Suozzi pandering to Roger Bog for the Conservative Nominatio

[I am not really a Lib Dem]

Suozzi enters abortion debate


By Michael Rothfeld
STAFF WRITER

May 10, 2005, 1:44 PM EDT

Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi said today he wanted to bring together "intelligent, thoughtful, compassionate and religious people" on both sides the abortion debate by spending $1 million a year for three years on homes for single mothers, programs to encourage adoption, and education to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

Some in political circles have speculated the speech at Adelphi University is part of his strategy for a gubernatorial campaign.

But Suozzi, a Democrat and Catholic who favors abortion rights, said it tackled an issue he "been thinking about and praying about for many, many years," and he appeared nervous delivering it.

Afterward, he received a standing ovation from about 120 spectators, but there were signs that this foray also left some Democrats uncomfortable.

Only four of Nassau's 10 Democratic lawmakers attended, and several are reportedly upset with him for raising the divisive issue on a local level. The number of abortions in Nassau declined by 25 percent between 2000 and 2002, from 4,755 to 3,585.

It is unclear, at this point, whether Suozzi's programs have any chance of passing the legislature.

In March, Suozzi attended a meeting in Manhattan with Howard Dean, the newly elected Democratic national chairman, where the party's broadening stand on abortion was of concern to some top fund-raisers. They found objectionable a decision by Sen. Charles Schumer, head of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, to back pro-life Democrat Bob Casey in Pennsylvania.

Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, a Catholic and mentor to Suozzi, was the first pro-choice Democrat to mine his internal conflict over abortion in a 1984 speech at the University of Notre Dame.

"There are alternatives to abortion," Cuomo said in an interview Monday. "In cases where women want to go to term, and then perhaps have the child adopted, if they're poor, you should pay for their going to term the way you pay for abortions under Medicaid."

Cuomo avoided addressing the political calculus behind Suozzi's decision to speak out. But he said it is difficult to formulate positions "cleverly" to win voters, because "people see through things that aren't sincerely held."
Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.

Suozzi has a lot of courage to broach the subject. Usually, only candidates who have no hope of winning bring up such sensitive policy issues.

Suozzi should be praised for taking a stand that may piss off both sides, especially in an election year. It's a brave stand, regardless of how you may feel about his political ambitions.

[Conservative 1962]

Suozzi enters abortion debate


By Michael Rothfeld
STAFF WRITER

May 10, 2005, 1:44 PM EDT

Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi said today he wanted to bring together "intelligent, thoughtful, compassionate and religious people" on both sides the abortion debate by spending $1 million a year for three years on homes for single mothers, programs to encourage adoption, and education to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

Some in political circles have speculated the speech at Adelphi University is part of his strategy for a gubernatorial campaign.

But Suozzi, a Democrat and Catholic who favors abortion rights, said it tackled an issue he "been thinking about and praying about for many, many years," and he appeared nervous delivering it.

Afterward, he received a standing ovation from about 120 spectators, but there were signs that this foray also left some Democrats uncomfortable.

Only four of Nassau's 10 Democratic lawmakers attended, and several are reportedly upset with him for raising the divisive issue on a local level. The number of abortions in Nassau declined by 25 percent between 2000 and 2002, from 4,755 to 3,585.

It is unclear, at this point, whether Suozzi's programs have any chance of passing the legislature.

In March, Suozzi attended a meeting in Manhattan with Howard Dean, the newly elected Democratic national chairman, where the party's broadening stand on abortion was of concern to some top fund-raisers. They found objectionable a decision by Sen. Charles Schumer, head of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, to back pro-life Democrat Bob Casey in Pennsylvania.

Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, a Catholic and mentor to Suozzi, was the first pro-choice Democrat to mine his internal conflict over abortion in a 1984 speech at the University of Notre Dame.

"There are alternatives to abortion," Cuomo said in an interview Monday. "In cases where women want to go to term, and then perhaps have the child adopted, if they're poor, you should pay for their going to term the way you pay for abortions under Medicaid."

Cuomo avoided addressing the political calculus behind Suozzi's decision to speak out. But he said it is difficult to formulate positions "cleverly" to win voters, because "people see through things that aren't sincerely held."
Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.

Newsday was saying over the weekend how bogstead praised Souzziola for his courage to speak out about the abortion issue...What newsday failed to mention is that souzziola is rodgie boss. Rodgeola and ten of his cronies are on the county payroll all making a hundred grand or better..( Patronage Jobs) is what they would be called in any other paper, but newsday would never say anything against super lib....That praising as they called it, is the most public case of brown nosing on record. What a shamless act by two transparent con men. Both who have deceived there rank and file member's and they expect them to roll over, like they did for each other.

