Author: Gatemouth

“The proclamation issued by this Office designating April as Third Reich History Month contained a major omission. The failure to include any reference to the Holocaust was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow German who has been offended or disappointed. The abomination of the Holocaust divided our nation, deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights, and led to the Second World War. The Final Solution was an evil, vicious and inhumane practice which degraded human beings to cadavers, and it has left a stain on the soul of this nation. In 2007, the Bundestag approved a formal statement of “profound regret” for the Nation’s history of anti-Semitism, which was the right thing to do.

As Germans we carry with us both the burdens and the blessings of our history. German history undeniably includes the fact that we were the Third Reich, the site of more concentration camps than any other nation, and the home of the War Crimes Trails at Nuremberg. Our history is perhaps best encapsulated in a fact I noted in my Inaugural Address: The nation that served as ground zero for the Holocaust was also the first in the world to pay reparations. The world’s history has been written in Germany. We cannot avoid our past; instead we must demand that it be discussed with civility and responsibility. During the commemoration of the Second World War over the next few years, I intend to lead an effort to promote greater understanding and harmony in our nation among our citizens.”

As the creator of the beloved Stoned Crackwhore, I am not unaware of the fun to be had from a good prank, but someone had surely outdone me this time

Right before my eyes on Room 8 was a column purporting to be authorized by former NY One anchor turned convicted wife beater Dominic Carter.

So much to do, with last minute Passover preparation.

What do you coat the chicken with when soy sauce is verboten? It is enough to make one consider joining Shas [even the most ultra-religious Sephardim have no problems with beans during Pesach, but my heterodox collective of Social Democrats and Euro-malcontents insist upon being hometz-free in the Ashkenazic sense].

Unfinished pieces concerning Israel, Republican insanity over health care, the implications of the 44^th Councilmanic race, and the entire state government recusing itself from accountability for anything are piling up on my G Drive likes planes waiting to land at LGA.

BROOKLYN COURIER: Here’s a crazy little tidbit that fell through the cracks during Monday night’s rally decrying the March 2 gay bashing on Luquer Street.

Lemon? Meet lemonade.

I have to admit that I was glad the House Democrats abandoned the attempt to use a process called “Deem and Pass” to enact Health Care Reform. My qualm came not from moral concerns, but from an excess of legalistic caution. The constitutionality of Deem and Pass has never been tested, and so tested, it might very well not fly.

But, if ever there was a case where a challenge on the basis of constitutionality should have been drummed out of court on the grounds of equitable estoppel and unclean hands, it would be for a Republican challenge of this bill for such a reason. As with “Reconciliation,” the Republican Party has previously used “Deem and Pass” to enact legislation. While, unlike in the case of reconciliation, they have apparently not previously used it to pass major bills, the constitutionality of the procedure does not hinge upon the newsworthiness of the legislation it is being used to pass.

Poll for the day:

Which would be the best way to deliver to Hiram the political equivalent of cutting him (and not on his face) with a piece of broken glass?

1) Build up Peralta's victory margin?

2) Hope the Republican edges him out of second place?

3) Take him and his collaborators, shave their heads and run them naked through the streets (before you choose this option, remember that it would involve seeing Carl Kruger with his clothes off)?

On Wednesday, March 12, 2008 a meltdown occurred on my hard drive destroying a nearly complete 600 page manuscript documenting my life and times in the world of New York City political blogging. Simultaneously, a meltdown of far less significance to my daily life occurred in Albany, as New York Governor Eliot Spitzer announced his resignation from office.

The origins of both these events, each of which I consider to be tragic (but surely regarded by many others with glee), stemmed from similar sources. My hard-drive contracted a virus probably acquired from visits to venues mostly frequented by naked women. The origins of the Governor’s meltdown had a similar pedigree, although my disabling virus was contacted at sites where the admission was free, while the Governor’s problems seemingly stemmed from a misunderstanding of the Albany concept of “pay to play”.

LIZ BENJAMIN (from “O'Donnell Considering Congressional Run”): I asked [Assemblyman Daniel] O'Donnell if he thought the fact that the composition of the district and the fact that the seat has been considered a "black seat" would pose a problem for him. He noted that the composition of his AD "almost mirrors" that of Rangel's district, and he performed well across all voting blocs in 2002. 
 

GRATEFUL DEAD: Rich man step on my poor head,
When you get back you better butter my bread.
Well, do you know it's like I said,
You better head back to Tennessee Jed.

Always check the blogs before that second glass of wine.

If I’d checked the blogs earlier, I’d of been able to write a decent piece about tonite’s main event.

Of course you all know the story.

An African-American political wannabee carpetbagger, born far away, and barely residing in his purported constituency, a man who was utterly clueless about how to win a New York election, and lacked anything approaching a coherent rationale, but who nonetheless attracted attention bordering upon hype from those obsessed with classless chattering, has finally shown his true colors by ending his latest political endeavor almost before it ever really started, complete with a disingenuous Op-Ed piece spouting self-serving excuses and rationalizations not even he believes.