Former Governor Mario Cuomo Dies at 82

[iandhr]

Source: New York 1

NY1 has learned that former Governor Mario Cuomo has died at the age of 82.

This comes just hours after Andrew Cuomo was publicly inaugurated for his second term as the 56th governor of New York.

Governor Cuomo said in his speech at One World Trade Center that his father was unable to attend because he was too ill. He also said he and his family had spent New Year's eve with the senior Cuomo.


Read more: http://www.ny1.com/content/news/221243/breaking--former-governor-mario-cuomo-dies-at-82/

[GGJohn]

1. RIP Mr. Cuomo.

Cross Gently into the night.

[hrmjustin]

2. Rsst in peace Governor.

He and his family are in my prayers.

[Demoiselle]

3. Oh sad….He was my hero. So bright, such a terrific speaker. Sad sad sad.

[hlthe2b]

4. He was such an eloquent speaker...

We lose a lot when we lose these "old school" democrats. RIP, sir

[mazzarro]

37. Yes indeed and well said - n/t

[JI7]

5. sad to hear this

[George II]

6. I loved that man.....and what a speaker.

[oberliner]

7. Very sad news nt

[still_one]

8. That is very sad, and condolences to his family. If only his son would learn something from his

father

[840high]

9. Sad. RIP

[Tom_Foolery]

10. RIP...

I wish that I could have voted for you to be president.

[GoCubsGo]

14. Me, too.

I'll have to settle for hoping that one day I'll get to vote for someone just like him. But, sadly, I'll probably see the Cubs win a World Series before that happens.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

50. Me, three...

... I was still holding hope, if by some chance, we could get Mario into the White House...

[RKP5637]

11. So saddened to hear this. He was a good man!

[Faygo Kid]

12. Great man. I feel very old tonight.

[DonViejo]

13. His convention speech...

[George II]

41. I remember that speech vividly, except that it seemed very long (I didn't want it to end!)....

....was it really less than 8 minutes?

[hibbing]

47. In the gutter where the glitter doesn't show

I also remember that speech, I'm sure I cried during it. That is what members of the Democratic wing of the Democratic party used to sound like.

Peace

[JBoy]

56. I've replayed that speech a dozen times since the invention of youtube

Quite frankly the greatest speech of my (50+ year) lifetime.

RIP Mr Cuomo.

[StevieM]

15. He was a great man. And a true legend. RIP (eom)

[City Lights]

16. RIP, Sir.

You will be missed. Condolences to your loved ones.

[El Supremo]

17. A man who's name ended in a vowel DID get elected.

RIP, great man.

[calimary]

18. Man, I remember his Democratic Convention speech - he ROCKED the HOUSE!

I remember him making the case for a Democrat in the White House because if a republi-CON got in, they would be "unrestrained! Unrestrained!" - as far as picking shit-ass Supreme Court justices. He was instantly a star. Touted as a future presidential shoo-in. That unfortunately never came to pass. Any presidential hopes he had never got off the ground. A shame.

Peaceful sleep, Mr. Governor. And safe passage.

[NBachers]

23. I remember seeing that speech too, and thinking he'd make a good president

[RoccoR5955]

25. That's what his son, Andrew is aiming for.

Every decision that he has made as governor of NY is proof of this.

[calimary]

71. Hmmm... yeah, I suspect that, too.

Not thoroughly studied-up on Andrew Cuomo but I am VERY concerned about at least one of his policies (in my limited understanding of it). I kept seeing this commercial promoting New York's new pro-business outreach. Businesses relocate to New York and pay NO TAXES - for TEN YEARS??? NO TAXES FOR TEN YEARS??? And what is their civic obligation then? What do they do to infuse the local community then? Is it simply the naive hope that "creating jobs" is the magic bullet, and the only cure-all we need? Are we sure, in that program, that AT LEAST they're required to create jobs IN the community, rather than outsourcing? Are there ANY obligations to the local economy? ANY obligations to the local infrastructure? ANY obligations to be accountable and responsive to the community in which they make their money and generate their profits? ANY attempts to make them share part of that wealth with the community in which they now live and presumably thrive? Or are they just allowed to keep it all - with NO benefits shared with the community that generates that profit for them?

I saw that commercial and was really disturbed by it. It looks like a reckless short-sighted giveaway program to me. More gifts to the already-have-MORE-than-enoughs. More comfort to the already comfortable. Are there ANY strings attached? Or is this just another freebie for business? Shit - the states NEED that money from business. They NEED the tax money generated by business activity. Businesses should ALWAYS be compelled to contribute - to help out - for the greater good of the community in which they do business and make their money and generate their profits and their sources of comfort. And in some cases in New York, I'd suspect that would be rather LAVISH comfort that should be taxed a lot more (like Wall Street, for example). We can't afford extravagant giveaways and freebies to business. I'm sorry, but they live here, too, and they have to cough it up, too, just like the rest of us who live here have to do. I can understand governors and state legislatures wanting to lure business to their states. But with such a reckless giveaway??? Doesn't sound like a good deal to me for anybody but the business interests - who aren't exactly renowned for their willingness to share.

