Winners and losers in the state budget saga
GOV. DAVID A. PATERSON
WINNER
Once he gave up on re-election, he showed more spine in budget battles.
ANDREW CUOMO
WINNER
Continues his charmed existence as the white knight of Albany, with two-thirds approval and a 30-point lead over rivals. Must be thankful attorneys general don't make budgets.
RICK LAZIO
WINNER
It's probably not enough to get him elected, but the Senate mess has given the GOP gubernatorial designee plenty of material for his "fix Albany" campaign.
CARL PALADINO
WINNER
If elected governor as a Republican, this rough-cut Buffalo businessman has promised to clean up Albany "with a baseball bat." Amazingly, by the standards of the state Senate these days, Paladino's manners are no longer beyond the pale.
THE STATE SENATE
LOSERS
"It reminded me a little of 'Lord of the Flies,' " said Assemb. Phil Boyle, in talking about the chaotic process in the Senate.
TOM DINAPOLI
LOSER
The Democratic state comptroller's support for legislation to stretch out contributions to the state pension fund has been attacked as a "secretive borrowing scheme" by Republican opponent Harry Wilson.
Sheldon Silver
LOSER?
Paterson's scandals and Senate food fights left the Assembly speaker looking like Albany's only adult. But he's also seen as a defender of bloated spending practices.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
