The Gateway (New York’s Best Inside-Baseball Scorecard Edition)

If Room Eight is really “New York’s Best Inside-Baseball Scorecard,” how come no one here noticed this item from the 10/18/11 Village Voice until 10/31? New York Best Inside-Baseball Scorecard – Room Eight – Best Of New York – Village Voice www.villagevoice.com  

 

 

While trying to find and link Harry Siegel's excellent OWS piece (see below) I found this old piece from the recent special elections, and I'd just like to let Harry (and Morgan Pehme) know that Letitia James DID NOT  first win office in a special election.

But far more distressing is Mogan’s comment: "If Bob Tuner wins…and Jesus wins that would be a humongous blow to Vito…If you can't demonstrate you can win, that is the death of the party boss."

Congrats to Morgan; his candidate for Congress won.  

Query: Will New Kings Democrats throw this not-so-closet-reactionary off their board at the first opportunity? Or will they instead prove what many already suspect: that they think being a regular Democratic is a far worse sin than being a far right wing Republican? Forget Rome: Jesus Gonzalez Takes on Brooklyn blogs.villagevoice.com 

UPDATE: Since someone questioned my facts, let me elucidate further:

During the special election, Lincoln Restler wrote a disgraceful article which could only be called anti-Weprin. Only when loudly called out on it on R8 did he grudgingly admit that Weprin was the preferable candidate.

But, despite the fact the article appeared in papers well ciruclated inside the 9th CD, Restler made no effort to follow up and clarify his remarks where they had done the damage.

I submit this is because he cared more about embarrassing Vito Lopez than about beating a right wing Republican.

Pehme, who was business partners with Gary Tilzer and now works for Henry Stern (both of whom have in recent years morphed into conservatives still beloved of liberals because of the myth that they are goo-goos) is even wrose. His quote can only be interpreted as out and out support of Turner.

The left dismissal of Weprin, exemplified at places like The Albany Project, and NKD was one more reason why we suffered the embarrassment of this defeat. Restler and Pehme should hang their heads in shame.

And the worst part, of course, was Vito wasn't even embarrassed; in fact, he turned Weprin's defeat into a piece of evidence that he was triumphant in this year's elections.

In a way, this was poetic justice for NKD.

Too bad it sucked so badly for the country.

 

 

Daily Politics thinks Gerry Ferraro was a Republican. That would be news to George H.W. Bush. Roundup: Shelly Silver Started The Fire | PolitickerNY www.politickerny.com  

 

 

Ross Wallenstein is blogging; welcome to the fraternity, Ross! Queens Courier queenscourier.com  

 

 

Because this remarkable article by Harry Siegel is sympathetic to the Zuccotti Park occupiers, with some highly critical remarks about police conduct (mixed with some appropriately empathetic remarks about the difficulties the police there face), what it implies is far more damning than Michael Goodwin’s disgraceful hit piece on the same topic (redeemed slightly by its juxtaposition to Goodwin’s very wise comments about fining cabbies for horn-honking). 

One does not have to sympathize with the participants’ farcical delusion that they are building “a model for the bigger society we’d like to see,” to regret the tragedy which seems to be unfolding.

Even without the pernicious police conduct, the scene at Zuccotti appears to be degenerating and winter does not help.

Unlike the legislation-linked protests in Madison which helped to inspire it, OWS does not come with a natural expiration date. Without one, attrition will surely be spun by those who spin into the perception of defeat, which does not really seem fair, but was probably inevitable without articulated goals.

As I've said before, this is the time for someone to say "this is bigger than Zuccotti; this is a national movement of which Zuccotti is just one small piece. We have accomplished our goal of shifting the conversation and we will continue an unrelenting series of actions to accomplish real change. While we will continue to maintain a symbolic presence at Zuccotti, we need to maintain our strength for the real and hard battles ahead, so most of us will be heading home to keep up the fight in our own communities–and we will be organizing and voting, so watch out!" At Occupy Wall Street central, a rift is growing between east and west sides of the plaza www.nydailynews.com  

 

 

A very upsetting article, sadly emblematic of OWS’ deterioration. The quote from the young woman, "“We don’t tell anyone… We handle it internally. I said too much already,” echoes the sort of comments liberals get justifiably upset about when they come from Hasidim.

So, why the silence here?

Folks, enabling rapists by a failure to report is a somewhat bigger sin than denouncing them to the Police. Fiend attacks 'Occupy' protester in her tent www.nypost.com  

 

 

Silver is right. OWS is following the Assembly Dems’ lead on the "Millionaires' Tax."

This means that, like the Assembly Dems, OWS was doing nothing about it until someone lit a fire under their butts. Silver: OWS Is Following Our Lead On Millionaire’s Tax www.capitaltonight.com  

 

 

Brooklyn Pols marching in support of Occupy Wall Street don’t actually march there; this would call to mind Phil Ochs’  line "I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
," except for the fact that I don't think they sent any money either. Sizzle and fizzle! Old-school pols’ ‘Occupy’ rally fades in Manhattan www.brooklynpaper.com
  

 

 

Banning fracking in the City of Albany is purely symbolic, as all the gas there is above the ground. Jennings Vetoes Fracking Ban, Cites DEC www.capitaltonight.com  

 

 

Sometimes I wish Halloran were a Buddhist instead of a pagan. He could then wear a similar robe while taking a vow of silence. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/10/another-day-another-dan-halloran-f-bomb www.nydailynews.com  

 

 

Yes, the GOP has a shot at picking up Kruger's seat for the reasons I've been articulating for months. And yes, redistricting will have a big impact on whether this happens. But, contrary to this article, the Congressional redistricting, and the fate of Bob Turner, will have a tangential impact at best. Can Republicans Win SD 27? www.capitaltonight.com  

 

 

Like "The Jig," Gatemouth is elated that Bob Turner is going to Afghanistan.

Where we differ is that I'd prefer he stay there.

If Turner likes Gerritsen Beach and Midwood for sharing his views on social issues, he should LUV Kabul big time. Congressman Bob Turner Goes To Afghanistan!! | The Jig Is Up Atlas thejigisupatlas.blogspot.com  

 

 

Imbecile Bob Ginsberg, who backed Ralph Nader against Al Gore while sitting on the Democratic State Committee, says we need a progressive to beat Obama for the nomination so we can win in November.

This is like switching to unfiltered cigarettes to avoid lung cancer. Ex-Dem Leader Seeks ‘Progressive’ Primary Challenger For Obama www.capitaltonight.com  

 

 

Shooting Fish in a Barrel Department: Conservatives Brought Nation to Default & Ask for Govt. Handouts www.thedailybeast.com