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE JACK'O LEARY,,,,,, :? :? :? :?

[Suozzi's Not So Brave]

Suozzi has a lot of courage to broach the subject. Usually, only candidates who have no hope of winning bring up such sensitive policy issues.

Suozzi should be praised for taking a stand that may piss off both sides, especially in an election year. It's a brave stand, regardless of how you may feel about his political ambitions.

Suozzi is just pandering to gain the Conservative Party Line in Nassau. He thinks he might be able to pick up a swing vote or two on the Executive Committee, because the last thing he wants to do is lose a pissy minor party primary in September, 2005, just a couple of months before the General Election, and be made to look like his appeal to the right is limited to the Conservative functionaries he has working for him in various appointee positions in the County. Not only that, any weakness in his appeal to traditional blue collar white suburban conservatives only undermines his appeal as a candidate who can appeal to JFK/Reagan Democrats.

Besides, he has not in any way on a policy level repudiated the practice of abortion, has merely rebranded some aspects of public assistance relief as being encouraged as "alternatives to abortion," and has not even broached the question of the propriety of medicaid funding of abortion.

Suozzi's nervousness on the question was apparent and noted even by the normally comatose LI Newsday, and it bespeaks his growing realization that he might have bit off more than he can chew with respect to his flirtation with the right. Also, notice how Newsday's Article does not seriously source or seek commentary from a single respectable Catholic bioethicist to evaluate the probity of the Suozzi proposal.

Mario Cuomo is another pandering politician and he does not count as a "serious Catholic bioethicist." Sorry folks. And Cuomo gets it wrong. Medicaid does not fund abortion! Such funding is not constitutionally mandated, and should not be a part of our public poicy.

It's all smoke and mirrors, just like his government, administration, and accomplishments in office. A house of cards which will come crashing down around him, alienating everybody.

[Bill Baird]

Regardless of your stance, Suozzi's position and speech IS brave. It's about time a dialogue was started to find a middle ground or acceptable solution between the extremes of "abortion as birth control" and "don't f*ck".

BTW. the "don't f*ck" crowd usually believes in the death penalty (go figure) and support the development and liberal use of Viagra/Cialis. They should wear the big "H" on their clothing for hypocrisy.

[NoSurprise]

This should be no surprise.

[Easy for You to Say]

Regardless of your stance, Suozzi's position and speech IS brave. It's about time a dialogue was started to find a middle ground or acceptable solution between the extremes of "abortion as birth control" and "don't f*ck".

BTW. the "don't f*ck" crowd usually believes in the death penalty (go figure) and support the development and liberal use of Viagra/Cialis. They should wear the big "H" on their clothing for hypocrisy.

Oh please give me a break. This is about more welfare and moneys to the groups that perform an abortion. This is a liberal trying to pretend he is a conservative, but only folks on the county payroll are buying this one.

[Shermans Hermits]

Only those on the County payroll are forced to accept this. (i.e; Cancelleri)

[Dante's Inferno]

After reading the coverage in the TIMES, NEWS and POST and the pandering artical in NEWSDAY by Michael Rothfeld (panting behind Suozzi, no doubt), clearly Tommy Boy has got everyone's attention. BUT WHY? Judy Jacobs' quote in Newsday is right on the money: why abortion? It would be too obvious to say it was an appeal to Bogstead's Conservative Executive Committee for the 2005 nomination;Suozzi is going to win in 2005, of course by less than the 65% he received in 2001. So was it about trying to get MORE than 65%? Thats not happening-- even a lazy Petersen is a better candidate on his worst day than that fool Bruce Bent (' what about the $10 million you promised Joe, but DIDN'T spend, Bruce?). So what is this about? Ive been hearing from some people that this involves (don't laugh) the new Pope. Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Ratzinger is much more attuned to disciplining than forgiving. Some have said that he wants a stricter adherence to Church policy, even if it means a smaller church membership! The American Church and its Roman Cathlioc Liberal / pro-abortion politicians ( Kennedy, Kerry, Cuomo, Biden, Pataki, Guliani, etc) has been a constant embarassment to the strict " Vaticanistas." So much so that under Pope John Paul II, Rome was letting local Bishops decide if such pro-abortion politicians should be denied sacraments ( communion). If you remember, John Kerry had a lot of problems with this during the campaign. Bishop Murphy can not discipline anyone based on the pedophile problems he has and his own lack of cretibility on LI. BUT, if the new Pope Benedict issues an edict that DEMANDS the refusal of sacraments to american politicians who are pro-abortion--Suozzi is screwed! He has to choose between his faith and his ambition. ( bet he goes with ambition and lay the points) His insincere speech today is a nervous first step to look more cathlioc to the people and prevent political ruin. But gotta love Dillions quote. Something about beginning an initiative where some will live, while supporting a policy where many will die. Sanctimonious Dillon!

