Friday, February 13, 2009

Tammany’s Ballot Control Again and Again



Tammany’s Ballot Control Again and Again
b
Old Republican Guard vs. Old Republican Guard
c
Even the Billionaire
Mayor is A Victim
5c
d
d
GOP Leaders Use Ballot Access to Fight for Patronage and Power

It is not only challengers to local offices who are held hostage, even billionaire mayors must contend with Tammany Hall’s control of New York's Ballot Box. The dance in the media about some Republican county leaders who are unhappy with the mayor is really the result of a behind the scenes, closed-door battle on who gets to be Number 1 with the current mayor: Giuliani, Pataki or the county leaders themselves. What the Republican county leaders are saying is: we don’t want the former mayor and governor acting as our middle men with the mayor. The buzz is that Bloomberg is demanding that Pataki and Giuliani deliver the Republican leaders before their meeting on February 25th.

Even A Dead Party Has Power in NYC
The fight over who the big dog with the mayor is, doesn't quite qualify as a civil war, for that you need troops. There are no elected Republican officials in Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens and only one in Brooklyn. This year the Republicans lost their only congressmember in the city when it was discovered he had two families. There is no GOP vote to deliver in the city. It is all about controlling the ballot line.

But A Powerful Last Card to Play
What the GOP has over the mayor is ballot access in the name of a Wilson-Pakula law that requires Bloomberg who registered as an independent (not independent party) when he was running for president to obtain the written permission of three of the city’s five Republican county leaders to run for re-election on the Republican ballot line.

It's not just the four council candidates knocked off the ballot in the Staten Island special election who are victims of the Tammany Hall ballot access system, designed over a 100 years ago to give those in power total control of the city’s politics and government. Even the billionaire mayor is caught in Boss Tweed's 130 years old corrupt scheme of control. Today’s machine made of party leaders and elected officials, have perfected Tammany’s system to compensate for their loss of control over the ability to deliver votes. hhhhHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Even Obama Cannot Change New York
Tammany's system prevents change. Even if the newspaper editorials and good government groups continue for the next 100 years to speak out against New York’s corrupt politicians $$$, dysfunctional government, lobbyists, increased taxes and services cut, these problems will never be solved until we end machine control of elections in New York and return democracy to its citizens. Change occurs when elected officials believe they can lose their elections.

More on Tammany’s Control of the City’s Elections *** In Defense of Political Hardball in a Howard Beach Council Race - Knocking candidates off the ballot.

Spin in the Press Vs. The People
What They Say
The MTA is asking New Yorkers to share their stories of falling in love on a subway, train or bus.

What They Really Mean

What They Say

What They Really Mean


President Gregg Ends Bid for Commerce Job, Citing Conflicts *** BAM'S CABINET $PLINTERS: COMMERCE PICK QUITS OVER STIMULUS DEAL GREGG *** Gregg Ends Bid for Commerce Job *** 'I may have embarrassed myself but hopefully not [the president]'... Wire... *** 'We are functioning from a different set of views'... *** Analysis: Obscure post gives Obama big headache *** Stimulus Offers Glimpse of Obama’s Battle Plan ***Gregg withdraws as Obama's Commerce nominee *** Get Out of the (White) House: President Obama, like F.D.R. and Reagan, doesn’t let the job dictate his schedule - Cannon *** Capital Journal: Obama Must Ease Fear *** President Obama turns attention to home foreclosures *** Obama visits plant hit by layoffs to pitch plan *** ABC NEWS: CATERPILLAR CEO contradicts Obama: 'We're going to have more layoffs before we start hiring again'... *** The Caucus: Obama Contradicted on Jobs Promise *** Big goals and hurdles await Obama *** O HAILS HIS AMERICAN IDOL *** Obama honors Lincoln's vision of strong union *** B'klyn-brewed Bam beer falls flat with feds *** Obama advisor David Axelrod fires back at critical Bush aides.


Congress Lawmakers say all issues settled in stimulus bill *** Dems Break Promise To Post Stimulus Bill Online For 48-Hour Public Airing... *** BONUS BAN BOUNCED FROM BILL *** Pelosi's mouse slated for $30M slice of cheese... *** DSCC head expects to back Gillibrand *** Senate confirms Panetta as CIA chief *** Global Economy Top Threat to U.S., Spy Chief Says *** Panetta Confirmed for C.I.A. Post *** WAKE UP AND SMELL THE TRILLIONS IN PORK *** KGill Continues on 'Trade Guns for Political Friends' Program *** GOP Spreading Bizarre Claim About Funding For "Pelosi's Mouse" *** Marriage bureau turns away hundreds of same-sex couples looking to wed *** HOUSE PASSES OBAMA 'STIMULUS'; NO GOP SUPPORT, 7 DEMS VOTE NO *** The Audacity Of Nope *** P. King: Against stimulus *** Gilli: 22 hours behind Chuck, but happy too *** After Gregg, Is Bi-partisanship Dead? *** Saturday
CONGRESS OKS STIMULUS DEAL



