This is amazing on so many levels.
Most importantly, Carl Paladino clearly has no taste buds. He ate the pastrami at Gottlieb’s and still manages to give the place a recommendation? Have you ever eaten the pastrami at Gottlieb's? They take the pastrami out of a plastic package and microwave it.
Although some of the prepared specialties are OK, the only edible sandwich at Gottlieb's is the brisket (which is pretty damned good). If you're not kosher, you'd be better off going to David's Brisket (just keep heading south on Lee till it turns into Nostrand) in Bed-Stuy. The brisket is at least as good, while the pastrami and corned beef are the equal of (or better than) any other Jewish style deli in Brooklyn (not that there's much competition anymore).
Unfortunately, if you're looking for something other than sandwiches, sour pickles or Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray, you're SOL t David's; but if you're still yearning for kasha varniskes, you can always head back to Gottlieb's. Paladino's Orthodox Afternoon | The New York Observer www.observer.com
"There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual."
This appeared to be one of those rare moments when Paladino and a majority of the gay community were on the same page. I have many gay friends and I can assure you that they strongly prefer their homosexuals to be fully functional. They don't want any dysfunctional homosexuals. They want homosexuals of legendary prowess.
Alas, Paladino never spoke that line. He merely had his supporters distribute the prepared remarks to the press; he then read that text, minus that particular line.
Query (perhaps not the best choice of words): How did they get hold of Paladino's test in the first place? Carl Paladino: I Never Said Gays Were "Dysfunctional" www.nydailynews.com
Perhaps the most amazing aspect of Paladino's adventures among the Orthodox is how he let himself get hustled by a pathetic lunatic like Yehuda Levin.
To be fair, Levin is not totally useless. In 1991, his candidacy for the City Council attracted enough votes to spare of the ignominy of Councilman Mike Garson. Even those who don’t care for Anthony Weiner can surely appreciate this public service (on the other hand, Garson got to be a Judge instead).
And, let me be clear. There has been, of late, among the Ultra-Orthodox, a pushback against the sort of transactional politics that forsakes issue affinity for programmatic cash. Last year's overwhelming rejection by the Borough Park community of establishment endorsed Brad Lander for City Council in favor of the more socially conservative John Heyer was a cold slap in the face to much of the community leadership. This year's rejection (to the extent it happened) of establishment candidate Joe Lazar in favor of David Greenfield was taken by some (quite inaccurately) as more of the same (in actuality, most of the right rebels were with Lazar, while Greenfield did best among conservative white Christians, Chinese and moderate and even liberal non-Orthodox Jews)
But Levin is not part of that. He specifically rejected Heyer, by far the primary's most socially conservative candidate, as too impure (his critique often echoing that of the local establishment’s ) and yesterday, he had Paladino exhume this stale battle and criticize the Rabbis who led the right-wing revolt (who Paladino most assuredly never heard of the day before) against Lander as unkosher poseurs.
Somewhere John Heyer is smiling, as he contemplates using Levin’s comments to help resurrect his tattered reputation in Brownstone Brooklyn (where he recently just missed losing a Judicial Delegate slot to a pro-Vito Lopez candidate in a district where Lopez’s slate was otherwise routed).
Further, Paladino has let Levin feed his misperception that the Orthodox community is angry at him for his gross and seemingly bigoted insults directed at Shelly Silver.
Yes, there are many Orthodox Jews do not like Shelly Silver's positions on social issues, and a few who may even quietly speak ill of Silver on this account. But even those few, upon hearing the same critiques (and far worse) from Paladino, will respond in the manner of Boone and Otter in Animal House:
"They can't do that to out pledges; only we can do that to our pledges."
The best way to explain the distinction between the Pat Buchanan-endorsing Levin and the saner elements of the Ultra-Ortho community's extreme right is to use the example of the Westboro Baptist Church, which plans to visit Midwood today and protest in front of Orthodox religious institutions.
The more sane precincts of the community's extreme right might organize a counter-demonstration, holding sings which say "we hate faygelehs too, you stupid goyim"
Levin's response would be to join the Westboro crowd in their demonstration. Paladino Reads Anti-Gay Remarks Prepared By Yehuda Levin In Brooklyn | The Jewish Week www.thejewishweek.com
When Vito Lopes became County Leader I wrote:
"The new boss built his career on Hasid bashing (not entirely without cause), and may just have made his peace."
While Lopez did not create the tensions between the Williamsburg Hasidic and Latino communities (which have somewhat dampened in recent years thanks to a mutual animosity against yuppies), he surely exploited them. Sometimes it even appeared that he created sparks in situations where none existed so he could pour gasoline on the fires.
The other electeds representing the Latino areas of Williamsburg (Nydia Velazquez, Nellie Santiago, and Victor Robles) never seemed to seek out such confrontations. It was only Lopez, the Italian with the Latino name, who had to show himself more Latino than thou.
This all ended the day (or the day before) Lopez became Democratic County Leader. In some ways, doubtless, it is a change for the better. While real issues remain between the communities, the nastiness verging upon hatred has largely disappeared. I suppose Lopez deserves the credit, in the way a batterer deserves credit when he stops beating his wife.
Further, I do not think Lopez wrong in all his pro-Hasidic moves. The same sort of folks criticizing him here for supporting lower rise construction, criticize him for supporting high rise construction at Atlantic Yards. Surely, more affordable housing is being created at Atlantic Yards because the building are being built higher.
Yes, Lopez is a hypocrite on the matter of hi-rise construction, but so are those who oppose him.
Still, in the end, what makes this interesting is the irony of Vito Lopez being vilified for being pro-Hasidic.
Somewhere, the late Satmar Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum is enjoying a chuckle and raising a glass of Slivovitz. Feds probing Brooklyn housing plan backed by Assembly Vito Lopezt, sources say – NYPOST.com www.nypost.com
On 9/13/10, I wrote:
QUEENS DISTRICT LEADERS: Gatemouth is elated that South Asians in Queens are finally getting one of their own as District Leader, but Al Baldeo is a slug, so in AD 38, Part B, Gatemouth endorses Harpeet Toor for Male Leader. City Council candidate Albert Baldeo being investigated for allegedly listing phantom donors on his. www.nypost.com
I agree. Arizona chimps are far more appropriate for experimentation. Oppose Experiments on New Mexico Chimpanzees >> Research >> PCRM www.pcrm.org
Wish't I coulda found one of the man's great secular sermons like "The Women of Today" to convey his full power as a performer/preacher; but his will have to do. Somewhere in the afterworld Solomon is preachin good behavior and selling sandwiches for the long trip ahead (and maybe sharing some Slivovitz with Rabbi Teitelbaum while telling the Rebbe him about his Jewish dad, who plucked chickens for a kosher butcher. Solomon Burke – A Change is gonna come (Live at Festival Lent 2009) www.youtube.com