As the returns filter in, it looks like Jose Peralta is trouncing Slasher Monserrate in the special election to fill Monserrate's State Senate seat after Monserrate got kicked out by his colleagues after he beat up his girlfriend.

Hiram "Slasher" Monserrate has always been something of a thuggish DINO. He really pissed people off by briefly switching to Republican to throw the State Senate back into paralysis out of some immature tantrum. I was disgusted by how NY State Democrats welcomed him back when his petty tantrum was over and he switched back to Democrat.

Then came the allegation, partly based on behavior caught on film, that he slashed his girlfriend's face with broken glass then brutally manhandled her to the hospital. Yes, we are talking about a State Senator here, not some common thug...or maybe he IS a common thug who happened to get to the State Senate. Here is footage of him manhandling his girlfriend...you tell me. Is this how YOU would handle your injured beloved?  read more »

This comes from Democracy for NYC:

Tuesday, March 16, 2010, there will be a special election for State Senate, right here in NYC. Democracy for NYC is proud to announce that we have endorsed Assemblymember José Peralta. Here are the results of the endorsement vote:

74% José Peralta
26% No Endorsement
0% Hiram Monserrate

If you've heard about this race, it may seem like Peralta will win easily. But Monserrate has big name recognition in this district - he was the Senator until he was expelled by vote of the State Senate after a serious domestic violence offense. Peralta is a great candidate, but unknown to many in the district and it will take a lot of grassroots volunteers to make sure the voters know about this very important election.

Homophobic Flyer:
José Peralta is a strong supporter of marriage equality, and his opponent Hiram Monserrate voted against the marriage equality bill. As reported by Daily News reporter Liz Benjamin, the following homophobic flyer is being distributed by supporters of Hiram Monserrate at churches in the 13th Senate District:
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/anti-gay-rhetoric...  read more »

Liz Benjamin's blog has a piece saying that Assemblymember and candidate for state Senate José Peralta is accusing Hiram Monserrate of being a "liar and an abuser."

Here's the problem -- Peralta may be as corrupt as Monserrate. According to a Daily News article, Peralta has received half a million bucks in state and federal member items for a nonprofit that, for all practical purposes, doesn't exist.

It appears that before we throw the rascals out we need to take a good, hard look at the new rascals who are coming in.

On a side note, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) requires that an artistic entity be around for three years, and prove their activities are worthy, before they can even be considered for a grant; perhaps all state money given to nonprofits should have similar requirements.