Melancon and Paladino Illustrate What's Wrong With Politics

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Ms. Shaffrey,
I think your statement that Paladino and Melancon is a picture of what's wrong in todays politics and why it turns voters off really misses the mark.
Take an objective look at the presidential campaign between Obama and McCain.
The things being said about Obama then could have been doused by McCain - if McCain wanted to be decent about it.
Look after the election, how many presidents have been accused of the things Obama has been accused of. Now the Senate minority leader, McConnell, is stating the republicans #1 plan is to do whatever is necessary to make Obama a 1 term president.

Racephan of LA 1:34PM October 27, 2010

Here the even worse thing that’s wrong with Louisiana, thanks to Senator David Vitter’s ability to orchestrate putting inept and / or corrupt people in key positions –including judiciary: Judicial corruption and Fraudulent foreclosures (such foreclosure fraud as has now come center stage in every facet of this nation's media). *I have been blogging about this Louisiana white collar problem for more than 5 years.
Foreclosure fraud, among other things causes people to become harmed for not cooperating with unlawful property confiscation. Foreclosure fraud enables things like repetitive, illegal property flipping; illegitimate homelessness, underhanded evictions; it enables unscrupulous foreclosure mill lawyers (especially when judges abet deceit) to deceptively hold auctions and make insider bids to acquire properties, and causes blighted neighborhoods.
I have been providing res ipsa loquitur facts and proof of numerous people and activities of Louisiana --particularly New Orleans judicial corruption and real estate frauds @ www.lawgrace.org.
Two particular companies that benefit from fraudulent foreclosures are Wells Fargo and Freddie Mac. Fact: A foreclosure mill lawyer used a defunct lender’s identity to carry out a ‘simulated’ auction (in my absence); and a “straw” buyer purchase of my home occurred. I paid my NON-SUBPRIME mortgage for 7 years prior to abusive marriage. The foreclosure lawyer also filed false Bankruptcy “lift stay” motions and “proof of claim” documents under Wells Fargo’s name. After his unlawful auction, he had the property deed recorded into the name of the non-existent lender. Three months later, the local newspaper showed Freddie Mac as paying the non-existent lender over $86,000. At the end of the year, when the IRS mailed to me a tax bill, I discovered that Wells Fargo had also gotten in on that sham foreclosure by filing for my property, a false IRS form 1099-A.
It's not simply loss of my home that ‘eats my lunch’, it's such things as horrible, horrible YEARS of judicial abuses, privacy invasions, danger for my safety, blackballed from LAW employment, and other reprisals to which I am yet subjected, due to APPALLING LAND GRAB racketeering (AKA) foreclosure. And, it is similar appalling injustices of which I know have happened to OTHER PEOPLE!!, merely because they also lawfully sought their rights to DUE PROCESS OF LAW. I will not cease speaking out / I’m not an Internet troll. I am doing every lawful thing I know, because I simply want MY LIFE BACK. *http://www.lawgrace.org/2010/09/30/important-facts-about-foreclosure-and-mortgage-fraud/
also see:
Judge Thomas Porteous and the Judicial ‘Devil’s Den” from Whence He Came
http://newsblaze.com/story/20100922041842lawg.nb/topstory.html

Barbara Ann Jackson of LA 4:06PM October 08, 2010

Instead of doing a little investigation of your own. (Ms. Shaffrey)
I am going to put a link here that is an interview Carl gave to a reporter from the NY Daily News. What I find Refreshing is that Mr. Paladino answered every question directly and honestly. Most political candidates will not give too many details, because it may alienate voters, Mr. Paladino gave his views (Agree or not) and answered questions very specifically. I really liked that. I hate politician speak where a guy talks for twenty minutes and says nothing. To Criticize Mr. Paladino about bringing up frivolous topics instead of this issues Ms. Shaffrey, it is clear you have not been paying attention to anything but the headlines. He has my vote. Here is the Link: If the link gets removed the article was called "Carl Paladino (Q&A) The Full Monty" You can Google it.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/09/carl-paladino-the-full-q-a-mon.html

Jim of NY 1:12AM October 03, 2010

I agree that politicians are sometimes crossing the line, especially during this election cycle.
Paladino is not innocent of this, but I went on TelOnU.com which is like the Yelp of Companies and People (they have a whole section on every candidate for office in 2010 and is a really good reference), and could not find any real dirt so far on Paladino so I still consider him a valid candidate.
People should really be focused on what they want their elected officials to do for them while in office, not about how they are campaigning.

