
Surely, there must be SOME competent, skilled public administrator who'll step up and save NYS?
31
You cannot have zero experience and run the State of New York. I admire Ms. Nixon's desire to be involved in the political process, but without any political experience that I know of, she would never get my vote. Run for City Council. Then aim higher.
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Bravo Mr. Rap - you nailed it!!!!
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I bought this argument willingly four years ago. It is irrefutable. BUT it will take an EARTHQUAKE to change the culture in Albany - almost literally an earthquake - and if Cynthia can succeed where Zephyr could not I say GO FOR IT MS NIXON!
1
Nixon's the one?
5
though purportedly about nixon running for office, she appears in it as a mere afterthought in this article predominantly about cuomo
1
So if Hochul is replaced it will definitely be someone from downstate and that will complete a clean sweep of all major NYS Elected offices; including Legislative. Great news for upstate right?
2
While I'm not a big fan of Cuomo, he certainly is better than any proxy of deBlasio's choosing. And being deBlasio's proxy seems to be the only qualification that Ms. Nixon seems to have. As far as I'm concerned (to put a variation on an old political slogan), Nixon is NOT the one.
11
Cuomo needs to be replaced by a real Democrat. He is basically a moderate Republican serving the 1%. I don’t think we need a celebrity though. Celebrity pop culture brought us Trump. Best case: Cuomo stops fighting with DeBlasio and starts working with him and the working people of NYS.
Furthermore, the IDC (Independant Democratic Conference, a group of fake Democrats in the NYS Senate who vote Republican and basically allow the Republican Party to control NYS) all need to go as well. Cuomo has allowed them to exist and sellout the NYS Democratic Party for far too long. He is directly responsible for their turncoat politics and has sold out NYS voters.
If Cuomo doesn’t make serious, substantive changes (including disbanding the IDC) asap I would gladly consider voting Nixon if she does run.
46
Regardless of the legitimacy of Ms. Nixon's candidacy, Mr. Cuomo is an embarrassment to the proud and honorable legacy of his father. If the Democratic leadership thinks Cuomo the best candidate to lead the party, they will be sorely disappointed.
41
Oh yay, more Famous People Running for Office. I doubt anyone in upstate NY has even heard of her.
2
While I'm not thrilled about it being a celebrity, I'll take anybody but Cuomo in the D primary. We kept Cuomo under 60% last time around with little resources so a good candidate could take him down.
44
Watch out, Mr. Big!
27
Well, I'd vote for her over him any day. Bring it on Cynthia!
37
Cuomo is one of the top contenders to beat Trump in 2020! Nixon is another b-rated celeb who cannot get things done and full of pipe dreams
12
You have no idea what kind of candidate or official she would be if elected.
In the current climate where women are temporarily on the ascendancy, perhaps Gov Cuomo should not take her candidacy lightly, as it appears he might have been advised not to do.
Let's wait and see.
In 2016 the Republicans painted Hillary Clinton as corrupt and gave us Trump. Cuomo is even more open to a charge of corruption than Clinton. There won't be a Cuomo2020 campaign if we are lucky.
23
"Cuomo is one of the top contenders to beat Trump in 2020!"
Cuomo had a TERRIBLE showing in the last gubernatorial primary and race in NY, running against no-names. He's increasingly unpopular in his own state! And with good reason!
And he -- and his 'administration' -- are ridden with scandal and sleazy, power politics.
He's NO presidential prospect (except in how own mind) -- power is all he cares about, as has been clear for some time.
And, based on his ethics and collusion with big-money power-brokers in NYS, Cuomo isn't much better than Trump!
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