If you sneeze during Justin Sullivan’s Paul Newell documentary “Excuse Me. Mr. Speaker,” you will miss the scene at the convention where Paul Newell yells at me in response to a (unheard) question I asked him.
But there's two or so solid minutes of me in the DVD’s bonus footage, although I get not one laugh.
Still, if I were my mom, I would buy this video (and if not, I'd still consider it) Excuse Me, Mr. Speaker… excusememrspeaker.com
At last, I discovered the secret to getting national links (next to last): mention Jimmy McMillan (got a local one too–Liz) Remainders: Fraying – Ben Smith www.politico.com
Loser: City Hall News.
Why: Item #2 on the losers list, was inspired by a discovery first made by this Department.
How about a hat tip, Edward Isaac? Winners & Losers, Dec. 17 Edition www.cityhallnews.com
Though, as I noted, Jimmy McMillan did not cost Charles Barron a ballot line, but probably was responsible for pushing Kristin “Merry Madame” Davis into last place, it was Davis who, though running last, cost at least one and possibly two minor parties a ballot position. As noted, Davis’ positions on the issues were almost identical to those of Libertarian Warren Redlich, and Davis’ Roger Stone run campaign spent its closing days almost totally focused upon destroying Redlich’s spotless reputation. In the end, Davis’ 20,429 votes almost certainly kept Redlich, who got 48,386, from hitting the 50,000 mark necessary to attain the Libertarian Party their ballot status.
The silver lining is that Davis’ votes may also have played the crucial role in denying McMillan (41,131) his ballot status as well. http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/2010/general/2010Governor.pdf
Other election result news: Working Families Party Consiglieri Dan Cantor bragged endlessly about his line providing Tom DiNapoli his margin of victory.
It ain’t so.
Harry Wilson’s combined vote on the Republican, Conservative and Independence Lines, 2,070,247, was exceeded by DiNapoli’s Democratic line vote of 2,089,739, without any WFP help.
Perhaps Cantor meant that DiNapoli won because the WFP didn’t give its line to Wilson instead (perhaps to commemorate his saving all those UAW jobs). http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/2010/general/2010Comptroller.pdf
Also notable was the small size of Jim Alessi’s victory in Senate District 55 against Mary Wilmot. Another place where Antoine Thompson’s unspeakably unspent $120,000 might have made the difference. http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/2010/general/2010Senate.pdf
Let’s give Senate Dem Leader John Sampson some credit; his quick action stripping Pedro Espada of his title immediately upon his indictment is a stunning example of zero tolerance for even th3e appearance of corruption.
Although one might speculate that making someone called “Leader” forfeit a title based solely upon an indictment might be a precedent he may want to reconsider. http://empire.wnyc.org/2010/12/mr-no-title/
It is fair, however, to remember is was not “Nucky” Sampson who put in place the process for choosing which lucky company would get to implement “Racetrack Empire.”
It was “Commodore” Joe Bruno.
To belabor this point even further, behold this Daily News Editorial about the Republican restoration in NYS’ Upper House, which brings to mind Malcolm "Sheriff Eli" Smith's famous statement about "initial public offerings," and might better be called “Meet the Old Boss, Same as the New Boss.” http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/12/16/2010-12-16_wine_and_sleaze_party.html
Anti-Lopez District Leader Lincoln Restler compares collecting a pension and a salary for the same job at the same time to acts which are alleged to violated the Penal code.
Clearly Restler does not know the difference between a disgrace and a crime. The latter involves things which are illegal; the former, in this instance, involves things which almost certainly should be illegal but are not.
Since the perpetrators knew that what they were doing was legal, and may not have done it if it were not, it is OK to publicly disgrace them, but it is not OK to compare them to criminals
It is perhaps a subtle distinction, but it is also a very American one. Mike slams double-dip pol-pension 'scam' www.nypost.com
In other Vito related news, he for the first time ever attended the Prime NY Holiday Party, a stunning thing for a man who does not generally attend events he need not attend. Perhaps this was intended as a purposeful display of good health, political and otherwise.
As people lined to kiss the ring the County Leader keeps in his back pocket, those like me scampering to avoid Lopez’s steely gaze could not help noticing Lopez archenemy Gary Tilzer across the room. Age and bad health at both ends of the room had caused these two enemies to attain a remarkable resemblance.
The biggest difference is that Vito arguably has a slightly better flair for style.
Hot Brooklyn judical rumor.
