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 [...]
Joe Bruno's recent conviction points up the need for serious change in the laws covering our legislators' behavior. Three years ago I wrote the following piece; it turns out to have been ahead of its time.
Read on ... but first, if you want to make a difference, go to
From a press release forwarded by Facebook's Defeat New York State Senator Carl Kruger in 2010.
“Throughout my fifteen years in the Senate I have supported and advocated passionately for legislation that furthers the cause of human rights and fairness for all.
[Blah Blah Blah].
“Our American government was crafted to [...]
To some elected officials, a win is a win, is a win, is a win: no matter how close. And then they move on to their next term in office, learning very little from victory and arrogantly paying no heed to the warning signs. Ostensibly, lame duck councilmember Dr. Kendall [...]
This week was the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster. And, 25 years later, the disaster continues.
On Dec. 2nd and 3rd, 1984, the criminal negligence killed some 20,000 people and left over 100,000 affected. And corporate America, responsible for this disaster, has done almost nothing to clean up the [...]
Well, perhaps not verbatim, but per Liz, Joe Bruno's favorite Democrat didn't manage to slink away quickly enough to escape teh gays.
After voting "no" on the gay marriage bill yesterday, Sen. Carl Kruger exited the Senate chamber and walked straight into the buzzsaw that was Allen Roskoff and
I am quoting verbatim our own Dan Jacobi who had to say this in the comment section of HOMOPHOBIC New York Senate votes against marriage equality:
All 30 Republicans voted no on marriage equality, as did eight Democrats: Addabbo, Aubertine, Diaz, Huntley, Kruger, [...]
I am absolutely irate and devastated that marriage equality was shot down in New York state by a 38-24 margin. I want Rubén Díaz and every single homophobe who voted against it out of the NY State Senate now more than ever.
This will not stand. I will help Tom [...]
You can find more information about the bill at OpenSenate.
Here's the "Statement of Support", which is basically summarizes the purpose of this bill:
The "freedom to marry" is, in the words of the United States Supreme Court, "one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness" [...]
Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with [...]
Looks like DC beat New York State to the gay-marriage punch on a technicality : D.C. Council votes to legalize same-sex marriage - washingtonpost.com
After months of debate, the council passed the bill 11 to 2. It still must take a second vote in two [...]
(Note: Cross-posted on my website.)
In the hours leading up to President Obama’s formal announcement of his plan for how to deal with Afghanistan, I have decided that it is possible that he could convince me that his escalation of American involvement in that civil war is a good idea. [...]
Remember how Doug Hoffman went on Glenn Beck's show to say he was unconceding the election because ACORN stole it for Owens? Notice how there nary a mention about the Vick's & tear-duct abuser on his latest letter about the election results.
Well what do you know? Via Patrick Ruffini comes a post by Glenn Trush musing about rumors that Harold Ford Jr may be testing the waters for [...]
Dear Sarah Palin, George Bush and other End of Time Believers,
I am sorry to inform you that I will be preventing the second coming of you savior. It's nothing personal, but I just don't intend to move to Israel just to suit your religious beliefs. Let me explain below.
You see,' [...]
Last week I wrote about an NYU professor who wrote a bigoted and ignorant piece on Forbes.com essentially working from the hypothesis that all Muslims are violent. Tunku Varadarajan used the phrase "Going Muslim" to describe incidents like the one at Ft. Hood, going into some detail in describing [...]
Seems dozens of top retired military brass are fed up with Republican lies and fear-mongering and are supporting Obama's decision to close Guantanamo Bay's detention center. Get a load of the list of signatories:
GENERAL JOSEPH HOAR, USMC (RET.)
GENERAL CHARLES KRULAK, USMC (RET.)
GENERAL DAVID M. MADDOX, USA (RET.)
[...]
...to get marriage equality, asks the Village Voice.
If you answered "Ruben Diaz", you'd be half right, but the Pentecostral zealot is only part of a larger problem that the Voice sums up simply as chickenshit Democrats.
