Henican: Dumber, uglier talk makes guv race interesting

It happened at week's end.

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino actually agreed on something. The two main candidates for governor cut through their mutual animosity long enough to back Gov. David A. Paterson's state-worker layoff plan.

Please, don't get used to all this comity.

The two combatants for Paterson's job are so riled at each other now that there's only one opinion that both the Tea Party Republican and Democratic attorney general share - that each of them is running against a total moron.

Is this a real race? The pollsters don't seem to know. Quinnipiac says Cuomo's up by only six points now. Siena puts his lead at 33 points. Marist says 19. And how will Republican also-ran Rick Lazio fit in? Will he jump off the Conservative Party line now, joining fellow Long Islander Steve Levy in statewide gubernatorial irrelevance?

But no one's getting bogged down over numbers or minor candidates, not when there's so much vitriol to hurl.

Paladino has a "battle cry" against career politicians like Cuomo. Cuomo calls the Buffalo billionaire a "welfare king who got rich by milking New York taxpayers." Now that both men have hit the media with negative ads, the dialogue will only get dumber and uglier.

And just wait for the debates - if they even happen. These guys can't even conduct a civil debate on whether to debate.

"Andrew's not capable of telling the truth," Paladino said.

"I am open to debating," Cuomo insisted.

"A total lie," the Paladino campaign chief harrumphed.

And there is so much turf left to mine.

Crazy Carl could share more insights on Andrew's dad, Mario. Arrogant Andrew could unearth more embarrassing cartoons and e-mails.

And when it's over, one of these men will be the next governor of New York.

No one can say yet what that might mean. But it sure will be fun watching them get there. 

NOT GOVERNOR

Insulter-in-Chief

Executive Ridicule Officer

Chairman of the I'm-Better-than-He-Is-Committee

Secretary of Finger-Wagging

Hostility Commissioner

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E-mail ellis@henican.com

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