Runnin' Scared

Espada and Dems Press Conference: Lots of "Empowerment"

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:46:24 -0500

Smith announced that in November "32 Democrats made history in the state of New York." But in recent days, "as Democrats do, we have difference of opinion... but at the end of the day democrats always come together." He praised his party's achievements before it all went kerflooey -- the budget, Rockefeller Drug Law reform, etc. "Has the road been a little bumpy with some twists and turns?" he said. "No question about it... but Democrats have come together."

Then he presented the new leadership in the state senate under the terms apostate Dem Pedro Espada wangled today -- John Sampson as conference leader, Espada as majority leader, Jeffrey Klein as deputy majority leader, and Smith as President Pro Tem -- that breaks the Albany Coup deadlock and will allow the state senate to go back to actual business this evening.

They didn't really tell us much more after that, but they talked a lot about "empowerment" and portrayed their activities as a wonderful "journey" to a new and improved state senate.

Smith said the Coup had given the Democrats "time to reflect on some of our strengths and some of our weaknesses.... as I like to say, out of productive friction good things occur."

Espada said though "19.5 million people through the state who witnessed chaos and dysfunction at its highest levels... This journey is not yet over. We are pausing today to stabilize ourselves, fortify ourselves, and continue."

Oh Christ, we thought, not more of this shit! But Espada was talking about a new era of togetherness:

Borrero Report: Pedro's Back......for now

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:51:57 -0500

Not that there's any reason to doubt the NY Post's excellent sources among state senate Republicans, but the irrrepressible Gerson Borrero reports that he just got off the phone with "an elated" Bronx state senator Pedro Espada and -- yes, he's back, apparently as some kind of "co-majority leader" with Malcolm Smith as president pro tem.

"I am immensely proud to have run this marathon of endurance that will also bring recognition to Puerto Ricans and Latinos," Espada tells Borrero. "As Majority Leader, I really look forward to bringing the reforms that we need in our State."

Of course, it's not even 4PM yet. Still time for another flip-flop.

Stars Line Up for Sotomayor Hearings: David Cone Pro, NRA Con

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:09:35 -0500

Well, we have the lineup for the upcoming hearings on Supreme Court Appointee and local gal Sonia Sotomayor, which begin Monday, and along with the constitutional lawyers and such like we have some celebs. The Republicans have Frank Ricci, the white New Haven firefighter who was passed over for promotion, leading to the Sotomayor affirmative-action decision which the Supreme Court recently reversed. Joining him will be Former National Rifle Association president Sandy Froman, anti-abortion activist Dr. Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life (who will perhaps revive her 2005 call that a man be appointed to the Court to redress the current 1-8 gender imbalance), and Fox News analyst Linda Chavez. On the Democrats' bench: fellow New Yorkers Mike Bloomberg, Manhattan D.A. Robert Morgenthau, and Representatives Jose Serrano and Nydia Velazquez, as well as former FBI Director Louis Freeh and former Mets/Yankees pitcher David Cone, presumably included as an expert witness on the baseball strike Sotomayor helped settle. Roll out that red carpet, Washington! And make sure the hearings don't run late so the kids can see Coney.

Post: Espada Going Dem Again

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:47:17 -0500

The New York Post says that Pedro Espada, whose defection sparked the Albany Coup a month ago, claims to have a "handshake" agreement with the Democratic leadership that would replace Democratic majority leader Malcolm Smith with John Sampson and bring Espada back into the loving embrace of his putative party. Of course Espada has a history of flipping, and also of making preposterous statements, so who knows what's really going on or what the other terms of the alleged deal might be. If he's serious, that means a quorum and -- gasp! -- the prospect of bills getting passed. The next session of the state senate meets at 3 p.m.

Update: Hmm. Liz Benjamin hears the deal is that Smith will stay pres pro tem, and Espada and Sampson will be "co-majority leaders."

Still Missing: Laura Garza

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:28:27 -0500

You may wonder whether some of the popular crime stories of months past that have mainly been dropped ever achieve resolution. We do too, and looked back at the case of Laura Garza, the Texas girl who went missing after going to a local nightclub with convicted sex offender Michael Mele in December. The cops found bite and scratch marks on Mele, a piece of carpet mysteriously missing from his home, and a machete somewhere therein, but had to hold him on probation charges due to lack of related evidence. The cops vigorously pursued their investigation, but have not announced any breakthroughs, and last month a judge ruled that the most serious probation violation imputed against Mele, having to do with stolen credit cards found at his home, had to be thrown out. He remains in custody in Orange County, but has not been charged in Garza's disappearance, and refuses to answer questions about it. Garza's friends and family continue to hold out hope for justice, and last month held a memorial outside the Marquee, the club where Garza was last seen.