Albany NY Gov. Admits 'Obesity Tax' Plan Has Failed... *** FAT-TAX SUPPORT TOO LIGHT: GOV *** Health Care Groups Soften Attacks on Governor’s Budget Cuts *** Paterson slams 'SNL' for second skit *** Stimulus in NY: The power of the education lobby *** Gonzalez: 3 Dems siding with fat cats on tax, rent *** Stimulus money for NY: All the numbers *** Picture: The former GOP "TV studio" *** Film studios waiting for renewal of tax breaks From the Times Ledger *** City Uses Up Tax Credits, Will Productions Flee? *** TV shows look to leave NY *** PSC Con Ed Spending to Get Closer Look *** PSC HEAT'S ON CON ED *** Con Ed must open books after $1M bribery scheme *** Stimulus Funds Offer Relief to City and State *** Video: The Andrew Pitch *** Embattled Queens Senator Slapped With Fine *** HIRAM IS FINED 30G *** Sen. Marty Golden thinks the city's GOP county leaders will eventually give Mayor Bloomberg their ballot line, calling it a "no brainer" *** DN Ed: Former Senate Republican majority committed wild abuses of power *** Malcolm not very effective From NY Daily Balance - Malcolm Smith and his State Senate Democrats have fled the capital today to begin an 11-day, mid-winter break--after passing just seven bills in the 2009 session’s first six weeks *** Senate Democrats stage contemptible confirmation hearing for state's chief judge - DN Ed *** The fate of the Brunomobile *** Paterson D.C. stay billed to taxpayers: Inauguration hotel cost was $19,350 *** PolitickerNY: Transparency and New York's Billions *** David Paterson is going to visit the site of the plane crash in Buffalo. [AP] *** State investigators are considering an investigation into the case of the no-work state worker *** Senate Democrats and GOP fight over perks and privileges *** Chuck and Dave: How much does the stimulus help? *** Paterson: $20K on hotel!!! What does it take? *** That GOP studio: Before *** Saturday PATERSON SHOWS P.R. GURU THE DOOR

About those promises to keep jobs ... Six New York banks that got bailout money received $550M in city tax breaks in the last 20 years to keep jobs here - but it's impossible to know if they did.


The City Charter School’s Deadline to Recognize Union Passes *** Hospitals Prepare For Patient Overflow *** City's $8M Tab For 'Private' Pensions *** MASTER OF OUR OWN 'DOMAIN' - The Big Apple is poised to get its very own Internet domain - .nyc *** City plans to raise cash selling .nyc domains *** MEDIAN HOME VALUES IN METRO AREA LOSE 14.6%
*** Church saves six schools, closes eight others *** Obama stimulus plan may mean huge infusion of funds for jobs, schools, Medicaid *** Marriage bureau turns away hundreds of same-sex couples looking to wed *** TIMES SQ.'S HISTORIC H'WAY *** Bloomberg Announces New Housing Commissioner *** Apparently, Community Board 6 in Gowanus kicked Toll Bros. ass. [GL] *** Tenants Found Not Guilty in Deaths of 2 Firefighters *** It's not just me noticing all the empty store-fronts and "Going Out Of Business" signs *** Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Hits The Runway *** Saturday BLOOMY BLASTS RICH TAX: WARNS OF WEALTH EXODUS *** FIREFIGHTERS BLAZING TRAIL AS CITY OT KINGS *** BLAZE-VERDICT FUROR
RAGE AS JURY CLEARS BLACK SUNDAY DUO *** Alfonse: For Atlantic Yards *** Scores of city government workers racking up six-figure overtime *** NYPD Officer Yaniris Balbuena laundered drug money for boyfriend: feds *** Mets fans will have to deal with Citi Field as name of stadium, says Rep. Barney Frank
f
personal-income tax, which prompts a question: What, the council ran out of street names to change, so instead it'll just do its bit to wreck what remains of the local economy? - NYPOST ED
k
Wall Street Mess Man kills himself over Madoff losses... *** Was Ruth Madoff In On It? *** 2 Madoff Employees Questioned *** Brit says Madoff scam led to father's suicide *** Madoff's wife accused of withdrawing $15M days before his arrest *** Time: 25 People To Blame For The Financial Crisis *** Retail sales rise unexpectedly in January *** RETAIL GETS LIFT OF 1% IN JAN *** WELLS FARGO LOSSES GROW *** Home Prices Slide 12%, Most on Record, as Foreclosures Drain Value... *** Family Fighting foreclosure *** U.S. Agents Scrutinize Texas Firm *** Ailing Banks May Require More Aid to Keep Solvent *** Large Banks on the Edge of Insolvency *** Stimulus Bill’s Tax Breaks and Benefits *** Business: Some Large Banks Are 'Like Dead Men Walking' *** WASHINGTON POST: CONGRESS FOLDING ON CERTAIN EXECUTIVE PAY *** Morgan Stanley VP arrested for stealing $2.3M *** After the Stimulus The stimulus and recovery package could have accomplished so much more - NYT Ed *** Rescue Plan for Housing in the Works *** Defending Tim Geithner *** *** Stimulus Challenge: Spending the Money *** Ex-G.M. Workers Try to Reboot Their Lives *** Bank on Bailout: Your money, or your economy ***Stimulus Winners, Losers *** In Japan’s Stagnant Decade, Cautionary Tales for America *** Question of Control Over Banks Awaits Treasury Secretary at Group of 7 Meeting *** States Recruit Worried Californians ***Banking on Bad Banks in the Movies *** Wall Street "Swindle" Gets Michael Moore to Ask Bankers to Spill the Beans *** Good news! Retail sales jump, jobless claims fall *** Bonuses not my call, says Bank of America CEO ***Forbes' list of most bankable celebrities *** US May Subsidize Lenders Who Cut Mortgage Rates *** JPMORGAN, CITI halting foreclosures... *** Saturday Trump Quits Trump Entertainment Board Ahead Of Possible Bankruptcy Filing.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Lincoln 200 Years



