Breaking: Carl Paladino Gets Into Confrontation With Albany Reporter: Updated With Video

September 29, 2010 8:10 PM 62 Comments

By Celeste Katz

Now it's REALLY personal.

Actually, he really IS mad tonight.

Our Glenn Blain is up in Lake George at the Sagamore Hotel, where GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino is making a stop to address the New York State Business Council dinner.

Blain tells me that as Paladino was walking in, he was approached by New York Post State Editor and radio personality Fred Dicker and a few other reporters -- and what could have been a regular Q & A session turned into a toe-to-toe confrontation.

After Dicker asked Paladino what evidence he had to make accusations to Maghabe at Politico that Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Andrew Cuomo had cheated on his ex -wife, Blain reports, Paladino turned the tables, assailing Dicker over the Post's coverage of the daughter he fathered a decade ago with a woman other than his wife.

"I want to know why you sent your goons after my daughter, Fred," Paladino demanded. "You send another goon to my daughter's house and I'll take you out, buddy!"

(Update: Paladino also raised the issue of Cuomo's former marriage in a Newsday report this morning, saying he wanted the media to "go after Cuomo and his paramours" but, again, offering no evidence of what he was talking about.)

Paladino's campaign manager, Michael Caputo, separated the two men and sent his candidate into the men's room to calm down. Then, Caputo accused Dicker of working for Cuomo and doing his dirty work, so to speak.

At one point, Blain says, Paladino cursed Dicker, saying, "F--- him!"

Asked again if he had evidence of Cuomo's alleged infidelity, Paladino replied, "Of course I do. You'll get it at the appropriate time."

Asked after the fact if this was appropriate behavior for a gubernatorial candidate, Caputo replied: "It's appropriate behavior for a man who just met the man who sent photographers to take pictures of his 10-year-old daughter."

Caputo said Paladino is usually thick-skinned -- but not when it comes to his kids and grandkids.

"It's all about the kids," Caputo. "If Carl's affair 10 years ago is fair game, then anything Cuomo did 10 years ago is fair game."

Here is some video via State of Politics of the confrontation. (Also, YNN State Capitol reporter Kaitlyn Ross, who captured the episode on phonecam, said via Twitter that her photographer has a broken ankle, although -- update -- it was thankfully not a result of this particular incident):

When did testicles become courageous?

By Rafael Martínez Alequín

Recently, the word COJONES has been gracing the pages of the MSM (both printing, audio and visual). Ernest Hemingway, in his 1932 book on bullfighting Death in the Afternoon, adds this word to the lexicon.

Norman Mailer, in his book The Naked and the Dead was persuaded by his publishers to use the the euphemism "fug" in lieu of "fuck." In one incident, the late actress Tallulah Bankhead, when her father was the Congressional Speaker upon meeting Mailer in Washington, was quoted as saying to Norman Mailer, 'Oh, hello, you're Norman Mailer,' 'You're the young man that doesn't know how to spell fuck.' Today, whenever words like fuck, ball, shit, are uttered by celebrities, politicians and even average people, the print media writes, F..., b..., S.... On television and radio, they bleep the mention of these words. They are words that are vulgar and not suited for family conversation, where young children are present.

Meanwhile, this brings me to the state of New York politics. The republican/tea party candidate for governor derided the manhood of Andrew Cuomo, Democratic Candidate for governor by saying that he has NO COJONES. The so called Main Stream Media, like Carl Paladino not only offended Mr. Cuomo but the Spanish speaking citizens of New York State. They didn't bleep the word Cojones like they bleeped the word Fuck.

On the television news they display Paladino's flyer with the word Cojones in large letters on tap of the flyer. Youngsters and their parents watch the news show and are subjected to a word that is not part of a family conversation.

Both the MSM and Carl Paladino owe an apology not only to Mr. Cuomo but also to the Spanish speaking Citizens of NewYork.

CARL PALADINO MOVES TO A GLASS HOUSE

Life With Carl: Paladino's Wife Discusses His Love Child (www.gothamist.com)

As the gubernatorial campaign has heated up in the last two weeks, there's been a little mud slinging and a lot of great photo shopping. We've also learned that Carl Paladino's wife, Cathy, is a registered Democrat who's had a complicated relationship with her husband: not only did he have a love child with his mistress, but he told his wife about it the same week that his son Patrick was killed in a car accident. But she's ok with all that: "...my first thought was, 'How lucky. Every child's a gift.' That was my thought. I wasn't angry, you know. I can deal with one family crisis at a time. But to multi-task...It's not that important."

The personal back story between Paladino and his wife has been a compelling storyline every since Paladino first stepped into the race last spring. Neither spouse has shyed away from talking about the their baggage: “Everybody knows anyway. And they should know. They should know the background of people, and they should know that it doesn’t matter how much money you have, how rich you are—things happen. And you deal with them and move on. Every family has problems, " she told the Times. Not that she had too much of a choice in the publicity the campaign brought; "[Paladino's campaign staff] had three words for me: 'Get over it,' " she told The Post.

The child, Sarah, is now a fully integrated part of her family Cathy says, and she's comfortable enough with the situation that she did not object when Carl traveled to Italy last year with Sarah and Sarah's mother Suzanne Brady (who calls Paladino "a great guy."). Her pragmatism extends as far back as her first meeting with Paladino in college, when he insulted her on their first date. Their lives remain just as complicated now; with him on the campaign trail and her remaining at home in Buffalo, they don't see or speak to each other for days at a time: “I have a life,” she said.

The Republican Small Business Scam

number of companies with multi-billion dollar revenues have been registered as small businesses for tax purposes, according to a report."

File photo, Keith Olbermann in his MSNBC office, 11/10/08. (photo: Chester Higgins Jr./NYT)

By NBC News and MSNBC

25 September 10

Report: Big business turns small for tax purposes.

ome firms with billions in revenues get to pay less tax than traditional corporations.

