Thursday, November 02, 2006

Nobody Does It Once

These are the responses to my October 31, article, "Hevesi, Hounded, Haunted, Abandoned by Associates, Struggles for Survival" Thanks to all, please continue to provide us with your feedback.

30 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:20 PM

    Starquest, this is a wonderful article. Not only is it exceptionally well-written, it is heartfelt, and you have captured many of the nuances that others miss. Congrats on a great piece.
    SK

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  2. Anonymous3:21 PM

    YOURE THE BEST!!!
    BW

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  3. Anonymous3:21 PM

    Oops. Wrote before we got to the end. I'm with you. But then, I'm a sinner. What the hell.
    CA

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  4. Anonymous3:22 PM

    Yeah, but who can vote for Callaghan?
    I personally am moving to, like, Bhutan. As long as I can take my hairdryer.
    CA

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  5. Anonymous4:44 PM

    Isn't it interesting that you refer to Hevesi's challenger as one who wants to save money, whereas Hevesi has now purchased tv air time attacking his opponent for wanting to raise taxes by $7 billion. There is a disconnect. I suspect that Hevesi is feeling a bit desperate, and when this happens, he is unfortunately showing his true colors. (Of course what may be really going on here is that he is saving his office for the party by savaging an opponent who has no money -- the pros call this "defining the opponent".)

    I read the report of the ethics committee (which includes 1 Democrat); it was devastating. If Hevesi had ever intended to pay the money for the value of the services to NY State, he would have required accurate record-keeping of his "chauffeurs". And instead of using someone with a security background, he used someone who had other responsibilities in his office that were being neglected.

    He, like Clinton, is a victim of "hubris". Unfortunately, no matter what happens at the polls, his moral authority to insist on high standards of conduct has been fatally compromised. If he were governor, the security issue would in all likelihood protect him (and his family). But as controller, he has a hard time arguing security in light of his failure to provide evidence to the appropriate authority.

    If he resigns gracefully, admitting that he misled himself into a false justification for the "chauffeurs", my suspicion is that he will go through a difficult period but, because of his great talents, will be foregiven and given new opportunities somewhere in the private sector. He could use his resignation as leverage to prevent a criminal prosecution. But even if he is convicted, he will serve at most minimal time, and when he gets out, his skills should stand him in good stead. That is the beauty of this country -- everyone gets a second chance, and even, occasionally, a third chance.
    RF

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  6. Anonymous4:44 PM

    Henry:

    This is the third strike for Hevesi. The second strike was when the Albany DA was involved with the Hevesi's son, Senator Dan Hevesi. He was picked up carrying cocaine in Albany. It was swept under the carpet and my sources inform me that all Dan had to do was to leave the senate. There is no record of the arrest. Come on, enough is enough. The egocentric pols ie: Hevesi and McLaughin think they are above the law. Believe me, there are more pols coming down the legal pike. Stay tuned!
    JS

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  7. Anonymous4:45 PM

    If hevesi is elected and removed before he is sworn in, then they'd have to remove him again after he is sworn in.........but can they?

    Maybe they can not then remove Hevesi 2 for crimes of Hevesi 1. Said differently, is impeachment against an incumbent or against a person?

    IP

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  8. Anonymous4:46 PM

    Hebry:

    I just cannot understand how Alan could have REPEATED this behavior. Friends have not spokenup for him, because there is nothing they coould say to mitigate his miosdeeds. You have expressed beautifully and accurately what CAN be said on his behalf---and it does not make the situation at all better. For such an intelligent man, this is inexplicabe.

    Nobody wants to write that a seriously unstable wife can be a great burden, although it is true. In fact, it should be the officeholdeer's burden, not the taxpapers'.

    For myself, neither competency nor values could lead me to vote for Callaghan. Of course, I could choose not to cast a vote in that race at all, as I ended up doing when it came dowwn to Bloomberg vs. Green for Mayor---I just coould not bring myself to pull a lever for either one---although I have never had knowledge of a serious ethical lapse by either one. Unless even more bad news comes out, I shall vote for Alan, but then I hhope he is not given a pass when charges aare brought. It would be painful to see him punished further, but it would be morally disturbing to see him get off scot free (is that correct?), particularly when he does not seem to understand that repaying the money even if he repaid all that was due) does not make it OK.