Any New Yorkers here who can explain this to me?

[RoccoR5955]

72. Of course...

This is a big boon to businesses.
Essentially, the plan is to lease or sell property in proximity to State University campuses and other places owned by the State to businesses, and give them the okay to build on it, and have their businesses there and pay no taxes for ten years.
Most of the money to do this comes from "savings" in other state agencies, and a large portion is being spend on advertising.

A lot of this comes to attract businesses to places like the new world trade center, and areas effected by hurricane Sandy.

As far as I am concerned, it is a giveaway to the ad agency that came up with the ad campaign.

You can get all the info you need at startup.ny.gov

[calimary]

73. Thanks much, RoccoR5955!

I just hate to see more of these giveaways to business with NOTHING attached that compels them to give back to the community or otherwise be responsible to anything other than their own profit margins.

[RoccoR5955]

74. It's the whole thing

That states try to "compete" for businesses to settle there. They were going to southern states, because there is less of a tax burden there, but there are fewer services. People do not understand that with taxes, we get services. People want services, but do not want to pay for them. Corporations are the same. They want skilled, well educated workers, but they don't want to pay for them. They want good roads, but they don't want to pay for them. Granted, here in the north, there is more of a cost with the necessity of snow removal, and heating expenses in the winter, but that should be outweighed by the fact that there are more skilled, educated workers here. Unfortunately, many of these workers have moved south, because they would rather not have four seasons, and hate shoveling snow. (I'll give them the hating to shovel snow, but I want four distinct seasons, and am willing to make some sacrifices for that.)

I only wish to hell that people would understand that if they want these services, which was, at one time, called "the commons," that they have to pay for them.

[Rhiannon12866]

19. How awful! He was one of the best ever - and my governor.

[Raine1967]

29. Mine too. He was inspirational. nt

[Rhiannon12866]

36. I really wish we could have him back.

[cosmicone]

20. RIP Mr. Cuomo - you always inspired me. n/t

[appalachiablue]

21. He was s powerful gift. Peace Mr. Cuomo. Not making Dems. like this much anymore, the firebrands.

[PennyK]

22. So sad

I got to hear him speak, perhaps ten years ago - I don't recall now what group did the event - but he was eloquent and wonderful. I remember I got to ask him a question - I think it was about what he thought of Al Gore (positive). He will be missed.

[RoccoR5955]

24. RIP Uncle Mario

Your son, Andrew is not half the man that you were.

[whatchamacallit]

26. I was a big fan

RIP 😢

[Raine1967]

27. I really wanted this man to run for POTU. May he rest in peace.

Very proud to say he was my Governor. He was a great Dem, IMO

[TNNurse]

28. A great Democrat

If only his son was like him. He is such a disappointment.

[El Supremo]

34. You ain't kidding. n/m

[Boomerproud]

30. My sincere condolences to his family.

I only wish we could have voted him in because he was so gifted. Rest in peace Governor.

[bobclark86]

31. Here we go...

[tokenlib]

32. One of the greats who declined to be greater...

I am saddened by his passing. One of our best communicators....

[Douglas Carpenter]

33. Governor Mario Cuomo (1984) complete speech DNC

&list=PL383425891D5BF726

[Historic NY]

49. Social darwinism....in other words we are Republican guinea pigs......

they are already lining up their budget plans to line the pockets of the rich at the expense of the poor.

[bigwillq]

35. RIP (nt)

[DinahMoeHum]

38. I was so proud to have him as Governor of my home state.

Rest In Peace, Governor.

[LiberalElite]

39. RIP Mario Cuomo - one of the best

[Overseas]

40. RIP Dear Mario Cuomo. Thanks for the inspiring words.

[amandabeech]

42. What a wonderful guy! We were so lucky to have him.

He inspired many.

RIP.

[workinclasszero]

43. RIP Governor

Prayers for family and friends.

[Octafish]

44. A great Democrat.

A good Man.

[bigdarryl]

45. Tweety will be all over this next week he worked for Cuomo

[tokenlib]

52. That will be a most nauseating spectacle of insincerity and hypocrisy..

Tweety floats like a piece of refuse blown about in the street by the wind....no core, no foundation...

[H2O Man]

61. Mr. Matthews never

worked for Cuomo.

[bigdarryl]

67. I though he did my mistake then

[H2O Man]

70. Chris Matthews

worked for Senator Frank Moss; then Ed Muskie; was a speech-writer for President Carter; then worked for Speaker Tip O'Neill. His work for O'Neill was the most important of the positions he held, at least in my opinion. (I don't think he was a good fit with President Carter.)

