Azi Paybarah

The New York State Democratic Party is taking the extraordinary step of trying to remove from its ranks a Bronx State Senator whose scandals, they say, could ruin election hopes for Democrats all over the state.

Below are some highlights from Charlie Rangel’s press conference in Times Square, where Rangel announced he wants to end war funding and institute the draft:

Charlie Rangel, a decorated Korean War veteran who is facing a tough re-election campaign this year, tacks left, and says no to any more war approppriations.

"I don't believe we should spend another dime for the war in the Middle East, except to get out," Rangel says in this video.

Rangel is scheduled to make an announcement about reducing war funding during an 11 a.m. press conference in Manhattan.

This year’s race is the most competitive Rangel has had in years. Along with a smattering of unresolved ethical probes, there’s been a steady shift in the district’s demographics, away from the African-Americans base Rangel has relied on to a growing population that includes Hispanics and Whites.

Rangel is facing a primary challenge from Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, anti-war activist Jonathan Tasini and former aide Vince Morgan.

Bradley Tusk: "Would I love to run a presidential campaign someday? Sure, theoretically, it would be fun."

The state Democratic Party is looking to expel from its ranks Pedro Espada, the Senate Majority Leader.

Party Chairman Jay Jacobs told me the decision to expel Espada has been under discussion for months but was held off, in part, because of the ongoing state budget process.

But it’s worth noting that the New York State Senate went home last week without voting on the revenue portion of the state budget. They are due back in session next week.

The revenue bills, like the other portions of the budget, will probably have to be passed by Democrats cobbling together all of their 32 votes, since the 30 Republicans in that house have been voting along party lines against nearly everything Democrats have proposed.

I asked Jacobs if the move against Espada will make it harder for the State Senate to get enough votes to pass the revenue portions of the state budget. Jacobs said, “I hope it doesn’t. It may. I understand that” and “that is certainly a concern.”

NYS Dem Chairman tries kicking state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. out of the party, and says he is “a Democrat purely for personal profit, not a commitment to our core values.”

Cuomo is silent on the issue.

NYT Albany Bureau Chief: “If the party began removing lawmakers who were accused of misdeeds or were being investigated, it could find itself quite busy.”

Dinowitz isn’t sure Espada can be kicked out of the Democratic Party.

Diaz defends Espada and calls the troubles racially motivated.

Malpass floats his campaign numbers: $2.4 million.

More mail from Saujani; hits Maloney for fund-raising during an important vote.

Gillibrand defends herself from Wall Street critics.

Beck U.

And here's year-old video of Macolm Smith saying nice things about Espada, including, "I love you much."

The New York Post has an entertaining front-page story today about a pretty healthy fireman who collects disability pension payments. For critics, it’s the latest example of pension abuse that’s driving the state broke.

In a scrum with reporters today, Andrew Cuomo was asked if he supports moving away from a defined-benefit system to a defined-contribution system.

Interestingly, Cuomo said “I don’t have a position on a specific option.”

Later, he said however costs are reduced, it’ll likely have to be an option that labor unions agree to, rather than something lawmakers pass over the union’s objections.

Here’s part of what Cuomo said on this topic today:

“We’re going to need to really explore ways to reduce the costs of the pensions.”

“There are a number of options that have been bandied about and part of the process is going to be putting everyone in a room and figuring out how do we actually reduce the costs.”

“I don’t have a position on a specific option, but the strategy is going to have to be to reduce the costs.”

“I think the best way to do this is to do it cooperatively; to do it mutually.”

Joseph from NYC (loudly) disagrees with my analysis that there is some discord among the growing same-sex advocacy community.

He writes:

Azi, what are you talking about?

Last week, Fight Back held a contest to name the next target. "Next week we’ll announce a new target." Hardly the 'jockeying' you report it to be. Your evidence? The fact that they make the announcement on the "frist" (EDITOR!) business day back from the holiday.