A number of companies with multi-billion dollar revenues have been registered as small businesses for tax purposes, according to a report.

Among them were the "biggest companies in the world and the richest people in this country" Keith Olbermann said in a special report on his msnbc cable show Wednesday night titled, "Small Business in Name Only."

The term "small business" was an "utter misnomer," he claimed.

Because IRS tax returns are not public record, the names of companies were ascertained from public documents such as court records or the companies' postings:

Among the examples given on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" were:

• Enterprise Products Partners, L.P., a pipeline company with 2009 revenues of $25 billion.

• Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., a Wall Street firm with $445 million in revenue in 2009.

• Price Waterhouse Coopers, an accounting firm with $26 billion in revenue in 2009.

• Koch Industries, a conglomerate of partnerships with 70,000 employees.

• The Hillman Company, an investment founded by billionaire philanthropist/industrialist Henry Hillman.

• Venn Strategies, Inc., whose chief operating officer is Brian Reardon, a former special assistant to former President George W. Bush.

• Ferrellgas, a propane and propane accessories business, with $2 billion in revenues in 2009 and 1 million customers.

• CoorsTek, a ceramics manufacturer founded by Adolph Coors, with 2009 revenue of $549 million.

• Dead River Co., with $500 million in revenue and 1,200 employees.

• McIlhenney Co., the Tabasco maker, with $250 million in revenue in 2007.

The revelation comes as Democrats and Republicans debate tax cuts and the economy.

President Barack Obama and most of his fellow Democrats want tax cuts enacted under former President George W. Bush to be extended only for the first $200,000 of a person's income or $250,000 for a family, saying the country cannot afford the cuts for higher earners.

Republicans want the lower rates renewed for all Americans, regardless of income, and say that losing the cuts would hurt small businesses and job creation just as the economy is recovering from its worst recession since the 1930s.

On CBS' "Face The Nation" on Sept. 12, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, conceded that a nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation found that 3 percent of small-business people would be impacted if Bush tax cuts for the rich would expire.

"Well, it may be 3 percent, but it's half of small business income," House minority leader told Bob Schieffer. "Because, obviously, the top 3 percent have half of the gross income for those companies that we would term small businesses. And this is why you don't want to punish these people at a time when you have a weak economy."

Fewer than 750,000 people, less than 0.25 percent of the country, would be affected by the top rate, according to Joint Committee on Taxation figures quoted by Olbermann.

Owners of such businesses would benefit from continuation of Bush era tax cuts due to expire at the end of this year.

Rather than paying corporate taxes, the firms operate as S Corporations, sole proprietorships or partnerships, including limited liability companies that put LLC instead of Inc. at the end of their names.

All are considered pass-through structures, in which company profits are passed directly to individual owners, who then pay taxes.

Traditional corporations pay taxes on profits and pass along dividends to individuals, who pay taxes on the dividends.

Olbermann explained the rules for classification as a small business.

"It's not the income that's small, it's not the number of employees that's small, it's just the total number of owners that's small," Olbermann said.

In the case of S corporations, the total number of owners can be 100, he said.

Gov. David Paterson makes surprise 'Saturday Night Live' visit to mock himself, Albany

By Rich Schapiro
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, September 26th 2010, 8:41 AM

NBC

Fred Armisen (l.) portrays Gov. David Paterson, as the real Gov. Paterson make a surprise visit.Gov. Paterson, who has been mocked relentlessly by the cast of "Saturday Night Live," turned the tables on the show last night by comparing it to Albany.

"Ladies and gentleman, I wanted to come here tonight before my time as governor of the great state of New York ends to tell you that working in Albany is just like watching 'Saturday Night Live,'" Paterson said. "There are a lot of characters. It's funny for 10 minutes, and then you just want it to be over."

Throughout his turbulent tenure as governor, Paterson has been portrayed on the show as a bumbling politician who loves to denigrate New Jersey and frequently bumps into things.

Appearing alongside Fred Armisen, the actor who imitates him, the partially blind governor blasted the show's portrayal of his disability.

"Jokes that degrade people solely for the fact that they have disabilities are sophomoric and stupid," Paterson said.

His scolding prompted an apology from SNL star Seth Meyers. Still, Paterson kept things light.

"Just by my sense of smell, I can tell that there are 15 people in this audience from New Jersey," Paterson said, drawing raucous applause.

He and Armisen then stumbled off the stage into the camera as host Amy Poehler smiled behind them.

Rumors of Boehner Affair With Woman Lobbyist Amplify

Republican Rep. John Boehner is in bed with lobbyists are nothing new, but this looks a bit more personal. For the record, there is no confirmation of the alleged affair, both Boehner and Lyons refused comment when asked about an affair by blogger Mike Stark. There are additional rumors that The New York Times may be working on a related story. The story appears now to have enough traction to warrant interest.

House Minority Leader John Boehner and House GOP leaders on Capitol Hill, 05/25/10. (photo: Getty Images)

By Mike Stark,

Mike Stark's Diary/Daily Kos

23 September 10

RSN Editor's Comment | Accusations that Republican Rep. John Boehner is in bed with lobbyists are nothing new, but this looks a bit more personal. For the record, there is no confirmation of the alleged affair, both Boehner and Lyons refused comment when asked about an affair by blogger Mike Stark. There are additional rumors that The New York Times may be working on a related story. The story appears now to have enough traction to warrant interest.

Lobbyist on rumored affair w/Boehner: "I have no comment."

t was Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) who told abstinence education advocate Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) that he had to resign from Congress after having an affair with a staffer. It was also Boehner that told members of his caucus that they had to stop using the "party house" to entertain young Republican female lobbyists.

While everyone knows that John Boehner enjoys the good life of luxury travel and golf junkets, many are convinced that enjoys a mistress, too.

I began hearing this from several sources last month with increasing amounts of detail, including the name of the lobbyists Boehner is supposedly having a relationship with - Lisbeth Lyons, Vice President for Government Affairs for the American Printers Association.

