Is Governor Paterson on his way out?

As readers of this blog know, I’m sort of a guarded fan of Governor David Paterson.

He’s one of the clumsiest career politicians I’ve ever observed, but his leadership through the fiscal crisis has struck me as honest and forthright.

In the opening days of his accidental governorship, he admitted to past marital infidelities and other indiscretions, in an effort to clear the post-Spitzerian air.

But for days now, a kind of deathwatch has been underway in Albany. According to rumor, wink and nudge, the New York Times is preparing some sort of expose.

It’s sort of a funhouse mirror situation, stripped of all the fun.

Here’s the Albany Times-Union quoting a Daily News blogger talking to the Huffington Post about a story she’s never seen (and, of course, now I’m quoting the T-U…)

The chatter has created a surreal world at the Capitol where reporters are being quoted talking about an article that has been read by no one outside of the Times.

The Daily News’ Liz Benjamin tells the Huffington Post it’s “far worse than his acknowledged extramarital affair with a former state employee.”

Surreal, indeed. While Albany burns, we appear to be perched on the precipice of more sexual and marital melodrama.

Unfortunately, neither the Governor nor the Times have stepped forward to debunk all of this, which lends the rumors some credibility.

If so, it’s more than heartbreaking. It is frightening.

At best we will face another ten months under a governor so weakened that crucial decisions will be deferred.

At worst, a Paterson resignation would leave us governed by Lt. Governor Richard Ravitch.

Who the heck is he? We have no idea. (Full confession, I had to Google Ravitch to make sure I got his name right…)

If this goes down, our accidental governor will have been replaced by the anonymous governor.

Tags: election10