There's some jockeying going on to be the lead advocate for same-sex marriage in New York.

On Friday, it was announced that Brian Ellner would lead the new Campaign for New York Marriage--a group associated with the Washington-based Human Rights Campaign.

Today (the first business day since Ellner's announcement) [spelling fixed] another group--Fight BackNY--announced they're targeting Democratic State Senator Bill Stachowski for defeat this fall.

The New School just released the transcript from its post-election discussion with consultants on the 2009 city elections. It’s a chance for top campaign operatives to be (more) honest about what they were doing behind the scenes to shape the race.

Cuomo says the fund-raising story about him in the Times does look bad.

A blogger posts vintage footage of Schumer, and asks "What if Sonia Sotomayor (hispanic) was treated the way Alberto Gonzales (hispanic) was treated?"

Rangel, a portrait of a powerbroker in decline.

Democrats will try removing Espada from the party.

Steele faces more heat from Republicans.

Savino says she didn't realize what was in the deficit reduction plan she voted for.

Chris Smith says Cuomo is now the fourth man in Albany's "three men in a room" game.

Kagan backs a judicial nominee Schumer blocked.

Gillibrand wears sunglasses at Byrd's funeral.

Cuomo supports the mosque at Ground Zero. Lazio opposes it.

NY Post: "[T]he overall budget grew 6 percent, even as fiscal doomsday still looms. Quinn and Bloomberg should've taken their cues from Gov. Paterson."

Seifman says some member items from last year still haven't been paid.

Kruger gets hit for campaign spending. "$180 for candy, $302 for online music from iTunes, and $513 for Russian language tapes. His flower bill was $2,060."

More legal trouble for Espada.

Here's a video of Gillibrand at a Gay Pride Shabbat.

Maloney: "Somehow the politically correct position on the deficit has become cut, cut, cut, irrespective of the economic consequences."

DN: "Carving out a special tax hike just for the most generous New Yorkers is perverse, even by Albany standards."

"The city's murder rate is up 11% so far this year."

Vielkind: "So there is a tacit acceptance among lawmakers--mixed with equal measures of exasperation and hope--that they will be back. Besides the budget, major and minor bills remain unresolved."

Shinnecock Indians also have to get their land recognized before they can open a casino.

NYT: "The state’s politicians should also stop chasing gamblers."

Stachowski's opponent gets the Independence Party nod.

Levin and Lopez get hit for initially opposing the Domino development plan. DN says "no tweaks should have been necessary for a project that was brilliantly conceived from the get-go."

Weingarten may be a transformative leader, says an education columnist.

Gaskell asks what counts as success in Afghanistan.

And pictured above: Cuomo at a July 4th parade on Staten Island, with supporters Rep. Mike McMahon, Assemblyman Mike Cusick, and State Senator Diane Savino.

The Fourth of July fireworks show will give lots of people along the Hudson River a great free show.

The fact that some of those people will be New Jersey residents is angering Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, whose constituents had an eaiser time seeing the show when it was held on the East River. Moving the show back to the East River "should be our priority—not providing viewing pleasure to residents in New Jersey and excluding a large part of New York City, especially Brooklyn,” a "fired up" Markowitz said in a public statement.

But Sunday's fireworks show, organized by Macy's, will take place on the Hudson, for the second year in a row. And some New Jersey residents are openly cheering their good fortune.

"Take that Brooklyn!," wrote one reader on the blog Hoboken411.

 (h/t Amy Eddings)

Bill Clinton on Byrd: “[M]aybe he did something he shouldn't have done and he spent the rest of his life making it up.”

The photo of Paterson vetoing bills is his legacy.

McGeveran basically agrees: “It's hard to imagine what was going through the Daily News editors' minds when they chose a big Mel Gibson cover after seeing this museum-ready historical-moment picture of Paterson.”

Levy clears his throat.

Cuomo and Chartock, round 2.

