As New York Gov. David Paterson fends off one scandal after another, political analysts are sensing blood in the water and wondering when, not if, he will resign.

“We have a death watch going on, no question,” New York Post state editor Fred Dicker told Fox News. “A lot of people thought he would get out yesterday. He didn’t. He had press conference a few minutes ago vowing to tough it out and hold on through the end of the year. ...

“The attitude here is just wait, that you cannot anticipate what’s going to happen because so much incredible stuff has already occurred.”

On Wednesday, Paterson was accused of violating state ethics laws when he sought and obtained free Yankees tickets for the 2009 World Series and then may have lied about his intention to pay for them, according to a state report.

He faces potential penalties of nearly $100,000, and the case was referred to the Albany County prosecutor's office and the state attorney general for possible criminal investigation into whether Paterson or anyone else gave false answers to questions by the Public Integrity Commission or backdated a check to pay for the tickets.

The charge isn't directly related to the scandal already plaguing Paterson, over contact he and others in his administration had with a woman who accused a top Paterson aide of domestic violence. But the panel said the aide in the scandal, David Johnson, was one of Paterson's four guests, along with Paterson's son and a son's friend, who got tickets for the Oct. 28 World Series game provided by the Yankees.

Four days after the baseball game, Johnson was accused of domestic violence by his then-girlfriend, a case that now threatens Paterson's job and administration. But the ticket scandal ultimately may be more damaging to the governor, especially given the timing.

“I just don’t think he can survive all of this,” Justin Phillips, a professor of political science at Columbia University and expert on state politics, told Fox News.com.

“This seems to me death by a thousand cuts,” he said. “There’s sort of the sense there’s no end to this. He has no support left in the party. A lot of people are going to want him out. I doubt he’s going to provide much in the way of leadership over much of the year.”

Phillips expects Paterson to resign by the end of the month.

But Paterson apparently hasn’t received that memo yet. He said Wednesday he intended to fight to keep his job.

"I, at all times, upheld the oath of my office and never at any point attempted to influence or coerce anyone to do anything they didn't want to do," Paterson told reporters.

The damage is mounting, however.

"The net effect of this is the drum beat is awfully loud right now and not getting quieter," said Lee Miringoff, a political science professor at Marist College who oversees the college's Marist Poll. He noted that the Yankees tickets case is clearer, and therefore potentially more politically dangerous.

Paterson could face a penalty of $80,000 for violating the state gift ban for elected officials. The commission's investigation also charged that Paterson violated a provision prohibiting the governor from using his official position to secure unwarranted privileges. That could cost another $10,000.

The governor and his aides, including Johnson, allegedly solicited free tickets from the Yankees and submitted a letter to make sure it didn't appear to be a gift. But the commission's report states Paterson never acted in an official capacity at the game.

Paterson told investigators that he always intended to pay the $850 for tickets for his son and the son's friend. They were paid for with a post-dated check. The five tickets, three of which were complimentary, were valued at $2,125. The governor paid for them only when confronted by a reporter for the New York Post, the report said.

Days later, on Halloween, a woman named Sherruna Booker told police she was roughed up by Johnson, but she later decided not to press charges. The office of state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating whether Paterson or anyone from his staff or security detail influenced her decision.

"My side of the story will not be unsourced, it will not be in inaccurate, it will be the truth," Paterson said Wednesday, taking a swipe at some media reports.

Chief of Staff Lawrence Schwartz said that the governor was meeting with legislative leaders and staff Wednesday and that the fiscal crisis is Paterson's top priority.

"The governor is the governor," Schwartz said. "He's in charge."

New York Post’s Dicker told Fox News that Paterson may not resign until he is given a pass by Cuomo.

“He may get a pass in exchange for getting out,” Dicker said.

Full Story................
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/03/troubles-mounting-paterson-unlikely-survive-term-analysts-say/


Damn, 4 Governor's in four years? LMFAO McGreevy, Spitzer, Blago now this clown. It's getting comical.

he just seemed to bumble or use poor judgement in so many things he did or spoke out on, almost from the beginning of his administration.

not a natural politician by any stretch and didn't seem to learn as he went.

I dont know much about him honestly, Reading the piece though, I am more embarassed by our system than anything they are 'claiming' he did. Some yankee tickets and a charge against an AIDE, accepting unwarranted privileges,, I mean , come on

THESE are political issues that have an affect on the public,,,? Really?

Im searching for where anyone died as a result of his decisions or where the economy was aversely affected or ,, SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL,,,,but yankee tickets and something his AIDE (not him) did?


And I thought the Clinton Fiasco was an embarassing and unwarranted witch hunt,,,,,this takes the cake

Awwwwwwwwww ... another one bites the dust ... and oddly enough, it's a Democrat ... imagine ...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/02/paterson-resignati




The political world in New York is buzzing that Governor David Paterson may be close to stepping down amid damaging revelations over the role he played in handling a domestic violence case involving a close aide.

