Who Won The Great News12 Debate?

You Win, When You Vote For Michael Uhl!

Okay. Anyone catch the Muscarella-Uhl debate on News12 last night? Not exactly high drama, or of Nixon-Kennedy moment [although, Mr. Muscarella's five-o'clock shadow, coupled with that olive drab suit, took us back a bit to those early days of televised politics].

Having had nearly two decades -- 4 years in the Assembly and 12 years in the Nassau County Legislature -- to hone his skills, and up against a novice who had never been before a camera (except in home movies), one would have thought that Mr. Muscarella would have made a less wooden presentation.

Clearly rehearsed, but certainly not polished, Muscarella was stiff. The man who described himself as "a low key legislator" ["low key?" We thought Bill Mooney would have to place a mirror under Muscarella's nose to see if he was still breathing! :-)], often stumbled over his own words -- words that were no strangers to his vernacular, having been rehashed every second year as if on a continuous loop.

Michael Uhl wasn't exactly Lloyd Bentsen up there, relative newcomer to the public spotlight that he is, but he certainly held his own against someone who, clearly, hasn't said anything new since Al D'Amato was Town of Hempstead Supervisor.

On substance, Muscarella stayed the course.

Asked about the revitalization in Elmont, re-energizing Nassau's economy, worforce housing, and financing education, Muscarella stuck with the tried and true, talking about "plans."

Yes, the very same plans he's talked about for the past 12 years.

"Its great to talk about plans," said Uhl, "but at some point, you have to put those plans into action."

Score one for the Uhl Team!

On attracting business to Nassau County, Muscarella, who during the debate dropped the name of every elected official in Nassau -- at least twice -- said that the roads must be maintained, as must the facades along "Main Street." True enough.

Fact is, for the last 12 years, nothing has been done to maintain either roadway or facade.

Where has Mr. Muscarella been since 1996? Oh, that's right, in the Nassau County Legislature. We forgot.

Mr. Muscarella offered little of his record. Perhaps that's because his record offers little, his only significant accomplishment in more than a decade being the sponsorship of the tattoo parental consent law.

A good law -- one that should be tattooed onto the backside of every legislator -- but not a heck of a lot to boast of after 12 years in office.

The bottom line: Not much can really be said in what amounts to four questions in twenty minutes.

We will say this much. If you wanted yesterday's news, you got that from Mr. Muscarella. The promise of tomorrow? Well, that's where Michael Uhl is headed.

Let's hit the road!