Some smart folks have emailed me some observations concerning my recent piece on Orthodox Jewish voting behavior. Here are some highlights
1) Assemblyman Peter Abbate, who in the past has used his Orthodox Jewish Election Districts as a bulwark against his often more conservative Italian-American constituents, lost his Orthodox areas this year for the first time
2 ) It is argued that Shelly Silver will use redistricting to protect Steve Cymbrowitz next time.
I have to say that there are limits to what one can do–neighboring Assemblyman Bill Colton is paranoid and not without reason; he doesn't want too many Russian constituents, and already has his fill of Sephardim. To the extent Helene Weinstein still has secular, non-Russian Jews in her district , she needs them to keep her district white enough to elect her, which is problematic from the other end, as Alan Maisel probably needs to pick up more whites from her as well. There really aren’t that many options that allow everyone to have a safe district.
3) – Someone pointed out what I was too tasteful to mention concerning Tony Weiner’s problems; his marriage to a Muslim.
And now, for your viewing enjoyment, the Orthodox community expresses its anger at the Democrats: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W7umbazJFM&feature=player_embedded
Does Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio feel that what this country needs is a more business friendly administration?; That stronger regulation of the financial services industry is ill advised? That making the wealthy pay their fair share is unfair? That health care reform was worth sinking in order to nitpick over language which had little or no substantive impact? That NYC Community Boards should have the responsibility of investigating whether terrorist organizations are funding local development projects in their catchment areas? That the real problem is that Democrats have been too partisan?
If the answer to all the questions is no, then what is he doing hiring a monument to the entitlement of the young and well-connected like Reshma Saujani as one of his deputies?
If there's a yes among these questions, then is this a signal that Bill's next campaign is going to be another one of those unholy alliance between the WFP and Bloomerberg money laundering machines? Public Advocate hires Maloney Challenger | The Empire empire.wnyc.org
I certainly do not begrudge newly elected “Reform” District Leader Kevin Carroll his living, and I will be the first to admit that his opponent (who I endorsed) was not without his own issues, but can Kevin at least apologize to Ralph Perfetto for saying that Perfetto was insufficiently anti-Lopez? Bay Ridge Interpol: Vito Lopez Visits Bay Ridge for Christmas; Delivers Gift Wrapped Job To Kevin Ca bayridgeinterpol.blogspot.com
A very sad story indeed: how a somewhat well-respected man destroyed what was left of his reputation by blogging.
No, it is not my autobiography. Peretz in Exile nymag.com
I have no problem with those who raise their voices over the legitimate human rights concerns of Israelis Arabs and Palestinians (even Marty Peretz protests on their behalf), but when will these same people raise their voices on behalf of the Middle East's Kurds, Christians and Jews? The Plight of the Middle East's Christians – Jeffrey Goldberg – International – The Atlantic www.theatlantic.com
We are told again and again and that most of the problems caused by illegal drugs would disappear, if only those drugs were legalized; and the statement is true, with the exception of those problems which would only get worse.
It would be nice to have an intelligent national debate about the pros and cons of drug legalizations, but those advocating such a policy have some serious question to answer–Coates outlines some of them nicely. Black America Without A War On Drugs – Ta-Nehisi Coates – National – The Atlantic www.theatlantic.com
While Romney may be the only Republican contender forced to deny his political career's one signal accomplishment, on the issue of climate change he'll have plenty of company in running against his own record. Green skeletons lurk in GOP closets – Darren Samuelsohn www.politico.com