Uncategorized
Extras
Oct 20th - 5:49 pm
The Harvard Club rejected Eliot Spitzer.
Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch called on Assembly Dems to dump Speaker Sheldon Silver from his leadership post.
The NY Observer endorsed Sen. Eric Schneiderman for AG.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney and FDNY members will endorse Rep. Mike McMahon tomorrow. (No link).
Mayor Bloomberg declined to comment on whether Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is “hot,” opting instead for the more PC “stunning.”
…He did not, however, endorse her. (He isn’t backing Sen. Chuck Schumer this year, either).
Gillibrand called her “Vogue” spread “a great opportunity for me to speak to women.”
Charlie Gasparino says his Wall Street sources want Bloomberg to run for president, and he’s not saying “no” yet.
Jerry Skurnik parses Hiram Monserrate’s voter registration drive numbers.
Staten Island DA Dan Donovan is not running TV ads this week – an unusual move for less than two weeks out from Election Day.
Greg Edwards, AKA Paladino’s “mop-up man,” get his Times moment.
Jimmy McMillan’s own rent is pretty reasonable.
He’s also not a member of the party for which he is the standard-bearer. (He’s a registered Democrat).
McMillian’s gloves, explained. Sorta.
Cuomo clarified his position on power in an attempt to calm very agitated Western NYers.
Tony Sayegh, Jr. confesses to voting for Paladino in the Sept. 14 primary and now seems to think better of it.
Joe DioGuardi’s hometown paper (The Journal News) endorsed Gillibrand.
NYC has been added to Microsoft’s Cloud.
The world according to Howie Hawkins: If at first you don’t succeed, run, run again.
NYC Councilman David Greenfield will endorse Rep. Mike McMahon, who is trying to support his support among Jewish voters.
Not sure what to make of this one.
Just Because…
Oct 20th - 1:46 pm
Big ol’ H/T to Jimmy at CapCon for finding this gem. It really is just too good not to share…
Enjoy!
Here and Now
Oct 20th - 7:49 am
Morning all. Liz B is still sick, so I am taking care of Here and Now. She hopes to be back on the blog by this afternoon.
Cuomo and Paladino were in the same room last night for the Al Smith Dinner.
Also in attendance were Schumer, Gillibrand, Dan Donovan, and Mayor Bloomberg.
Sam Roberts profiles the two candidates for AG. Eric Schneiderman and Dan Donovan.
DN raises questions about some of Donovan’s advisors.
Cuomo’s comments about power in Monday’s debate raised some concerns in WNY that the campaign quickly moved to clarify.
Warren Redlich might emerge a winner from the debate. Third item.
Traditional marriage groups looking to run pro-Paladino campaign ads are going to court to keep their donors names private.
Newsday has backed Lee Zeldin in the 3rd SD.
In the 48th SD, Aubertine is hitting Pattie Ritchie for backing Carl Paladino’s proposed cuts to health care.
Is President Obama trying to restore sanity?
More >
Extras
Oct 19th - 6:09 pm
Get them
while you can!!!
Hiram Monserrate has been charged with using workers at a Queens nonprofit group he financed to aid in his Senate campaign.
The indictment suggests Monserrate secured $300k in city funds for for LIBRE, the group that helped with his campaign.
The US Attorney says LIBRE’s former employee, Javier Cardenas, who pleaded guilty Monday, is cooperating with the case.
Bill Samuels was happy about the Monserrate news.
Andrew Cuomo wouldn’t commit to more debates during a stop in Poughkeepsie today, despite repeated calls by the Paladino campaign.
Paladino didn’t plan for this either.
Jimmy McMillan picks up a key endorsement, from the American Mustache Institute.
He is also getting props from Fashionista for wearing gloves in doors.
Hall leads Hayworth 49 – 48 in a new Monmouth University poll in NY-19.
Murphy and Gibson are facing off in another debate tonight in NY-20.
Matt Doheny loaned his campaign $690k in a final push for election day in NY-23.
The state Business Council continued its march of endorsements, backing Andrew Russo in the 49th SD.
Buffalo News editorial board makes case for GOP Senate, but warns against downstate leadership.
Here and Now
Oct 19th - 8:14 am
The words used to describe last night’s debate run the gambit, from a farce to political theater verging on a farce to a mockery, to surreal.
Political observers agreed Cuomo’s performance was better than Paladino’s.
The Democratic nominee did take a “pummeling” from the minor party candidates.
You can watch the entire debate here.
Schumer and Gillibrand hold commanding leads in the latest NYT poll. Note that the poll is of registered voters, and not likely voters.
Sarah Palin warned Republicans not to stray from the Tea Party message during a rare interview with CNN yesterday.
