Cuz That's How We Like Our AG's

Fred Dicker of the New York Post really stuck it to a man today. And that man? Attorney General Candidate Mark Green.

Not only did Dicker humiliate Green by highlighting what appears to be his all but inevitable failure to get onto the ballot by way of backroom Democratic politicking, but he continued to sucker punch Green with these nasty blind quotes:

"Green will have a hard time getting to 25 percent - that's become clear," said one of the state's most important Democrats, who is neutral in the attorney general's race.

If you haven't seen it, liberals should read this item from AMERICAblog.

In it, John  Aravosis takes his felow liberals to task for their knee-jerk defense of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who makes our own Ada Smith seem sane.

It's good to see at least one blogger criticize those on his own "team".

The NY Sun has a column today by Michael Barone

In it, Barone says - 

"I remember a conversation I had with a broadcast news executive many years ago.

"Doesn't the fact that 90 percent of your people are Democrats affect your work product?" I asked.

"Oh, no, no," he said. "Our people are professional. They have standards of objectivity and professionalism, so that their own views don't affect the news."

"So what you're saying," I said, "is that your work product would be identical if 90 percent of your people were Republicans."

Last week I criticized the Post. Today I’ll go after the News for an article in Sunday’s paper – “War Chests as Toy Chests”. The article claims state legislators are using their campaign accounts for “exotic travel, champagne lifestyles and personal pleasures”. And some of the examples, like Joe Bruno’s trip to Italy do sound like abuses. But many of the others sure look like legitimate expanses to me.

 For example:

 Assemblyman Richard Brodsky uses campaign money to buy meat that he then serves at a barbecue for his supporters. That’s clearly a campaign expense. The News complaint seems to be that he buys the meat while in Montana visiting his wife’s family.

It seems that New York's circular firing squad has found its way to the Windy City (ok - its suburbs).

In one of the most watched races in the country, Iraqi war hero/double-amputee Major Tammy Duckworth, the darling of the national Democratic establishment narrowly defeated Christine Cegelis, the darling of the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party"

The Hill reported earlier this week that Cegelis, who initially pledged to unite behind the Democratic nominee, is now refusing to endorse Duckworth - a helicopter pilot who lost her lower legs in a crash in Iraq - because she questions her "liberal" bona fides on trade and healthcare.

I watch NY1's "Inside City Hall" and I generally enjoy it, but one thing bothers me--THAT commercial! You all know it!

You're watching the A.K.s ("Alter Kockers"), and Al D'Amato says something, and then Ed Koch says something, and then Al Sharpton says something, and then Dominic Carter breaks away to a commercial, and you see...

Smiling Bob! The Enzyte commercial for "natural male enhancement"!

Does NY1 "Inside City Hall" sell a lot of this stuff? Is there a hidden need for this product in New York City politics? Where else does Enzyte advertise?

Frank Luntz (yawn) has delivered some initial focus group findings, first reported at Hotline On Call, a blog I recomend to those who are obsessed with matters in the Beltway (which hopefully is a small number of Room8 readers and commenters).

Of note to Roomaters (room 8ers?) are the "findings" about our Junior Senator.  Among them "Support for Hillary Clinton "disappeared by the time the night was over, and she won virtually no new converts. Only Edwards faired worse."

The new Brooklyn County Leader appears to have growing pains. Fortunately, the health care workers' union is there to soothe and guide him. And Vito is responding so well! Following doctor's orders. You should have seen him last night. 1199 played a mighty nurturing role in delivering Vito and the Brooklynites for its favorite candidate Andrew Cuomo. You think the social service agencies in Vito's district had anything to do with it? Or was it just 1199's excellent bedside manner?

At the Greater Voices A.G. Forum, which featured every candidate but Denise (who cancelled), we heard a lot about New York's electoral history from Richard and Charlie. They beat the constant drum that in past years New York state races could not accurately be predicted by early "name recognition polls." Of course, said Charlie/Richard, Andrew and Mark are leading in the polls, so was Andrew in 2001, and we all know he wasn't the Democratic nominee. They can win when their message gets out (and with your support!).

Beadie Markowitz, undoubtedly of Eastern European stock, became a large force on the Kings County Executive Committee. In the early 1960s, she held court at her club headquarters, and was heard loudly, repeatedly and insistently from her sound truck as she drove night and day through the streets of Brooklyn excoriating the "regulars," Mayor Wagner included. She represented "the little people" and was unafraid to let her voice and views be known. Her spirit hovers over the political scene even today, working still to bring openness and vitality to the Democratic Party and the democratic process.