Being something of a Scrooge, I’m planning on regifting former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney’s 2023 tome “Oath and Honor, a Memoir” with (subhead) “A Warning” to one of my many Trump-hater friends next Christmas.

I rarely read autobiographies, particularly by politicians, but this one was a doozie. For 57 chapters across 373 pages, focusing on the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Cheney does everything but call the former president Adolph. I got her drift after about three chapters; The last chapter is titled “Unfit for Any Office.”

Actually, I started the book to learn something about Cheney after her thorough debasement by Trump and his Republican sycophants. Hell, it seems, has no fury like a woman scorned.

Flash forward and we find Cheney on the campaign trail with Kamala Harris. Mostly as a prop, Cheney’s role as a former prominent Republican apparently is to sit quietly on stage at a Harris rally while the candidate does what she does best.

I don’t doubt that Harris has some of the smartest people working on her campaign and that they’re trying to lure breakaway Republicans to her side, but I wonder if they considered the potential negative effect of having Liz Cheney center stage, however briefly. Which is to say in two words: Dick Cheney.

Remember Vice President Dick Cheney, the man behind the curtain, the Darth Vader of the second Bush administration, the war monger, he of the many heart attacks, the sneer, hunting accidents and undisclosed locations? That guy.

There is yet another chapter of this soap opera. Remember when Kamala said she would consider a Republican for her cabinet? Good for her. And if so, is Liz Cheney auditioning for an interview?

Just wondering.

They Like Mike

The Marc Molinaro campaign for Congress has announced that House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, will host a “pasta and politics” fundraiser for the Republican candidate in Leeds, Greene County, on Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m. No information on the site was disclosed; presumably it’s at one of those 1-percenter mega mansions in the woods.

Neither was there any mention in the promo about tickets. It’s fair to say, this will be some very expensive pasta.

With the Speaker beating the bushes, can House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-Brooklyn, be far behind for his candidate, Josh Riley, D-Ithaca? He’d better hurry. This one will be a barn burner.

It’s always good to hear the boss say nice things about you, but I wonder what the effect of the controversial Speaker’s appearance at the grassroots level will be. Johnson is regularly featured as an ogre in negative Democratic ads and here he is LIVE in person!

By the Way, What About Salary?

Kingston Mayor Steve Noble delivered his proposed $57 million budget for next year to the Common Council on a quiet Friday afternoon last week. It covered a broad range of issues and initiatives but not a mention of his salary increases. Incrementally increased in previous budgets over a period of years, the proposed 2025 salary tops out at $102,500, plus an estimated $29,460 in benefits.

I for one don’t think six figures is out of line for a CEO who manages a $57 million budget and some 300 employees. With that budget Kingston is one of the the largest employers in the city.

This mayor’s salary comes from different pots (no pun intended) — the mayor’s line, and $20,500 for salary and $5,492 in benefits paid for from sewer district revenues. All told, the taxpayers' tally for the mayor's compensation comes in at $131,960.

This sleight of hand may give city residents a warm feeling when they flush their toilets that they’re contributing to the mayor’s welfare, but, really, shouldn’t it all be out in the open so that even the casual reader could see?

This is not to pick on Hizzoner, only to place a pox on the devious smoke and mirrors, in this case mandated by state law, inherent in almost every municipal budget.

He’s Got Jack

“I’ve got more money to spend than I’ve ever had before,” was only a passing remark in a causal conversation with Republican state Assembly candidate Jack Hayes of Gardiner last week, but it got my attention. Republican candidates with money?

“How much were you talking about?” I asked the candidate this week. Hayes is running against 103rd District Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha.

“As best as I can figure, it’s about $43,000, mostly in state matching funds,” he said. That’s more than he raised in previous campaigns for Gardiner town supervisor, county legislator and county executive, he said. The law allows for matching state grants of up to 8-1 against in-district contributions.

In that sense, the state’s matching-funds law, in place for candidates for state office for the first time this year, is working. As a political pauper, Hayes couldn’t compete with anybody. With more than 40 large, his name is everywhere.

Whether Hayes, a retired state trooper, can catch Shrestha, we’ll know around 10 p.m. on Nov. 5.

M&M Catch a Daily Double

With the season wearing down, our Me and Mario bi-weekly show on WGHQ-920 AM will host Congressman Pat Ryan, D-Gardiner and state Assembly candidate Jack Hayes, R-Gardiner, this Friday morning.

Hayes will appear from 7:30 to 8 a.m. followed by Ryan from 8:30 to 9.

Program update: With some juggling of schedules, Me and Mario will appear on Monday, the day before the election, beginning at 7 a.m. As we’re not into late shots, the format will be mostly a campaign-in-review. Listeners are invited to call in with anything on their minds. To stream the show live, or listen to it later, click here: https://vimeo.com/user173056939