Can anybody tell us anything that Cuomo did right? How are his subways doing? Been to Albany lately? What a dump! Almost all of his closest aids are in or on their way to jail.
Look at the great job that he did when he headed HUD. He caused the mortgage and housing crises. The man is a total whining loudmouth, bully, failure. When you hear his sick-in-the-head commercials you'd think he was running against Trump.
Here is Cuomo at HUD. Does it get any worse?
https://www.villagevoice.com/2008/08/05/andrew-cuomo-and-fannie-and-fred...
10
Can we PLEASE stop the adoration of Alexandria? It's not just her lack of experience, but her outrageously naive ideas for 'how things should be.' She is the poster child for what is wrong, not right, in this country. Some 20 something bar tender who went to college and then worked on Bernie's campaign promises the community she intends to represent (who are poor for the most part) that she's getting them free stuff is EXACTLY why moderates are shunning the dem party. Who and what is the Dem party these days?! It's fine to be claim everyone should have what they want when you're young and idealistic. It's not fine to have that person in a political role when they are so clueless. I get why she was given the nomination, I don't get the national response. Except that it's really the media and Dem politicians that are responding. Not the people that will have to pay, not the people that work hard and sacrifice to care for their families. I do believe that Ms Nixon has experience - not in politics, but she's had jobs and has supported herself. She may be more liberal on some topics, but she appears more practical than Alexandria.
10
There are a variety of concerns on (and within) both sides of the aisle for the Nixon campaign, but the largest problem I have is not necessarily her lack of experience, but rather, the larger picture which has enabled her (and Al Franken, Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Donald Trump) to be serious runners for office. In lieu of arguments about their policies, I instead question the legitimacy we place on celebrities over being a tried-and-true career bureaucrat with experience drafting, negotiating, and shaping policy. Perhaps when we (including publishers at the NYTimes) start focusing on these serious career professionals and their approaches to complicated details, we can start to see real change.
4
I see so much emphasis on experience. I bet when she reads this she must feel like the talented newcomer to the world of employment where no one will give you that break due to lack of experience. Politics are a different world. From what I see of experience with the current governor, experience can be a negative. The experience of building a film hub which cost many millions of dollars to build, only to be sold to the local municipality for a dollar. The experience of having multiple trials where those in your inner circle and those you have close dealings with who get convicted, and you somehow magically had no idea what was going on under your very nose. The experience of hijacking just about every progressive issue that was originated by someone else and taking credit. The experience of dumping on NYC, the piggybank of New York State, which sends back to the city a fraction of what it extracts. The experience of a politician that is very good at coming for the votes of minorities, but finds them unqualified to hold any significant positions in their administration.There are many other examples, but my point is that I'm personally tired of these types of experiences. I know these are trying times, but I don't think the current administration is doing a very good job of bringing us through them. Unfortunately, this state is dumb enough to re-elect mediocrity, which this state is becoming quite adept at.
6
We want women of color, not spoiled white privilege one percenters. Go away Hillary Clinton Nixon. Gross.
1
You are not a New Yorker, so this isn't your call. We want the best candidate regardless of gender or race. A lot of people are tired of identity politics.
22
All signs point to deep voter frustration percolating for years. For change on the left side of the aisle, exercise your franchise for the more progressive candidates. Even if the progressive Dem does not succeed, an important message can be delivered to the decrepit establishment. If that message is NOT delivered, be prepared to take the blame for more of the same. Yes, Ms. Nixon gets points for her celebrity. Yes, she needs to run a campaign that reaches out to all New Yorkers. Finally, yes, she could make a fine governor who initiates bi-partisan conversations that stand at least a chance of leading to the changes we need. Not experienced? Look what experience has yielded over the years.
2
As a long term Libertarian and a supporter of Larry Sharpe, I wish Ms. Nixon the best and truly hope she can capture the Democratic nomination from Mr. Coumo. If she beats him, that is the best chance Mr. Sharpe has to take the governorship.
Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger can be Governors of California, and Jesse Ventura could be Governor of Minnesota. Yes. But they left a mess. It is one thing to be a governor and quite another to be a good governor. To elect a governor, all that voters have to do is react to electioneering -- i.e., react to election slogans. To elect a good governor, one has to have a conception of what a good public servant is, what a good society is, and what the most important issues are facing society, and then to judge which candidate comes close to accomplishing this vision. To elect a good governor one has to have a sense of policy needs and an understanding of what it takes to achieve these. Any citizen can vote. But voting for a good governor is not for the intellectually lazy. Voters need to do their homework and prepare themselves -- otherwise we get the political mess we see on the national scene.
8
I would like to know who she is going to have around her. The lack of experience is a real issue, but it can be mitigated. She seems more than smart enough, but who she surrounds herself with will determine if she is capable. If they are fellow neophytes, no thank you, but if she has some reliable veterans I think she might be really good.
4
As a former New York resident, I can tell you that Governor Cuomo is not that bad. I came to Florida when there was a Democratic governor and legislators. Things have been very bad here since the Republicans took over. Governor Scott is perhaps the worst governor in this country. Denying people in need of Medicaid, refusing to let one and a half million ex convicts that have paid their debt to society the right to vote, and among other things, wants to decide and approve - not voters, who sits on the Florida Supreme Court. Now Scott wants to be a Senator and perhaps later, president.
I believe that Governor Cuomo can handle the conservatives in Albany which would be a very difficult task for Cynthia Nixon who has no previous executive experience at this high level.
5
No we’re not underestimating her. She has overestimated herself.
13
Trump has more executive experience than Cynthia Nixon...sad.
3
I'm encouraged to see that the usual raft of "butbutbut EXPERIENCE!!!1" comments that always ensue when the Times writes about Nixon are now roughly equaled by comments pointing out 1) that this is a deeply gendered (at best) view, and 2) that Cuomo is a hack unburdened by values or common decency whose administration has thwarted reform at almost every turn.
After eight years of his bottomless cynicism, opportunistic triangulation and a consistent grudge against the City that finances the rest of this state, he has to go. Nixon will work hard, hire a strong team, and most importantly open up Albany to the many voices that Cuomo has continued to marginalize.
7
@Fred DiChavis
Would you want a raw rookie to take out your appendix or pull a rotten tooth?
Is governor less important than surgeon or dentist?
Sheesh!
4
There are plenty of experienced doctors, surgeons and dentists that screw up every day.
Unfortunately you can't sue the governor for incompetence.
2
MS NIXON Has a number of things going against her, not the least of which is name recognition. It is impossible for voters NOT to associate her name, if only unconsciously, with that of the late villain, Richard Nixon. Also, it is impossible for her to avoid the fact that she has no political experience. We're already being torn to pieces by a president with no political experience and a business history of being a scoundrel, scofflaw and psychopathic narcissist, incapable of empathy or remorse. While I believe that there is no reason to think that Ms. Nixon exhibits any of the severe character flaws of Trump, again, it is inevitable that there will be some unconscious associations with her lack of experience. The third strike going against her is her red hair. I think that, once again, if only on an unconscious level, people respond aversively to hair color, that adds to the discomfort she generates, unconsciously, in potential voters. I'm not overly fond of Andrew Cuomo either. He has some characteristics of a strongman But on balance he is far more empathic and when necessary, remorseful than Trump. And he's a productive governor, though his administration is a work in progress. But then again, that's the definition of how life works: as a work in progress. It's not meant as praise for Cuomo, but rather a reminder that politics is an imperfect art. Since humans are imperfect, any endeavor they undertake will be imperfect. We need to keep fixing flaws.
3
Lumping the dishonest, incompetent, inexperienced Trump together with Ms Nixon is a mistake. She is intelligent enough to consult advisors; she knows how to hire smart people. She is not a "donorDem". Cuomo is the same old same old.
6
Even Theodore Roosevelt started at the bottom.
@Julie
You've got to be kidding.
Do you know anything about Theodore Roosevelt's various positions -- anything at all?
3
@B.
Not kidding at all, but I was going for irony, not touting expertise. What was Nixon doing in her 20s? Theater, t.v.? My thumbnail knowledge (Mornings on Horseback, bios of Edith K, Alice R. and River of Doubt if I must include sources before commenting) of TR was that after college he headed for Albany, then back to NYC as police commissioner. In other words, he busied himself in politics, civil service and public office from an early age. Many of us feel like there's groundwork to be laid, a right of passage perhaps, before strolling thru the doors of the governor's office.
Unlike Ms Nixon, Ms Ocasio-Cortez is very very likely to win the election and become a member of the House from the Bronx/Queens.
While most would be surprised to see Ms Nixon do as well as Ms Teachout did in the 2014 gubernatorial NYS primary.
Will the NY Times be profiling Randy Credico next week?
2
Cynthia Nixon thinks people are underestimating her. Really? The fact is, no one knows who she is. Moreover, no one is interested in or cares about what she thinks or feels. She is merely another unqualified radical left ideologue, a moronic twit. Why would one expect otherwise? Is there some reason the NY Times provides her the coverage she desires? Help us understand? Or.. simply not print this opposing viewpoint, i.e., preemptive censorship, as usual..
4
I’m interesting in defeating corrupt fake Dems like Coumo. A stuffed parrot could run NY more efficiently and above all, more honestly than Coumo and his band of indictees, convicts and targets of current criminal investigations.
3
My biggest problem with Ms. Nixon's campaign is that it is completely focused on New York City. Yes, the subway here needs to be fixed, but so does the economy of upstate New York. I haven't found anything on her website that mentions upstate concerns, I wonder if she even knows how bad unemployment is in some rural parts of the state. Legalizing pot is one of her issues, but she says nothing about solving the opioid epidemic. I live in Manhattan but, unlike Ms. Nixon, I can't ignore so much of the the state.
11
Oddly enough, legalizing pot by itself has proven to reduce the opioid crisis.
4
The arrogance! I wish I could vote for someone to the left of Cuomo (and who might not be taken out by some corruption scandal, eventually.) But is there truly nobody else in New York State with experience and a proven track record?
I'm annoyed with Ms. Nixon's belief that we should take her word for her competency. Our politicians should work their way up to these chief executive positions. Not expect to waltz in because they have the right beliefs. I want beliefs plus competence.
9
For those willingly to look Nixon and her partner have a great deal of experience in politics. Look into it why don’t you? Thanks!
1
@Mad Town Patriotic How about some details instead of unsupported assertions?
Or is this comment any more reliable than your intemperate rant about Cuomo?
for the record: politics in Albany ain't beanbag. Cuomo has gotten a lot of good things done, starting with an ontime budget that isn't "Republican Lite".
1
One lesson I have learned from Trump is that it is a bad idea to elect a person with no government experience to an important government administrative job -- no matter how much I agree with them.
The best presidents in my lifetime have had a lot of experience in the government -- as a Senator, a Representative, or in the military. First, I want to know that the candidate has been a good administrator in his/her career -- but not just in business. Government is truly different. Second, they must know how to work with other politicians of all stripes, both American and foreign.
Of course, this experience won't make them a candidate a good President but it will at least guarantee that they have some idea of how the Presidency works.
In addition, a good candidate should support the causes I believe in and must believe that government, in itself, is a good thing.
I have had enough of government by people who don't believe in government.
11
....“If I were a man with exactly the same résumé, I would not be getting this question to the extent that I am,” she said...
If she was a man with the same resume as a mid-level actor and little else, he wouldn't be running. It's possible to generally agree with her worldview and still recognize that Governor of New York is not an entry-level job. Why doesn't she run for City Council or even Congress?
18
@B.
Okay, "why not run for City Council" is a good question.
But what entry level elected office did Andrew Cuomo start with?
1
Guess you never heard of that mid level actor named Ron
Reagan?
1
You can look up Andrew Cuomo's various positions in Wikipedia.
You ask re "elected" office, but the jobs Cuomo held and the organizations he founded comprise solid experience in the law, running things, and working in large organizations.
1
Ms. Nixon is a highly accomplished Broadway actress ( with some limited experience in film). She certainly seems to be a high quality individual and sincere in her determination. But how does she think could possibly jump into the position of Governor of the state of New York without any political experience. This is an extraordinarily difficult job. For starters, she should run for a seat in the House of Representatives and serve for at least one term to get some background into the political process. At this juncture, she is totally unqualified for the governorship.
17
@robert
This isn't brain surgery....Life time career civil servants have gotten us to where we are now which is a no trust in government outlook.
2
The Governorship of New York, like the Presidency, is not an entry level political job. Notwithstanding ideology, the US is currently suffering from the pure unadulterated incompetence of a second rate celebrity who lacks any political experience. Ms. Nixon claims that her gender is a cause of public scrutiny of her lack of her experience. This is nonsense. At some point, the public starts to learn from its mistakes.
18
Voters should support the candidate best aligned to their own thinking. If that’s Nixon, then for that voter it’s a better use of their vote than Cuomo.
This is the same for those who voted Green (and not for Clinton) or voted Libertarian. If you don’t vote for those you agree with, nothing will ever change.
One question for the NYTs. Since when does living one’s whole life in NYC (“lifelong New Yorker”) constitute “worldly”?
6
@J
I'm curious. Aside from helping Donald Trump get elected as President, how did voting for Jill Stein help to change things?
7
@Steve In the long term, voting for Jill Stein might suggest to the Democratic Party that they should make some attempt to find a candidate who wouldn't lose to a Donald Trump.
Throughout this article I looked and found nothing about Ms. Nixon going upstate to visit. She really reads like a local candidate and not state-wide. I have not heard anything from her regarding unemployment and attracting industry to the state. While it is admirable that she wants to devote her life to public service it is also extremely privileged on her part. She is not the first inexperienced person to run for office and she won't be the last.
15
People complain that she is a celebrity candidate who should be running for some lower-rung office. But Andrew Cuomo's first run for office was for NYS Attorney General--a statewide office. Could he have even been considered for that if he did not have a famous name? Cynthia Nixon is no dilettante. She is a deeply-rooted progressive activist--the kind of reformer we desperately need in corrupt Albany which is now presided over by a nominal Democrat who has empowered the Republican minority in the State Senate to hold onto power and thwart ALL progressive legislation--an unforgivable betrayal. I want a real Democrat to be governor. I'm voting for Nixon!
3
@Andy Humm
Wait, didnt Andrew Cuomo chair the NYC Mayor's Homeless Commission for 3 years? Didnt he found the nonprofit Housing Enterprise for the Less Privileged. Didnt he serve as Assistant Secretary of HUD? These are objective, concrete accomplishments. Aside from being "deeply rooted" in progressive activism, what has Ms. Nixon actually accomplished, as aside from being a television lawyer. This would be laughable if it wasnt so important.
18
@Andy Humm Andrew Cuomo was the Assistant Secretary and then the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for all 8 years of the Clinton Administration. These were big jobs with executive responsibilities and large budgets to manage.
16
@John
And the audit of HUD under Cuomo's leadership found many, many irregularities, some of which were outright illegal. He is a terrible manager. Just ask the people who work under him. Or look at his big accomplishments, like consolidating all IT under one agency.
The guy is a disaster.
The electorate isn't underestimating Cynthia Nixon. Based on these comments, they are estimating her exactly at her value level as a candidate for state office. It's the media that is propping up this misguided candidacy.
23
Much as shooting oneself in the head is not to be preferred above shooting oneself in the foot. Unless impaired of reason. Two years into the Ogre’s presidency and you Yankee liberals have yet to realize that the alternative to an unelectable Madame Clinton is neither anarcho-syndicalism nor an octogenarian democratic socialist, no matter how affable.
While locking up the guns and hiding the whiskey might be a necessary first step. Since Yankees obviously can't handle either.
4
I agree. The Clintons were OK for their policies. Most good for the majority of liberals in NYC and NYC West(Los Angeles. Mrs. Clinton was an out of touch candidate. Eight years of Prez. Obama were OK but the Dems allowed the wrong candidate to run. Mrs. Clinton and her no platform were doomed from the start. V.P. Biden had a better chance. Cest la vie. The South rose again and put a N.Y.C fraud in office. Now we have to hope that Trump doesn’t die in office and put his really racist, backwards looking V.P. in charge. We have become our own worst enemies.
2
This country is in deep trouble because enough people said experience doesn't count. Ms. Nixon, is clearly well intentioned and smart – but with no background she wants the top job now. Sharp elbows can only work so far and an acting resume is useless except for telling lies with a straight face.
17
@Realworld If she has good people with experience around her to shepherd her through the process she will be fine. If she has a motley crew like Sen. Sanders had in 2016 it will be a disaster.
1
People wonder what qualifications Ms. Nixon has to be Governor of the great state of New York.
For one, she is not Cuomo. Two, she has decent ideas and is authentic -- but that brings us back to one again.
Yes, she has no experience and so I am pulling my hair out over this. I may not vote for her, but I will not be voting for him in any case. At least not in the primary.
4
Did Cinthia Nixon pay for this article? Policies aside, it's bad journalism. The author rebukes every one of his or her own points that criticize her. "She didn't have a good answer if you pressed her for details a second or third time...but what politician does?" Meanwhile, all the criticisms of the current mayor were left as they were.
13
Who does Cynthia Nixon think that she is? Ronald Wilson Reagan, Donald John Trump, Sr. or James George Janos aka Jesse Ventura? Sonny Bono? Al Franken? Stormy Daniels?
6
@Blackmamba -- you forgot Schwarzenegger ... but your point is well made.
I haven't forgiven Cuomo for shutting down the Moreland commission, and the Percoco trial and conviction was the last straw -- but Cynthia Nixon isn't up to cleaning out this Augean stable.
1
I can't even finish this article. Cynthia Nixon's run for governor is emblematic of our celebrity-obsessed culture. She is not remotely qualified -how about City Council, Cynthia?
19
I have had enough of celebrities who want to preach to the rest of us who have lives very different from theirs. Yes, increase my already high middle class taxes to pay for your socialist welfare programs. And, of course, let’s open our borders to millions of more poor, uneducated, unskilled, some illiterate in their own language. Here’s my pay check. Not happening. One of the reasons Trump got elected.
12
The pushback narrative to Cynthia Nixon seeking office is very much about women keeping their place. We never have the right experience, knowledge, temperament, and/or chromosomes. It threatens the existing patriarchal system. I'd be interested to see the Venn diagram of critics of her campaign along with those who embraced Ronald Reagan Double standard much? I know Cynthia Nixon to be very much a part of her community -- not an elitist swank celebrity making 1% choices. Her child went to the neighborhood nursery school co-op. She is a YMCA member, a committed activist for NYC public school education and local garden supporter. She has my vote. Hell yeah, she does.
4
@Amy - Please. She is not remotely qualified.
10
All great things. And admirable in a neighbor she truly does seem like a great person. But that doesn’t necessarily translate to being a great governor.
9
@Amy -- I have no acting experience at all and am candidly an ordinary-looking "middle-aged" white guy. If I had showed up at HBO and insisted that I deserved a starring role on "Sex and the City" they and everyone else would have laughed me out of the room.
I am no "swank elitist .... making 1% choices," my kid went to the local nursery school ... and my local high school too. There's a good reason for that; I'm not in the 1%.
I voted for Teachout against Cuomo, but I cannot vote for Nixon.
3
Even though it may seem somewhat picky to mention it, I am sure there are people who will be put off by her surname. Alas.
Sick to death of Know Nothing Nixon. She has no business running for governor of New York. Her Act I ought to be a shot at the very local level -- City Council perhaps-- or even lower-- chair of a district democratic club. By Act III when she's enraptured the audience with her skills, then maybe the curtain can rise on a gubernatorial campaign. Even then it would be a stretch.
What is it about politics that makes it so attractive to performers?
12
@ellen Continued exposure and adoration.
@A. Xak
Yes -- Hitting nail squarely on head. Not getting the movie roles, so, enter politics instead where you'll be in the headlines daily!
Does anyone in their right mind think Cynthia Nixon-an actress- can straighten out the eternal mess that Albany politics is and has been for decades? If so, you've been watching way too much TV.
11
We have a completely inexperienced actor from NYC in the White House right now, and I haven't been too crazy about that so far....
Honestly, I get that "huh?" look on my face whenever I hear about Cynthia Nixon running for governor, and have since it was first reported. I have it on my face right now as I read about this. It feels entitled, dilettante-ish. Self-congratulatory. Just out of nowhere, with no experience as a public servant, "I think I'll run for governor of NYS!!"
...and while I'm sure it's fun - and convenient - to include herself in the movement that Ms. Octavio-Cortez (deservedly) heads, with Ms. Nixon, it feels opportunistic.
I'm not sure if it's because I loathed Ms. Nixon's role (and the other women's roles) on "Sex in the City"...but as an original, multi-generational NYer myself, there's just something distasteful about this. And - well, maybe I don't understand her, but - "gee, wouldn't it be nice to live in that lovely Upper East Side mansion?".
Ego, narcissism, and deluded thinking...I think I've had enough.
7
I do not support her candidacy but from where did you draw these cruel conclusions? She’s obviously earnest and hard working with a caring soul. You are totally off base about her character which seems strong.
5
Nixon, the leftist, is an extremist. She will not win and does not deserve any media/news coverage. People do not want their paychecks going to the state and federal gov't and nothing is free as it is via taxpayers. Get a clue and stop the nonsense.
8
Cynthia does deserve news coverage. Running against for governor is a newsworthy event, and New Yorkers deserve the chance to get to know both candidates.
2
Ms. Nixon should run for City Council.
3
"The actress-turned-candidate for New York governor is trying to persuade skeptical Democrats to see beyond her political inexperience, as some did with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez"
==================
However there is a major difference: Ocasio-Cortez's campaign embodied the cultural/political norms of her relatively small constituency while Nixon is running state-wide touting the classic liberal/socio meme which many voters reject.
That said, the extent to which she is successful may inform future DNC policies particularly with respect to its cultural inclusiveness.
Then again, it may not, again leaving the "butcher baker and candlestick maker" to the Republicans.
1
I wish Ms. Nixon the best of luck. I do not like Andrew Cuomo, as he is as corrupt as his cohorts who recently were charged. He is the son of Mario Cuomo and is a despot by his inheriting the Governor's chair. It is time we kicked out all ancestrally related candidates, as they are crony kids.
Time NY had a woman, Governor. Ms. Nixon is progressive. She has no connections or cronies. Give her a chance, as we really need a progressive in Albany.
2
@Richard E. Schiff If Ms. Nixon wants to clean up corrupt and incompetent government why not set her sights on NYC? The Mayor's name has come up in several corruption scandals/trials including Mangano's as a player in pay to play politics. In her spare time from fixing the schools, which the Mayor has not accomplished, she can overhaul the NYCHA.
The photo of Nixon with diBlasio is telling. That's her mentor and supporter and one time employer of her spouse. It's also exposes diBlasio's utilization of Nixon in his ongoing political war with Cuomo.
If she were to switch her sights, she won't have to learn where Saugerties is.
2
@Richard E. Schiff
Coumo of course did win being elected by voters my more votes garnered over his opponent , not an automatic inheritance is it?
There is a YUGE difference between the responsibilities of a newly elected congressperson from the Bronx and Governor of NY. If Cynthia Nixon thinks they are comparable, she really is unqualified.
8
@pauld1876 -- Ms. Ocasio-Cortez has not been elected -- she won the Democratic nomination. In her district it is exceedingly likely she will win the election, but to call her "newly elected" is an insult to our democracy.
3
Well I don't know anything about this woman but I can point to the biggest example of someone with no political experience in my lifetime running for and getting elected to office, Trump. And that would lead me to say "just say no." Like, you know, just say no (to drugs).
7
What I worry is that if she loses the primary, will she insist on running as a 3rd party candidate? Will she then split the vote so that Molinaro could win?? I very much hope in these times she holds her funds for another day and another office so she does not throw New York to Trump. I think her ideas are good, but why splinter a Democratic stronghold right about now? How then could any of her agenda go through if New York is lost to the Republicans?
3
Nixon has my vote. I'd vote for almost anyone over Cuomo.
3
Even far left New York State won't elect Cynthia Nixon, a fringe candidate at best. These types of democratic candidates discredit the Democratic Party.... even if they have no chance of winning.
Running on a boat load of far left issues doesn't win in any election.
5
Thanks, Kirby. You obviously know NY only from the NYC based sitcoms you have watched. The state as a whole is nothing like Friends or Seinfeld. Please come and visit and spend a significant amount of time here getting to know our place before you comment on our ethos
2
Nixon's candidacy is an embarrassing statement about the seriousness of progressives, period.
7
Sorry, I just can’t get past an incident that occurred when Miss Nixon was on the board of roundabout theater company. We were one of the main sponsors and at their annual gala . I tried to talk with her and the photographer came to take a picture .she refused to speak with me and rolled her eyes when the photographer wanted to take a picture of us. Sounds like a little petty thing, but, if you are running for office,That’s a huge part of getting elected. I have to shake the hands and kiss the babies and not roll your eyes.
7
I'd rather not be governed by hollywood stars. Their greatest talent is telling (enjoyable) lies. Still, I am inclined to vote for Nixon anyway, after reading this, if she can just keep repeating, tax the rich. That is all I want to hear, frankly.
