Talk:George Pataki

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Re-Election?

Could he run for re-election in 2006?Is there any constitutional ban for running for 4th term for him?--Sina 22:46, 11 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Pataki is eligible to run again in 06, as far as I know. The big thing in NY politics is whether he'll choose to do so. Khanartist 23:56, 2004 Dec 15 (UTC)

Yes, Pataki can run again -- there are no term limits for Governors in New York. However, to my knowledge, nobody's ever won four terms as governor and the last person who tried, Mario Cuomo, was pretty soundly defeated. It would be risky for Pataki, but he's absolutely eligible to run again.

Rockefeller was the only one who ever has won 4 terms in a row. Tevi 02:28, 2 May 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Pataki was eligible for 2006, but has (just today) publicly announced his intention to sit out the 2006 governor's race. By many reports, he's now jockeying position for the 2008 Republican primaries.--Daniel 16:46, July 27, 2005 (UTC)

Any chance on Pataki and the Death Penalty, IIRC that was a major point of his first campaign?

I agree that more needs to be added on Pataki and the death penalty. It was indeed a major part of Pataki's first campaign, and it was indeed passed. It was later thrown out by the NYS courts. No execution has ever happened under Pataki, despite what Law & Order would have you think.--Daniel 16:46, July 27, 2005 (UTC)

Pataki and the death penalty is ancient history at this point. The story on the death penalty is really that the courts keep moving the goalposts with the discovery of "flaws" in every law the legislature passes and the governor signs. Loop:

(1) Pass law correcting a flaw in a prior law. (2) Murder. Conviction. Sentencing. (4) Law is tested in the courts. (5) Flaw found. patsw 18:58, 27 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Pataki and the death penalty is not ancient history (and even if it was, it'd still be Wiki worthy). It was only overturned last year. And on a different note: might I add that the reason Pataki passed the death penalty statute was because a few wealthy donors (e.g., Donald Trump) went on a press blitz buying up ads demanding it after the Central Park jogger rape/attempted murder case and the backlash against the so-called "lenient" punishment the five kids who were arrested/convicted of it received.

Of course, years later, the convictions of the five youths were overturned (only after serving their "lenient" punishment) because it was shown that A) their confessions were coached and coerced from them by the NYPD, B) new examination of the forensic evidence with DNA-identification techniques absolutely cleared them in favor of a serial rapist who'd been arrested later in a separate case, C) that the serial rapist in question himself confessed to the crime, leading to D) the Manhattan District Attorney, Robert Morgenthau himself deciding that the convictions should be thrown out.

So did the courts really move the goalposts and go looking for flaws, or did the flaws in the poster-child case for the death penalty end up finding the courts? --Daniel 01:00, July 28, 2005 (UTC)

Plus, the re-enaction of the death penalty in New York could be used in a Pataki presidential campaign as an appeal to social conservatives. He could also take that opportunity to rail against "activist judges", and that would appeal to the conservative base, as well. The death penalty could be a major issue in a Pataki presidential campaign; if a New Yorker could write a comprehensive mini-section on the history of Pataki and the death penalty, it would be quite valuable. --Alfoor 18:38, 13 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Pataki VS SUNY

is there anything on the amount of money he gutted from the SUNY system? or the tution hikes? or the ciriculum shift in both state universities and public edjucation? towards less perceptually 'liberal' things, like sciences, and math and what not.. and towards a more athletics and religion orriented program, especially in the state universities, who are devoid of research funding now, on both the state and federal level?--172.144.60.219 12:23, 8 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Pataki Is he not of a Greek ancestry?

Sorry to bother you but I am a Greek knowing that Pataki(s) is 100% a greek surname. How come this fellow hasn't got a greek ancestry??

Pataki happens to be a common surname in Hungary.

Pataki is of Hungarian, Italian and Irish descent and I have just updated the wikipage to that effect. You people are supposed to sign your comments using four tildes (~) as a sign of accountability. 216.194.20.193 16:36, 21 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

"Pataki" is definitely of Eastern-European origin. "Patakis" may be Greek; "Pataki" is not.

In greek 'pataki' would be the female form of 'patakis' and also a form of the male word in certain grammar, also some people immigrating to english speaking countries change their surnames so the last 's' is removed. But generally who cares, this is simply a name that is not greek according to the sources. (I actually came to this page to find out if he had greek ancestry, it appears he doesn't, nothing to see here move along). --fs 03:31, 22 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

So..?

How do people feel about him bullying the NY State Teacher's Union into not opposing him publicly in the last election?--NY101 16:31, 23 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Him bullying the teachers?? You must be kidding -- that pack of money-hungry miscreants. How do people feel about the rapacious money-hungry extortionist Randi Weingarten and this bogus lawsuit (CFE) demanding more money apporoved by a Democrat machine judge when New York already spends more per pupil than almost any other state with dubious results. They are going to help drive NYC and New York State into bankruptcy.

216.194.20.193 16:38, 21 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Not cutting taxes is equal to raising taxes?

The section titled "Liberal republican legacy" includes a quote (see below) that references possible new taxes but is not clear as to which possible these new taxes he is referring to.

Pataki made a controversial budget proposal in which he proposed several tax cuts, despite the state's rising deficits. He also made cuts in education and health care funding which, some say, may close emergency rooms and turn non-profit hospitals into for-profits. Pataki argued that new taxes would drive businesses out-of-state, reducing jobs, further compounding the deficit.