Lincoln 200 Years
A more complex view of Lincoln as time passes

Born 200 years ago on Febuary 12, 1809 in a log cabin on the Kentucky frontier, Abraham Lincoln today sits deified in a marble temple on the National Mall in Washington. Americans are still trying to figure out how he came such a long way, and what kind of man made the trip.

Having saved the Union, freed the slaves and redefined freedom, Lincoln was struck down in his hour of triumph. He is the most compelling figure in U.S. history, the subject of about 16,000 books in English, more than anyone except Jesus and Shakespeare.


Quotes of Abraham Lincoln
"A friend is one who has the same enemies as you have. . . A house divided against itself cannot stand. . . Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. . . Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them? . . . And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. . . Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. . . Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. . . Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. . . Die when I may, I want it said by those who knew me best that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow. .. Hold on with a bulldog grip, and chew and choke as much as possible. . . Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth." President Abraham Lincoln


Lincoln's Wisdom and Fortitude
He waged America's bloodiest war, and he won a painful peace. In between, he issued a proclamation about which, before pen hit paper, he said, "I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this paper." on Nov. 19, 1863, Lincoln gave a short speech consecrating a Civil War cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa. The battle there was the war's turning point; some 45,000 men had died as the Union turned back the Confederate invasion of the North.

Live Abe Lincoln Webcast- On Feb. 12th, Join Teachers Across The US to Learn About Lincoln's Life *** Biography of Abraham Lincoln *** Selected Speeches and Writings by Abraham Lincoln *** Abraham Lincoln: First Inaugural Address. U.S. Inaugural Addresses ... *** The History Place presents Abraham Lincoln *** Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln Civil War Speech *** Timeline results for President Lincoln speeches *** Lincoln at Cooper Union: The Speech That Made Abraham Lincoln President‎ *** Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln‎ by Doris Kearns Goodwin *** Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln Civil War Speech *** Abe Lincoln: An Extraordinary Leader *** Abraham Lincoln: A Technology Leader of His Time - US News and ... *** A President's Reading List: Books That Shaped Abraham Lincoln *** President Lincoln calls for Unity during The Civil War *** President Lincoln's Funeral Train - President Lincoln Killed ... *** Obama Looks to Lincoln Newsweek Politics Newsweek.com *** President Obama praises Abraham Lincoln's legacy at Ford's Theatre *** Obama looks to Lincoln while launching presidency *** Happy Birthday Abe Lincoln: Slavery, Secession and Civil War.


President The Great Persuader: Like FDR and Reagan, Obama can move a crowd. But can he do what they did and move the country forward? *** Obama’s Battle on Stimulus Shows Threats to His Agenda *** Gibbs: Spin City? *** Highlights of Obama's stimulus plan *** Who might benefit from the bailout *** The President's Empty 'Pragmatism' - Michael Gerson, Washington Post *** How Will Obama's Liberalism Shape America? - Charles Kesler, CS Monitor *** Bold Vision for Stimulus, Education Reform - Bill & Melinda Gates, Roll Call *** Obama's Townhall in Fort Myers, Florida - Transcript *** What Next for Obama? *** Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) will give the Republican response to President Obama's first address to Congress on February 24 *** GOP Twitter Disaster *** Stimulate First, Ask Questions Later With the stimulus bill, Obama chose urgency over transparency.


"All of us here are not without blame on the condition of the economy." -- Congressman Meeks


Congress Deal Reached in Congress on $789 Billion Stimulus Plan - House leaders initially refused to sign off on the pact until a tiff over education funding was resolved *** IT'S A DEAL ON $789B ECON PLAN:DC PACT PRESERVES BAM'S TAX REBATES *** Senators Demand Details From Geithner *** NYT Ed Following Mr. Murtha’s Money *** Lawmakers Question Bankers on Bailout *** Bankers On The Hill: Execs Get Grilled By Congress *** Bailed-out bank chiefs tell Congress: So sorry *** Pols trash bank bosses over big payouts *** Republicans Are Irrelevant - Markos Moulitsas, The Hill *** Why Health Care Can't Wait - Rep. John Dingell, Huffington Post *** REID-PELOSI STIMULUS SMACKDOWN: 'SHE WENT THROUGH THE ROOF'... *** A Novel Approach: Using Unemployment Benefits As A Means For Stimulus *** Sen. Harkin: 'We need the Fairness Doctrine back'... *** Troubled Obama Nominee Gets Senate OK -Hilda Solis, Labor Secretary *** Sen. Schumer's "pork" comment draws ire *** A conservative blogger misses the old, gun-loving Gillibrand *** Congress Makes a Deal- Slate Review of Today's Papers.