I decided I'd look into the story, but I hadn't decided how to pose the question directly to Boehner. Last night, I learned the location of the House Republican Leadership's "Pledge to America," event.

I was able to catch up with Boehner just as he was leaving the event. His silence (which does not equal an admission, of course) in the face of the repeated question does not, it seem to me, to be one you'd expect from a happily married man confronted with an accusation of being unfaithful. Note the complete lack of outrage at being asked about allegations that are unfounded or untrue. There wasn't even a simple "no," to put the issue to rest.

Here's the video. You be the judge of his response:

So far as I'm concerned, if someone asked me if I was cheating on my wife, it would be very easy for me to simply say, "Absolutely not. No truth to that whatsoever." John Boehner couldn't bring himself to mouth those words.

Of course, he didn't admit to the affair either, so I decided to take the next step. I called Lisbeth Lyons for comment. Hers to is not the reaction I'd expect of someone who had was hearing an unfounded personal allegation like this. Here's the audio:

Again, there isn't any reaction I'd expect, such as calling me crazy, threatening to sue, or saying "absolutely not."

Simply put, that wouldn't be the natural response given by any woman that I know that wasn't sleeping with the most powerful Republican in Washington.

The bottom line is this: At an event John Boehner offered numerous pledges to America, he wouldn't comment on whether or not he was keeping a fundamental pledge he made to his wife. John Boehner forced Mark Souder to resign for adultery. Shouldn't he at least have to say what the truth is?

Update [2010-9-23 14:58:58 by Mike Stark]: If y'all want to defend Boehner, feel free. But these odd reactions are worth scrutiny. All it takes is for Boehner to say, "I, as the person who asked Mark Souder to resign, have always been faithful to my wife."

No More Mr. Nice Guy, Mr. Mad As Hell: Andrew Cuomo Attacks

By Celeste Katz

After all the fuss about how Andrew Cuomo's been holding his fire in the race against caustic Carl Paladino, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee's finally dropping the hammer in a new ad:

The spot, "One Job," starts airing statewide today -- and it goes after Paladino as a "welfare king who got rich by milking New York taxpayers" (they ripped that from our Bill Hammond) and got a $1.4 million tax break that resulted in the creation of just one job (again, ripped from a story by our Greg B. Smith.)

Up until now, Cuomo's been saying he'll stay away from catfighting -- while letting the NYS Dems drop most of the bombs on Paladino. Now, it seems, Cuomo's throwing down the gauntlet personally.

Watch:

He's also actually got a nice ad out too, featuring "cancer survivor Nancy Marie Bergman -- Cuomo successfully fought her insurance company after it refused to cover tens of thousands of dollars in medical costs." Hit the jump to see it.

Bloombito Endorses Andrew Cuomo for Governor

video by Rafael Martínez Alequín for YFP

Continued on next Video

video by Rafael Martínez Alequín for YFP

Chalk one up for Bloombito. Every once in a while he makes a good decision

POOP NAZIS RESTRICT MOVEMENT

By Rafael Martínez Alequín

Early in July, YFP wrote an article detailing the future home of the denizens of Room 9 at City Hall. The reporters were exiled to a trailer across from the Mayor's office at the west-wing of the biggest harlot in the State.

Today, we witness the following video. While poor billionaire, Bloombito ponders on a toilet seat made of gold and uses paper made from thousand dollar bills, the press sits otherwise.

There is one single toilet in the press trailer. Upon entering there is a sign stating NOT NUMBER 2. In addition, the toilet can only be flushed 4 times a day. Now imagine, a cold day in February, when one of the denizens has a stomach ache. The streak you will witness is him/her dashing across to City Hall where hopefully an elevator will whisk them up to porcelain salvation.

video by Rafael Martínez Alequín

UNIONS, LEGISLATORS URGE MAYOR BLOOMBERG TO END THE MONEY-PIT OF "CITY TIME"

By Rafael Martínez Alequin

A software "solution" begun by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, originally projected to cost taxpayers $68 million, has balloned in cost over the last 15 years to over $780 million, with Mayor Bloomberg asking for an additional $110 million for a contract renewal at the end of this month, with additional requests still to come. Under "Citi Time," which only covers a fraction of city employees, 230 consultants working for the military contractor SAIC are each making $400,000 per year form New York City taxpayers. City computer workers have the ability to program and run Citi Time, but they have been ignored, with high-priced consultants being hired instead.

See video below:

video by Rafael Martínez Alequein

Prominent Jewish Leaders Reject Carl Paldino's bid for New York Governor

video by Rafael Martínez Alequín for YFP

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!!

By Rafael Martínez Alequín

Today, the mayor and the Police Commissioner held a news conference with the MTA Chairman Jay Walder announcing the activation of 500 subways cameras in Times Square, Grand Central Station and Penn Station under the guise of security.

Many of us have read George Orwell's classic book “1984″ (Big Brothers is watching us). Suddenly, I realized that it took 26 years for Orwell's warning of big brother intruding in our lives to become a reality.

Meanwhile, back to today’s Mayor Bloomberg news conference. The so called guardians, known as the City Hall Reporters failed to ask Bloomberg a key question. Why during his administration, are we losing our constitutional rights? No one asked him about his idea to ban smoking in public parks and beaches.

Two City Hall reporters did ask him about the shoe industry and why he wore loafers. Are these
relevant questions to inform the citizens? I think not.

video by Rafael Martínez Alequín for YFP

Assemblyman Vito Lopez

Pedro Espada Es Terminado.

Press Focuses on Vito Lopez,

Poverty Boss, County Leader,

State Assembly Housing Chair



By Henry J. Stern
September 20, 2010

FIRST OF A SERIES

With Pedro Espada defeated for re-election, the new target of reform in New York City is Vito Lopez, the Democratic county leader of Brooklyn who doubles as chair of the Assembly Housing Committee.

