Are there/have there been any honest NY politicians? (New York: law, office)

[Riv]

Can you name one if you know of any honest, ethical, law abiding, truthful, non corrupt, trustworthy NY elected officials, present or recent past?

I just finished reading the Rangel thread.

Then there's Mike "I'll pay 100 million to get elected so that I can help you" Bloomberg.

Hevesi, Semnario, D'Amato, Manes, Santucci, Murphy, Powell, Holtzman, Garcia, Wright, Spitzer, Biaggi, Miller, Gold, Rodriguez are a few names of less savory elected officials which quickly come to mind but can you name any elected officials in the last say 25 years who you honestly think were honest and or ethical, law abiding etc?

And if so why do you think that they were honest etc.

[nyctc7]

I can't believe I'm going to defend politicians, I don't really want to. But with 30 members in the Congressional delegation, 212 members in the State Legislature, plus all the mayors and other local officials, who knows how many simply go about their jobs in an honest, ethical, law abiding, truthful, non-corrupt, trustworthy manner? We generally only hear about the scandals. I've heard no scandals about my Congresswoman, State Senator, State Assemblyman, and City Council member.

[LuciBus]

I agree with the above. You have so many politicians, of course you're going to get some who buck the law. I suppose a good politician is one who isn't in the media spotlight.

[samyn on the green]

There have been more Chupacapra sightings in New York than honest politician sightings. It was humorous reading this board when Spitzer got elected, some sheep really thought his lies were for real.

An honest politician will not get elected in New York, there are too many corrupt ones with a wealth of financial backing. How can a candidate with a small bankroll get elected? The problem is that honesty just does not pay. The more corrupt a politician is, the more money they will have for their campaign. Unfortunately voters are not that sharp and seem to vote for candidates that tell them them pleasing lies while smiling. The more money for the campaign the more a candidate can utilize the media to display that smile and drop those lies on the sheep.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by samyn on the green

There have been more Chupacapra sightings in New York than honest politician sightings.

An honest politician will not get elected in New York, there are too many corrupt ones with a wealth of financial backing. How can a candidate with a small bankroll get elected? The problem is that honesty just does not pay. The more corrupt a politician is, the more money they will have for their campaign. Unfortunately voters are not that sharp and seem to vote for candidates that tell them them pleasing lies while smiling. The more money for the campaign the more a candidate can utilize the media to display that smile and drop those lies on the sheep.

Even when not corrupt the best one can say about the average politician is that he/she is self-serving and dishonest - dishonest because in order to get elected they'll make promises that only God can keep.

[UpstaterInBklyn]

The only truly honorable NY politician that I can think of in the last 25 years would be Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

A smart, honest guy who spoke the truth, even when it wasn't politically advantageous to do so. And he wasn't afraid to disagree with his own party.

He was also a pragmatic politician who could work across party lines to get things done.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by UpstaterInBklyn

The only truly honorable NY politician that I can think of in the last 25 years would be Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

A smart, honest guy who spoke the truth, even when it wasn't politically advantageous to do so. And he wasn't afraid to disagree with his own party.

He was also a pragmatic politician who could work across party lines to get things done.

I generally believe that politicians and honesty are oxymorons but I've got to second your sentiments about the late Senator Moynihan.

[nyctc7]

Moynihan and D'Amato offer an interesting contrast. I think what you wrote above about Moynihan was true, he was a great intellect and willing to say unpopular things, for example he got raked over the coals for his prescient "Moynihan Report." But Moynihan seemed to prefer to wax eloquently in the Senate and in print rather than concern himself with constituent services. I recall that he had a rather poor reputation when it came to constituent services. D'Amato, on the other hand, in spite of his well-discussed shortcomings, had such a fine reputation for constituent services that he was derided as "Senator Pothole." Even my dad, a Democrat, remarked once that he got nowhere with Moynihan's office over some problem (that I don't specifically recall), but that D'Amato's office was quick to respond.

I liked Ed Koch. He went downhill in his last term, as all 3-term NYC mayors seem to do, but I liked him. There's a great story in one of his books. He had just lost his bid for a 4th term (he lost in the primary). For years as a public official, congressman and mayor, he had to watch his tongue. The next morning on the way to get the paper, someone on the street made a nasty remark to him about losing. So Koch turns to him and says, Moderator cut: inappropriate language You!

[Viralmd]

Koch was the only three term mayor for at least 5 decades: to whom are you referring as the 'other' three term mayors?

[SeventhFloor]

i go with ed koch. i was a kid when he was in office, but he has always been held in high regard among nyers from what i gather.