David Paterson Resignation Clock: Will He Step Down?

When will he resign?

That's the question dominating political circles in New York, as the scandals tarring Governor David Paterson continue to mount.

It's only been a week since the New York Times published its long-awaited expose on Paterson, reporting that he intervened in a domestic violence case involving one of his top aides. But the controversies keep coming for the embattled governor with new revelations about his role in the case and yesterday's ethics slap for taking free Yankees tickets.

Today, some of Paterson's political supporters including Al Sharpton and State Assemblyman Michael Benjamin are meeting to discuss whether he should resign. Several prominent lawmakers, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, have already called for him to step down if the allegations prove true.

As a service to readers, we've decided to launch a clock, counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds since the Times published its first story last week -- call it the Paterson Resignation Clock.

Comments

[rgilley]

04:36 PM on 03/08/2010

Patterson doesn't have the class to resign.

[glorialovelace]

01:48 PM on 03/09/2010

When people who talk about other people's "class" it's a sure sign that they themselves posses none.

[Matt12]

11:22 AM on 03/08/2010

Casting stones:

Not to defend the indefensible, but Paterson should not resign! Richard Ravitch the current faux Lt. Governor was apparently hand picked by NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a professional politician of questionable values as noted by Sunday’s NY Post “Shelley Silver, The Shadow King.”

The Governor should fire David Johnson ASAP, assure women that he does not condone violence and should encourage the reporting of domestic abuse. As lame duck, he has nothing left to lose, but much to gain by buckling up and working for the people. Silver is much more corrupt and dangerous than Paterson’s ineptness.

“Shelley Silver, The Shadow King.”
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/shelly_silver_the_shadow_king_ItOaS9lik4HSyPx7zPF2XP


“He is the most powerful man in New York, kept there not by the voters but by his own colleagues. From taxes to education to appointments to pork-barrel funding, Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver is the state’s undisputed power-broker — now more than ever given the increasingly tenuous hold Gov. Paterson has on his accidental office.

Should Paterson resign, it would be Silver’s hand-picked choice for lieutenant governor, longtime friend Dick Ravitch — whose controversial appointment was ruled constitutional by a 4-3 vote decided by another longtime Silver friend and appointee, Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman — who would take office” Maureen Hallahan, NYPost 3/7/2010

[TonyEnzo]

06:35 PM on 03/05/2010

Until he is charged with a crime he has a responsibility to stay in office.

[LyndainNY]

05:48 PM on 03/05/2010

He won't resign. He's much too arrogant.

[glorialovelace]

04:30 PM on 03/08/2010

I think the people who are insisting that he resign before his alleged misconduct has even been investigated are the ones who are arrogant.

[NYCannibal]

04:36 PM on 03/05/2010

He told radio media this afternoon he wasn't leaving.
When stuff like this happens, I always hear Marianne Faithful singing the words "did he jump or was he pushed."

[BrooklynChef]

01:25 PM on 03/05/2010

yes... i would put money on it

[glorialovelace]

08:58 PM on 03/04/2010

He shouldn't resign until Cuomo has completed his investigation. Trial first, verdict afterwards is how the justice system usually works.

[cleanupnynow]

06:46 PM on 03/04/2010

Obviously the question is when will he resign, not will he resign.

For everyone's sake, Paterson should listen to many democrats whom are calling for his resignation.

For too long David Paterson has listened to unqualified, incompetent hacks - Dave Johnson, Harry Corbitt, Clemmie Harris, Michael Jones-Bey – this needs to stop now.

First, David Paterson engages in a GROSS ABUSE of office by engaging in obstruction of justice by intimidating a victim of domestic not to press charges, and then tries to up and make the incident just “go away”.

Now we have assertions from the Commission on Public Integrity that he violated to public officers law by taking gifts from lobbyists, and worse that he lied under oath about the matter – PERJURY.

Is David Paterson for real?

David Paterson needs to RESIGN.

GET HIM AND ALL HIS CRONIES OUT NOW.

[melpol]

06:29 PM on 03/04/2010

The bagman is a politicians best friend. A gift to office holders is traditionally accepted through their bagmen. It was a mistake by Paterson to accept the baseball tickets personally. He broke the rules and should be more careful in the future.