New Jack City
December 5th, 2004, 04:49 PM
NY Newsday
Pataki, again and again and again, shuns talk of cabinet post
By MARC HUMBERT
AP Political Writer
December 4, 2004, 11:15 AM EST
ALBANY, N.Y. -- As soon as federal Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's resignation was announced Tuesday, a top aide to Republican Gov. George Pataki said: "Here we go again."
It has, in fact, become standard operating procedure for Pataki's name to get thrown into the mix whenever any job in President Bush's cabinet opens up.
So far, Pataki is having none of it.
On Monday, the Washington Post suggested that Pataki might be in line for a top post, possibly even Treasury secretary, as Bush remakes his economic team for a second term.
During a stop in Utica, Pataki said he wasn't interested.
"I have denied interest in the present time, and I'm denying interest in the future," Pataki said. "I love being governor of this state ... I have not sought, will not seek, do not want to be a member of President Bush's cabinet."
At a Nov. 11 news conference in New York City, Pataki's response was similar when asked about joining the cabinet.
"I'm sure there are those who would like me to go to Washington, but I'm not," he said. "I don't want to, I haven't wanted to."
Four days later in Albany, he said: "I read about the openings in the cabinet in Washington. I don't want any of those openings. I intend to stay here."
Was there any cabinet job he might want?
"No," he said. "I don't want to go to Washington. I've never wanted to go to Washington. I would have gone to Washington four years ago if I wanted to go to Washington. I'm the governor and I hope to be the governor for some time to come."
And how long might that be?
"That's up to God and the people of New York," he offered.
The very next day in Albany: "I've said I'm not interested in going to Washington. I have no intention of going to Washington and I have made that plain. If I would have gone, I probably would have gone four years ago. I do not want to go to Washington."
And two days after that, Nov. 18, again in Albany: "I do not want to be the homeland security secretary. And, I know everyday there will be something else. I'm the governor of New York. It's an important job that I take very seriously and enjoy very much ... I'm here. I'm staying."
Pataki is, not surprisingly, a politician known for being among the best at "staying on message."
Asked Monday in Utica why his name keeps popping up for one Bush administration job or another, Pataki said: "God only knows ... It's just not something that I have pursued or been interested in. I want to do my best job as governor, as long as I have the ability to be the governor."
Pataki's third, four-year term as governor runs through 2006. He has not said if he will seek a fourth term.
It is no secret, of course, why Pataki's name keeps popping up. He was one of President Bush's main fund-raisers and surrogates on the campaign trail in the last election.
But it should be no real surprise why Pataki doesn't want to join the Bush cabinet. Why run a federal agency when you already are in charge of a huge state government that operates with a $100 billion budget.
He may, however, want to be president. And, the recent route to the Oval Office has generally been through governors' offices as Presidents Carter, Reagan, Clinton and the current President Bush can attest to. The first President Bush did serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and CIA director.
On the personal front, Pataki would also have to take a pay cut. He makes $179,000-a-year as governor while cabinet secretaries get $175,700 a year.
Pataki also has use of a taxpayer-financed mansion in Albany that comes with servants and a chef. He has helicopters and planes at his beck and call. His wife Libby has become a well-paid consultant thanks to the governor's friends and supporters.
On Thursday, Pataki did decide to lighten things up a bit.
"There have been a lot of you who have asked me, do you want this job, or do you want that job? And I've always said no, I only want to be the governor of New York," he said.
"But, an opening did occur and I have to confess that it is of interest and if it were offered, I'd have to consider it, because since I was a little kid, I've been a Notre Dame football fan," he explained.
On Tuesday, Tyrone Willingham was fired as Notre Dame's coach.
Pataki, again and again and again, shuns talk of cabinet post
By MARC HUMBERT
AP Political Writer
December 4, 2004, 11:15 AM EST
ALBANY, N.Y. -- As soon as federal Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's resignation was announced Tuesday, a top aide to Republican Gov. George Pataki said: "Here we go again."
It has, in fact, become standard operating procedure for Pataki's name to get thrown into the mix whenever any job in President Bush's cabinet opens up.
So far, Pataki is having none of it.
On Monday, the Washington Post suggested that Pataki might be in line for a top post, possibly even Treasury secretary, as Bush remakes his economic team for a second term.
During a stop in Utica, Pataki said he wasn't interested.
"I have denied interest in the present time, and I'm denying interest in the future," Pataki said. "I love being governor of this state ... I have not sought, will not seek, do not want to be a member of President Bush's cabinet."
At a Nov. 11 news conference in New York City, Pataki's response was similar when asked about joining the cabinet.
"I'm sure there are those who would like me to go to Washington, but I'm not," he said. "I don't want to, I haven't wanted to."
Four days later in Albany, he said: "I read about the openings in the cabinet in Washington. I don't want any of those openings. I intend to stay here."
Was there any cabinet job he might want?
"No," he said. "I don't want to go to Washington. I've never wanted to go to Washington. I would have gone to Washington four years ago if I wanted to go to Washington. I'm the governor and I hope to be the governor for some time to come."
And how long might that be?
"That's up to God and the people of New York," he offered.
The very next day in Albany: "I've said I'm not interested in going to Washington. I have no intention of going to Washington and I have made that plain. If I would have gone, I probably would have gone four years ago. I do not want to go to Washington."
And two days after that, Nov. 18, again in Albany: "I do not want to be the homeland security secretary. And, I know everyday there will be something else. I'm the governor of New York. It's an important job that I take very seriously and enjoy very much ... I'm here. I'm staying."
Pataki is, not surprisingly, a politician known for being among the best at "staying on message."
Asked Monday in Utica why his name keeps popping up for one Bush administration job or another, Pataki said: "God only knows ... It's just not something that I have pursued or been interested in. I want to do my best job as governor, as long as I have the ability to be the governor."
Pataki's third, four-year term as governor runs through 2006. He has not said if he will seek a fourth term.
It is no secret, of course, why Pataki's name keeps popping up. He was one of President Bush's main fund-raisers and surrogates on the campaign trail in the last election.
But it should be no real surprise why Pataki doesn't want to join the Bush cabinet. Why run a federal agency when you already are in charge of a huge state government that operates with a $100 billion budget.
He may, however, want to be president. And, the recent route to the Oval Office has generally been through governors' offices as Presidents Carter, Reagan, Clinton and the current President Bush can attest to. The first President Bush did serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and CIA director.
On the personal front, Pataki would also have to take a pay cut. He makes $179,000-a-year as governor while cabinet secretaries get $175,700 a year.
Pataki also has use of a taxpayer-financed mansion in Albany that comes with servants and a chef. He has helicopters and planes at his beck and call. His wife Libby has become a well-paid consultant thanks to the governor's friends and supporters.
On Thursday, Pataki did decide to lighten things up a bit.
"There have been a lot of you who have asked me, do you want this job, or do you want that job? And I've always said no, I only want to be the governor of New York," he said.
"But, an opening did occur and I have to confess that it is of interest and if it were offered, I'd have to consider it, because since I was a little kid, I've been a Notre Dame football fan," he explained.
On Tuesday, Tyrone Willingham was fired as Notre Dame's coach.