"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have"
Thomas Jefferson

Friday, June 5, 2009

From The Archives

Dan French, an interested candidate for the 23rd Congressional race has an impressive bio included being appointed US Attorney by the Clinton Administration and worked for Daniel Patrick Moynihan. But he was appointed to the Public Integrity Commission by Eliot Spitzer that is where his relationship gets a bit sloppy.

This is from the Albany Times Union.


Group: Is A Lobbyist A Public Integrity Commissioner?


Four government reform groups want the new Public Integrity Commission to look into Syracuse lawyer Dan French’s alleged lobbying activities.

French is one of the 13 commissioners of the state commission created last month to oversee ethics and lobbying activities, serving for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Because he has represented the Cayuga Indian Nation, which has been trying to resolve land claims with two Finger Lakes counties and build a casino in New York, and has been registered as a lobbyist, the groups suspect he may be ineligible for the commission.

French registered so that he could testify before a legislative panel reviewing casino projects in the absence of a Cayuga leader who was taken ill.

His firm is also registered to lobby in Washington, D.C. this year on behalf of the Cayugas. 
The groups asking Commission Chairman John Feerick to investigate are the Citizens Union of New York, League of Women Voters, New York Public Interest Research Group and Common Cause.

They note that French possesses “impressive credentials”, having served as a U.S. Attorney, but news accounts about French’s work for the Cayugas “raised some questions,” said Russ Haven, the attorney for NYPIRG.

“We don’t have independent information on this other than what’s been in the media reports,” he said. “Maybe it could be cleared up. It’s worth a look, particularly since the new commission’s just starting out. It should remove any questions in the air.”

French had no immediate response.

And more evidence of this sloppy relationship between Spitzer, the commission and their poor work is written about here. Troopergate Probe Skepticism Greets New Integrity Panel.

The vetting process for candidates should be squeaky clean.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nothing like a little Friday morning muckracking.

Nothing here would disqualify him from serving in Congress.

Anonymous said...

Isn't he that rich lawyer who told everyone not to drive their boats fast near his mansion on the
St Lawrence River? If they did, he threatened to take pics of their boats and send them threat mail. Friend of Hillary's. Yeah. I like him. He's just a regular guy.

Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius) said...

This kinda ties into this general topic - qualified or not qualified for a/the job?

Obama Pick for DHS Intelligence Slot Drops Out

Highlights from the story:

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's pick to be the top intelligence chief at the Homeland Security Department withdrew from consideration Friday after questions were raised about his role in the CIA's interrogations of terrorism suspects. Philip Mudd was scheduled next week to face senators considering his nomination as undersecretary of intelligence and analysis at Homeland Security.

My Q: If he drops out due to his knowledge of lawbreaking about torture and someone thought that made him "qualified" in the first place, then how come someone who knew in advance (like me - an old Marine interrogator) that water-boarding was illegal, unlawful and a war crimes never gets a second glance about job like this?

Just wondering...

Anonymous said...

Dan, could he have gotten waterboarding confused with wakeboarding? I know they used to tow wake boards in front of his place on the River, and that's what started him on his crusade. I think it was ok with him to go fast as long as you did it in a wooden boat.

Now wakeboarding would be torture to ME, as my back wouldn't take it. But then again I probably wouldn't have felt like I was drowning. All of this likely doesn't matter to me, as I don't have any secrets and I don't have any intent to kill people. I won't get waterboarded, or wakeboarded.

And my boat is so slow I can't torture anybody with high speed activities.

Sorry Dan, but this torture fixation of your deserves, in my opinion, just as serious a treatment as I'm giving it. I don't see it as torture; I don't see it as illegal. I don't think we should give the enemy a list of procedures we will/won't follow if they are captured. I don't view this as supporting torture, I just wouldn't tell them a damn thing. It is surprising to me that so many would. I guess hatred of GWBush trumps all else, or, I just don't understand the thought process.

Enjoy the weekend.

Anonymous said...

4:25 you have a cigarette boat?

Anonymous said...

No cigarette boat here. I don't smoke. As in previous posts I've told ya my dad said smoking was dumb.

I have a small little cruiser. Slow. Good on gas. Quiet. Good for sneaking up on fish and scantily clad wildlife.

Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius) said...

Anon 9:16: you are flat out wrong and very very stupid to boot on this topic by trying to put me down about this topic ...

Don't even try to put me down on this subject...

Trail of Torture

Grow up, Anon 9:16, whoever you are.

And, stop hiding behind labels like Anonymous... God, you're pathetic.

~ dmf

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you need to go wakeboarding, Daniel. I don't understand why you go nuts now and then. I just don't understand or agree with any of your views on this torture issue. I think you're wrong. And I'm surprised a military man would hold the views you do. You and yours, the Great One too, have made your point. Those who agree with you have had their party. Now move on.


Lighten up, Francis.

Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius) said...

Anon 6:02. I say again to you and anyone as thick: I am a formally trained, experienced former Marine Corps interrogator (10 years) and DOD (2 years) - I know what I am talking about, even if you do not.

Your insults pave the way for no dialogue, none whatsoever.

Anonymous said...

There wasn't an insult in the post. Again. Lighten up, Francis.

I just think you and yours are wrong on that issue.

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