Azi Paybarah

NY Sen. Chuck Schumer and AG Andrew Cuomo dodge questions about whether they'll attend Rep. Charlie Rangel's birthday party.

Cuomo's explanation is that he hasn't figured out his schedule, which takes me back to when I tried FOILing his schedule.
 
One reason NYC lawmakers may want to serve three four-year terms: they get vested in the city pension.

I've been watching the Reshma Saujani and Carolyn Maloney's one-sided spat about debates. To help me understand the value of this fight in the grand scheme of things, Democratic consultant Michael Oliva offers his thoughts:

I've been milling this over in my brain.  

Has calling on a candidate, who is way ahead, to a debate, by the candidate who is way behind, EVER worked, because...

A) The candidate way ahead caved to pressure, debated, and did so badly they lost the election, or...

B) The candidate way ahead refused to debate, and received such bad publicity, they nosedived and lost

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of one instance of either A or B ever happening.

That's how you know it's the mark of death.  It's because a campaign is putting their emotion and frustration ahead of good strategy, because they feel they have exhausted all other options, even though they know the tactic won't work.  If the people COULD ONLY SEE how much better we are THEN they'd get it and vote for us.

...and even if true how many people ever even see?

On a conference call today on increasing major charitable giving, Mayor Bloomberg and Investor Warren Buffett were asked what they thought about New York's new law reducing tax deductions on donations made by wealthy philanthropists.

Mayor Bloomberg’s spokesperson jumped down the throat of an education expert on Wednesday about a topic the mayor has been defensive about: school test scores. The tension arose when Education Reporter Liz Green of Gotham Schools asked readers for feedback before coming on WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show to discuss test scores.

New York attorney general candidate Eric Schneiderman is defending himself--one day after he voted against a property tax cap as a member of the state Senate. The tax cap passed Tuesday night.

One of Schneiderman's opponents in the Democratic AG primary, attorney Sean Coffey, said the vote was a "rebuke' to taxpayers.

Democratic congressional candidate Reshma Saujani has produced a Web video slamming Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney for declining an invitation to debate.

Conservative radio show host Laura Ingraham interviewed Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio just now and asked him if he could win his race.

As Ingraham put it, “How can a Republican like you ever hope to win the gubernatorial race?”

Lazio answered: “This is a year when nobody wants to vote for an incumbent.”

Republican Tea Party gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino is using his opposition to the Islamic center slated for construction near Ground Zero to raise campaign funds.

Paladino wrote the following e-mail, which is kind of a long, rambling message that focuses on a couple of issues: the Islamic center, Cuomo's record at HUD and, of course, the liberal media bias. He also refers to his Democratic opponent as "Young Cuomo" and "Andrew." The e-mail doesn't mention Mayor Bloomberg, a forceful supporter of the plan who Paladino took a shot at (which I thought was unwise for a number of reasons).

Paladino's email is after the jump. I'll update if I get a response from Cuomo's campaign.

Democratic congressional candidate Reshma Saujani was part of a Fox News panel this morning discussing, among other things, the Islamic center slated for near Ground Zero.

“Taxpayers” vs. “Taxpayer.”

Rep. Anthony Weiner (NY-9) explains his outburst after the 9/11 health bill was voted down.

Not attending Rangel’s birthday? Staten Island Rep. Mike McMahon, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) and Singer Aretha Franklin.

Bloomberg, passionate.

Bloomberg, stirring.

Weiner, silent.

Pareene: “ encourage Weiner's constituents to ask him for his thoughts” on the mosque.”   

Brodsky, personally opposed.

No vote on SUNY / CUNY tuition.

Paterson fumes.

Schneiderman’s book compares his proposals to his opponents.

Allegretti and Paladino.

And Savino, artfully in charge.

Embattled State Senator Espada said he will attend the session in Albany today, now that colleagues agreed to support two of his bills (one boosting rights for farm workers, the other about affordable housing).

But I haven’t seen or heard confirmation of his attendance.

The revenue bills still need to get passed, as does the bill allowing SUNY and CUNY to set their own tuition. They have another week before this four-month overdue state budget is the latest in New York history.

Gary Bernsten is a former CIA agent who worked extensively in Afghanistan, East Africa and was the Chief of Hazbollah Operations for the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center.

He’s also a GOP candidate running for US Senate against Democrat Chuck Schumer.

What does Bernsten think about building a cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero?

Bernsten opposes it. Strongly. He told me the place will attract radical Islamists who will use the place as a base from which to launch future attacks against.