Obama and Democrats are failing to get the message out that they cut taxes over the past two years.
Republicans are banking on picking up several Congressional seats in New York, if they are going to take back the House.
Rep. John Hall and Nan Hayworth squared off in a debate, and tangled over the stimulus.
Taxes are becoming a central issue in NY-23.
Syracuse Post Standard Editorial Board takes issue with undisclosed funds being inserted into NY-25
Democrat Mike Kaplowitz continues to attack Republican Greg Ball on women’s issues in the 40th SD.
Not sure how I missed this early this morning, but Vogue has an in-depth profile of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
A Day Off, Sort Of
Oct 19th - 6:22 am
Hey everyone, if you watched our coverage of the debate last night, you probably noticed that Liz Benjamin is fighting a cold. So, she is actually taking a day off, or at least the morning.
Liz A., Mike Whittemore, and I will be taking care of the blog today. I should have Here and Now done in a few hours.
Gov Debate Liveblog, Part III
Oct 18th - 7:37 pm
7:40 p.m. Question from a small business owner: How are you going to help people like me? (We’re only on what, the fourth question? We’re about at the halfway mark now….has anything happened yet?)
Barron starts talking about NYC procurement…minority and women-owned businesses….too much going to “white male-owned companies.” Etc and so on. You can fill in the blanks there.
7:39 p.m. McMillian. He talks about bulldozing those mountains (I think he means the Adirondacks?) “I want my own cable company. I want my own telephone company. I want my own power plant. That’s what I’m going to do to create jobs…for the children, we’ve got to take a bold move and start becoming an independent state…it must be done, must be done.”
7:37 p.m. Paladino says hydrofracking has been proven to be a “well-developed technology today”…thinks the area to the west of the watershed study area upstate should be “opened immediately” to drilling…”this is vital; there’s no way anybody can explain why” we’re not doing it.
7:32 p.m. It’s an environmental question from someone in the audience.
Cuomo paraphrases an ancient Indian (?) proverb: “We don’t inherit the earth from our parents, we’re loaned the earth by our children.” Starts talking about green power.
But really, let’s talk about Jimmy McMillan… A viewer writes: “Jimmy McMillian is the new Paladino.” Another says: “Rent is Too Damn High Dude…Is absolute hit of the debate….has a future as an auctioneer perhaps…over caffeinated to boot!”
OH. Another back-and-forth between Barron and Cuomo. Barron says Cuomo didn’t talk about banning hydrofracking because “his businesses cronies make too much money on that.” And then they have a little tiff about what it’s actually called. Hydraulic fracturing …it’s a phrase, check it out, it’s in the dictionary.”
Davis supports hydrofracking. Hawkins doesn’t. (Big surprise there).
Redlich defends Cuomo, saying he’s taken a “tremendous” amount of special interest cash, but not from the hydrofracking industry “most of it comes from real estate interests in NYC” (laughs).
Gov Debate Liveblog, Part II
Oct 18th - 7:20 pm
7:31 p.m. Barron: “Cuomo’s going to be the king of layoffs, trust me.” OHHHH. Cuomo engages! “If they go with you, Charles, they’ll have no jobs.”
7:30 p.m. Davis knows where it’s at. She “borrows a page from Jimmy McMillian’s playbook: The property taxes are too damn high.”
7:29 p.m. Redlich vs. Cuomo (again), says we really don’t have that many more governments now than we did when his “father was governor.” Then he talks about school cuts, mentions “the no administrator left behind policy” – gets applause and laughs.
7:28 p.m. I’m a little worried I might lose my job to Jimmy McMillan.
7:26 p.m. Cuomo says property taxes are “one of the most oppressive taxes in the state of New York, period.” (So, does anyone else get the feeling that Cuomo is sort of just pretending he’s alone up there?)
So, how do we reduce the cost to property owners? Consolidate! Too many governments, etc. etc. “Find economies of scale…” incentivize governments to consolidate.
7:25 p.m. Barron: We’re “turning our schools into test-taking mills.” He’s against property tax caps. “We’re looking at a chancellor in NYC that needs to be fired.” Um, property tax cap? What?
7:24 p.m. Hawkins on a rant about trickle-down economics…Meanwhile, I have received a press release from the Paladino campaign “Cutting the size of government? Don’t trust Cuomo.” It cites a 2001 NY Post story that slams Cuomo’s management of HUD.
7:22 p.m. Davis: Tax cap is “merely a band-aid”…it takes the voters feel good, but what we need is tax reduction. OK, what happens if Davis turns out to be one of the more sane and well-behaved people on stage? And people expected antics from this woman? Except that gay bar line, she’s pretty dry.
