There is a lot of speculation about who Governor Paterson would appoint to replace Hillary in the U.S. Senate if she ends up as secretary of state. The one getting the most buzz seems to Brian Higgins (D-27), but, there is another Western New York politician whose name has been tossed out there.

Here is an opportunity for the governor to make Western New York really important,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political consultant from Manhattan. “He needs to get someone of high quality and substance from Western New York. It’s the fair and right thing to do.”

While Clinton refused to address the speculation Friday during an appearance in suburban Albany, the game of political dominoes is already under way. Some news outlets are mentioning Mayor Byron W. Brown as a potential candidate, and the mayor said Friday he would consider an appointment but is “focused” on his current job.

Byron Brown? Is that a joke? I have yet to meet anyone who thinks he’s been a good mayor for Buffalo, why would Governor Paterson pick someone as incompetent and corrupt as Mayor Byron Brown?

For what it is worth, Buffalo Pundit is on board the Brian Higgins train. And Robert Harding of the Albany Project thinks the “change we need” is another damn Kennedy.

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That is the current buzz going around…

Pressure is mounting for an upstater to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate should she be asked by President-elect Barack Obama to join his cabinet as secretary of state.

Erie County Democratic Chairman Leonard R. Lenihan is already campaigning for Rep. Brian Higgins of Buffalo and others speculate that Gov. David A. Paterson may consider someone from outside the group of usual candidates, given the new and total domination of state government by New York City Democrats.

“Here is an opportunity for the governor to make Western New York really important,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political consultant from Manhattan. “He needs to get someone of high quality and substance from Western New York. It’s the fair and right thing to do.”

I am skeptical of either scenario panning out.

First, I don’t think Hillary is under serious consideration — if she is under consideration at all. Second, she would make a horrible secretary of state, for one thing, and I can’t imagine that she would want the job. Hillary wants to be in a position to make her own mark on the world, and the last thing Obama wants is someone like Hillary in that position.

Dick Morris suggests it could just be a rumor started by the Clintonistas. I wouldn’t be surprised

If the republic survives after four years under Comrade Obama, then he is bound to be a one-termer. Even if not, administrations tend to undergo facelifts, meaning Hillary would be lucky to have a longer than four year run as the country’s top diplomat. She needs her Senate seat as a fallback for any potential climb up the power ladder. She likely won’t give that up.

But, let’s say I am wrong. I am just as skeptical about the idea that Western New York’s favorite camera whore would be appointed to fill her spot. Anecdotallly, I have heard that David Paterson really doesn’t have much love for upstate, and even if that is not true, I don’t think he will seriously consider choosing a Western New York congressman who isn’t well known across the state.

That being said, I welcome the possibility. If Higgins leaves his seat in the House, that seat has the potential to become competitive during an environment that historically should be good for Republicans. He also would likely face primary challenges in 2010 when that Senate seat would have an election for a permanent replacement an could easily be dropped for a more popular and well known Democrat. Perhaps Rudy Giuliani might have a shot at it — especially if the political climate is a good one for Republicans, which is not only historically likely, but a great possibility considering the mess the Democrats are going to get us into.

So really, I actually welcome the possibliliy of Higgins being appointed to the Senate in the unlikely scenario of Hillary being appointed as secretary of state. It actually presents the Republican Party with some good opportunities.

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Another Democrat paying his “fair share” of taxes:

Gov. David Paterson’s chief of staff blames depression for failing to file income taxes for five years.

Charles O’Byrne, who earns $178,500, has paid more than $200,000 in back taxes.

The tax debt came to light when New York’s Department of State filed an outstanding warrant against O’Byrne last year.

He says he’s ashamed, but told the New York Post he’s aware that his failure to pay taxes was a consequence of an illness over which he had no control.

UPDATE: Senate GOP calls for an investigation:

The Senate’s Republican majority, fighting to keep its slim, decades-old control, is calling for an investigation into Democratic Gov. David Paterson’s top aide who repaid $200,000 in back taxes and penalties but didn’t include the debt on his ethics disclosure report.

Over the weekend, Paterson Chief of Staff Charles O’Byrne said he has paid the taxes and penalties he owed from 2001 to 2005. During that time, O’Byrne said he was clinically depressed and had informed Paterson, then the Senate Democratic leader, of his debts and medical condition.

In that five years, records show O’Byrne contributed $3,500 to the Democratic National Committee and Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign. In New York, he contributed just $5 during that time, but $750 the following year.

The New York Post first reported the story Saturday based on public tax records portraying O’Byrne as a deadbeat whose excuse, according to the front-page headline, was, “HE’S CRAZY.”

On Monday, Senate Republicans seized the issue to fight back against a Democratic governor who, riding high in polls, has sought to get the Legislature to agree to spending cuts to stave off billions of dollars in deficits. In recent weeks, Paterson irked Senate Republican leaders when he endorsed and raised funds for Democrats.

The office of Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos of Long Island said Monday that “serious questions are being raised here.”

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I have to admit, that I never really had a major problem with David Paterson since he became governor. Today, however, he has pissed me off beyond belief, by taking a page right out of the DNC playbook and playing the race card.

On Monday, Gov. David Paterson angered some state lawmakers by comparing them to vampires, calling them a bunch of “blood suckers.” On Tuesday, he raised eyebrows again, and tempers, by accusing the John McCain campaign of veiled racism.

At the Crain’s Business Forum this morning, Paterson drew attention to a phrase used numerous times by speakers at the Republican National Convention to describe Barack Obama’s leadership experience: community organizer.

“I think the Republican Party is too smart to call Barack Obama ‘black’ in a sense that it would be a negative. But you can take something about his life, which I noticed they did at the Republican Convention – a ‘community organizer.’ They kept saying it, they kept laughing,” he said.

