Results tagged “Politics”

Former Queens Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, who resigned after being indicted on fraud charges for basically selling his influence for $1 million, actually racked in $2 million in bribes! Seminerio's trial is taking place, and audio of his bragging to informants was played. For instance, he'd steer state money to the Long Island Rail Road in exchange for jobs for friends: "Anytime that I would, ah, give them a $250,000 contribution or $500,000 for repair of the railroad, I need two jobs. Even if I didn't have anybody, then I find two people and get them jobs.

Mayor Bloomberg and former mayor Rudy Giuliani are becoming buddies on the campaign trail, but they're rivals when it comes to baseball. The Mayor and his predecessor are squabbling over coveted seats in the box beside the Yankees dugout at the American League Championship Series, according to Page Six, which reports that the competition for "front-row supremacy" on Friday will be almost "almost as exciting as the contest on the field." We're not so sure about that, but it's certainly interesting in light of the fact that Bloomberg declared that Giuliani would make a good governor at this week's mayoral debate.

This beach party didn't go exactly as planned. Though he managed to dodge the protesters that have been plaguing similar town hall meetings, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) was met with skepticism from Howard Beach seniors yesterday regarding his plans for Health Care reform. Weiner addressed both his ideas for a "Single Payer" system (which Congressman Waxman introduced to the Senate floor) and the White House's more centrist efforts, but seemed to raise more questions than he answered. When one man asked who would foot the bill for this reform, Weiner simply acknowledged that as the "$64,000 question," and moved on. Of course, not everyone seemed to care, considering most of the attendees chanced upon the town hall by already being present at the Center for lunch. "This isn't gonna affect us, I think, that much because by the time all of this gets through, we might be six feet under," 81-year-old Marilyn Spoor told Rep. Weiner after the forum. Because why should the health of future generations be any concern of the Greatest Generation? But maybe New Yorkers shouldn't worry about health care anyway because we're getting healthier!

Synonymous with folk music ever since her earliest days singing on college campuses in the 1960s, Joan Baez has never been one for silence. She's released dozens of albums featuring her distinctive voice over the course of her 50-year career and she's still an active performer, touring cross-country this summer before heading to Europe later this fall.

Late yesterday, after the State Senate "met" for a five-minute session (just the Democrats were present; the Republicans were in court complaining about the Democrats), the Senators signaled they were leaving Albany. Governor Paterson was very, very angry and held a press conference, threatening to "withhold any paychecks or any per diem checks from June 8 forward...If you're not coming to work, you're not getting paid." What a novel idea! He added, "The senators swore to uphold the constitution" and "the constitution empowers the governor to convene a special session. If a senator doesn’t come to a special session, they are in violation of the constitution. That is very clear."

Thank you, State Senate Democrats and Republicans, for making a mockery of our already dysfunctional state government. Today was the start of the special session that Governor David Paterson called for the stalemated Senate. And it went exactly how you'd imagine it. According to the NY Times, "Republicans and Democrats attempted to hold separate Senate sessions at the same time on Tuesday, leaving the Capitol in confusion and bickering as members of both parties shouted over each other on the Senate floor, and each party claimed it was in control."

As rumored, Governor Paterson has ordered a special session of the State Senate on Tuesday. WCBS 2 reports, "Paterson said that according to the law, the governor has no authority over the Senate in session, but that once the session ends, he will inconvenience them by compelling them to enter special session, as the Senate inconvenienced New Yorkers." Senate Democrats reportedly support a special session; it has been two weeks since the Republicans plus two dissident Democrats seized power in a coup, but Hiram Monserrate's decision to rejoin the Democrats has thrown the Senate into a 31-31 tie. Paterson also said, "Over the last couple of weeks, the senator's conduct has been laughable, but what's going around here these days is no joke and I don't find it funny. To the senators, I tell you, you have inconvenienced the lives of all New Yorkers for a couple of weeks and now you will come back to work and do the people's business."

PolitickerNY reports that when asked about defected Democrats Hiram Monserrate's and Pedro Espada Jr.'s ethical backgrounds (Monserrate is indicted for slashing his girlfriend; Epada is under investigation for campaign fund misuse and not living in the district he represents), the billionaire retorted with, "Don't talk to me about ethical background in Albany, New York. We have a governor that stood on a podium on national television and said he had extramarital affairs and used cocaine. So, you know, these guys have got some personal issues? I don't think I want--that's just part of the picture."

