Liz Benjamin

A legislative aide briefed on today's meeting of Assembly Democrats said that the "consensus is not to do one of the three" comptroller candidates recommended by the Eliot Spitzer-backed independent screening panel. What the conference should do instead remains unclear, the aide said.

Liz Benjamin, whose turf I'm gingerly tiptoeing on right now, has more on all this here.

Oh. And about rumor that state Senator Marty Connor, who was once Eliot Spitzer's election lawyer, had offered himself up as a compromise candidate?

His spokesman called with a response: No comment.

-- Azi Paybarah

Now that the independent screening panel is winnowing down the list of comptroller candidates, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is signaling just how important that recommendation really is.

From the Buffalo News:

"They can give me whatever they want," Silver said of the three-member panel. "We don't have to listen to them, either."

Asked if that meant the Legislature could deviate from the list the panel recommends, he said, "I'm just saying there's no statute here, and if they don't want to follow the rules, nobody has to follow the rules."

[And thank Liz Benjamin for spotting this amazing item.]

Jerry Skurnik includes some facts about the selection of judges which he said the Times missed in their recent editorial.

Liz Benjamin looks at some new rules the state Senate may vote on tomorrow.

Spin Cycle has more on these numbers that Maureen O'Connell produced when she ran for a countywide position in 2005.

Her first mailing is here.

While in Delaware recently, Rudy Giuliani said, "I think the biggest question you have to ask is, 'Can you really lead the country?' If I believe that I can do it, then I will, and if I don't, then I'll support somebody else."

Here's some more chatter about whether Barack Obama will announce his presidential candidacy on Oprah.

The head of the New York State Bar Association, Mark Alcott, said the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Detainee Affairs is "not fit for office."

Mass transit in the U.S. could save 1.4 billion gallons of oil a year.

Greg Sargent is moving his eye-on-the-media blog over to Josh Marshall's site.

And pictured above are some people listening to speeches at Al Sharpton's MLK celebration on West 145th Street.

-- Azi Paybarah

Liz Benjamin noted two things missing from Eliot Spitzer's otherwise ambitious and far-reaching State of the State speech yesterday: gay marriage and the death penalty.

And Lawrence Levy of Newsday wondered why he didn't hear the word "poverty" in Spitzer's inaugural address.

Any other notable omissions so far?

-- Azi Paybarah

Roberto Ramirez's former chief of staff, now a lobbyist, is Spitzer's choice for secretary of state. Let the finger-wagging begin!

Liz Benjamin, who broke the "Hevesi to resign" story last night, says the comptroller is going to have a very bad day tomorrow.

She also says some Republicans are starting to talk about throwing Joe Bruno overboard.

The Bond Buyer has a breakdown on the Atlantic Yards project's tax exempt bond financing (sub. req.).

The Times betrayed Brooklyn, says Chris Smith.

More Atlantic Yards reactions here.

Mickey Kaus isolates Obama's secret vulnerability--he's just too darn introspective!

Jim Jordan brings his winning karma to Chris Dodd's presidential campaign.

Evil Lamont bloggers were not to blame for Lieberman's website crash.

Who's the pervy congressman?

Who's the pervy New Yorker writer?

Meet the Nigerian bishop who is destoying the Episcopal church.

-- Andrew Rice

Just got a cryptic press release from the office of Albany DA David Soares, announcing a press conference for 12:30 p.m. tomorrow, at which he will address "events of the day." Wonder what that could be about?

UPDATE: Oops, Just noticed--Liz Benjamin beat me on this. Drat!

-- Andrew Rice

Alan Hevesi is going to resign in order to stave off indictment.

The first word of Dicker's story: "Disgraced."

Liz Benjamin says he will plead guilty to a criminal charge, not higher than a Class E felony, whatever that is.

The Times, weirdly, seems to have missed the story. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Newsday handicaps the possible successors: Brodsky, DiNapoli and Mulrow.

Shelly Silver will pick the replacement. He will also decide if you get into heaven.

Joe Bruno's land deal partner is named Featherstonhaugh, "pronounced feather-stun-HAW," says the Times. You may need to remember that.

Republicans are worried.

