Debate? Moi? Smirking Andy Takes the Fifth

Andrew Cuomo, who normally takes himself so seriously that you could imagine him ordering corporal punishment for anyone other than tabloid headline writers who dared to call him Andy, practically pulsated with mirth when he was asked Sept. 2 about his refusal to debate his Democratic primary opponent, Zephyr Teachout, or to pledge to participate in a televised faceoff with Republican nominee Rob Astorino between now and the Nov. 4 general election.

“I’ve been in many debates that I think were a disservice to democracy,” he said, a peculiar smile perched on his face, “so anybody who says debates are always a service to democracy hasn’t watched all the debates that I’ve been in.”