"You come to us today on your bicycles after buying Girl Scout cookies and helping out Mother Teresa and telling us, 'We're sorry, we didn't mean it, we won't do it again, trust us.' Well, I have some people in my constituency that actually robbed some of your banks, and they say the same thing." - Rep. Michael Capuano


Wall Street Representative Michael Capuano Rocked Today’s CEO Hearings *** Nearly 700 at Merrill in Million-Dollar Club *** Bank Test May Expand U.S. Regulators’ Role
RUTH MADOFF PULLED OUT $15M: DAYS BEFORE HUSBAND'S ARREST *** Wife Withdrew Millions Before Madoff’s Arrest *** Madoff's wife pulled $15M before Bernie's arrest
Bonuses not my call, says Bank of America CEO *** Vegas magician sees income disappear ***
California's Pain Only Beginning; Cuts to Parks, Schools and Roads... *** Business Newsweek: Economic Crisis Is Even Worse Than Obama Admits *** China Will Stick With US Bonds... Merrill "Secretly" Rushed Out Bonuses *** Recession hits private schools *** Geithner Can’t Find Gun, Let Alone Silver Bullet - David Reilly, Bloomberg *** Here's an Idea: Let Wall Street Fail - William Cohan, Daily Beast *** Big Lessons in Finance from a Small Bank - Steven Pearlstein, Wash Post *** Daly: Painful path with no end - Nobody knows. Not Bam. Not our new treasury secretary. Not the economists. Not the bank CEOs who testified in Congress. None of them can say how bad the economy might get. And with the uncertainty come worries that churn the gut. *** About those promises to keep jobs ... *** Stimulate First, Ask Questions Later - John Dickerson, Slate *** Where Are We Heading? - Peter Wehner, Commentary *** Stimulus Bill Will Boost Economic Confidence - Andrew Leonard, Salon *** Are We Socialist?Newsweek and the Weekly Standard on big government.


Where's The Outrage? by Dan Rather
Despite the downward economic spiral, there is no clear plan to pull us out. Dan Rather on why he’s finally getting angry about it.



The City Council Overrides Residency Veto For Union Members *** Fed aid just may save teach, cop jobs: Mike *** RX FOR CITY: 4-DAY WEEK *** CITY WORKERS ON THE 'MOVE' - live outside the city after two years of service *** School Board Election to go Online ***BOOST FOR CITY TEACHERS, COPS New York City will see a wave of cash for Medicaid funding, education, city hospitals and even a new class of cops as part of its cut of the economic stimulus *** Mayor puts city unions on notice - City employees should pay 10% of their health care costs or prepare to lose their jobs *** It's Gilly & Mike and nary a gun fight in sight *** Kin of woman neglected at hosp sue city *** Foster-care scam grows by $155G *** Schumer Recommends Aide as U.S. Attorney *** SCHUMER AIDE EYED FOR FED JOB *** Drivers speed across city with tragic results, new study finds *** Ideas Could Save Money, and Raise Hackles - 18 new cost-saving measures *** City Unveils Facebook Page to Encourage Condom Use *** McCarren Park Pool Presented to Community *** On building the new Kosciuszko Bridge From the Queens Gazette *** Housing along Brooklyn's Love Canal? From the NY Observer *** Crowley & Weiner defend Citigroup stadium deal *** NY House Members Defend Citigroup Deal with Mets *** Enronball - The Mets get your taxes whether you like it or not *** Fox’s hit show Fringe looks to leave NYC *** Bloomberg to Name Rafael Cestero New HPD Commissioner: Former housing official is mayor’s choice to replace Donovan, though residency questions loom *** Health Care Crisis in Queens - Stop the Closings of St John's Queens Hospital and Mary Immaculate Hospital... *** Christine Quinn also wants to raise taxes on high-income earners.


Road to City Hall Without Carrión, Latinos Look in Vain for New Leadership: Frustration about power vacuum underscored by Gillibrand pick, lack of citywide candidates *** John Liu doesn’t get it, again - MTA *** In Race to Succeed Him, Monserrate and Accusations Against Him Loom Large *** Facing Fundraising Laws They Passed Themselves, Members Voice Complaints Pre-term limit extension restrictions come home to roost in poorer districts *** Thompson’s Kevin Sheekey, Castell Takes the Reins: Promoting comptroller’s record and attacking Bloomberg’s, in English and Spanish *** Friending and Posting, City Candidates Hope to Raise Profiles: With mix of optimism and caution, ‘09 hopefuls discover Facebook *** Bare-Knuckled Ballot Challenges Jumble Queens, Staten Island Races: New calculus emerges for Feb. 24 and September in open seat elections *** Here’s more on Bloomberg’s visit last week with Republicans in Queens Village.