2
Ms. Nixon appears to be running for the position of governor of New York City. As a resident of Central New York State, sometimes referred to as Upstate, I do not underestimate Ms. Nixon, I ignore her; as she does of New York State north Westchester.
5
You do realize that 60% of our state’s population lives below the Westchester/Rockland Northern boarders, right? Not to mention the wealth AND TAXES PAID. Why shouldn’t our concerns take center stage?
2
@HBL -- agreed.
She brings to mind another politician who thought he deserved statewide office because the people in his home district supported him -- Rick Lazio (remember him? Opponent to HRC for the senate seat after Guiliani had his messy public adultery/divorce?).
And at least Rick had been elected to something.
But Rick never campaigned off Long Island. He was the most feckless Republican campaigner in modern state history -- remember him getting outed on the TV news for that speech he gave where he called everyone else in the state "ungrateful whiners" over the state bailout of Suffolk County? Or how about his last-minute stiffing of the Rochester Republican Women's Club fund-raiser for him -- and being photographed attending an Islanders Game?
We could hope that Cynthia would not be that pathetic -- but adoration in Park Slope is no guarantee of statewide office.
1
I see how Cuomo plays political games with our lives and am disgusted how his personal conflicts with the mayor affects his decisions. He needs to fund CUNY and SUNY properly, instead of just these phony giveaways like "free tuition" which really helps only a small population. Free tuition should be available to all New Yorkers.
My biggest issue with Nixon is how cozy she is with DeBlasio, whom I also find unfortunate.
I think Nixon needs to get into some more specifics of her platform. Until I hear something that I disagree with wholeheartedly, she's got my support.
2
Free tuition?? Funded by the taxpayers. Why should I pay for someone else's education?
1
Maybe just maybe...
By running Nixon is effectively calling out Cuomo and our state will benefit from her efforts.
I don’t believe she has a strong chance at winning but in the meantime I cheer her on to influence Cuomo.
5
Egos sometimes get in the way of reality. My opinion is that both Cuomo and Nixon have that problem, and neither should not be our governor.
I don't agree that people who have found fame and fortune in one arena, doesn't necessarily obtain that they have the same qualifications in another, entirely different area.
Nixon doesn't have the background, knowledge and experience to be our governor of NY.
Further, I think Cuomo's view of himself as continuing to be our governor is Machiavellian. It's always only his way or the highway.
Three men in the room, is no way way to run government. Especially since now two of them have now been twice convicted of corruption. So, Cuomo has not always been right.
Further, Cuomo's biggest failure to to date, is his failure to enact ethics laws. And prematurely terminating his Ethics Commission, rather than pursuing that righteous cause.
Now, two of Cuomo's own staff members have been convicted of corruption. We really need are competent and ethical candidates without authoritarian tendencies.
We already have another of that type at the national level, and that is not playing well, nationally.
6
Whether Cynthia Nixon is underrated and more talented than we give her credit for is beside the point. The larger point is that she represents a collective notion that the celebrity icon, unique in his or her own way, is a "refreshing" alternative to the status politician. This is nothing new; it's existed since Charles Lindbergh and perhaps before then. It's what brought us Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Not to denigrate Ms. Nixon, I hold the highest respect for her. I just think this concept is dangerous and fraught with the severest of complications. I believe life on Planet Earth is becoming infinitely more complex and difficult given the population explosion and thus, our leaders need to be more qualified than ever.
27
@Martin
Oh I see. The self made woman has to take a back seat to Cuomo family nepotism.
2
No, I am not underestimating her. She is a mediocre actress on a semi-interesting series. Her character was not particularly interesting. Now she thinks her fame entitles her to screech to everyone about what she thinks they should think. (If a liberal like me thinks this, just think how radioactive she is to independents?) Go away, Cynthia. Politics isn't like HBO, you actually have to work at it.
35
The article's headline as posted at the Times' online website (for the time being): "Cynthia Nixon Thinks You’re Underestimating Her"
Here is something I tell my students regarding their written assignments: Don't use the second-person (you, your, you're, yours, etc.).
Why? Because it's presumptuous. People don't like being told what they think. People can think for themselves without being told what someone else presumably thinks they think.
The headline writers at the New York Times, not to mention Cynthia Nixon, might take this into consideration.
16
[[The actress-turned-candidate for governor is trying to persuade skeptical New York Democrats to see beyond her political inexperience,]]
She seems to be vacillating between using her celebrity as an actress who played an entitled white woman and wanting to engage with working class non-white voters.
6
Too bad ,this person who herself benefited from NYC's great tv and film workers ,would like to eliminate the New York State tax benefits which producers need to produce work in our city and by doing so she will cause tv and film producers to go once again to Canada or the South this at a time when we are shooting more shows then ever before in entertainment history thanks to Netflix , & Amazon ,Apple among other new producers starting to work here, truly to the point that there are not enough sound stage studios to shoot in due to such demand .
Her performance regarding this intended act calls for one big
Boooooo!
7
I don't know what to think about Ocasio-Cortez's victory and whether it is an indicator of anything except apathy of everyone. She got about 16,000 votes and Crowley got about 12,000 in a Congressional District, the 14th, with over 214,750 active registered Democrats. Only about 13% voted and only about 7.4% voted for her. Big deal.
22
I'm sure her idea's and heart are in the right place, but NYC is the big leagues get a little minor league experience first.
13
I don’t care about Cynthia Nixon’s qualifications so much as I totally disagree with her portrayal of Cuomo as not progressive.. marriage equality, free college, major give aways for small business start ups, enacting the strictest gun control legislation in the country thus far, filing lawsuits on behalf of immigrant/assylum children separated from parents, standing with Puerto Rico.. I could go on. Maybe he’s not giving away bongs but I’d say his time has been well spent and to portray him as not progressive is short sided and not helping the causes Ms Nixon stands for.
16
Laura - "maybe he's not giving away bongs" - love it!
1
I like Ms. Nixon. I think she is smart, passionate, and compassionate. And I think anyone who votes for her is out of their minds.
Governing 20 million people is not easy. It's about a lot more than talking and making grandiose liberal claims. If Ms. Nixon is so committed to her cause, she should do what everyone else who is committed to a cause does: start at the bottom, work her way up and learn, and then get to the top by mettle and experience. She should become an alderwoman, then maybe serve in the state senate, then earn herself a role overseeing a state department, then, perhaps in eight or ten years, her candidacy will warrant some level of confidence.
No one would dream of enlisting a surgeon who's never performed an operation. You need to complete an apprenticeship before you can become an elevator repair person. Even most restaurants will not hire servers who lack prior experience. Why is it only for our most critical government roles that Americans think experience is unnecessary?
It's madness. Absolute madness.
43
@Kevin:
Right. Nope, Ms. Nixon. We have you pegged just right. You have no experience. You cheated Mr. Cuoma's performance.
Out. Of. Your. Depth.
10
@Kevin Relevant experience? Don't be silly. It's not required for TV personalities.
Cynthia Nixon is not being "underestimated". She is being evaluated based on her qualifications and experience, and she is losing.
28
Get some experience actually governing first, in a much lower office.
22
@MG I wish your words had been heeded before a minority of voters placed the Donald in the Oval Office.
12
Famous Nixon quote -
"I am not a crook." --
Oh--wait...
7
I will vote for a woman who breast feeds on the subway. She will probably join the Bloodstained Men in opposing neonatal circumcision, which interferes with breastfeeding and mother-child bonding.
5
Cynthia Nixon: No experience governing. Self centered and egocentric. We have a President with the same characteristics. The last thing NY needs is an inexperienced person who is focused on herself as Governor.
She says we only no "one slice of her" well that's plenty and quite frankly one slice too many.
24
I believe that she means well, and she has SOME good ideas, but she is not ready for prime political time and will ultimately embarrass herself and we who hold many of the positions she espouses. I am no fan of Andrew Cuomo, but if the choice is just between the two of them, I'm reluctantly with him. (Can't my party come up with a better choice than either of these two?) Now fix the subway, Governor!
18
Could The Times be a little more obvious about playing kingmaker?
You were instrumental in giving us Trump. Leave this race alone.
13
I'm with you, Ms. Nixon. You have passion. You are smart and politically active--and have been for a long time now. Lots of people are running now who have no previous governmental experience--but they read, they're involved in their communities, some volunteer and attend local government meetings. I'm okay with that. We need real people who care. Ms. Nixon is just such a person. More power to you, Ms. Nixon, and much good luck! I'm rooting for you!
9
@Margarita. Nixon’s platform is mystery!
2
@Margarita
No. We do NOT "need real people who care." We need competent, experienced politicians, who are experienced in getting things done. Jeepers, lady!
11
So tired of non experienced people running for office. There’s something about seasoned people with office experience. If she at least started as a Congresswoman, or perhaps a Senator... but Governor, the highest office in the state? Based on what? Thanks but no thanks.
23
One issue with the title: "why so many think..." I mean you are running for a public service and all you can come up with is something so self-centric. It is your job, your responsibility and your honor to present yourself in the way you wish the public to see, not blaming the public for not "seeing" you. But instead of being humble, you have such an attitude that pledging no one "really" knows about you.
Truly, no body "really" knows about you or care to do so. A public service is not a position as a public figure to sell your star power. A public service is to lower your head and listen to the people. Is to sacrifice and being misunderstood. You can merely say, I believe I can do better to have people know more of me. And I can offer more for the people.
It might be a great persona if you try to be edgy and trendy. However, I found this tone is quite unpleasant, it is not even elitism, but purely entitlement and self-centric.
By this time, you should learned that feeling unfair that the public not seeing you fully or the way you want is only a "slice" of the issues, or the most unimportant issues that a public service need to take care of. Public service is messy, unglamorous, and you should think before do it.
8
Ms. Nixon, whatever her achievements as an actress and celebrity may be, is no more qualified for high public office than I am, at my age and weight, to join the Cirque du Soleil. She is certainly not the first frivolous candidate, nor will she be the last. What is more concerning is that she has a constituency.
In particular, the support of the Democratic Socialists for her candidacy exemplifies the ineptitude of too much of the American left. Those people, roaming in cloud-cuckoo land seeking ideological purity and entertainment, are nearly as much of an obstacle to reform in this country as are Trump and the Republicans.
24
Bravo!!!!!!!!
7
@Realist
This is not a leftist thing. Think Bill Bradley, former NBA star, as centrist Democrat and NJ senator and Ronald Reagan, actor, as Republican Governor of California (and Al Franken, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, et al.)
If we're considering "ineptitude," we have to put HRC's 2016 run for president at the top of the list (still can't believe the genius move of avoiding key swing states).
8
Two corrections:
Bill Bradley graduated from Princeton - he's not only an athlete
Hillary Clinton steered away from the key swing states because Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders were in an unholy alliance preaching how tariffs would save jobs, and she was on record voting for free trade. When you're up against economic inexperience combined with dogma like that- with desperate workers hanging on every word- it would have been a disaster. Today, Trump's tariff war threatens to destroy 2.6 million jobs, according to the US Chamber of Commerce CEO - proving her stance was correct.
5
Having a television personality that thinks they can run the government has been proven to be a disaster. Why would New York want to try it at the state level?
26
The New York Times runs Cynthia Nixon articles every other week. It did the same with Donald Trump.
Maybe it is a failing newspaper. It is consumed with celebrity, and its stupid free-publicity for Trump -- along with damning articles about Hillary Clinton -- helped make him president.
Cynthia Nixon is the flip side of Donald Trump.
36
100% agree!!!
13
Another no-experience outsider who wants to shake up the"establishment" running for office. What could possibly go wrong? I mean, the "Trump experiment" is working out so well!
20
I am a life long registered democrat and a New Yorker.
Nixon is a great person and very successful in her field, smart, ambitious, and genuine.
That New York City is a ‘sanctuary city’ for nearly one million, that’s 1,000,000, ILLEGAL immigrants is one very strong, real reason why city apartment rent is so outrageously high, the housing stock so limited, the subway so crowded, and the educational, social service, and hospital systems buckling.
What is killing New York City? The fanatic ‘progressive’.
I believe it is possible to be both moral and rational.
When she called ICE a 'terrorist organization' she lost my vote.
Permanently.
30
@Summer
Are you suggesting from your words that our" 1 million illegal immigrants" can afford rents in NYC that are through the roof beyond belief and every neighborhood if it has not been gentrified ,is about to be?
Too much Trump ,me thinks in your comment.
9
Right on Summer!
I have a policy of only voting for candidates running for statewide office that have previously held public office. Someone without experience of sitting on a City Council, County Commission, Board of Education... hasn't had to compromise on issues, deal with large budgets, balance the needs of constituents, and a host of other things that governments deal with on a regular basis. There is a reason that politicians start local and progressively run for higher office, because they learn on the job. Having someone with no executive experience as a governor or president isn't a sound decision. I make this comment when men and women try to make the leap to higher office without experience. Criticism about her lack of experience regarding governing and public policy is valid. Just as criticism of Cuomo's record is valid as well.
16
"Underestimating?" That would be possible if we had a baseline from which to work. But we don't. Can she balance her checkbook - much less the $100 billion budget of the second largest State budget in the country? Has she run even a small company - much less a State with over 250,000 employees? Has she built consensus somewhere, and gotten people to do what she wants through a combination of cajoling and compromise - much less done so on the level of a State government?
We are not simply talking "inexperience." We are talking ZERO experience. And as others have said, a governorship is NOT the place to "learn in the job."
Why did she not start by running for City Council? Or even State Assembly? Heck, as some have mentioned (vis-a-vis Ms. Ocasio-Cortez), she might even have run for Congressperson. All would have been more appropriate. And when she loses to Cuomo, that is where she is going to end up anyway, if she wants to remain in politics.
36
I would hope that we've all had enough of celebrities running for office. She's just not qualified. Let her start small. I would support her running for a city council job.
25
It’s more likely that’s she’s overestimating herself. Nixon’s overly inflated option of her own self worth should send up red flags for any thinking adult.
30
By what rights should Cynthia Nixon receive your vote? She has zero political experience besides spouting her beliefs, which she is certainly entitled to do.
What executive experience does Cynthia Nixon possess?
So, based upon the assessment she has voiced concerns similar to yours and is a semi-household name due to acting exposure onTV, she is somehow qualified to be the Chief Executive of the State of New York?
I know that there are plenty of less than stellar minds out there in electorate land, but really, thinking New Yorkers are actually evaluating her as a candidate for this office?
"Idiocracy" is apparently not just a movie script.
25
American actors who have entered politics --
Al Franken (Democrat)
Alan Autry (Republican) )
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Republican)
Ben Jones (Democrat)
Clay Aiken (Democrat)
Clint Eastwood (Independent)
Cynthia Nixon (Democrat)
Fred Grandy (Republican)
Fred Thompson (Republican)
George Murphy (Republican)
Helen Gahagan (Democrat)
Jack Kelly (Republican)
Jerry Springer (Democrat)
Jesse Ventura (Independence Party of Minnesota)
Joe Flynn (Republican)
John Davis Lodge (Republican)
Melissa Gilbert (Democrat)
Nancy Kulp (Democrat)
Park Overall Democrat)
Ralph Waite (Democrat)
Ronald Reagan (Republican)
Sheila Kuehl (Democrat)
Shirley Temple (Republican)
Sonny Bono (Republican)
Stephen Peace (Democrat)
Wendell Corey (Republican)
And then - there are the many other very famous actors and celebrities - (possibly some of your all-time favorites) - who were very involved in politics - some of whom where liberal - but many others who were staunch republicans...
2
Mostly terrible examples. The proper comparators are actors with no experience chosen to lead a major US state, not run a district either congressional or state.
13
I believe Jerry Springer was mayor and then talk show host, not the other way around.
7
@Howard G
The issue isn't that Ms. Nixon is an actress. The issue is that she is reaching too high in her first step into politics. Most of those on your list ran for or held lower-level offices. Some ran for Congress, which isn't an executive job.
I thought Nixon got off to a pretty strong start, but then she made missteps. I think she should have hammered on the many issues pointing to Cuomo being very corrupt.
Just today, the Albany Times Union published this piece.
"Emails, records raise questions on Cuomo donations, donor's dividends"
https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Emails-records-raise-questions-...
Look at this statement:
"In the fall of 2011, Crystal Run's CEO was facing what's often a lengthy, bureaucratic process. His path, however, smoothed out considerably after the CEO wrote a $25,000 check — drawn from Crystal Run's corporate funds — to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's re-election campaign."
1
I would fall into the political demographic that might support Cynthia Nixon. But here's the problem: does Cynthia Nixon have any program for upstate? Has she ever been upstate? Her website looks like someone running for mayor of New York. Under estimating? No, totally underwhelming.
21
Ms. Nixon, The eyes of NY/the Nation are watching. What is your elevator speech? And why is different than the current NY Governor's? How will you pay for your platform? How do you deal with the fact that NY taxpayers are the mostly highly taxed citizens in the Country? By the way, your perceived inexperience is not that noteworthy. A clear and concise message will be.
3
@Patti Ms. Nixon, The eyes of NY/the Nation are watching. What is your elevator speech? And why is it different than the current NY Governor's? How will you pay for your platform? How do you deal with the fact that NY taxpayers are the mostly highly taxed citizens in the Country? By the way, your perceived inexperience is not that noteworthy. A clear and concise message will be.
It would be more accurate to report that Cynthia Nixon is straining to invent new slices of herself. Her candidacy for governor of one of the largest and most important states in the country is laughable. When I hire an auto mechanic, I ask about the quality of her work, her experience fixing cars. Because, yes, experience actually tends to predict the ability to do that thing. What experience does Ms. Nixon bring to the table? Well, she is an actor who played a lawyer on a cable tv show 20 years ago. Never held public office, never ran for public office, never ran a company or nonprofit, no experience teaching or in scientific research, never worked in a labor union, or in finance. Gosh, has she ever visited upstate or have the faintest clue about the challenges that regular people face? ANY of these demonstrated competencies might be helpful in showing the voters what skills Ms. Nixon brings would bring to do the job. Let’s be painfully honest, we have all had quite enough of television actors looking for their next role. We don’t need a pretend governor, we need someone who will actually do the job.
35
@Steve
We need a governor who isn't corrupt. Have you been following the many stories about Cuomo's campaign and his top aides? The evidence of corruption is overwhelming.
So as someone else said, since no other Dem will challenge Cuomo, she will have to do.
7
Just like Trump’s drain the swamp message. And now look what we have.
5
@Renegator
I heard a GOP guest commentator on WAMC, an upstate public radio station, say exactly the same thing, almost verbatim. Even went on about new blood, young and energetic, etc, etc. In other words, all of the pro-Nixon comments here are just mouthing GOP talking points to get a Republican Governor.
Ms. Nixon could alternatively run for an office held by a Republican incumbent, perhaps even in a swing state.
4
No, I don't "underestimate" you, young lady. I wish you the best - even from this outpost in Northern New Mexico!
2
experience is important. in medicine, law, science, engineering, politics, flying planes. in short, in everything. people who disagree are, frankly, idiots.
26
If political experience was worth a hill of beans Hillary would be POTUS now.
Though truth be told all of her experience was bad. She single handedly caused the Dems to loose control of the US House of Reps in 1994 with her my way or the highway rollout of Hillarycare. She lost the Dem presidential nomination to a single term senator from Illinois with a tissue thin resume and many liabilities. And she lost to Trump.
Funy the NYT and Wash Post assured us she was the smartest, most hardworking, most capable, most prepared, etc etc etc. candidate ever.
Yet she neglected to campaign in Mich, Penn, & Wisc.
10
I'll take an intelligent, decent novice over a corrupt, "experienced" pol every time.
12
There’s something odious about someone who wants to jump to the head of the line, even though she has no experience in the field of politics or administration. And then there’s the fact that she could splurge vote and get a Republican elected.
11
hope she wins this election.
9
Cuomo is a corrupt, corporate machine politician. THAT is what he is experienced at. If you can say Nixon has zero government experience, NYT, you can say that.
10
A very bright very talented human being pursuing the wrong job at the wrong time.
13
I am excited about this woman's campaign. She is asked by national news anchors why governor, not mayor, and her answer, that the power in New York is in Albany, not Manhattan, shows awareness of the New York State Constitution. Albany controls the MTA, NYC schools, can, in fact, control any part of any county if NY State chooses. She would make a good, smart Governor. Her analysis of an Emily Dickinson poem (that's my 'thing' is why that matters to me) underscores her intelligence, communication skills, passion, seriousness, and above all her ability to listen.
6
she unqualified untested wannabe politician & New Yorkers are sick & tired of people like her who runs under the umbrella of " progressive & socialism" she did not do & will do nothing for NY she is & will be the same as our lazy disgrace NYC MAYOR , she should back to her acting , We did not forget that in 2012 she joined & endorsed BDS
9
So in your opinion she is unqualified because she backed the BDS. Movement.
Nixon is running for the governorship of New York , In the United States of America.
You might be living in the wrong country .
3
@luna
You think DeBlasio's performance problems might just be, in part, the result of Cuomo's interference and combativeness? It was in the news for a year. Cuomo undermined DeBlasio repeatedly.
1
@luna
Progressives always support BDS. So does Bernie Sanders. Probably in his heart Bill de Blasio does too (except that he needs the Jewish vote). So, for that matter, does a Jewish cousin of mine. Go figure.
Supporting BDS of Israel indicates intellectual fuzziness. If you're going to boycott and divest from a country that has a rotten human rights record, why not target most Muslim countries?
It's the same intellectual fuzziness that believes getting rid of an entrance exam to schools like Stuyvesant and Bronx Science will somehow magically enable school-averse children who do not do their homework to become physicists.
5
Nah. It’s that we have seen what happens when a person uses celebrity to advance a political career. It doesn’t end well.
Run for city council or mayor. Prove you have the bonafides. We are tired of rookies taking the top job and showing that they have no clue.
21
She may make a good governor one day. You want to learn the job - run for the State Legislature, City Council..I am sure she would not try to disparage the free press, lie until she doesn't know anymore when she is lying. However, one has to learn about government, the relationship among the federal, state and local branches. Does she know where the Medicare fiscal intermediaries are, how to work with public unions? Competence is a requirement for me.
14
As a transplanted NYC girl to upstate NY I have to say she needs to get to know New York. Much as the city is a liberal and progressive bastion, the upstate region, not so much. Additionally, although the population of downstate is considerable, the upstate region constitutes more then a third and they are very red. While they hold no love for Cuomo, ignoring the existence of the people upstate will win her no points or votes. If she is serious she will need to get her rear in gear and start interacting with people outside of the city. Otherwise she won't stand even a chance.
8
@D Pruyn
Upstate NY democrats, especially in rural counties, will vote against Cuomo. They did it for Zephyr Teachout when she had 10% name I.D., they'll do it again for Nixon. Until Cuomo pays on second of his attention to those folks, he won't get their vote.
3
Tell me did you ever ride on the subway before you were thinking of running for governor ?
13
Every word from Cynthia Nixon during this campaign has been honest, thoughtful, moral, cogent and admirable. I have no question about her fitness to be governor. The fact that she has not slogged her way up the ranks of NYC elected officials is no disqualification - not at all.
11
George W Bush had no experience in govt when he became Gov of Texas...he had failed in his efforts running for Congress, and had failed in all of his businesses efforts, plus he was an alcoholic and yet he won and then became President....so Ms Nixon is already far more qualified then George W ever was. Unlike GWB she has worked most of her life (starting as a child actress) and been very very successful. Seems sexist to me...maybe because GWB had family "legacy" money and connections and CN comes from an all-American working background ie no silver spoon...she is also far more articulate then poor GWB.
8
@Sandra Garratt All arguably true -- except you forget to mention that GWB was also arguably the most disastrous president in modern US history. The US (and the world) will be paying for the damage resulting from his administration for generations to come. (While Trump is personally more odious, nothing he has done (yet) begins to rival the invasion of Iraq in terms of its long-term consequences.) So... GWB may not be the best example to use to argue for the triumph of inexperience.
9
@Abraham: How about Ronald Reagan? Jumped from "actor" (and a bad one) to governor of CA, with zero political experience. Somehow managed to get himself elected president twice, too.
People have short memories, if Trump is all they can come up with as a comparison.
And Nixon is far more intelligent than either of those two simpletons. Not to mention way more conscientious and caring.
This whole discussion sounds sexist to the maximum.
1
GWB was one fine looking President; second only to JFK.
Nixon's timing is unfortunate. As we are learning the hard way with Trump, seasoned political experience really does matter, and at this point, being a celebrity in the spotlight is likely to be viewed with suspicion among Democrats especially.
14
Apparently no one in either party has to start on lower rungs in public service any longer and acquire a record for competence before asking voters to put them in office for the top jobs in the land. Whether the job is President, Governor or Mayor it appears that people who likely couldn't get elected as an outer borough Borough President because they haven't mastered the issues, just need to make headline making pie in the sky promises and grab for the highest brass ring
21
If people like her, she will be elected but I don't think people like her that much.
