We're in the money. We're in the money... (Getty)

In light of the passage of Governor Cuomo’s tax bill last week, The Observer decided to informally poll the rich. What’s your take, you happy few?

“Look, nobody likes to pay higher taxes, but everybody has to contribute or we’ll never get anything done,” the real estate investor and periodicals publish Mortimer Zuckerman told us a day after the new taxes were announced. “In that sense, it’s what I always call the evil of two lesser. I’m very comfortable with this thing. It was done, and we had to do it.”

His contempt for Washington has not lessened, however. “We have to do it at the federal level, now, and it wasn’t done, and the consequences of that have been disastrous. The greatest issue now facing it is the debt this country is assuming. Look what’s happening in Europe.”

Mr. Zuckerman is not alone in support for the governor. Ken Langone, the Home Depot founder, has spoken widely of his responsible moves. On Fox Business in November, he called for a tax on the wealthy and praised the governor, comments he echoed last week on WNYC. “I thought he’d made significant progress on the expenditure side and the thing we didn’t need in New York was gimmicks,”  Mr. Langone told the radio reporters. “So I think what he’s done is to eliminate a gimmick.”

There is widespread agreement, that unlike the president, Mr. Cuomo was making fiscal decisions, not poltical ones, and he did the challenging work of cutting first, raising taxes later, and even then, it’s less than everyone had been paying. “I think taxes are headed in the right direct,” Mr. Zuckerman said with a chuckle.

The millionaire marvel has swept the state, too. Setting aside his champagne at the French Institute gala last week, Robert Wilmers, CEO and chairman of Buffalo’s M&T Bank said he was conflicted about the tax proposal, but he ultimately sided with the governor. “On the one hand, I’m feeling that taxes in the state of New York are very high,” Mr. Wilmers said. “On the other, I have great respect for the governor, and he’s in a very difficult position.” He said he saw the taxes coming, given his membership on the governor’s committee on finance, which lessened the sting.

“Everyone saw this coming,” another Wall Street executive told us. He agreed that it was inspired leadership, though the risk remained that if the tax stayed too long, there was nothing to stop jobs and millionaires from fleeing to states like Florida or Texas. Never mind the recent studies that have shown New York gained millionaires after the 2009 surcharge was added.

A financial planner representing numerous millionaires said the state taxes were nominal compared to what was being debated in Washington, so that is what really has his clients on edge. “It’s not so much the taxes as the not-knowing that is driving everyone crazy,” this person said.

Still, not everyone is convinced. A healthcare executive at the French Institute soirée said the governor was the same as the rest of them. “This is all politics, and anyone who tells you otherwise is just lying to themselves,” the bow-tied gentleman said. “When he proposed never raising taxes, the political mood was very different, you had all these Tea Party wackos running around. The governor is very cautious, as I’m sure you know, so he was attuned to that. Now you have all these Occupy Wall Street wackos running around, so those are the people the governor is paying attention to.”

mchaban [at] observer.com | @MC_NYC

Here's Stone, who also takes objection to Gibney's assertion that Ken Langone had Spitzer followed by private investigators:

Azi
 
Seriously ----- "An attendee heard Mr. Stone saying the filmmaker and movie organizers could "eat shit." 
 
I never said this.  I did say BULLSHIT   out loud when I learned that "Angelina" the Hooker in the movie was an actress and that the movie nevers reveal the name or visage of a resal hooker who actually banged Spitzer. The unamed hooker is the source of the the claim that Spitzer did NOT wear black socks- a contrivance ! a device ! Gibney has NO on record source for that  claim OR the claim that Langone hired a PI to "get the goods ' on Spitzer none at all. That is because he has prrof of neither.
 
Never said Gibney could "eat shit". He is not a bad fellow at all- just an idelogue with an agenda.
 
Stone

"I am always there for Rudy if he decides to run for office," Carbonetti said. "I'm there doing anything I can. I am still an adviser, confidante and friend." And, he added, "He is still weighing his options about whether he will run for governor or not."

Carbonetti said he will serve as a strategic adviser to Langone but the new job will allow him more freedom to pursue other business endeavors, namely a new consulting company he is starting with Chris Henick, a former aide to Karl Rove.

The new firm, which is not yet officially named, will have offices in New York and Washington D.C., and will specialize in helping formally freewheeling hedge funds and investment banks navigate the new environment of expanded government regulation.

Carbonetti says that he will maintain an association (and email address) with Giuliani Partners, though he will not be in a paid position.

The white-haired guy to the right is (former?) Eliot Spitzer nemesis Ken Langone.

The annual "Card Luncheon" is when Bloomberg tells city elite about what he thinks they should ask for when political folks knock on their door for contributions.

Barbara Walters is there.

UPDATE: Ray Kelly, who is rumored to be eyeing a 2009 mayoral run, is also here, dining at the front table nearest to the podium, with Walters and Charlie Rose.

Kevin Sheekey is in the middle of the room, near where Ed Koch is eating with a napkin tucked into his collar.

Rangel, stepping nimbly into the role of Spitzer attack surrogate, sent a sharp letter earlier today to Suozzi demanding that he reject the political and financial support of Ken Langone, who said recently compared national Democrats to lunatics in an asylum.

Suozzi responded with a letter of his own saying that he "fundamentally" disagrees with Ken Langone when it comes to preventing Democrats from taking back Congress. But he also had some carefully measured words for Rangel, which he cleverly transitions into another attack on Spitzer.

- Jason Horowitz

CONGRESSMAN CHARLES B. RANGEL

June 15, 2006

The Hon. Tom Souzzi
P.O.Box112
Carle Place, NY 11514

Dear County Executive Suozzi:

I write today as a proud Democrat who maintains great hope that this fall a winning coalition will take back Congress from the Republican stranglehold it has struggled under for the last 12 years.

