29 July 2021: All Cuomo Critics Are Running for NY Governor!

Churchill: Everybody wants Andrew Cuomo's job

Albany Times-Union columnist Chris Churchill picks up on a common theme in the various smears Team Cuomo has been issuing over the past several months: everyone who is seriously investigating Andrew M. Cuomo is secretly running for governor!

Twitter warrior Richard Azzopardi, also the governor's communications director, has repeatedly suggested, without evidence, that James is planning a run for governor. Cuomo hit a similar note on Monday, when he emerged from a week of hiding for an announcement about vaccine hesitancy and a swipe at James.

"I have concerns as to the independence of the reviewers," Cuomo said of the AG's investigation, adding: "Is this all happening in a political system? Yes, that is undeniable."

Ignore the nonsense. James has never indicated she's running for governor, and there's nothing to suggest otherwise. And if Cuomo is so concerned about her supposed ambitions and ulterior motives, why did he urge New Yorkers to wait for James' investigation before deciding on his guilt?

"Let’s get the facts," Cuomo said in February as he fought off calls for his resignation. "And that’s what the investigation does and that’s what the attorney general is doing. And that’s what we should all respect."

Did James change? Did her eyes widen when presented with a chance to sink the governor? I don't think so.

What changed is Cuomo's momentary need. Then, the governor needed to buy time. Now, with time purchased, he's singing a new tune. What we're hearing is a survival tactic borne of fear and desperation — and targeting not just James.

Churchill continues by quoting Team Cuomo's claims, all made without their presenting evidence, that NY State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara are encouraging the investigations so they too can become New York's next governor!

Those observations provide Churchill with a new opportunity to ridicule Team Cuomo:

You've perhaps noticed a pattern. Anyone who is a threat to the governor, or has criticized the governor, or doesn't like the governor, must want the man's job. From the Cuomo perspective, there is no other explanation.

The 56 percent of New Yorkers who tell pollsters they want to vote for somebody other than Cuomo? They're running for governor! The people annoyed by Cuomo's antics or angered by his attempt to hide the full count of nursing home deaths? Running for governor!

For our part, we look forward to Churchill's announcement that he too is running for NY governor!