Azi says there were plenty of "reformers" at Vito's holiday party. Don't know, went to Skurnik's, partially because when County phoned me with the invite, I thought I was being set up for a "Jimmy Darmitty" season finale. Twitter / Azi Paybarah: A source texts: "@ Kings C ... twitter.com

Fidler reminds the Orthodox community of Hakoras Ha-Tov. The question is whether they still know the meaning of the words. http://www.capitaltonight.com/2011/12/fidlers-preemptive-strike/#more-56775 www.capitaltonight.com

You would think it would be impossible to find someone to run against Avella who makes him look sane by comparison. It's as if John Sampson is now doing candidate recruitment for the GOP. Dan Halloran Leaning Toward Senate Run Against Tony Avella cityandstateny.com

In which we learn that Isaac Sasson is no longer a “closet” Republican, that Allan Jennings is still insane and that the Governor is not against Independent Redistricting, just independent Senators. Heard Around Town, Dec. 14, 2011 cityandstateny.com

State Senator Dave Carlucci (D-Klavino) is under attack by a "push-poll." Chief suspects are....Democrats. the albany project:: Cowardly poll attempts to smear NY State Senator David Carlucci, but backfires www.thealbanyproject.com

Newsday calls the new Ethics Commission "toothless," but given some of the characters appointed to it, that may not be such a bad thing. Editorial: Ethics panel must be stronger www.newsday.com

Weigel parses out the difference between “No Labels and "Americans Elect" --and yes, "No Labels" is both less pernicious and less delusional.

But, but, but...

If the anti-partisan centrist elite can't even unite on a unified strategy for their uphill clims, aren't they ultiantely pointless? No Labels: Is this the first centrist group ever to have good ideas? www.slate.com 

·          

·          

·         Chait: "The robotic consistency of Romney’s newfound conservatism does contrast sharply with Gingrich, who lurches between hysterical right-wing paranoia and bouts of bipartisanship. And yet the erratic character of Gingrich’s swings suggests that they’re unplanned, and thus that they spring from actual conviction, albeit momentary convictions. Gingrich actually believes what he is advocating at the moment he is advocating it. Nobody can plausibly say the same of Romney." Romney’s Eerie Post-Flip-Flop Consistency nymag.com