Pataki's Maid Aide (wife's maid- paid for by state GOP)

[Rose Siding]

January 31, 2005 -- ALBANY — The state Republi can Party has secretly funded a personal servant for Gov. Pata ki's wife, Libby, at the Pataki family mansion on the Hudson River, The Post has learned.

The servant — whose shock ing existence on the party payroll was unknown even among the state's highest- ranking GOP officials — was described to The Post by two Republican insiders as Mrs. Pataki's "maid" and "personal valet."

The employee, Michelle Stubbs, 56, of Chester, — less than 20 miles from Pataki's sprawling Putnam County es tate — is being paid $36,650 a year, plus expenses, out of the "housekeeping account" of the state GOP, records show. The account is supposed to fund routine party operating expenses.
...
A prominent Republican who said he just learned of the highly unusual arrangement told The Post, "The few people who know about this just roll their eyes in disgust over how our badly needed money is being spent."

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/39186.htm

[SoCalDem]

1. Hey.. I'd like a job like that.. Sounds like a pretty nice deal

But then "royalty" always gets all the goodies :)

[truthisfreedom]

2. and watch it go down the memory hole.

bye bye!

[BrklynLiberal]

3. I am suspicious of the motives of the source. The NYPost is a Rupert

Murdoch rag. If they are running this story it must be because they are trying to get a more Conservative Republican into the Governor's mansion in New York State. Or they are simply trying to make sure that a moderate Republican like Pataki has no future in national politics by killing his political career now.

EDIT: This is not to imply that I am a fan of Patakai. I think he is an idiot, and never voted for him, and never would.

[rawstory]

6. I think you're right: it's opening fire at a moderate GOP gov.

worthwhile questioning of Post's motivations -- and i suspect they think pataki is nearly a democrat.

[Tweed]

10. You think anyone could beat Spitzer?

Sounds like a joke, but I'm actually curious.

[Book Lover]

4. Well, the upside is that

the state GOP has fewer general operating funds, which is OK by me. And Republican donated money is being funneled to someone's salary, and not, oh let's say, blow and hookers, so that's also OK by me. And it's a black eye to the party in general. Gee, this story doesn't seem to have many downsides for Dems :-)

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. Heck, I hope she's an illegal

those are the ones the rich folks screw the most.

[indepat]

5. Just a perk that goes with the job?

[wasp in a wig]

8. Democracy at work~

Some of us are just more equal than others. Can't get enough of that democracy. Party leaders and state officials deserve it, you know. For ensuring the safety of democracy for all of us. It's for our benefit, you know.

I hear they're serving koolaid at the next Young Comm-- I mean, College Republican get-together.

[genieroze]

9. I mean really, the GOP could be using that money to rig votes.

[Azathoth]

11. Looks like Pataki's 2008 primary campaign just started early

Or rather, the republican campaign against him has started early. Should be fun to watch.

[brooklynite]

12. TODAY's NY POST: MAID 'TO ORDER'

By KENNETH LOVETT and MICHAEL WHITE

February 1, 2005 -- The state Republican Party worker described by Gov. Pataki's staff as an "administrative aide" to his wife has had to trot to Albany to pick up chef-prepared meals for Mrs. Pataki, haul lawn furniture around at the family mansion, and do pool maintenance, a close pal told The Post yesterday.

-- snip --

"Mrs. Pataki used to call her all the time for all crazy things . . . At one point, was going up to Albany and bringing meals back for the Patakis from the governor's mansion," said the man, who asked that his name not be printed.

-- snip --

When told the store carries goat's milk, but not goat's-milk yogurt, Stubbs asked if they could locate the special item because "that's what the Patakis want," the worker said.

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/39656.htm

- - -
mmmmm, goat's milk yougurt. Well, at least they're not "latte drinking" liberals.....

[opihimoimoi]

13. "Let them eat shit"

[brooklynite]

14. Horns of a Dilemma

(see also today's Post Editorial: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=102697&mesg_id=102697)

The focus in these articles has largely been on Pataki's wife. If George doesn't step up to defend her, he looks wimpy. If he does defend her, he opens to the door to having to justify 100 mile food runs and goat's-milk yogurt special orders.

Decisions, decisions...

[Arkana]

15. My God

Is there ANYONE who doesn't have their fingers in the GOP's payola pie? (courtesy of this week's Top Ten)

[Richard Steele]

16. Long story short: NO.