The former governor just opened a bottle of Champagne...er, make that prosecco.
As we recently reported, the orchestrated return of Don Cuomo to NYC politics has been in the works for weeks publicly, and privately, well, likely since the moment he resigned his gubernatorial duties just over three years ago.
His chances just took a long leap forward on the news of Mayor Eric Adams' indictment brought by the Southern District.
Perhaps all is not as it appears in the case against Adams. The feds have picked off his cabinet members and aides like so many chicken feathers. Death by a thousand cuts is a strategy, not just torture. With stories in the media every week about the latest official to be ousted, casual observers think, "Where there's smoke..." and so the narrative grows, regardless of its shallow depth.
The alleged charges against Adams--believed to stem from moving Turkish consulate plans along expeditiously in exchange for campaign cash--are so bland as to be insulting.
And that's not to say that Adams is innocent. All pols, especially those in such a rich state and international business hub as NYC, have dirty hands. You can't NOT. It's just doing business, New York style.
Then again, back in February, The City reported that Adams donors had received thousands in kickbacks for donations to the mayor's campaign. If true, this goes from simple bribery into the realm of RICO statutes.
If not true, and barring some hidden charge involving a Diddy freak-off, this is like slapping the Road Runner with a speeding violation.
Two other issues stand out:
So he pushed back. Adams asked for federal assistance, didn't get enough, and asked again...in the press. He offered paid flights and bus trips to migrants to leave the city. Those were bad optics for Biden and his border czar Kamala.
Further, the governor is supposed to keep her soldiers in a row, so Adams' loud protestations likely landed Kathy Hochul in hot water, and she's already on the Dem D-list over losing seats in the House in 2022.
And of course the most well-known congressperson in the country exerts a bit of influence in the party as well. AOC has been vocal in her support of Palestine.
What about Chuck Schumer and Jerry Nadler, you ask? Guys like them use guys like Adams until they're no longer useful. Both elder statesmen have only the most perfunctory of nods and half-smiles for the mayor.
In other words, Adams doesn't have any friends in New York politics right now.
The arrest of rap mogul Diddy couldn't come at a worse time for Adams. The mayor naturally embraced New York's highest profile black music producer, and the odds on that political gamble have gone from sour to rancid. The meme brigade is already turning out some devastating stuff.
To be clear, The Manhattan is not endorsing the take that Adams was involved in Diddy's now infamous sex parties. And if he was, gross. But that's not what's going to topple him. Heck, some of his supporters will likely murmur their approval.
The point is, however it happens, Adams is done. The party machine has arrested the former cop.
For all those conservatives saying, "Another Dem bites the dust!"and slapping high fives? Just stop. Adams was far from the finest mayor the city has ever had, but he has been far superior to Bill de Blasio, who served two seemingly interminable terms.
To think that Cuomo would be better is both correct and wrong. Cuomo is a savvy pro. He knows the ropes, the ref, and where the bodies are buried in concrete under the arena. In other words, he'd get things done.
As for the things he would get done, well...he'd do a lot to get back into the discussion for top slot. During the daily Covid update days with brother Chris, before we knew the depth and cost of life of the nursing home scandal, Cuomo was certainly eyed by top DNC brass.
Cuomo is 66. He has one more chance in 2028 before he'll be considered too old (the Biden debacle will serve to lower the already overinflated age of an acceptable candidate, the silver lining of Joe's 3/4 term). It's four years from now or never for the highly ambitious Cuomo.
A word of advice to young Dems in the NYC politics game: get ready to kiss the (nipple) ring.