The latest story in the New York Times on Monday evening detailed the extent to which Paterson personally directed state officials to contact the alleged victim has pushed the retirement question to the fore. On Tuesday afternoon, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said that Paterson should resign if the allegations are true: "But if at the end of the day, if all of the allegations of the abuse of power are true, then the governor will be unable to govern and he will have to step down."

Earlier on Tuesday, the governor reportedly convened a meeting with top Democratic officials in the state to ostensibly discuss state and party business. But the topic of impending ethics investigations and their impact on his political future invariably came up (though none of the attendees publicly called for a resignation). Days earlier, a group of prominent black leaders in the state, including Al Sharpton, Congressman Gregory Meeks, and Assemblyman Darryl Towns convened in New York City to discuss the circus erupting in Albany. The pow-wows aren't being held to rally sympathetic lawmakers to Paterson's defense. But rather to plot what, exactly, can be done moving forward.

"He has no constituency. No voting constituency or political constituency," said one well-connected New York Democratic fundraiser. "Plus, this story is not finished. More revelations are going to come out. At some point there will be an avalanche of people calling for his resignation. The question then is, who gets out ahead of this."

At this juncture, it is still very much an open question as to whether Paterson's decision to forgo reelection will be enough to calm the waters. The governor was widely considered ineffectual before the Times began exploring the seedier underpinnings of his reign in Albany. Now, it's difficult to see any legislative business forthcoming.

But it's not just state business at stake. There's also the issue of Paterson's legacy, whatever is left of it to salvage. A Democrat who has worked with the governor's staff insisted that the best course now -- perhaps the only course -- is for him to resign.

"He should convene a press conference, tell his side of the story, and bow out," the strategist said. "Although I think you can safely say far more New Yorkers and observers are now saying 'Who cares what his side is?'"

Perhaps you should re-read the entire article and the one I posted......

Someone has to DIE before actions are taken upon an elected official who has committed wrongdoings??????????????????? OMG ........To me, that is condoning corruption..........

The man would not have decided to NOT run for re-election if he were not guilty of a lot of wrong doings...........something an elected official is NOT, matter of fact, NO CITIZEN, is permitted to get away with..........that is why we have laws, courts and prisons.........

REGARDING YANKEE TICKETS....investigation into whether Paterson or anyone else gave false answers to questions by the Public Integrity Commission or backdated a check to pay for the tickets.

The governor and his aides, including Johnson, allegedly solicited free tickets from the Yankees and submitted a letter to make sure it didn't appear to be a gift. But the commission's report states Paterson never acted in an official capacity at the game.

NO PROOF HE USED HIS POSITION FOR A GIFT AS HE ACTED IN NO OFFICIAL CAPACITY


......Paterson told investigators that he always intended to pay the $850 for tickets for his son and the son's friend. They were paid for with a post-dated check

RECEIVED AND PAID FOR


REGARDING HIS AIDE.....
The charge isn't directly related to the scandal already plaguing Paterson, over contact he and others in his administration had with a woman who accused a top Paterson aide of domestic violence. But the panel said the aide in the scandal, David Johnson, was one of Paterson's four guests, along with Paterson's son and a son's friend, who got tickets for the Oct. 28 World Series game provided by the Yankees.


CONTACT IS NOW A CRIME?


As I said, no EVIDENCE whatsoever that any 'crime' has been committed. Just another witchhunt to distract people from real issues.

Some individuals only see what they want to see, again, re-read both posts on this topic..................

The post you made does not address ALL of the issues that plague this individual..................

Picking and choosing what one desires to see does not accomplish any positive and substantial conclusion(s)...............

Quite OBVIOUSLY, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE IN DISAGREEMENT WITH YOUR OBSERVATIONS......Quite frankly, that is what matters.......and I am very grateful for the laws and ethics instituted in this great country, no matter what level of government, that maintain order and civility, LAWS AND ETHICS that ALL are to abide by................

If I missed an issue, please post it directly, otherwise I didnt see anything in the articles that was under question besides these two or three things. Also, I am glad there are laws as well especially the one that is supposed to read 'INNOCENT' until proven guilty. In this country, allegations have become replacement for actual guilt and too many peoples lives are being ruined by them.

If it is proven to be true, and laws are proven to be broken, this man deserves whatever consequences are deemed appropriate, until then all this SENSATIONALISM and TALK OF RESIGNATION because of mere allegations, to me , is quite hypocritical and ridiculous.

Let's cut to the chase: Obama TOLD him not to run and he defied 'The ONE' ... this is just payback.

Let's cut to the chase: Obama TOLD him not to run and he defied 'The ONE' ... this is just payback.

lol, always comes back to OBama,,,,,I bet OBama told my paper boy not to deliver my paper this morning,,,

OBama has ALOT on his plate, I doubt his priorities involve some type of revenge on everyone who has ever not followed his recommendation

As I said though, I dont know every political head of every city and state , I am only commenting on what I am reading in this thread so far.