News items in recent days about a purported effort to unseat Joseph Mondello as state Republican leader seem shrouded, at best, by a political version of “Rashomon effect” in which recollections of the same matter differ by what a person is pre-disposed to believe.
Late last week, published reports -- all attributed to unidentified sources – had it that Tony Carbonetti, the right-hand man of former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, would make a move to become state chairman, and that current NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg met with departing upstate Congressman Tom Reynolds in a move to make him new party leader.
Parts of the puzzle were that Giuliani is in debt from his failed presidential effort, Bloomberg’s team was trying to keep him politically relevant and maybe prod him to run for governor, and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno recently hired a Giuliani man, Matthew Mahoney, to direct GOP state Senate campaigns.
But Giuliani and Carbonetti have assured Mondello that no such intrigue is afoot – and this denial actually sounds very plausible. Though Mondello and Giuliani weren’t exactly buds in the past, they did work closely last year when Mondello lined up the state organization to endorse Giuliani for president, a fact not lost on the ex-mayor. Giuliani had high praise for Mondello at the recent state GOP dinner.
For various reasons it also seems less than 50-50 that either former-Republican Bloomberg or more-than-ever-Republican Giuliani will run for governor in 2010 -- though of course you can never prove a negative, especially when someone's ambitions might change. Meanwhile, some Mondello-ites believe this is all mischief inspired by those around the chairman's old nemesis, the disappeared ex-Gov. George Pataki.
After the GOP dinner on May 29, Bruno was asked about the prospects of Rep. Peter King running for governor. Bruno, who has been a consistent backer of Mondello, said: ““We’ve got some great candidates in Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Rudy Giuliani, Peter King, you name it.”
The season of strange speculation begins. Stories so far were published here , here, here and here.
Dan Janison
Comments (1)
Tony the Bar Tender as State Chairmen what a JOKE, he ran Rudy's campaign to the ground. Rudy will not run for governor in 2010. The luster has faded. He shoot is load in 2008.
Pataki needs to NEVER SHOW HIS FACE AGAIN. he could have been GREAT, instead he is a LOSER. Why he did not run against Hillary Soprano when Rudy drop out was the BIGGEST MISTAKE IN HIS LIFE. but i guess he listen to his losers of a brain trust.
What is needed is New Leadership. Yes, Joe needs to step down as Party Chairmen.
But It is a hard thing to do, Joe is a very proud person. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
He back the wrong horse for President, but then so did the rest of the Leadership Now they are sitting in the McCain express baggage car.
VJ Machiavelli