Kid Tries Ride-and-Dash in Staten Island, Gets Unexpected Trip to Police Station

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:15:28 -0500

Here's how the cabbies roll in Staten Island: a bunch of kids tried to play games with an unnamed taxi driver this morning, requesting a ride from Brighton to Stapleton. When it came time to pay, they offered the cabbie crack instead of cash, which he apparently refused, as shortly thereafter they all started tumbling out of the cab. 16-year-old Damon Mitchell, however, was not so fast on his feet, and was stuck in the cab while the driver drove at a rapid clip to the local police station. Mitchell kicked out a window en route, but did not escape before his apprehension at the 120th Precinct in St. George. Mitchell argued in his defense that he did not have enough money to pay the fare, which did not sway prosecutors who have charged him with theft of services and misdemeanor criminal mischief, says the ever-delightful Staten Island Advance, whom we thank for the reminder that not all juvenile crime in the borough is committed by relatives of its public officials. Photo (cc) Tomas Fano.

Currently At the Voice Blogs

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:41:29 -0500

Bernie Madoff announces he won't appeal his 150-year sentence -- which is prudent, we suppose; what's he going to do, get it knocked down to 100? Now it may be time to pay more attention to other figures in the Madoff debacle. At The Smart Asset, our own Ward Harkavy is interested in the fortunes of Lori Richards, head of the Securities and Exchange Commission's examinations division, whose planned departure from the SEC, he notices, will take place just as "the SEC's internal probe of her department's failures in the Bernie Madoff case is released in August." Harkavy also notices Richards' ties to the Madoff family and buyer-beware attitude toward securities fraud.

La Daily Musto breaks the sobering news of Joyce DeWitt's DUI bust -- and invites readers to play the old childhood game, Which Of These Two Would You Sleep With? Current contenders: Whoopi Goldberg or Betty White. Go!

Sound of the City has a peculiar Fiery Furnaces promo video, and deets on the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival. Fork in the Road continues its popular Top Ten series by soliciting pre-comments for its Ten Best Chinese Restaurants. Hurry while you still have a chance to be Frist! As for All City, we really can't pick a favorite.

Paterson, Ravitch Meet the Press, Defend Appointment; Ravitch Won't Preside Today

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:56:37 -0500

David Paterson hauled out alleged lieutenant governor Richard Ravitch for the press in a lively conference, at which the Governor announced that Ravitch had indeed been sworn in, but would not preside at this afternoon's session because he chose not to "engage in flaunting an appointment" in the face of the GOP's restraining order -- though the Gov will address that order legally.

Paterson ran through Ravitch's many qualifications, including helping New York City "escape from the 1970s fiscal crisis" and making the MTA "one of the outstanding transportation agencies in the country."

Ravitch in brief remarks quickly assured the reporters he "won't be a candidate in 2010 or anytime thereafter," and that he took the job solely "to help the Governor in what I know is his very sincere and serious effeort to make sure the State of New York gets through the enormity of the ciriss that this state faces."

Paterson's Lawyers Defend Ravitch Appointment and Swearing-In, Hint at Action Against GOP Counsel

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:21:42 -0500

Four legal eagles enlisted by Governor Paterson on the Richard Ravitch controversy -- Kathleen Sullivan, Thomas Gleason, Victor Kovner and Richard Brifault -- gave a press conference today. Sullivan said that "we believe the governor's action in appointing Ravitch to the vacant office of Lieutenant Governor is absolutely lawful," and that as of July 8th, "Richard Ravitch has been duly appointed as lieutenant governor." The restraining order, therefore, is "moot," she said.

Mets Drinking Game Enlivens Miserable Season

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:25:53 -0500

Fans who are true to the orange and blue -- whose Mets have recently suffered the wrath of God in injuries and humiliating sweeps -- are probably drinking heavily already, but we have to tip our caps to Amazin' Avenue for their Gary, Keith and Rod Drinking Game, which offers ample opportunities for drunkenness during local broadcasts called by Gary Cohen and ex-Mets Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling. Among the occurrences allowing One Sip: "Keith calls an RBI a 'ribeye steak,'" "Gary refers to any single play as a microcosm of the season," and "The delicious Citi Field food is brought up." Two Sips: "Ron brings up a member of the local media by name," "Keith tells a non-baseball story from 20+ years ago." Three Sips: "Keith talks with food in his mouth," "The announcers' SAT scores are discussed." You get a White Russian when "anyone uses the word 'dude.'" Try it at home! Like Tim Redding, you won't last seven innings.

