"It is a function of government and politicians to invent philosophies to explain the demands of its own convenience." - Murray Kempton

A couple of weeks ago New York City’s term limits law was extended legislatively by the New York City Council and Mayor Bloomberg based upon the rationale that the City needs consistent leadership to get us through the coming economic crisis. The editorial boards of all the city’s daily newspapers made this exact case to their readers and our elected officials echoed their argument. Council Speaker Quinn said “given the level of economic tumult that exists, I have decided to change my position [opposing the extension of term limits] because I believe the potential of consistent leadership by this council and this mayor would be in the best interest of the city during these hard economic times."  read more »

This could have been the time for changing New York’s incumbent protection election system. During the last council election in 2005, almost two thirds (28 out of 34) of the incumbents running had no primary. Four of the other six incumbents being challenged won with more than 80% of the vote. The controversial term limits vote is the only opportunity to negotiate with enough councilmember to get the votes needed for Charter change that will insure real competitive elections in this one party town. It is a failure of the Citizen Union and other good government groups as well as the newspaper editorial boards and the reform clubs of this city not to demand changes that could have been used as a bargaining chip by both sides in this forced debate.

Changes needed to give challenges a better chance against incumbents include: a reduction in the number of petition signatures required to get on the ballot; non partisan redistricting; reductions in constituent mailings and office staff; equal time on the city’s cable TV stations and council web sites for challengers and opposition voices and an end to member items.

Petitions  read more »

Sometimes I wish I had gone the route of anonymous blogging so that I could really, really say what's on my mind about all the tards and turds of the Democratic Party --because, you know I already hate all republican politicians.

My dreams of anonymous blogging used to get a wettie everytime I read The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs. fakeSTEVE was outed recently but I just as soon decided to not remember his name. I didn't want to destroy the 'childlike wonder' of his anonymity (this, btw, is one of his running jokes). I'd rather believe realSTEVE would call Microsoft's Steve Ballmer SquirrelBoy or that he'd cast aspersions on open-source software activists and devotees by calling them freetards; as opposed to knowing he's some awesomely snarky writer working for Forbes.com.

Which is why I coined the neologism, demotard. So that I could give a shout out to fakeSTEVE and the freetards when I give you the political blind item of the week :

Which demotard got his manties in bunch last week because I dared to criticize an incumbent, his incumbent, because the incumbent happens to be a Democrat!

The manties wearing human excrescence went as far to use my children to attack me for not sucking up to his free lunch and his office.

The. Douchebag. Went. There.  read more »

At St. Paul's Chapel (just south of City Hall Park on Broadway at Fulton), Thursday evening, considering joining the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing for a convocation and overnight vigil at City Hall for housing justice. The convocation, which runs from 6:30PM to 8:30PM, will honor and recognize the work such groups as Coalition for the Homeless, The Pratt Center for Community & Economic Development, The Supportive Housing Network and Picture The Homeless.

Following the convocation will be an overnight Vigil for Housing Justice in City Hall Park starting at 9PM and concluding at 7AM -- perhaps so they'll be gone as Deputy Mayors and their aides stagger into work. You can register for the vigil online here or just show up. (As Woody Allen reminds us, 90% of life is just showing up).

The convocation and vigil presents a quandary, however for fans of Grey's Anatomy, like me -- a two-hour special of innuendo and sexual bantering -- is a do-not-miss event. Can I or you learn to program a VCR in time?  read more »

What better way to start the day than with a good Rudy-bashing?

Jacob Weisberg has written for Financial Times a rather brutal assessment of Rudy Guiliani's legacy :

Over time, however, Mr Giuliani’s personal limitations became increasingly evident. Instead of taking on new challenges after his re-election in 1997, he dedicated his second term to vanquishing his remaining enemies. Fran Reiter, who served as a deputy mayor under Mr Giuliani, describes him as depressed and directionless after being sworn in for the second time. “He can get mired in the petty stuff,” Ms Reiter says. “He doesn’t suffer political opponents well and there are times when he doesn’t compromise well.”

In his second term, Mr Giuliani showed himself to be a classic micro-manager, unable to delegate and unwilling to share the spotlight. He had already driven out William Bratton, his triumphant chief of police, in a battle over credit. Mr Bratton’s fate was sealed when he appeared on the cover of Time. Nor could Mr Giuliani abide ridicule. He went to court to try to stop New York Magazine from advertising itself on the sides of buses as “possibly the only good thing in New York Rudy hasn’t taken credit for”.

Now, this article is not what it seems. Read closely and you'll notice this is not so much about Rudy but about who is not Rudy.

The answer? Michael Bloomberg.  read more »