Queerty isn’t as optimistic as Cuomo on same-sex marriage.

JoeMyGod readers aren’t overly confident either.

Ellner will lead a same-sex marriage group.

Freedlander: “Bloomberg’s fingerprints are all over the financial reform bill.”

Stu Loeser, photographer.

An NYT reporter watches Assemblyman Rivera, and Tweets: “This is one of the legislators leading the great state of N.Y. God help us.”

Frank raises for Maloney.

Maloney mails against special interests.

More Huckabee buzz.

Gaskell expects a fight over war funding in the Senate.

And Bloomberg meets the Hot Dog Eating contestants.

In a video I posted earlier, Bruce Blakeman argued that America's allies were meeting with leaders from rogue nations in more frequency under Obama than they were under Bush--signaling America was losing it's strength in international diplomacy.

"The president of Brazil met with the President of Syria. Assad. Bashar Assad. I cannot think that if George Bush was still president, that the President of Brazil would meet with the Syrian president. I cannot imagine a scenario where that would happen," Blakeman said.

A reader points out that, in fact, Brazil's President, Lula da Silva, already met with Syria's president...in 2003.

At the 2:26 mark, Jose Rivera says out loud what most legislators are saying privately. State legislators do not receive their paychecks until the budget is completed. It was a law passed a few years ago as an incentive to force them to pass the state's budget on time.

Which hasn't always happened.

The AG candidate's campaign posted this ad on the Jobs That Are Left list-serv:

Sean is a retired Navy Captain, successful lawyer, and Wall Street
reformer running in the Democratic Primary for New York State Attorney
General.  He is also the only true outsider in the race, having never
before been elected or appointed to political office.  Sean has
pledged never to run for Governor, and views himself as the people's
lawyer, not a politician.

With offices opening across the state, the Coffey Campaign needs
interns.  Intern opportunities include meeting with volunteers,
working with community organizations, and using the voter file to
track and manage volunteers.  Interns should also be comfortable
working on projects on their own and able to excel in a fast paced
environment. An ideal candidate will be able to commit to 40 hours per
week but hours and dates are flexible. For more information on Sean or
any of his platforms, visit Coffey2010.com.

To apply, please send an email to [redacted] [at] coffey2010.com,
with a brief resume attached.

Here's Paterson, still vetoing spending bills he says the state can't afford. A spokeswoman said the governor will finish vetoing about 7,000 items by the end of today.

Politically, Paterson's hard-line stance against the state legislature has revived him, politically, as evidenced by things like this glowing New York Post front page today.

Dickter's interview with Blakeman got refershingly deep into the weeds of foreign policy. 

 Around the 3:30 minute mark, Blakeman says the US is no longer preventing allies from talking to rogue or unfriendly nations.

"The president of Brazil met with the President of Syria. Assad. Bashar Assad. I cannot think that if George Bush was still president, that the President of Brazil would meet with the Syrian president. I cannot imagine a scenario where that would happen."

Around the 4:10 mark, Blakeman hits Gillibrand for not bringing the White House closer into Israel’s corner:

"So, I think there’s a fundamental shift away from Israel and towards the Palestinians, by the administration. Senator Gillibrand has been absolutely silent on that, and I think that has emboldened Iran."

On the home front, Blakeman praised Chris Christie as someone "reflecting the new Republican Party." When asked about Sarah Palin, Blakeman was complimentary, but not non-committal about her 2012 chances.

“I think there’s a perception that she’s not smart. I think she’s very smart. I think she does have great communication skills, leadership skills, but there a lot of good Republicans out there who could be potential presidential candidates, and I think Sarah Palin is just one of them.”

Paterson says good-bye to elected life.

He's delaying some federally-funded health care services here.

On immigration: "The president’s decision to elevate the issue reflected more of a political strategy than a legislative one since the White House has no plan to actually push a bill this year."

Money for broadband is on its way.