Monday's New York Post reports that Ronald Lauder has officially wimped out. Lauder has agreed to third terms for everybody who qualifies.

In return, Lauder will have a seat on a Charter Revision Commission in 2010 to study the issue and possibly place it on the 2010 ballot--after the fact of a "temporary" extension. Oh joy.

Plain fairness requires that everyone acknowledge that the public HAS ALREADY VOTED ON THIS TWICE. Any change should not take place without a public vote. The city council should not vote on a direct benefit to themselves.

This is simple, plain fairness. You'd think that every newspaper in town would demand it.

The Big Apple is now officially a Banana Republic. Call it the Big Apple-Banana Republic.

Ron Lauder sold out.

On the bright side, Michael Bloomberg can be re-elected and take full credit for New York's coming financial disaster. Be careful what you wish for, Mike!

LINK:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10062008/news/regionalnews/mike__lauder_strike_one_shot_term_deal_132300.htm

MIKE & LAUDER STRIKE 'ONE-SHOT' TERM DEAL

By SALLY GOLDENBERG & REBECCA ROSENBERG

Posted: 3:56 am
October 6, 2008

Mayor Bloomberg has struck a deal to appease the man posing the biggest threat to his plan to run for a third term: billionaire term-limits advocate Ronald Lauder.

Lauder promised Bloomberg he would support legislation in the City Council to give all officials the option to run for a third term in exchange for a guaranteed seat on a Charter-revision commission.

"I want Mayor Bloomberg to have a third term," the cosmetics heir said last night outside his East Side apartment building.

But he stressed he's supporting Bloomberg for only one more term.

"I believe we can make a once-only exception. If they try to make it a permanent three terms, the voters, by referendum, would have to vote it back to two terms - and I would put my money behind making sure that happens."

Term limits can be changed only through a referendum or a vote in the City Council.

Under terms of the deal, worked out over the phone last Friday but made public yesterday, the charter commission - which would be appointed by the mayor - would study reverting to a two-term limit and put it on the ballot in 2010, representatives of both men said.

Bloomberg would already be serving his third term.

"The mayor said as soon as this November election is held this year, he would appoint a Charter-revision commission, Lauder would be a member of it, and they would, in the year 2010, deal with the issue of ending the three terms and reverting to two terms," said Howard Rubenstein, Lauder's spokesman.