Over the last week, the Daily News, New York Post, and The Brooklyn Paper have published a flurry of articles about Vito Lopez, his political tactics, and his nonprofit empire, the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council.

The first articles in the News and the Post focused on an internal Department of Investigation report on the Ridgewood Bushwick organization, which Joseph Goldstein and David Seifman of the Post describe as the "sprawling social service agency funded with $75 million in taxpayer money that has long served as Assemblyman Lopezs power base", since he founded the organization in 1973.

According to the News' Erin Durkin and Adam Lisberg, DOI found that Ridgewood Bushwick and its affiliates submitted "at least $340,000 in fraudulent or fishy claims submitted to the city". The Post tabulated that "the city disallowed $304,549 in claimed costs, including $193,892 for events and trips for which there were no attendance lists."

The false claims against the city were just the tip of the iceberg in DOIs investigation. Earlier in the week, on September 12, the Post published an article entitled "WEALTH OF FRIENDS" by Joseph Goldstein, Isabel Vincent and Christina Carrega, which revealed that Christiana Fisher, the executive director of Ridgewood Bushwick and Lopez's campaign treasurer, "pulled down $659,591 in 'base compensation' over a 12-month period in 2008 and 2009 for working only 17.5 hours a week at Ridgewood Bushwick", according to tax filings. Fisher's salary, "an eye-popping 182 percent more than the $234,234 she made just two years earlier," shocked the nonprofit expert who the Post interviewed.

Angela Battaglia, Lopez's longtime girlfriend and Ridgewood Bushwick's housing director, received "$329,910 in 'compensation' over the same period -- 73 percent more than the $190,609 she made two years earlier." Morevoer, both Battaglia's brother, Jack Battaglia, and Christiana's sister, Pam Fisher, were elevated to the bench by Lopez, who controls judicial appointments in Brooklyn.

In sharp contrast to Fisher and Battaglia's robust salaries was the $25 that The Daily News reported Friday that 86-year Carmen Orlando was paid for each meeting she attended as a board member of Ridgewood Bushwick for 17 years. Orlando, a retiree with no business training, was one of several elderly members of Ridgewood Bushwick's nine-member board that the DOI report found had practically no knowledge of the organization and its finances. The News quoted the reports finding that "Two board members who are not fluent in English indicated having a limited ability to understand everything being discussed at the meetings... However, both told DOI that they recalled always voting 'yes' whenever a vote was taken."

For his part, Lopez defends Ridgewood Bushwick, but claims to be similarly in the dark about the group's operations. Lopez no longer has any official role in the organization he founded, though Aaron Short, in his article in the The Brooklyn Paper entitled VITO'S 'MONEY HONEYS' GET BIG SALARIES SUBSIDIZED BY YOU, points out that the Assemblyman has "funneled $380,000 in member items" to Ridgewood Bushwick since 2009.

Lopez's own words may ultimately betray his claims that he is disconnected from Ridgewood Bushwick. Yesterday, in an exclusive cover story in the New York Post with the headline DON VITO and the sub-head B'KLN PARTY BIG THREATENS LITTLE OLD LADIES FOR VOTES, the Post published excerpts from a hidden tape recording of the Assemblyman made in 2005 and obtained by the paper from an unnamed source. On the tape, Lopez, who was not yet County Leader, tells a group of eight elderly women that they must support his then-pick for civil court judge, Richard Velasquez, a former lawyer for Ridgewood Bushwick, so that he can prove his political might and keep bringing in money to pay for the taxpayer-funded trips he sponsors with Ridgewood Bushwick. Lopez's quote on the cover of the Post reads: "The only thing I have thats worth something is politics. Thats how I get the money."

Tonight, the executive committee of the Kings County Democratic Party will vote on whether to re-elect Lopez as County Leader. The spate of negative articles is highly unlikely to affect his re-election. His power is likely to be curbed only by law enforcement; he doth bestride Brooklyn like a colossus.

And with all the nepotism, cronyism and favoritism that Lopez engages in as a matter of course, it has yet to be demonstrated that any of these acts constitute crimes for which he can be prosecuted. Rule 5: "Where there's smoke, there's fire" probably applies here, and there are certainly clouds of thick smoke. But under the law, the existence of fire must be proven and not merely surmised.

Why Deputy Mayor Wolfson Will Have to Resign

True New Sunday Update: Why Bloomberg's Deputy Mayor Wolfson Will Have to Resign

Harold Wolfson

BloombergGate Cover-Up Unwinds

Harold Wolfson who Replaced political guru, Kevin Sheekey, as deputy mayor is now caught up in the cover-up of the Haggerty 750,000 scandal and will have to exit City Hall Soon. Yesterday Wolfson said the money given a day before a hotly contested election by Bloomberg to the Independence Party was a donation and not for campaign expenses. Wolfson's current explanation of the money that wound up in Haggerty's pocket is 180 degrees different that the one he gave the NYP early this year (January 30th). At that time the Deputy Mayor said that the money that Bloomberg gave the party was for election day expenses. On June 10th in the NYP Wolfson also told the NYP that Haggerty was not authorized to keep any extra funds. Wolfson June 10th statement seem to agree with his January 30th statement that the $750,000 was for expenses. How can you return a donation which he claimed yesterday?

