DaBrinker Report

Rivera - The Attack Dog

Peter Rivera came out swinging yesterday with a press release calling Gillibrand a “xenophobe”.  As reported by The Daily Politics, Rivera has been actively trying to build opposition to Gillibrand:

A number of state legislators have reported receiving at their Albany offices a 40-page packet from Rivera made up mostly of media clips that portray Gillibrand in a negative light, particularly when it comes to her record on immigration.

The packet came with a note from Rivera that reads: "I thought the enclosed might be of interest to you."

The first page features a screen grab of Gillibrand's old Web site that touts how she was the first member of Congress to publicly reject ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer's ill-fated plan to let illegal immigrants get driver's licenses with the commentary: "When hateful speech and anti-immigrant politics meet, people and communities are abused."

What Rivera doesn’t seem to get is that a vast majority of voters in Gillibrand’s district (and New York State) opposed Spitzer’s driver’s licenses for immigrants proposal.  Consequently the proposal crashed and burned and Spitzer held public temper tantrum press conferences in a few Assembly districts. 

So, if Rivera keeps this up, I see him crash and burning just like Spitzer and his proposal. 

Pressure Increasing for Monserrate

I’m actually surprised it took this long for NOW to start pressuring Monserrate.  I can’t image the pressure NOW and other groups will apply to the Senate Dems and Monserrate when the video tape of Monserrate dragging his girlfriend by the hair is released.  This issue is not going away.

Basketball Jimmy Tedisco Making Moves

I am actually impressed how Jimmy Tedisco outmaneuvered John Faso and Senator Betty Little.  But, I have to scratch my head and wonder what this says about the Republican Party.  Jimmy is unstable and is likely to implode during this campaign.  And I have to believe that the GOP County Chairs know this.  Are they giving up?  Are they willing to let Jimmy lose to get rid of him? 

 

This is going to be a fun special election to watch.  I might just rent a place in the district to watch this race unfold in person.    

Former Pataki Commissioner Being Investigated

From the NY Times:

Gov. George E. Pataki’s appointment of Antonia C. Novello, a former surgeon general, as state health commissioner in 1999 was seen as something of a coup for New York.

But the New York State inspector general’s office says that she turned her staff at the Health Department into her personal chauffeurs, porters and shopping assistants during her seven-year tenure, and has referred a criminal case, including potential felony charges, to the Albany district attorney.

I’m actually surprised it took so long for this story to break.  These stories were circulating around years ago.  Maybe she and Bruno can share a cell to help New York save money.

Senator Pedro Espada -- Last Term?

Senator Pedro Espada does not have a district office and he isn’t filing his disclosure forms for his election committee. This guy is acting like he has no plans to remain in the Senate --  which would be a good thing.  I figured either the police or his own party would remove him from office. 

Basketball Jimmy Tedisco is at it Again

I love this man’s leadership style.  He pouts, yells, stomps his feet and won’t join meetings unless he is the center of attention.  From CapCon:

 

 

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver had to count heads for awhile to conduct a very brief session today as Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco threatened to decline to send his 41 GOP members to the chamber unless Silver has a quorum of 76 Democrats to fill some seats in the 150-member Assembly.

 

Look at me; look at me; I’m Jimmy T!

Kennedy, In or Out - Should be Out

It’s not clear whether she is really in or really out. But this slip-up demonstrates that she is not ready to be such a high level elected official.

From

Albany Watch:

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A person close to Caroline Kennedy’s decision says she has renewed her determination to win appointment to the U.S. Senate seat once held by her slain uncle, Sen. Bobby Kennedy.

The source says that after her surviving uncle, Sen. Edward Kennedy, suffered a seizure on Inauguration Day, Caroline Kennedy had misgivings about taking on the new job.

The source spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak for Kennedy. Earlier in the day, The New York Times and New York Post reported that Kennedy had ended her monthlong bid to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was confirmed as secretary of state.

Governor Paterson should cross her off his short list of candidates.

Gillibrand for US Senate

Is Gillibrand really one of the front runners for US Senate? It may solve some problems when the congressional lines are redrawn for redistricting. New York could be losing two congressional seats. And some feel, one of the lost seats would come from the capital region –Tonko or Gillibrand. Moving Gillibrand to US Senate would help with redistricting.

But can she win a statewide race to hold the US Senate seat?

Obama's First 100 Days

CNN Money has a summary of President Obama’s to do list for his first 100 days.  I hope him and his team are ready.  They will have their hands full. 

Dave from Queens Comments on Bouldin

It seems Dave from Queens has also noticed Bouldin's absence from Daily Gotham. Dave posted a comment at DaBrinker last night:

I was waiting for my this week in Stalinist Daily Kos on Sunday's to point out how Bouldin hasn't blogged at DailyGotham in over a month. You beat me to it by 3 days. Wise move by the Daily Gotham.

Bouldin actually thinks he's a very powerful person in New York City. Nobody likes him, even Democrats who agree with him politically find him to be a joke and a pariah. He's just a hate monger, a smear merchant, and a bigoted a-hole, I'm thinking of running against Padavan in 2010 and Bouldin vows to destroy my candidacy if I run. Now I'm thinking to myself which would be the better meme to promote to the public.

A. A centerleft moderate/liberal, independent, not beholden to special interests, hated by right wing kooks and Daily Kos Kooks and liked by most people but who is being criticized by Michael Bouldin OR

B. A radical left wing crazy who kisses Daily Kos' ass and is being praised by Michael Bouldin.

It's so hard figuring out which meme is the more electable one. I'm trying to figure out which won gains a person an extra 15 out of 100 people while losing 1 in a 100 and which one gains you an extra 1 in a 100 while losing 15. So tough. I'm sure Bouldin has all the answers. He's so much smarter than everyone else.

Posted by: Dave from queens | January 16, 2009 at 12:21 AM