Joe Bruno

By Adam Schwartzman

Five prominent New York politicians have dipped into their campaign funds to pay for nearly $3 million in legal expenses associated with investigations of their possible misconduct, a Voice examination of campaign disclosure reports has revealed. While it's unclear if that level of expenditure is a record, good-government groups are increasingly concerned about the frequency of elected officials using funds from campaign donors to pay instead for costs connected to their alleged abuses of public office.

One of the most notable examples of this campaign fund abuse is Joe Bruno, the ex-state Senate majority leader indicted in 2009 on eight counts of corruption and convicted on two. More >>

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​As rats continue their campaign to take over New York City, we're left wondering how we can take action. One way is by filling out State Senator Bill Perkins' survey, "Have you seen a rat today?," while an enormous kinda-almost 3-D Photoshopped rat looks you right in the eye. Is that a challenge, big guy? (Super-hilarious if you click on the link.)

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​Ever get tired of how certain people drop the word "socialism" like it's worse than, say, a bomb in Times Square? And how generally those same people also tout "capitalism" as a 10th wonder of the world, something blessed and holy that can do no wrong, despite the lessons handed down by former captains of industry and a certain company that rhymes with "Old Man Packs"?

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​Unlike my colleague Jen Doll, I have not filled out my census form yet, for the simple reason that I haven't received it. It's possible that my upstairs neighbors have it, or that the local stray cats are using it as a litter box — since the Census Bureau helpfully addresses all mail to "Resident," it's not like anyone in a multiple-household dwelling can really lay claim to their own form.

If you, like me, awoke this morning with visions of landing in the Census hoosegow, rest assured: Just because today is the deadline for handing in census forms does not mean that today is actually the deadline for handing in census forms. Anyone who hasn't received a form yet is instructed to wait for one to arrive in the mail.

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​I don't know about you, but I finally sat down last night and did my freaking census. I was so tired of being nagged about it! (What I don't understand is, if you're supposed to say who was in your mansion/apartment/shack/house on April 1, how do you do the census before April 1? Things can turn on a dime in the Doll household, is all I'm saying. But I digress.)

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​If you want to run for an office that you actually have a shot at winning, here's you chance: Tomorrow's the deadline to file your candidate application for a seat on either the Citywide Council for English Language Learners or the Citywide Council on Special Education in your district. To qualify you just have to be a parent of a student of the sort relevant to your Council ("English Language Learners" are biligual or ESL students).

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It's just due diligence at this point, but Governor Paterson's latest Quinnipiac poll numbers are as bad as ever: 21 percent job approval, 61 percent disapproval. But voters still don't want him to quit -- in fact, that number went up a little, from 46 to 50 percent in favor of Paterson toughing it out, since Quinnipiac last asked about it five days ago.

Voters also prefer Paterson running the state to his presumed successor, Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch, though that may be because 80 percent of them say they don't know enough about Ravitch to form an opinion -- up from 78 percent. Guess they don't read the papers, online or off. But who can blame them?

​Looking for news on the internet? Why bother, when it's all on TV and radio? We aren't talking about TV news or radio news shows, but news generated by TV and radio buffoons and sometimes their guests.

Foster Kamer told you earlier about Rush Limbaugh's generous offer today to leave the country if a health care plan is passed. Glenn Beck is now the center square, as his interview with Eric Massa shakes the foundations of our republic.

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A new poll says David Paterson -- oh, did your eyes just glaze over? We understand; Paterson's poll results have been dismal since shortly after he took over. But here's some news: the Siena poll confirms the recent Quinnipiac result, which found that a majority of New York voters (55-37 percent) would prefer Paterson stay in office rather than resign, disliked though he may be (his favorable rating is 21 percent). By a larger majority, they don't want him impeached, either.

There is something else noteworthy about this result:

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For more than a year, every poll has shown that people think he's a terrible governor and that they would prefer nearly anyone else (even Rick Lazio!) in the job, but a new Quinnipiac poll indicates that voters do not want Richard Ravitch taking over just yet. By a margin of 61 to 31 percent, voters say they don't want Paterson to resign.

This doesn't mean they've warmed to his governance, as it comes with Paterson's lowest job approval Q-poll rating ever -- 62-24 percent. So it would seem simple justice animates the respondents, or else blind fear of whatever may come next.

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