Democracy In Albany - New York Politics ||

Second Class Citizen

By DIA, Section News
Posted on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 07:28:07 AM EST

Remember when old man Bruno said this?

Now the fact that a friend of mine, it turns out, that I had a financial relationship with — too damn bad. What am I, a second-class citizen?

Now, for those of you who are second class citizens. You can learn from Joe Bruno. When you are flying on your friend's private jet to go party at a strip club in Florida, and you are 77 years old, make sure to have your prostate doctor travel with you. Those lap dances can get dangerous for an old man.

With Bruno on the Palm Beach trip were Abbruzzese, a physician who has treated Bruno, and an unidentified fourth man. They were hoping to cheer up the senator at a time

It is hard out there for a majority leader. Sometimes you need a little cheering up. It is not their fault. They got him a nice ballon that said, "Cheer up, Joe!". But that didn't work. So they took the private jet to florida for some high class strippers. It is what second class friends do.

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Second Class Citizen | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)

read the tu stories... (none / 0) (#1)
by STB on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 08:27:25 AM EST

boy oh boy, you really can't be too cynical in this modren world, can you?

i know nys campaign finance laws are a total effin' joke, but if i read the articles right (caveat: i read it pre-coffee), it's legal to take campaign contributions and invest them in a business in which you've also invested your own personal money, all while steering state grant money to that very same business. silly me, i assumed manuevers reaching such depths of shamelessness and filth would be illegal.

i have to assume that it would be legal for joe's buddy/bidness pardner/campaign fund-raiser/grant recipient to, ah, spring for the lap dances? what else is legal? can they use their campaign cash to bet the ponies? why not? the state gets a cut of that dough anyway, so really, you're just investing in ny, right?

at this point, it wouldn't surprise me much to log on here some morning and see a link posted to a story about the discovery of some secret club hidden deep down the bowels of the l.o.b.....strippers, hookers, four-star food and top-shelf booze, poker and blackjack tables, a team of doctors at the ready to deal with old legislators who accidentally get a little too jiggy wid it...all funded by the taxpayers.

poor guy (none / 0) (#2)
by kateb on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 02:31:31 PM EST

Cancer, wife with dementia....

MY friends would cheer me up VERY differently, but what's a 77 year old guy to do? Get new friends?

Get him, or crucify, or convict him for something, but this is for selling newspapers.

We can disagree, DIA. We do that from time to time. This is my not so humble opinion.

(Hey, MMB at the TU is doing good on Soares. You noticed, right? Told ya.)

p.s. (none / 0) (#3)
by kateb on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 03:15:47 PM EST

Who released the fact he's under investigation? He did, didn't he?

I guess he invited the stories. Stupid.

But what do I know....

Was it going to happen anyway?

I hate politics, and the goons.

[ Parent ]

what is he to do? (none / 0) (#4)
by DIA on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 03:35:24 PM EST

we all got problems, doesn't mean you can break the law. If your friends are criminals...yes..you should get new friends. Its what we tell the kids in the ghetto, we should expect the same from the old rich elite. My grandmother had dementia. It was horrible for all involved. My grandfather didn't go on any crime sprees.

plenty of people have problems. Plenty of rich people don't break the law. I don't lose sleep at night worrying about the FBI investigating me. Don't want to get investigated, don't break the law.

we certainly can disagree. I know the bruno family disagrees with me. As does Jennings. And many others. Seems like the FBI seems to be in my camp on this one. He believes he is above the law. I figured someone like yourself would find that offensive, no matter who it was (sort of reminds one of the catholic church, does it not?). His arrogance in this matter and his general refusal to undertstand that he works for us is highly offensive. Perhaps old man Bruno should spend some time in the confessional instead of the strip clubs. Or perhaps he would just tell the priest to go FOIL it if he wants a confession, so why bother.

I've noticed the times union editorial staff has been supportive of Soares. I have not seen the same from Bolton. Happy to check out a link if you have one. Its a bit tougher to try to run him down these days.

But you are correct, these days, stories of highly corrupt elected officials do sell papers. I hope the Times Union subcriptions skyrocket. The more people who know about these criminals, the better. let's get the word out. I could give a shit about him hanging out at strip clubs while his wife is home sick. While i find it sad and pathetic, it doesn't surprise me. its the rampant corruption that is the problem. Its unacceptable at any level.

[ Parent ]

I do find it offensive (none / 0) (#5)
by kateb on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 04:49:47 PM EST

but I find other things offensive too.

FBI investigations are strange animals. I should just leave it at that. But being a lawyer.... everyone likes to say "as a lawyer you should know..." As a lawyer, I am perplexed by some of the things I've observed from my experience with them, and the Chief investigator in the DA's office had a similar reaction. So I guess both lawyers and law enforcement people have questions about the FBI's way of proceeding.....

Anyway with Bruno, there's a Federal grand jury, and that's more serious.....

I was just feeling bad for the guy. Even people with privileges have human pain.

