Submitted by Gordon Taylor, Mar 24, 2008 15:32

Gov. David Paterson has shown us one thing since he has taken office, he can't make an intelligent decision. So far, one week into his new reign, he has shown a complete lack of informed decision making regarding his personal life. It makes one wonder how he'll do on important governmental issues.

The first bad decision that comes to mind is asking his long time friend Bill Lynch, former Deputy Mayor of New York City what to do about his extra-marital affairs. Bill told Paterson to come clean, and what ensued was a media frenzy that has led to his campaign funds being examined and lots of questionable uses of those funds. Now Paterson won't even speak to his long time friend, who by the way ruined David Dinkins chances of getting re-elected by giving said Mayor bad advice.

Prior to that, Paterson hired Joan Flowers as his campaign manager. She was the one giving him advice on how to use those campaign credit cards and check books. Another bad decision it seems. Ms. Flowers was also campaign manager for another politician, Rep. Gregory Meeks. Meeks campaign was fined $63,000 dollars for sloppy bookkeeping of campaign funds. That fine was just imposed in February of 2008. The bookkeeping was done by none other then Joan Flowers. In addition, Meeks had to repay his campaign coffers $17,000.00 in unauthorized personal uses, including more then $6,000.00 for a personal trainer.

As it turns out, there may be more bad decisions coming back to haunt Paterson. It seems that various Paterson campaign committees have paid $119,500.00 to Jaymacdee Consultants for professional and consulting services. Jaymacdee is OWNED by Joan Flowers, so why would his campaign pay extra for advice from a member of that same committee?

Ms. Flowers is keeping mum as to the whys and wheres of Paterson's campaign finances, as she has aspirations or running for office in 2009.

More bad decision making on Paterson's part, hiring Ms. Flowers to be his campaign treasurer. Surely, more will come from this as his campaign finances are examined more closely.

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