Elsewhere: Losing Contact With the Mothership
By David Freedlander | January 26, 2011 | 5:56 pm
The State seized control of Nassau County's... MORE»
send a tip: politickerny@observer.com
Solid State: Forget the Haters—Obama Delivered
By Joe Conason | January 26, 2011 | 4:41 pm
Complaints about President Obama's State of the Union address on both sides of the political divide (which was obscured but not obliterated by the evening's novel seating arrangements) seemed to miss its point and purpose. Like every successful speech of its kind, Mr. Obama's message resonated on more than one level. So while he conceded little ground to the right, the president nevertheless sought to draw his adversaries--and even more so the independent voters who temporarily sided with them--into the American story he... MORE»
Engel on Aisle-Hogging: People Would Think I Was Sick If I Wasn't There
By David Freedlander | January 26, 2011 | 4:00 pm
Eliot Engel has been getting some notoriety this week as a SOTU "aisle hog," one of those members of Congress who camp out, sometimes for up to ten hours, before the President's State of the Union address in order to greet the president and maybe get a little TV face time to boot. In a brief phone interview from the Democratic cloak room yesterday, Engel said that after 22 years in Congress, his constituents would get worried if they did not see him on the House floor during the annual... MORE»
Diaz Wonders: Where's The Outrage?
By David Freedlander | January 26, 2011 | 3:09 pm
Bronx state Senator Ruben Diaz blasted his fellow Democrats for remaining quiet about the defections of the Independent Democratic Caucus from the conference, pointing out he and his fellow amigos were pilloried in the press and elsewhere when they attempted a similar move in 2008 and... MORE»
Plans for 7-Train to Jersey, Revival of Congestion Pricing Accelerate
By Matt Chaban | January 26, 2011 | 3:02 pm
As New Jersey Governor Chris Christie filed legal papers last night to prevent the return $271 million in federal ARC Tunnel funding, he revealed on Bloomberg TV that he still wants to use the money for the theoretical extension of the 7-Train into the ARC Tunnel.... MORE»
New York GOP Reacts to State of the Union
By Jeremy B. White | January 26, 2011 | 2:15 pm
New York's Republican Members of Congress responded to President Obama's State of the Union address by praising his calls to tighten spending and simplify how the federal government operates while criticizing him for not focusing sufficiently on generating new jobs. "I was encouraged by his focus on reducing the cost and streamlining the size of government," Rep. Tom Reed said. "While I was pleased that the President talked about growing our economy and jobs, I do not agree that more government spending and higher taxes are the solution."... MORE»
When Pedophiles With Guns Are Outlawed, Then Only...
By David Freedlander | January 26, 2011 | 12:45 pm
Upper West Side Congressman Jerrold Nadler reintroduced legislation today that would close a loophole that he says would keep guns out of the hands of sex offenders. "Today, there is still a dangerous and inappropriate gap in our law when it comes to keeping Americans safe from predators with guns," Nadler says. "Let's once and for all act to prevent people convicted of misdemeanor sex crimes against children from having access to dangerous... MORE»
Crowley: 'It's Not Where We Sit...'
By David Freedlander | January 26, 2011 | 12:09 pm
After yesterday's bipartisan seating arrangement at the State of the Union, Rep. Joseph Crowley said that Congress had more to do to prove that it could work together to solve the nation's most pressing problems. "It's not where we sit," he said in a phone call from his office immediately following the speech. "It's who we work with tomorrow." Crowley declined to join in the bipartisan party, sitting through the State of the Union without a seating buddy. "I didn't think it was a silly idea," Crowley said, adding, however that, "I work every day with... MORE»
Poll: New Yorkers Want to Balance Budget Without Raising Taxes or Cutting Services
By Jeremy B. White | January 26, 2011 | 10:45 am
A new Quinnipiac University poll confirms that a soaring budget deficit is the most important issue to most New Yorkers, but also registers resistance to most budget-cutting measures other than freezing wages for state... MORE»
Morning Read: Blaming Everyone Else
By David Freedlander | January 26, 2011 | 9:59 am
Bloomberg was disappointed that Obama was silent on guns last night Mayor Bloomberg has installed countdown clocks at City Hall so participants are aware of how long they are droning on... MORE»
Barnett Beats Back Cuomo in Rushmore Typo Case
By Matt Chaban | January 26, 2011 | 9:37 am
Score another win for Big, Bad Gary... MORE»
Countdown to 2013: The Muddled and Messy Start to a Mayor's Race Still Two-and-a-Half Years Away
By David Freedlander | January 26, 2011 | 12:10 am
After Michael Bloomberg delivered his 10th State of the City speech at the ornate St. George's theater on the North Shore of Staten Island, Bill de Blasio, John Liu, Christine Quinn and Scott Stringer elbowed their way through the exiting throng of the city's political class to stake out a slab of space on the auditorium... MORE»
Rangel Says It's Up To Republicans Now
By David Freedlander | January 26, 2011 | 12:09 am
In a brief interview following the State of the Union this evening, longtime Harlem congressman Charlie Rangel had high-praise for Barack Obama's speech, but said it was up to Republicans to see how much of an impact it made. "It's like the President said," Rangel told The Politicker, "We can sit together symbolically, but unless we work together, if Republicans want to repeal health care...if they want to get rid of President Obama instead of pushing forward for a more prosperous economy, it doesn't mean... MORE»
At His First SOTU, Grimm Unimpressed
By David Freedlander | January 25, 2011 | 11:45 pm
Michael Grimm, the newly elected Staten Island Tea Party backed Republican, has just finished his first State of the Union address and gives it a grade of "unsatisfactory." "He is an incredible orator," Grimm said. "He delivers a great speech, but when I digest it it sounds like the president wants the Congress to double down on another stimulus package. That is not going to happen." Grimm accused Obama of trying to swipe Republican ideas and sell them as his own, especially the notion of... MORE»
Maloney: 'I Was Inspired'
By David Freedlander | January 25, 2011 | 11:08 pm
East Side Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney called The Politicker as soon as the President's State of the Union address concluded and delivered a simple message: "I was inspired," she said. She said she particulary approved of Obama's use of the analogy of the space race from the middle part of the last century to spur Americans to remain globally... MORE»
