Author [Malachy] McCourt to Run for N.Y. Governor

[brooklynite]

ALBANY, N.Y. - Malachy McCourt, a writer, actor and brother of the author of "Angela's Ashes" (Frank McCourt) says he plans to seek the Green Party nomination for governor of New York to end nuclear energy programs and revoke the death penalty.

"It is quite clear in the Bible 'Thou Shalt Not Kill,'" McCourt, well-known in New York City progressive politics, said in a news release.

McCourt plans to officially announce his candidacy Sunday. He was out of the country Tuesday and didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

McCourt has appeared on public radio and numerous TV talk shows. His latest of eight books is "I Never Drink When I'm Sober," and he writes a newspaper column called "Sez I to Myself."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060418/ap_on_el_gu/governor_s_race_mccourt_1
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I would never question the right of anyone to run for elected office, nor of any party to select the candidate of their choice, but I find it a waste of Green Party's and the voters' time to have another "celebrity" candidate (remember Al "Grandpa Munster" Lewis?) as their standard bearer. If this is the only way the Greens can get people to pay attention to their platform, that seems to say something either about the platform itself, or about the party's organizational skills. Perhaps if they focused their efforts on grassroots development, and community level campaigns, they'd build a farm club of prospective candidates for higher office.

[Renew Deal]

1. It's a mistake for the Greens to not nominate the Dem for one big reason.

You need 50,000 votes to get ballot access for the next 4 years in NYS. Nominating someone other than the dem means the Greens have to petition for open ballot access in every race. It's a mistake.

[Tellurian]

2. Yup, easier for him to face a demo primary..n/t

[Renew Deal]

3. I think your missing my point.

The Greens are condemning themselves to obscurity for the next 4 years if they do this. I'm not sure if they care, but that's a fact.

[AngryAmish]

4. I have a great-uncle Malachy

[Tellurian]

5. Malachy is hilarious..

his sometimes rapier wit should be put to better use
in some other informal political venue.

I was just funnin w/u bleachers7..:hi:

[LostinVA]

6. MAJOR lib -- wish he would run for something he might win

He's majorly one of the good guys!

[Scairp]

7. He's pretty old too

I like him very much as he used to be on a favorite soap opera I watched years ago, "One Life to Live", but I don't think that at his age running for public office is a good thing.