I'll get back to you on MMB. I saw her name on recent stories, but not sure if they're still on the 'net.

[ Parent ]

i don't share your ability to empathize (none / 0) (#6)
by STB on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 05:50:33 PM EST

a guy who takes leftover campaign dough, invests it in a company he's invested his "personal" money in, and then steers a $500k state grant to the same company? that's legal, great. god forbid you get caught slingin' a coupla dime bags out on henry j, though. prison, for you. which act is more corrupt, more immoral, more filth-ridden, which act rots the core of our society more? when i read this crap, pardon my french, but i couldn't give less of a fuck about poor old joe's "problems." when i read about this filth, i find myself wishing the offending parties were afflicted with leprosy. maybe i'm a shallow, bitter man. maybe i'm bound for hell, if such a place exists. if it does, i know i'll be there, and frankly, i'll be shocked if i don't see old joe in the cafeteria now and then.

p.s., also, would love to see actual empirical evidence that these stories sell more papers. not conjecture, actual evidence that people, while walking through the chopper this morn', decided alter their plans and buy the TU because of the bruno story on the front page. i'm all ears.

[ Parent ]

alll people have (none / 0) (#7)
by DIA on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 06:09:33 PM EST

pain

doesn't give you the right to steal or lie to the public.

and if you want sympathy, don't fly around on private jets going to hign end strip clubs.

we got kids getting shot on the streets in albany. Anytime old man bruno wants to deal with that, he gets my sympathy. he comes to his "part time" job here in Albany but has never done thing one about the kids in albany. Until then, he is a shameless fuck that belongs in jail. sorry if that bothers you. he is a high end criminal that does nothing for the people of new york aside from the ones who have private jets or hot young pussy for sale. I will grant you, that like john sweeney, he does care about horses. Next time you find me a horse that can raise a kid and get them through school, call me. fuck Sweeny and bruno. I just watched Bush on sixty minutes. sure reminded me of old man second class bruno. Bruno is a criminal. Just look at his fucking loser kid. I'm the DA! i quit. I'm a lobbyist! I quit. I'm a lawyer! i'm under investigation.

if you want some credibility i recommend not speaking about those two as if they had integrity.

that would cheer me up. even without the strippers and steak.

wake up.

[ Parent ]

Its all relative (none / 0) (#9)
by AlfredMoisiu on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 09:12:57 PM EST

Joe is a scumbag, but he's no worse than anyone else.

Is SEIU, AFT and NYSUT's wiring the state like a pinball machine any less crooked? Oh, wait, they do it all for the people!

Those kids getting shot in the street today are victims of a fucked up system that has spent trillions of dollars to makes things worse than they were 100 years ago. The do-gooders solution is the same old formula: get out the checkbook and build shit.

Look at your paycheckcheck someday. See that money that gets taken out every week? How much of it is paying for redundant services? How much goes directly to big pharma?

Bruno is an arrogant bastard. Probably a crook too. But he's the product of a system, and however egregious his actions are, they only scratch the surface.

[ Parent ]

its all relatives (none / 0) (#10)
by DIA on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 10:46:29 PM EST

i agree. kenny boy is a crook, too.

do you break the law? I don't. blame the system if you want. i think that is an easy out.

joe supposedly made his money with a private business. Now he and kenny are just corrupt. there is no excuse.

does it only scratch the surface? sure. do we have to start somewhere? yup. is he one of the 3 most powerful politicians in the state? seems like a good place to start.

those kids getting shot in the street deserve a politician who gives a damn about them. They are part of our country, too. They pay taxes too. Joe and his fucking elitists ilk could care less. They pay for their steaks while watching their horses and getting their lap dances.

WE CAN DO BETTER.

Remember, while Joe was trying to "cheer up" at a strip club, our troops were dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. If joe wants my sympathy, he can send kenny boy or his granddaughter to fight for his right to get lap dances. Until then, he has none. And he should have none. another rich corrupt republican partying while we are at war. what an embarassment.

we deserve better. hell, we pay a lot to get better.

[ Parent ]

: All true... (none / 0) (#20)
by AlfredMoisiu on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 04:03:20 PM EST

But does it really matter if politicans are corrupt or not when the policies suck?
The only employer of substance in Upstate NY is government, be it state, county, town, village or school district. The "haves" in Albany are state workers, state retirees, and a few cops and teachers.
Those kids on the street aren't in that spot because of Joe Bruno. They're in that situation because social policy smashed the notion of family for the poor; smashed the community; smashed opportunity.
I'm not defending "Uncle Joe" -- I'll get a kick out of it when he's indicted, believe me. But the problem has more to do with the interests and non-discretionary programs than the whims of the three men in the room.
I agree that getting rid of these bums is a good thing, but only if they are replaced by good leaders.

[ Parent ]

I can feel bad (none / 0) (#11)
by kateb on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 06:34:59 AM EST

for a guy and still think he's a crook.

And if he did what he's accused of, it's another case of power corrupting people. We'll see more.

