Achtung Herr Suozzi Baby - He's Embraced the Right!

[The Right Stuff]

What the hell is Tom Suozzi doing at a Conservative Party function in Albany? Is he going to turn against the traditional Democratic interests? Is he embracing the pro-life cause? Is he going to attack the power of the teacher's unions? Is he going to roll back MEDICAID entitlements? Just what the hell is this man's agenda, and what is he doing pretending that he shares the values of the Democratic Party?

What the hell is Tom Suozzi doing at a Conservative Party function in Albany? Is he going to turn against the traditional Democratic interests? Is he embracing the pro-life cause? Is he going to attack the power of the teacher's unions? Is he going to roll back MEDICAID entitlements? Just what the hell is this man's agenda, and what is he doing pretending that he shares the values of the Democratic Party?

Appears Suozzi is in a state of panic.

[kimmie]

We need anybody to love us.

North Shore democrats need not call back.

[Strange Waters]

Suozzi ventures into strange waters

BY MICHAEL ROTHFELD
ALBANY BUREAU

February 1, 2005

ALBANY -- Even for a politician who likes to swim against the tide, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi ventured into some pretty strange waters yesterday.

The lifelong Democrat sat on stage at a Conservative Party conference here, staring out at an audience, which for the most part thought abortion should be banned, the death penalty reinstated and gay rights abolished.


But Suozzi, who had been invited to speak about reforming state government, drew the crowd in by making a point on which they all agreed. He told them that New York's state legislators should be tossed out.

"I got ostracized in my own party," Suozzi said, telling about 200 Conservatives of his successful effort to oust a Democratic assemblyman from Nassau last year. "I got excluded from the Democratic National Convention as a result."

To laughs, Suozzi said his campaign also got him fired by a county lobbyist. He was referring to Patricia Lynch - a political consultant with close ties to Assembly Speaker Silver (D-Manhattan) - who resigned as Nassau's lobbyist after Suozzi targeted fellow Democrats.

Silver last year questioned Suozzi's party credentials and denied him a seat as a delegate because of his "Fix Albany" alliance with Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long.

Yesterday's appearance, which abounded with criticism of the State Legislature's record on spending, late budgets and noncompetitive elections, seemed likely to worsen Suozzi's relationship with his own party.

Suozzi is seeking a second term this November. But John Kiernan, a long-time Nassau Republican, speculated that Suozzi is pairing up with Long to create a buzz about his prospects for a statewide run.

Long yesterday said he's taken some heat from members of his party about the invitation to Suozzi because of his stance on some issues. "But I'm glad we had him," Long said.

Long, whose members are unhappy with state Republicans they believe are too liberal, has never endorsed a Democrat for statewide office, but said, "It's not impossible."

In the hotel lobby, a couple of Conservatives were grousing about Suozzi's position on social issues, but many were taken with him.

[Long leaves Party]

I'm glad Long is happy he had Suozzi - nobody else is. Maybe Long can trapse off into the sunset with Suozzi and start their own party - maybe fix.everything.com - the party for those ostracized from everybody.
Now that Suozzi said it - maybe the Dems should make it come true.