It doesn’t come as a surprise that following Elliot Spitzer’s resignation his replacement, Gov. David Paterson, would be scrutinized for any past indiscretions. Paterson didn’t disappoint and has admitted to having an extramarital affair for two to three years while he and his wife, Michelle, were having difficulties. For me, this raises some questions.

Why does public need to know about Paterson’s infidelity?

As I write this, I realize I have provided the link to the article on that very subject, making me guilty of promulgating the story. My weak rationale is that the news is already out there and you are likely curious what the New York Daily News article says. Plus, due to the Spitzer scandal, the question was going to be asked of his replacement — the reporter was doing his job. So the answer regarding “public need” is moot; we were going to find out no matter what. However, now that we have found out about this little painful secret, does the new information give us any insight as to how Paterson might govern? Read the rest of this entry »

I was asleep at a friend’s house a couple of weeks ago, trying to stave off waking up for just five more minutes, when I overheard a conversation immediately outside the front of the shotgun house. From what I could make out, it sounded like one of the guys engaged in the conversation was a neighborhood installation that we’ll call, uh…Mr. G. Mr. G has been around forever; he’s an elderly gentleman who’s always dressed to the nines in slacks, golf cap, fancy shoes and v-neck sweater. He can normally be found outside the local corner store, where he drinks beer and greets the people on the street with a jovial “Hey Hey! Alright, Alright!”

I was having trouble, in my groggy, crack-of-noon slumber, believing that it was actually him talking, in fact, because in my eight years of seeing him around, I’d never heard him say anything besides “Hey Hey! Alright, Alright!” Also, I hadn’t seen him since the storm and had heard rumors that he’d passed on. Read the rest of this entry »