Weiner files 2009 papers
The Daily News reports that Anthony Weiner has filed preliminary papers for a possible mayoral run in 2009.
"I haven't made any firm decisions but what we're doing today is laying the foundation, so that if I decide to run for mayor, I'll win," Weiner, 42, told the Daily News...
Asked yesterday how serious he is about running again for mayor, Weiner replied, "Many of the same things that I talked about when I ran for mayor in 2005 continue to keep me up at night."
Other potential Democratic rivals include City Controller William Thompson, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Councilman Tony Avella (D-Queens), a self-described "long shot," is the only officially announced candidate for mayor in 2009. Mayor Bloomberg must step down on Dec. 31, 2009, because of term limits.
Of course, our very own Liza has said that she'd get in the race in the event of a Betsy Gotbaum candidacy, with the express intent of heaping ridcule on that poor, befuddled creature.
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2009 Elections | New York City | Anthony Wiener
Do it lady!
Submitted by mole333 on 23 February 2007 - 8:04pm.
Betsy "What's her name" can't even keep the one decent promise she made. She promised to fight Ratner if eminent domain was used. Well, it's been used and not a peep out of her. She's a liar as well as useless.
The "private" advocate...
Submitted by Bouldin on 23 February 2007 - 8:10pm.
...might perhaps have a sandwich for you, if you lose electricity for nine days or your name is Brooke Astor.
LIZA
Submitted by ROSALIE907 on 23 February 2007 - 11:48pm.
Better get ready to start petitioning. I know someone who's close (politically) to Betsy who told me that she's seriously considering running for Mayor. As for Weiner, somebody better tell him to distance himself from Yvette Clark. With her help he'll win the Haitian vote but lose others.
Slogans
Submitted by mole333 on 24 February 2007 - 11:37am.
We can already start coming up with slogans for 2009:
Anthony Weiner: "Remember me? I conceded gracefully last time." or "This time, with Yvette's help, I can get some black votes."
Marty Markowitz: "Where are the clowns? There ought to be clowns." or "I scratch Ratner's back, he gets me elected."
Betsy Gotbaum: "Who cares if I did nothing at all. I am woman. Hear me roar." or ".................." (also called "The Sounds of Silence.")
I always tell people
Submitted by Bouldin on 24 February 2007 - 12:01pm.
...don't underestimate Markowitz. His Brooklyn Boy shtick grates on the nerves of a certain kind of white liberal, but I can see him being very popular with the blue-collar vote in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens. Just because he doesn't shop at the Park Slope co-op or converse knowledgeably about interpretative dance - is, in short, too blue collar himself for many refined tastes - doesn't mean he won't potentially have very broad appeal.
You misunderstand
Submitted by mole333 on 24 February 2007 - 1:07pm.
I used to like him. In fact I considered him a pretty ideal BP. But then he started endorsing Republicans, playing Ratner's willing slave, and getting nasty. He had the nerve, after endorsing Bloomberg, to accuse Chris Owens of "disloyalty" for his endosement of a Green candidate.
So, for helping Republicans, supporting misuse of eminent domain and for being a hypocrite, I oppose him.
Also, I should note, that my original assessment that he was an almost ideal BP might mean he is not an ideal mayor since the jobs are very different. BP is more "bread and circuses" while mayor has some real authority and managerial tasks.
All true, but
Submitted by Bouldin on 24 February 2007 - 1:58pm.
...I'm referring to the selling that will be the race itself. And on that front, Markowitz has significant strengths, as much as it may gall this white liberal.
Besides, I always thought that a lot of the Mattera people were basically in her camp for reasons of snobbery. But that's just me.
Mattera
Submitted by mole333 on 24 February 2007 - 2:30pm.
Many of us (can't speak for Chris but he doesn't strike me as a snob) were in her camp because we felt sold out by Marty.
I suspct Weiner may be best positioned, though I predict some substantial money interests will be behind what's her name and Marty. But Weiner has his previous run to build from and I think Yvette, if she feels loyalty to Weiner, which she should, can deliver some black votes. Ferrer also owes him somewhat and that could deliver a sliver of extra votes. That may put him over: same appeal as last time, some Schumer love and some favors from Yvette and Ferrer.
Markowitz has broad support in Brooklyn, but that has declined somewhat as his Ratner connections sour some people on him. Still, that is definitely a minority. But can he be appealing beyond Brooklyn? I don't know.
Gotbaum...she would basically have to buy the election (a possibility) since no one would link her with the concept of name recognition after her near absense from her job as Public Advocate.
I know many who like Thompson. I have not to date liked him, but that could change. He is the one I am most likely underestimating.
Why Marty can't win
Submitted by sidnora on 24 February 2007 - 7:07pm.
I hate to bring up yet again the fact that I knew this guy in college 40 years ago, but here's what I bring to you from that experience: he's not smart enough. Even leaving aside my policy differences with him, he's definitely not smart enough to be even a halfway-decent mayor, but the good news is, I don't think he's smart enough to win.
His strong points are/were that he works hard and was attentive to his constituency (pre-BP). I voted for him the first time out of a combination of old-times' sake, knowing that he had a great rep for constituent service (he'd been my mother-in-law's state senator), and thinking that his goofy 50's-throwback Brooklyn boosterism would be kind of fun.
But brains? Weiner is about 10x smarter than he is. Smart enough to make Marty look bad, should he so desire. I think he can pull just enough "Brooklyn Boy" shtick of his own, also I think he'd get a warm reception from the Bloomberg Democrats, who equate technocratic competency with serving the constituency.
Betsy is going to have a hard time explaining why anyone (especially anyone who doesn't live in Manhattan) should vote for her. I notice that noone seems to be considering Quinn very seriously here. I heard her on NPR this week and she sounded quite ready for prime time to me, and she's been doing the bipartisan-cooperation tango furiously; do we think she just doesn't have enough experience?
Bill Thompson
Submitted by Dan Jacoby on 24 February 2007 - 8:16pm.
Comptroller Thompson has already raised millions of dollars and put together a serious organization. Many of the old-timers are also backing him.
I worked on Weiner's campaign in '05, and will probably support him again in '09. As such, I'm looking at who the probable serious challengers (and others) really are:
Adolfo Carrion? Fuggedaboudit! He's not even popular among Latinos in the Bronx.
Betsy Gotbaum? It'll be nice to see her get her face slapped after eight years of being useless.
Chris Quinn - could mount a serious challenge. She has been sucking up to everyone from Michael Bloomberg to ... well, that's a lot right there.
Marty Markowitz? Can't get the Democratic nomination. He's too Republican and too close to Vito. He could take Brooklyn votes away from Weiner, however, meaning...
Bill Thompson -- positioned perfectly to win.
Anthony Weiner -- after "graciously withdrawing" the day after primary day in '05, he has stayed in the news ever since. His backing of Yvette (and Yvette's friends) will win votes, and probably won't cost him much, since most people don't pay that much attention to such "details."
Basically, I think it's a two-man (with the possibility of one woman) race. Of course, it's still ridiculously early, but it is fun to speculate.
You remembered!
LOL!
The list of potentials is actually quite exciting.