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer announced he would no longer consider running in the 2010 Democratic primary against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. His statement read, "In light of President Obama's clear desire to avoid a Democratic primary in New York State, I have decided to focus on my re-election race for Manhattan Borough President and to suspend my exploratory committee and fund-raising efforts" for a Senate bid. Stringer told the NY Times, "I was surprised when Obama called Israel and decided it would be very hard for me to mount the kind of campaign I wanted to run." Gillibrand's campaign has been touting its support from Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, Rep. Yvette Clarke and Rep. Michael McMahon, but two notable Dems are still discussing some sort of challenge—Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, who has been especially critical of Gillibrand's stance on gun control. Though Gillibrand has been trying to make amends, McCarthy says, "I know she is saying the right things now, but I don’t know if she is just doing it just to win the next primary."

Democratic State Senator Pedro Espada Jr.—who was just caught illegally residing outside his Bronx district in tony Mamaroneck—is in the hot seat again for what one Bronx political veteran describes as doing "a cha-cha around the campaign finance law—spirit and letter." After the Daily News's scathing report on Espada's conduct, Senate majority leader Malcolm A. Smith called him into a closed-door meeting, giving Espada one week to rectify illegalities with his campaign committee. But Smith is also downplaying the severity of the brewing scandal, telling the Times, "I don't think it's raining problems, the fact that a member has a challenge with his campaign finances, which he's had for awhile. So basically, he's got to correct it. He has until this time next week to correct it, or else I will take some action." Woah—a promise of action in Albany!

Is mixing up religion and politics with art even scandalous anymore? The LA Times reports that "A New York artist has canceled the public showing of his portrait of President Obama after receiving a barrage of angry e-mails condemning the religious nature of the work." Michael D'Antuono's painting, called "The Truth," depicted Obama on a crucifix wearing a crown of thorns, and was meant to be shown in a mock voting booth in Union Square starting tomorrow. According to the artist it was meant to "provoke political dialogue" on the President's 100th day in office, asking questions such as "Is Obama being crucified by the right? Do people think he's the next savior?" In the end, he said he canceled the show out of respect of the religion after receiving over a thousand emails about the use of Christian imagery. [via ArtInfo]

While the weekend brought stories of Governor Paterson perhaps changing his mind about who will replace Hillary Clinton as the junior Senator from New York—a Daily News source said, "He was leaning toward one person, but he has shifted to another"—the Post suggests the decision is a done deal... and that Caroline Kennedy will be the victor.

City Council Christine Quinn joined a protest over a plan to restructure senior centers. Given how Quinn put her political future on the line by supporting the term limits extension, PolitickerNY's Azi Paybarah asked her "what she’d say to critics who’d see this protest more for its symbolism--to separate herself from Bloomberg--than for its substance," to which Quinn said, "If I had worn closed-toed shoes, you would have said that was a desire to have a tougher shoe so I could kick somebody in the tuchas, to seem tough." Still Fordham professor Bruce Berg tells the Times, "She has to demonstrate to the 22 who voted against term limits that she can lead independently from the mayor. What she’s doing is as much for internal consumption for the Council as it is for the mayor and the press."

Remember when everyone thought that these two New York politicians would be campaigning against each other for the White House? Though they are campaigning, it's for other people: Senator Hillary Clinton and former NYC mayor Rudy GIuliani are stumping for upstate candidates, helping their respective political parties.

It's totally the economy, stupid! With yesterday's trouble on Wall Street adding to economic unease (higher gas prices, the mortgage crisis), Barack Obama and John McCain addressed the economic climate.

The Daily News reports that Hillary Clinton's Democratic National Convention appearance will be introduced not by former president Bill but daughter Chelsea. The former First Daughter was active in campaigning for her mother, winning kudos for her poise. And apparently it was Hillary's idea--a source said, "[Barack Obama] has a problem with Hillary's more fanatical women supporters, and this is a way to help with that." And in other campaign news, the a Financial Times source claims McCain has added Joe Lieberman to the VP shortlist, "[McCain] loves Lieberman. And he is on the [short]list because Lieberman has never embarrassed anyone, never misspoken. The first rule is, don't take anyone who costs you votes."