Bob Smith of KS 2:31PM October 02, 2010

They illustrate in real time what is wrong with American politics and why so many Americans are turned off by politics as usual.
Carl Paladino is not .. politics as usual .. he is the first candidate ive seen that actually tells you what he really thinks. A stark contrast to the "politics as usual" Cuomo campaign. Cuomo smiles and claims to be above the gutter politics. Meanwhile, behind the scenes the Cuomo campaign began an all out smear campaign to define the candidate before Paladino could. They threw down the race card early and often, anti semetic, crazy, unfit, a welfare king, a cheating husband, and sleazy confidants. Disseminating it all to his powerful friends in the New York City media. Including sending Cuomo's media pal, Dicker to get photos of Paladinos daughter. All this in the first week after Paladinos surprising victory in the primary. I understand why people outside of NY look at Paladino and consider him crazy, a nut. You don't understand the seemingly over the top anger. As a lifelong resident of upstate NY. I understand all too well. If Carl Paladino is a monster. He is a monster created by Albany. I remember what is was like 30 years ago. A decent place to live and raise kids. Today it looks like .. 1950's Appalaichia, the entire upstate region has been withering away. Vacant homes, homes in disrepair, boarded up businesses, no activity on the streets. Young people have moved out in droves. Leaving family behind. A large percentage of people on some form of public assitance or another. The upstate regions economy has been suffocated for decades by tax, regulatory, environmental, and union issues. Our so called leaders in Albany just shrugg and look the other way. ( towards manhattan ) Local represntitives have no power in our state government, it is very top down style. The power is centralized in the so called ' 3 men in a room ' Deals are done in secret with no public debate. The people of upstate NY have no voice, no representation, and we have suffered greatly for it.
So fine, think Paladino is a nut job, believe the manhattan press, i know better. I know Paladino scares a lot of people in lower manhattan and he scares the special intrest unions that run our state. He has very powerful and entrenched enemies who are far sleazier than he could ever be. Paladino might not win against the deck that is stacked against him. But i hope the plight of the beleagured people of upstate NY is no longer ignored. I think we have a right to be angry. 'NO TAXATION without REPRESENTATION' was a founding principle of this great nation. In upstate NY we have a lot of one, and none of the other.
Carl Paladino makes me proud and i hope he keeps fighting the good fight no matter what the pundits say.

Bob of NY 5:15PM October 01, 2010

Here's what you neglect to mention on the Melancon-Vitter race, Mary-- Melancon has indeed been hammering the issues. He has hammered Katrina recovery. He has hammered the BP situation. He has hammered the economy. He has hammered mortgage problems. Now, he is hammering his opponents flagrant disregard of the law and the insane hypocrisy that Vitter, Mr. Family Values and God Fearing Republican, has always run upon.
For the past 20 years the GOP has consistently forwarded one meme above all others-- character counts. We all remember that, of course, and those of us who have ever heard Mr. Vitter speak remember it especially-- it's one of his favorites... or at least used to be. You do not build an electoral career on your paladinesque purity of spirit and rub it in everybody's face and then, when you transgress and prove your line to be so much rotting fish, expect it to not be brought up. You claim this is old news, Mary, but just how old is it? Mr. Vitter last stood for election to the Senate in 2004; the relevations of his whore dalliances came out in 2007-- the middle of the term that he is currently seeking to extend. Old news? Preposterous, it happened in this Senatorial election cycle.
Now Carl Palladino may be a nut (although those of us who have served in Albany would all like to "take out" the well named Mr. Dicker...), but to compare his antics with the legitimate reminder to the voters of Louisiana of Mr. Vitter's hypocrisy and flagrant disregard of the truth and the opinions of those who have backed him is, to use your phrase, desperate.

BobK of VA 1:51PM October 01, 2010

I think Luca Brasi must have been Paladino's mentor.
This year there appears to be more cretins than usual in politics. Joining Paladino in receiving the "C.R.A.P. " (Crummy Rude Arrogant Politician) Award) are; Alan Grayson, Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer - I felt it necessary to hold the recipients of C.R.A.P. to 4 otherwise the list would have been too lengthy and unmanageable.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 11:52AM October 01, 2010