I always know when a column has touched some raw nerves: the phones start ringing almost as soon as the column is e-mailed; long before it even goes public/viral/lol. And that’s when I usually have to defend my thesis or ”splain” myself like the deceased Lucille Ball. My last column- primarily about the potential Ed Towns v. Hakeem Jeffries congressional primary next year- brought some strange calls and e-mails. So let me expound on some of the things I wrote there and even throw in some other kibbles and bits.

Political junkies who read my columns regularly, tend to like the juicy tidbits of political gossip that emanate from Brooklyn mainly. Some of them would just love to see me fall on my face with one of these columns; or better yet: get sued for libel or slander. They keep waiting and hoping and wishing for that day. I say this: keep waiting and wishing and hoping. My stuff is tighter than the deceased Jack Benny’s wallet.  read more »

Look; I know that an official statement hasn’t been released, so I expect the usual coy denials will forthcoming when mainstream-media sources dig into this topic later this week. I am going to put my credibility on the line here: Hakeem Jeffries has decided to challenge Ed Towns for the 10th congressional seat in next year’s primary.

So how do I know? Well……………….…………..ancient Chinese secret/lol.

Truly folks: it’s a combination of analysis, observation, common sense and some rather interesting sources. The only person that stops this race from happening is Ed himself. Ed can retire; or he can try to cut a deal with Hakeem. In such a deal, Ed could request that Jeffries hold off a challenge next year and instead support him for re-election to congress. In return Towns will retire in two years then support Jeffries as his replacement. The problem with that is the folks around Hakeem don’t trust Towns beyond their eyesight.  read more »

I want to highlight some recent endorsements for David Weprin for Congress in the Sept. 13th special election for the NY-9 Congressional seat. This is a great opportunity to beat a teabagger candidate and support our teachers, firefighters and cops.

From two Firefighters Unions:

Firefighters, Officers Endorse David Weprin
for Congress

Today, at “The Enchanted Cottage,” Engine 305 in Forest Hills, New York, David
Weprin, Democratic Candidate for Congress in New York’s Ninth Congressional
District, received the endorsement of the the Uniformed Fire Officers Association
(UFOA) and United Firefighters Association (UFA).

"Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect New Yorkers, and we
need leaders like David Weprin fighting on the front lines for us in Washington,”
said UFOA President Al Hagan. “At every opportunity, David Weprin has stood up
for firefighters--by supporting working men and women at every turn and fighting
to protect the homeland security funding that ensures we can do our jobs safely
and effectively. He will fight against efforts in Washington to cut the Medicare and Social Security programs so many of our retired members rely on, and we
enthusiastically endorse David Weprin for the United States Congress."
Click here for a photo from the event.

"The UFA is proud to endorse David Weprin for Congress. As City Council
Finance Chair, David Weprin fought efforts to shutter FDNY companies that keep
our communities safe and secure. He understands the dangerous and difficult
job of firefighters, and we are confident he will do everything in his power when in Congress to see that the FDNY has needed funding and resources to protect New Yorkers," Jim Slevin, Vice President and Legislative Chair of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said. "David Weprin is a leader who will protect the benefits firefighters and first responders have earned over a lifetime of hard work. He'll fight the Republican efforts to cut Medicare and Social Security and will stand up for the working families who call Queens and Brooklyn home. That's why I join the UFOA and UFA in my proud support of David Weprin for Congress," said Congressman Joe Crowley.

"We need a strong partner in Congress like David Weprin who will stand with us
to keep firehouses open and ensure first responders have the resources they
need to protect us. Working men and women throughout New York can count on
David Weprin to protect their rights and fight against any cuts to the vital Social Security and Medicare programs they have paid into throughout their entire
careers," said City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Chair of the New York City
Council Fire and Criminal Justice Committee.

New York City has one of the largest fire departments in the world, with over
11,000 firefighters and over 3,300 EMTs and paramedics.

“I am honored to receive the support of the UFA and the UFOA. Each and every
day, New York’s Bravest make untold sacrifices to keep our city safe,” said
Weprin. “At a time when the financial security of millions of Americans is in
jeopardy, it is critical that those who have sacrificed so much for us – our
firefighters and first responders – know that Social Security and Medicare will be
there for them. In Congress, I will fight to make sure that no first responder, nor their families, have to worry whether the benefits they’ve earned over a lifetime will be there when they need them.”  read more »

I recently posted endorsements and info on three key candidates running in the Sept. 13th primary/special elections. As a reminder, I am urging readers to vote for:

DAVID WEPRIN FOR CONGRESS
CHERYL GONZALES FOR KINGS COUNTY CIVIL COURT JUDGE
JESUS GONZALEZ FOR ASSEMBLY

For those who want to help stop a particularly horrible right wing extremist running for Congress, you can do phonebanking or canvassing for David Weprin for Congress at the following times and locations:

Brooklyn Phonebank for David Weprin:

Thursday September 1st, 6:30 - 9 PM
Location: TJ Democratic Club. 77 Conklin Ave Brooklyn NY (near the Canarsie/Rockaway Pkwy L station) RSVP/details: lauriewheelock@gmail.com

Brooklyn Canvasses for David Weprin:

Friday September 2nd, Two shifts: 1PM & 5PM
Locations: 1PM Mill Basin canvass from the TJ club (see above); 5PM meet at Key Food(Ave U & 66th) for visibility followed by Mill Basin canvass. RSVP/details: lauriewheelock@gmail.com

Sunday, September 4th, Two shifts: 1PM & 5PM  read more »

I was never a huge fan of Anthony Weiner. Don't get me wrong. Sometimes the guy could be brilliant. He slammed the Republicans in ways they sure deserved to be slammed. He called bullshit on Republicans more often than almost anyone, and believe me we need more people to call bullshit on the greedy bunch of Billionaire Koch Brothers lackeys that is the modern Republican party. Plus, the scandal that brought Weiner down, though it showed Weiner's stupider side, also showed the deep, deep, deep hypocrisy of the Greedy Oil Party who some how think Weiner's flirtatious texting is somehow worse than David "diaper" Vitter's hiring prostitutes and Newt Gingrich's and John Boehner's flat out cheating on their wives. As long as Republicans are led by the likes of lying, cheating Boehner they have NO RIGHT to complain about Weiner.

All that said, Weiner is out of the picture and presumably will not be in the public eye for awhile.

The special election for Weiner's seat pits Republican Bob Turner, a typical greedy, anti-working class, anti-middle class, right wing lackey of the Billionaire Koch Brothers, against Assemblyman David Weprin, a conservative-leaning but very thoughtful orthodox Jew who has served New York as Deputy Superintendent of Banks and Secretary of the Banking Board for New York State under Mario Cuomo, Queens City Councilman, and then in the Assembly. To me it is a pretty easy choice. Weprin has the experience, intelligence and dedication to be in Congress. Turner has nothing but typical Greedy Oil Party Herbert Hoover era crap that Weiner would call bullshit on.  read more »