Yoda's blog

Albany Must Be Short On Dictionaries

2012-01-27T10:20:54-05:00

In defending the indefensible, Assemblyman Jack McEneny, the Democratic Co-Chair of the gang that drew the new legislative lines said –

"The same people who (criticized LATFOR) before the lines were drawn are being consistent, and it all depends on what your definition of gerrymander is, and nobody has a good one," he said.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/New-lines-draw-veto-threat-2745548.php#ixzz1kfZQUJWt

I guess the State budget doesn’t allow McEneny access to a dictionary because the Merriam-Webster seems pretty good to me –

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerrymandering

Definition of GERRYMANDER

transitive verb

: to divide (a territorial unit) into election districts to give one political party an electoral majority in a large number of districts while concentrating the voting strength of the opposition in as few districts as possible

: to divide (an area) into political units to give special advantages to one group <gerrymander a school district>

Doug Schoen & Pat Caddell's Amazing Efforts In New Hampshire

2012-01-12T15:13:15-05:00

Last week, I wrote of the challenge facing Murdoch flacks, I mean “Democratic” consultants Doug Schoen & Pat Caddell in the New Hampshire Democratic Primary.

http://www.r8ny.com/blog/yoda/the_battle_of_the_irrelevants.html\

Doug & Pat, in a hyped by Fox News op-ed in the Wall Street Journal (do I detect a pattern here?) called on New Hampshire Democrats to show their dissatisfaction with President Obama by writing-in Hillary Clinton for President.

"Clinton pulled off a stunning New Hampshire primary victory over Obama during the 2008 primaries. There is every reason to believe that, as a write-in candidate, she would get a substantial number of votes in the Granite State next year," Patrick Caddell and Douglas Schoen wrote

Last week, I explained their challenge was to beat the vote for Uncommitted versus Obama that was garnered by the over-hyped left-wing fringe group Occupy the Caucuses.

Doug & Pat only had to beat 2%!

The final results are in.

And they failed!

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-hillary-clinton-write-in-votes-new-hampshire-20120112,0,858536.story?track=rss

A campaign to encourage Democrats to vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday appears to have fallen flat.

….

Approximately 11% of the vote was for a write-in candidate. But most of the write-in votes cast by Democrats were for the candidates running for the Republican nomination.

Ron Paul scored the most write-in votes for a Republican in the Democratic primary with 2,273. Mitt Romney won 1,808 write-in votes and Jon Huntsman received 1,228.

The secretary of state's office included any write-in votes that came for Clinton under the category of "scatter" -- a designation that accounted for just 1.2% of the total Democratic vote.

But a survey of detailed vote counts from the state's most populated areas found that Clinton never received more than a handful. In Manchester, 31 Democrats wrote in Clinton's name. She won 17 votes in both Concord and Salem, 13 in Nashua and 11 in Portsmouth.

But Doug & Pat shouldn’t be too discouraged. They did something that the Pittsburg Steelers failed to do. Hillary write-ins did beat Tim Tebow write-ins.

In one town, Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady each received a write-in vote.

The Battle Of The Irrelevants

2012-01-06T17:41:05-05:00

As some may recall, “Democratic” pollsters Doug Schoen & Pat Caddell, as part of the Murdoch subsidized anti-Obama campaign recently urged voters to write-in Hillary Clinton for President in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/20/schoen-caddell-hillary-2012_n_1161439.html

First, and most important, ordinary Democrats and independents in New Hampshire should mobilize behind a grass-roots effort to write in Clinton's name during the Jan. 10 Democratic primary.

As most probably don’t recall, the Iowa off-shoot of Occupy Wall Street called for “the 99%” to vote in the Iowa Democratic Caucus for Uncommitted:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/12/30/occupying_the_caucuses.html

The occupying will keep on, but the coming goal of the protesters is to influence -- not disrupt! -- the Iowa Caucuses. The mission: Infilitrate the Democratic or Republican caucuses, and make "uncommitted" win them. "If Obama lost the primary to uncommitted," said one of them, "it would be volcanic."

The actual results were not volcanic, as uncommitted lost to Obama 1094.86 to 17.15.

So here’s the challenge for Schoen & Caddell – can their ridiculous “campaign” against Obama from the right surpass the low threshold of defeat set by those campaigning against Obama from the left.

Will Doug & Pat get more than 2% of New Hampshire voters to write-in Hillary Clinton next week?