Albany Store Owners Speak Out Against Gov's Proposed Taxes *** Governor: New York faces 'bankruptcy': Albany must stop its 'orgy of self-interest' *** Uncovering the Perks of Albany’s Fallen G.O.P. *** Senate Confirms Top Judge on State Court of Appeals - judicial pay raises are a top priority *** Lippman confirmed; blesses the ‘media’ *** Senate Confirms Jonathan Lippman As Chief Judge of New York State, A Good Friend of Speaker Silver, Whose Influence Keeps Rising *** Ho-Lee Krap: Behold The 'Brunomoble', The Private TV Studio And... *** Cuomo presses plan to shrink government *** ANDY TAKES SLY POKE AT PATERSON *** State budget gap grows by $1 billion to $14 Billion *** Add a billion to N.Y. budget woes *** TOP SENATE DEM ATTAX SILVER PLAN *** A commission created four years ago to promote the teaching of black history in public schools has never met, and five of its 19 seats have yet to be filled *** Senate Democrats are seeking public input on the budget.


International Special Envoy Heads to Afghanistan *** Mr. Obama and Russia *** ISRAEL FACES GRIDLOCK AS RIVALS CLAIM POWER; COULD TAKE WEEKS... *** Obama waiting for Israeli election results *** Israel's Baffling Election Explained - Fania Oz-Salzberger, Forbes *** Israel's New Kingmaker - M.J. Rosenberg, Los Angeles Times *** Mrs. Clinton Goes to China - Gordon Chang, Forbes.


National Newspaper Blago: State lawmakers cheat, drink too much - Chicago Sun Times *** Schwarzenegger, legislative leaders settle on budget framework - LA Times.


Media Mess DirecTV Owner Said to Seek Deal for Sirius XM *** Dear Daily News employees: Our chairman, Mort Zuckerman, says the paper isn’t going anywhere. Congrats! P.S. We’re cutting your 401(k) plans. Please don’t hate us. Love, your CEO, Mark Kramer [NYP] *** Letterman Puts Blago in Context *** The Fishbowl NY Newsstand: Your Morning Front Page Glance.

The Real Campaign is to Suppress Challengers




The Real Campaign is to Suppress Challengers
Using the Courts and the CFB Rules to Win Elections
Every year in an annual ritual, scores of candidates, many running for the first time are denied a chance to compete in the electoral process or have their campaign efforts severely harmed by the obstacles of ballot access. New York’s election law is among the most stringent in the nation. It poisons the democratic process and is kept in place by incumbents and a political machine which gain advantage by those that it harms. Sometimes more than half of a challenger’s time and resources (for those that make it through the petitioning process), are used up to get through the obstacles put in place to deny them ballot access. Many races are decided in the courts or by Campaign Finance Board (CFB) rules, not the ballot box. It not just the petitions system that machine-backed candidates use to block ballot access, the CFB rule which allows a candidate who challenges his opponent(s) petitions to receive matching funds, but not the candidate(s) he is challenging, has become a weapon to gravely weaken ones challenge(s).

A great example how the insiders used the CFB rules to their advantage is the special election to fill the council seat of Congressman McMann. Kenneth Mitchell a machine backed candidate in this month's special election to fill a Staten Island council seat challenged almost all of the other candidates in the race. As of Tuesday morning the strongest challenger to Mitchell, John Tabacco was still tied up at the Board of Elections with the special election less than two weeks away. He was put on the ballot that afternoon but has lost valuable campaign time. The Mitchell campaign, war chest full of the city’s matching funds, has been doing mailings and hiring workers to GOTV all along. The Tabacco campaign was stalled by Mitchell's creative use of the CFB rules and now has to dump mailings made possible by the matching funds just becoming available on a public that has already tired of having their mailboxes full of promises to spend more money the city does not have.

Only the Rich and Insiders Can Beat Tammany’s Rule
Tammany Hall designed the petition scheme which is at the heart of New York’s arcane and complex ballot system, to keep machine candidates in office. The Board of Elections (BOE) also designed by Tammany, reviews petitions and rules candidate on and off the ballot, and consists of the appointees of the democratic and republican political machines. Despite generations of poor management and efforts by several mayors and newspaper editorial boards to reform it, the board continues its Tammany Hall Mission as a Gatekeeper to ballot access, knocking off challengers.

Those who support the petitions system say it prevents candidates without community support from running. What it really does is prevent challengers who cannot afford to pay for petitions, a good election lawyer and court costs - from running for office. Challengers must also have an insider on their campaign team to make it past the petitioning process. To win at the BOE you must bring a court procedure challenging the ruling of the board even before the Board has ruled. Unschooled insurgents chasing after the democratic dream of free and open elections fail to grasp the element of this logic. The machine and incumbents even use government to pay for their candidate’s petitioning by giving out election inspector jobs in exchange for collecting petitions for their candidates. It is a system that Boss Tweed is proud of to this day. It has also robbed us of our democracy and the protections the Founding Fathers designed for us.

Millions of New York’s voters are denied by Tammany’s petition racket, the chance to choose among the best of the potential candidates, who can solve their city’s critical problems. What this system leaves us with is a gang of insiders who have mastered the election process or have family or political connections to the machine and the City’s establishment.

