Liveblogging from The Tank's Mayoroke. This is so wrong, with all that is happening in the country, the horrid climate around September 13th and the million things I need to do, but I came anywhere.

The place is packed with 20-somethings who are singing their hearts out of tune shamelessly --so much so people that people are actually singing with them. This is the cutest thing ever. I feel so old whenever I come to The Tank. What is remarkable is that most of the people here are working on one campaign or another. These are club kids, but of the political kind.

There is a couple singing right now that are the cutest. She has a great voice. He's the candidate. They're singing Sonny and Cher's I've got you babe. His name is Eric Cesnik, running for city council. He's talking about how he started in politics as a kid going door to door for Mondale and Ferraro. He has declared himself an original Deaniac, "before it was fashionable". But\, by grock, that was about 2 years ago when he was probably still in his teens. Is he the youngest candidate of the whole lot?

The is an intresting mix of 80s pop and 60s soul.

Chic's DANCE, DANCE, DANCE
Bowie's CHANGES
Madonna LIKE A VIRGIN
The Beatles PAPERBACK WRITER
Aretha's RESPECT
Divnyl's I TOUCH MYSELF
Cyndi Lauper's GIRLS WANT TO HAVE FUN

There is a constant stream of people walking up to the mike. No other candidates in sight, though. Which begs the question : Does this really work as a way into the younger constituents? Because, I mean, the older generations of poll workers and campaign volunteers that used to litter the political landscape of places like Stuyvesant Town are disappearing. The younger crowd of retirees do not necessarily have the same kind of urgency.

These are the crowds that count. Here is where the new generations of activist are 'growing up'. Of course, the business of running for office is, well, a business. The CEOs are not necessarily than interested in spending time with their workers at office parties.

We so have to get rid of the corporate metaphors, don't you think?

It's 9:18pm. The candidates were supposed to be streaming in by now. None in sight yet. Not that I blame them ... the timing kind of sucks. Makes me wonder. Is it OK to be here while bashing Condoleezza for go all Imelda Marcos on the people of New Orleans while plunking down several thousands dollars for shoes in a New York City store? Doesn't she deserve some RnR?

9:25pm
Carlos Manzano (candidate for Manhattan Borough President) just came in, picked a song and is ready to go. He's being a bit bashful. Another young guy. Singing INXS' "I need you tonight". Very appropriate.

He's been phrasing it quite well. He's now belting the "I'M LONELY"S like it's nobody's business.

Fuck yeah. I so needed to laugh today.

Interesting, now that I am listening to him, with his background and his stump speech, Rasiej and him would have been a really interesting slate. Why is it that the city has no slates / coalitions or teams of candidates supporting and endorsing each other? What's wrong with that?

Back to the karaoke : OK, I think is wrong for nerdy looking guys to sing "This is how we do it".

It's.

Just.

Wrong.

I mean, the guy looks like out of AVATAR and his saying, "We need to bring it back to old school"?

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

Gotta good voice though. And OK, he's cute.

9:38pm

Scott Stringer just walked in. There's a girl singing "Pour some sugar on me".

Hello!

9:49pm

Scott Stringer just had an aide sing for him ""Back in the USSR" because, allegedly, he has laryngitis. All he could say was "Go out and VOTE".

I couldn't agree more.

I just found out that Manzano is 38. WOW! He does not look a day older than 37.

Heh.

No, really. He looks at least 10 years younger. It's the Latino genes. I swear. We're like Dorian Gray but without the painting in the attic.

Lewis Cohen, fundraiser extraordinaire for what seems like all the candidates, is here. My dangling particles are getting big ... and there's a guy singing a more than respectable "Lights on Broadway".

Oh dear. This is the karaoke moment. A drunk girl jumping around singing "Material Girl" and going into the 'crowd' urging them to sing. Oh dear. And she's Canadian.

Well, people are leaving and now there is a guy screecing a "Born to be Wild" that ... just ... well ... tell's this is really coming to an end. And he just belted a "fuck you Bloomberg". Yup. They must be running out of beers.

10:26pm

I was packed up and ready to go and guess who walks in ... Norman Siegel. And he is hamming up ... lypsincing. Yup. Norman Siegle and the Sieglettes. They are singing and he is lynsiegling it. Shit. I really was looking forward to him singing.

Interesting campaign promise : There will be an annual public advocate "doo-wop" concert.

Ok. I'm done. I was also looking forward to hearing Bill Perkins, but I hear he is at funeral. Downer of a note to end the night while a babe sings "Give us the night".

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