Holiday Wish For The NY Press

2011-12-23T12:42:54-05:00

I hope that members of the New York press read the latest poll that included possible Third Party Presidential candidates before they publish any more nonsense from Doug Schoen or Kevin Sheeky about Bloomberg for President.

Here are the numbers:

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_National_1220925.pdf

Barack Obama................................................ 43%

Mitt Romney.................................................... 41%

Gary Johnson ................................................. 9%

Undecided....................................................... 7%

Barack Obama................................................ 43%

Mitt Romney.................................................... 37%

Jon Huntsman................................................. 11%

Undecided....................................................... 8%

Barack Obama................................................ 42%

Mitt Romney.................................................... 37%

Ron Paul ......................................................... 17%

Undecided....................................................... 4%

Barack Obama................................................ 45%

Mitt Romney.................................................... 31%

Donald Trump ................................................. 19%

Undecided....................................................... 5%

Barack Obama................................................ 43%

Mitt Romney.................................................... 41%

Michael Bloomberg ......................................... 8%

Undecided....................................................... 8%

Barack Obama................................................ 42%

Mitt Romney.................................................... 42%

Bernie Sanders ............................................... 7%

Undecided....................................................... 9%

Barack Obama................................................ 44%

Mitt Romney.................................................... 43%

Rocky Anderson.............................................. 4%

Undecided....................................................... 8%

I guess Mike should be proud that he does twice as well as Rocky Anderson (he’s the former Mayor of Salt Lake City in case you didn’t know) but doing less than half as well as Donald Trump should ruin his holiday more than a snow storm.

Dishonest NY Post Headline Of The Week

2011-11-10T11:33:29-05:00

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/woman_obama_accused_herman_cain_YUPqjDLbeq89nhLTER8V6N

One woman who accused Cain of sexual harassment now works for Obama

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2011/11/08/142134820/earlier-cain-accuser-is-republican-longtime-government-employee

Kraushaar, 55, a career federal employee and registered Republican who characterizes herself as an independent, currently works as a communications director at the U.S. Treasury Department.

Does Guy Molinari Know That Christine Quinn Is Gay?

2011-11-10T08:42:22-05:00

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/election_day_2011_a_three-peat.html

But Molinari lauded Democratic City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, whom he said, "did the right thing. She rose above politics and refused to endorse the Democrat. She won enormous respect from me and from our party."

He said that could play in Ms. Quinn's favor here if she runs for mayor in 2013.

http://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/12/nyregion/1994-campaign-attorney-general-some-gop-raise-democrat-s-lesbianism-issue.html

From the moment Karen S. Burstein won the Democratic primary for state attorney general, the Republican candidate, Dennis C. Vacco, has said publicly that her homosexuality should not be a campaign issue. But three of his most prominent supporters have been working in recent weeks to make it one.

The three have used various public settings to remind voters that Ms. Burstein is a lesbian, which they say puts her out of touch with the average voter. And today -- after the comments of one of them, Guy V. Molinari, triggered a campaign contretemps -- all three vowed to continue their efforts.

The Burstein campaign demanded today to know why Mr. Vacco does not stop them.

"What she is doing is very cleverly using this issue in gay and lesbian communities to her political benefit," said Mr. Molinari, the Borough President of Staten Island. Those comments, in an interview today, echoed remarks he made at a Columbus Day event on Monday, with Mr. Vacco at his side. At one point on Monday, Mr. Molinari said flatly that the next attorney general "should not be an admitted lesbian."

Saying that he thought Mr. Vacco was foolish not to make Ms. Burstein's lesbianism an issue, Mr. Molinari continued today: "This is not being divulged to people in the rest of the state, and if it were, it would cost her politically. I'm saying everyone should be aware of her sexual preference."

Is There A Limit To How Many Times Doug Schoen Can Get The Same Op-Ed Printed?

2011-11-06T12:39:47-05:00

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/americans-torn-tea-party-occupy-wall-street-back-independent-president-article-1.972696

Americans torn between the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street would back an independent for President

Republicans and Democrats could be at risk for losing voters

BY Douglas E. Schoen
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Saturday, November 5 2011, 2:02 PM

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903461304576524313844439194.html

· OPINION

· AUGUST 25, 2011

Expect a Third-Party Candidate in 2012

Ross Perot in 1992 and John Anderson in 1980 garnered exceptionally high levels of support.

By PATRICK H. CADDELL And DOUGLAS E. SCHOEN

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65508.html

The case for a third party candidate

By DOUGLAS E. SCHOEN | 10/9/11 11:18 PM EDT

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/03/04/bring-on-a-third-party-for-the-2012-presidential-election.html

Bring On a Third Party for the 2012 Presidential Election!