Most incumbents have no challengers in the primary which are the real elections in NYC. Only one incumbent councilmember was defeated in both the 2003 and 2005 elections. More than half of the polling stations in NYC were closed in the last election. In Manhattan in 2008 only two of the eleven Assembly incumbents were challenged, none of the state senate or congressional candidates had an opponent in the primary. Brooklyn has 49 elected officials – 16 councilmembers, 8 State Senators, 19 Assemblymen and 6 Congress members. Only one, Senator Martin Golden, is a Republican. And that one will be gone in 2012 when his gerrymandered district is redrawn by a Democratic majority redistricting team.

Lack of competitive elections has also denied the City real debates on the issues that affect and hurt its residents. The press and campaign issues in the Incumbent Protection Society tend toward political spin designed to empower those already in power. Freedom of the ballot lies at the root of the American Political System. The Founding Fathers believed that decent opposition would not only be necessary to represent the voters, but would also reduce corruption and inefficiencies in government by getting the public educated and behind the true fixes to their problems. According to the intent of the framework of our democracy, today’s Incumbency Protection System has blocked opposition candidates who could have developed public awareness of potential government policies that might help keep the middle class in the City, build the City’s tax base beyond Wall Street and fix our city's schools.

The press and good government groups have been MIA on ballot access. Good Government groups have ignored ballot reform in favor of regulation of campaign financial practices, and the press has been going after the Board of Elections on its management screw-ups, not how it destroys the campaigns of challengers. By corrupting the CFB which was created to increase political competition, with payout delaying tactics, the machine and IPS has shown the newspaper editorial boards and good government groups that they must fight for increased political competition in New York City’s elections, not quick fixes. The Incumbent Protection Society has destroyed democracy in New York and created dysfunctional government in its destructive path, while enriching itself and its friends. Even the rich and established are its victims. Will those who can fix the system be able to fix the city? ….Will they wake up or learn how to? … The Future of New York City depends on it.

The Accidental Ballot Access Reforms
The only reform in ballot access in the last 20 years occurred because the Bush campaign tried to keep John McCain off the New York Primary Ballot in 2000. A Federal Judge ruled after the McCain campaign took the Republican Party to court, to eliminate the need for ADs, EDs and totals on nominating petitions cover sheets. Judge Edward Korman who also ruled that candidates can correct their petitions cover sheets for defects after they are submitted to the Board of Elections, did more then any Good Government group to make a very restrictive ballot access system a little bit easier for challengers.






'WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT OUT DETAILS, UNTIL WE GET IT RIGHT'... Geithner




Wall Street Mess CEOS DEFEND *** WALL STREET TANKS ON BANKS: BAM'S BAILOUT SPURS PLUNGE *** Wall Street falls on Geithner announcement... *** Geithner Introduces Financial Stability Plan - Transcript *** Geithner's Bank Plan Panned *** Geithner's Plan Short on Specifics *** Market Pans Bank Rescue Plan *** Heard on the Street: Geithner Swings and Misses *** Geithner Bombs Coming-Out Party Today's Papers *** Ryan Grim New Treasury Plan Weakens Crucial Wall Street Accounting Rules For Geithner’s Debut, a Lukewarm Reception *** The Bailout’s Next Chapter - NYT Ed ***DN Editorial: Where's the beef? *** Who might benefit from the bailout *** The Open-Door Bailout - Friedman, NYT *** Trillion Dollar Baby Despite the touting, the Treasury chief unveiled a plan short on illumination, recrimination, fine points and foreclosure closure - Dowd, NYT *** Bank bailout tab now $2 trillion – and counting *** New Treasury Plan Weakens Crucial Wall Street Accounting Rules *** Goldman CEO Blankfein Acknowledges "Broad Public Anger" At Wall Street *** Geithner's Bear of a Day - Victoria McGrane & Lisa Lerer, Politico *** Why Obama’s New TARP Will Fail To Rescue The Banks - Martin Wolf, FT *** Why Geithner's Rescue Plan Spooked the Markets - Stephen Gandel, Time *** Stocks Slide as New Bailout Disappoints - Jack Healy, New York Times *** Five Reasons the Markets Don't Like the Bank Bailout - Jeff Cox, CNBC *** ‘Vulture’ Investors Eye Bad Assets, but Warily *** Bailout Plan: $2.5 Trillion and a Strong U.S. Hand *** Merrill bonus babies netted $121M *** Another day, another $294G *** General Motors will cut 10,000 jobs *** California's Pain Only Beginning; Cuts to Parks, Schools and Roads... *** California's Pain Is Only Beginning *** States Counting On Stimulus Aid To Balance Budgets *** Newsweek: Why New Orleans Is Exhibit A For Stimulus Argument *** Foreclosure 'Tsunami' Hits Mortgage Servicers *** Curb America's Debt Culture - Christian Science Monitor Ed *** Economic Scene: To Spend or to Save? *** Toy fair attendees to focus on cheaper products *** Wal-Mart to Push Into Urban Chicago *** Nonprofits Seek to Tap Nest Eggs *** GM to Cut Salaried Staff by 14% *** Daily Intel's Economic Stimulus Plan *** Markets Slide in Europe and Asia *** PM RUTH MADOFF PULLED OUT $15M: DAYS BEFORE HUSBAND'S ARREST