Last week, Governor Paterson called lawmakers to a special session to deal with' [...]
Frome the December issue of Vanity Fair - no story link, buy the damn magazine - comes this poll:
Q: Some protesters against the administration's health-care proposals have been seen carrying signs calling for their states to secede. If you could pick one state to remove from the United States, [...]
The decision to try Khalid Sheik Mohammed and the other 9/11 conspirators in a public, civilian court within sight of Ground Zero is one of the strongest expressions of America's strength that I have heard in many years. There is no honor, no pride, no confidence in trying your enemies [...]
I swear, some people aren't even pretending any more.
In the official record of the historic House debate on overhauling health care, the speeches of many lawmakers echo with similarities. Often, that was no accident.
Statements by more than a dozen lawmakers were ghostwritten, in whole or in' [...]
Found in the Bedford-Nostrand subway station, apparently, the second-worst President in history is enjoying a comeback, with this framed photograph posted there by an anonymous admirer.
[...]There's a higher than usual amount of wringing of hands and rending of garments going on in teabagland. No, not over their recent defeat in their first real, voters-with-ballots electoral contest in NY-23, but elsewhere in the Empire State. Right here, in fact, on the shores of the Hudson. It [...]
Seems an NYU professor, Tunku Varadarajan, has written a column where he refers to "Going Muslim," meaning:
“This phrase would describe the turn of events where a seemingly integrated Muslim-American–a friendly donut vendor in New York, say, or an officer in the U.S. Army at Fort Hood–discards his apparent integration into [...]
I have not been afraid of attacking Mayor Bloomberg's positions and actions when I found them to be amazingly wrong. The least I can do, therefore, is to praise him highly when he is (IMHO) absolutely right. Such is the case with proposed gas drilling upstate, using a process known [...]
One year ago, Kieth Olbermann said it just right:
What I don't understand is how two consenting adults loving each other threatens anyone else? My marriage isn't threatened if gays can marry!
[...]Last month a coalition of 18 Scientific organizations (and these are big ones...some of the biggest in the world) issued this statement (PDF) to the Senate:
Dear Senator:
As you consider climate change legislation, we, as leaders of scientific organizations, write to state the consensus scientific view.
Observations throughout [...]
I couldn't stop laughing at his "deconstruction" of New York City smugness in The The Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire State of Mind:
Hey New York City! Please pretend to be humble. We know we're awesome. We don't have to rub it in.
LOL!
' [...]I took some heat for posting about Democratic City Council Candidate Kevin Kim hiring Michael Tobman as a consultant given Tobman's past record of Karl Rove style tactics and recent record of being part of losing campaigns. I suppose the reason I got heat was because I quoted a [...]
Celebrating 150 Years of "Origin of Species"
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The New York Academy of Sciences
Presented by Science & the City, The Darwin150 Project, The Center for Inquiry, and the History & Philosophy [...]
Although I will take an anti-choice Democrat over an anti-choice Republican any day, I have to say that the 64 Democrats who voted for the anti-choice Stupak-Pitts Amendment are a serious disappointment. Some are expected. Some I really hoped for better and I can safely say I am unlikely to [...]
Twenty years ago today, the hated Wall of Berlin came thundering down under the hammers of a long-suffering people denied their freedom and their basic dignity by the communist tyranny of East Germany.
A year and some days ago, America astonished the world by drawing a bright blue line under [...]
Some time back I wrote in depth about the implementation of something called Homeland Security Presidential Directive #12 (HSPD#12)which threatened my wife's rights as well as the rights of every Federal employee and contractor (my initial coverage was picked up by the Huffington Post). The directive per se isn't bad,' [...]
Warning: disturbing imagery after the break. Proceed with caution. read more »
[...]
Andrew Hoppin, the New York State's Senate's Chief Information Officer has had his team pretty busy. I got an email from their Director of Onine Communications, Phillip Anderson (one of the first bloggers here at The Daily Gotham and formerly of The Albany Project) [...]