Which lead me around the 6:30 mark to ask, “if a mosque is built there, do you think American lives would be in danger?”

Bernsten’s reply: “Eventually. Eventually.”

I’m told Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) will be out of state and not attending Rep. Charlie Rangel’s birthday event. She’ll be out of town for a personal family meeting, according to someone familiar with the plans.

GOP gubernatorial Carl Paladino ramps up his criticism of the Islamic cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero to include...NYC Mayor Bloomberg.

Paladino's statement goes after Bloomberg (who earlier said Paladino won't win this year's race), and doesn't mention the two other gubernatorial candidates he's trying to defeat, GOP opponent Rick Lazio and Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo.

Here's Paladino:

Today the nine Bloomberg stooges on the Landmarks panel did exactly
as they were told and cleared the way for 13-story insult to all
Americans at Ground Zero. It is especially astounding that Mayor
Bloomberg, who owes his rise to power to 9-11, is fast-tracking this
desecration of the district where thousands of Americans were
murdered.

Enough talk. New Yorkers want the entire district around the World
Trade Center declared a War Memorial. As governor, Carl Paladino will
do whatever it takes to stop the Ground Zero Mosque - including using
eminent domain."

I'm not sure of the wisdom of drawing Bloomberg, a popular and really rich mayor, into a fight during the gubernatorial campaign. What votes Paladino picks up statewide by making Bloomberg the enemy?

Bloomberg  had indicated earlier he'd stay neutral in the governor's race, but with Cuomo's commanding lead, and Paladino's increasing, um, outspokenness, some might fogive the mayor for putting his thumb on the scale in this race.

A member of the NYC Charter Revision Commission, Hope Cohen, raised a point during the commission's meeting last night that I hadn’t heard before on the issue of instant run-off voting, or, “top-two,” as it’s being called.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio hit his Democratic opponent Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday for not only supporting plans to build an Islamic cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero, but also keeping quiet on the issue.

The latest person in calling for Rep. Charlie Rangel to step down is Reshma Saujani, the Democratic challenger to Rep. Carolyn Maloney.

And Saujani is roping Maloney into the story.

Saujani:

"Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney should immediately call for the resignation of Congressman Charles Rangel.

"There is a direct connection between New York's jobs crisis and our state's political crisis.  We cannot continue to look the other way as our elected officials continually lower the bar instead of raise it, create scandals instead of solutions, and hold New York back instead of move our city forward.  We cannot continue to tolerate ethical transgressions and economic stagnation in the name of political expediency and loyalty.

"There are reports that Congresswoman Maloney may be attending Congressman Rangel's birthday party next week. But these 13 charges against Congressman Rangel are serious allegations, not cause for a lavish birthday celebration -- and our elected officials should not be joining him.  

"It is time for New York to demand principled leadership and progress. Congressman Rangel has had a long and distinguished career. But that's no reason to excuse his conduct -- or the conduct of any number of entrenched politicians in this city. It is time for Congressman Rangel to step down, and end his career with dignity, as President Obama stated last week. We need to make way for a new generation of leaders committed to a political and economic renaissance in New York."

Manhattan Borough President (and 2013 contender) Scott Stringer cheers the unanimous vote by the NYC Landmarks Commission that paves the way for an Islamic cultural center and mosque to be built near Ground Zero.

And he takes a shot at critics of the plan:

"From the racist rants of a discredited Tea Party leader to the cynical posturing of a floundering gubernatorial candidate, this process has been manipulated by those looking to get headlines and score political points. We reject their divisive tactics."

The plans for 51Park have become a rallying point for cultural conservatives near and far, even drawing the attention of Sarah Palin. Locally, GOP gubernatorial candidates Carl Paladino and Rick Lazio have voiced their opposition to the plan, pressing Andrew Cuomo to explain in detail why he supports it.

So far, Cuomo hasn't responded.

UPDATE: City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (another 2013 contender from the West Side of Manhattan), is less combative in her description of the plan’s opponents:

“The debate around this cultural center has been difficult and divisive. It has shown us that many of the wounds of 9/11 still exist. But the true way to honor the Americans who died fighting for our country’s founding principles is to respond to the proposal of this mosque and cultural center with support, with a deepened commitment to religious freedom, and with a deepened commitment to New York City being the freest, most tolerant, and most accepting place in the world.”

Influential Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) thinks Rangel can avoid a trial.

NYT: "Washington has suddenly become fixated on ethics issues."

No campaign ads from Goldman Sachs, after Public Advocate Bill de Blasio makes it an issue.