President $3 trillion! _ Senate, Fed, Treasury attack crisis *** Geithner's big moment: a tough sell *** Bailout Plan: $2.5 Trillion and a Strong U.S. Hand *** Obama: "Wall Street I Think Is Hoping For An Easy Out... There Is No Easy Out" *** Obama's tough love rattles Wall Street *** FLYIN'-HEARTED: PREZ MEETS PRESS IN AIR *** More than 49 million watch Obama news conference; Less than Clinton... *** WATCH: Florida College Student Rules Obama Town Hall *** Why Did Obama Diss Helen Thomas? *** Obama's Press Conference Answers Three Formal Grade-Levels Higher Than Bush's First *** Obama and the Press Play Wiffle Ball While Americans Strike Out? *** In Retrospect, Not Such A Bad Start For Obama - Ruth Marcus, Wash Post *** Our Clever President - Tony Blankley, Washington Times *** Obama Rhetoric vs. Stimulus Foes is Disingenuous - John Dickerson, Slate *** The President Attacks a Republican Straw Man - Jay Cost, HorseRaceBlog *** The President Paints a Bleak Economic Picture - Josh Gerstein, Politico *** Obama's Bipartisanship Means Agreeing with Him - David Keene, The Hill *** Extra credit: Bam's plan to get cash to consumers *** Opinion: Reaganomics vs. Obamanomics *** Obama Wants Funds Restored to Stimulus *** MAYOR: OBAMA SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR VEGAS TRIP QUIP...





Congress Negotiations intensify on final stimulus plan ** Senate Begins Intense Negotiations *** Up Next for Bankers: A Flogging - Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times *** Bankers to appear before dubious Congress *** Bank Execs to Face House Panel Today *** Republican Strategy of Deny, Delay and Do Nothing - Paul Begala, CNN *** Obama Must Do More to Get GOP on Board - Steve Huntley, Chicago ST *** Now is No Time for Compromise - Eugene Robinson, Washington Post *** Congress Misreads Public Anger at Wall Street - Caroline Baum, Bloomberg *** 'UNCARING' SCHUMER TAKES HEAT ON SPENDING *** VIDEO: Schumer: The American People Don't Care About Pork Projects In Stimulus... *** Schumer wins some, loses some in stimulus package *** THE INFLUENCE GAME: Lawmakers in stimulus dilemma *** Public is Growing More Skeptical of Content in Bill - William McGurn, WSJ *** Drug Makers Fight Stimulus Provision - Wall Street Journal *** Stimulus Still Offers Vast Sums for Education - New York Times *** RANGEL KEEPS HOUSE CHAIR *** TEDDY COY ON CAROLINE MESS *** THE INFLUENCE GAME: Scandal hits close to senator *** House seeks testimony from Peanut Corp. president *** LISTEN: Specter To Ingraham: "Don't Give Me The Wine And Dine Baloney, Young Lady" *** High-Speed Rail Could Go Full-Steam Ahead *** CONGRESS $HOPPING CARTS *** MEDICAL 'RATION' WARNING *** HEALTH CARE SCARE: WHAT'S BURIED DEEP IN THE BILL? *** Health Care Debate Should Be Separate from Stimulus - Chicago Tribune ED *** Activists to push offshore energy drilling ban *** Palin Pulls Out Of Conservative Conference *** Taxes: Gilli says OK, Chuck says nothing


Albany Tax You 'MILLIONAIRES' EVERYWHERE - NYP ED *** 'MILLIONAIRE TAX' STILL IN PLAY WITH PATERSON *** NYS Public Radio: Karen DeWitt: Governor Offers Conditional Support for Tax Hike (Business/Economy, Politics & Elections, State Government) *** Fair Share Tax Reform Gaining Momentum *** Gov waffles on tax hikes for wealthy *** New York Allots Another $2 Billion for Unemployment Benefits *** Paterson provides $2B to buoy jobless *** State Lawmakers Ponder Stimulus Fix *** On Utility Regulators, It's 'Same Old, Same Old' *** LOTTERY MAY BET ITS MARBLES ON THE MARKET *** Paterson proposal would invest Lotto prize pool in stock market *** SCHOOL DATA AN ED. TECH WRECK *** New York parents, teachers, kids rally in D.C. for education spending *** As senator, Gillibrand shows no sign of a maverick - Newsday Ed *** Former NY lobbying watchdog scolds lawmakers (Politics & Elections, State Government) *** Albany Times Union: Bruno trial slated for November (Law/Courts, Politics & Elections) *** State Senate Republicans say the 137 tax and fee increases in Paterson's budget proposal would cost a middle-class family $3,000 a year *** Acampora to PSC: Huh? Why would Paterson do that? *** PM
Three Of Original Gang Of Four Reunite On Lippman *** Cuomo to CBC: 'Should Be a Taxpayer Revolt' *** Paterson Sets Up Infrastructure Cabinet *** Silver: Did he say this with a straight face? (Updated).