    I hope to write on a happier subject, next time.

    N

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  9. Anonymous4:46 PM

    Dear Henry,

    Thanks for writing your articles. I always find them interesting. This one has been especially good, as it puts some historical perspective into the Hevesi story. It gives me much food for thought as the election approaches.

    Best,

    ER

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  10. Anonymous4:46 PM

    Dear henry--- I know you have had some of your own problems--- from using a Parks pool,
    to your hiring practices at Parks. Politicos are held to higher standards, and the press
    is always looking for a story. Lots of corp. execs use the corp. cars for their wives,
    etc. Hevesi seems to have been dipping into the public well a bit too much for comfort,
    and now all are talking about his relationship with his good "friend." Don't go into politics if you expect
    a private life....
    JD

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  11. Anonymous4:47 PM

    Hi StarQuest-

    My email address has changed to jane.sokolow@lonetreemesa.com

    Can you change it on the listserv. Don’t want to miss any of your columns etc.
    C

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  12. Anonymous4:47 PM

    Thanks- I don’t buy the reasoning-he should be out-g
    GV

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  13. Anonymous4:47 PM

    Another biblical reference that applies here is Hebrews 13:8 -

    Jesus Christ. Always the same. Never changing. Now and forever.

    That's from memory. Depends on the version you prefer. The message remains.
    GP

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  14. Anonymous4:47 PM

    GAO is "General Accounting Office", Henry, not "General Accountability Office". (Given the multiple sins of our government, Henry, I often wish there were a "General Accountability Office" with plenary powers! That task, it seems, must be left to Almighty G-d.)

    As for Hevesi, much of the schadenfreude is due to his propensity to nitpick the financial sins of others, now viewed as hypocrisy, given his own failings. Matthew 7:3: "Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"

    Impressed by his apparent brilliance, I gave money to Hevesi in his unsuccessful run for mayor. I am less disposed to be charitable to him than you, because he chose unexceptional financial advisers to invest N.Y.'s public pension funds based upon "pay to play" and cronyism, and he has invested public pension money both in state sponsors of terrorism, in proliferation states, http://www.divestterror.org/, and in Israel, all apparently for political reasons.

    I have no objection to politicians playing politics. I also don't object to support for Israel. I just don't think it should be done with public pension money.

    -HL

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  15. Anonymous4:48 PM

    The point is he should know better based of his elected title, intelligence and past errors. Throw the book at him. We are all sinners and when caught ( especially as a repeat offender ) we have to accept the consequences. The law, as it applies to the person that repeatedly steals from a bodega must apply to all who steal!
    PP

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  16. Anonymous4:49 PM

    Thank you Henry - I very strongly feel we should re-elect Alan Hevesi as Comptroller based on past performance - I can't get too upset at the fact that he had his wife chauffeured by a state employee...
    CM

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  17. Anonymous4:49 PM

    StarQuest:

    1. In the public arena, John 8:3 dove-tails quite nicely with the admonition about those who live in glass houses.Frank Lloyd Wright not withstanding.

    2. Perhaps this unpleasantness in how Mr. Hevesi is being treated, as a newly minted pariah, will pale in comparison with how Connecticut's Chris Dodd will be greeted in January 2007 by newly re-elected Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman. It was Dodd, you'll recall, who threw Joe 'overboard' after Lamont's primary victory faster than the late Leon Kinghoffer was thrown overboard by equally caring fellow travelers.

    3. I doubt that the real life person portrayed by Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy ever earned as much in a decade of driving Daisy as Alan Hevesi has had to repay in consideration of his 'second bite.'

    EW

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  18. Anonymous4:51 PM

    Totally disagree with your defense of Comptroller Hevesi!

    Your statement that 27-D "Every dog is entitled to one bite", ends when the second bite takes place.

    How about; "Shame on you for your first miss step, Shame on me for letting you do it the second time"

    What really makes it worst is your statement: "Or do we want the Comptroller to continue in office, in respect of his undoubted ability and experience...That a less able person could not" So he cannot explain it away due to ignorance or a mistake. He knew better and therefore with total disregard to the people, did it.

    How do we forgive those who are so self-serving, they do what they want to do even when it's wrong.