The paragraph mentions his proposal for further cutting taxes, but opposing that is not the same as raising taxes. It ought to be made clearer exactly what new taxes he was opposing. --Cab88 20:46, 16 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Memorial "taking forever to build"

I'm just passing through here, so I figured I'd point something out that you guys apparently haven't noticed and let you deal with it. :-)

In the September 11th section, it says: Pataki and Giuliani appointed the LMDC to distribute nearly $10 billion in federal grants and to oversee the building of a memorial as well as oversee construction, which are taking forever to build.

I'm sure we can do without the hyperbole, can't we?

Alexwebb2 17:48, 11 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Stamp Collector?

Can anyone confirm if this person is or has been a stamp collector. I ran into an article called Caveat Emptor! in Stamp Show News for February 1978; it is a reprint from Romanian Philatelic Studies, No. 1-1978. The article deals with unethical practices among stamp dealers whom the author found to be selling forged Romanian stamps. One of those stamp dealers had his business in New York. The by-line for the article shows "George Pataki". Is this the same George Pataki? Eclecticology 08:27, 23 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I just saw a picture of this guy, and he seems to be pretty tall, possibly one of the tallest current-serving governors. Does anyone have his height?

His term ends at on New Years' Eve

11:59:59 PM on Dec. 31st I thought that I would add that.

Wait a sec, on the List of Governors of New York, the Governors terms are ending on even numbered years (eg. Mario Cuomo 1983-94). Yet on all the seperate biographies of New York Governors, the terms end on odd numbered years (eg. Mario Cuomo 1983-95). The New York Governor related articles, should have the same dates, should they? GoodDay 21:58, 9 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Please Elaborate

WHEN did Pataki decide NOT to seek re-election? WHO is his wife? Libby HOW many children does he have? By Libby or others? WHAT schools did he attend? HOW does he rank against other Republican Presidentian nominees? Doesn't. I await these updates.

Governors of New York

The category box is in error, Spitzer shouldn't be listed. If he's to be listed, it should be 'Spitzer (elect)'. GoodDay 18:47, 10 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Now moot. --gohlkus 23:07, 22 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nuetrality of Post columnist:"Good Riddance"

It doesn't seem like there's any reason this column should be included in this article, much less given its own section. Furthermore, there are plenty of positive opinions about Pataki's tenure in office. Including only this one column obscures this fact.--Cg-realms 06:10, 2 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think it would be appropriate to provide a balance of opinions here. I posted the Dicker piece because he writes for the major conservative paper in the state (the Post) as well as being a leading commentator on Albany TV. He's a serious voice on state government and one who would have been expected to have been less caustic given his background

Clarification

George Pataki's term (on this article), is listed as ending January 1st, 2007. Yet on the List of Governors of New York article, his term ends December 31st, 2006. The New Year date, is shown in most NY Governors bio articles. Which is it? GoodDay 23:30, 11 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've corrected the date, which Pataki left office. It's December 31st, 2006 NOT January 1st, 2007. Made similar correction in all Governors & Lt.Governors of New York tenures (from 1817-2006) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by GoodDay (talk • contribs) 21:23, 12 January 2007 (UTC).[reply]

yale political union / party of the right / conservative party

I have removed the following text from the article: (just the bolded bit)

While there he served as chairman of the Conservative Party of the Yale Political Union, and, after completing that service, joined the Party of the Right of the same organization.

I am a current member of the Yale Political Union, and as such I know that this cannot but be unsourced. Moreover, though, I cannot but think that it is not particularly relevant to Pataki's life, as interesting as it may be to historians of the YPU and PoR. Pataki's membership in the Union is surely noteworthy--he is one of the more prominent members the Union has had in its 75-year history, along with J. Harvie Wilkinson, John Kerry, and Fareed Zakaria--but I can't imagine his change in party membership is, especially with it being unsourced. Lastly, because such a membership could create controversy, given its unproven status I am reluctant to let it stand. I probably know more YPU history than anyone in the Union at this point, but whether or not this is true is beyond even me. I am tempted to think that it is just PoR lore.

However, if any source can be unearthed for this information, I'd be willing to consider its inclusion.

Best,

-Paul

Vivisel 20:48, 16 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Airplane usage

You state:

Airplane usage

During his tenure, he used the planes more than Cuomo.

You do not supply a citation to any sort of state public record showing how many times Pataki and Cuomo used the planes. Please add a citation so that this fact can be reinstated. Sonnickboom 22:34, 29 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

World Trade Center legacy

This section is oddly written: full of irrelevant minutiae on the World Trade Center, full of POV animus against Pataki, and frankly, tedious reading.

The "legacy" of the World Trade Center in Pataki's bio is simple: he couldn't pull the different groups with a stake in remembering and rebuilding the World Trade Center in a timely manner, leaving a mess for others to contend with. His political skills were not up to the task.

The section needs a rewrite. So what do readers and editors think? patsw 03:22, 7 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I rewrote and greatly condensed this section, it is no longer as strident or tedious. - RW, 27 July 2007

I blame him for the Freedom Tower and the current plans for the World Trade Center rebuilding. He went against the wishes of the people of the city by pushing for the Freedom Tower. I prefer the Twin Towers to be rebuilt. I have no respect for this man whatsoever. He will be remembered for the cronyism he pulled off to get the Freedom Tower to be built. - Senjuto, 2:07 NY time, Sept 12, 2010

Governorship Tenure

According to List of Governors of New York, Pataki's term ended at midnight December 31, 2006. Which is it. Dec 31/06 or Jan 1/07. GoodDay 23:12, 4 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hey wait a sec, the forementioned List was changed to match these bios. GoodDay 23:24, 4 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Have no fear I've fixed the page & the List page. GoodDay 18:44, 5 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]