Judging the Judges Chief Judge Nominee Draws on Administrative Skill (NYT) *** State Senate to consider Lippman nomination (SI Advance) *** Lippman: Hacks, cronies, and Shelly's guy (Newsday) *** Justice is Blindsided - Shelly Silver games Governor Paterson to get his childhood pal the state's top courts jobBy Wayne Barrett (Voice) *** PM Chief Judge Picked [Politics On The Hudson] *** Lippmann: Confirmed [Spin Cycle] *** Three Of Original Gang Of Four Reunite On Lippman

City Hall COPS HANDCUFFED: DOWNTOWN TERROR FORCE ON HOLD *** Bloomberg cuts the cops *** NYC police scale back security plan for downtown *** NYPD Forced To Cut 2010 Police Class *** NYPD: Poor economy hurts Ground Zero staffing *** Kelly: NYPD to scrap 2010 rookie class, WTC patrol plans *** Police Stops on City Streets Rose Significantly Last Year *** Bloomberg to Lobby in D.C. for Stimulus Aid *** Parents protest city's closing of day cares *** BUS FUSS OVER NEW HARLEM CUTS *** Beer Distributor Makes a Deal to Move to Two Piers in Red Hook *** NYC, London vie for the bottom *** Wal-Mart cutting jobs, moving others to NYC *** City Council takes up livery cab passengers' bill of rights *** HIGH RISE IN HOUSING UNITS - housing stock increased by a record 67,792 units between 2005 and 2008, but the vacancy rate dropped from 3.09 to 2.88 percent *** LIVERY 'BILL OF RIGHTS' *** Rockaway cleanup questioned From the Daily News *** DOT car blocks Middle Village driveway From Fox 5 *** Council To Vote On Passenger 'Bill Of Rights' *** Queens Hospitals Begin Limiting Patients *** Councilman Looks To Shutter Storefront Gates *** Downzoning proposal swept under the rug From The Real Deal *** City Council eyes phasing out solid pull-down store gates *** Steinway & Sons factory goes green *** Proposal aims to grow green spaces on city roofs *** MTA spellers way off-off Broadway *** EJ McMahon ponders New York's life without the old Wall Street *** PM Greens: No to Acampora, Brown.




Reviving the City of Aspiration
This major report by the Center for an Urban Future concludes that New York’s longstanding legacy as a place that both sustained a large middle class and elevated countless people from poorer backgrounds into the middle class is now in serious jeopardy. *** New Landmarks Declared Today - Bed Stuy *** Domino Project in Williamsburg May Be Further Refined.




Alfonse D’Amato Stadium? Ratner's Atlantic Yards Stimulus Shakedown- Smith *** Ratner wants stimulus money *** From NY1 *** Lawmakers-turned-lobbyists Al D'Amato and Susan Molinari collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from Freddie Mac to help thwart government regulation *** DC 'CHARITY' BASH A CASH & LOBBYING GRAB *** A Good Power Broker Is Getting Harder to Find D'Amato was paid $500,000 by the owners of 2 Broadway to work out a dispute with the MTA, the building major tenant over repairs, even though Al was not their registered lobbyists *** Mob indictments over renovations of 2 Broadway *** More D'Amato lobbyists corruption.


Road to City Hall SO OLD & YET STILL SO GREEN: MARK'S TIRED ACT BACK - Peyser, NYP *** Former New York City Public Advocate Wants the Job Back *** Mark Green wants his old public advocate gig *** Bloomberg Miffed by Gabe Pressman "Ridiculous" Question On Would Reduce His Campaign Spending During the Economic Crisis *** Three Labor Leaders For Green *** Three Labor Leaders For Green

International HILL'S CHILL PILL ON IRAN *** Clinton holds out hope for useful talks with Iran *** US grappling with Canada's exit from Afghanistan *** Stealth bill would drop restrictions on travel to Cuba... *** Israel Rivals Both Claim Win... Developing... *** Battle Is Close in Israeli Election *** Rivals Both Claim Victory in Israel *** One Region, Two States - Shimon Peres, Washington Post *** The Prime Minister's To-Do List - Amir Mizroch, Jerusalem Post *** Rage Grows as Global Crisis Worsens - Christopher Sultan, Der Spiegel *** Mugabe Foe Sworn in as Zimbabwe Prime Minister *** Fidel Castro Writes Bizarre Editorial About Rahm Emanuel *** Obama Must End the War on Drugs -- or Mexico and Afghanistan Will Collapse *** The Rise of Extremism in London *** PM Israeli election reaction [Ben's Politico Blog]

Media Mess SIRIUS XM Prepares Bankruptcy Filing... *** Mogul Offers to Overhaul Sirius *** HarperCollins dumps Collins *** NY's Met Opera announces new season, cuts *** Upcoming Season A Challenge For Met *** Met Opera announces new season, budget... *** Daily News suspends employees’ 401(k) contributions *** A chain of eight weekly Hudson Valley newspapers is folding.