10
I think the big lesson to come out of recent presidential elections, particularly 2016, is that Americans don't care about "experienced" or "qualified." They are bland and sound like static in the ears of most Americans. In fact, those terms now carry negative connotations. It's like saying "why yes I am more of the same." I always thought somebody should have been fired for Clinton's "most qualified candidate ever" campaign slogan. What are you running for, a dentist? That bland, non-descriptive slogan wouldn't even impress me even if I were looking for a house painter.
5
@citybumpkin. Next time you need to wire your house, hire a dentist.
7
Ms. Nixon seems to think that if she were a male, she would not be questioned. Sorry, my real problem is that I don’t need another celebrity with no political experience in office. We already have one, thank you. I happily voted for HRC, may she have been elected. So, gender has nothing to do with it. Give me someone with some experience, or with a compelling reason to vote for you over someone with experience.
36
If she was running in a red state (I wish she was) she would be newsworthy, and he campaign would be on fire..
NY state?
Cuomo ?
He's doing just fine.
Absolutely no need to fix something that is not broken.
(and he knows the drill)
11
@r mackinnon
Speaking for the largely forgotten upstate voters, your analysis falls short: the system in NY is broken, and Cuomo's corruption is to blame.Both parties wash each others' backs in Albany, contributing to a duopoly of extreme political corruption. It's that level of corruption in this state, which is widely underreported, that will galvanize voters to support Cynthia Nixon.
1
Nixon is a textbook socialist who, from this article, obviously believes that the "nanny state" holds the answer to each and every problem. No thank you.
12
Oh yeah, Governor Cuomo who has done a disastrous job on the subway, corruption in Albany, the list goes on. Yeah give me that great experience.
22
Television and movie actors everywhere.
America is entering "The Twilight Zone".
8
@Shakinspear; Guess you never heard of Reagan or Schwarzenegger?
2
@Lillies
Hey, thanks lillies! I noted Reagan but forgot the N.B.C. elected Schwarzenegger who was California Governor. N.B.C. also helped their star Trump win with lots of free airtime, and for the last year and a half has portrayed Trump humorously on "Saturday Night Live" I think to smooth the nightmare they brought us.
1
This is real life, not "Dave".
If Nixon was asked to standby for Glenda Jackson in "Lear" she'd be more hesitant.
4
Just what NY needs...another amateur.
23
Just because she's an actress who cares about current events and wants to get involved in politics doesn't mean she's qualified to be governor. I watched her interview with Stephen Colbert and when he asked her why she was qualified, she evaded the question. Case closed.
49
I just can’t. Sorry. The stakes are too high and I can’t get with the jump to the head of the line from screen to head of state. The comparison to Ocasio-Cortez?
Um, there are some obvious differences there and points to be considered from Nixon’s POV for next time.....
18
Democrats, change requires experience in the political theater, not the movie theater. LBJ started politics in 1937, as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 10th district. After a stint in the US Navy, from which he received the Silver Star.
1963: Clean Air Act of 1963[272]
1963: Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963[273][274]
1963: Vocational Education Act of 1963[275]
1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964
1964: Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964
1964: Wilderness Act
1964: Nurse Training Act of 1964[276]
1964: Food Stamp Act of 1964
1964: Economic Opportunity Act
1964: Housing Act of 1964[277]
1965: Higher Education Act of 1965
1965: Older Americans Act
1965: Coinage Act of 1965
1965: Social Security Act of 1965
1965: Voting Rights Act of 1965
1965: Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965
1966: Animal Welfare Act of 1966
1966: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
1967: Age Discrimination in Employment Act[278]
1967: Public Broadcasting Act of 1967
1968: Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
1968: Bilingual Education Act
1968: Civil Rights Act of 1968
1968: Gun Control Act of 1968
Significant regulatory changes
1968: FCC creates national emergency number 9-1-1
What are these amateurs thinking?
18
@SheHadaTattooToo And as president by default, he dragged us into a disastrous multi-year war that tore the country apart - and then refused to run as the incumbent in 1968, leading to Richard Nixon's landslide victory. Yeah. That worked out well.
1
Cynthia Nixon is an actress from Television.
Cuomo's brother is from Television.
Don Trump is from Television and is now President.
Reagan was a movie actor and President.
Jessie Ventura was a Television wrestler and Governor.
Sonny Bono was a Television star and Congressman.
Thompson was a Television actor and Senator.
Who runs Television? I can think of cops, feds, military.
Who runs Hollywood? Military, corporations, cops, feds, and thankfully Mel Brooks because this is all getting so crazy like one of his terrific movies.
I'm sorry, but I just can't take political people any more without a laugh.
America has become so profoundly seduced and dumbed down by visual media and a lack of education that Nixon's support of education should be front and center in the election debates even if she loses.
Quoting from the article; "“That takes chutzpah,” Vicki Schwaid, 60, called out from across the car, after Ms. Nixon’s maneuver kept the door open long enough to get her party aboard. “Just because of that, I’m voting for you.”"
Sheesh! Know what I mean? Like the Sheriff said in Mel Brooks, "Blazing Saddles"..........."They so dumb!"
9
@Shakinspear. Ronald Reagan was a B list actor and a TV spokesman when his movie career ended....don't forget to include him too.
4
@Shakinspear
In "Lillies" comment above, I was reminded of Arnold Schwarzenegger who kicked off his campaign for Governor with the help of N.B.C.'s Jay Leno on his show. Coincidentally, Arnold's wife, Maria Shriver, worked for N.B.C. at one time. Trump's TV show was on N.B.C. The network show on N.B.C., "Saturday Night Live" has been misguiding the public about Trump and the nightmare he is by making him look funny. Are you all starting to see a pattern? If not, think deeper.
1
@Shakinspear
Additionally, several years back, Congressional Republicans bantered about the idea of a Constitutional amendment to change the "Born in America" requirement to be President so Arnold Schwarzenegger could run for the office.
C'mon, America! The Television industry and the Politicians are good buddies. There's a reason the politicians get free airtime on the Television Talk Shows and news, especially on Sunday mornings when everyone is home watching TV.
Not simply kissing the Times, but that's why I'm here and not watching very much TV.
The news here doesn't upset me like TV.
And sadly enough, in today's climate, more people are afraid of change-not realizing change is what this State, and Country needs!
6
@Donna 1111 xcuse me, that's what got us Trump. Change for change sake is almost always guaranteed to be a disaster. Think things can't get worse? jUST WATCH
5
It is not a matter of underestimating her. This is a crucial PHASE where we cannot afford to lose the state to the GOP! she is totally inexperience and just by promoting progressive agendas without any sold knowledge and strategy is not acceptable or enough at this upheaval time. Show and explain ur plans, your strategy and how they can be accomplished in practicality, instead of screaming progressive war cries! Cuomo,with all his sneaky and underhanded ways, could not push some of his agendas through the state Senate and traitor, and she think she can?!!! This is not a play! This is reality! A congressmen post is not going to hurt a state as a governor's position. Stop splitting the votes!!!
16
Seriously? We just elected a neophyte actor with no experience as President. How's that working for ya?
If Nixon wants to get into politics, start witj the Ledge...
15
@Phil
Excellent 2 SCOTUS justices and many other federal judges, tax cuts, cracking down on illegals, getting deadbeat NATO dependents to pay up, withdrawing from Paris Accord, reviewing rip off (to the US) trade deals, etc, etc, etc,
2
@Reader In Wash, DC, I feel sorry for you and sorrier for America if you think his SCOTUS appointments are excellent. The rest of the "accomplishments " are largely beneath contempt and unworthy of comment.
She couldn't be worse than Andrew Cuomo as governor...
14
@dan eades
Cuomo is corrupt, arrogant, and a terrible manager. His consolidation of IT and HR has not brought the benefits he claimed. It has lowered service levels and wasted staff time and agencies' money with the many problems it has created.
It's too bad the NYT doesn't run some of the articles the Albany TU has written. So many instances of corruption.
12
Maybe we need a return to elected office being a civic duty rather than a career. And I don't think being an actor is a disqualifier.
Being a bully and stupid are disqualifiers.
And if Cuomo was such an experienced government official, how is it that his inner circle included corrupt individuals? It doesn't say much about his management expertise, does it?
I don't live in NY, but if I did, I would vote for Nixon. After all what does Cuomo offer for real change? And sadly, he is just a shadow of his dad. Not fair to say, I know, but they had the same job and Mario was a favorite of mine.
11
@Bob Bruce Anderson: As a former "upstater" I can tell you Cynthia Nixon does not represent New York State outs side of the city limits. She has nothing to offer the rest of the state, which is so often the case in New York State.
6
@Lillies
I hear you loud and clear. There are also two states of MA. The east where they spend the money and the west where politicians visit when they need the votes. They could easily be separate.
I grew up in the western part. When we said we were going to the "city" it was NYC.
I am quite sure they are under estimating her ability as an actress, she can play any role she desires. Dems must be very stupid to trust a large organization to be led and managed by someone with no record of competence, and probably no potential team to do the work. But they like the current guy who also has no real experience in managing a large and diverse organization, that is how the NY subway gets to be a massive issue. Not to mention corruption to go with lack of competence, perhaps she can avoid the corruption.
9
@vulcanalex
Cuomo's problem is that he is corrupt, which leads to terrible managerial decisions. Take a look of the audit of HUD when he was Secretary under Clinton. The IG painted a horrific picture of malfeasance and illegal activities.
8
If I did not live in a rent-stabilized apartment, I would vote for Cynthia Nixon over Cuomo. However, Nixon would increase the chance of the Republicans winning in New YorK State in 2018. This would not only threaten things like rent stabilization and legalizing cannabis, but would bring great joy to Trump.
14
Republican policies already run things in Albany. Go look up the IDC and Cuomo's center-right policies - he is doing you no favors.
2
He was able to keep rent stabilaztion@Grant Case
I read to here and realized she's a nut case:
"She has called Immigration and Customs Enforcement a 'terrorist organization'.”
Experience doesn't really matter here -- someone so out of touch with reality is unsuited to the position.
26
Most progressives think ICE is a terrorist organization. They just don't live in the real world.
They don't know from terrorism, as we say in Brooklyn.
6
Most people who aren't brown and live near the border have no idea what it's like to be targeted by ICE. Down here in Texas we have millions of brown-skinned citizens, and all of them now have targets on their backs, thanks to the new ICE policies. Try living a normal life when all around you, ICE officials are raiding your workplaces, breaking down the doors of your homes, or stopping you in public, demanding to see proof of your citizenship, and even arresting you if you can't immediately provide your ID. This is actually happening -- but us white folks love to pretend that nothing like that could ever happen here. And because ICE has the full support of federal and state officials, there is no end in sight to this kind of unjust behavior and very few places to turn for help. Right after Trump started his stupid program, Texans woke up to ICE raids that terrified and persecuted our fellow citizens. We rose up to put a stop to the worst of it, but it's still happening, on a smaller scale. The ACLU is doing its best, but it can only prosecute these cases one at a time.
What ICE has been permitted to do is disgraceful. They are persecuting American citizens because they have brown skin. It's outrageous and needs to stop. But y'all can sit up there in your white enclaves and turn a collective blind eye, because you don't see it and it's not affecting you personally.
1
“If I were a man with exactly the same résumé, I would not be getting this question to the extent that I am,” [Nixon] said."
I don't agree. Cuomo, like or dislike his politics, has experience, lots of it over many years and a famous political father. It is silly to try and negate criticisms of Nixon's meager experience as gender-based. Experience matters.
Find a better way to respond to that criticism, Ms. Nixon.
22
If Cynthia Nixon was Joe Nixon, with no name recognition, and no political experience, he wouldn’t be getting this much news coverage. Nor would Stephen Colbert invite him to appear on his show.
6
Tired of totally inexperienced especially those w celebrity name whether fr entertainment or just monied family vying for such a massive job... get some (lots) experience please before u tackle. Afraid will get elected bc of having well known name. Surely there are more knowledgeable experienced candidates around in a state as populated as new york
13
So let's keep the experienced corrupt politician who is out-of-step with his parties major policies and works to keep state Republicans in power of the Senate. Makes perfect sense.
2
NYT: Polling shows Ms. Nixon trailing Mr. Cuomo by more than 30 points.
When a candidate is behind by 30 points, she’s not “trailing,” she’s being trounced by her opponent.
The curse of growing old is that one remembers when the NYT was more robust in its reporting. Less kind perhaps but more real. Ms. Nixon and her supporters are delusional if they think she could win and if she did she could govern effectively.
34
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was down 36 points in Crowley's internal polls three weeks before the primaries. Polling has had much more difficulty capturing the strength of progressive candidates since they tend to turn out younger voters who can't be polled by landline, as well as those who haven't voted much previously (taking them out of the "likely voter category in polling).
Here's a different way of thinking through the math. Teachout got 36% of the vote in 2014. Take that as a baseline for a typical Cuomo vs progressive race. Analysts are estimating women running in democratic primaries are getting about at 15% bump this cycle, so the baseline for this race might be closer to 51%. Plus it's not unreasonable to believe the democratic base, those who would vote in this sort of primary, has moved left, so the baseline might be even more in Cynthia's favor.
Cynthia could lose this race, but I think it's far more competitive than the polls might be revealing. At the end of the day, we still have about a month until the primary, many voters may not be thinking about the race at all. There's nothing wrong with the Times, a New York based newspaper, covering a serious candidate, even if they are not the favorite.
10
Thank you for your thoughtful remarks. I don’t live in NY but I know there are many areas of the state that would prefer someone more conservative than Ms. Nixon, and since this is a state-wide race, I’m skeptical that she can beat an incumbent governor, no matter how imperfect he is. As you know, NY is not NYC.
With no experience in politics or administrative capabilities, I question whether Ms. Nixon is qualified to run a state with an economy that is the size of Canada... and she should too. IMO she is a “boutique politician” who’s focus is tailored to a very narrow subset of people. Nixon might very well be up to something less demanding and more local. Just as the boutique owner may be quite good at running her antique shop but would flounder if she was made president of Macy’s so too is Ms. Nixon out of her league.
7
Ms Ocasio-Cortez ran in a Congressional district that was heavily
lower middle income Latino. Everything between Westchester and Canada has no resemblance to her base or the Democratic Socialists
10
Underestimate? Just looking at the last few presidents. Current guy: dishonest, failed business man (besides bankruptcy), rich kid, uses even less bright people's money to make money while losing theirs. Guy before: mediocre congressman and first term senator with basically no legislative accomplishments. Guy before him: draft dodger, former addict, rich kid who couldn't have run a lemonade stand without dads help. Guy before him: almost as dishonest as current guy, had good political skills and a grasp of government but no moral compass. Come on folks, if we've learned anything from the last 25 years it's anybody can be president of the u.s. so by extention anybody else can be pretty much any other elected official. Why not some novice actor, we had a worse actor become president once.
5
NY’s GDP is $1.5 trillion, equal in size to the economy of Canada, which is the 11th largest in the world. It’s difficult to imagine Ms. Nixon, who has no administrative experience being able to cope with being responsible for a state that size.
Perhaps she should run for Borough President of Brooklyn, so she could get some experience under her belt and serve her natural constituency instead of trying to run an entire state which is made up of a myriad people with lots of differing needs.
21
@adm3. I didn't say any of these guys should be president or that they were any good. Just that we seem to be capable of electing anybody.
1
@adm3 President Obama's own Democratic colleagues in the Illinois legislature said very similar things about his complete lack of substantive political experience when he ran for president. That seems to have worked out reasonably well.
Nixon calling fellow Americans 'terrorists' is all you need to know about intelligence and judgment in todays Democrat Party
14
She’s not a Democrat.
3
@adm3
If she's not a Democrat then why is she running in the Democratic Party primary?
1
@Tom
So then don’t vote for her! Oh that’s right! You live in Indiana and cannot vote in NY elections.
2
I really do not know anything about this lady, except more power to her. We really need outsiders to come into our government political system.
I know an outsider did not work out with Trump, but I still think it is a good idea.
2
“She has highlighted part of her criminal justice plan, which includes marijuana legalization, with a campaign-sanctioned bong giveaway, tweeting the details at 4:20 p.m. on a recent Sunday.”
Keep your government off my flowers! All kidding aside, the legal complexities surrounding cannabis are such that this sort of carefree approach to reversing a century of prohibition is quite counterproductive for all of the people who still suffer from the illegality of cannabis medicine. Whatever Ms. Nixon may think of her own capabilities, she seems to demonstrate very plainly that her policies are not well thought out.
7
I don’t underestimate her, but i don’t understand why she wouldn’t run for Congress or the state legislature before running for governor.
11
The New York Times is really pushing hard here.
29
There has now been reached a time in history where politics and entertainment are truly fungible. An actor can be a governor, a president can be a "reality" tv star. What's been demonstrated by the latter is that experience matters. I would hire neither Ms Nixon nor Mr. Trump to be a brain surgeon, nor would I ask a brain surgeon to be a President, mostly because we already have one running HUD and he is an idiot. Americans deserve people who have character, experience, and morals to be our elected representatives. The line should belong for those who are so qualified, and those who seek to shortcut the line and go to the front because of celebrity should be identified and sent away. They are charlatans that do not deserve to serve our nation.
14
@Hank Sure she is, she is expert at acting. Now if someone has at least managed a large organization, understands say science, and perhaps quality management she might have some competence, I bet she has none. She is just an attractive actress parroting progressive fantasies.
4
I hated Sex in the City. And, I disliked Miranda most.
22
@Christian Me too! But it was just a show. Nixon is the real thing and I would vote for her.
5
Nothing personal, but she is the feminist analogue to the white male's trump. Looks good (very), says the right things, comfortable in front of the camera, the right demographic. What else is there?
America's infatuation with celebrity hasn't paid off well. It would be better off if it demanded More of what elected officials are supposed to bring to office, not Less.
28
@Stevenz Except the president has run organizations and has experience dealing with political types, and a large network of good managers to assist him.
@vulcanalex
The President has a rather long list of business failures, bankruptcies and proven poor judgement...as demonstrated by the network of managers assisting him.
I'm shocked that anyone would insist on a candidate for anything--even the presidency of the United States, at this point--having appropriate experience for the job. On the other hand...experience at managing an organization well (and possibly even being PART of one!) sounds increasingly important to me. What, the experts are now relegated to mere detail work? Come on, folks. Let's get serious about executive skills in our government.
7
@Carol K. You have to go back to Clinton to find somebody with real executive experience being president and he was as dishonest as the come- ok, used to come before now. I don't think there is a bar anymore for elected office.
1
@Carol K. Great point and she has basically none, the current guy only has his corrupt government experience and failures.
I have no problem with her lack of experience, My concern is with her policies. They will stifle economic growth and put NY in the same boat as NJ and Connecticut..a sinking one.
A Millionaires Tax? Most likely it will be the same group of "rich" $200,000-$400,000 earners who already pick up much of the states tax burden, and will find the state increasingly inhospitable.
11
@Michael Good point Nashville will take all those millionaires and not even tax their income.
3
@Michael
It’s one of the reasons Nixon does not appeal to voters on Long Island or Westchester! They already pay the highest property taxes in the state and the country! They’re losing the property tax deductions under the new Trump tax reform.
2
@vulcanalex
We've heard that song before. Sorry, vulcanalex, the millionaires are not moving to Nashville.
Mentioning Cynthia Nixon in the same sentence with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is an insult to Ocasio-Cortez . I'd think we'd had enough of tv personalities parachuting into politics.
17
@joeuvm, that's just nonsense. How about the sentence "Ocasio-Cortez endorses Cynthia Nixon for governor" ?
4
@joeuvm Ocasio-Cortez?? She is a 28 year old bartender who parachuted into politics. The softball questions thrown to her by Trevor Noah and other sympathetic audiences highlight the fact that she knows virtually nothing and can merely spout a handful of leftie talking points. She is completely in over her head and should lose the general if the district wasn't about as competitive as Venezuela.
15
@joeuvm
So why does Alexandria support Nixon?
1
I want Cuomo out. She smart. That's means a lot. Cuomi is more than a dreary centrist. He's a politician with his daddy's good name - nada mas, gentes. Politics as usual - no way, por favor.
17
@Emily Lewis Well she does have a degree from a liberal arts college, that means she might be smart, but not really educated in the important things, like something other than acting.
3
You don't live in N.Y.. Why would we care what you want?
10
@Marjorie how do you where Vulcanalex lives? I live most the year in NY despite my post name.
I've seen her speak on multiple news/talk shows and there is no doubt that she's an intelligent woman who is knowledgeable of history and current events. She's not a politician, but she understands the political game, and as a successful actress, there's little doubt that she can master the role. In my opinion, within the next decade, women are going to be pushing at 50% of elected offices, from local to county, to state, and to federal. They were provided the right to vote over 100 years ago, and their equal presence in government is way past due.
18
Yes I think its time for New York to be run and represented by inexperienced socialists. It’s about time you pay financially what you have been wishing for. Just go ahead and tax and mismanage your way to Detroit.
16
@Jim, can't be worse than the experienced capitalists who have destroyed the subway system and increased poverty and homelessness.
11
@Jim: Love your crystal ball. Where'd you get it? Apparently, a lot of commenters on this forum have one, too. It should be a big seller! After all, who wouldn't want the ability to predict exactly what will happen in the future?
4
Is this a news story? Or is it a thinly veiled opinion piece in support of this candidate?
34
@polymath - yes
2
"There are people in New York City and New York State who are doing very well,” Ms. Nixon said, “but who would not mind, and would actually welcome, the chance to pay more in taxes if it goes to the things that would benefit the great number of New Yorkers.”
Ms. Nixon should contact those people and inform them that there is absolutely nothing stopping them from writing a check for whatever amount they choose and sending it to their respective local, state or even federal government.
19
@J. Michael, I would glady right the check, IF, as Nixon points out, "it goes to the things that would benefit the great number of New Yorkers". You omitted a key part of the sentence. Might it have been deliberate?
@reedvasya No deliberate omission on my part. Why do the wealthy in New York State need an actress turned politician, or anyone else for that matter, have to tell them what would benefit their fellow citizens the most? They can earmark their hard earned money for any project, cause, etc. they so choose.
4
@ reedvasya So write that check to some charity that you support, SIMPLE and more effective than government.
For years I've done as I pleased; no man stand in my way.
Me too moments I've had were forgotten and swept aside. This year my eyes have been opened to a reality I ignored. Despite all the progress made since the 1970's it's clear women are still second class citizens in America. Shocking
to learn how 'entitled' many American men think they are.
It's time the tables turned and we vote a majority of woman to Congress. GO Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Pelosi & Nixon.
Under female leadership children and the environment will
be given the utmost attention so desperately needed NOW.
11
Yes on the others, no on Nancy, unless you want to continue the status quo.
3
@Emma Jane
Totally agree. Men have made a mess of the world and they don't seem to learn from their mistakes.
Out with the men and in with the women...before it's too late!
I'll vote for a really intelligent woman with the right values and no experience anytime.
If we wait for all this female talent to work their way up through the ranks, it will take forever.
Times awastin'.
7
Governor of New York is not an entry level job. If Ms. Nixon is interested in New York State politics she should run for State Assembly or New York City Council, although I don't see that she has the qualification even to do this.
An actor, even a mediocre one like Nixon, is trained to pretend to be someone who they are not, the last sort of background we need in any government position.
34
@PETER EBENSTEIN MD. You just described Trump
8
A governor doesn't run the state by themselves, they do it with other legislators, so inexperience is not the issue, non corruption is.
17
@LJyeah but he's a guy and we all know the voters who voted for him liked his bravado. Not his competence - funny how it is ok for men but not women. But in Nixon's case, she wont get the same pass.
How can anyone think anyone is unqualified for politics after the nightmarish dumpster fire currently inhabiting the White House? Since that pathetic joke has been played on us all, who or what could be lesd qualified for the political arena?
12
@KLJ, umm, Reagan was pretty popular in his party..
1
@reedvasya - Yeah, your point? In reference to my comment is?
Cuomo is not really a Democrat. I can't figure out why any New York Democrat would want to reelect him. I CAN understand why Republicans would reelect him. His own father would disavow him, as do a lot of Dems, around the country. Elect a real Democrat, New York, not corrupt, Republican-lite Cuomo. He will never be Mario. I'm sending Nixon another small donation.
27
As regards your headline, is it possible that Ms. Nixon is overestimating herself? Gotta pay your dues, lady.
17
@Caroline VanTrease her "fame" does cut both ways. More people know her than a Ms Nobody but some people won't take her seriously for good reason.
1
More supportive than ever - in the last 3 months she has accomplished what no one else has or even thought possible - made the timid anti-environmentalist corrupt Governor Andrew Cuomo act like a liberal - something he never was is or wouldf be - his approval of marriage for all legislation neither a choice nor a cutting edge determination but rather mainstream for any mod Dem by the time he came around. Time for an intelligent committed and more than able progressive Governor for a progressive New York.
15
brockse47--The operative word, here, is "act." He is "acting" like a liberal. He is NOT a liberal. If he's reelected, he will go back to Republican-lite. Don't trust him. Vote for Nixon.
