Peter King Watch Returns

After a too-long absence, we will be back this week once again putting King under the microscope so voters know exactly who Pete King really is.

King Snubbed at Republican Dinner by Newt Gingrich

Last night the NYS Republicans brought out Newt Gingrich at their annual dinner. Newt spoke and had this to say about the NY GOP future "If we had Mayor Giuliani for governor and we had Gov. Pataki for senator, we would be a large step towards the tidal wave which will make 2010 comparable to 1994," he said, referring to the GOP electoral sweep in '94. "That should be our goal."

Hmmm... isn't Peter King the one that has been trumpeting his name as a potential winning senate candidate?
This is one heck of a slight.
Is Newt still holding a grudge against King for calling him "political road-kill" back in the 90's?

King Goes to Gitmo Part 1; Apples and Oranges Edition

King has an op-ed in today's NYPost extolling the virutes of the Gitmo facility and attacking President Obama for preparing to close it. There are many points to look at in the op-ed so I'll do them bit by bit.

King says that at Gitmo "Detainees at Guantanamo are treated far better than most American prisoners in the US jails and prisons I've inspected over the years."

Umm.. Peter..... the prisoners in US jails have all faced a judge and jury and have been found guilty of a crime. The detainees at Gitmo have not had a trial. That is the problem.
It's fairly simple; have a trial and either find the detainees guilty of terrorist acts or send them back to thier own countries.

Here is a scenario King ought to think about:
When King went to Northen Ireland years ago as an IRA supporter and agitator, he stayed with and spent time with murderers and assorted criminals. If the British forces did a sweep and arrested King along with the other terrorists would King think that it is okay for the British to hold him indefinately without trial?
Would King feel good about languishing in prison for 4 or more years without contact with family and friends or a lawyer to represent him?

Wavering King May Lose Chance to Run for Senate

According to an AP story, Republican Senate Campaign Committee head John Cornyn is looking to former governor George Pataki to run for Senate against Gillibrand in 2010.
King has consistantly performed extremely poorly in match-up polls against Gillibrand. And he hasn't been as gung-ho to run as he was against Caroline Kennedy.

"A person who spoke to George Pataki says national Republicans have approached the former New York governor about running for the Senate in 2010.
The person confirmed Tuesday's meeting in New York City between Pataki and Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who heads the party's national Senate campaign committee. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he isn't authorized to comment.
The person says Pataki, now in private law practice, hasn't yet accepted or rejected the idea. The race would be against Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton and said she will run.
Pataki didn't respond to a request for comment.
Cornyn's office referred questions to the committee, which didn't comment."

The Journal News gives a reason why Pataki would be the better choice...
"A Marist College poll last month found Gillibrand and Pataki in a statistical dead heat in a hypothetical matchup, with Gillibrand at 44 percent and Pataki at 42 percent.
"What he brings to a candidacy in a very blue state is name recognition, a proven statewide vote-getter, an ability to raise money, candidate experience. And those are many of the ingredients for success," Marist pollster Lee Miringoff said."

King can always run against Schumer..... Nah..... he doesn't have the guts to try.

Business Paper Calls King a 'Loser" on His Vote Against the Stimulus

Crain's New York listed 'Winners and Losers' from the Stimulus Package vote.
"CONGRESS IS CLOSING IN on a stimulus package. Last week, the House passed a bill worth $819 billion. The Senate still has to pass its own version, and a compromise bill must be drawn up. But the differences are not vast, and the legislators have reached consensus on many of the main elements. Here are some early winners and losers

"LOSERS
Rep. Peter King The Long Island Republican toed the party line and voted against the stimulus package—even though it included $80 billion in new Medicaid funding, something Mr. King has long pushed for. The vote could hurt him in 2010, when he may challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand or make a run for governor."

King and Rush

King has voted with Rush Limbaugh 100% of the time so far.
Why is Rush more important that King's constituents?

King Doesn't Much Believe in Fair Pay for Women

King seems to have a misogeny streak running lately in his attacks on Caroline Kennedy and Kirsten Gillibrand.
Yesterday King capped it all by voting against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
The supposedly "pro-worker" King who revels in his almost half-century removed blue collar background voted against a bill that gave recourse to women who find out that they make 1/3 less than thier male counterparts.
From Thomas.gov
"Title I: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 - Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to declare that an unlawful employment practice occurs when: (1) a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice is adopted; (2) an individual becomes subject to the decision or practice; or (3) an individual is affected by application of the decision or practice, including each time wages, benefits, or other compensation is paid. Allows liability to accrue, and allows an aggrieved person to obtain relief, including recovery of back pay, for up to two years preceding the filing of the charge, where the unlawful employment practices that have occurred during the charge filing period are similar or related to practices that occurred outside the time for filing a charge. Applies the preceding provisions to claims of compensation discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
(Sec. 4) Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to declare that an unlawful practice occurs when a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice is adopted, when a person becomes subject to the decision or other practice, or when a person is affected by the decision or practice, including each time wages, benefits, or other compensation is paid."

Another Day, Another Poll Shows King Losing Badly to Gillibrand

King can't seem to catch a break. In today's Siena Poll, Gillibrand crushes King like she did in the Marist poll a couple of days ago.
Siena poll conducted 1/25-1/27/09
Gillibrand 46%
King 23%
Gillibrand beats King in every age group and every ethnic background and both genders. The ONLY sub-section besides republican party King wins is "suburbs" but that is a close 38%-33%.

Worse yet, if their were a Republican primary for the Senate race in 2010, republicans prefer Giuliani over King 69% - 16%

Chances of King actually running: 30%