As such, I read with great displeasure the comments of your number one financial backer, Ken Langone, who a few days ago stated: "I can't tell you how critical it is that we preserve and protect the Republican majority in the House of Representatives and as well in the Senate. This is not a time to turn the asylum over to the inmates."

I find it hard to reconcile this statement with your comments in the past that Ken Langone is "a good man" and that you are "proud of his support." As the Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee I hope to one day represent this state as its Chairman. It is your lead and most public fundraiser who has dedicated resources to making sure that people like me do not assume these important leadership roles and that we as Democrats do not take back the House. If the Democrats take back the House, it will not be "inmates" in charge, but people who care about the core values of justice, fairness and equality.

Some of us believe that the Republican party has taken our State of New York, as well as our nation, in the wrong direction. I certainly thought that you were one of us.

While Mr. Langone has been very good to you financially, it seems to me that he supports the immoral war in Iraq, the culture of corruption among Republicans in Congress, the deficit, and the failed political policies of the Republican leadership in the White House and in the Congress.

County Executive Suozzi / 2

This year we Democrats stand a good chance to change these policies and we have outstanding Democratic candidates throughout the country and even in our great State of New York.

I hope that your support of Democratic Congressional candidates, especially in New York State, would cause you to denounce Mr. Langone's statements of Tuesday evening. I call on you to return the money he has given you in the past, to express your support for a Democratic takeover of Congress and to renounce any further support from Ken Langone for your campaign. In particular, he should be removed from the host committee of your July 11th golf fundraiser.

I respect your role as an outsider. But there is a fine line between being an outsider and turning your back on the Democratic Party and what it stands for.

I urge you to do these things and to get back to me at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

CHARLES B. RANGEL
Member of Congress

CBR/em

June 15, 2006

The Honorable Charles B. Rangel
163 West 125th Street, Suite #737
New York, NY 10027

Dear Congressman Rangel:

Thank you for your letter today.

Nothing will be more important to me when I am elected Governor of New York than to have you serve as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. I have always, and will continue, to admire and respect you as a person and as an elected official. New Yorkers work too hard and pay too much in taxes to allow the status quo to continue, whether in Washington or Albany.

Ken Langone is a supporter of mine, but he and I fundamentally disagree on this issue.

I am a proud lifelong Democrat who fervently believes in taking back the Congress for our party - because our party, the Democratic Party best represents the interests and hopes of New Yorkers and all Americans. New Yorkers send more money in taxes to Washington than we get back in federal spending, and we are particularly under-funded when it comes to maintaining the security of our state and educating our children.

Congressman Rangel, I have always respected your ability to move your agenda while understanding the practicalities of campaigns and politics. Candidates and their supporters do not always agree on every issue. I am sure that Eliot Spitzer does not agree with his supporters on every issue.

Eliot Spitzer supported the Iraq War, which you opposed. Eliot Spitzer supports the death penalty, which you do not. Eliot Spitzer supported New York's version of the Patriot Act, the federal version of which you opposed in Congress. Eliot Spitzer litigated the Campaign for Fiscal Equity Lawsuit on behalf of Governor Pataki, against your position and the interests of your constituents.

This year we Democrats have an opportunity to change everything - both in Washington and in Albany. We can turn the page on 12 years of Republican rule in the House of Representatives and 12 years of Republican neglect in Albany. Working together, we can chart a new course for New York that is based on our shared core values of justice, fairness and equality. It is why my candidacy is dedicated to fixing our schools, which you agree with - reducing property taxes, particularly for those striving to enter and stay in the middle class - which you agree with, and finding ways to create real jobs and opportunity - which you agree with.

Eliot Spitzer may be the "smartest man in the world," and the polls and pundits may be against me, but I know that you know a thing or two about shaking things up and beating the powers that be.

That's why I am committed to this race, and will work as hard as I can to make sure that these issues are fairly and widely debated. I deeply respect your role as a leader of our party in New York and as a voice for justice and fairness for all Americans, and I will keep working to earn your support.

Respectfully,

Thomas R. Suozzi
Democrat

CC:

Hon. Tim Bishop
Hon. Steve Israel
Hon. Carolyn McCarthy
Hon. Gary Ackerman
Hon. Gregory W. Meeks
Hon. Joe Crowley
Hon. Jerry Nadler
Hon. Anthony Weiner
Hon. Ed Towns
Hon. Major Owens
Hon. Nydia Velazquez
Hon. Carolyn Maloney
Hon. José Serrano
Hon. Eliot Engel
Hon. Nita Lowey
Hon. Mike McNulty
Hon. Maurice Hinchey
Hon. Louise Slaughter
Hon. Brian Higgins
Hon. Nancy Pelosi
Hon. Steny Hoyer
Hon. James Clyburn
Hon. Rahm Emmanuel
Eliot Spitzer

"Denounce Mr. Langone. Tell him to stop his campaign. And give back the money. Anything less compromises you as a candidate and as a Democrat," reads the letter, a copy of which The Politicker has obtained. Suozzi, needless to say, won't denounce on command.

The letter is sort of a distraction, but here's the real problem for Tom: Langone vs. Spitzer is, for any number of reasons, a more interesting story than Suozzi vs. Spitzer. It's also probably a storyline Eliot would prefer. Suozzi, who has a separate case to make about cleaning up corruption and reforming management, is in danger of winding up a footnote to the entertaining, dramatic battle between two titans, Langone and Spitzer.

(The fact that this is being pushed by county chairmen is a smaller, but real, problem for Eliot: He's the candidate of pols, and of the Democratic establishment, and that's how Suozzi wants him to be seen.)

UPDATE: Here's the AP story, with Suozzi's response.