7:21 p.m. Redlich apparently forgot the question, too, because he’s just ignoring it altogether and talking about himself. “I’m not your typical NY politician. I’ve never been caught with a prostitute; my dad wasn’t governor.”
Gov’s Debate Liveblog, Part I
Oct 18th - 6:51 pm
7:16 p.m. ZINGER, Davis! She slams the stock transfer tax, says if it’s put in place “businesses will leave this state quicker than Carl Paladino at a gay bar.”
7:15:33 p.m. (I’m going off the clock in the studio here, so maybe it’s not in sync with you folks at home?) Anyway…just got the first Cuomo “Fact Check” press release, entitled: “Cuomo’s record of streamlining government.”
7:15 p.m. Thought: Having Cuomo following McMillian is just too damn easy.
7:14 p.m. allow me to introduce myself. I represent the Rent is Too Damn High Party…this is politics as usual; playing the silly game….Wow. He’s like….rapping, I think. Was that rap?
7:13 p.m. OK, we’re still on the first question folks. THE FIRST QUESTION! Everyone gets another 30 seconds to rebut.
7:12 p.m. A viewer e-mails: “Love the rent guy! What’s with the gloves?” Dude. Good question.
7:11 p.m. Redlich: Goes on rant about the head of the NY Public Library. $689,000 a year. “I know it’s a big public library, but that’s a little much.” Close the Thruway Authority and end the tolls. Let the DOT handle highways.
7:10 p.m. Davis: I’m the only candidate on this stage with a plan to bring in new revenues…legalization of marijuana $1.5 b in new revenue…casino gambling $2.2 b in new revenue…(She doesn’t use the whole 90 seconds).
7:09 p.m. Hawkins: Along the same lines as Barron…Tax cuts for the rich. Wants to cut the rebate for the stock transfer tax. “These cuts are politics, not economics.” Suggests bankers bonus tax. Then wants to go back to 1972 progressive income tax structure…WPA…started here by Gov. Rockefeller (you know who else likes to make that point? Carl Paladino!! When he talks about the Dignity Corps, that is).
7:07 p.m. Barron: First complains that there are no people of color asking questions. Then rejects the “premise of your question…we’re already cut to the bone.” Instead, he proposes taxing the rich. “Andrew Cuomo and Paladino, not only are they going to cut your programs and your vital services” – political bully! “How about taking it out on the rich!”
“Political cowardice!”
Yup. First blood, Barron.
7:05 p.m. Cuomo: People get that the state of NY doesn’t get it…state government is still spending too much money, taxes are out of control. (He seems pretty relaxed, pad on knee, gesticulating, legs crosses). “We’re going to have to cut Medicaid, and we’re going to have to fund savings in education” – no specifics there. “I’ve actually shrunk government.”
Extras
Oct 18th - 5:35 pm
Greg Edwards insists tonight’s debate won’t “make or break” Carl Paladino.
Dan Amira provides a pre-debate primer.
Pop quiz! Which candidate goes by the nickname “the Green Hornet”?
Jimmy McMillan’s prediction for tomorrow’s headlines: “You’re going to see my picture, and it’ll say, ‘Wow!’”
This will be the first time Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino actually meet, notes Nick Confessore, who predicts a “boring and quiet debate as everybody tries to be respectable.”
Gov. David Paterson’s advice for the major party candidates: Stick to the issues, have a “tight presentation” and “tune out everything that’s going on.”
You can chat with WNYC’s Brian Lehrer during and after the debate here.
“He has obviously never stopped thinking about the presidency,” Fred Siegel said of Mayor Bloomberg.
M. Myers Mermel will host a Manhattan fundraiser for Paladino.
“Awkward misappropriations of popular culture are legion in politics,” writes Ben McGrath as he weighs in on the NY governor’s race.
Sen. Jeff Klein barely has an opponent, but he does have a TV ad.
Staten Island DA Dan Donovan jumped the gun on an Orthodox endorsement.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is trying to squeeze out some extra campaign cash from an upcoming Bill Clinton fundraiser.
Glenn Beck made fun of CNN for hiring Eliot Spitzer.
A blogger explains why today’s NYT gubernatorial poll was, as he put it, “crap.”
NARAL has a new anti-Joe DioGuardi Web video.
NT2 gives Jimmy Vielkind props.
Gillibrand appears in a pro-woman, anti-Albany Web ad for the 12 female state Senate candidates.


Take Capital Tonight and the State of Politics blog with you everywhere you go with our iPhone app! The mobile application features our blog posts, interviews, and a report news tool to send us your political news tips.