Bloomberg and his Trained Surrender Monkeys on the City Council overturned the will of the voters when they overturned term limits. And this was a widely unpopular move. Poll after polls showed dissatisfaction. Many talked of a backlash from the voters. What was this backlash? In the end, 24/29 City [...]
So it has been a long and tiring primary/runoff/general election. And the net result is not really that different from where we started. Money and machines won most races. Corruption paid off in most cases. A few interesting upsets occurred to keep things interesting, but by and large, things stay [...]
First of all, congratulation to John Liu for becoming the first Chinese-American to be elected to city-wide office in New York City. That's a huge slap on the face for the New York Democratic Party establishment; an establishment that's never been too keen on grassroots movements unless they can [...]
Let it be known that I, Liza Sabater, voted for the first time in my life straight down the WORKING FAMILIES PARTY ticket.
And that is all
[...]
I knew that the day Michael Bloomberg bought his way into City Hall back in 2005 was the end of the political process here in NYC. It's amazing how he's completely sucked the [...]
Via Hakeem Jeffries' YouTube Channel
Highlights: Smackdown of Christine Quinn, Bloomberg's War on Middle Cass Renters
Hakeem seized the moment and ended the segment with some powerful statistics.
Many thanks to Joe Silvestri for inviting me to the convo. Shout out to Brett Larson our fantastic host and to' [...]
It just keeps getting better. Forget Dancing with the Stars: real entertainment these days comes from watching the so-called GOP imploding before our eyes.
Yesterday, the bitterly contested race to represent NY-23 in the House, between Bill Owens, the Democrat, Dede Scozzafava, the republican, and Doug Hoffmann, the out-of-district, Palin-endorsed teabagging [...]
After 16 continuous years of Republican mayors in New York City, you would think that there would be an urgency amongst democrats (nationwide) to get rid of this present pompous and arrogant mayor Michael Bloomberg: well you could have fooled me. After watching President Barack Obama (and surely his political [...]
Come next Tuesday 3rd November 2009, Mr. Carrie Solages will be on the ballot for County Clerk of Nassau. This Long Island native is a thirty year old lawyer employed at his family’s law firm (Solages and Solages). He has been described as “the young rising star of the Nassau [...]
I was first introduced to the Brooklyn Paper by a political friend who told me that it was the place local insiders went to find out what was up politically in Brooklyn. When Rupert Murdoch bought the Brooklyn Paper, I was horrified. Everything that Murdoch touches goes down hill, its [...]
I hate it when the better candidate works with sleazy people. It really makes it hard to endorse that candidate. In the city council race for the 19th district in Queens, Democrat Kevin Kim has brought onto his staff someone I have come to know all too well, the ultra [...]
If you don't exercise a muscle, it atrophies. Similarly, if you don't exercise the right to vote, that right will also atrophy.
It was bad enough that the recent Democratic primary drew 11% turnout, and worse that the runoff had a turnout of about 7%. But worst of all is the [...]
This year I am endorsing quite a mixed bag for the general election. It is an unusual list for me, mixing Greens, WFP and Democrats. I have some serious beefs with both the Greens and WFP, but sometimes they do hit on a superior candidate. But I am so not [...]
In 2008 Americans became aware of a region most had never head of before: South Ossetia. The nations of Russia and Georgia fought a war over South Ossetia. South Ossetia is recognized as part of Georgia by all but three nations. Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela all recognize South Ossetia as [...]
Last week I reported on an event I was alerted to by two sources where Brad Lander was caught at a pro-Bloomberg event alongside Brad's homophobic ally Dov Hikind and Bush supporter Rudy Giuliani. Brad was literally on film sitting next to Giuliani. This was an event widely reported [...]
What’s the fuss?
Do tell me what’s happening?
All this talk from right-wing republicans about whether or not Barack Obama deserved to win the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize comes from spiteful and resentful perches. Always remember that there are very few people who possess the moral courage to support another’s success without [...]