Paterson referred to McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin who compared her work experience to Obama’s.

“So I suppose a small town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except with real responsibilities,” she said at the convention.

Paterson sees the repeated use of the words “community organizer” as Republican code for “black”.

Sadly, this is the game Democrats want to play. Protect the Obamessiah by accusing his rivals who dare criticism his lack of experience.

How dare you, Mr. Paterson. How dare you! 

David Paterson has accused all Republicans of being racist. 

I am a proud supporter of John McCain. I am a proud conservative Republican. I will not be bullied into keeping legitimate criticisms of Barack Obama’s experience (or more accurately, lack of experience) quiet.

I may have long disagreed with Paterson on various issues, but I didn’t dislike him or consider him a political enemy. Until tonight.

David Paterson has proven to be as shameless as the rest of the Democratic Party. I thought he was above that.

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Scott Leffler brought my attention to this story about Governor Paterson, who seems to be forgetting that he is the governor of this state. 

I guess it could be worse.. He could be a presidential candidate who thinks he’s visited 57 states and thinks he’ll serve 8-10 years if elected.

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Bruno may fight order to recognize gay marriages

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The New York Times will report tomorrow that Governor David Paterson secretly “directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada,” circumventing the voters and the legislature.

In a directive issued on May 14, the governor’s legal counsel, David Nocenti, instructed the agencies that gay couples married elsewhere “should be afforded the same recognition as any other legally performed union.”

The revisions are most likely to involve as many as 1,300 statutes and regulations in New York governing everything from joint filing of income tax returns to transferring fishing licenses between spouses.

In a videotaped message given to gay community leaders at a dinner on May 17, Mr. Paterson described the move as “a strong step toward marriage equality.” And people on both sides of the issue said it moved the state closer to fully legalizing same-sex unions in this state.

“Very shortly, there will be hundreds and hundreds and hundreds, and probably thousands and thousands and thousands of gay people who have their marriages recognized by the state,” said Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, a Democrat who represents the Upper West Side and has pushed for legalization of gay unions.

Rep. Tom Reynolds made the following statement in response to Paterson’s secret directive:

“This is a terrible decision, directed in a secretive and abusive manner, designed to circumvent any sort of public hearing or comment from the New York people. The Governor should full well know the rightful role and prerogative the legislature has in the rule of law in this matter. Therefore, I am calling on the Governor to suspend this ill-advised executive directive. I intend to call the Catholic Conference, the New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, legislative leaders and other interested parties to assist in looking at the options available in helping cease and desist the Governor’s directive.

Frankly, this is yet another example of a New York Governor abusing his power to disregard the legislature, the rule of law and most importantly the people of New York. Whether it is trying to issue drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants or attempting to recognize gay marriages this pattern of circumventing the legislature and the will of the New York people is not only troubling but should not be recognized by the legislative or judicial branch or the public as a whole.”

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Gov. Paterson in Hospital With Migraine

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Governor Paterson Announces Nearly $109 Million in New Stem Cell Research Funding

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Paterson revealed affairs fearing cops’ probe

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Paterson says projected budget gaps have grown

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Governor Paterson Reacts to Toll Hike

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You know the governor must be doing something right when the unions aren’t happy.

Gov. David Paterson, warning of deteriorating state tax revenues, ordered a “soft freeze” on hiring yesterday and directed state commissioners to come up with “serious, achievable and recurring” budget savings by May 16.

Paterson issued the order just hours after he declared that he’s likely to run for a full term as governor in 2010.

“Only job openings absolutely essential to your agency’s operations and protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers are to be filled,” Paterson told the heads of all state agencies.

Paterson warned of a “hard hiring freeze” - blocking all new hires - if commissioners fail to cut spending.

The limited hiring freeze will likely affect only a few hundred jobs, officials said.

Paterson required a detailed savings plan from each agency by May 16.

Paterson’s call shocked the state’s largest public employees union, which had planned on increases in hiring as part of the state budget approved earlier this month.

“We did not have any forewarning of this,” said Civil Service Employees Association union spokesman Stephen Madarasz. “We’re extremely disappointed there was no discussion of this direction.”

He warned that Paterson’s plan could be counterproductive, saying that adding enforcement jobs could bring in more revenue from fines than the cost of the positions.

So, this so-called “hiring freeze” would only halt the hiring of non-essential positions… considering the fact that our taxes are paying the salaries of these hires, I would hope that all the positions that are filled all the time are essential, and not redundant.

Madarasz can’t claim that this was totally unexpected either.. Talk of a hiring freeze of state workers has been discussed for quite some time. Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, proposed a hiring freeze last month. Paterson may not have been on board at the time, but that doesn’t mean the idea wasn’t on the table.

Madarasz has to stop thinking about the best interests of the unions and think about the best interests of the taxpayers. If we’re paying the salaries of these new hires they damn well better be essential.

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Paterson: “We’re Going To Revitalize Buffalo.”

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Paterson Announces Tops Grant, Less State Aid for Buffalo

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And we thought the state would be going in a different direction when Spitzer resigned?

Gov. David Paterson on Monday defended using taxpayers’ money to stay at downtown Albany hotels while serving as lieutenant governor, even though he owns a home 20 minutes from the Capitol.

Paterson’s use of state and campaign funds for hotels have come under increased scrutiny after he admitted last week to having extra-marital affairs with several women. On Friday, he paid back his campaign for two hotel stays in Manhattan after he couldn’t explain why he rented the rooms.

State records show Paterson spent more than $2,000 using a state-issued credit card on a dozen Albany hotel rooms since he became lieutenant governor in 2007, despite owning a home in nearby Guilderland since late 2001 and having access to a state chauffer

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