    I remember the last forgiveness' "He didn't pay his taxes for three (3) years because he forgot".

    Neither one of these events are to be taken lightly.

    Do not agree with you on not wanting a Comptroller with "a less able person could not", in this case.

    I have been a registered Democrat for 49 years; will not condone this utter disregard for me or my party.

    I remember how not wanting a "less able person", to assume a position of authority and trust was true. You were not guilty of any wrong doing,

    But was replaced by a very "less able person" , who almost destroyed a Agency with her self serving decisions. Public be dammed.

    I usually agree with you, but not this time.

    Best regards
    JB

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  19. Anonymous4:51 PM

    SANTANA said, "THOSE WHO CANNOT REMEMBER THE PAST ARE
    CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT."

    Early in KENNETH D. ACKERMAN'S book BOSS TWEED "HONEST GRAFT
    IS DISCUSSED."

    The term was originally defined by Tammany chief George Washington Plunkitt as
    I seen my opportunities and I took 'em."

    While BOSS TWEED went to jail, MAYOR A. OAKEY HILL, COMPTROLLER
    RICHARD "SLIPPERY DICK" CONNOLLY and TAMMANY strategist PETER
    B. SWEENY suffered more from ADVERSE PUBLIC OPINION and THE
    VICISSITUDES of LIFE.

    The FOURTH ESTATE consisting primarily of the CARTOONIST THOMAS
    THOMAS NASH and the REPUBLICAN NEW YORK TIMES [yes, it was
    REPUBLICAN until switching to support CONSERVATIVE GROVER
    CLEVEN] had done their job well.
    JR

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  20. Anonymous4:52 PM

    Henry,

    It is my opinion that the more we write about Alan the more we continue to cast those stones. However, Alan was wrong and has to pay the price of what he did. He was wrong and he knows it. The higher you rise the harder you fall when you do something wrong.

    I did not give thirty three years of my life being honest and working hard for the city to see anyone who knowingly does wrong go unpunished. Alan must pay the price of not being intelligent/honest when it really counted.

    We must all live by the rules and when we violate the public trust, pay the price. I will not and cannot vote for Alan or condone in any way what he did.

    Alan was a friend of mine and I would still on a private level call him a friend. However, I cannot support him publicly anymore.
    JB

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  21. Anonymous4:52 PM

    Henry: Very thorough analysis, even including Shakespeare and the bible. But I can't put my finger on your conclusion. What bothers me is that no quakified Republican was willing to run and the guy who could win sounds is though he works everything out with a pencil and pad, very scary with all that money to invest.
    EG

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  22. Anonymous4:52 PM

    Henry: Very thorough analysis, even including Shakespeare and the bible. But I can't put my finger on your conclusion. What bothers me is that no quakified Republican was willing to run and the guy who could win sounds is though he works everything out with a pencil and pad, very scary with all that money to invest.
    PF

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  23. Anonymous4:53 PM

    Henry,

    This is a remarkable piece in muting my own cynical attitude toward political malfeasance.

    My knee-jerk reaction to news like this is “Let ‘em hang. They wouldn’t be politicians if they weren’t moral hypocrites.” In Hevesi’s case, the hypocrisy is close to home because I’m involved in corporate governance, and I know for sure that he forced directors who did the nothing but the right thing when confronted with corruption to pay for the sins of others out of their own pockets. He went after them with a very public display of righteous indignation simply because they were politically vulnerable targets. Trust me, he did that. And yet your piece provides a level-headed counterpart to the “let ‘em hang” ethos: (a) moral hypocrites they are, perhaps, but still human like you and me, (b) our political choice is rarely among angels; it’s worth asking who the replacement will be, and (c) we are more likely to overcome the dung hill of politics, not to mention barriers to personal happiness, with a generous spirit, such as yours, than with a bitter spirit that celebrates the downfall even of those who deserve it.
    MH

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  24. Anonymous4:53 PM

    Henry
    Thanks for covering the Hevesi issue so thoroughly. Although it is certainly none of my business, I am dying to know how you will vote.
    Regards,
    JZ

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  25. Anonymous4:53 PM

    Yes the situation is pretty much beyond repair. My memories of Mr. Hevisi mostly date from when he was in the State Assembly. A friend of mine's father wrote a book called the Passover Plot and Alan loved to discuss it with me. He did always seem informed and compassionate. If I remember correctly his parents suffered from the holocaust. The latest unraveling of his career is made even more embarrassing by his stonewalling over the charges and absurd attempt to claim the need for his wife to have a ride at our expense as a security issue. You put the case very well except I see no solution. I will vote for him and then wait to see if he is put on trial. Have a good halloween!
    RM

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  26. Anonymous4:54 PM

    Henry,

    Well I still like the guy.