Atlantic Yards is approved. Next stop: the courts.

Rudy's planning a visit to New Hampshire.

John McCain is becoming a "punching bag" for Dems says Chris Cillizza.

Christmas card analysis: out. Thank-you note dissection: in.

The City Council approved the 421a bill.

An elderly part-time employee in Joe Crowley's constituent service shop got in a car accident after leaving the congressman's Christmas party. Her friend, a passenger, was killed. The driver was apparently drunk. This story is very sad.

Tom Delay is now blogging. This thing could catch on.

Virginia Republican Virgil Goode has some problems with the Koran.

Turkmenbashi is dead. Don't feel bad. -- Andrew Rice

Hillary Clinton and Bill have raised more outside income than a lot of other political couples.

Sheldon Silver voted no on the plans for the Moynihan station. "That kills the project," says Liz Benjamin .

Joe Mahoney shares his troubles trying to cover Alan Hevesi.

Andrew Cuomo was endorsed by 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement today. Jeanine Pirro is expected to get endorsed by the current mayor of Yonkers.

Peter King has a mailing which tells voters, "The media is engaged in jihad against Rep. Pete King..." according to Spin Cycle.  read more »

And pictured above is an artful rendition of Charlie Rangel, who took Jason Horowitz on a victory lap of sorts.

-- Azi Paybarah

Here are the latest fundraising numbers from the invincible Spitzer-Paterson campaign from September 19 through October 2:

$693,000 raised $700,000 spent $8.6 million on hand

Andrew Cuomo, who hasn't had much to do lately but sit back and watch Jeanine Pirro, raised even more, according to numbers released by his campaign:

$1.1 million raised $2.4 million on hand

Pirro raised about $1.6 million since mid-July, and has $1.26 million on hand, according to Liz Benjamin, who has more figures here. [This post has been corrected to reflect Pirro's real numbers. The ones I represented the amount of money the campaign raised just since the wire-tap scandal broke. Apologies.]

UPDATE: John Faso's spokeswoman just called with their latest finance numbers:

$952,519.14 raised $1,405,010 spent $972,256.66 on hand

-- Azi Paybarah

Liz Benjamin beat me to the punch in reporting that Alan Hevesi actually has a campaign spokesman, Matt Mullarkey, who is on leave from Hevei's office.

When I spoke to Mullarkey today, he shied away from the title as campaign spokesman and said he's simply with the campaign. So humble.

As for what else is in store from the Hevesi campaign, like a website or - even better - a campaign schedule, Mullarkey wouldn't say. But he did promise to get back with some on-the-record comment about both.

-- Azi Paybarah

What a long week it's been for Alan Hevesi. Since the story broke about him using a state employee as a personal chauffeur for his wife for three years, Hevesi has kinda had to, well, campaign. And that's something he hadn't planned on doing, as Liz Benjamin notes.

Which makes you wonder, considering how little we've seen of him, how Hevesi's campaign spent $149,000 as of his last campaign filing.

That figure includes $60,000 to Morris & Carrick, Inc. for consulting. And, it's worth noting, three payments totaling $1,918 to the NYS Comptroller's office for reimbursements for car use.

-- Azi Paybarah

Liz Benjamin says that presidential hopeful Russ Feingold will speak at the Empire State Pride Agenda annual fundraiser on October 5th.

The richest man in America, Bill Gates, has maxed out his contributions to Bill Frist's political committees. He also gave $2,000 to Sen. George Allen.

That outrageous North Carolina congressional candidate, Vern Robinson, has another ad attacking his opponent in an unusual way. "Instead of spending money on cancer research, Brad Miller spent your money to study the masturbation habits of old men."

Amanda Gordon has pictures of Rudy Giuliani, Joel Klein, Barbara Walters and others from the Met Opera's opening night gala.

Daily Gotham says the Mayor's newly created Sustainability Advisory Board is meeting Wednesday behind closed doors.

Phase two of the Atlantic Yards Project, the one with the apartments, has no real deadline.

Somebody created a Wikipedia-like database political opinions.

EnWhySeaWonk spots someone reading "The Truth About The Jew" on the L train.