Mar 4, 2011 4:14 PM EST

By DOUGLAS E. SCHOEN

Saving A Book Store, With Other People's Money

2011-11-03T15:14:49-04:00

The Huffington Post reports on the deal between Cooper Union and the St. Mark’s Bookstore to keep the store open.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/03/st-marks-bookshop-reaches_n_1074199.html

While the story is played as feel good story, I don’t agree.

It’s bad enough that the deal between Cooper Union, a non-profit educational institution, which provides a free college education to over 900 students and the bookstore has Cooper Union reducing the rent the store pays from $20,000/month to $17,500/month and forgiving a loan of $7,500. It was reported earlier this week that Cooper Union is facing its’ own money problems and this won’t help.

But what really annoys me is this from the Post story –

Longtime patrons of the store rallied and the Cooper Square Committee, a local community organization, started an online petition called "Save St. Mark's Bookshop From Cooper Union" that gained traction quickly. Writer Salman Rushdie and Paris Review editor Lorin Stein wrote missives in support of the shop.

As of Thursday morning during the press conference, 44,075 people have signed the petition.

If the 44,075 wanted to save the store, each of them could have bought one additional, relatively cheap, book. Let’s say for $15. That would have provided the store with $661,125 or enough to pay the $20,000 rent for 2 years and 9 months. If a few of the 44,000 couldn’t afford the 15 bucks, maybe Salman Rushdie could have bought a book a month!

Did Hank Sheinkopf Really Know Andrew Cuomo When Andrew was 14?

2011-08-17T15:48:01-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/nyregion/cuomo-in-choosing-mta-leader-faces-critical-appointment.html

“I’ve known Andrew for 40 years, but I never saw him on the subway,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political consultant.

Andrea Peyser - Tough On Male Politicians, Except For One

2011-06-08T17:04:39-04:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/new-york-post-columnist-spares-none-when-politicians-fall-from-grace/2011/06/07/AGPgZPLH_story.html

A warning to any and all New York politicians considering an extramarital dalliance, virtual or otherwise. When you eventually hold your de rigueur regret session at a packed Manhattan news conference, Andrea Peyser will be there in the footlights, ensuring that your fall from grace is as graceless as humanly possible.

….

It was no accident that Peyser stood front and center at the Weiner news conference or that she became its virtual co-star. When it comes to humiliating humiliated powerful men and the women who stand by them, Peyser is unparalleled.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2001-05-18/news/0105180135_1_giuliani-hanover-gracie-mansion/3

"I'm a born-and-bred New Yorker, and I have to admire taking something on directly -- that's how I am," says Andrea Peyser, a New York Post columnist who has come to Giuliani's defense. "He's like, `OK, my marriage is over. This is my girlfriend. Deal with it.' I admire that sort of openness. Donna plays it a different way -- she's more passive-aggressive."

Should A National Political Reporter Know Something About Politics?

2011-05-25T16:22:54-04:00

One of the attempts to try to explain Kathy Hochul’s upset win appeared on theatlantic.com and was written by Chris Good, who is identified as an associate editor at The Atlantic, where he writes for the Politics channel and who previously reported and blogged for The Hill newspaper.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/05/new-york-26-special-election-tells-us-what-we-already-knew/239423/

With that background, I would hope that Good understood that the numbers of congressional districts often change over the years because of redistricting. But I guess he doesn’t.

How else can I explain this stupid sentence in Good’s story -

Republicans had dominated the Buffalo district for almost a decade, representing it in Congress since 2004.

The truth is that this district has been represented by Republicans for 4 decades, since Jack Kemp’s election in 1970.

http://www.r8ny.com/blog/gatemouth/the_gateway_ho_ho_hochul_edition.html

The district had a different number that year than this because New York had more Congressional Districts than it does now.

In fact, the district number for the suburban Buffalo district has changed after every census because New York has lost seats every 10 years seats are numbered beginning with the one on Eastern Long Island, so that by the time they get to Western New York, the old number is gone.

If Good took the time to do a little research, he’d learn that from the time Jack Kemp took the office, this district was number 39, then 38, 31 27, and finally became the 26^th in 2002.