Suspected Butt Slapper Arrested; Cops Say Anti-Semitism Not Suspected

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:03:38 -0500

The serial butt slapper, whose dozen-or-more unwanted touchings on subways in and around Crown Heights were reported yesterday, may be in custody. Cops think Frankie Hatton, 21, is their man. He was picked up yesterday at the corner of Union and Albany Streets, and he has been identified by at least one of his victims in a line-up. The Crown Heights Shomrim (neighborhood watch), which had apparently been notified of the molestations by local victim and was on the lookout for the offender says, "We are happy to hear that this creep has been apprehended, and we want to congratulate the SVU detectives for the arrest." NYPD told the Chabad Lubavitch Community News Service that "we do not believe this was anti-Semitic in nature, or the work of a group, but rather a single perverted individual."

Ravitch Oath of Office Delayed by Restraining Order, But He May Already Be Sworn In

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:35:24 -0500

Richard Ravitch's appointment by Governor Paterson as Lieutenant Governor was immediately greeted by a restraining order from Dean Skelos and Pedro Espada, which was signed by a judge early this morning. Skelos and Espada claim, among other things, that "this action [Ravitch's appointment] is a blatant violation of the terms of the New York State Constitution and is unprecedented in the history of this state," and reassert Espada's argument that the president pro tem of the senate -- Espada, in Espada's view -- is the "acting lieutenant governor." Paterson, Ravitch and the Secretary of the State are summoned to a hearing on the matter. But Ravitch says he was sworn in last night. Ravitch and Paterson will hold a press conference later this morning, and Ravitch is expected to preside, or attempt to preside, over the 3 p.m. state senate session. You can imagine how that will turn out.

Lech Walesa Attacks Madonna

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:53:28 -0500

We thought Peter King attacking Michael Jackson was a one-off, but it appears the war on pop stars has gone global. We learn from Joe My God that Polish Solidarity hero Lech Walesa is defending his native land against Madonna. She plans a concert in Warsaw on August 15, which happens to be the Feast of the Assumption, associated with the earlier, Biblical Madonna, Mother of Christ, and the Nobel Prize winner considers the concert a "satanic provocation." A representative of the country's Law and Justice Party -- mostly known outside Poland for its opposition to gay rights -- has taken up Walesa's cause and will conduct a prayer crusade against the concert, to commence on the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, which seems to us a rather sacrilegious conflation of events. Another Polish Catholic group threatens the concert organizers with arrest for an "offence of religious feelings."

Poland used to be pretty tough on Jews and seems to have redirected its anger onto pop stars. Well, it's a step in the right direction anyway.

Studies in Crap Gapes at SUCK IT UP, Buttercup!, The Only Cut-And-Pasted Self-Help Book You'll Ever Need!

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:27:10 -0500

Your Crap Archivist brings you the finest in forgotten and bewildering crap culled from basements, thrift stores, estate sales and flea markets. I do this for one reason: Knowledge is power.

SUCK IT UP Buttercup

Author: Robert D. Cass

Publisher: Morgan James Publishing, New York

Date: 2007

Discovered at: Donated by Mark Lisanti

The Back Cover Promises: "Finally, a book that leaves nothing up to chance. Absolutely every word us put to good use."

Representative Quote: "This is important, everything else is BOGUS don't stop. Don't stop. Don't stop. Keep going. Keep going. Keep your desire burning, keep it burning, burning, burning, burning, burning, burning. Keep the fire burning. Don't stop. Ever. Don't Stop. Ever." (page 71)

At first glance, SUCK IT UP Buttercup inspires something approaching awe.

For over 400 pages it hollers and pants like some demented pep-squad, chanting that you should keep going, ignore the BOGUS, and for God's sake SUCK IT UP. Paging through this the first time, agog at its shapelessness, its run-ons and repetition, its hectoring positivity, I could almost feel the spittle flecking off author Robert D. Cass' lips.

Consider this burst from page 21:

"Whatever it takes is what you need to do. Whatever it takes, whatever it takes. Whatever it takes. Don't ever, ever stop. Don't ever stop. Never ever, ever give up your right to keep going and keep fighting and keep striving to be everything you can be. Fight for your right to be successful and don't take no for an answer. Fight, fight, fight. Keep going, don't stop. Don't stop fighting. Keep going, keep going, who cares what anyone thinks?"

You see, the eighth habit of highly effective people is reading page after page of gibberish.

Turtles Continue Nature's War on New York at JFK

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:24:59 -0500

Shades of Night of the Lepus and Frogs! As if the recent incursions of bedbugs, bobcats, geese, wild parrots, and cows (and, in the suburbs, killer chimps, wallaroos, and panthers) weren't bad enough, now we must face the wrath of the turtles. An amphibious attack of 78 diamondback terrapins hit the runways at JFK yesterday. The cover story is that they emerged in search of spawning grounds, but this strikes us as whistling in the dark. Mother Nature is clearly sick of us, and decrees that we have got to get ourselves back to the garden. Even the climate change bill will not assuage her. Best forget about all these foolish social and political solutions, and acquire some overalls, beartraps, and a scythe.