[UPDATE AT BOTTOM WITH FURTHER INFO ON THE EVENT] Someone sent me a link to the latest event Brad Lander went to with his friend, infamous anti-gay politician Dov Hikind. Seems Lander joined an event in Boro Park where the likes of Rudy Guiliani were honoring Mike Bloomberg and Carl [...]
First of all, let me state that I am NOT accusing Michael Bloomberg of being a racist, or even of condoning racism (well, maybe that second one). But is a person is known by the company he keeps, then maybe the mayor needs to consider a change of scenery.
According to [...]
From El Diario's endorsement:
The financial crisis and economic recession have compounded what was already a brutal squeeze for so many New Yorkers. Rising rents, stagnant wages and the high cost of living—aggravated by tenant harassment and an emphasis on building mega-developments rather than livable neighborhoods—have triggered the displacement of poor [...]
At the rate they're going, New York's state legislature, and in particular the Senate, might just as well end the farce, leave the building, and set it on fire.
If you haven't been paying attention, this is what happened: a Democratic state Senator, one Hiram Monserrate, was found guilty of [...]
This last weekend was the 5th DDDB Walkathon to raise money for the legal challenges against Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards scheme. Joy and I have participated in the walkathon each year...and we have taken Jacob along each time, so this has been almost a birthday event for Jacob for each [...]
After the 2000 fiasco and the refusal of many Green Party members to recognize their abysmal mistake that year, most liberal Democrats I knew turned against the Green Party. I for one couldn't vote Green for years.
Well, once the Greens refused to follow Nader, the architect of the 2000 fiasco' [...]
This isn't about today's DDDB Walkathon, so don't look to today's events for why I am writing this. I will get to the Walkathon, a good event that showed (overall) considerable maturation over past events. This is a separate issue.
Often when I write a piece just plain praising a friend, [...]
Last night Jo Anne Simon, my District Leader and unsuccessful candidate for City Council for the 33rd City Council district, had a party for the sole purpose of thanking those who supported her during her run for City Council.
I have been to victory parties on election day. They are kick [...]
I haven’t done a “grapevines” column in ages so here goes. Too many people are saying that David Paterson needs to step gingerly out of the upcoming gubernatorial race: too many people. I wonder why? If I were David I would be gearing up to run by giving them all [...]
On Columbus day and Thanksgiving, I often discuss the ambivalent nature of these holidays. Both represent the opening of the Americas to European colonization. This led both to the creation of opportunities that would not have been there otherwise. The example I always use is the fact that had the [...]
Here is what Barack Obama has to say about winning the Nobel Peace Prize, and I think it is amazingly humble and intelligent:
This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for' [...]
I completely didn't see this coming. Barak Obama has just won the Nobel Peace Prize. From Salon.com:
President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, citing his outreach to the' [...]
Supposedly, it takes a lot for Rahm Emmanuel to be speechless. We've discovered what that could be: A Nobel Peace Prize for his boss. In Surprise, Obama Wins Nobel for Diplomacy - NYTimes.com
“There has been no discussion, nothing at all,” said Rahm Emanuel, the president’s chief' [...]
Just got back from a departmental conference up in Massachusetts. LOTS of great talks (I gave one myself). But one in particular stuck in my mind. It was a talk by Juan Jose Lafaille, who got his degree from the University of Sao Paulo and is currently a professor at [...]
Okay, so many of you are going to say this is a stretch, but it isn’t: come next month, and let’s say Michael Bloomberg is elected to a third term as mayor (although I hope not), what is going to prevent him from overturning the term limits law again, and [...]
With four weeks until election day, Bill Thompson has pulled within eight points of Michael Bloomberg, according to a SurveyUSA poll.
Thompson leads among voters under 50. He also leads in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Meanwhile, a recent NY Times article speaks to the issue on which Thompson can win [...]