[Dante's Paradiso]

After reading the coverage in the TIMES, NEWS and POST and the pandering artical in NEWSDAY by Michael Rothfeld (panting behind Suozzi, no doubt), clearly Tommy Boy has got everyone's attention. BUT WHY? Judy Jacobs' quote in Newsday is right on the money: why abortion? It would be too obvious to say it was an appeal to Bogstead's Conservative Executive Committee for the 2005 nomination;Suozzi is going to win in 2005, of course by less than the 65% he received in 2001. So was it about trying to get MORE than 65%? Thats not happening-- even a lazy Petersen is a better candidate on his worst day than that fool Bruce Bent (' what about the $10 million you promised Joe, but DIDN'T spend, Bruce?). So what is this about? Ive been hearing from some people that this involves (don't laugh) the new Pope. Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Ratzinger is much more attuned to disciplining than forgiving. Some have said that he wants a stricter adherence to Church policy, even if it means a smaller church membership! The American Church and its Roman Cathlioc Liberal / pro-abortion politicians ( Kennedy, Kerry, Cuomo, Biden, Pataki, Guliani, etc) has been a constant embarassment to the strict " Vaticanistas." So much so that under Pope John Paul II, Rome was letting local Bishops decide if such pro-abortion politicians should be denied sacraments ( communion). If you remember, John Kerry had a lot of problems with this during the campaign. Bishop Murphy can not discipline anyone based on the pedophile problems he has and his own lack of cretibility on LI. BUT, if the new Pope Benedict issues an edict that DEMANDS the refusal of sacraments to american politicians who are pro-abortion--Suozzi is screwed! He has to choose between his faith and his ambition. ( bet he goes with ambition and lay the points) His insincere speech today is a nervous first step to look more cathlioc to the people and prevent political ruin. But gotta love Dillions quote. Something about beginning an initiative where some will live, while supporting a policy where many will die. Sanctimonious Dillon!



You have to remember one thing. Suozzi is a pretty shallow and narcassistic guy who hates rejection. This is most definitely about his upcoming screening with the Conservative Party. Suozzi doesn't like losing even the smallest of games. One can opine that Suozzi would try to prove that he was truly "to the left of Lenin" if the communist party were an officlal NYS Party and he was seeking their "red stamp of approval."

Unfortunately, for Suozzi, he miscalculated, as only his most ardent cheerleaders will accept a compromise on "abortion control" which does not involve making abortion illegal, or pushing a judicial strategy for reform.

Regardless of your stance, Suozzi's position and speech IS brave. It's about time a dialogue was started to find a middle ground or acceptable solution between the extremes of "abortion as birth control" and "don't f*ck".

BTW. the "don't f*ck" crowd usually believes in the death penalty (go figure) and support the development and liberal use of Viagra/Cialis. They should wear the big "H" on their clothing for hypocrisy.

Oh please give me a break. This is about more welfare and moneys to the groups that perform an abortion. This is a liberal trying to pretend he is a conservative, but only folks on the county payroll are buying this one.

WRONG! This is about helping people not be in a position to have to choose. Contraceptives and education (yes, including but not limited to abstinence) is the way to go. The only reason you are against contraceptives is that if they were acceptable to use in your parents' day, you wouldn't be here.

[Roger B for Conservative]

its all about getting 1-2 oddball Conservatives on the screening committee to change their minds. Newsday is helping create a new illusion. Altmann is an idiot for making comments re Suozzi in Long Island Press. Suozzi doesnt get the C nod anyway thanks to Danny D. He shouldnt have asked.

[you're a moron]

Regardless of your stance, Suozzi's position and speech IS brave. It's about time a dialogue was started to find a middle ground or acceptable solution between the extremes of "abortion as birth control" and "don't f*ck".

BTW. the "don't f*ck" crowd usually believes in the death penalty (go figure) and support the development and liberal use of Viagra/Cialis. They should wear the big "H" on their clothing for hypocrisy.

Oh please give me a break. This is about more welfare and moneys to the groups that perform an abortion. This is a liberal trying to pretend he is a conservative, but only folks on the county payroll are buying this one.

WRONG! This is about helping people not be in a position to have to choose. Contraceptives and education (yes, including but not limited to abstinence) is the way to go. The only reason you are against contraceptives is that if they were acceptable to use in your parents' day, you wouldn't be here.



Maybe you should have paid more attention in health class! The schools already provide the education. And I'm not personally against contraception. You can buy rubbers in the drug store. But I guess you never heard of Duane Reade.