Andrew Cuomo: What a difference a political opportunity makes

March 27, 2009

Walk with me if you will down memory lane. Back to a time before everyone had achieved selective amnesia that allowed them to blame everyone's problems on a small group of people working to fix them.

The date is October 16, 2008. From the office of the Attorney General of New York in a joint statement with AIG.

The meeting in the Attorney General's New York City Offices occurred one day after Attorney General Cuomo informed AIG that it must recover improper bonuses and other payments and perks from its former executives or Cuomo would do so pursuant to New York law....

....Attorney General Cuomo added, "These actions are not intended to jeopardize the hard-earned compensation of the vast majority of AIG's employees, including retention and severance arrangements, who are essential to rebuilding AIG and the economy of New York."


Now fast forward to today. Considering these retention agreements were in place when this statement was made, what can we infer about the honesty of Mr. Cuomo's recent posturing? Can he really credibly say he didn't know and didn't approve of these agreements? Shouldn't the AIG guys be angry at his new song? Are they wrong to be so?

And where are the "journalists" who are supposed to have memories of events that last longer than the passing hysteria? Like all politicians today, Cuomo is relying on the fact that "the media" can't remember what happened even last Tuesday and will accept whatever meme is handed to them on a silver platter. And sadly, TPM did not disappoint.

No time for accuracy or nuance ... there's outrage to harnass and strawmen to burn. New Media's finest moment, this is not.

Also see update post which raises more questions on Mr. Cuomo's motives as caped crusader since last week.....

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/kgb999/2009/03/andrew-cuomo-what-a-difference.php?ref=recmuck

Comments at TPM site on this are also interesting.

The anonymous letter upon which this post was premised, states without proof that "Cuomo reaffirmed the rights of AIGFP employees to their payments under the retention plan." The letter also blames the New York and Federal Government for the collapse of the financial system of the US and calls out by name Frank, Dodd and Spitzer as the perps. It also states that, "opefully Cuomo will meet the destiny of the last New York Attorney General to mess with AIG, Spitzer."

The anonymous letter itself reads like a place PR piece and a threat to any Democrats in a position regulate or enforce the law against AIG, especially Cuomo.

I note also that the sole apparent purpose of this post was to cast opprobrium on Cuomo and to pout that TPM and other media outlets are not concentrating on that slant of the anonymous letter. The poster believes, emphatically(!), that "AIG is in the right." The poster wants TPM and the media to ask "what did Cuomo know and when?"--thereby, turning Cuomo into the perp.

If the poster is not getting paid for shilling on behalf of AIG, he should be. Bring on the subpoenas, Cuomo.