Before even Thanksgiving. Before even Holloween. Today I saw the first Christmas ad of the year. Ironically, on the Military Channel (they are showing a program on the 1973 Yom Kippur War) Time-Life advertised a collection of Christmas songs for the season.
I am almost certain this is the earliest in [...]
Introduction
I am circulating this plan at this late stage of the health care debate because most of the proposals out there are totally inadequate. This plan is a hybrid of government provided coverage, private insurance and regional and trade association co-ops (Not as public option replacements, but as an additional [...]
This comes from someone I know from IND who has been tireless in working with Democrats in Pennsylvania first to get Obama elected, and then to get healthcare reform passed. I urge anyone who can to join in on this important road trip:
Please join me in canvassing Easton, Pennsylvania for [...]
Robert Hornak is a Republican running (or crawling, anyway) for Queens Borough President. He'll lose, and he deserves to lose, not because he is a Republican, but because he clearly agrees with Rush Limbaugh that it is right to cheer when America loses.
The attached screenshot is Hornak's comment on his' [...]
I have been reading a book on the history of the Ostjuden, or Eastern European jews, a sub-branch of the Ashkenazim. One almost constant theme during several hundred years of East European history is that whenever there was a major political conflict, Jews were blamed often by both sides for [...]
As the returns came in tonight, my wife cheered the trouncing David Yassky received in the race for Comptroller. This is the second time Yassky came in second in a major race. Both times Yassky's own inability to hold to his own values or to the interests of his constituents' [...]
A reminder to all: today, Tuesday, Sept. 29th is the runoff elections for Comptroller and Public Advocate. Please vote! It is expected to be a VERY low turnout election (predicted 3%...I suspect less!) so your vote will count.
I strongly urge a vote for John Liu for Comptroller. Most of you [...]
In the recent David v. Goliath political story, the David is real (Governor Paterson); the Goliath (President Obama and his White House staffers) however, are nothing but symbols of so many things wrong with our present democracy. The problem is that so many of our electeds are too compromised to [...]
There is some chatter that Christine Quinn might not be able to remain as Speaker of the City Council next year. A NY Post article lends fuel to that chatter.
There are several reasons for the Council to consider replacing her: The arm-twisting Quinn did for term-limits extension; the residual [...]
I posted a shorter version of this earlier, but let me add an updated version.
The September 29th runoff for NYC Comptroller pits John Liu, with a degree in mathematical physics and extensive financial experience, against David Yassky, a lawyer and career politician with no financial experience, whose financial abilities are [...]
I recently warned people about a visitation from right wing, anti-gay, anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic fanatics from Kansas (that I dubbed the Kansan Dickheads) threatening to sweep through NYC on a three day protest tour targeting schools, synagogues and St. Patrick's Cathedral. The scope of the protests was impressive, targeting multiple [...]
This comes from Democracy for NYC:
Keep Stella D'oro in the Bronx!
Rally & March, Tomorrow, Friday, September 25
What: Protest & March with Stella D'oro Workers and Supporters
When: Friday, September 25th, 5:00 p.m rally
Where: Protest at Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street (4 or 5 train to Bowling Green)
[...]
"Democratic" State Senator Hiram Monserrate (and one illustration of what is wrong with Democrats in NYC) is on trial for domestic violence. Basically he slashed his girlfriend's face. He claims it was an accident. Abusive people usually either claim it was an accident or blame the victim.
Here is video of [...]
I have argued for some time that the right wing use of hate speech to stir up its base into a frothy tizzy has led to an increase in intolerance and hate crimes in America. Almost the entire Bush Administration saw a constant rise in hate crimes, most particularly [...]
So people who don't like my message tend to critcize me for quoting anonymous sources and rumors. I have always made it clear that I only do so when the rumors and sources are either confirmed by other sources or are reliable. And I also make clear when it is' [...]
“He’s one of the most incredible people I’ve ever met, unbelievable,” he said. “Vito Lopez has brought so much dignity and political acumen and respect to the borough of Brooklyn.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election_2009/2009/09/15/2009-09-15_coun...