Acting Supreme Court Justice Sarah "Sally" Krauss, is rumored to be resigning early from her Brooklyn Heights centered First Municipal Court District seat. If this happens, early front runner seems to be Hemalee Patel, a Law Secretary, well respected bar activist, expert in Domestic Relations Law, and member of Community Board #2, who is well liked by virutally all political figures who know her (she's friends with both Lincoln Restler and Steve Cohn). If she's victorious, Patel would be the first Asian elected to the Brooklyn bench.
Though I pretty much agree with Markowitz about the Prospect Park West bike lane, which sets a barrier which allows bikers to accelerate to 40 mph without any danger that they need stop to let through an old lady with the legal right of way (if I had a nickel for every biker who respected the red light at 9th Street over the course of a year, I could still not afford a Froze Fruit), I wonder why anyone would want to purposely pick a fight with people so obnoxious and self-righteous. Marty’s Anti-Bike Lane Christmas Card : Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com
Someone who lost by 62 (!!!!) points decides they'll forgo trying again.
This is news???? Reshma Not Interested In 2012 Re-Match, Eyes 2013 Instead | The New York Observer www.observer.com
Carolyn Maloney disproves Reshma Saujani's attack that she's insufficiently solicitous of the wealthy. Capitol Confidential » House tax cut package divides New York Democrats blog.timesunion.com
Money Lines: "Responders blame them most, but are getting tired of Democrats putting it all on the GOP – noting Democrats control the Senate, where New York Sen. Chuck Schumer is in charge of policy.
'I simply cannot fathom that a Democratic-controlled House, Senate and White House cannot get our bill passed,' Feal said…."
And therein lies the problem folks. Lack of elementary civic education; Feal cannot fathom why something which happens virtually everyday, owing to basic flaws in our system of governance, has occurred. Ground Zero workers plan to storm senators' offices in bid for Zadroga Act support www.nydailynews.com
Romney: Service with a smile because the customer is always right. How Would President Romney Govern? | FrumForum www.frumforum.com
Frum says Romney is incoherent. The upside for Frum is that he also seems to think Romney is a liar. Romney’s Triangulation | FrumForum www.frumforum.com
The not so fun side of wikileaks Little Green Footballs – Wikileaks and the Case of the Algerian Reporter littlegreenfootballs.com
Funny how left solidarity has been allowed to trump not only feminist dogma, but also simple human decency–special anathema award for Naomi Wolf Some Shit I’m Sick of Hearing Regarding Rape and Assange « Kate Harding kateharding.info
OK, I'll admit it; this is a valid left criticism of Obama with no if ands or buts. Why Obama Has No Judges | The New Republic www.tnr.com
Writer argues Dems have squandered their "brand."
Right or wrong, he inadvertently make the cogent point that one cannot market a brand if one has "No Labels" "Democrat" Is No Longer A Brand www.huffingtonpost.com
Most despicable editorial of the day. Post calls Obama weak because he cannot quash a move in Chicago to challenge Rahmbo's residency.
As if Obama or anyone else could control the right of each individual voter in Chi-Town who has standing to file such a challenge, or somehow control each of Emanuel's very motivated opponents.
Anyway, can you imagine the fuss they'd raise if Obama could and did quash such a challenge? If you can't win at home
Anti-Defamation league wimps out
Foxman: …shows a disturbing and even callous insensitivity…but should not change history's verdict on the important contributions and ultimate legacy" of Kissinger.
Actually, I think Hitchens would agree with that. There is nothing Kissinger said about human rights for Jews that is in any way inconsistent with his ultimate legacy.
Tonite I light a candle to the memory of Salvador Allende and the countless other victims of “The Kissinger Legacy” in places like Cambodia and East Timor. ADL: Kissinger's Vile Words Mean Nothing – Jeffrey Goldberg – National – The Atlantic www.theatlantic.com
The "out of context" defense is quite often the first refuge of a scoundrel. Kissinger tells JTA: Take remark on gas chambers in context | JTA – Jewish & Israel News www.jta.org
A Torah scholar weighs in not renting to Arabs Citizens of Israel. Verdict: A shanda fur der goyim to discriminate. http://kolharav.blogspot.com/2010/12/rabbi-aharon-lichtensteins-response-to.html kolharav.blogspot.com
We've just gotten a call from a nursing home in Boca–the last person who cares about Larry King just died Larry King's 25-year run as CNN's prime-time guy comes to end; he's 'remarkable:' Anderson Cooper www.nydailynews.com