Wolfson Flip-Flops on the 750,000 to the Independence Party that wound up in Haggerty pocket

Wolfson Says on September 18th 2010
"The $750,000 was a donation and not for expenses"

Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson said Bloomberg did nothing wrong. "It was a donation," Wolfson said. "It was not an expenditure." Indicted campaign aide John Haggerty points finger at Mayor Bloomberg's former deputy mayor (DN)

Wolfson Says on January 30, 2010
The $750,000 went for campaign expenses

"One veteran GOP consultant said he believed Special Election Operations was designed to dispense "street money" -- cash that's spread around on Election Day to volunteers and for such incidentals as lunch. But Howard Wolfson, the mayor's campaign spokesman, insisted the $750,000 -- part of a $1.2 million personal contribution Bloomberg made to the state Independence Party right before the election -- didn't go for that purpose. "The [Independence Party] made the same Election Day expenses that all party committees make every election for Election Day workers," he said in an e-mail."Because the IP does not have the infrastructure to handle this kind of activity in-house, it used Special Election Operations to handle the payroll payments to all these individuals." Mike mystery money went to key elex aide (NYP)

Wolfson Said on June 10, 2010

"The mayor's campaign spokesman, Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, told The Post that Haggerty was never authorized to keep any leftovers." Campaigner faces jail in Bloombucks 'scam' (NYP)

Was Wolfson's Flip Flop on the reason for the $750,000 an attempt to Protect Bloomberg's Campaign from Violating Campaign Expenditure Rules?

“The mayor filed a statement with the Board of Elections that he would only make campaign expenditures through his campaign committee,” said one lawyer familiar with the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the investigation. “But what might have happened here is instead of doing that, he gave personal funds to political parties to make political expenditures for him, and that could be stretching the rules.” G.O.P. Consultant Accused of Stealing Campaign Money

BloombergGate Hits Home/Cover-UP Unwinds

Has Haggerty has decided to take everyone down with him or is he trying to get the heavyweights involved to stop his investigation? Stay Tuned

Indicted campaign aide John Haggerty points finger at Mayor Bloomberg's former deputy mayor

"Mayor Bloomberg's political mastermind was outed in court papers Friday as the architect of a plan to hide $1.1 million in Election Day poll-watching. Indicted campaign aide John Haggerty said in a 41-page motion that former Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey convinced Bloomberg to hire the state Independence Party to do the monitoring - instead of using his own campaign team."

It is interesting to note that of the three Bloomberg aids who did not want him to run for a third term Deputy Mayors Edward Skyler, Patricia E. Harris and Kevin Sheekey only Harris is still at City Hall and she according to the NY Post is working mostly at her other job with Bloomberg's charity organization City Hall stingy on aide's charity hours (NYP) * Ex-aid John Haggerty knows where bodies are buried and may spill Mayor Bloomberg's secrets at trial (DN) * Bloomberg Expected to Seek Third Term as Mayor

"It was Mr. Sheekey who decided that Mr. Haggerty should contact the Independence Party and request that ballot security be conducted through that political party"Bloomy political mastermind outed in court docs

Haggerty - who is currently working as a "volunteer" for Carl Paladino's GOP gubernatorial campaign, the same title he had with Bloomberg, with no campaign payments listed going to him - has made clear he's planning on fighting the case. Haggerty's spill factor

Activists upset with Facebook

Activists upset with Facebook By: Josh Gerstein September 18, 2010 07:07 AM EDT

Grass-roots activists organizing boycotts against large corporations like Target stores and BP now find themselves directing some of their ire at another corporate monolith: Facebook. The boycotters turned to the popular social media site to spread word about their pressure campaigns and keep participants up to date on the latest developments, but those efforts became much more difficult last week when Facebook disabled key features on the boycott pages. As the number of Facebook members signed up for the “Boycott Target Until They Cease Funding Anti-Gay Politics” page neared 78,000 in recent days, Facebook personnel locked down portions of the page — banning new discussion threads, preventing members from posting videos and standard Web links to other sites and barring the page’s administrator from sending updates to those who signed up for the boycott. “It slices the vocal cords,” complained Jeffrey Henson, who ran the Facebook page, calling for a boycott of Target over its $150,000 donation to a group supporting a candidate some view as hostile to the gay community, Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. “The page is now outraged” over the website’s action, Henson added. Participants in the boycotts complain Facebook’s actions have created an uneven playing field in which ad hoc citizens’ groups face hurdles to online organizing — obstacles that corporations using social media have little trouble surmounting. “Facebook is interfering with the function of a page dedicated to individuals organizing in response to corporate action to which they object,” said Nicholas Lefevre, a promoter of the Target boycott. “With the limited avenues for such expression and organization and the importance of the Internet to that ability, anything that threatens that expression is dangerous.” Another Facebook page “liked” by even more people — a boycott of petroleum giant BP that attracted more than 847,000 fans — was also hit by a similar clampdown last week. Those who use the BP page to communicate about the gulf spill reacted angrily. “It all smells fishier than the gulf to me,” said one comment on the page from a member called “Triple Bottomline.” Organizers of the Target and BP boycotts quickly started new pages, but their followers have been slow to locate and join the new pages. By Friday, only 1,450 members had signed up for the new page from BP boycott organizer Lee Perkins and 2,507 had signed up for a new Target boycott page. In response to a query from POLITICO, Facebook said the earlier pages were restricted because they ran afoul of the social media site’s terms of service, limiting so-called pages to individuals and entities that have some real structure in the bricks-and-mortar world. “Facebook Pages enable public figures, organizations, businesses, and brands to share information, interact with interested people, and maintain an engaging presence on Facebook,” said a Facebook spokesman, who asked not to be named. “They're … optimized for official entities’ needs to communicate, distribute content, engage people and capture new audiences. To protect people from spam and other unwanted content, we restrict Pages that represent ideas or positions — rather than discrete entities — from publishing stories to people's News Feeds.” “This policy is designed to ensure Facebook remains a safe, secure and trusted environment for the people who use it,” the spokesman said. The written guidance published on the Facebook site is somewhat vague about who can sponsor a page. The official policy says pages “may only be used to promote a business or other commercial, political, or charitable organization or endeavor (including nonprofit organizations, political campaigns, bands, and celebrities).” Officials from Target and BP told POLITICO they made no requests to Facebook to act against the boycott pages. Henson said he got a notice from Facebook about a month ago that he needed to “authenticate” his page. He said he tried to answer every question the site asked. “I never heard back. Next thing I know: I’m locked out of the page,” Henson said. “I’m hoping they do the right thing and unlock it.” Some activists said that even if Facebook’s rules are not intended to favor corporations over anti-corporate campaigns, the site’s policy does seem to have that impact. “We think democracy works best where every single citizen’s voice is weighed equally,” said Ilyse Hogue of the liberal grassroots group Moveon.org, which is backing the Target boycott but has no connection to the disputed Facebook pages. “The whole system is titled away from those individual voices.” Hogue noted that in the grass-roots group’s earliest days, it probably couldn’t have met Facebook’s standards for authentication, and if the group had a Facebook page, it would have been locked down. Several social media experts said Facebook’s policies and its enforcement of those policies are too opaque and inconsistent. “They haven’t been clear about how the terms of service apply,” said Jillian York of Harvard University’s Berkman Center for the Internet & Society. “Their policy … it might be reasonable, but I don’t think it’s well disclosed.” York also said the anti-corporate pages seem to get more attention from Facebook. “It does seem like they’re more careful with those pages,” she said. A Facebook official confirmed that they don’t check who’s behind a page until it reaches a certain size, which he declined to specify. One social media consultant said that practice causes confusion. “It really does have a big effect when 10,000 people or 100,000 people join a group, and they change the rules midstream,” said Dorian Benkoil of New York-based Teeming Media. “Then, they try to thread the needle by saying you can still have a page, but we’re not going to let the admin post … They say it violates their rules. Then they say, we’ll go halfway.” Facebook has faced criticism recently for abrupt changes to its policies, particularly moves to expand public access to information on individual users. In May, in response to a public outcry and to complaints from several U.S. senators, Facebook rolled back some changes and made it easier for users to opt out of some public disclosures. One group that has been critical of the policies of Facebook and other social media sites, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said the boycotters have discovered the perils of relying on a website run by a private, commercial entity. “They’ve set up this walled garden, and when people use these things for organizing in this context, they’re buying into the arbitrary rules,” said the foundation’s Richard Esguerra. “This is a risk or consequence of doing these things in walled gardens. … It’s important for them to decide what they might be giving up, what kind of overarching control they might be giving up, whether it’s on Facebook or any other social network.” Some analysts said they understood the impulse Facebook felt about possible spamming or other disputes that could arise from a single individual with a Gmail address controlling a page with hundreds of thousands of followers. However, others noted that it’s just as easy to quit a page as to join one and that any page-spamming people would probably lose followers. One consultant who helps nonprofit groups building an online following said the puzzling part of the policy Facebook has applied against the Target and BP boycotters is that it goes against the prevailing Internet ethos which favors quickly formed “flash mobs”— whether they arrange mass pillow fights or rally around a political cause. “It kind of deflates that,” said Kevin Dugan of Empower MediaMarketing. “It’s certainly not what you would think a social media site would want to do. Normally, they’re empowering things like this, not trying to stop them.”

