is a strange one. I have a feeling that Anthony Weiner and Bill Thompson are playing a serious game of chicken. Both of them want to be Mayor, but neither of them wants to suffer the fate handed to Freddy Ferrer in 2005. Of course, neither of them has the baggage that Ferrer carried, and both of them have the term-limits putsch to use.

Thompson's ups and downs: He's the Comptroller, which means he has more experience dealing with the city's finances, and that will probably be the #1 issue in this year's election. He is also said to have made a deal with Adolfo Carrion to secure much of the Latino vote, which is why Carrion is planning to run for Comptroller (provided he doesn't get the call from President-elect Obama). The down side -- how does he attack a mayor with whom he has worked for eight years without having separated himself from Bloomberg's policies (at least publicly) in all that time? Thompson can also drop out and run for a third term as Comptroller, but if he runs for Mayor and loses, he has to look elsewhere for a job (not that he woulnd't find something).

Weiner's ups and downs: First the downs -- he has no executive or economic experience, and hasn't distinguished himself in his 10 years in the House. He also doesn't want to be known as a 2-time loser, even though it's a fairly easy label to overcome when all the facts are out there. The up side -- he has no link to Mayor Bloomberg, and has a long record of opposing many of the rotten things Bloomberg has done, on education, city "planning," etc. He positioned himself in 2005 as a "man of the middle class," and is keeping to that image. Also, if he loses to Bloomberg this time, he can stay in Congress and run again in four years.

It's gonna be fun. The fun-loving side of me hopes they both run for Mayor, Weiner for the entertainment value, and Thompson because it opens up a bunch of races.

If Anthony Weiner wants to be the next Mayor, he should forget about making "Chuck Schumer" Sunday news photo ops & concentrate on more local issues in local neighborhoods like downzoning issues in Brighton Beach, Coney Island Redevelopemnt issues ( unless he too is bought & paid for by developer Joe Sitt), making some noise on the issues of priority spending. Going to Bernie Mack's Park Ave. Penthouse & doing a photo op isn't going to do it. Does Mr. Weiner know that Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz wants to build a $ 64 million Open Air Amphitheater in Asser Levy-Seaside Park when Library hours are cut, fire house are closing, police funds drying up, education funds being cut. Is this a priority for the residents of Brooklyn? I know it isn't. I haven't heard Mr. Weiner take on any of these meat & potato issues. Why is he so afraid of Mr. Markowitz ? Mr. Weiner take a stand on these issues, show some independence & don't just be another loser.

Bloomberg is now looking to return to the Republican Party to run. Could it be that Schumer squashed his thought of getting 3 of the 5 Democratic Leaders to approve his running under the Democratic Party Line? The Republican Party Leaders and their county committees are divided but with the past monies Bloomberg has donated to the RNC they maybe swayed more.

As for Weiner's support of term limits, it's still there as is Thompson's. Weiner can definately win and needs to get out there more dealing with the issues that affect NYC. Between the 2 of them I lean to Weiner but if Thompson stays in the race for Mayor and defeats Weiner in the Primary I will support him also. As for Markowitz he has yet to endorse Bloomberg for a 3rd term and G.R., you're right, we don't need an Amphitheatre here but we do need our fire houses, libraries,etc kept open and more money for education/teachers. What I need to ask, is where is our outrage and protests against this Amphitheatre?

I want you all to also keep in mind that the term limits issue is still out there to be resolved with Oral Arguments being heard last Monday in Federal Court. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.

Note to Dan Jacoby: Sorry your group lost your case against the CFB.

That we succeed against Bloomberg 29.