Fred Dicker over at the Post brings us the startling news that ex-governor Pataki is demanding round the clock security, at state expense, to be provided by four full-time state police officers. Notably, no previous ex-governor has asked for, or received, a comparable level of protection, perhaps because it's not necessary.

The expense would amount to $20,000 a week; the matter is currently before the state Ethics Commission. Pataki's request would violate the statute that Alan Hevesi ran afoul of; and if you recall, the ex-governor (how I love writing that) came back to Albany from Iowa specifically to address that scandal.

Here's a thought: legality and ethics aside, methinks the ex-governor overestimates the degree of animosity (or any other emotion) he inspires. Simply put, people probably don't care enough to threaten the man. It's very hard even to imagine someone sitting in a dank basement somewhere plotting bodily harm to George Pataki; unless excruciating boringness inspires violence, the ex-governor should be quite safe.