I have heard that Shelly Silver thinks Cuomo will keep his word and veto any redistricting done by legislature.

Shelly apparently feels that is preferable to agreeing to a non-partisan commission because he'd rather have the courts do it than a commission.

The reason is allegedly that Cuomo's districting bill explicitly states the Commission can't take incumbency into account while courts have previously ruled that incumbency can be considered.

Councilman Mark Weprin (to Gatemouth): Nice handicapping‏. Well done…You deserve all the credit that I hear you are taking.

For your consideration, a small sample of the witty incisive commentary that that Ben Smith protects from being sullied by the frightening prospect of a comments section.

As secretly agreed, I suspect, Cuomo will veto the usual incumbent protection redistricting plan, the legislature will over-ride, Cuomo will condemn, and that will be the end of it. Those who believe there should be actual elections in New York will have to find a way to create them otherwise, and it won’t be easy. Perhaps the media might consider encouraging challengers and challenging incumbents rather than the reverse. Perhaps someone might raise money to provide lawyers when the incumbents work to kick challengers off the ballot. Perhaps the ease of writing in candidates with the new machines might provide an avenue to an actual election. There will be no actual elections if the state legislature can avoid it.

Is this thing a pathetic cry for help?

Or is it something far more disturbing like a note from the Unabomber?

You doubt me; let me quote the author:

Last week, I informed my editors that after August 31st, 2011, I will no longer be a regular contributor to Room Eight New York Politics. I am taking my columns to a select and semi-public audience. You will just have to subscribe to get them. And there will be no comments-section, since serious readers know how to get their feedback to me: they have been doing it for years. 

Let me explain that further.

Mystery?

No Mystery here.

With Weiner gone, Chuck obviously feels driven to make sure he has at least one of his Chicklets in the House Mysterious phone poll has Cusick in House mix blog.silive.com