Pataki for President?

NEW York Governor George Pataki will definitely make a run at the White House in 2008, according to newspaper reports this week.

Pataki, the three-time governor of New York, has long been thought to have ambitions to run for president, but he has never confirmed his interest.

This week, however, close aides were quoted as saying that the Irish American governor has decided he will definitely run. With the Republican nomination open irrespective if President George W. Bush wins or loses, this would be the opportunity of a lifetime for Pataki, who endeared himself to the Irish community with his decision to build an Irish Famine Memorial in New York City.

Of course, Pataki’s decision likely means that he will face another New York rival in the Republican primaries. It has become obvious that former Mayor Rudy Giuliani also sees himself as a leading contender for the White House and that he will contest in 2008.

There is no love lost between the two. Giuliani, though a Republican, supported Pataki’s rival Mario Cuomo for the governorship when Pataki was seeking his first term. 

Both men, however, will be considered out of the mainstream in a Republican party that frowns on pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-gay politicians. In the words of one leading Republican, it is all about “guns, gays and god,” and the thrice-married Giuliani in particular may experience some problems with the conservative southerners who run the party.

Expect former Pataki main advisor Mike Finnegan to play a major role in the presidential run when it happens. Finnegan is one of the most astute men in New York politics and will fancy spearheading a run for national office.

And Hillary Too!

OF course, if Senator John Kerry is defeated and Giuliani and Pataki run there is every possibility that they will be joined by yet another New York politician, Senator Hillary Clinton, who will be certain to have her running shoes on if the Democratic nomination is open in 2008.

Clinton and Senator John Edwards would certainly be the front runners if Kerry fails in his bid for the White House.

Irish Americans will be well served in either case. Clinton is in Northern Ireland this week, yet another example of her ties to the land where her husband worked so hard to bring peace. Giuliani and Pataki too have very strong Irish connections.

Another Irish Party

MEANWHILE at the Republican convention, another major Irish party has been announced. The 2004 “Celebration of Irish Heritage” will take place at the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City and will feature Pataki and Ed Gillespie, the chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Former United States Ambassador to Ireland Richard Egan is the honorary chairman of the event. The party will take place on the Tuesday night of the convention. 

Among the host committee are Egan, Finnegan, well-known Irish radio host Adrian Flannelly, New York State Senator Martin Golden, and powerful attorney William F. Plunkett, who is a key figure in the kitchen cabinet around Pataki. Doubtless Pataki’s tireless Irish aide Jeff Cleary will be in attendance also, as well as Jack Irwin, his liaison to the Irish community.

Last week another Irish party featuring Secretary for Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson and several members of Congress was announced.

A Personal Tragedy 

ANOTHER upstate Republican with high hopes to succeed Pataki as governor suffered a personal tragedy last week. John J. Sweeney, the son of Congressman John Sweeney, who is considered one of the up and coming stars in the state, was arrested for serious assault charges after a brawl near Saratoga Springs left another youth seriously injured.

According to local reports, the fight in a wooded area sent Matthew S. Brady, 19, of Stillwater to a local hospital with severe head and facial injuries. Sweeney and John J. Manupella, 18, of Troy, were arraigned in the Town of Stillwater court and released on their own recognizance, according to police.

With Pataki running for president in 2008, it seems clear that Sweeney would be one of the favorites to win the nomination. He has certainly been working hard creating a profile for himself around the state. His son’s problems will no doubt cast a shadow over his plans.

Kennedy and Obama

INTERESTING that a New York Times editorial recently compared Barack Obama, the likely Senate winner in Illinois, to President John F. Kennedy.

The comparison was made in terms of the impact that Kennedy’s election had on his ancestral land of Ireland. The Times stated that an Obama victory would have a similar impact on Kenya, where Obama’s father hailed from.

In Kenya the news about Obama is followed breathlessly, and there are high hopes that someday he will be president. If he is he would be breaking the mold in a much bigger way than Kennedy, the first Catholic did. 

An African American president might be considered as unlikely as some people once considered the notion of a Polish pope, but we all know what happened there.