FYI, my reference to FBI earlier was a general thing, not specific to anybody. I had a real disconcerting experience where they said DANGER DANGER DANGER, and then "have a nice day". Makes you wonder if there needs to be a Kate's Militia, and a DIA's Militia, etc. I mean, what's anybody doing about all this danger?

Meaningful conversations with a DA investigator and an APD detective made a huge difference. They took the time and effort to put things in perspective and make plans to deal with it.

I don't "get" the FBI, and I don't want to.

That's why I say leave it on their desk (the public corruption) and go back to your life.

[ Parent ]

NY strip steak at a Florida strip club? (none / 0) (#8)
by hawkny on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 06:16:04 PM EST

If some Florida cutie stripped and did a lap dance for Father Joe, while he was eating a NY strip, I hope he had a sharp knife and his Viagara with him!!!

Man-oh-man, whats gonna be reported next?

You are not fooling around with little altar boys, right Joe? I hope not. That would be the end all!

BRUNO & The PRESS (none / 0) (#12)
by nitevision on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 06:41:02 AM EST

I'm not a Bruno fan but I'll wait for the FBI to present their case to a grand jury. If evidence exists, than hang the guy. I also want to know why Kenny, the son, magically resigned as Renn. County DA. That is another unexplained mystery.

I don't like Brenden Lyons' reporting. Are his muckraking details of the cost of lap dances and bottles of wine really necessary? Remember when, before Det. Wilcox's body was even cold, Lyons wrote about about the cost of booze and Wilcox's well accesorized car? The State Police lab proved Wilcox wasn't drunk. Lyons would be better working at the National Enquirer. Lyons is only qualified to write uninteresting tidbits about the personal lives of Hollywood celebrities. We don't need any reporters who create the news instead of reporting it.

the state lab (none / 0) (#13)
by DIA on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 07:00:26 AM EST

proved that wilcox had been drinking before showing up for work.

if lyons didn't report it, we would never had heard of it. You may not like his style, but he was the only one reporting that.

and since we have found that Wilcox was business partners with a convicted white collar criminal, I think reporting on his high living is relevant. do all cops buy $800 bottles of cognac and drive Escalades? where was that money coming from? I appreciate those details in a town as corrupt as this one.

Seemed relevant to me. especially since wilcox apparently wasn't planning on working that evening even though we were paying him.

[ Parent ]

bruno (none / 0) (#15)
by integritypd on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 08:07:30 AM EST

Hey nitevis, here are some facts not disclosed that may make you re-think lionizing the deceased. State Police never did the blood test on Wilcox; Tuffey kept that inhouse at Albany Med, which was against protocol. hmmm. Two full IV bags werepumped into him on way to hospital. What's that do to your BAC? Dilute it a little maybe? hmmm. Aaron Dare just pleaded guilty to dozens of felonies that included help of an "unidintified conspirator." His partner in crime Wilcox? hmmm. The $900 bottle? It was actually $1200; he got a discount for being a regular. Tuffey said he knew nothing about the FBI looking at Wilcox and Dare's business? Lie. He was briefed when he took over.

integritypd
[ Parent ]

: Ummm.... (none / 0) (#16)
by 1894 on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 08:51:56 AM EST

Some big charges here without attribution. What are your sources?
You say Dare pleaded guilty to "dozens" of felonies. Maybe he committed that many, but he pleaded guilty to THREE, not dozens. Makes me wonder what other liberties you're taking with your "facts."

[ Parent ]

blindvision (none / 0) (#14)
by integritypd on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 08:02:58 AM EST

Hey nitevis, here are some facts not disclosed that may make you re-think lionizing the deceased. State Police never did the blood test on Wilcox; Tuffey kept that inhouse at Albany Med, which was against protocol. hmmm. Two full IV bags werepumped into him on way to hospital. What's that do to your BAC? Dilute it a little maybe? hmmm. Aaron Dare just pleaded guilty to dozens of felonies that included help of an "unidintified conspirator." His partner in crime Wilcox? hmmm. The $900 bottle? It was actually $1200; he got a discount for being a regular. Tuffey said he knew nothing about the FBI looking at Wilcox and Dare's business? Lie. He was briefed when he took over.
integritypd

you may recall Tuffey's odd actions (none / 0) (#17)
by DIA on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 09:09:31 AM EST

after the crash. Initially he said any toxicology information would take 6 weeks and thus they would have no info until then on the BAC.

then a day or two later he announced the BAC was 0.03.

Odd? Wildly inconsistent?

Makes a person curious.

[ Parent ]

: a lot more (none / 0) (#18)
by kateb on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 09:41:10 AM EST

will come out about Tuffey in the future.

[ Parent ]

dare (none / 0) (#19)
by integritypd on Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 09:41:49 AM EST

Sorry 1894. You are right Dare pleaded to three felonies but one of them settled 30 counts of mortgage fraud - all felonys. but the outcome don't diminish the number of felonys he committed.
integritypd

Second Class Citizen | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)

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