Stop The Presses - Michael Goodwin Is Right For Once (Sort of)

2011-05-15T15:04:27-04:00

Michael Goodwin in Sunday’s NY Post thinks he has caught Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in a hypocritical inconsistency.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mike_lesson_not_learned_TktA3gNXghYEcV9MZIS3iL#ixzz1MRqu74Qw

Goodwin writes –

The Assembly speaker has tied himself in knots trying to pander to the Democratic Party base and government unions. On his left hand, he wants Gov. Cuomo to renew an income-tax surcharge on families earning over $200,000, the so-called "millionaires tax." On his far-left hand, he wants tenants to keep rent-stabilization protections until they earn up to $300,000 a year and pay rent above $3,000 a month.

Common sense would dictate that Silver can't have it both ways -- you're either a millionaire, or you need a break on the rent. But that's in the real world. In Albany, there's nothing common about sense.

Guess what – like a stopped clock, Goodwin is right for one of the few times since he joined the Post.

Silver and the other city Democrats are fulll of it when they claim that rent protections for families making over $200,000 a year helps the poor and the working class.

But Goodwin doesn’t take the next step and admit that those who take the opposite position, which include the editorial pages of the Post & News - that relatively wealthy people shouldn’t receive rent protection and at the same time these same people can’t afford a modest tax increase are equally engaged in hypocritical inconsistencies.

I suggest that Goodwin doesn’t take this action because he’s longtime hack who tailors his opinions to match those of his bosses.

Or maybe he’s just dumb.

PS – One of the few consistent voices on these subjects is the NY Times, which has over the years favored both sensible tax increases and relaxation of New York’s outdated rent regulations.

Two Pols In A Pod

2011-05-02T12:14:18-04:00

For those who are afraid that Donald Trump might actually become the Republican nominee for President next year, I say don’t worry.

Remember 4 years ago and see if these qualities that describe the then GOP front runner in all the polls don’t also apply to Trump. And we all remember what happened to that frontrunner.

Obnoxious New Yorker

Hosted NBC TV Show

Obsessed with golf

Often seen in TV shots at Yankee games

Thinks he is more popular in Florida than he really is

Avoided the draft during war in Vietnam

Changed positions on abortion & Gay rights

Changed Parties

Changed wives

Bad hair

I Think He Wanted To Spend More Time With Someone Else's Family

2011-04-22T09:26:35-04:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110421/ap_on_go_co/us_ensign_resignation

LAS VEGAS – Nevada Sen. John Ensign announced Thursday he will resign amid an ethics investigation

The Hardworking Investigative Reporters At Page 6 Know How To Read Fortune

2011-03-31T16:50:44-04:00

From Thursday’s Page 6 in the NY Post -

http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/obama_donors_ZsyQXeYy1wmjgdlLKUYaNJ

The guest list was top secret for President Obama's $30,000-a-head Harlem fund-raiser the other night. But sources tell us that those who helped raise more than $1 million for Obama included financier Orin Kramer of Boston Provident, New York State Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs with wife Mindy, Chelsea Piers president Tom Bernstein, and Evercore Partners' Ralph Schlosstein and wife Jane Hartley. Also there: White House adviser Valerie Jarrett and Rep. Charlie Rangel, who did not have to pay.

From Tuesday’s Fortune Magazine website

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/03/29/look-whos-coming-to-dinner-with-obama/

Tonight, about 50 financiers, businesspeople and Washington elite will gather for an exclusive dinner in New York City's Red Rooster Harlem.

A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee says the event, where Obama will chat with guests about everything from the economy to conflicts in Libya and the Middle East, is expected to raise about $1.5 million for the organization. Though the committee wouldn't divulge the relatively small guest list, a source says many of the President's supporters dating back from 2007 and 2008 are expected to attend.

They include:

President and co-founder of Chelsea Piers LP Tom Bernstein and wife Andrea. Indeed, there's a ring of irony to this, given that Roland Betts, who founded Chelsea Piers with Bernstein in 1995, is one of George W. Bush's best friends. The two were classmates and fraternity brothers at Yale University and Betts was the lead owner in Bush's Texas Rangers partnership.

Also attending is Evercore Partners (EVR) President and CEO Ralph Schlosstein and wife Jane Hartley, co-founder of the Observatory Group, an economic and political advisory firm. Prior to entering the private sector and running the New York City-based investment bank, Schlosstein served in the public sector for many years. In the mid-1970s, he was an economist for the Congressional Joint Committee and then went on to work in the Carter Administration – first as deputy to the assistant secretary of the Treasury Department and later as associate director of the White House Domestic Policy staff.

Under the Carter Administration, Schlosstein worked with financier Orin Kramer, also an expected guest. Kramer is a general partner of the hedge fund Boston Provident, LP.