December 26, 2003

SEASON'S WISHES.

By James Eugene*

It's holiday time and time to share our sentiments with our fellow human beings. This season I recommend scaling back your present giving just a little and use the little extra cash to give to the charity of your choice.

Our gifts here are for our favorite pols and other assorted suspects.

Comptroller Bill Thompson: A big juicy issue that he can call his own that will increase his profile.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum: A profile.

Speaker Gifford Miller: An end to term limits because there are just too many other candidates ahead of him for Mayor.

Borough President Virginia Fields: After Charlie Rangel retires in three years, a consensus that she should fill his Congressional seat.

Council Member Gale Brewer: A consensus that she should become Manhattan Borough President because competency, brains and integrity of this level should be rewarded.

Council Member Eve Moskowitz: Recognition and a promotion for hearings on the Education union contracts.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg: Some credit. Because although we all bash him, for some reason, no one has flat out said that he is a bad Mayor. And the reason for that is he is not a bad mayor. At least not as bad as David Dinkins.

Homeless Services Commissioner Linda Gibbs: More help from Albany and Washington so that she can actually fund some of the Homeless Panel's recommendations.

Lead Paint Advocates: One big shame on you for failing to consider other matters that might hurt the same constituency you are trying to help.

Governor George Pataki: Relevance.

State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer: Just keep on rolling Elliot; you don't need a thing from me. But a little less predictable liberalism on your less public issues wouldn't hurt.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver: More integrity... In fact, any integrity.

Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno: A political correctness course. Because he is not a bad guy, he only sounds that way.

The Staten Island Council Delegation: A conscious. The three just keep trying to position themselves for the borough presidency and it is oh so obvious. How about taking a position on something with the thought that it might be the right position?

The New York Jets: A stadium, but integrated with the Javits Center and not costing the City more than $500 million.

New York City employees: Some appreciation and respect. Most work hard, unfortunately too often we run into the ones who have an attitude. Remember folks, their wages have not been increasing much over the past twenty years.

New York sports columnists: A reminder of what it felt like just after 9-11. In other words, if the Yankees lose, the world will not end.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly: A little less attitude towards protestors. An appreciation of the Bill of Rights is not a negative thing.

Editorial columnists: A late start to their usual thinly-veiled columns in favor or against various Presidential candidates.

To readers of this column: The sagacity to realize that my tongue enjoys my cheek.

WHY SADDAM HUSSEIN SHOULD BE EXECUTED.

I am against the death penalty. I generally feel that society overrates the significance of a death penalty and too often the death penalty is an expression of revenge rather than justice.

However, in Saddam Hussein's instance, I am a pragmatist. I see only harm from a living Saddam Hussein, even if it is in a prison. As long as he is alive, his supporters can hope to liberate him and he can always dream of the mother of all political comebacks. His dreams and those of his followers should die quickly.

I am reminded of the death of the Romanian dictator Ceaucescu. Upon his overthrow, he supposedly was quickly tried and executed. (Was there a real trial? Doubtful, if there was any real trial it was by a kangaroo court.) When those who condemned him were asked why they did so, the reply was simple: the nation needed to move forward and Ceaucescu's death allowed for it. If he lived, there was the potential for too much harm. As much as these people were condemned at the time, they were right.

The same is true for Hussein. As long as he lives, there will always be some vestige of his rule haunting Iraq, a vestige that may be difficult to ignore or may only give hope to those who would damage that country. Better for Iraq, that he suffer his eternal fate sooner rather than later.

* James Eugene is the pseudonym of a veteran of NYC government affairs. Inside The Big Apple will appear exclusively on the Empire Page. If you want to send tips or column ideas to James Eugene, email them to jameseugene@empirepage.com.