15
ChesBay--At this point, you really can't do worse than Andrew Cuomo. So, elect Nixon. You'll be glad you did.
1
@ChesBayI'm pretty sure that's what I said.
In the current New York political climate, it seems being of Western European lineage is her biggest problem, especially when it comes to the multicultural score now playing at DNC Politburo HQ.
5
Cynthia Nixon is very smart. She went to Hunter College High School where she had to learn to think and think fast and be creative and innovative. Her education there prepared her.
9
You can’t really think that a great high school education prepares you to be governor with no experience of any kind and a 30 year hiatus of mediocre acting.
18
@Andrew. She attended Barnard thereafter
@Zendr So a liberal arts education is qualifications for what? Not hardly anything in my arena.
1
I don’t think Governor Cuomo is perfect nor is any politician perfect. I do believe however he is a political animal and KNOWS how to work the system. I believe he has the skill set to fight for causes I believe in such as environmental protection, women’s rights etc. In this political climate his skill set is more important than ever. Unfortunately a number of my peers gush when talking about Cynthia Nixon because she is so “politically correct.” Sorry, “politically correct” is often inept. Di Blasio? He talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk. No be naive voters. Ms. Nixon also won’t fly in upstate New York.
17
Ozma--Cuomo works the system for himself, and his cronies. He might just as well be a Republican.
12
@Ozma I agree, and if upstaters don't want her if she makes it to the primary, then we'll have a republican as governor.
2
Upstate is not exactly thrilled with Cuomo over his gun stance. The real interesting but sad part is he brags about it. Yet we have nearly a gun death/ murder a day in NYC where they have virtually outlawed guns. What a joke.
2
I think the NYTimes underestimates the literacy of its readers. If voters underestimate Ms. Nixon's political chances, they are -- by definition -- wrong. Does adding that she thinks they're wrong make her appear more astute?
4
Experience is overrated. Look how great the Trumps and Jared are doing.
2
Agreed. Obama too. Experience seems to be a scarlet letter.
1
No, thanks. I'm pretty sure I have it right as I think to myself, hmmm, what's Cynthia Nixon ever done to deserve to be Governor of New York? And then come with the answer: Nothing!
21
Nixon thinks that running for office is like trying out for a TV show. It's not.
17
The headline is unfair to Ms. Nixon. "Cynthia Nixon Thinks You're Underestimating Her" strikes me as a perfectly fine stand alone headline. Adding the second sentence: "She Thinks You're Wrong" is likely to engender a negative impression of her along the lines of "who is she to say I'm wrong," as opposed to the more natural reaction to the first sentence along the lines of "she's got spirit sticking up for herself, maybe I am underestimating her."
Other than attributing a somewhat hostile, combative attitude to her, what is the substantive purpose of the second sentence of the headline? Other than the harsher connotation it seems utterly redundant with the first.
Pro-corporate, pro-"mainstream" headline writer subtly tipping the scales of the article?
11
Cynthia Nixon Thinks You’re Underestimating Her. She Thinks You’re Wrong.
We're not wrong.
48
I wish Miranda, um, Cynthia Nixon would go away. My vote will go for Andrew Cuomo
23
Experience is not worth anything. It is actually a negative.
Let's elect somebody who can drain the swamp.
Wait...
Didn't we just do that in 2016?
How did that work out?
8
@El Lucho We ran an experienced Democrat in 2016. How did that work out?
4
@El Lucho Working out great the president is delivering on all of his promises as he is able.
1
No one takes Nixon seriously. She's losing by 30 points. Why run this article?
I can live in a world of tabloids. I can read critically. I don't rely on the Grey Lady to tell me truths...I want more pure data streaming in... I want less race madness. Most of your readers feel, I suspect, the same way.
Just drift down a bit. We really don't need a nanny telling us what to think...
The Times will die if it doesn't adjust.
Hating Trump isn't enough.
33
I hope the NY Times takes what Burroughs says seriously.
3
No one took Trump seriously either in 2015
First, on AOC…
While she’s momentarily blathering too much totalitarian nonsense, I continue to see a worthwhile Cuomo-esque (more Mario than Andrew) uniquely-downstate-NY hybrid of hard-nosed pragmatism and soft-hearted liberalism…
Having said that, Alexandria, just one example – and you need to cut this out…
You talk about how there’re three apartment vacancies for every homeless person in NYC…Well, I’d wager there’re at least three electric-bike delivery persons for every one of these homeless – and while the NYC left falls over itself to give these folks free and safe needles and naloxone and housing and food passage for misdemeanors and a ride to the polls, it continues to beat down on these delivery people and ban their rides (yeah, a belated and grudging acceptance for pedal-assisted)…
Having said that, Alexandria, your assertive and affirmative persona will – I’m hoping – be a constructive force in NY politics for decades to come…
Cynthia, you are every bit as triangulating and nihilistic as AOC is assertive and affirmative – or am I just seeing Miranda…
Tomorrow, more than one million people will ride the NYC subway…Less than one percent of them will ride in cars as clean and comfortable and commodious and conditioned as the one used for your staged lead-in pic…
Since Governor Cuomo is responsible for the MTA – am sure he facilitated this staging…
How crass and corrupt of him…
It's hard not to feel like the Times continues to shove Ms. Nixon down our throats. Please stop.
I have no doubt she's lovely, earnest and bright. But she has no political experience. Her arrogance in choosing to run for governor of a state of 20 million people is disqualifying in itself.
49
@Sparky, Same with AOC. Lightweights both.
3
"Üpstart" definition: a person who has newly attained a position of wealth or high position, especially one who is arrogant. Yet the Times casually refers to Ms. Nixon with this word, with no proof that she is arrogant.
This follows your frequent use of the word "ïnsurgent" (rebel, revolutionary) to describe progressives like Occasio-Cortez, the same word you use for the Taliban and ISIS.
I am sick of the Times editorializing in "news" articles via word choices and sometimes outright opinion. I am sick of your campaign against progressives.
It is so important that the MSM stick to the unshaded, unvarnished truth in this era of presidential lies. Please stop and be more careful about your language.
8
Please, editors, enough with the celebrity promotion. Do you really want to be running advertising copy for celebrities reaching for jobs they're unqulified for?
16
A liberal elitist snob that thinks upstate is anything north of the George Washington Bridge. Does she even know where Rochester is?
17
@Rob She thinks Rochester is Jack Benny's chauffeur.
9
@Rob
Rochetster's in Canada, right? Or Ohio?
By my calculation Nixon has a 0.00% chance of being elected. Well at least it's not a negative number.
I truly appreciate her efforts and earnestness but decent folk like Nixon rarely if ever get elected. And even when they do, they can't get any of their campaign promises into some committee let alone passing a bill.
4
Pardon my ignorance, but I have no idea who she is. I received a a text message few days ago about her campaign. And now I see this article mentioning her and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Democrats should be Democrats. Don’t use the radioactive words such as socialist. Socialism didn’t work anywhere in this planet . Why do they except it to work here in capitalist America?
Our society is regulated by one simple law: supply and demand (price theory). I see all this talk about “living wage”, “free college” , “free healthcare”. This is all about demand. But how to supply all these needs without government assistance/ interference? Our government apparently is running on credit not taxes. How many shutdowns we had in the past 10 years?Our taxes are being used to pay interest! The Government doesn’t know how to make money and spent it wisely . I hate all these talks about the 1% should feed the 99%. Who are the 1%? Where did you get this percentage from?
Only technology and hard work can supply our needs, not the government. Government is just keep the order and security of our society. Happy Monday tomorrow America!
4
@Fernando
Socialism works in a very humble way like Medicare, ACA, CHIP, food stamps, shelters for the homeless, low cost housing in the NYC area and recently the bail out of farmers of their soybean produce. What is not obvious are, but wide eye opener when it is manifested, military program and your taxes. It is called reality. Government is for the disadvantaged.
2
@Uly
I appreciate your comments but I disagree. The programs you mentioned above should be a temporary relief. Nothing wrong with that. But they can’t be a lifestyle. I’m tired of seeing people buying alcohol with cash and their food with food stamps (snap ).
@Uly Yes of course it works poorly, costs way more than it is worth, and eventually mostly fails. Read your constitution our government is to protect our rights, not the so called disadvantaged.
I feel like Nixon is a legitimate candidate. with the surprise rise and success of politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Now is as good a time as any to have new faces in charge. For a lot of people people like Nixon & Cortez have a message that people can really get behind. They also inspire young people to go out and vote and make a change where they are.
bengal12Joseph071501
2
Go away. Another d list celebrity claiming super powers because they were on tv. Enough already.
18
I’m not voting for her opponent in the primaries.
2
Now where have I seen this before? Non-establishment candidate runs for a major political office. Supposedly responsible establishment media goes into full gear ignoring candidate's actual program. All the reader learns, is that candidate is too something-or-other for "reasonable people," never what program the candidate supports.
Thank heaven for youtube and the alternative media. Where else would I go to learn what a candidate actually stands for?
1
The only question for Cynthia Nixon that really matters is, Will you tell your supporters to vote for Andrew Cuomo , warts and all, if he wins the primary? If not, she’s a spoiler who will open the door to a Republican governor and weaken resistance to Liitle-Hands Trump, and has no business playing hard ball with the big kids. There’s a lot more at stake than the governor’s mansion.
11
@David Goldberg Reminds me of senator from Vermont whose endorsement of Hillary was just weak enough to give us Trump.
4
@David Goldberg - I agree with you 100%. If Ms. Nixon's supporters refuse to vote for Gov. Cuomo, then we could end up with a Republican governor again. There has been a long history of both Democratic and Republican governors in this state. There are many Republicans who would love to have for example, Cuomo's acts of Medicaid expansion revoked, the "Safe Act" banning assault rifles overturned, and the 5 year Minimum Wage plan (currently in year 2) shortened.
9
@Rodger Lodger No Roger it was Comey/the Russians/misogyny/Obama/the DNC/Fox News/ - everything except the candidate's ability to convince voters to stay home because of decades of lies, and "foot in mouth" disease - "basket of deplorables," etc. etc.
In the absence of experience, voters need compelling ideas that are backed with responsible ways to get them implemented. Exactly how much will you tax A to spend exactly how much on B? What exactly do the think the end results will be and how do you intend to measure them? Here in Illinois, we have very similar problems and political challenges. We all agree the wealthy are under taxed and find that avoiding them is far too easy. The question is, once you get your hands on more of their money how do you intend to maximize your state’s return on it? Free healthcare and college for all are fantastic ideas, but not if you can’t clearly demonstrate how you could realistically sustain their funding for any longer than your first term in office.
6
" Though Ms. Nixon’s advisers insist she has much to offer residents upstate, it is here, on the stalled-out subways of her own city, where she has staked much of her candidacy. This is partly a matter of urgent policy substance, given the subway’s dismal performance, and partly a keen bit of political signaling."
The 20 million people who do NOT live in NYC are unimpressed by this part of her "political signaling".
16
@Pam And if you want your subway fixed elect some Republican with business experience, and construction experience. Unfortunately he is busy running the country.
Ms Nixon has my vote and the media along with. wethe democrats better hewake up. The old style of politics is over the rubbing of backs is done. We want representatives who care about our lives today not in the next election cycle.
Our present governor has destroyed New York City
7
"Her living room includes a lifesize cutout of herself ", speaks volumes of what her role of governor will be . A vanity run if ever , totally unqualified with zero experience other than acting . Lest anyone forgot , Reagan was governor before a President , and yes an actor who became president of the screen actors guild before becoming a Governor . Nixon's scanty qualifications and remarks as to how involved she was in the education flare-ups , does not a governor make . Ocasio-Cortez has a little bit more experience.
12
@sm You do realize that the cutout was from a Broadway show she was in 30 + years ago as a teenagers? Just a personal momento, no doubt.
Based on her political experience, her (what was normal in the 1960s/70s) Democratic platform and her college major in international relations, Ocasio-Cortez should be compared to a young Ted Kennedy, not to the completely inexperienced Cynthia Nixon. Please steer away from gender-based comparisons and focus on content.
17
@common sense advocate But a young Ted Kennedy was a Kennedy, not a bar maid. And he did not turn out so great either.
@vulcanalex - she's a college graduate with a degree in international relations from a great school who worked on political campaigns and bartended to save her family from ruin. Were you called on to rescue your family in your 20's?? She's admirable!
I don't live in NY State. But I fully support Cynthia Nixon. She has everything that a Democratic candidate requires. She knows nothing. She is a a very good person. She knows people in the acting industry. She is convinced that being who is she is enough! She's a great person! She opposes bad stuff! She is my candidate...I wish I could vote for her!
8
I think after trump someone with no experience is going to have a hard time winning for the real big offices
4
Big difference between Ms Ocasio-Cortez and Ms Nixon: The New York Times has mentioned the name of the latter.
Also Ms Ocasio-Cortez ran on issues important nationwide. While Ms Nixon seems to be running for the City Council, not the governorship.
Will the Times now do a piece on the other person running in the primary against Nixon and Cuomo?
Then I don't recall the NY Times doing such a positive piece on Ms Teachout in 2014.
11
Nope. She's overestimating herself and her importance.
24
I’m not a Cuomo fan, and I will vote for Nixon in the primary. But I can’t help wondering why she didn’t run for the State Assembly or Senate before jumping into this race. Getting some experience in more collaborative government positions makes sense as preparation for a larger administrative role.
19
@dmdaisy
the only experience you get in the state assembly or state senate is how to take orders from the head of your party conference
6
@dmdaisy - It is better to go for what you want the first time. Men always do this. I am glad Nixon isn't being overly cautious and is doing what she wants to do. The people of NY will endorse her decision or not.
2
@dmdaisy
there is still time for you to change your mind.
“Both the media and the Democratic establishment, they’re not quite getting this moment that we’re in,” Ms. Nixon said, “and how hungry people are for a change.”
Oh, they're getting it alright, but as representatives of the power centers that have created and are enjoying the status quo, the media and the Democratic establishment are determined to end the progressive movement within the party and the nation.
8
It really and truly is "time for a change" in the Albany boy's club dominated by ethically-challenged, and now often-jailed, professional pols. Andrew Cuomo has to go. He's skating the ethical line, and perhaps has crossed over it. We won't know because he disbanded the Moreland Commission when it was getting close to him. He's too centrist, too establishment, too into BIG money as his reversal of the millionaire's tax indicated, breaks promises like public financing of political campaigns, and his feud with a true progressive in NYC Mayor Bill deBlasio has worsen the situation in New York with snarled traffic, a crumbling infrastructure, especially the subways and mid-town congestion, and little progress on funding a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. If New Yorkers really want to "drain the swamp" in Albany, they have to get rid of the Crookedile-in-Chief, Andrew Cuomo.
11
@Paul Wortman
"Senator: person who makes laws in Washington when not doing time." - Mark Twain, 1927, More Maxims of Mark
If alive today, Mark Twain would state: Governor: person who makes laws in Albany when not doing time.
@Paul Wortman So vote Republican.
Experience in Albany has given us the likes of Spitzer, Silver, Skelos, Schneiderman and Hevesi; not to mention a slew of other corrupt Albany insiders since convicted and removed from office. If Ms. Nixon's supposed weakness is a lack of such experience, that only makes her more qualified for office.
17
@Winston Oh
This is the best response to the charge of "inexperience" I've heard yet and I hope her campaign is able to capitalize on it. Cynthia Nixon has never been convicted of a felony; Cynthia Nixon has never been indicted; Cynthia Nixon's one arrest was for civil disobedience during a demonstration to support public education in NYC and to protest Albany cutting funding for public schools including both CUNY and SUNY.
The fixers, bagmen, water carriers and patronage hounds surrounding Cuomo say everything there is to say about business-as-usual in Albany. If that's "experience" I'll take inexperience every time. Skelos and Silverman were experienced.
8
@Winston Oh Although there is much more work to do, we also have one of the most thriving economies on the planet. This is not by accident.
@Winston Oh Experience has also given us FDR, TR, Harriman, Mario Cuomo, Lehman, Rockefeller, Carey, Dewey, and DeWitt Clinton(:)), among others.
4
Not just Nancy Reagan. CN also did a fine job as Eleanor Roosevelt, opposite Kenneth Branagh as FDR, in HBO's Warm Springs movie.
2
@Stephen Marmon
How does this actor's resume qualify her for office?
4
@Stephen Marmon Great argument for her to stay in acting.
2
But she expressed no regrets about a notable cameo from the second season: Donald J. Trump. “He was kind of an iconic New York figure then,” she said.
Maybe to her. He had already called for the execution of the Central Park Five revealing a level of racist hatred that separated him from your standard creepy NYC power broker.
12
Not a ringing endorsement and a few unflattering pictures. But the one on the subway was great even though it was staged for the article.
4
Political activism may sound good in NYC, but it won't play in the rural areas of New York. Ms. Nixon made a short day trip to the city of Rochester recently, met with some people interested in her agenda and left. Rochester has a pocket of Democrats, but is surrounded by die-hard Republicans. The late Rep. Louise Slaughter who represented the 25th District was an unique exception to the rule around here. The neighboring districts are run by the likes of Rep. Chris Collins and Rep. Tom Reed who are "Tea Party" turned Trump devotees. Collins in particular takes great pains to criticize Gov. Cuomo - expanding Medicaid under Obamacare is one of his pet peeves, for example. He would never support someone like Ms. Nixon if she won. If Ms. Nixon was chosen as the Democratic candidate, Collins, Reed, and their supporters would most likely see this as the golden opportunity to get a Republican in office as Governor. If Ms. Nixon were to run for a local office in NYC, she would probably do well, but in my opinion, I just don't see her able to deal with the conservative Republicans in this state.
12
The fact that Ms Nixon could find no person more qualified than herself tells me she is lacking in sound judgment.
16
Although I do not care for many of Cynthia Nixon's positions, I believe Gov. Andrew Cuomo is worse. He has a reputation for being an arrogant twit, and now that he tacks a bit to the left, it's only because Ms. Nixon has put him on the spot.
10
I didn’t make this system. My choice is between Cuomo and Nixon. I’ve seen Cuomo. He’s experienced? At what - finding his way to the room with 2 other guys in it. (They’re both on their way to jail along with other Cuomo friends.) I’ll give Nixon a try.
13
It doesn’t even matter whether I agree with her platform or not (I do, mostly). I find the attention people get in politics troubling when it is gained from unrelated celebrity rather than actual political experience. Why? Speaking and governing are very different things.
Remember: the worst performing elected leader in all of human history (whoever you think that may be) RAN A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN.
Relevant experience is important.
6
Let's tell it the way it is; the only thing that qualifies Nixon for Governor is that she lives in NY and has a pulse. Unlike actors like Reagan or Reality TV personalities like Trump,she has no facets to her background or experience that make her an appropriate option for an executive role, other perhaps, than in her own company or not for profit.
9
Equating the experience needed to be a member of the House of Representatives to that needed to be Governor of New York only serves as additional evidence of Ms. Nixon's unfitness for the office she seeks.
19
I’m curious as to how much of her OWN money she is putting into her race. Is she willing to make a substantial investment in her own campaign or is this just a vanity run, backed by other people’s money?
5
@Sue - You have it backward, a vanity candidate dumps in their own cash, like a lever where normal forces are not sufficient. Your insinuation that "other people's money" insults "other people." It is of course other people that a pol represents. Supposedly Trump dumped in his own money, ahem.
9
@CK Only in the primaries.
Governor is an executive position. Governors run things, are very directly responsible for collecting and spending taxes. It’s not a place - like the legislature - for someone inexperienced, who’s main selling point is that they want to shake things up.
For that reason alone this candidate is not worthy of consideration. NYC folks in particular should have learned from putting Deblasio - a similarly inexperienced public servant - in charge.
16
What political qualifications does Nixon possess that qualifies her to run the Empire State?
Does she have any management experience? Any governing experience?
She has some name recognition, but what else would she bring to Albany?
Sorry but as a native New Yorker I just don’t see how she can garner much support.
23
Somebody might want to tell her that being governor of NY requires a lot more political experience than being a first time congresswoman. And both require a lot more than good intentions.
10
I sense she really just wants to be governor of New York City and has little affinity for upstate concerns.
14
I don't have a problem with actors becoming politicians - I think it's good when our government is made up of people from all walks of life and many different professions. But why start with Governor? That's a huge leap. Why not get some leadership experience with a smaller constituency first?
We are witnessing firsthand the destruction that occurs when an inexperienced person takes an executive position within our government. Do New Yorkers really want to run that experiment again?
17
I am a white upstate Democrat that has recently retired from a union job. What does Ms. Nixon offer me except higher taxes and left wing special interest chaos in Albany? She is the type of Democrat that could force me to vote for a Republican. Something, I truly don’t want to do. I think I will hold my nose and vote for Cuomo in the primary.
19
There is a huge difference between being a member of the House of Representatives and being the Governor of New York State. Assuming that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez is elected, she will not have sole decision responsibility for anything. So her lack of experience does not present an issue remotely comparable to Ms. Nixon's, who is seeking to become the chief executive of the third largest State in the U.S.
14
People lament her lack of experience. IMO, political "experience" is getting deeper into the cesspool of corruption, this is what politics has become in the USA. We worship money here and there's the rub. Money has no morality and is a bad God to worship.
Nixon doesn't seem to be in it for the money or the aggrandizement it can bestow a sociopath. She seems like an idealist, sadly, a no no in today's USA, an innocent deer facing the headlights of corruption.
I wish her well.
7
I can't comprehend why New Yorkers living upstate don't look at the many, many times she has addressed their concerns. It's obvious that an article about her in a New York newspaper will focus on city issues.
9
@HKGuy Why isn't she? It's not like this internet thing, with its global reach, is anything new. Fact is, I want to support her but find no reason to. All I see is higher taxes for no tangible benefits for upstatefrom any article about her. AFAIK, she's made one trip to Albany....a limo ride up, photo op at the Capitol, and back to the city in one day. That doesn't connect in the least with the people up here. There's no actual sense or proof she understands, much les has an agenda for working to solve upstate's problems and needs. Let's see something and the support will follow.
--Cuomo: the symbol of Albany corruption, especially with his Moreland Commission shutdown, and now with Sheldon Silver (D) and Dean Skelos (R) convicted of corruption.
--Nixon: a left-of-center TV personality version of Trump (probably better at acting than Trump, not a plus for a politician, but with the same lack of government experience).
As a registered Democrat, I have no idea who I will vote for this September and November, but it's not going to be these two.
The most interesting thing will be who the NYT endorses. Last time it was Cuomo, even after having done extensive investigative reporting on his Moreland Commission shutdown.
2
In this age of full bore corruption I feel we have nothing to lose and everything to gain by voting for Ms. Nixon.
11
@Sara M Maybe an experienced Republican would be a better choice?
3
Never ever heard of her, BUT, Two things: “Girls are more sensible than boys.” Is pure unadulterated sexist. Period. It's right up there with "Men are smarter than women." That's a serious strike against her, as gross generalizations against either sex is blatantly wrong, which will definitely affect her agenda. Two: we don't need another inexperienced actress/actor in political office, especially one as important and powerful, as Gov of NY! You do not become a school principal without being a school teacher FIRST! She's unqualified, and obviously sexist.
14
@Mike OD
New York State Commissioner of Education Richard P. Mills, 1995-2009, never taught in the public school system!
He had a brief stint teaching at Dalton, a private school on the upper East Side where the students use "Real Silver" as cutlery in their cafeteria. Most likely the most disconnected teaching experience from that of the rest of New York State. This is Albany!
1
Actually, I think she's been given too much credibility.....
We don't need another TV politician with silly ideas and no way to pay for them.
Go home.
8
Is Ms. Nixon the only democratic contender? If so, why? I'm perplexed that there are no other candidates. If there are, NYTimes, please tell us. Ms. Nixon is getting a whole lotta ink.
7
@Person
Sorry, Stephanie Miner, not Stephanie Meyer.
2
@Person
Stephanie Meyer, the former governor of Syracuse, NY is running as an independent. When she was mayor of Syracuse she was listed as a Democrat. She came into the race a little late though, after the Democratic convention in Albany, so I think that is why she has gotten less attention.
2
The old blood of the Democratic Party like Schumer, Pelosi, Cuomo and Sweeney must give way to fresh bloods in this party. Nauseating centrism and mediocrity is not an antidote against the oligarch party of Donald. The present Governor of the State New Jersey has the aggressive progressive socialist agenda. You may judge me biased but that's ok. You need to be thick skinned nowadays. New Jersey traces its roots of liberal philosophy to the first colonist of the state, the Dutch.
6
Few dare to say so but -- with a celebrity narcissist like Cynthia Nixon thinking we should vote for her -- it is time to speak up: People need to take responsibility for their vote. It is not an act of self-expression, social exhibitionism, or narcissistic self-validation. Voting is an act of deep responsibility to others with whom we share this society -- now and in the future. Fools who are clueless about what it takes to craft good policies and see them enacted, who are clueless about statecraft, who are unconnected to the intellectual wellsprings of good government ought to be called out for they are: free-loaders on other people's sloganeering to get attention, know-nothings mouthing off about misogyny because it makes them appear so hip, or worse ignorant and lazy citizens. We are in the mess that we are because of how little attention we pay to our obligations as voters.