If I were to guess -- and that's all I'm doing -- I'd venture that Matthews will likely focus upon the frustration he felt when Mario Cuomo had trouble in deciding if he would enter the Democratic primaries in 1988 and '92. I think the nation would have benefited from a Mario Cuomo presidency.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet with Governor Cuomo a few times. These were always in the context of Native American issues. I had come to have great respect for him, back when he served as NYS's Lieutenant Governor; he always treated the traditional Iroquois was the utmost respect. He tended to take that same approach as governor, something that wasn't popular with significant powerful non-Indian interests, both in NY and nation-wide.

[DonCoquixote]

46. To his son

Whenever you go hard to the right, look at your father, who took so many hits from the mealy mouthed centre-right types, and ask if he would approve.

Todays Democrats would make Mario Puke, and we all know it.

[Renew Deal]

48. Very sad news

I got to see him once crossing the street on 6th avenue around 10 years ago. I said hi and he said hi back.

[Reter]

51. Only big mistake he ever made was not running for president in 1992

He would have been an amazing one.

[whathehell]

68. Another might be that he had the chance to sit on the Supreme Court

but turned it down to run for governor.

He was a great Democrat, nonetheless.

Rip Mario

[BumRushDaShow]

53. Ugh. R.I.P.

to an old-fashioned Democrat. Condolences to the family.

[jdenver_2624]

54. RIP

One of the better politicians of recent times. He shall be sorely missed.

[BeyondGeography]

55. He made it bearable to be a liberal in the depths of Reagan-era darkness

His 1984 keynote will go down as one of the most memorable political speeches ever. He shamed the neocons, even if the country wasn't ready for it. He was so wise and reasonable. Even his most ardent opponents had to listen. You couldn't take your ears off of him.

RIP Governor.

[glinda]

57. Good man.....

[NecklyTyler]

58. RIP Governor Mario Cuomo

He told everyone who Reagan was. The country would be better off if more people had listened.

[markpkessinger]

59. Not, in any way, to make light of Gov. Cuomo's passing . . .

. . . but I did have to chuckle a bit at this comment by NY Times reader "Adam L.":

"It's a bizarre little twist of fate that Cuomo the elder should pass away on Cuomo the junior's inauguration day. It summons a strange sense of: "The King is Dead; Long Live the King."

[niyad]

64. this was the first thing I thought of:

(from "my fellow americans&quot



Matt Douglas: I hate these funerals. It's just awful when another good Democrat passes on.

Aide: I believe the deceased was a Republican, sir.

Matt Douglas: Oh, well, then it might not be so bad.

[66 dmhlt]

60. Gov. Cuomo saw reality v Ronnie Raygun's 1% view ...

In his 1948 Keynote Address at the Democratic National Convention, Gov. Cuomo gave an elegant speech directly taking a swipe at Raygun's plutocratic 1% view of America:

"This nation is more a tale of two cities than it is just a shining city on a hill. There is despair, Mr. President, in the faces you don't see, in the places you don't visit in your shining city."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/01/01/the-best-speech-mario-cuomo-ever-gave/

[1step]

62. Would've been a great president

and halted the March of Doom that Reagan put us on.

[Hugin]

63. K&R

[niyad]

65. gentle crossing to you, good and faithful servant.

[ChiciB1]

66. Heard This Earlier This AM...

Weirdest thing about this for me is this... I wasn't aware of his illness or how close he was to death, but just yesterday was having a long political discussion with some friends and family.

We started talking about the crap going on with the NYPD etc., and I brought up Andrew Cuomo and how disappointed I was with him, then went on to talk about his father. How much I admired and loved him and wondered what he was thinking about his son these days.

So, today his father dies and yet ANOTHER smack down to those of us who knew a VERY different America. I fully understand times DO always change, we have to adapt to changes, however the changes I now see and have to live with have become difficult for me. My feelings about what this country has become breaks my heart. While I will always vote, I don't feel any real allegiance or connection to so much of what I see. I've tried over and over to look out on the horizon and feel pride in what may be coming and I've lost my way.

Trying to engage people and telling them how very important it is for "we the people" to stand up for what's right and good simply falls on deaf ears. At almost every turn others tell me I need to stop worrying and enjoy the here and now. Few people will even talk to me about politics or what is happening. I'm pretty much a pariah and know the subject is going to be changed when I dare to speak about what we've lost.

One of our Greats has passed on and my heart is heavy and sad. Farewell to Mario Cuomo, I'm glad I was around when he was active and at his peak. R.I.P. I will always remember how you inspired me.

[bearssoapbox]

69. So much said in that 1984 speech could be said today.

30. Fucking. Years Later.

Damn Reagan.

Damn the reTHUGliCONS.

Damn the koch sucking teabaggers.

Damn the DINO's.

Just.

DAMN!!!

[question everything]

75. His keynote address will always stand out as the best

Yes, Obama is a good orator, but Cuomo put passion in his. While Obama... no drama, right?

[Mugu]

76. .