Imagine a call like this to the 9/11 emergency center: New York may ban outside smoking

By GARY BAUMGARTEN
Paltalk News Network

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who pushed for higher cigarette taxes and the banning of smoking in bars, restaurants and other places of public accommodation, now wants to make it illegal to smoke in city parks and on municipal beaches.

While I count myself amongst the non-smokers who appreciate no longer being assaulted by second hand smoke when, for example, going out for a bite to eat, I really wonder who the mayor thinks will enforce this new law should it take effect.

Imagine a call like this to the 9/11 emergency center:

Operator: 9/11 where is the problem?

Caller: There's someone smoking in Central Park. Quick! Send the police!

One would think the cops here could be put to better use. Like catching criminals.

There's not a day that goes by in some neighborhoods where, for instance, you can find guys selling dope in public view, hardly concerned that the police will arrest them for that.

And there's been new attention in the media of late about out-of-control bicyclists who careen down the narrow corridors of Manhattan oblivious to the traffic laws. They run red lights, they ride in the wrong direction, and, yes, they sometimes mow down pedestrians. (One woman leading the movement to enforce bicycling laws was made a widow by a wrong-way bicycle deliveryman who knocked her husband to the curb where he hit his head. He later died from his injuries.)

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani started the assault on quality of life issues when he told the cops to stop subway turnstile jumpers and corner windshield cleaning squeegee men. Bloomberg took it a step further with the ban on inside smoking. But this may be going too far.

My prediction: If the law passes, smokers will ignore it and cops won't enforce it. Bloomberg should move onto far more important matters than this.

DID GUSTAVO RIVERA DE-GREASE THE BRONX POLITICAL MACHINE

By Rafael Martínez Alequín

State Senatorial candidate Gustavo Rivera, won a landslide victory against his previously entrenched opponent, Pedro Espada on primary day, September 14, 2010. Rivera, who has never held office had a remarkable triumph. But what was even more significant was the lack of support from the Bronx political machine. Conspicuously absent from his post election party were members of the Machine such as Carl Heastie. The only visible representative was Jeffrey Dinowitz who gave Rivera an endorsement at the eleventh hour of the campaign.

Rivera won through support of unions, tenant organizations and his relationship with local community groups when he campaigned for Barack Obama. And like Obama, his political platform is based largely on reform and change. The question then becomes, can he do it without "kissing the ring" of the Bronx political machine.

Historically, the Machine was a factory for patronage jobs. It funneled federal and state money to community based programs in the area and created jobs. That created a large voting support base for any candidate chosen by the Machine. Now, with a recession raging and state budget cuts, the funnel has become clogged. Hence, Rivera's large support from unions and the Working Families Party. That support was significant enough to prevent him from being whacked off the ballot by machine lawyers such as Stanley Schlein. In previous years, the tactic was to protest a candidate's petition and then find a judge favorable to the Machine who would decertify the candidate. Now, with the Internet and instant messaging, political antics such as these are hard to disguise.