10
Cynthia is a self proclaimed "democrat socialist." That alone is enough of a reason to defeat her and everything she stands for.
10
@Brewster Millions Exactly right. Democratic Socialists claim they are not for "open borders" but then how do they explain this poster I recently saw in my neighborhood in Ridgewood Queens: http://bit.ly/2mwmc6q . "Contra Las Fronteras." maybe by putting it in Spanish, they thought they could pull a fast one. People against open borders know Spanish too. And that is just one of their ridiculous policies. If Democrats continue this unthinking leftward lurch I am voting Republican.
5
We have a cesspool of Trump/GOP candidates. Any Democrat is better than any GOP candidate. The fate of America is at stake.If GOP continues in control; America is finished. Done. Period. Vote out GOP Ray Sipe
8
Why not start smaller: try being a state representative or run for mayor? I'm tired of hearing about how outsiders are more qualified for big political jobs than insiders. I've seen enough failures down that road to realize that in politics, as with any other career, experience matters. I don't care if Cynthia Nixon was Charlie Nixon. She doesn't have the experience to run a state. Let her start small and then we can see if she has what it takes. Campaigns are one thing. Governing is another.
23
Watching from the left side of the continent I can only wish she were running in California so I could vote for her. Fresh workable ideas, not a member of the ruling class dynasties, a real human work real human interests makes her more than qualified in my opinion. Given all the graft and corruption we're constantly reading about flowing out of Albany, choosing someone not from the various political swamps is certainly in everyone's long term best interest. With no political experience myself, I retired my medical practice to run for local office this November because it's up to us, whether actor, food service worker, professional, or union factory worker to step up and take our country back from those engorging themselves on our hard-earned dimes while stealing a habitable planet from our descendents.
19
@Dennis
The most important words in your email are "local office." If Cynthia had chosen to start as you are I'm sure she would have overwhelming support. Good luck in your race.
7
@Dennis I would trust an MD's view of the world a whole lot faster than I would that of a televison actress. If she wants to go into politics, starting locally would be more appropriate.
5
Its a strange mix reasons involved in the how and why voters perceive the candidates. Im not able to vote for Ms. Cortez, but as soon as I heard her speak, I was sold. Her energy, her decisiveness, and grasp of the issues and breadth of knowledge of other candidates arcoss the nation was remarkable.
Every interview since, I see a confidence in a young woman, who is not trying to convince us she's a viable candidate, she simply is one.
While with Ms.Nixon, who I can vote for, or not - and as this piece examples, she's making too much effort to convince us shes viable. Its a weakness, that makes me wonder how much confidence she has in herself. I'm sure she is very confident, but these sorts of pieces don't help her. IMO.
"Hey, look at me, I deserve your attention. Don't underestimate me!"
Cuomo doesn't thrill me. He certainly has his baggage.
I'm also not paying this campaign much attention -yet.
6
@Boregard
Let me add...that running too much against Cuomo is a bad strategy. He has a resume of accomplishments, and mistakes, yes...but having nothing to counter with, Nixon and those like her have to run on a platform of sound ideas. And not just the usual Dem/liberal cliches. Run for your Self, and those ideas and ideals and not soley against the incumbent. Cause running head to head agaisnt Cuomo, he gonna beat ya that way...hes more politically savvy and used to the fight. Leaving Ms. Nixon with the "yeah but...." comebacks.
"Yeah but, take me seriously, yeah but dont underestimate me..."
Like Ms. Cortez. She ran on a platform, not just against the incumbent.
I am a liberal/progressive. I really wish the media would stop talking about Ocasio-Cortez. She won a primary in New York City. Big deal. She and her ideas will not save the democratic party. What she did to get elected will: grass roots organization (much like what Obama did in Iowa almost 10 years ago). But everytime I see the NY Times or other media outlets touting Ocasio-Cortez's victory as being indicative of the future, I cringe. Her ideas and lack of experience do not resonate with average voters. Grassroots mobilization to challenge the entrenched political elite will!
64
@jkdbgky
Totally agree. Although I may agree with far left talking points they are a lose-lose proposition in the crucial upcoming elections.
I am very upset with Democrats for allowing candidates like Ocasio-Cortez, Kirstin Gillibrand, and Cynthia Nixon to capture the national spotlight.. Nothing could be less SRATEGIC at the present time.
I'm not sure Dems know how to put together a winning strategy anymore. They seem obsessed with losing. Coastal elites and persons are all they've got to parade in front of the public eye? Depressingly scary.
Say what you want...but a more rational choice for voters who claim they want to shake things up so the establishment is more accountable to the people then say a Trump.
2
Comparing Ms. Nixon to President Trump is unfair. Sure she's inexperienced, but she has already demonstrated a willingness to seek the advice of others who are more knowledgeable than she. She has also lived her life honestly and ethically in contrast to Trump. If she is elected, will she make mistakes? Sure, but so will any career politician. Sometimes a lack of experience translates into a more careful, thorough worker than one who is confident in their abilities.
15
@Kristin Ames
Re your second sentence, "My phone hasn't rung yet!!"
2
As a New Yorker who will vote, I, too, am a bit uncomfortable with Ms. Nixon's lack of formal or traditional political experience. HOWEVER, in this day and age, we need political activists in office, not politicians.
12
She keeps telling us she'll be a Governor for the whole state but every time you see her she is in, and talking about, NYC, how she will fix the subway etc. Guess what? There is only one other city in the state that even has a subway, does she know which one that is? Has she ever been there? Or anyplace else in NY state besides Albany? She will be another NYC politician who quickly forget the other 20 million people in the state.
19
That's a neat trick, because the entire population of New York state is slightly less than 20 million.
8
The problem with politics is people only want to trust you when you have experience. The reality is that no amount of experience truly prepares you for being governor until you are governor. The current governor has yet to fix the subways in the area that generates the tax dollars for the whole state. I'm concerned I would be rewarding corruption and stagnation and income inequality by picking Cuomo for yet another term as governor.
9
@Chris Also all the so-called experienced pols started out with no experience. Once they got some the learned how to be corrupt, witness Cuomo's shutting down of the anti corruption commission in Albany. Sheldon Silver had lots of experience, so did Dean Skelos, and Charles Rangel just to name a few. Once they get experience they learn how to steal. Also I don't care for renaming the Tappan Zee Bridge, the Mario Cuomo Bridge.
2
Nixon is trying to convince skeptical New York Democrats to see beyond her political inexperience, like some did with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and with Donald Trump.
3
@Paul Ferreira Who really cares about her political experience, she will have to run the state government, and choose people to assist her. She is a little known actress who has no experience in running a large organization and I bet few contacts with anybody capable of assisting her other than the current somewhat corrupt and incompetent ones.
Being underestimated is how manifestly unusual candidates win elections. It’s also how unqualified candidates perceive the lack of enthusiasm amongst potential supporters and the electorate. Is Nixon a dark horse or a frustrated also ran?
Here's the question you need to ask - If Cynthia Nixon had not achieved fame in a completely unrelated field, would anyone be talking about her candidacy? The answer is self-evident.
29
The people I know that are voting for Nixon are assuming Cuomo will win BUT are hoping his mediocre showing will keep him from seeking the Presidency in 2020.
6
After taking a survey of my Senior Friends, many are liberal, and speaking to people upstate, Ms Nixon’s chances of even getting close to AC are almost nil.
5
There are 7 current governors who were elected with no prior political experience. They're all men.
14
@Jessica
And here they are:
Rick Scott, FL
Bruce Rauner, IL
Matt Bevin, KY
Rick Snyder, MI
Pete Ricketts NE
Doug Burgum, ND
Jim Justice, WV
Quite a select group, yes indeed.
1
She's Trump. There's no room in her play book for anyone or any other approach to government than her orthodoxy. She even campaigns like Trump. You call the opposition names and hope to tap into public anger... and distract the voters from your inadequacies - no plan besides calling herself a "progressive" and no experience.
I'm an independent voter. I vote for a candidate that can bring parties together and solve problems.
18
@marrtyy Yes she is Trump, without the business success, knowledge of politics, or connections to experienced folks to assist in running a large organization. We have two businessmen running for our governor, perhaps we could loan you one?
Does she have background you would want for someone in charge when New York suffers another cataclysmic event?
9
@Lawrence
does Cuomo?
1
@Lawrence
Like Giuliani?
I have a brother who is an average skilled skier. But he is clueless on what mountains he can ski: Black diamond, double black diamond, etc. This makes him a terrible and dangerous skier to himself and everyone else on the mountain.
I hold the same view of Cynthia Nixon. She may be good at this (or she may not) but she has no idea of her limits or any notion of working up to the black diamond. This makes her a huge danger to all of New York.
Please Cynthia, stay off the slopes.
26
just because she can memorize lines and has some crowd recognition doesn't mean she is a- fit for office, b- knows anything about running any government anything, c- realizes that many of us are sick to death of 'celebrities' thinking they know anything about what we want. no vote from me.
22
Ms Nixon is a brave woman to take on the corrupt NY democrat party and it's union allies.
I hope she has protection, SERIOUSLY.
1
Step 1. Get Elected.
Cynthia Nixon's voter appeal drops off precipitously north of 116th St. and east of the FDR Drive.
Those are not the boundaries of New York State.
17
Cynthia behaves like an entitled snob and celebrity, we met her the other day and she refused to even look at us, even though there were only a few people around her. She appears to only care about her own persona and this will not work in the real world.
15
@mark That's funny, because i ran into her on the street and she was open and engaging. Honest! Maybe she was preoccupied when you saw her.
7
Nixon and Ocasio Cortez, and the rest of the Bernie Sanders " socialist democrats" are destroying the Democratic Party. They will guarantee that Donald Trump gets re-elected. Ocasio Cortez's ignorance has made her a laughing stock,
21
Most of the articles about Ocasio-Cortez seem to be expressing fear of her and the ideas she is espousing for a better future, rather than laughter. I But then again, it is far easier to laugh than to think.
Progressive wave in NY!!! Out with corporate Democrats!!
2
It's clear the Nixon is playing from the same playbook of Trump. Trump, using his reality TV fame, has focused on the red meat issues of the frustrated far right of the republican party allowing him to own the base and take over the republican party. Nixon is is attempting to do the same in NYS with the far left. Of course it's easy to criticize Cuomo (I'm not his fan) who needs to work with both parties and compromise on issues to get anything done. This is especially the case when you have no record of working in government that can be examined and questioned. The example of this is her red meat refrain of taxing the rich for everything. The wealthy and financial firms in NYC are mobile and can move to other lower taxed states if NYS tax rates become excessive. Once they leave its hard to get them back. She never seems to address this fact when its brought up.
8
I've yet to hear much from her about the problems upstate NY faces. So the city has a genuine problem with the subways. Can't argue that. We don't have subways upstate. And here we are upstate, many living in crushing poverty and we're facing that bill (it's long been acknowledged we get to pay as well...for a hypothetical example raising the state sales tax a penny) too. What does she intend to do for us?
20
The last thing we need is another tv star in office. She underestimates the office of the Governor, and she is not prepared for it. Playing a lawyer on TV does not translate to the real world. We’re going to end up with a Republican in Albany because of her desire to divide the Democratic Party.
37
OK. Ocasio-Cortez ran for a seat in the House of Representatives, to represent her district in a legislative body of 400+. Nixon is running to be the Governor of New York State. I think this has a whole lot to do with the differences in attitudes towards these two candidates.
Cynthia: run for the City Council and I'm sure you'll have a lot of support and goodwill towards your campaign.
37
As someone who has had some peripheral involvement with "show business" as a consultant, I can say that all of the actors I've encountered have superlative business and management skills -- a big factor in their rise to the top. To allay any concerns about comparisons to the disaster that is Donald, Ms. Nixon can simply point out that she's smarter, kinder and ethical -- plus is a far better businessperson than the tangerine nightmare.
20
@JMNow thats an honest argument. I'm dubious of her candidacy mostly because she has no real answer of what skills she brings to the table. I may not be a supporter, but I do think this is at least a concrete case she should make.
2
@Jill I agree. She can act like a governor, and have a teleprompter to give her the answers. Although, she is smarter than Reagan and definitely trump, showbiz should not be taken as serious background for governing.
@JM They do??? And of course I bet she is not smarter, or even a business person at all.
Being an effective Governor of a state requires wisdom, experience and realism. To be elected into that position requires convincing the electorate that you possess those qualities.
The biggest indictment against Cynthia Nixon is her obvious lack of wisdom, experience and realism to recognize that she cannot be elected and be effective as a Governor.
Her's is an adolescent, vanity exercise that undermines the seriousness of what an election should be. Pushback against amateurism like her's inevitably fortifies the opposing side.
22
She seems like a smart person and a liberal. But the issue is: Is Cuomo awful? He is a liberal-centrist who gets things done. He knows how to compromise and changes his mind when necessary. He has experience.
I could understand opposing Cuomo if he were some anti-woman conservative. But he isn't. Perhaps Ms. Nixon should set her sights on a legislative role (the House or State Senate) to learn the ropes and show us she can be effective in the political arena.
Just saying the right words is not a qualification for office.
30
@Joe
Andrew Cuomo also has some history of corruption, periodically pandering to the opposition in his state legislature and he takes considerable money from lobbyists, the compete antithesis of what the public should be expecting in their politicians. It may be still OK in NY, but not the rest of the country
During the 2016 election and her ultimate loss to Trump, Hillary Clinton complained that one of the reasons she lost was as a result of the constant anti-women sentiment regularly directed her and Madelaine Albright stated that a woman who doesn't vote for Hillary Clinton should "burn in hell".
Hillary Clinton is supporting Cuomo, NOT Nixon and it has nothing to do with experience. When it comes to politics and favors, it seems some have extremely short memories.
3
@Deus are you suggesting we should vote for Nixon simply because she is a woman? I don't agree. Judge each candidate on his/her merits.
The bar is extremely low to qualify for my vote against Andrew Cuomo. Despite his recent claims to be a progressive, he is anything but. Our election laws are a regressive disgrace; no early voting, no same day registration, arcane rules to keep challengers off the ballot. Taxes are high but basic infrastructure goes unrepaired while a billion dollar bridge is named for his father. The Moreland Commission was getting too close so he abolished it.
That said, Ms Nixon’s campaign does not get over my bar. Her lack of experience is significant; you must know how the crooks run Albany to even have a chance to upend them, although I admit that Cuomo has no interest in doing so.
I want to find a reason to vote for her, but I haven’t seen one yet.
25
@KayemteeShe wants single payer insurance for all New Yorkers and coming from working class she will get a living wage. Read her web. I think she will nag till she gets what is OK for all New Yorkers.
6
@Janet Kutny
Sorry, but no State has adopted a single payer system and none is likely to. Single payer needs to adopted federally.
The legislature of New York State is made up of crooks and incompetents, with perhaps a sprinkling of well meaning folks. At various times, I was represented in the Assembly by Alan Hevesi and Brian McLaughlin, both of whom went to prison for misdeeds while in office. Corruption works best in districts without real competition due to one party dominance. They have no reason to pass meaningful reform and have not done so.
@Kayemtee No state has adopted it because when they investigate it the costs would bankrupt them. They could have a state sponsored insurance plan, that also would bankrupt them.
A fine resume , very able ambitious person with interesting history.
However, what NYC and the state and all the other states need, are effective bureaucrates who can manage large multi state Fed programs to rebuild the collapsed transportation system as a priority.
Why not choose people for this position who have worked as mgrs. in public trans. , construction, urban planning, public works financing, etc.
They would not have to spend years on the job learning how things actually work.
16
Oh Cynthia, you had me until you dissed me and half the human race with
"girls are more sensible than boys." Really? When will we stop the endless cycle of otherizing and belittling of whole swathes of humanity?
You can be better than that.
40
@Richard M Lidzbarski She was 14 at the time. Maybe we can give people a pass on stupid teenage statements.
10
@Richard M Lidzbarski She is playing to her 'base' thinking, like many do in today's political climate, it is OK to disparage half the population as long as it's a popular view for the other half. It didn't work for Hillary and it will not work for her. "Girl Power" is not a smart platform.
6
@Richard M LidzbarskiTerrible, very telling comment. She's not even very skilled in the public eye.
Perhaps being "unqualified" is what gets us thinking and acting in a way that includes all voters in our society. The professional politician hasn't exactly worked out in recent memory because they're focused on maintaining power as opposed to representing the people(and in Cuomo's case backstabbing liberals at every turn).
This is the difference between a democratic socialist and a run of the mill "pragmatic", corporately funded democrat. Dems have no real interest in solving issues, but can give nice sounding speeches speaking about the pain and frustration felt throughout the country. These speeches are no longer enough. Pragmatism practiced by democrats has show itself to be an ends to maintain political relevancy, rather than a means to broad social representation and change.
Sounds idealistic, but didn't a "pragmatic" Pres Obama win an election promising hope and change? I think Nixon has what it takes to lead and that's guts. The guts to stand up to everything a d everyone around you, put yourself out there while advocating for "the people" rather than the rich.
6
@Drew Everything except experience.
2
Presumably the NY state voters are more diverse than the ones who elected Ocasio-Cortez. Nixon is a distraction.
16
I like Cynthia Nixon. After watching her handle interviewers with candid and knowledgeable responses, I feel she has a grasp of the issues. She has character and charm and a quick wit that reminds me of another politician who stepped up from an acting career. Now who was that...
Oh, that's right. Ronald Regan. That guy who dared Gorbachev to tear down that wall and brought an end to the cold war. And what was his first step on the way to the White House?
Oh, that's right. He ran for Governor of California and won two terms. Probably would have won a third if he ran.
Not that I am a Regan fan. I am a life long Democrat who must admit I voted for him the first time, but not the second.
So who is to say that Nixon could not be as great as a Regan... Wait let me rephrase that... Who is to say the Cynthia could not be as great as Ronald?
I would certainly vote for her. I am tired of Cuomo and his heavy handed and sometimes questionable politics. I deal with a lot of NYS officials who are not happy with king of the hill style of management in Albany. He may have done some good things for the state but his methods have been divisive and corrosive to New York politics.
There is and could never be any comparison between Cynthia and Trump. She stands head and shoulders above him in every way. She understands the issues and can express herself with a vocabulary that exceeds 140 words and could care less about ratings.
15
@Larry Anyone who says he is a life-long Democrat and voted for Regan and sets the bar low for Ms. Nixon is no Democrat. You probably also voted for bernie, the other not-a-Democrat, who ran as a Democrat.
2
@Larry I am to say that Regan had many other experiences including being a union leader and associated with GE. No comparison there.
Other than years basking in the embedded corruption of NY politics, what is it that Nixon doesn't know about being governor?
8
Having watched NY politics most of my life, I doubt Nixon will really change things. My bigger fear is that Cuomo runs for President, where his serious ethical challenges will be an issue. (OK, I know we are living under Trump, but that will eventually change). Nixon is rightly pulling Cuomo off the fence post he is sitting on. Pot should be illegal, says Cuomo...our Medical MJ program is mostly useless....Nixon shows up....suddenly a study drops recommending full legalization and Cuomo gets behind it. Upstate NY loses significant State Trooper coverage because, in a petty play, Cuomo decides to show DeBlasio who is boss and we have un-needed State Police coverage on the Bridges. TBTA and NYPD didn't need help, but we upstaters lose police....great. NY is very red upstate, but this will remain a Dem - on - Dem battle. I would support Nixon as the Cuomo camp has run NY long enough....
7
@Casey
upstaters should pay for their police protection, just like downstaters do
1
Besides "not having the chops", Ms Nixon's views are not close to representing those of the people of the state of NY. I'm sure her ideas about raising taxes to pay for free stuff, mostly for NYC is really going over well in Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse. And comparing her to Cortes, who won her primary in a far left district in Queens is absurd, there is no similarity. Governor of New York is a big job, she is totally unqualified and her policy ideas are extreme. She's qualified to be president of her co-op board maybe start there. The election is going to be a landslide, no question about that. It's delusional to suggest any other outcome.
24
Cuomo has done a lot of good for this state and I will be voting for him. All Nixon has talked about is NYC education. Maybe she should run for local office and show a track record first. Celebrity politicians are big turn off these days after the Trump mess.
24
I rolled my eyes when Cynthia Nixon first announced her candidacy. Another NYC celebrity who knows little and cares less for anything outside of the five boroughs.
But Andrew Cuomo is mired in corruption - if not personally, so many around him. He's not without accomplishments, but Albany is a swamp.
That she's a woman, a lesbian, an actor are not relevant, it's that same-old, same-old just isn't working.
I'm pretty sure she has my vote and my husband's in the primary.
8
Indeed Cuomo has more experience in raising millions of dollars from wealthy special interests and paying them back using his position to do their biding instead of representing the best interests of the voters. But this makes him less fit to be governor.
For even more important than experience, what we all most want in a candidate is trust—trust that the candidate has integrity, is honest and incorruptible, whose first concern above all else is the best interests of the voters, not personal ambition and profit from cozying up to wealthy special interests.
Absent integrity, more experience is worth nothing but more indebtedness to special interests and more cunning in how to con and betray voters. Cynthia Nixon is taking no corporate special interest money, and thus is not owned by anyone but the voters.
Why is Cynthia running for governor instead of another office? Because it is long past the time that things need to change in Albany. Albany is ground zero for corruption, gridlock, the graves of progressive laws, and NYC's ability to govern itself. Because the governorship is where the power is in our state, where one can make the most difference, and Cynthia, like all us New Yorkers, cannot wait any longer for someone to actually do what they promised but have not, namely change Albany.
7
We should give her the benefit of the doubt even though she has no experience? Wait, didn't the country just do that for Trump? I think the only thing she brings to this contest is a lot of hubris and nerve. Also, we all know how insular, corrupt and manipulative the New York state legislature is. How does she, with no experience and no contacts in Albany, expect to get anything done? What she has in common with A O-C is the idea that one can sit in a coffee house and plan for a socialist utopia without any idea how to accomplish it let alone pay for it. Sanders does it too. . .so did Valdimir Lenin.
5
"...convince skeptical New York Democrats to see beyond her political inexperience, like some did with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez."
Alright, Ms, Nixon, if you are as savvy as Ms Ocasio-Cortez What's your view on the "occupation of Palestine"?
7
@Amy The governor of New York has no foreign policy directive. It's totally irrelevant to her job.
2
Cynthia Nixon is a self professed "Democratic Socialist". Here is what they stand for courtesy of DSA posters, festooned all over my neighborhood in Ridgewood Queens: http://bit.ly/2mwmc6q
I am voting for Cuomo.
9
Thespians and entertainrers should stay out of politics.
10
@ all these folks lamenting her lack of experience
how many said that about hrc when she ran in 2000 for the senate her first elected office -
how many said that about bo - a very slim political cv in his pocket when he ran for president -
bernie sanders had never won an election when burlington elected him mayor
+ andrew would be pushing papers in some law office off the BQE if he weren't his dad's son -
how much of this is sexism and homophobia ?
she is amazing and i question the backstory on all the hate
! go cynthia !
5
@j Some of those did not work too well. Obama's mistakes will take decades to fix. And Hillary was another failure.
With the trump terror in full swing this is no time for amateurs.
16
Individuals with good intentions and no governing experience could potentially thrive in a small-government environment wherein that government's sole role was the protection of individual rights and nothing else. What we have in New York and indeed every other state is a nearly ungovernable colossus of rules, regulations, taxes, fees, surcharges, confiscations, takings, special interests, foolish and ruinous pie-in-the-sky development schemes and all the corruption born of those schemes...to list but the tip of the iceberg over which Ms. Nixon aspires to rule. As repugnant as Governor Cuomo certainly is, at least he knows how to navigate the steaming landfill. Not that I'll be voting for him.
1
Underestimating her? I don't know the first thing about her. And given the maniac we've got in the White House and the quality of dimwits the Gang of Putin keeps pushing I'm less inclined than ever to consider an actor or comedian or whatever with no political experience for any office in government whatsoever.
15
Say what you want about Andrew Cuomo - and there is plenty to say, starting with the endemic corruption and lack of oversight that plague our capital infrastructure projects which suck all the money out of this wealthy area like so many leaches - but, still, he has made Albany work. The State of New York's government was stuck in neutral for nearly the entire Pataki era and not much better during the Spitzer/Paterson years. Cuomo is the textbook definition of a political insider but also the rare example of a scion as competent as his parent. I cannot see how throwing Cythia Nixon, as well-intentioned as she may be, into that den of crooks and vipers in Albany is any improvement over what we have now. We already have a political novice in the White House and look how that's going. The last thing New York needs is an incompetent Governor who can't stand up to President Trump, which Cuomo has, forcefully and effectively.
