With its CEO now the Veep's Chief of Staff, and the administration being slammed all over the left for Clintonesque triangulating, can the implosion of the Democratic Leadership Council really be seen as a defeat, when they now seem to be running the town? Democratic Leadership Council will fold – Ben Smith www.politico.com
Gary Ackerman: "America really does need a smart, credible, politically active organization that is as aggressively pro-peace as it is pro-Israel…Unfortunately, J-Street ain't it." Three Years Old, J Street Still Struggles For Acceptance – Forward.com www.forward.com
Jane Harman is stepping down–attached is an interview with the woman who drove her out of Congress. Please, please, please do not elect this lunatic! Jane Harman's Opponent on the Injustice of Israel, the Taliban and Henry Waxman's Alleged Perfidy -. www.theatlantic.com
Some very clearheaded thinking on Egypt and Israel from Wieseltier What The Egyptian Revolution Means For Israel | The New Republic www.tnr.com
Obama as cold-hearted foreign policy realist.
A few weeks ago when Dan Gerstein was arguing for appointing Lieberman as Defense Secretary, I told him that Joe was either a "Liberal Internationalist" or a "Neo-Con" and the administration only had places for the former in State and no place for the latter at all (the same is true for foreign policy "Progressives"). Obama only had room for "Realists" at Defense.
Egypt is that rare instance where the Progressives and Neo-Cons (along with the Liberal Internationalists) are in lock-step. My Liberal Internationalist heart is with them all the way, but my Realist brain is mostly with the Pres.
But, as Woody Allen once said “The heart wants what the heart wants” Obama the Realist www.nytimes.com
This article itself is only middling Kinsley, but it does link to his two 2001 Slate pieces where he explodes the Reagan Myth for those who've forgotten (perhaps not the best choice of words) the truth Opinion: Should Obama channel Reagan? – Michael Kinsley www.politico.com
Chait: Reagan worship works as long as you don't associate him with his administration. Reagan Revisionism And Reagan Mythology | The New Republic www.tnr.com
In this era of Reagan inspired amnesia, let's us remember one of the few worthwhile things he said: "Trust, but verify" Silver lining up with gov on ethics reform www.nypost.com
Grimm on Congress: You can get laid, but not fed, so there's no chance of schtupping where you eat.
Is this his revenge on the ex-wife for attending the debate with McMahon, or a ways of rubbing it in the face of all the Fossella associates who did not support him?
Mike, remember the lesson of Vito; He who lives by the sword…Rep. Michael Grimm On The Perks Of Being A Congressman: Chicks Dig It www.nydailynews.com
Does Diane Savino know what she's doing? Opposing auto insurance fraud on Staten Island (and Borough Park) is like being anti-gun in Alabama. Capitol Confidential » Indep Dems roll out auto insurance ‘rate evasion’ bill blog.timesunion.com
Cathie Black channels Boone and Otter: "they can't do that to our schools; only we can do that to our schools!"
Perhaps I’d have more faith in the Chancellor if she learned how to spell her own first name. When Cathie Black Faces The Music, What Will The Band Be Playing? www.nydailynews.com
New blog about Brooklyn politics. Looks promising; however, when mapping the presidential race, why would anyone make Obama red and McCain blue? The Brooklyn Politics Blog www.thebrooklynpolitics.com
An extremely reliable source dropped the following Vince Velella story on me over the weekend, which I will eventually stick into my post from the other day when I get the chance.
In his later years, when serving on the Board of Elections, Vince used to ride in from the Bronx with his East Harlem neighbor turned Morris Park neighbor, Executive Director Danny DeFrancisco.
One day, Danny called a lawyer friend who was well acquainted with the Velellas.
“You gotta talk to Guy. The old man is losing it, and he keeps telling people stories from the old days about the things they used to do in the Marcantonio campaigns in the 40s and 50s.”
The lawyer replied “that’s cute.”
Danny said, “Well, I’m worried about the Statute of Limitations.”
The lawyer was taken aback. “Danny, that’s so long ago, there’s only one crime for which the statute of Limitations hasn’t run.”
“Like I said, you need to talk to guy.”
After watching the “Thriller” video, eight year old Dybbuk told me that Michael Jackson was his role model. Sadly, he did not mean the beer geek.
Yesterday he played "Thriller" off his Ipad-touch and danced with a homeless man in the subway.
Finally, giving up, I decided to indulge him and went to YouTube and played him the Jackson Five doing "I want you back," "The little one is Michael." I told him.
He stared incredulously. "Michael Jackson is black?"