Hillary Clinton's unofficial surrogates in New York City have wasted no time trying to smear Barack Obama with the alleged involvement of Eliot Spitzer with a prostitution ring.

Specifically, less than 30 minutes after news of the Governor's alleged involvement with the high-priced Emperor's Club broke on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News, I received an e-mail from one of the most persistent Hillary backers in New York.

To wit, "As a reminder that a scandal can always be brewing around the corner -- especially for those politicians who like to project that they are 'above it all' -- see Eliot Spitzer. The hypocrisy is rich."

My receipt of this opportunistic and jaw-dropping e-mail was almost as shocking as the revelations of Governor Spitzer's misjudgment itself.

The speed and ease with which Hillary Clinton's unofficial surrogates have sought to benefit from the personal and professional troubles of a fellow Democratic - and the leader of her home state party no less - is mind numbing and frankly disgusting. While the e-mail does not mention Senator Obama by name - the implication is clear.  read more »

Maybe it’s the heat, maybe it’s the full moon, maybe it’s Rod Serling and we are all in some gigantic Twilight Zone episode, but tell us it is not some twisted, macho, hard headedness that has made you decide to bring Darren Dopp back to the government payroll. Just when there was so much to be thankful for and excited about in yesterday’s New York Times regarding your new kitchen cabinet - POW, today’s revelations about the return of the Republican’s favorite punching bag (i.e., mechanism for distraction and obfuscation from real issues). Why?  read more »

Today’s New York Times brings welcome news that the Governor has been making quiet and promising efforts to reshape his bold style. In particular, while the blogs have spent the better part of the past couple of weeks ferreting out Roger Stone and his one man “spam” campaign on behalf of Joe Bruno (btw – well done Daily Gotham and Albany Project) – the Governor has been reaching out to a group of seasoned advisers to help steer him through the current storm – (i.e., “trooper blooper”).

This new “kitchen cabinet” includes Robert E. Rubin, former treasury secretary under President Clinton; Jerry Speyer, a real estate developer who has advised governors since Hugh L. Carey; Abraham M. Lackman, a Republican and former top aide to Joe Bruno; Marc V. Shaw, Mike Bloomberg’s former first deputy mayor; Elizabeth Moore, former counsel to Gov. Mario Cuomo and first head of the Ethics commission; and James R. Tallon, Jr., former majority leader of the State Assembly. Talk about bringing in the “adults.”  read more »

There is a new groundbreaking idea and edict from the State Ethics Commission – get ready – officials who use state aircraft must reimburse the state for any portion of the trip unrelated to “bona fide” public business. Imagine such a concept. Well, at least no one can accuse New York of setting the bar too high for public official’s fiduciary responsibility.

As reported by the New York Times on Friday (“Ethics Commission Tightens Rules on Officials’ Aircraft Use” – 8/17/07 - Metro, B1), the Ethics Commission issued its new rule in response to Andrew Cuomo’s report, from last month, regarding Joe Bruno’s travel at taxpayer expense.

While it’s nice that the Ethics Commission has finally decided to narrow the loophole – indeed, it was so big that you could have flown two C-130’s through it at the same time – it is troubling that Andrew Cuomo, good government groups and imagine this, the Senate Republicans have pointed out the deficiencies in the supposed remedy.  read more »

The pundits in Washington all agree that Hillary Clinton had the line of the night in last week’s AFL-CIO candidate forum in Chicago with “I’m your girl!” – a figurative touchdown on Chicago’s Soldier Field. At the same time she may have also committed a crucial turnover on a later drive to secure her front-runner status.

Specifically, as she sought to paint Barack Obama and the rest of the field as ill equipped to deal with serious presidential issues, Mrs. Clinton told the crowd that candidates and presidents should not always say what they are really thinking. To the D.C. establishment of politicians, pundits, consultants and party insiders this is as much of a verity as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.  read more »