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VINES (#2-2011)
I haven’t done a “Vines” column in a long time since they always seem to get me in trouble. Anyway let’s give it another try.
My last column (“Sex, Lies, Video and Audiotape”) generated a whole lot of feedback. I am postponing part two for now.
Here are two endorsements from “The Rock”. I enthusiastically endorse Phil Goldfeder for the Assembly. I will give a lukewarm endorsement to Ruben Willis (City Council). Both races are in Queens. Phil Goldfeder will make a fine elected official. This is a prediction folks. He is going to win handily. He is a very intelligent guy. He might become mayor or governor one day.
Now Ruben on the other hand is a troublesome selection given his many personal woes; but he deserves a chance at finishing out the term. We can reassess him in 2013. One of his opponents (Rev. Kayode) is “good people”. I see Allan Jennings is still in the fray and mixing it up: a tenacious guy isn’t he? You’ve got to like Allan. He has a puncher’s chance here: but he is still a long shot. read more »
POLL: Should Eliot Spitzer run for public office again and how?
Not going to lie: This bit of news took me by surprise. Not so much because he's interested in running for office again, but because am actually shocked and appalled that he'd want to do so as a Democrat.
This from the New York Post: Former Governor Eliot Spitzer discusses potential campaign in 2010 for state comptroller - NYPOST.com
The Post first reported months ago that Spitzer was looking at a comeback.
Specifically, he had been looking at running for state comptroller or against appointed US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
At the time, he gave carefully worded denials about plans to run next year -- but he has continued to discuss the possibility, the Democratic sources said.
One Democratic insider said Spitzer had a heavy lift, given the weight of the scandal.
But the source added that with four of the six statewide officeholders appointed to their posts, things are chaotic.
Those officials "don't have bases of support," said the insider.
Ron over at Air America aptly points out: "Spitzer has an uphill battle. A Marist poll in September found that nearly seven in ten New Yorkers--and 62 percent of. Democrats--do not want Spitzer to seek statewide office".
He's definitely quite the pragmatist because, honestly, the day his resignation was announced was a state-wide day of mourning. Lots of feelings of betrayal that am wanton to think are still rather fresh.
So take the poll and let me know what you think in the comments section.
Harold Ford Jr wants to pull a Glenn Beck and troll for votes in New York?
Well what do you know? Via Patrick Ruffini comes a post by Glenn Trush musing about rumors that Harold Ford Jr may be testing the waters for a possible run against Kirsten Gillibrand.
Not that I am against primarying Gillibrand --as I have said before, I want both Gillibrand and Schumer to sweat their asses for the Senate seats they're not entitled to have. But ... I mean ... HAROLD FORD JR?!?!? Sure, the post is based on a single forum entry at Democratic Underground that posited: I live in NY and was just polled about a possible primary between Kirsten Gillabrand and Harold Ford Jr. for the Senate seat. I was wondering if anyone had heard if he was considering to run. But ... I still mean ... HAROLD FORD JR?!?!?
Is this the best New York State Democrats can come up with? A former Congressman for Tennessee who was thisclose to being a Republican?
In Congress, Ford had an ideologically conservative voting record. He supported a ban on benefits for same-sex couples, as well as the Federal Marriage Amendment (which would ban same-sex marriage). He told Democrats they should be more supportive of the Iraq War and criticized Senate Democrats who attempted to filibuster the nomination of Samuel Alito. He was one of the few Democrats who voted for the Bankruptcy Bill, and he supported some restrictions on abortion, defining himself as a pro-life candidate, including supporting a ban on intact dilation and extraction (called by its opponents, partial-birth abortion). He supported the Republican effort to intercede in the Terri Schiavo case
Ponder that one for a second. read more »
THE VINES (10-09).
I haven’t done a “grapevines” column in ages so here goes. Too many people are saying that David Paterson needs to step gingerly out of the upcoming gubernatorial race: too many people. I wonder why? If I were David I would be gearing up to run by giving them all the finger; which I suppose he is doing right now. This whole mess was handled wrong from the day Eliot Spitzer selected him for LG. Even though I am not sure David Paterson will get elected as governor, I still think he should run.
I hate it when the so-called “powers that be”, stifle competition amongst candidates and leave the voters with little or no choice (like they have now done with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand). By the way, do you know what Paterson said when he found out that he was selected to be Lieutenant Governor on Spitzer’s ticket? In his trademark jocular manner, I am told he said something to the effect: “surely, they couldn’t have vetted me”. He was right, wasn’t he? LOL. read more »
CBID Special Dinner and Updates on Election 2009
[UPDATE: Seems today's Daily News has confirmation that Nydia Velasquez is a front runner to replace Hillary Clinton should she be elevated by Obama (Cabinet or, possibly, Supreme Court). Don't know about you, but I heard it first at CBID!]
Tonight was CBID's (Central Brooklyn Independent Neighborhood Democrats) dinner honoring the Brooklyn for Obama people who worked so hard both locally and nationally to elect Barack Obama. It was held at Bogota, the excellent Colombian restaurant on 5th Ave. Those who know me know that I paid particular attention to the food, so let me get that out of the way, then I will mention some of the rumors that came my way today both at the dinner and by email after I posted my "Defeating Tsar Bloomberg and his Trained Surrender Monkeys" diary. read more »
