Zephyr Teachout is running against Andrew Cuomo for Governor of New York.
Cuomo twice tried to knock her off the ballot and lost in court both times.
Cuomo refuses to debate her, fearing to let the public hear her.
Why is he afraid of Zephyr?
Read this excellent article by Jaime Franchi in the Long Island Press and you will find out why he is afraid of her candidacy.
“Teachout is hoping to capitalize on the left’s disappointment in Cuomo’s right-leaning positions and leadership, which had promised an end to corruption in Albany but has instead highlighted just how entrenched that corruption is. She’s been hammering Cuomo on these and many other topics while swinging through communities across the state on a recent “Whistleblower Tour,” attempting to chip away at the giant lead his monumental advertising budget, incumbency, and name recognition provides.”
She has a well-established record as a fighter against government corruption.
She wants to reduce the amount of money individuals can give to candidates.
She opposes fracking.
She opposes Common Core mandates.
She will support public education.
On every single point, she differs from Cuomo.
No wonder he is afraid of her.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I hope members of the WFP break ranks with their official endorsement and support Teachout in this election. They can no longer cite the “electability” concerns that drove their endorsement (Teachout’s rise as a formidable challenger has made me feel vindicated in my arguments about that process here: http://wp.me/p3NpPC-85). It’s great to see New Yorkers recognizing that Democrats-in-name-only aren’t worthy of our votes.
Agree, Don.
Thank you so much for your compliment and for posting my piece!
Maybe he is afraid to face an articulate woman that knows the issues and has a passion for honest government. A debate might expose Cuomo’s vain, empty shell of a political core and confirm for the voters that his campaign slogan should be, “Greed is good.”
To state the obvious, when you’re the front-runner by a wide margin and have high name recognition, you’re afraid to debate anyone, especially someone with nothing to lose. There is no upside and a ton of downside.
Unfortunately, I agree with this. Why should he debate her? He knows he’s going to lose some proportion of liberal/progressive votes in the primary to her, but at lease some of those voters will come back in November, simply because there is nowhere else to go. Or they will stay home, as Astorino’s not a real threat. I wish this was not the case and will certainly vote for Teachout, but we should be thinking about raising credible progressive candidates who will replicate de Blasio’s victory in the governor’s race four years from now. (I know, he’s not perfect. But still, he does represent some progress.) Assuming, that is, that the power brokers have not completely done away with democracy by then.
he looks like a coward by not only refusing to debate Teachout but also by actively trying to remove her from the ballot.
I don’t know about New York, but here in Illinois removing one’s competitors from the ballot is just a time-honored tradition. Among others, it’s how we got our junior senator who went on to make a bit of a name for himself.
Yes, all out for Teachout Sept. 9 Dem Gov Primary. Perhaps someone on this remarkable blog will find us a progressive billionaire who can finance outstanding candidates like Prof. Zephyr Teachout–articulate, forward-looking, earth-friendly, spokesperson for the 99%. She needs funding to reach the vast state electorate. Until then, elections will remain rigged in favor of sleazy Cuomo-candidates with the deepest pockets.
Cuomo is the albino cobra of school reform that must be captured and returned to its native habitat, wherever that is.
a deep sea trench of the coast of Japan
With an anchor to speed the trip!
several anchors…lol
I find it funny how the NYTimes is giving her so much space, yet wish the other major newspapers and local TV networks would do the same. His crack about “Democracy” should have been a lead story!!
It was in the Long Island Press: http://www.longislandpress.com/2014/09/02/cuomo-debates-can-be-disservice-to-democracy/
“Debates are a Disservice”
Debates are a disservice
To those who can’t debate
They really make them nervous
And seal their losing fate
I think it’s great. We need 25 or 50 or 100 more of her.
The focus on the ideological differences is interesting, because the second half of her message is (paraphrasing!) “they’re bought and paid for” and anti-corruption isn’t ideological at all.
Anyone could run on that. I feel like Cuomo, Christie and Rahm Emanuel are all dealing with issues related to either perceived or real “corruption”, not outright or actionable maybe, but the perception that they are captured by wealthy people or are putting business interests above ordinary people. It’s almost a new category.
Good. It’s about time.
Cuomo has been inundating the TV adds in the NY area promoting his running mate. He is definitely afraid of Tim Wu!
“Debating Unknowns”
Got the creds and got the name
Teachout only lacks the fame
Coumo knows that to debate
Gives his rival just that fate
Let the PEOPLE speak at the ballots! Debate her.
This is a ranking of US billionaires by political power.
You-all will recognize many of these names 🙂
http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/2014/billionaires-us-political-power-index#.VAnMbEltUtE.twitter
I question the Walton who comes in at #20, myself. Are John and Laura Arnold really more powerful than a Walton? Hmmm.
To believe that Cuomo is too Rightward leaning makes me feel that the left extremist’ are equivalent to the far right teapartier’ After all he is the elected Democrat. I believe in a centrist democratic philosophy, sadly it seems that the far left and for that matter the far right will continue to cuase government obstructionism.
I simply don’t believe that support of public education is a “left extremist” position. Pretty much it’s a middle of the road position, akin to your centrist democratic philosophy.
Most people get it, and get behind the concept of public education. Why can’t our Governor? I mean, he is an elected Democrat….
Teachout was interviewed by Amy Goodman on “Democracy Now” a day or two ago. It interested you can try to view the interview: Democracynow.org. She and another Democratic challenger to Cuomo were both interviewed on the program.
The Working Familiies Party missed the boat when they endorsed Cuomo
Absolutely!