By Hunter Walker 3/30/12 10:34pm

Pants on Fire

The picture of Greg Ball that started the pants-free photo flap. (Photo: Twitter)

State Senator Greg Ball Accused of Tweeting Pants-Free Photo

Last weekend, State Senator Greg Ball Tweeted a photo that appears to show him without pants and the picture is making the rounds tonight courtesy of an anonymous Twitter account that’s sending the shot to various local media outlets. The picture was subsequently picked up by the website of the late conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, which compared it to the Anthony Weiner scandal. Mr. Ball’s staff sent The Politicker evidence the shot simply showed him getting ready for a costumed charity event.

“That was a celebrity waiters brunch and it was to raise money for a Children’s Museum, The picture was of Greg in the event in his costume,” Mr. Ball’s spokesman Joe Bachmeier told The Politicker. “He was wearing pants. … What it was was a person taking it way out of context. They were doing a good event and it’s really unfortunate they were taken out of context like this.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/30/12 7:11pm

Mistakes

Eliot Spitzer (Photo: Getty)

Current TV Falls For Fake Eliot Spitzer Twitter

In Current TV’s email announcement about former governor Eliot Spitzer being hired to replace Keith Olbermann, the network invited viewers to “follow Spitzer on Twitter (@ESpitzer).” There was only one problem, that account doesn’t really belong to Mr. Spitzer.

A little over forty minutes later, a Current spokesperson sent out another email saying, “Our apologies for the error – Eliot Spitzer does NOT have a Twitter handle.” The Spitzer impostor hasn’t Tweeted since May, 2010. Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/30/12 3:54pm

the best kind

christine quinn sunset park

Christine Quinn Has A Friendly Stalker [Video]

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn had some fun banter with one of her old friends who runs a social services nonprofit today.

At a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by Donna Mae DePola, the president and founder of The Resource Training Center, Ms. DePola introduced Ms. Quinn by saying, “Our next speaker is a dear friend to me, even if I didn’t get the ‘Save the Date’ for May 19th. She’s getting married and I didn’t get an invitation for thaaaat.”

She added, “I asked to be her best man and she said, ‘No.’”

Ms. DePola went on to proudly describe her experiences stalking the City Council Speaker, without it being entirely clear what that exactly entailed. Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/30/12 3:34pm

harlem

Charlie Rangel

Charlie Rangel Back In The Hospital As Campaign Pushes Back Against The Press

Congressman Charlie Rangel is back in the hospital for the second time this month. Mr. Rangel’s spokeswoman, Hannah Kim, told The Politicker the congressman is still coping with a back injury that has kept him out of the House of Representatives since February 9, his longest absence in at least ten years.

“The Congressman is receiving additional treatments for his back. He is optimistic that the situation will be resolved soon,” Ms. Kim said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/30/12 2:53pm

Gearing Up

Elizabeth Crowley (Photo: Facebook)

Elizabeth Crowley Focuses On House Republicans

Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley has to survive a crowded Democratic primary  Congressional seat in Queens’ sixth district, but she’s already jumping into the fray against House Republicans. Ms. Crowley’s campaign spokesman, Eric Yun, released a statement today condemning GOP members of Congress for passing Paul Ryan’s budget and promising his candidate will be able to “stand up to Republicans” if she wins the seat.

“The passage of Paul Ryan’s budget yesterday by House Republicans shows that their number one priority is protecting the wealthiest Americans by demolishing critical government programs like Medicare and Medicaid,” Mr. Yun said. “In Congress, Elizabeth Crowley will stand up to Republicans who are endangering our nation’s seniors, working families, and children.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/30/12 2:34pm

why not

Congressman Turner (Photo: Getty)

DCCC Hammers Senate Candidate Bob Turner

GOP Congressman Bob Turner may no longer be seeking reelection, but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of the House Democrats, is continuing to barrage him with attacks anyway.

“Representative Bob Turner (NY-09) just showed his true priorities once again — voting for the Republican budget that chooses millionaires over Medicare,” a press release yesterday read, while a statement the day before had a spokesman, Jesse Ferguson, declaring, “It’s clear Turner has bowed to the right wing of his party at the expense of the safety and security of New York women.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/30/12 2:21pm

Holy Trinity

Governor Andrew Cuomo

Albany’s Big Three Take Budget Victory Lap

Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver held a press conference in the Red Room at the State Capitol to pat themselves on the back for reaching a budget agreement on time for the second straight year. On-time budgets have been approved in Albany just seven times in the last 37 years.

“This state government has come a very long way in a very short period of time. At one time, this state government was a joke. They were literally laughing about it on the late night shows, it was a point of ridicule for many, many years,” Governor Cuomo said. “We went from a model of dysfunction to I believe a model of function.” Read More