--Steve Levin, newly elected City Councilman from Park Slope, praising his mentor, corrupt Party Boss Vito Lopez
On [...]
Please don’t think for a minute that I am angry about losing my race last Tuesday, because I am not. My mind is at ease. I am at peace with myself. I am back to walking around the apartment in the nude. And I am writing poetry again. I am [...]
In the hurried runoff between John Liu and David Yassky for Comptroller, the Teamsters have joined the already long list of Liu endorsements.
“It is my pleasure to announce on behalf of the more than 120,000 working men and women in the Teamsters Joint Council 16, our endorsement of Councilman [...]
WFP and six local candidates, including Bill de Blasio (candidate for Public Advocate, ironically enough), Brad Lander, Daniel Dromm, et. al. broke campaign finance laws. That is a simple fact. WFP, and SOME (by no means all...John Liu for example did not participate) of their endorsed candidates played a little [...]
A wise man once said that success usually comes after moving from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. Another one said that the best way to succeed at something is by increasing your failure rate. Either way, both sages lauded tenacity and persistence. I concur; and that's one of many [...]
The September 29th runoff for NYC Comptroller pits John Liu (with a degree in mathematical physics and extensive financial experience) against David Yassky (a lawyer and career politician with no financial experience, whose financial abilities are so challeneged he threw $15,000 of taxpayer money to a fake non-profit that [...]
Here is a sampling of people who have endorsed Mark Green for Public Advocate of NYC with statements:
Bobby Kennedy
Environmental Law Attorney
"My Uncle Teddy finally felt that, after the death of his brothers, the election of Barack Obama was the fulfillment of his life. That he had fought. That America" [...]
Election Results from last night's primary. Most of my commentary will come when I have a chance to relax.
Mayor: Nothing to see here. Thompson trounces Avella. We all knew that would be the result.
Public Advocate: News Flash: CRIME DOES PAY! One of the few mild surprises was how well crime [...]
This is updated from a previous post, adding some endorsements from other bloggers and a few other newspapers and organizations.
I have spent some time tracking down the endorsements of various groups and papers that represent a broad cross section of NYC...or as broad as I could. I generally selected groups [...]
While Joy and I were out in Park Slope (between escourting our son to his first day of after shool and picking up palm cards from the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats to inflict on voters tomorrow) we ran into our friend and candidate Josh Skaller. As we chatted, we noticed [...]
The hardest race for most people in Comptroller. Although this is possibly one of the most important positions in the city, few people seem to care about it. If we want our money spent right in this city, we need a good Comptroller. read more »
[...]I expect to win my race for the 40th council district. I expect to get the votes of more than half of those who show up to vote in this race. I will say no more on this right now. I also expect that the turnout in my race will [...]
Tomorrow NYC votes in a primary election that will determine, in many ways, the political landscape for NYC for the next 4 years. Sadly, it will be a low voter turnout primary which means it is desperately hard to predict.
Public Advocate is one of the positions up for grabs tomorrow. [...]
I have spent some time tracking down the endorsements of various groups and papers that represent a broad cross section of NYC...or as broad as I could. I generally selected groups I have respect for or contact with for other reasons or that I consider of some importance to New [...]
There is a great new video on NBC from the Brent O'Leary campaign for the 26th City Council seat in Queens. Can't embed it, so have to direct you through a link.
Brent O'Leary has run an excellent grassroots campaign that has knocked on more than 10,000 doors in' [...]
As Tuesday's primary approaches, Josh Skaller picks up two more endorsements: Congressman John Hall and a somewhat surprising endorsement from Gatemouth of Room 8.
From the press release of Congressman Hall's endorsement:
"In Congress, I've worked for a real environmental agenda and for alternate energy sources," Hall said. "Josh Skaller will fight'" [...]
Bouldin, Liza Sabater, mole333, Dan Jacoby, Rock Hackshaw