10
Andrew Cuomo has raised the minimum wage, built infrastructure, successfully fought for gay marriage, protected women's right to choose, defended immigrants against the Trump administration, implemented paid family leave, etc. Why all the Cuomo-hating? And the Working Families Party endorsed Nixon in spite of being asked not to by the most progressive unions in the state. Any "progressives" who can't figure out how to work with progessive labor unions are just indulging in a vanity play, and aren't serious about politics. They might, however, end up helping Republicans.
48
@Rick McGahey
To answer you question: Nepotism. Don't like. Never did. Never will.
1
Why all the Cuomo hating? You, sir, cannot be serious.
Cuomo promised to veto a gerrymander during his campaign and then broke that promise and /helped/ the Republicans gerrymander the Senate districts in 2012 in exchange for nothing of substance. New York now has one of the most undemocratic gerrymanders in the country. Typically, the civilized world considers gerrymanders to be a disturbing blight in democracy...
Ocasio-Cortez received 15k votes from among 200k registered Dems in her District of 700k. The ethic composition of her District undoubtedly had an impact on her tally combined with an opponent whose hubris led him to conduct a less than vigorous campaign. Suddenly, a candidate who received many fewer votes than the typical number of patrons at a Knicks or Rangers game is a “national phenomenon” rubbing shoulders with Bernie. Does anyone remember Bella Abzug? A lovely person but certainly not a politician around whom the nation coalesced.
Ms Nixon is very bright, articulate and thoughtful but weaving her prospects and Ocasio-Cortez’s into a national trend seems way off. The US has a middle of the road electorate and that will demonstrated this fall.
90
You would be surprised by how many Americans see Medicare for All and free college education as benefits worth fighting for.
Every other first world nation invests in the health and education of citizens. Why shouldn’t we?
12
@Buzzy don't sell her victor short just cause she won the primary in the middle of july - who cares
SHE WON!
she beat a big dem dog -
she beat him -
say that ten times
it does not matter by how many votes or what percent of the population
not important
she beat him
do you know how rare it is for a sitting member of congress to go down ??
the queens dem chairman?
please
she beat him
get over it
@Zejee Cuomo gave us free college over a year ago. He is working on a universal healthcare for New York along with a handful of other states. Cuomo has done and is doing the things you support already. How could you miss it?
1
Anyone who promises to fix the subway gets my vote. Unfortunately, it has become that simple for me.
10
For another two fair hikes?
1
Well, as they say, all politics is local.
1
I don’t underestimate her just like I didn’t underestimate Nader, Sanders, Stein, Sarandon and others who took enough votes from main stream Democrats to give us the likes of Bush and Trump.
75
Perhaps the Democrats need to stop ignoring progressive issues.
2
@Ran magical thinking - to blame the dreadful, greedy, tone deaf, hrc's loss on bernie and jill ! yes, that's right, hillary lost Michigan because of jill stein -and that bernie and his bros = they too cost her the election. not her. not the fact that she hung more on martha's vineyard and the hamptons than greenbay or detroit - nope. it was bernie - and jill's fault.
5
Sorry Cynthia Nixon, go back to your tv and movie making. Running a large state like New York is a very different story.
33
Wow, a lot of hardened Cuomo supporters are writing in to tell us why Ms. Nixon is not qualified to be governor. But Cuomo is exactly the kind of arrogant and self-entitled incumbent that a candidate like Cynthia Nixon can defeat. And it's up to the voters of New York State to decide if she's qualified or not.
16
@Mo Sorrisi I spent some of the best years of my life in Brooklyn. It is where I got drafted and sent overseas, where I went to college and earned a Bachelors Degree. I now live in Florida and continue to have New York in my heart. I have a son and grandson who lives there so I will always have opinions on what happens in New York.
1
Day after day America sees the results of the total lack of experience in an executive government position. So Ms. Nixon a big no from this Democrat. You wish to change careers, run for local office, win some elections, server, learn and try again in a decade, then you will have my attention and a chance at my vote.
82
@Heidi EXACTLY!
3
I am sensing a lot of emotional bias, in particular myopic loss aversion, in the comments about Ms. Dixon. She may be a risky candidate but without risk there is no reward. Why hold onto a lousy governor like Cuomo?
11
@NY because most of us don't think he's "lousy."
8
@NYHe's a great Governor. Albany is corrupt though, always has been. Life is complicated.
5
IMO Cynthia Nixon is underestimated as an actress. But underestimated in a race against sitting governor Andrew Cuomo? No.
"Cynthia Nixon, like Bernie Sanders before her, has a problem with black Democrats": https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/21/politics/nixon-black-voter-problem/index....
"... Cuomo's lead is indicative of is the continually poor showing by progressive insurgents among black voters. Cuomo is leading across pretty much all demographic groups, but he's particularly strong among African-Americans."
And:
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/04/pragmatic-tradition-of-blac...
"But while white southern Evangelicals have relentlessly pushed their party rightward by supporting the tea party and other conservative activist movements, African-Americans have played nearly the opposite role in the Democratic Party, helping its mainstream wing to crush its ideologically purist insurgency."
Look at the numbers of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victory (from NYT elections page):
Ocasio-Cortez 15,897
Crowley 11,761
District voter turnout: 13 %
To think that approx. 16,000 votes in a primary with such low turnout gives one candidate & her views some kind of national mandate/blueprint for victory is IMO ridiculous. Yet that's what is being presented to us.
But remember: Joe Crowley remains on the fall ballot against Ms. Ocasio-Cortez; Gov. Cuomo maintains a polling lead. Neither of the publicity-friendly progressives, Nixon or Ocasio-Cortez, has actually won yet.
33
@Erika Nixon is a wine and cheese Democrat.
We progressives expect the old guard neoliberal Democrats to fight progressive candidates. But that is how Democrats will continue to lose.
1
@Zejee what does this new phrase "neo liberal" mean? I have heard Fox Noise use the term a lot since 2016. Why?
Nixon is underestimating the intelligence of NY Dem voters. Just because you can act doesn’t mean you’re smarter than the rest of us. Unfortunately, most of Hollywood stars are in the same boat. It’s all fictional.
35
And I am sure you thought Ronald Reagan was such a bafoon he wouldn't defeat President Jimmy Carter. Nixon is a very accomplished individual who has been involved in improving education for all, keeping a spotlight on the horrific subway system, and focusing on the citizens right to be heard. I live in Manhattan and am stickin' with Cynthia. Cuomo may be ahead in the polls, but Teachout gave him a run for his money in 2014. Question: do you really believe we should merely settle for Cuomo? Give her a chance. You might be surprised at how much more incemental improvements will be realized.
1
Here’s the thing that really bothers me about Cynthia Nixon. She’s a hypocrite. As a film & television professional living and working in NY for over 25 years, I am shocked that she would be so cavalier about wanting to scrap the the film and television tax credit. The cost to the state is so far under the benefits of employment for hundreds of thousands of crew members, not to mention the vast number of businesses that serve our industry. Ms. Nixon has made tens of millions of dollars on the Sex and the City franchise and was able to live in her hometown for most of her career thanks to the tax credit. But here’s the real point. Everyone who works on a television show or film as a crew member knows that their job is to cater to the principal actors. The hair and makeup department getting to set at 4 am, wardrobe, production assistants, assistant directors, drivers, personal assistants, the list is endless. Every single one of those people served Ms. Nixon for decades. The fact that she would be willing to upset their livelihoods and their lives to make a political point shows a level of callousness that is hard to reconcile with the image of herself she’s trying to portray. She’s running on a platform of striving to uplift working people’s lives, but clearly this does not apply to her coworkers in New York’s film and television industry.
41
@N - its not callousness...its clueless-ness.
1
@N This is a canard. She doesn't want to "scrap" it at all! She only wants to redirect some of the money to scrappy independent films.
If she wins Im leaving New York, already on the fence about with high taxes and ineffecient government. This would put me over the edge for sure
13
I'm a Democrat and not a Cuomo fan. That said, Ms. Nixon needs to earn the right to run, by representing a district and see if she really has the chops for higher office. I would not pull the lever for her whatsoever until she has proven herself effective helping people and improving their lives at a lower level than Governor. Enough of the celebrity candidates with no experience. Even Reagan had experience as a Governor and a union leader before running for President.
46
@Bill
In defense of Cynthia Nixon I offer two words:
Elliot Spitzer.
A Democrat, seasoned lawyer, politician and slime ball.
1
The headline sums it up. The idea of comparing Nixon to Ocasio-Cortez is either ludicrous or dead on. A nice, smart white entertainer running against the entire state machine vs a young Latina whose young professional life has been occupied as an organizer running in her constituency. That is a non sequitur par excellence. I really don’t know what Nixon was thinking except possibly that women would make the difference in the insane moment. One will, the other will not. But bless both their souls for trying. You don’t run the subway by riding it. You win the race by running the road, as did Alexandria.
5
Apparently there are similar parallels between Candidate Nixon and out President, Donald Trump. Both were novices in the political arena, both have extremely deep convictions.
The main difference I can see is Nixon wants to tear down institutions, disband others and fully fund these thoughts on the back of taxpayers. Trump on the other hand is attempting to correct the deficencies that are appearing throughout our institutions due to neglect and prior policies and return money to the people that earn it, the taxpayers. I wish her luck, Cuomo is not the right guy. BTW, I think her policies stink.
10
@Tom ,Retired Florida Junkman; if you think Trump is correcting deficiencies in our institutions, you have not been paying attention. Do some research and see the hatchet job he's done on the EPA and our rights to clean water, air, emission reductions and our public parks. He's an absolute disgrace.
5
@Tom ,Retired Florida Junkman
huh? Did you make a typo and flip the names..?
"The main difference I can see is Nixon wants to tear down institutions, disband others and fully fund these thoughts on the back of taxpayers. Trump on the other hand is attempting to correct the deficencies that are appearing throughout our institutions due to neglect and prior policies ..."
Trump isn't doing anything remotely like this. He's under-staffing, under-funding and generally gutting various agencies and depts. His appointments are all haters of the very dept they are leading, and/or have serious ethical, legal problems when it comes to expenditures. Or they are simply not fit to serve. DeVos being one glaring example.
What deficiencies in what agency/dept has he actually fixed, or made serious inroads...?
1
She is in favor of a millionaires tax because rich people will not mind paying more to help other New Yorkers. Yet, as revealed by the NY Times, she took advantage of every tax deduction possible for her 2017 tax return.
24
@Jim Seriously? And by not doing so...you'd accuse her of being stupid.
Who doesnt take advantage of the breaks? There is no virtue in not doing so...
You; "Oh no Mr. Accountant, what are you doing? Why are you taking all these deductions for me?"
Accountant; "Its what Im paid to do. Now sign!"
@Jim
I'm not rich and I take advantage of every deduction I can in order to pay college tuition for a son and have money for charitable giving. If tax deductions encourage the rich to donate, I'm all for it.
Also, I don't think taxing the rich is the only way to raise revenue. How about looking at corporate taxation and government waste?
Neither Cuomo or Nixon float this Upstater's boat .(I've also lived in NYC so aren't a total "hick"). If it weren't for Trump, I might even have voted for the Republican, Molinaro if he were moderate enough.
@Jim
" that's smart "
Sick and tired of Democrats who run on the "soak-the-rich" platform to solve all the problems of our state (and more...). In the end it is not the rich that get soaked but all the working people of New York. That is how we ended up being among the highest taxed states in this country! And where does most of that end up? We need someone who will reconfigure our spending priorities and learn to live within our means.
4
@Victor Nowicki The tax breaks for millionaires are quite hidden. For example, the $50 million and $100 million new condos in New York are basically taxed as though they were $2 million condos. If the law were changed so that everyone was taxed equally, the rich would pay a lot more and everyone else could pay a lot less.
10
@kkseattle I appreciate that the RE tax code is not exactly balanced, but you are forgetting all those abatements given to all other not-so-rich units. Nonetheless, even if the tax break you mentioned was eliminated on the super-rich, how much would this move the "needle"? No much at all since there are not too many properties affected. That is why all calls for more taxes on the few rich ultimately really mean higher taxes for not so rich. That is where the real taxing power lies and we who are there, are fed up being a cash cows for someone else's dreams.
Cuomo is the Clinton style candidate who doesn’t have any true opinions about anything but is very ambitious. Cynthia Nixon is the Bernie style candidate who has real opinions and is very vocal about them. I’m with her (not Clinton).
8
I’m gonna vote for her. If nothing else she’s pulling Cuomo further to the left, which suits me just fine. And remember, 90% of the success Cuomo has had was thanks to his father. Albany remains a cesspool of corruption and it’s gotten worse not better under Cuomo. I’m tired of entrenched politicians, especially those who found success off the hides of their familys.
12
Nixon will probably lose by 60%-40% in the primary, but I take her seriously for two reasons: (1) the progressive-socialist ideology she advocates will soon engulf the democrats in deep blue states like NY, and (2) Cuomo is the type of ethically challenged, corruption soiled democrat the party seems to have had enough of.
I can't see her having much sway in Upstate NY but I agree with the thought she could gin up a ton of votes with a realistic plan to fix the subways and the general NYC and suburban congestion problem.
8
I have only one word for Nixon. Never.
9
I’d be more willing to consider her if she knew that “upstate” did not stop at the Bronx.
24
Alex a quick Wikipedia look up would lave told you that Cuomo, was assistant secretary and then secretary of the Federal HUD, only the largest bureaucracy after the Veterans administration, indeed incredibly apt experience, he was then AG for NY, I guess you don’t vote in NY. So yes he has experience.
10
I am positive that I could play “Mr Big” in any future installment of “Sex and the City.” Admittedly, I haven’t acted since I had the lead role in a sixth grade play in the early 70s, and that effort ended prematurely because my co-star forgot her lines. And I admit I’m not suited to play Miranda. Nonetheless I wear a suit to work every day and I’m told I look good in it - by my wife. And I have experience saying “those shoes are you! They match your eyes.” If Ms Nixon can be NY’s governor, I’m qualified to play any male role in “Sex and the City.”
4
She thinks the citizens of NY are underestimating her?
Good Grief.
She is quite obviously OVERestimating herself.
Oh, and by the way Miranda, PLAYING a lawyer doesn't make you one.
33
She helped foist Bill de Blasio on us here in NYC.
Her judgement is terrible.
We can't play games this year. We can't risk a Republican governor. Ms. Nixon does not resonate outside of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
35
@Will. But we already have a Republican lite governor
@Carl You mean he guy who was one of the first in the nation to make gay marriage a priority and then pass it? Who stands up to the NRA? Please save your extremism.
@Jill
Amen, Jill. The far, far lefties will NEVER be satisfied. They want to complain. They NEED to complain. If Susan Sarandon got everything she says she wants she would be absolutely miserable because she wouldn't have a cause for outrage!
There is nothing in the WORLD that will satisfy them. They are professional whiners.
The only qualifications you need to be a politician's in the US...
1. Tell people what they wanna hear. Cuz, most American's can't handle the truth nor do we want to critically think.
2. If you have the gift of being able to lie and smile at the same time.
2
A big diversified state like New York and these are the only 2 people running for governor on the Democratic side and forget the Republican candidate I not sure he really exists. Politics is a dirty business and all the qualified honest people are running from serving the State as it should be run.
5
"... on a platform of boundless progressivism, disdain for squishy centrism and higher taxes on the rich to finance much of her agenda."
That would be a lot of disdain, some of it apparently confused. #commaAWOL
Remember what happened when former NYC Mayor Bloomberg hired an unqualified person to be Chancellor of the NYC schools . She lasted 3 months. Look what is happening to our country w an unqualified president!!! So the last thing NYS needs is an unqualified governor. Have some humility and be conscientious...run for school board or city council and see if you get elected and how you fare and if that is the career path you truly want. I recently met a young man (age 24) whose goal is to be prime minister of his small southeast asian country. His plan is to finish law school in the US, attend Oxford and run for office in the US. Then in about 20 yrs w all this experience to return to his country and run for the office of Prime Minister.
8
Ugh. It's almost insulting that she compares herself to Ocasio-Cortez. One is a privileged person of television fame who suddenly decided to fight for the common woman or man when that career ended. The other is an exceptional common woman. I know who I'd bet New Yorkers will identify with.
3
Dear Governor Cuomo: I have voted for you in the last two elections, and i voted for your father. I will vote for you again. I support you and everything you've done for NY. I hope you wallop Nixon and put an end to this nonsense.
Good luck and let's move forward for our great state. Excelsior!
16
Politics is a business like any other. Like any other business, you start modestly and work your way up. You learn as you do that. You build alliances -- there are no friendships in politics -- you create a bank of I.O.U's owed you by others; you network with equally ambitious creatures; you bide your time; you learn how government functions and how politics greases the wheels of government.
You also learn that when necessary you kill the wounded, take no prisoners and crush an opponent who raises her head and threatens to cause damage to your long-term objective in your political career.
Lest anyone think otherwise, Andrew Cuomo's long-term goal is the White House and it is now on the short horizon of 2020.
Cynthia Nixon, on her fool's errand, has put herself in the way of that and she will pay the price of decisive defeat int he September primary.
She should have started with a shot at the NYC council. You don't case yourself as governor.
7
I don’t know why the NYT keeps wasting space on this particular unqualified candidate. Are you so bedazzled by celebrities?
Her campaign sounds like she is running for mayor of NYC, not governor of the state. She focuses only on the city. It might surprise he to know that more people live outside the city than in, and they have issues they want addressed. Subways, NYC schools, a millionaire tax in the city, legal marijuana? What about schools upstate, crime, excessive property and state income taxes, or the slow decline of the state? One hears crickets on those.
The good news is that she will soon leave politics and will become just another celebrity again. Cuomo, with all his faults, will once again win by a blowout and will continue doing whatever he is doing now.
18
I think your first sentence nailed it. Yes, they are. The NYT and other media outlets are also responsible for Trump by giving him endless free coverage and covering his every move. And then, when he won they complain about it endlessly which also gives them more readership. Hopefully the outcome will be a little different here and the only time we will hear from again Nixon will be on reruns of SATC.
8
What happened to democrats supporting female candidates?
1
@ Give us qualified candidates, not vanity runs. There are plenty of qualified potential female candidates. Nixon is not one of them.
4
Oh please we do not have time for Cynthia Nixon , a B grade actress from Sex in the City, it is not easy to win in NY.
Nothing is much known about her and she could be very good but we need to go for established candidate.
Perhaps next time !
6
Reagan the B Movie actor, Scwartzenegger the Terminator, Jesse Ventura Highway the fake wrestler were governors. Two of a state larger than New York. One went on becoming the President of the USA and the Master of the Universe. Anyone who suggests Cynthia is not qualified should give themselves a break. We are living in an era where Donald Trump, a man not qualified to tie his own shoes is President of the so called free world. I will vote for Cynthia. Cuomo is an opportunist. Nothing good comes out of him. Look at the NYC Subway!
8
Cynthia Nixon speaks the truth. Cuomo lies.
I am tired of having politicians who lie!
9
If I were rich, I would run for governor because there are too many potholes in the roads of Queens. And it's all the fault of whatshisname... Como? Usted?
Among the negatives of democracy we must count the vanity voter--the one who is too pure to hold the nose long enough to flush the figurative bowl and vote the sensible way. Perhaps the vanity candidate is a greater negative, using personal money to advance a personal agenda with no thought for what lies at the heart of democracy: the greater good. And BTW, Ms. Nixon is no Ocasio-Cortez: Alexandria has been working hard on issues for years. Nixon is a caricature of the vanity candidate.
7
The person to look at in this election is Jumaane Williams. He is a Council member of the 45th district and is running for Lt. Gov. He is an activist who has been fighting for years on our behalf. The incumbent, Kathy Hochul, has barely shown up for work. VOTE!!!!!
1
She IS being underestimated. I would vote for her in a heartbeat. The Coamo Dynasty makes me sick.
1
Anyone is better than Andrew Cuomo. I say to Ms. Nixon:"Right on!" There is a groundswell of support for you, and you are on the verge of pulling off the second most significant upset of this young century, after Trump's electoral victory in 2016 of course! As pieds noirs were wont to say in Algeria in the "bon vieux temps," in the idiom of Rabelais: "Tu peux vas y; nous sommes ca y est!:"Not entirely grammatical according to the standards of the Academie Francaise, but I think you get the point!
2
I agree with her politics, but I am weary of a celebrity politician with little experience. I would love to see cuomo taken down by a progressive, but I wish there were another progressive with more experience running.
I don't think our celebrity obsession is a healthy choice in politics. If she wins, all the best of luck and please prove me wrong.
5
Cynthia who?
Alexandria who?
5
She's an arrogant ex TV "star". Sound familiar?
6
Hmmmmm, elect a New Yorker with no political experience. Didn’t we do that in 2016?? How’s that working out ???
8
I like her policies.
I like her personally.
As for upstate, she did come to Newburgh and meet with several dozen of us, where she listened and learned that it’s not just about the rent.
I don’t think she’s ready to run a state, but I will probably vote for her to send a message. And hopefully she will make her next campaign one for state senator or congress.
6
how dare you think you can just jump to the head of the line because you were on a tv show! you want to get involved? start with city council in your home district and actually get some EXPERIENCE besides TALKING
7
It’s sexist to question someone’s lack of credentials? What is this world coming to?
19
If a cricket player can become Prime Minister of Pakistan -- as Imran Kahn (a Pakistani with mega-connections familial and otherwise did), then Cynthia Nixon can become New York's Guv. If Ronald Reagan, a grade B movie star and TV cigarette/fridge huckster could become a 2-term President, and a bullying brutish real estate dealer and avatar of Un-American values and morals can still be our 45th president, then the sky is the limit for Cynthia Nixon. If only I could vote in New York in the Mid-Terms! If ifs and ands were pots and pans, we'd all be tinkers. And quoting John Boehner, the Orange Man former GOP Speaker who got out of Washington in time, if ifs and buts were candy and nuts it would be Christmas every day in America!
New York elected and inexperienced Hillary Clinton as Senator.
3
Ms. Nixon, if you are reading this, understand that New York State is a BIG place. Time for you to leave your comfortable environs in New York City and get the heck up here, Upstate, and tell us what you want to do for US. Ed Koch never left York City when he ran for governor and denigrated Upstate, and he lost to a nobody named Mario Cuomo. This story is so predictably NYT-New York City-centric, and so far so are you.
7
Cynthia, you're no Alexandria.
1
Until Ms. Nixon can tell me how she is not a Di Blasio clone, particularly on land use and over development, I cannot support her.
The city is being literally given away to developers. What’s her point of view?
15
As someone who grew up in NYC and with family in NYC, I am still very interested in what happens in NY. Cynthia Nixon may be the best candidate for the state but I don't think we'll ever know. The reason she is not doing as well as she hoped is because most of the press about her has been focused on her television role and her personal life. Comparatively, there has been few if any in-depth coverage of her position on issues that concern New Yorkers.
6
@J Li She reminds of our senator H. Clinton. Can anyone tell me what she did for NYS? She did tell us after 9/11, her constituency was Wall St. She did not lie about that. Both of them appear to be about me as opposed to we.
1
"I knew Lloyd George, too."
Ms Nixon has every right to run for public office.
Improving the New York subway is along way from the Presidency.
Ms Nixon has the credentials alluded to by:
UnfortunateMumbai32m ago
The writer comments:
When sporting celebrity like Imran Khan can win an election in Pakistan,why does people think that just because she does not have political experience ,she will not do justice to the post. Have experienced people been successful governors? She is right when she says that you are underestimating her. When Trump can become the US president,why not Ms Cynthia Nixon?
Why not?
"When Trump can become the US president, why not Ms Cynthia Nixon?''
Great comment and freely made.
The world in my view needs another Nixon.
The issue is for US voters.
1
@A private citizen The only point you are correct about is your last statement.
2
There are NO people that are exactly qualified for any job for level of government, for each position has different qualifications required that change every single day.
You need to cogent, dedicated and forthright to recognize that you are not always going to be the smartest person in the room, but are willing to use the best people and ideas at any given time as required.
Having said that, it is always going to be about the issues and whether the candidate is going to be relentless advocate for them. (especially regardless of political pressure)
I believe Ms. Nixon to be that, especially in comparison to the current Governor who has used almost every issue to cravenly move to the populist side of. (even if his position was the opposite)
She has my vote.
6
@FunkyIrishman
If it's just about advocacy, she could head a non-profit advocacy group, like Al Sharpton.
Governor is also about executive management.
1
There are NO people that are exactly qualified for any job for level of government, for each position has different qualifications required that change every single day.
You need to cogent, dedicated and forthright to recognize that you are not always going to be the smartest person in the room, but are willing to use the best people and ideas at any given time as required.
Having said that, it is always going to be about the issues and whether the candidate is going to be relentless advocate for them. (especially regardless of political pressure)
I believe Ms. Nixon to be that, especially in comparison to the current Governor who has used almost every issue to cravenly move to the populist side of. (even if his position was the opposite)
She has my vote.