"Unmarried women unhappy with status quo," and other key findings of a "ground breaking" report from Greenberg, Quinlan Rosner Research is here. Eligible voters who enjoy long walks in the park, read on.

It's official. More people have been killed serving in Iraq and Afghanistan than were killed on Sept. 11, notes Greg Sargent.

And pictured above is the very kind Mark Green campaign aide who sent me (and other reporters?) a thank you note after the campaign.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

Here is John Faso's new ad, which Liz Benjamin says will be airing tomorrow upstate. In it, Faso connects Eliot Spitzer -- preemptively -- to the dismal upstate economy.

"His new spending will mean thousands more in new taxes for every New York family. If Eliot Spitzer gets his way, it may be time for the last one in upstate New York to turn out the light."

-- Azi Paybarah

Hillary Clinton will speak at the September 18 funeral of former Texas governor Ann Richards.

Jonathan Tasini asks, 'How am I doing?'

Liz Benjamin finds charitable souls who will shoulder the burden of the unwanted pork coming out of Albany.

John DeSio makes the case for a Mayor Dick Parsons:

Voters would get a look at a self-made African American success story who also happens to be a Republican.

Republicans at Columbia University will host a Global Warming Beach Party.

Barack Obama 2008 chatter continues, now that he's visiting Iowa with an important Democratic operative.

A White House reporter says Tony Snow is more fun than Scott McClellan

Ed Koch attacks a congressman who has a beef with the president.

I believe John Conyers, by launching these attacks on the President while the country is at war, is doing a disservice to the country, but of course, he has the right to do that.

And above is a television ad from upstate Democratic congressional candidate, Eric Massa, who opposes "anything that even rhymes with NAFTA."

-- Azi Paybarah

John Edwards calls on Joe Lieberman to drop out of the race. [via Lamontblog]

The Hotline wonders if hiring of a Democrat and Republican consultant means Lieberman's bi-partisanship is beginning to manifest itself.

Undoubtedly manifesting itself is the debate debate, which Liz Benjamin has here.

Not manifesting itself is the reappointment of Judge George Bundy Smith, which Liz Benjamin has here. (We told you. Freakishly prolific!) And manifesting itself in strange ways is the phrase "Michael Moore Democrats." Gatemouth on Room 8 writes:

"One reader said to me 'I am damned proud to be a Michael Moore Democrat.' But, I don't think he really understands what he is saying."

-- Azi Paybarah

Following up on Newsday's story, Liz Benjamin just got Kim Devlin on the phone to talk about her departure from the Suozzi campaign. -- Josh Benson

Liz Benjamin has next-day reactions from Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer on the Court of Appeals gay marriage ruling.

Clinton supports "full equality for people in committed relationships."

Schumer supports "civil unions" but applauded the court's decision to leave the ultimate decision on the issue to the legislature and governor.

Neither statement includes the word "marriage."

-- Josh Benson

Check out the comments under this post by Liz Benjamin.

Could John Sweeney be the first New York elected official to lose his job over the Bush administration's homeland security aide cutbacks?

After Liz Benjamin's exhaustive coverage of the Independence Party and Working Families Party conventions this weekend, we knew something had to give.

We're pulling for you, Liz.

What? Did someone suggest David Paterson's legislative record could be an issue? The Post reported today that the candidate for Lieutenant Governor long pushed to decriminalize resisting arrest.

But he seems to be learning. Liz Benjamin notes today that he's abruptly switched sides on a bill legalizing roving wiretaps.

In a decision quietly released today, a Third Department reinstated the law license (.pdf) of the former counsel to the Assembly, Michael Boxley.

The one-year suspension of his license came after he pled guilty to a sexual misconduct charge.

The court found that Boxley "possesses the character and general fitness to resume the practice of law."

CORRECTION: Not so exclusive. Liz Benjamin beat me by 13 minutes on this one.

Liz Benjamin wonders why Andrew Cuomo doesn't have a Web site. (I could have sworn that, not long ago, he did. But it doesn't seem to be up.)  read more »

Fortunately, old Web sites never die. They just get cached. And if you look closely, you'll see that then as now, Cuomo is touting an early lead in the polls.