    Alan Hevesi has a sick wife how about some compassion Pataki? And how about some compassion from fellow democrats? Can anyone put themselves in the place of a well spouse in a situation like this? I lost my first wife to cancer 6 years ago and her illness took a toll on me no doubt.

    I think Alan deserves 2 dog bites because he is a great guy.

    I feel that the harshness of this contempt for Alan from democrats is disgusting.
    BC

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  27. Anonymous4:54 PM

    Nice title.

    Too charitable though. He wasn’t chastened in 1993 and he won’t be chastened now.
    CH

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  28. Anonymous6:33 PM

    Henry:



    The comptroller has the responsibility to do audits of every state agency, school districts, etc., etc. In those audits, the office’s job is to be the public scold, not only to root out criminal offenses, but simply to reveal sloppy management. It is not a very palatable job, because by its nature, those doing the audits must ignore the injunction you so rightly quote from John. They must cast the first stone, knowing that they probably are guilty of the same kinds of mismanagement they are criticizing. But that is the nature of the game and it is important for this reason that the comptroller, more than any other government official (including the governor) be seen as beyond reproach.



    That is not the case here. The nature of the game changes when the boss turns out to have violated not only good practice but quite possibly the law as well. It is one thing to cast the first stone knowing that you are not perfect; it is quite another to do so when you are so openly tagged as a major league sinner yourself. The result is that the comptroller’s staff will be crippled psychologically in some very important ways.



    As you well know, audits are not cut and dried. The agency being audited can drag its feet, argue, pound the table, and use any number of tactics to slow the auditors down, wear them out, etc. Hevesi’s actions unfortunately have made agencies’ jobs much easier if they want to be recalcitrant. They will be emboldened by Hevesi’s diminished stature to resist a searching audit of their practices. And I have no doubt that they will be sometimes successful because the audit team finds itself in the indefensible position of asking others to live up to standards that their own ceo has clearly violated.



    To be sure, they have the strong arm of the law, and subpoena power if necessary, but in truth, both are blunt instruments, time consuming, hard to deploy, and for those reasons likely not to be used except in the most egregious of cases—and agency heads will be good at judging just how much resistance they can put up before forcing the comptroller’s office to act, taking them to the brink before agreeing to back down and disclose slowly and partially what the auditors have requested. In sum, the comptroller’s office will be hobbled in its work as a result of Hevesi’s actions. How much is probably immeasurable, but I believe the effect will be significant. As a result any calculus on whether he should stay must consider the intangible issue of loss of credibility, prestige, and moral authority which may ensue..

    MH

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  29. Anonymous6:26 PM

    FROM: Marc Crawford Leavitt

    Dear Henry,

    Alan Hevesi should be censured and then re-elected as NYS Comptroller, thereby "sentencing" him to four years of continued dedicated service in the public interest. Clearly his failure to reimburse the government for the cost of chauffeuring his ailing wife was wrong. He has apologized and made payment. But his melodrama is not the equivalent of convicting Al Capone for income tax evasion when the gangster was widely known for greater transgressions. More importantly, Hevesi’s transgression did not involve any corruption relating to his important job responsibilities, the performance of which has earned him justifiable praise.

    In this era of "gotcha" politics, with the public’s double-standard of demanding unrealistic standards of integrity while condemning high salaries for public officials, it is sad that so many are willing to terminate Hevesi’s otherwise stellar career. Yes, he should have paid before being found out. But casting stones by people who may not be without sin is not the remedy. As for Michael Goodwin’s Newsday column complaining about double dipping because Hevesi earned an annual pension of $104,000 (under $400/month for each of his 22 years of NYS Assembly service), I wonder if he feels that book royalties are double-dipping?