2
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is running for a 2 year term as one of 435 members of the House of Representatives. If it turns out that she is incompetent, she can't do much damage. Ms. Nixon, on the other hand, is running for a 4 year term as the chief executive of one of the largest states in our nation. So, any comparison of these situations is off the mark.
Effective leadership in elective office is a skill developed through experience. Whatever Ms. Nixons's qualities, it is clear she has no experience in elective office. I hope the voters in NY send a clear message that our top-level political positions are too important to give them to inexperienced people. Governor of NY (like President of the USA) is NOT an entry-level position.
23
The Times reminded us often that Trump was not qualified to run for office, for among other reasons, he was a reality TV star with no experience. But since we are now talking about a "progressive" the Times prefers to use Trump's ascendance as a kind of precedent making Dixon a legitimate candidate. All that aside what I see is another in a long line of "millionaire tax" advocates, whatever that means, who is not too subtly also playing the gender card. Here's the thing about taxes on millionaires (and taxes on everyone else). It's never enough because the people who decide where to spend the new found revenue, and the progressives in particular, will have numerous other projects they are more than happy to socialize.
2
As I have said a million times.
Corporate democrats would rather have a Republican elected than a progressive. Cuomo would be the Republican in this scenario.
1
There are NO people that are exactly qualified for any job for level of government, for each position has different qualifications required that change every single day.
You need to cogent, dedicated and forthright to recognize that you are not always going to be the smartest person in the room, but are willing to use the best people and ideas at any given time as required.
Having said that, it is always going to be about the issues and whether the candidate is going to be relentless advocate for them. (especially regardless of political pressure)
I believe Ms. Nixon to be that, especially in comparison to the current Governor who has used almost every issue to cravenly move to the populist side of. (even if his position was the opposite)
She has my vote.
3
Here are some items to consider. The primary turnout in NY State is extremely low. By splitting off the Congressional primary from the State primary, the turnout will be worse. Andrew Cuomo is not a popular Governor. Any time an incumbent's favorability rating falls below 50%, that candidate is vulnerable. Nixon may not win the Democratic primary, but she could "wound" Cuomo with a strong showing, especially in NYC. In the general election, Molinaro is likely to get at least a third of the vote. That mean that Cuomo and Nixon will fight it out for the other 67%. We could have a Governor who wins with 35 to 40% of the vote. The labor unions are supporting Cuomo but they are no longer the "get out the vote machine" that they once were. Social media now play a big role in campaigns. The whole approach of getting out the vote via phone banks reaches virtually no one anymore. Cuomo has overseen more corruption scandals than any recent Governor. He's also less progressive than is the the NY Democratic base. And last but not least, the subway system is still a hot mess.
3
I would be interested to know if Ms Nixon would accept a person with no training or experience in acting as her co-star in her next Broadway production.
46
I totally agree, I am underestimating her. She will probably get 7% of the vote, not 5%.
14
I don't know New York politics well. Can someone tell me if the Democrat is a lock to beat the Republican Marcus Molinaro for governor? I have a visceral dislike for Governor Cuoumo (though I very much liked his father) and would love to see Ms. Nixon succeed him, but the Democrats can ill afford a loss in New York. It seems clear that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will win the general election, so good for her win over Joe Crowley in the primary, but I suspect it is much different at the state level.
More than anything, what has been highlighted to me by this campaign is that when we support government officials we seek the wrong characteristics entirely. From Trump to Reagan to, help us, C. Nixon people are blinded by showmanship. I have no clue what this has to do with setting policy, and based on the performance (punny) of these actors, there seems to be an inverse relationship between political success and stage presence.
2
I happen to think she's smart and as "qualified" as any successful person who's been an activist for decades. This whole notion of a political "professional" is anathema to America. But besides that, my answer to anyone who asks me why I support her is simple: She'd HAVE to better than him!
1
I don't know Mrs Nixon as an actress, I never watch sex in the city, consequently I am not judging her based on her past experience, this country had past actors that became even president, the Cuomo's experience in my NYC daily life in the subway would make me vote for a chandelier, the corruption in NYC is rampant, the fact that NYC subway is not fixed and won't be fix is only because of the relationship of the governor and the union, they finance his campaign, there is huge deal going on with contractors and the governor cannot do what he is supposed to do , his donors run the agenda at the pace the decide and at a cost three times the cost any other major city would spend.
I will be voting for Mrs Nixon only because I trust a morale compass to do the right thing for the citizens of Ny state , I trust her judgment and this is enough for me.
1
Ocasio-Cortez is young but she is hardly a novice in politics. She has worked as a community activist starting in high school. In college in Boston she worked as a volunteer for Ted Kennedy's office of immigration affairs and later for the Bernie Sanders campaign. After college she moved back to the Bronx as a community organizer. She's travelled all over the U.S. helping local communities fight for clean water (Flint MI)and other human rights issues. It's clear that she has been on a life's mission of public service since she was a very young kid! I do not see how Cynthia Nixon's vanity campaign can even begin to compare.
14
There was an episode in Sex and the city where Miranda was interviewing a potential date while walking in the park. When it looked like they would go on a date, the deal fell through when she asked him to join her for an event outside of Manhattan. He declined because he never left Manhattan, no matter what the reason was. From what I have seen of her I am not sure if she knows about the concerns of New Yorkers who live outside of NYC.
9
I'll take inexperience any day -- when it's combined with smarts, morals, ethics, values, honesty, energy and a fresh perspective -- versus "experience" that's self-serving, soulless, and morally- and ethically-challenged.
2
How anyone could even think of voting for the corrupt Cuomo is baffling. And his endorsement by Hillary Clinton is a perfect example of why Democrats need to change direction and vote for Cynthia Nixon. Because she won't take corporate and Wall Street money, she will be vilified by the corporate Democratic establishment as someone who can't possibly know how to govern. Governing is not rocket science. It means implementing through policy your core beliefs and having the people stand with you. Poll after poll show that people want change in the status quo. nothing will change though if people keep voting in the same corrupted politicians who pay lip service to change and progressive ideas, but then cave and bow to the pressure of their corporate donors.
Growing up in Western New York or as it seems the forgotten part of the state, I’m appalled that The New York Times limits articles like this to a singularly New York City/Albany perspective. Any article discussing any candidate for governor should include the insights from citizens across the entire state. After all isn’t the governor supposed to represent the interests of all the residents of the state? A more comprehensive overview might shock readers into realizing that few of these candidates play well outside of their own “bubbles” of perception.
8
The polls will tighten in August as more people start to tune into the race. As I see it, Ms Nixon can prevail on Election Day, if she reminds voters of the rampant “waste and fraud” in Albany. Because the vast majority of New Yorkers want what’s best for the state, not just the politically connected.
2
I’m so tired of Cuomo that I can’t bear to vote for him. And I most certainly do not want him running for president. I dread that. What are my options? Maybe Nixon has come at a good time.
9
In America, fame can imbue a heady sense of 'privilege.' What is Ms. Nixon offering New York's voters beyond her familiar, attractive face and trendy opinions? Lots of people with no government or political experience have cutting edge 'progressive' views, and want big change.
Celebrity doesn't such common dross into gold- as our famous, opinionated president proves every day.
1
I don’t think that Ms. Nixon is criticized for her lack of experience because she’s a woman. She’s criticized for her lack of experience because she lacks experience. Plenty of male candidates lacking experience have been criticized for the same. Trump was not because he ran on a platform that promoted his lack of government experience. He ran as the consummate outsider. It’s bothersome that Ms. Nixon and her defenders would portray her as a victim of gender discrimination in voter expectations - she is no victim and she plays the victim role with no credibility. She is above that. Note to her handlers: progressives do not need to run as victims of anything. They should run as strong candidates with good ideas that all Democrats can embrace.
10
She's mistaken. I'm not estimating her at all. The last thing New York, or any place, needs is another true believer.
9
Ms Nixon no doubt has good intentions, but qualified to be governor of New York? Uh, no. Why doesn’t she run for a borough or state seat and see how governing works on a smaller scale?
4
Yes, Ms. Nixon lacks experience.
But Mr. Cuomo has experience: promising to improve the lives of New Yorkers while gutting funding for the MTA; promising “free higher education for some New Yorkers, while failing to provide adequate funding to support those institutions that are supposed to do the educating. So while he touts his progressive credentials, he creates an unfunded mandate that has now led to massive budget cuts throughout the CUNY system, the more expansive use of adjuncts, and an underfunded system.
I’m sick of the false duplicity of our experienced governor. I’ll be pulling the lever for the “novice,” thank you very much.
1
If all goes as I believe it is planned, Cynthia Nixon will win on an expanded, enthusiastic electorate.
As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has stated, turning NON voters into VOTERS.
5
Cuomo must be scared; he's purchased so much airtime that even the drug companies have to take a second seat. Everyone will assume he's such a shoo-in that they won't show up at the polls and he may get a surprise. If you recall, he lost virtually all of upstate NY, save for a few urban centers, to Teachout. He even lost Albany county, so beloved is he by state employees.
1
This article failed to explain why we’re underestimating Ms. Nixon. I for one support her (from over in NJ), but this article needed a lot more detail on why she believes she’s qualified and why she says Cuomo doesn’t deserve another term.
7
Her character Miranda was the least liked SATC character. Nobody wanted to be a Miranda. That will hurt her.
4
Imagine if Andrew Cuomo decided to be an actor... Ms. Nixon is as entitled and fraudulent as certain other celebrity figures who think they're qualified to govern. Has she ever set foot north of Westchester? What does she know about agriculture policy, forestry or water rights? Does she realize that New York is more than a bunch of limousine liberal ideals punctuated by "healthcare for all". What relationships does she have with the State Legislature? Who would she appoint as her cabinet? As a former resident of Upstate New York, I can firmly state "It Ain't Vermont."
16
The article has everything you need to know: the card of Cuomo getting punched in the face. I do not share her extreme fixation. I am not entirely unhappy that she is bringing things he would rather ignore to the forefront but this is such a blatant display of narcisissm. Obviously running for state senate or city council is not worth her time. Bringing up if it were a man is, in this context, absurd: Alec Baldwin faces the same expressions of dismay everytime he makes political overtures. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez is not in the same boat: in congress you learn on the job, I am hopeful she will learn what Ms. Nixon and also Bernie Sanders don't appear to have an appreciation for: that passing a bill is not writing your list to Santa. Ms. Nixon is playing into the prime stereotype of the left right now, that they want to burn down any "centrist" so the right wins the seat to show people how bad things can be because then, whatever, the revolution will come, because the centrists have failed their purity tests. The problem with this is that it makes leftists functionally indistinguishable from the alt-right because they think knowing how to actually accomplish anything is a deal with the enemy. Not to mention she is framing a governor who passed marriage equality as a conservative. If Ms. Nixon can stop talking about Mr. Cuomo for one day and have anything to say I'd at least think more of her motives, she just continues to play into the worst assumptions.
2
I’m a lifelong “bleeding heart” liberal who shares almost all of Ms. Nixon’s policy positions and apparent beliefs.
However, 50 years as a voter have taught me that celebrity candidates like her are rarely, if ever, wise choices.
She is utterly unqualified. The job is too big, too complex, and too important to be handed to a completely inexperienced neophyte, no matter how passionate about the issues she may be.
Perhaps if she were to prove her abilities, knowledge, and dedication as a city councillor or state senator first, she might be taken seriously.
Until then her candidacy can only be vowed as an exercise in self-absorbed celebrity entitlement.
63
We are not underestimating her. See the two previous celebrity examples, Schwarzenegger, left a mess for Jerry Brown to clean up, and let’s not even start with the current one in the White House. NYS has an economy de size of Canada’s. actually bigger than Russia, it’s not a like governing Mississipi. Upstate and downstate are completely different worlds, with different priorities. Whereas Cuomo has not been perfect he has done a few things right, tapping Zee comes to mind. I live in Manhattan in as much as we produce a lot of the economic output, we have to realize that 3-4h north of the city there are depressed areas that need help. I doubt Ms Nixon has bothered to figure out what is needed Oswego as opposed to Utica. As for Ms Ocasio-cortez, she is a novelty that will soon fade, she is also not aiming to be governor, if elected she can learn on the job or be voted out in two years without much damage. A governor, not the case. Why do we keep indulging utterly unqualified people?
18
There is a big difference between a novice running for a legislative office, where they are only one of many voices that must agree on matters, vs. an executive office like Governor. Even Ronald Reagan held an executive office, head of the screen actors guild, before becoming governor of California.
What's more interesting is to watch liberal progressives casting dispersions on the Presidency of Bill Clinton, despite the number of great successes he was able to achieve during his embattled 8 years in office. When are people going to understand that this is suppose to be a Democracy, and that you cannot govern with less than a 1/3 of the citizens on your side, that is unless you want to employ the kind of brute force that other Socialist governments have had to resort to using.
1
"He is proof, she argued, that experience in government can be corrosive anyway"
This is the crux of Ms. Nixon's candidacy. People talk about "experience" without actually defining what that is in the context of New York state politics. It seems "experience" means "knowing how to steer money to your friends and donors".
Synonyms: corruption, fraudulence, dishonesty, nepotism.
Ms. Nixon has little to no chance of winning a governor's race outside of NYC. If a candidate loses the rest of NYS, they have little to no chance of winning the election.
16
New York liberals should reject Nixon if for no other reason than that they maintain credibility in bashing Trump for being a political neophyte with no real policy experience.
Governance is serious business. I don’t want a C-list actor leading one of the world’s biggest economies.
15
As with everything in today’s crazy world, Ms. Nixon’s problem is Donald Trump. Putting someone with no political or governing experience in the White House has led to disaster for the country. Many New Yorkers look at that situation and don’t want to make the same mistake.
Of course, they forget that Ms. Nixon is an intelligent, curious, moral and committed human being, unlike the narcissistic oaf who leads America. They forget that we have voted for the odious Andrew Cuomo only because the alternative has usually been worse. They complain that Ms. Nixon will be eaten alive by a corrupt Albany, but by dismissing her, they do nothing to clean it up. They forget that our founding fathers envisioned a nation of citizen-politicians, who would bring their other life experiences and good qualities to governance.
Here in the suburbs, we are seeing some “inexperienced” Democratic women tackle big issues and do quite well in their elected positions. So let’s not dismiss candidates who want to help us just because they aren’t professional politicians. When I think of a professional politician, what comes to mind is Sheldon Silver, who’s being shuffled off to a seven-year prison sentence.
If we truly want to change the way we are governed, then there’s nothing wrong with electing people who bring fresh perspectives and skills they learned elsewhere.
2
No I am not underestimating her.
Ms Nixon is an inexperienced, identity obsessed far out liberal, social engineering socialist that plays well in extreme liberal districts in the USA but no place else.
If the democrats want it much more likely not to regain the Congress in 2018 and re elect Trump in 2020 nominate people like her in purple districts in 2016 and nationally in 2020.
We had a version of her in 2016. She was named Hillary.
4
@Paul. No we didn't actually. They actually are opposites. While Hillary was a phony and corrupt, I believe Nixon is honest and not corrupt. Although Hillary campaigned to the left, she was at heart a centrist, while Nixon is clearly so far to the left that most NY liberals will never vote for her (nor would I).
3
@skeptic-Thank you for your reply skeptic, Hairs are being split here.
Outside of very liberal districts democrats should run and this country needs moderate progressives that can appeal both to both moderate left and right.
The candidates could be young, old, black, white, other, male or female just not Nixon or Hillary.
@skeptic How do you know how honest she is? Based on what? Her advocacy for education policy appears to have been getting her children in highly selective schools. Where was her voice when Bloomberg destroyed the NYC schools? Stop talking about Cuomo, what will you do to work with all the people of NY State?
Ms. Nixon has been granted media attention and political access by dint of her celebrity, has never managed people or started a business, nor does she have any experience in governing. Does she seriously believe this is a gender issue? If so, she is more a creature of NYC than she recognizes, and this sort of complaining is tiresome.
18
She will get my vote over Cuomo any day. Good judgment, common sense, and ethics matter more to me than political experience. Cuomo’s corruption scandals should be disqualifying. He has proven that he can’t be trusted, and he has run the subway system into the ground with neglect, among many other mistakes.
7
“If I were a man with exactly the same résumé, I would not be getting this question to the extent that I am,”
Are questions of experience, where there seems to be little,somehow sexist,thus illegitimate?
4
One Democratic Socialist in Congress where she is voting for her constituents cannot be compared to one who wants to run NY State. With all of her economic proposals I hear that big government cash register go cling, cling and my wallet getting thinner and thinner
3
I read about the obscene corruption in the State on an almost daily basis. Silver, Skelos, "Empty Suit Andy's" pals (Kaloyeros Ciminelli, Aiello, and Gerardi) the list goes on and on. Every time a judge passes sentence on one of these criminals, the same old song is sung from the bench: "the level of corruption must come to an end."
So all those commenters who claim she lacks "qualifications" are going to vote for Andy. And here's what they will get:
a broken down transportation system, lies, a blame someone else game, an economy outside of the lower counties that hasn't recovered from the 1970s, a corrupt state police force, income taxes, that are among the highest in the nation, and a Governor who will spend most of his time running for President in 2020.
I don't have the misfortune of living in New York, but Cynthia would get my vote.
9
It seems all she wants to do is give, give, give. That is great. BUT, as always, where is the money coming from?
Free school, free healthcare. Who is paying for this?
Get rid of ICE. Does she even know what ICE is, or stands for?
"She says she grasps the threat to abortion rights because her mother had an abortion when they were illegal. Ms. Nixon brought a wire hanger to a rally to make her point."
Grandstanding, just like an actor. Oh, she is an actor.
"When pressed for a second or third beat on a subject, Ms. Nixon can be vague (though so, too, can many sitting officeholders). Asked how she might reimagine the M.T.A. to improve its function and rein in the cost of capital projects, she focused only on replacing the current chairman, Joseph J. Lhota, a Cuomo nominee who has said that he opposes a millionaire’s tax because his rates would increase." Now she sounds like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, talking about the Palestine Occupation. No knowledge, yet willing to spout.
Cuomo is definitely no winner. But, god forbid she should win.
4
Huh? tell the very people, whose vote you seek... that they are wrong. Sounds like someone doesn't (didn't) have an argument
Compare to Trump, who told those, whose votes he sought... you're right! And, he was someone who did have an argument
Her strategy might work with thinking democrats, you know the ones who already realize the russia things was a nonsense and that hillary and her cohorts really will be lucky not to be locked-up
Folks over in that democratic voting bubble sure do need a wake-up of sorts, maybe someone like Nixon who tells the truth to the voters, even when she knows it is not what people want to hear, but need to hear (in her opinion). Hey! maybe it works...
A realtor, she'd make a good realtor. I might buy a house from her, but I wouldn't vote for her, unless...
What? It's either her of Cuomo?
Realtors make America Great Again!
1
If I still lived in NYC she would have my vote.
1
For the first time, I'm voting for a Nixon. Corrupt Andy, who should be getting fitted for an orange jumpsuit alongside Howe, Percoco, Kalyeros, Silver and Skelos, is a corrupt, craven politician with no ideological core and no moral compass. His campaign coffers are filled with contributions from LLC's such as Glenwood LLC, the real estate entity central in the Silver and Skelos cases. In Albany, he stood next to the grifter Eva Moskowitz and belittled public schools by calling them "government schools," a right wing reference if ever there was one. Now he makes nice to unions after he said in 2010 that he was out "take them on." HIs endorsements are the results of fear and bullying, not true commitment. His "progressive stances" are the results of triangulation, nothing more. I'll vote for someone who is inexperienced yet principled, over someone who is ethically barren. Nixon can acquire skilled assistants and knowledgeable advisors. Cuomo can't acquire ethics and morality- they're long gone, if they were ever there.
11
Nixon has demonstrated herself as an intelligent, articulate woman. Where is the meat of the matter in this article? Her work history as a successful actress (I believe Ronald Reagan performed in many "B" rated movies) is irrelevant! Listen to her speak. NEW YORK NEEDS AN ALBANY OUTSIDER offering new adept policies, not a regurgitater of other politicians' sound bites, i.e. free college education.
I am still waiting for the NYT to publish more in-depth reporting about Andrew Cuomo's accomplishments after 7 years. Last year Governor Cuomo stated that the NYC subway system, the heartbeat of the city, was in the state of emergency. It still is!
In March 2014, the NYT reported an inside story about a homeless educator protesting in front of the NYS Department of Education. Where is the follow up story? Did Governor Cuomo provide aid to one of his employees that became homeless because of his governance?
In New York, hands on experience in Albany means knowing how to work the ropes in order to perpetrate ones' own personal desires.
1
It really is very simple. Mario Cuomo is a political hack. He is where he is simply because of legacy, his ethics are questionable given his disbanding of the Moreland Commission, and the conviction of one of his top aides. That he is now running for the presidential nomination of his party is evidenced in all of his recent actions culminating in frequent trips to Puerto Rico. Time for a change. And no, I know nothing about Actress Nixon, (unfortunate name which continues to confuse), but we have had others from her profession that have fared well enough in the political arena.
Nixon is not alone in this, but what's wrong with running for, say, state senate? Learn what makes it all tick? (For better or for worse)
Anyone who doesn't appreciate the role Wall Street plays in filling NYC's and NYS' coffers doesn't deserve to be governor. "Evil" Wall Street generates a lot of revenue for both. That's reality -- something often missing in the socialistic model.
5
With polling numbers for Ms. Nixon chance of getting elected Governor fluctuating somewhere between .5% and 1%, boy, is this indicative of the super-ego this woman has or what?
1
You want to run for office for the first time? Run for a lower office and against a Republican. Don’t pull a Bernie and tear down an electable Democrat and open the way for a Republican.
59
@KamDog: totally agree with assessment that C. Nixon is unqualified at this point and should prove herself in lesser political office(s). Her great skill as a TV actress who has also graced Broadway means that she is good at learning her lines so well that naive impressionable voters actually believe she is, indeed, a real contender for state leadership. Whether you like Andrew Cuomo's macho posturing and preening tactics or not, he is far superior than C. Nixon, has the advantage of his DNA and political dynasty cachet, and a broadcast/commentator brother who, no doubt, advises him on platform, positioning and messaging.
New Yorkers want experience. Ms. Nixon should run for city council or congress or state legislator first. She has none of the education, relationships or experience that would help her do the governor job. She would be overwhelmed very quickly
And for the naysayer who said Coumo didn’t have experience I will remind you he was the HUD leader before governor and the first on the ground in Puerto Rico after Maria. While our president golfed.
5
Try the city council first, then we’ll talk. Maybe.
11
Honestly, this just is not the time for a novice (of any flavor) in Albany. We need someone with experience and someone with a legal background. If Trump survives and is re-elected in 2020, states like New York will have to push back hard against the federal government with even greater strength. This takes legal strategy, long time alliances and forethought. Populism is cute, until it isn't. Let's experiment at the local levels first. Sure wish Jill Stein had done just that.
56
The comments regarding Ms. Nixon's experience are interesting, in light of the fact that Mr. Cuomo had no real executive experience going into the job of governor, other than coming from a political family and gaining the privilege of political connections by virtue of birth into a prominent family. Which is useful to have, no doubt, but if he was given a chance, despite lack of qualifications, it seems fair to ask why that opportunity should be denied to others.
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@Alex
I beg to differ. In 1993, Cuomo joined the Clinton Administration as Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. From 1997 to 2001, he served as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
In 2006, Cuomo was elected Attorney General of New York. In May 2010, Cuomo announced he was running for governor in the 2010 election, and he won with 63% of the vote.
124
@Alex --I'm not a huge Cuomo fan, but he was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Clinton administration and had been Attorney General of New York before running for governor, so he did have prior executive experience. Ms. Nixon appears to have none.
48
@Alex
Asst Dist Atty
Asst Sec of Housing/Urban Dev (Comm Planning)
Asst Sec of Housing/Urban Dev
NY St Atty Gen
Mr Cuomo could have spent his career in a VERY lucrative private practice but instead has chosen public service.
Ms. Nixon does not BEGIN to possess the experience of Mr. Cuomo upon entering a gov race.
8
I’m not underestimating Ms Nixon. I would have happily supported a run for City Council or the state assembly or Congress. But governor? No, sorry, there’s no real governing experience there.
Also, I do not appreciate Ms Nixon’s tone about Andrew Cuomo - Mr Cuomo is not a ‘real Democrat.’ He brought marriage equality to New York State- something Ms Nixon and her wife should do well to remember when they criticize him for not being progressive enough.
Ms. Nixon, trying to be Bernie Sanders isn’t going to win you many votes here in NY, least of all mine.
197
@Rob E Gee I feel the same way. I would be thrilled to see her running for a lower office like city councilor or state senator; even a House seat like Ocasio-Cortez. Work in hte system and build some experience before trying to run for the highest office in the state.
Personally, I think there should be restrictions on elected offices; if you want to be governor, you should be required to have been a mayor or state senator first. If you want to run for Senate, you should have to be in the House or a state legislator first.
There should be a defined ladder, so that some idiot with no experience in public service whatsoever can't just mosey along into the White House.
2
Don't slice and dice the electorate with ridiculous statements.