With the old machinery in place, it would have been easy for political insurgents such as Gustavo Rivera to be kept off the ballot. But, with the backing of the Democratic party and Bill Samuels, this was a difficult task for the Machine.

However, the hard work for Rivera has begun. The road to reform begins with economics. Rivera's district has a poverty rate that rivals some third world countries. The median income is $25,000. The promise of job creation is daunting. Bronx businesses that are loyal to the Machine fear political contributions to the Rivera camp. All campaign contributions are made public under the Federal Election Commission regulations. Therefore, they are open to scrutiny and possible retaliation by the Machine.

But one must also examine the fact that Rivera won without their strong endorsement. Espada was their poster child since his Soundview Healthcare facility generated jobs and good public relations for the Machine. But his subsequent legal woes diminished his value to them.

So, it would appear that the Machine may be forced into a marriage of convenience with Rivera.

Albeit separate bedrooms, the two entities will have to make it work if progress is to be made.

The issue of housing is tied directly to the Machine and it's connection to real estate developers and landlords who fund many Machine sanctioned campaigns. A quick scan of projects in upscale neighborhoods will show that many have either been delayed, downsized or canceled. Yet another venue where Rivera will have to make peace with the "Machinistas."

Despite the negatives, Rivera is a fresh face in a new age. Hopefully, his enthusiasm and political backing will navigate the murky waters of the Machine. The tune from Nero's fiddle has been replaced with a chant. "Si Se Puede."

Samuels Next Goal Is To Oust Upstate Republicans

After a successful push to rally voters to remove Pedro Espada, Jr. from power, Bill Samuels wants to keep the momentum going.

Samuels, a Democrat, told Liz Benjamin Wednesday that he would campaign with Carl Paladino if he agreed to help oust some upstate Republicans in the name of reform.

PETEY ESPADA GOES DOWN

Last night, State Senator Pedro Espada lost his bid for reelection. The former boxer was beaten in a political "t.k.o." by rival Gustavo Rivera. Espada conceded without the campaign sportsmanship of acknowledging and congratulating his opponent. Even in defeat, he lacked grace. The throngs of Espada cult members who accompanied him and fought for him at public appearances dwindled down to a paltry few. The head count at his hoped for victory headquarters was two hundred. And that includes family members.

Although he vowed to fight on, he appeared to be melting away like a snowman in July. Now , it is left to Gustavo Rivera to pick up the reins. He has inherited a legacy that Espada has filled with landmines. But vision and perseverance can overcome even the worst of times. The following is a portion of a poem by Alfred Tennyson called the Death of Arthur. (the knight)

But now the whole ROUND TABLE is dissolved which was an image of the mighty world. And I, the last, go forth companionless. And the days darken round me, and the years. Among new men, strange faces, other minds." And slowly answer'd Arthur from the barge: "The old order changeth, yielding place to new, and God fulfils Himself in many ways, lest one good custom should corrupt the world. Comfort thyself: what comfort is in me?

http://bronx.ny1.com/content/top_stories/125466/embattled-state-senator-loses-in-primary-race

Bronx voters send state Sen. Pedro Espada packing; Hiram Monserrate loses Assembly bid

BY Bob Kappstatter and Glenn Blain
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Originally Published:Tuesday, September 14th 2010, 11:48 PM
Updated: Tuesday, September 14th 2010, 11:48 PM

Chu for News

State Sen. Pedro Espada votes in the Bronx on Tuesday.

Gabel for News

Gustavo Rivera, who ousted Espada, with Gov. Paterson in the Bronx on Tuesday night.

Bronx voters sent scandal-scarred state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. back to Mamaroneck on Tuesday.

Espada, whose real home seemed to be in the leafy Westchester suburb, conceded defeat Tuesday night to political operative Gustavo Rivera in their heated Democratic primary.

Another disgraced Albany lawmaker, ex-Sen. Hiram Monserrate, also suffered defeat Tuesday, losing his bid for a vacant Queens Assembly seat.

Rivera, with Republicans vastly outnumbered in the Bronx, is all but assured of a win in November and a ticket to Albany in January. "Obviously, this was decided by the powerhouse unions and outside millionaires and obviously the round goes to them," Espada, the Senate's majority leader, said. "They've successfully ganged up on me this evening," Espada told chanting supporters at the Luna Club on Webster Ave. after he was defeated by a 2-1 margin.

Espada, who for many epitomized Albany's political corruption, not only fell victim to Rivera but a coalition of reformers, tenants' advocates and labor unions.

"Tonight we got rid of the poster child of Albany dysfunction," Rivera told the Daily News on Tuesday night. "That sends a very clear message," he added. "We need to move in new direction, and that is what we intend to do."

Sen. Diane Savino (D-S.I., Brooklyn) credited Espada's loss to "the power of prayer."

"It's a big deal for the people of the State of New York in that it restores confidence and they don't have to worry about individual members hijacking the legislative process for their own personal gain," she said.

Monserrate, who was thrown out of the Senate this year for assaulting his girlfriend, was defeated by Francisco Moya in the race for the Assembly seat vacated by Jose Peralta - who was elected to the Senate to replace Monserrate.

Monserrate, Espada, Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx) and Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) formed the so-called Four Amigos in Albany to hold Senate leaders hostage to their whims last year. As voting unfolded yesterday, it was in many ways a typical race for Espada - he was accused of wrongdoing. Rivera's campaign released a list of instances in which they charged Espada's workers with violating election laws by campaigning inside polling locations.

Espada owes thousands of dollars in fines to the state Board of Elections for failing to file required financial disclosure statements. He's also accused by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo of looting $14 million from his taxpayer-financed Soundview Health Center.

Among other legislative primaries:

- State Sen. Bill Perkins (D-Harlem) defeated Basil Smikle.

- Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan) won a four-way Democratic primary to fill the seat being vacated by state Sen. Eric Schneiderman.

gblain@nydailynews.com

With Celeste Katz and Kenneth Lovett

"I am opposed to the building of the 'mosque' two blocks from Ground Zero. I want it built on Ground Zero."