As Senator John McCain continues to shake up his election team, ABC News reports that the McCain camp has tapped Mike DuHaime as the new political director. DuHaime managed former mayor Rudy Giuliani's unsuccessful presidential bid and was also the regional political director of the 2004 Bush-Cheney reelection effort. McCain is currently in Mexico, where he emphasized that borders must be secured (with "some walls...virtual fences...high-technology equipment") first before immigration reform can happen.

A year ago, supporting Senator Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House seemed like a no-brainer to a number of people, including elected officials in New York. But now, after a bitter campaign that saw Senator Barack Obama end up the victor, many of those Clinton supporters are being targeted by challengers in this fall's elections.

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Former rivals Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made their first joint appearance yesterday in New Hampshire, to kick off the Democrats' campaign for the White House. They put reports of bitter tensions and resentments between their campaigns behind them and Democratic presidential contender Obama praised Clinton and her husband, “I’ve admired her as a leader, I’ve learned from her as a candidate, I am proud to call her my friend and I know how much we’ll need both Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton as a party and a country in the months and years to come.”

Senator Hillary Clinton returned to her day job yesterday and was welcomed like royalty. Politico found that she was greeted by "a crowd of adoring interns, a phalanx of Senate staff, hugs from Democratic colleagues and an ovation from a closed luncheon of Democratic senators." While she only said she would fully support former rival and Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama, the NY Times reported:

“It is not something I think about,” Mrs. Clinton said in response to a question about whether she would be Mr. Obama’s running mate. “This is totally Senator Obama’s decision.”

Continue reading "Clinton Back to Senatoring, McCain (Kind of) Gives Up on New York"

          

The Museum of the City of New York unveils a new exhibit today "coinciding with the 2008 election and providing insight into New York's often pivotal role in American electoral politics." Campaigning for President: New York and the American Election covers presidential politics spanning back to the inauguration of George Washington on lower Manhattan's Wall Street. Below are some of the pieces that will be on display, as well as some facts from the press release:
• From 1820 to the 1960s, New York was the most populous state in the country, and for 160 years, from 1812 until 1972, it wielded more electoral votes than any other state.
• New York sent forth eight presidents, more than twenty-five major-party presidential and vice-presidential nominees, and countless hopefuls.
• From 1900 to 1948, there was a New Yorker on every national ticket, and from 1868 until 1892, with the sole exception of 1880, every Democratic nominee for president was a New Yorker.

The highest ranking Republican in NY State, State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, announced he would not seek re-election this fall. The 79-year-old released a statement; here is an excerpt (the full statement is after the jump: "Today I met with my Republican colleagues in the Senate and informed them that I will not be running for re-election this November. After 32 years in office, I have decided that it is time to move on with my life and to give my constituents an opportunity for new representation and my colleagues in the Senate who have supported me an opportunity for new leadership."

Mayor Bloomberg was in the Sunshine State yesterday, attending a breakfast hosted by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, and took the opportunity to slam the "whisper campaign" smears against Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama. Bloomberg said, "Let's make sure that we, as Jews and as voters, keep the conversation focused on the facts and not let it descend into false rumor and innuendo."

At a rally in Michigan, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama picked up an endorsement from Al Gore, the former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate. Gore said, "Looking back over the last eight years, I can tell you that we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000. Take it from me, elections matter. If you think the next appointments to the Supreme Court are important, you know that elections matter.”

While plans for a joint John McCain-Barack Obama town hall forum at Federal Hall in lower Manhattan fell through, McCain still appeared and took advantage of being the only presidential candidate there, saying, "It would have been a little more interesting tonight if Senator Obama had accepted my request."

Well, everyone wanted the 2008 election to begin after the long primary season, so now we get round-the-clock accusations and recriminations! While Barack Obama's campaign has been battered over its vice-presidential search team, to the point where one of the three members, James Johnson, resigned yesterday, John McCain's campaign has to deal with a Wednesday Today show appearance that could be edited down to a haunting soundbite.

Yesterday, Republican presidential contender John McCain made a number of appearances in Manhattan to boost his campaign and rake in some donations. The tickets to the fund-raisers costs $28,500 a pop, so he made at least $2 million.

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama's weekend bicycle ride is still being parsed. To some, his bicycle seat seems too low. To others, his tires seem flat. And to many, his outfit just seemed like a way to look dorky, maybe because he's so cool.