Marriage equality was a tidal wave in NYS before long before Cuomo was governor. He was lucky to be where he was when it hit landfall in NYS.
Nixon is right. Cuomo is not a real Democrat. He is owned by billionaire oligarchs destroying this country.
I will vote for her.
3
I live in NYC and I have also lived in Central NY and Eastern NY. Although I would like more attention paid to the NYC subway system I would also like more attention paid to road repair and maintenance in the Adirondack State Park. Last I checked, Ms. Nixon did not have comprehensive plans for anything north of the Bronx.
I don't think Cuomo will do a fantastic job, but I am willing to suffer a little more with an underperforming subway system if the needs of my friends north of the Bronx are not totally ignored. If I lose my job in NYC, I may need to move back there, after all.
90
@Alex She advocates all the time for upstate. In an article for a city newspaper, questions and answers will revolve around the city.
3
@HKGuy
Really, have you read her website? I have read her issues section of her website and most of the issues she is advocating for seem to be very NYC specific. And when they might possibly be applied to places outside of NYC they only address cities, not rural areas.
She may advocate for "upstate" but she never talks about what she will do for the Southern Tier, the Adirondack State Park (People live there, did you know that?) or the Finger Lakes Region.
In the "immigrants rights" section of her websites there is no mention of the immigrant laborers in NYs dairy producing regions. (Which has been a topic of great interest for some time in that region.) In the "single-payer healthcare" section of her website there is no mention of how this could help families living in poverty in Syracuse and Rochester.
In fact, when she describes her platform on her website she hardly mentions anywhere north of Westchester County. I don't know where you are getting your information about her platform from, maybe a city newspaper?
1
Ms. Nixon may have had marginally better chances of unseating Andrew Cuomo in New York’s Democratic gubernatorial primary if she had been written-in as "Sex and the City's" MOST likeable and relatable character, instead of its LEAST likeable and relatable character. But she played the latter too well. That role was too suggestive of what many believe is her real persona (and was) – a serious lesbian playing a straight woman. Hilariously, the writers chose Kim Cattrall’s character, Samantha Jones, to be the one who experimented with lesbianism, and Kristin Davis’s character, Charlotte York, to dabble in it while never committing to it. It would have been too predictable to write those parts for Ms. Nixon’s Miranda Hobbes.
My Jewish mother-in-law (she died, years ago now), a survivor of three Nazi camps, one of them Auschwitz, and who had been among those who also survived the ministrations of Josef Mengele, once said of Jackie Mason, the Jewish comic, “He’s … TOO Jewish.”
Take all the weirdness of NYC, compact it into one massively conflicted and not very likeable carrot-top fictional character (who – could it be more predictable? – also bit her nails), and you have Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes. When even the Upper West Side of Manhattan collectively throws up its hands and says of her “She’s … TOO liberal”, you know she’s gonna have problems.
Live well and grow comfortable playing Miranda Hobbes … die as Miranda Hobbes. But not in the governor’s mansion.
31
@Richard Luettgen Would you apply the same rhetoric to Ronald Reagan? Was he not a carrot-topped actor prior to becoming Governor of California? Would you confuse his screen personae with his political one? informant during the McCarthy era?
5
@Richard Luettgen
I bet you would not have described Ronald Reagan that way.
As only an actor. But of course he was a man.
1
@Richard Luettgen Honestly, what absolute nonsense.
1
No question that Nixon's celebrity will give her name recognition and she will undoubtedly tout her support of things which her fans support. She is also a good actress. The question is how many dislike Cuomo enough to vote for her. If she does win, will she have the clout to advance her agenda or will she just be discounted by the pols because she is a relative lightweight in NY politics?
7
@R. Anderson
There are already politicians elected who have proven they are lightweights.
Nixon has already shown she is not a lightweight, she is not just one of the same club in Albany. And she has shown her ability to organize, to express logical solutions to the State's problems and she is extremely intelligent.
The same can't be said of the State Democratic party who is working against her. It is about time to put a woman in the Governor's Mansion. Who can clean up the mess in Albany better than a woman. She is smart enough to surround herself with experts. That is what a committed Governor does.
They do not surround themselves with corrupt aides.
They have the smarts to keep their Administration scandal free.
Cuomo hasn't done that since he was elected.
4
@R. Anderson
Your comment, "...how many dislike Cuomo enough to vote for her..." is exactly what got us into trouble on the federal level.
People are casting votes against a good, decent, skilled candidate merely because they don't "like" him or her. Forget that nonsense. You're not having drinks with the candidate or inviting these people to your next party. You elect people because they KNOW what they're doing. Cuomo KNOWS. "Not" voting for him, and voting for an inexperienced, politically unskilled, (yeah, ok, she can act) person will put us in a horrible place, especially now when we need someone strong to upend what's going on in the white house.
1
I just don’t see what qualifications Cynthia Nixon has to be governor. That she is a woman, gay and a celebrity doesn’t qualify her for the job. We have already witnessed more than enough of the havoc unqualified candidates wreak on us all.
353
@Rachel May I add 1 more thing -- it's not enough to be smart, a celebrity, and angry about the status quo.
Who isn't mad about the status quo?
As we've seen with you-know-who, it's not enough.
1
@Rachel The problem is, that while acknowledging Nixon is a newbie to big politics, one must take her seriously as a candidate because she is right on policy. Because a President you don't care for was elected, in large part, because of his television celebrity, doesn't mean that all celebrities are the same or as problematic. The President is uniquely who he is. Nixon is uniquely who she is. You need a better argument Rachel.
3
@Rachel
If Andrew Cuomo were so much more competent than Cynthia Nixon, he would have ample opportunity to demonstrate that in a debate. His refusal to debate simply demonstrates his fear that a debate would show that the emperor has no clothes.
Go back to Hollywood. You’ll contribute a lot more there.
22
@David G.
Nice try. She's a lifelong New Yorker.
3
@David G.
She never lived in Hollywood. She was born and raised, and has always lived, in NYC.
3
@David G. She has lived all her life here.
2
Why is the NY Times giving so much coverage to the new, unqualified celebrity candidate? Where is your coverage of Marcus Molinaro? I don't know whether he would be a good governor, but I'd like to find out.
273
and Howie Hawkins, who is running for a third time and has a clear platform to discuss.
So we find out from this article that Ms. Nixon hates men and even the lesbians don't like her. It must be nice to have the money and time to blow on vanity projects like this.
60
Dollars to donuts she hasn't even read the New York State Constitution.
53
@Rodger Lodger
Dollars to donuts if Cuomo has read it he doesn't care what it says.
2
Not a requirement. Has Trump read the US Constitution?
2
@Space needle Trump sets the bar? Are you actually invoking him as the proper standard?
I don't live in NY so I don't follow the politics in any detail but it does seem to me the Cuomo, at the very least, has a great deal of tolerance for corruption. He is the last of the "three men in a room" that has not been convicted of a felony and, as the article points out, some of his aides *have* been convicted.
As for her lack of experience... What political experience did Schwarzenegger have before becoming the governator? From a policy standpoint, I get the impression he did as good a job managing a State even larger than NY. [From a personal standpoint, of course, he was flawed but he did demonstrate that one can manage a large State with some competence without having spent years steeping in the corruption of local politics.]
39
@Engineer
The definition of government is corruption. Doesn't make it right, but it's a matter of degree and diplomacy. There's no getting around it. Even Beloved Bernie isn't squeaky clean. Follow the money. You can't be.
However, we need skilled experienced people in the job now, not actresses who want more fame and fortune.
@Engineer
Schwarzenegger left office with a 23% approval rating.
He also left CA with a $28B budget shortfall.
If you’re going to use others as the example - pick one who was at least GOOD
9
Do we really need another actor turned Un-experienced politician? While her ideas might be OK (I have no idea after this fluff piece) she has never produced any legislation or run any large organization. But perhaps POTUS really has set the bar to a new low where anybody can fly the plane because they want to.
81
A talented plumber, with some study, might be able to perform my cardiac bypass surgery, and perhaps I'm too squeamish, but I'd prefer that he or she graduates from medical school and complete a residency first.
It isn't a question of underestimation. It is an issue of paying one's dues within a profession to establish one's competence.
The failure to do so is a product of either ignorance or arrogance.
309
Sure. I've struggled to combine arrogance and ignorance into one word that means both. But, arroignorance and agnorance don't have any ring. Finally I got it. It's "stupidity".
2
@Didier - it isn't a case of "either or" regarding ignorance and arrogance, it's the union of those two things, i.e., it's both.
On July 10 Cynthia Nixon told Politico she is a Democratic Socialist (as is Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez). The goals of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) won't appeal to most Democrats, much less Republicans; two of many examples: (https://www.dsausa.org/where_we_stand#global )
1. "Economic democracy means...direct ownership and/or control of much of the economic resources of society by the great majority of wage and income earners." This is plain old Marxism/Communism, where workers own/control the means of production; it hasn't worked elsewhere and won't appeal to US voters.
2. "Social redistribution--the shift of wealth and resources from the rich to the rest of society--will require...massive redistribution of income from corporations and the wealthy to wage earners and the poor and the public sector, in order to provide the main source of new funds for social programs, income maintenance and infrastructure rehabilitation...." As per Margaret Thatcher, "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
I think Democratic Party leaders are wrong to hail a newbie like Ms. Ocasio-Cortez as the future of our party. Cynthia Nixon, Ms. O-C and other Democratic Socialists will not likely achieve more than sporadic wins, and may cost us many seats in the mid-terms and 2020. (Remember Bernie in 2016.)
Abolishing ICE and turning the means of production over to workers are suicidal platform planks for the Democratic Party.
78
These policies while emotionally appealing and even tempting to a Christian person like me, never have work. Human nature gets in the way.
@Mon Ray
For 40 years, wealth has been shifted from the have-nots to the haves. Its long past time to reverse the ruinous policies of Ronald Reagan and every president since, who have give so many people nothing to cling to but guns and religion.
And for the record, what Ocasio-Cortez and others are advocating is much closer to the polices of Scandinavia and Germany than to the polices of Cuba and Venezuela.
@Mon Ray
I remember Bernie. He was shafted by the DNC. And it sounds as if the State Democratic Party is doing the same to Cynthia Nixon.
This contest is not about gender. It is about the experience to do the job. It is about qualifications to be governor. I have no doubt that Cynthia Nixon is good person. An honorable person. Well educated. But you do not make the major leagues without some minor league experience. I wish her well but she is not ready for prime time.
168
Experience is overrated. Good policy judgment is underrated. I don't care how much experience Cuomo has. His ideas are bad. He's part of a political cult that has seen working- and middle-class incomes stagnate for 40 years, while all the wealth has gone to the already well off.
Give me someone who has the right ideas over someone who is very effective at implementing the wrong ideas anytime.
141
I'm offended that Miranda, with no political or business experience, feels qualified to oversee the 4th largest state in the union. I have to imagine it's exactly this type of hubris that those on the right despise from the "coastal elites." I can't say I blame them.
122
@rick "Miranda" is a fictional character, and as such, cannot run for office.
4
@rick
Maybe you failed to notice that the candidate the right elected president had no political or successful business experience. His only claim to fame was in a fictional reality tv setting where he got to say "you're fired." I will take someone with integrity and resolve over these self aggrandizing career politicians like Cuomo. He's all mouth and no action.
1
@rick
Actors are Independent Contractors, which makes you a business person. Obviously Cynthia Nixon runs a successful business, unlike another New Yorker, Trump, who went bankrupt 6 times.
If a person can run an successful business and be an activist who cares about people's plights, instead of her own, I would suggest to you that Cynthia qualifies.
Inexperienced Representative versus inexperienced Governor. One of these things is not like th other.
49
@Michael Storch
Dollars to donuts nobody has.
Cortez ran for a seat in congress, Nixon wants to be governor of one of the two richest and most complex states in the union as a first political position.
And yet, I'm so tired of the cynicism and corruption of Albany I feel ready to throw the dice.
67
Governor Cuomo is a capricious machine politician like the Daleys in their day — full stop. He has the endorsement of various progressive forces and the unions because of well-warranted fear of reprisals and arm-twisting. He represents the extreme center more faithfully than Hillary Clinton ever did, and the upcoming contest will be a lot like the 2016 Democratic primary,— more or less decided before it began because of general expectations within the hierarchy and media that Cuomo can’t lose, and fear of the consequences of stepping out of line. We can expect the primary to resemble a plebiscite.
Expertise is not necessarily a good when it is inextricable from a pattern of cynicism. I will vote for Cynthia Nixon—for all the effect it will likely have.
55
@Micah.
Mayor Daley was not a capricious machine politician -- he was a great mayor of a city that worked.
1
Micah I think it is the other way around for the unions. They have their fingers twisted around the neck of NY politicians
Democrats will keep losing elections if they keep up with internal internecine battles (see Nader v Gore -- Sanders v Clinton -- now Nixon v Cuomo).
"Purity" doesn't get you very far if you're far off in the wilderness.
Nixon's money, time, and talents would be far better served helping to get Democrats elected to the House and Senate.
183
@Marty O'Toole As someone who actually lives in New York I disagree. And where did this "purity" thing come from? An old playbbook from 2016? (And is it now against the law for anyone to run in a primary against an incumbent? -- Schumer is an incumbent and just gave the go ahead to Trump's latest Supreme Court nominee.
Democrats need to stop pushing progressives aside. It seems to me that neoliberal Dems would rather lose to the right than win with the left.
3
@Marty O'Toole
Except Clinton and Gore both won. There is no electoral college to help put the loser in office. In other words, you are comparing apples to oranges.
2
If Ms Nixon suggests how to improve the subway system of New York,her rating will certainly go up. Actors have enjoyed a long political career in India - a late female actor became the chief minister of a southern state (Tamil Nadu),and another male actor was also the chief minister of another southern state (Andhra Pradesh). She seems to be having zeal . It is like a fresh candidate going for a job interview,and being asked about his previous experience,and he has nil,but he gets selected. When sporting celebrity like Imran Khan can win an election in Pakistan,why does people think that just because she does not have political experience ,she will not do justice to the post. Have experienced people been successful governors? She is right when she says that you are underestimating her. When Trump can become the US president,why not Ms Cynthia Nixon?
12
@Unfortunate
Because the inexperienced Trump isn't exactly working out too well.
71
Ms. Nixon needs to stop comparing herself to Ocasio-Cortez.
Ocasio-Cortez is running for Congress - a position where one is one of 435, and thus it is entirely plausible to learn on the job.
It is not plausible for a Democratic candidate for governor of the 4th largest state to have zero executive or legislative experience.
Nixon may imagine that she's being underestimated - but others may just as easily imagine that she's living in a celebrity-induced bubble.
If Nixon next chooses to run for Congress or NYC Public Advocate (a position whose incumbent is currently running for higher state office), I will be happy to take her seriously, and allow her to learn on the job.
As a candidate for Governor in the Trump era? NO.
458
@Matthew Carnicelli
I'm no longer a New Yorker, but i agree with you. Cuomo is foul, but Nixon isn't the person to take him on. House Reps get orientations from congress and instructed in procedure and protocol as i understand it. But Governor of NY, or even Mayor of NYC, are bona fide real jobs. Even Zephyr Teachout is a lawyer and has a semblence of a clue. If you have a devil's choice this election, the blame for that falls squarely on the Democratic party, both for backing a highly corrupt (don't even bother to pretend that he's not) incumbent, and failing to field legitimate alternatives. Really, no other qualified Democratic potentials in all of NY state politics?
50
@Matthew Carnicelli
I was going to write my own comment, but this one hits the nail on the head. It's totally unreasonable for someone with no executive experience to be run a huge State. Why doesn't she get some experience running a smaller district or running for congress where she can learn the ropes?
204
Good point. It is the hubris of seeming to think she should start at the top. Run for something smaller and then excel at your job. It’s what she had to do as an actress. She might aspire to higher office, but pay your dues first. @Matthew Carnicelli
5
If Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger can be Governors of California, or Jesse Ventura be Governor of Minnesota, why can’t Cynthia Nixon be Governor of New York State?
502
@Mr. Reese
none of them were good governors
293
The liberal progressive deal leads to the New York area being the highest cost place to live in the planet. Our children are forced to move away after college and many will never be coming back. You can only tax people to death so much before they vote with their feet. I am from upstate and lived down for 30 years. Upstate has been hollowed out and NYS was the second largest state when I was born, we are now 4th and dropping. We lost a handful of congressional seats and our state government is 2x the cost of FL which has more people. Coumo is a realist and pragmatic. He has tried to curb the abusive state spending and rain in taxes. Meanwhile since the current major was elected, The City of New York has added 40,000 additional people to payroll, gave $9 Billion raise to cops, fireman and teachers with no agreement on productivity gains (which Bloomberg rightly asked for) while the subway is falling apart, the public health system is bankrupt and the public housing system needs billions in repairs. The seeds of a second brush with bankruptcy 1970’s are being sown today in NYC. Lastly, it is not the social stuff that gave us Mr Trump and band of nuts. No it be cares who you marry or what bathroom you use. It is economic. The progress rise in tax costs led to companies de-investing which lead to no economic opportunity in many parts of country- in came the con man. I will take a moderate Dem any day before that happens.
And were they successful governors of their states?
3
Beyond her own accomplished acting career, what has she done that would convince me she is in any way qualified to be governor.
I appreciate her pushing Cuomo towards social justice in several realms, but sending out headshots, going on auditions and memorizing lines does not prepare a person to run an entire state.
262
What qualified the 7 current governors who had no political experience prior to being elected? They probably never heard the same criticism because they are men.
6
@Jessica nonsense.
A highly qualified female candidate would be welcome. I am eager for the warranted delegitimization of patriarchal rule. But Ms Nixon is not qualified and her candidacy undermines more legitimate female candidates. Great actor. Terrible candidate for governor. Congress? Ok. Let her prove her credibility as a congressional rep before entrusting another celebrity/ actor with the lives in our state. Now is not the time for her to be truthful under imaginary circumstances
I’m a bit taken aback by the attack on acting as a profession. As this article highlights, it is a truly New York career, where a talented teenager can earn and save money for college and go on to great success. Hers is a homegrown success story. Acting and auditioning are hard work, not for the faint of heart. I think that stamina gives her an advantage in running and (hopefully) governing. I wish more NYers saw what a great change it would be to have her and that her acting skills are benefits, not liabilities, to a job that is at the root about connection and communication.
Just curious — does Nixon know where Cooperstown is? Cheektowaga? Watertown?
She plays well in Brooklyn and the Upper West Side. In Cayuga Lake, she’d be laughed out.
Her policies don’t play north of the Bronx.
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@David G.
There are more than 10 million peoples south of the Bronx, David. The 5 boroughs plus Nassau and Suffolk would be more than enough to elect anyone.
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@David G
Cayuga Lake has a population of 550 to NYC’s 8.5 million. Nearly half the state lives in those five boroughs. It isn’t to say that needs of all New York state residents aren’t important, but to effectively equate the needs of each as perfectly balanced is plainly ridiculous.
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She misspelled ITHACA on some invitation she recently sent out (ok, so it was her “people” who messed up but still.).
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It's plain to see that misogyny is alive and well no matter what state you live in, or what elected position you choose to seek.
Not much would be said if a man decided to seek this position, but because a woman, an actor no less, has decided to run for NY governor, she's portrayed in a less than flattering light and vilified at every opportunity.
In an era when most of the duties of this position are farmed out to qualified underlings, why wouldn't a smart and savvy woman be a competent contender for this position?
She acted. So what? So did Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronald Reagan and we all survived their political careers.
It's time for a sea change. Women are going to get elected, govern well and make the changes our country desperately needs to move forward and make life better for everyone.
There's no stopping this eventuality. It's time for men to relinquish control and allow women to take their proper place in our society and achieve parity, at long last.
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@Pamela L. This isn't a gender matter. If a male gay actor with qualifications similar to those of Cynthia Nixon were to run for governor of New York State he would receive the same response as Ms. Nixon: grossly insufficient experience.
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@Pamela L.
But it's ok to hate Sarah Palin. She "assumed her proper place" as governor of Alaska.
@Pamela Like Reagan maybe Nixon can get Park Slope to tear down that wall and enter the USA
New York has always played second fiddle to Cuomo's Presidential ambitions, not to mention the fact that he has routinely betrayed Democrats in the State Legislature. He tracks left whenever he's challenged from that direction, but immediately returns to mean when the danger fades. Simply put, he's an awful man and an awful Governor, who wears the stink of political entitlement almost proudly—rather like Hillary Clinton, actually. In that respect, I am truly astonished by all the commenters who insist that the Democratic Party can only win by remaining "centrist," whatever that's supposed to mean. (Pay lip service to the progressive agenda while maintaining fealty to Wall Street? No thanks.) I refused to vote for the last Nixon who ran for office, but I'm all in on this one.
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I'm a progressive. I really dislike Cuomo. I find him unethical and opportunist and he acts like a bully. I also don't think he's good for NYC given this ongoing personal feud with the Mayor. But I can't get over her lack of experience. I wish a there was a more qualified progressive alternative.
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@Ellen NYC is less than half the states population. I would LOVE to hear someone talk about the other 20 million people in the other 99% of the square miles of NY State! Nobody ever talks about the whole state. All we hear is what is good for NYC, IT's Educational issues, IT's subway,
meanwhile Upstate and Western NY are dying, no industry, no plans to support the small towns that comprise most of the state.
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So you would rather continue to live under a set of center-right policies then work with someone who has at least shown a desire to go deeper and learn and a fighter who has our policies at heart? I understand your trepidation but don't be dejected when we continue to get the same mess out of Albany during his 3rd and 4th terms.
As a Californian who’s undergone both Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor here, I can’t believe an actor turned governor is so unfathomable in New York.
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Politics may be nothing more than slogans and talking points but actually governing... well the devil is in the details as they say. Ms Nixon may have some nice ideas but given her utter lack of management much less government experience, I seriously doubt she would be able to execute in her ambitious and expensive policy goals.
I also find it a bit of a turnoff when a candidate for governor opines too much on national issues (like the abolishment of ICE) over which they’ll have zero say. She’s clearly pandering to progressives and counting on them being to dull to realize the state office she’s seeking would have no control over that aspect of the federal government.
Cuomo may be about as appealing as a sack of wet potatoes but a vote for Nixon is simply irresponsible.
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@Jon "Irresponsible" is correct. Also "contemptuous of the voters". Also true of the NY Times if this article chooses to draw an analogy with Ms. O-C who at 28 has much more experience in public life than Nixon.
The WFP has lost all credibility with this absurd candidate.
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@C. Richard Sure does being a bar maid is dealing with the public.
What is irresponsible, a whipped state Democratic state party that is corrupt as hell? How about a governor who makes deals with the IDC and Republicans to keep them in power in the Senate which should have NO way of happening in this state? How about a set of center-right policies that don't match the leaning of our state? No it was irresponsible for no other Democrat to step up and by God if it takes Cynthia Nixon to get up there and throw Cuomo out so some other D can come along in 4 years so be it because I sure as hell don't see any Democrats coming forward while he is seeking his 4th term as governor.
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The "I'm no politician, but I can do this!" ethos is currently belied every day--every single day without exception!--by the historically unparalleled incompetence of the Trump administration. It's like the Keystone Cops on methamphetamines.
I'm very happy to have Cynthia Nixon in the race to publicly challenge the dreary centrist complacencies of Cuomo. But actually hoping she'd prevail? Nope. Governor of New York shouldn't be an "entry-level" position.
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We have generic far-right Republican which will come out of the state Republican party. We have Cuomo, center-right Democrat (oxymoron) that defends the IDC and keeps the state Senate Republicans in power, and we have Cynthia Nixon - The only true liberal and progressive. I'm not a fan of her inexperience but I don't see any backbone coming from any state-wide Democrats to challenge Cuomo for his 4th term either. So you got Nixon or the Republican center-right imperial governorship of Cuomo. Your choice.
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So again, I guess you’ll vote for Coumo? Sure he is s crook who surrounds himself with crooks but hey...he’s an experienced crook
So Nixon has no experience. Right she has no experience letting the subway fall apart. No experience in disbanding commissions designed to investigate corruption No experience in being affiliated with corrupt individuals like those convicted in the Buffalo Billons project No experience in being one of three men in a room with two them on the way to jail. We can live without that experience
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@Patrick So well said!
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@Stourley Kracklite
nor any experience doing anything well
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The criticism levelled at Ms. Nixon in the comments here is bitterly unfair and misguided - I'd further suggest it's misogynist bullying. She is not the same person as every other actor who ever ran for a political office. So stop comparing her to people who are completely different. And the disparaging of actors/artists as a profession that somehow lacks skills, contributions and abilities that are useful in the larger political world is insulting and ignorant on your part. A strong leader is honest, has moral strength of character, has clarity, and creates a team that strengthens them. They find people with expertise needed to help them do the best possible job serving the most people possible in their constituency. This is not complicated. Ms Nixon deserves the full respect that any and all who step forward for the right reasons deserves. Her efforts are to be applauded.
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