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2010/08/16/100816taco_talk_hertzberg#ixzz0zVzZPcTR

Portrait, Michael Moore, 04/03/09. (photo: Ann-Christine Poujoulat/Getty)

I Want the 'Mosque' Built ON Ground Zero

By Michael Moore,

Michael Moore.com

11 September 10

If the 'mosque' isn't built, this is no longer America.

am opposed to the building of the "mosque" two blocks from Ground Zero.

I want it built on Ground Zero.

Why? Because I believe in an America that protects those who are the victims of hate and prejudice. I believe in an America that says you have the right to worship whatever God you have, wherever you want to worship. And I believe in an America that says to the world that we are a loving and generous people and if a bunch of murderers steal your religion from you and use it as their excuse to kill 3,000 souls, then I want to help you get your religion back. And I want to put it at the spot where it was stolen from you.

There's been so much that's been said about this manufactured controversy, I really don't want to waste any time on this day of remembrance talking about it. But I hate bigotry and I hate liars, and so in case you missed any of the truth that's been lost in this, let me point out a few facts:

1. I love the Burlington Coat Factory. I've gotten some great winter coats there at a very reasonable price. Muslims have been holding their daily prayers there since 2009. No one ever complained about that. This is not going to be a "mosque," it's going to be a community center. It will have the same prayer room in it that's already there. But to even have to assure people that "it's not going to be mosque" is so offensive, I now wish they would just build a 111-story mosque there. That would be better than the lame and disgusting way the developer has left Ground Zero an empty hole until recently. The remains of over 1,100 people still haven't been found. That site is a sacred graveyard, and to be building another monument to commerce on it is a sacrilege. Why wasn't the entire site turned into a memorial peace park? People died there, and many of their remains are still strewn about, all these years later.

2. Guess who has helped the Muslims organize their plans for this community center? The JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER of Manhattan! Their rabbi has been advising them since the beginning. It's been a picture-perfect example of the kind of world we all want to live in. Peter Stuyvessant, New York's "founder," tried to expel the first Jews who arrived in Manhattan. Then the Dutch said, no, that's a bit much. So then Stuyvessant said ok, you can stay, but you cannot build a synagogue anywhere in Manhattan. Do your stupid Friday night thing at home. The first Jewish temple was not allowed to be built until 1730. Then there was a revolution, and the founding fathers said this country has to be secular - no religious nuts or state religions. George Washington (inaugurated around the corner from Ground Zero) wanted to make a statement about this his very first year in office, and wrote this to American Jews:

"The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy - a policy worthy of imitation....

"It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens ...

"May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants - while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid."

3. The Imam in charge of this project is the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. Read about his past here.

4. Around five dozen Muslims died at the World Trade Center on 9/11. Hundreds of members of their families still grieve and suffer. The 19 killers did not care what religion anyone belonged to when they took those lives.

5. I've never read a sadder headline in the New York Times than the one on the front page this past Monday: "American Muslims Ask, Will We Ever Belong?" That should make all of us so ashamed that even a single one of our fellow citizens should ever have to worry about if they "belong" here.

6. There is a McDonald's two blocks from Ground Zero. Trust me, McDonald's has killed far more people than the terrorists.

7. During an economic depression or a time of war, fascists are extremely skilled at whipping up fear and hate and getting the working class to blame "the other" for their troubles. Lincoln's enemies told poor Southern whites that he was "a Catholic." FDR's opponents said he was Jewish and called him "Jewsevelt." One in five Americans now believe Obama is a Muslim and 41% of Republicans don't believe he was born here.

8. Blaming a whole group for the actions of just one of that group is anti-American. Timothy McVeigh was Catholic. Should Oklahoma City prohibit the building of a Catholic Church near the site of the former federal building that McVeigh blew up?

9. Let's face it, all religions have their whackos. Catholics have O'Reilly, Gingrich, Hannity and Clarence Thomas (in fact all five conservatives who dominate the Supreme Court are Catholic). Protestants have Pat Robertson and too many to list here. The Mormons have Glenn Beck. Jews have Crazy Eddie. But we don't judge whole religions on just the actions of their whackos. Unless they're Methodists.

10. If I should ever, God forbid, perish in a terrorist incident, and you or some nutty group uses my death as your justification to attack or discriminate against anyone in my name, I will come back and haunt you worse than Linda Blair marrying Freddy Krueger and moving into your bedroom to spawn Chucky. John Lennon was right when he asked us to imagine a world with "nothing to kill or die for and no religion, too." I heard Deepak Chopra this week say that "God gave humans the truth, and the devil came and he said, 'Let's give it a name and call it religion.' " But John Adams said it best when he wrote a sort of letter to the future (which he called "Posterity"): "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it." I'm guessing ol' John Adams is up there repenting nonstop right now.

Friends, we all have a responsibility NOW to make sure that Muslim community center gets built. Once again, 70% of the country (the same number that initially supported the Iraq War) is on the wrong side and want the "mosque" moved. Enormous pressure has been put on the Imam to stop his project. We have to turn this thing around. Are we going to let the bullies and thugs win another one? Aren't you fed up by now? When would be a good time to take our country back from the haters?

I say right now. Let's each of us make a statement by donating to the building of this community center! It's a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization and you can donate a dollar or ten dollars (or more) right now through a secure pay pal account by clicking here. I will personally match the first $10,000 raised (forward your PayPal receipt to webguy@michaelmoore.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). If each one of you reading this blog/email donated just a couple of dollars, that would give the center over $6 million, more than what Donald Trump has offered to buy the Imam out. C'mon everyone, let's pitch in and help those who are being debased for simply wanting to do something good. We could all make a huge statement of love on this solemn day.

I lost a co-worker on 9/11. I write this today in his memory.

"The man who speaks of the enemy / Is the enemy himself."
- Bertolt Brecht