Lately It Seems No One Has Any Principles Whatsoever

It was on for 14 months — why give up now? Oh, right:

After growing his “protest beard” for 14 months, [Staten Island Judge Phil] Straniere, presiding judge of the Civil Court, had it shaved off yesterday at Liberty Barber Shop, West Brighton.

No, New York state judges have not suddenly gotten the cost-of-living pay raise they’ve been deprived of for the past decade — the reason Straniere decided to grow his beard in protest over a year ago.

Nor does it look like they will any time soon. While the state Senate has in the past OK’d a pay hike for members of the judiciary, the Assembly has always blocked it because the measure hasn’t included upping legislators’ salaries as well.

“And in this economic climate it doesn’t seem likely,” reasoned Straniere, as he sat in barber Tahir Taravari’s chair.

Besides, he said, “I was getting tired of my protest beard. It didn’t work.”

Add to that the fact that voters traditionally prefer clean-shaven candidates — although Straniere opted to keep his mustache, which he has had for 40 years — meaning they’re more electable.

“I think Benjamin Harrison was the last Republican elected with a beard,” quipped Straniere, who admitted he was also tiring of the jokes about cough drops — think the Smith Brothers — and Christmas — think Santa Claus.