    The pervasive influence of big money in politics and government is the problem endemic to our democratic capitalism (the worst form of government except for any other). Let’s not get hysterical as we work to have a government and government officials that function fairly and in the public interest.

    Henry, it was good to see you at the debate entitled "Is Free Speech a Victim of Campaign Finance Reform?" sponsored by The Donald & Paula Smith Family Foundation and held at Fordham Law School on 10/30/06 addressed by Professors Burt Neuborne (NYU Law & Legal Director of the Brennan Center for Justice) and Bradley Smith (Capital Univ. Law and Former Chairman Federal Election Commission) and moderated by Prof. Jerry H. Goldfeder. I think that free prime TV time for bona fide candidates at regularly scheduled intervals well before elections is a substantial answer to Neuborne’s complaint that, at present, supply of campaign contributions can be limited but demand for more money cannot. Combine that with aspects of "clean money" systems already working in Arizona and Maine and we may be on the road to a more informed and less cynical body politic. But this is a longer discussion.

    I have known, liked, admired and respected Alan since the late 70s when he was the assemblymember for my neighboring district in Queens. He has also been a history professor at Queens College (yes, he earned that pension, too), creator of the Queens Black-Jewish People to People Project, and a leader as NYC Comptroller of the successful effort to pressure South Africa to jettison apartheid via pension fund de-investing. I hesitate to say that Alan didn’t divorce his ailing wife like Newt Gingrich did because I truly feel that private and public lives are separate.

    Alan Hevesi gets my support, and I wish more public officials were as dedicated to the public interest as he is.

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  30. Anonymous6:27 PM

    FROM: Marc Crawford Leavitt

    DATE: November 3, 2006

    Dear Henry,

    Alan Hevesi should be censured and then re-elected as NYS Comptroller, thereby "sentencing" him to four years of continued dedicated service in the public interest. Clearly his failure to reimburse the government for the cost of chauffeuring his ailing wife was wrong. He has apologized and made payment. But his melodrama is not the equivalent of convicting Al Capone for income tax evasion when the gangster was widely known for greater transgressions. More importantly, Hevesi’s transgression did not involve any corruption relating to his important job responsibilities, the performance of which has earned him justifiable praise.

    In this era of "gotcha" politics, with the public’s double-standard of demanding unrealistic standards of integrity while condemning high salaries for public officials, it is sad that so many are willing to terminate Hevesi’s otherwise stellar career. Yes, he should have paid before being found out. But casting stones by people who may not be without sin is not the remedy. As for Michael Goodwin’s Newsday column complaining about double dipping because Hevesi earned an annual pension of $104,000 (under $400/month for each of his 22 years of NYS Assembly service), I wonder if he feels that book royalties are double-dipping?

    The pervasive influence of big money in politics and government is the problem endemic to our democratic capitalism (the worst form of government except for any other). Let’s not get hysterical as we work to have a government and government officials that function fairly and in the public interest.

    Henry, it was good to see you at the debate entitled "Is Free Speech a Victim of Campaign Finance Reform?" sponsored by The Donald & Paula Smith Family Foundation and held at Fordham Law School on 10/30/06 addressed by Professors Burt Neuborne (NYU Law & Legal Director of the Brennan Center for Justice) and Bradley Smith (Capital Univ. Law and Former Chairman Federal Election Commission) and moderated by Prof. Jerry H. Goldfeder. I think that free prime TV time for bona fide candidates at regularly scheduled intervals well before elections is a substantial answer to Neuborne’s complaint that, at present, supply of campaign contributions can be limited but demand for more money cannot. Combine that with aspects of "clean money" systems already working in Arizona and Maine and we may be on the road to a more informed and less cynical body politic. But this is a longer discussion.

    I have known, liked, admired and respected Alan since the late 70s when he was the assemblymember for my neighboring district in Queens. He has also been a history professor at Queens College (yes, he earned that pension, too), creator of the Queens Black-Jewish People to People Project, and a leader as NYC Comptroller of the successful effort to pressure South Africa to jettison apartheid via pension fund de-investing. I hesitate to say that Alan didn’t divorce his ailing wife like Newt Gingrich did because I truly feel that private and public lives are separate.

    Alan Hevesi gets my support, and I wish more public officials were as dedicated to the public interest as he is.

    ReplyDelete