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Reid Pillifant

By Reid Pillifant 8/29/11 2:48pm

libya

Senator Charles E. Schumer ,D-NY, speaks

Schumer: Reports of Al-Megrahi’s Demise Might Be Greatly Exaggerated [Updated]

Senator Charles Schumer is casting doubt on reports that Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi is on his death bed in a Libyan compound.

Schumer has long called for the extradition of al-Megrahi, after the convicted terrorists was issued a compassionate release from a Scottish prison in 2009, on the premise that he only had a few months to live. Earlier this year, Schumer  suggested extraditing al-Megrahi would be a good way for the rebels to prove their goodwill to the rest of the world — a call he reiterated last week, as rebels were just beginning to take control of Tripoli. Read More

By Reid Pillifant 6:46pm

suggested reading

Roundup: Bracing for Irene, Letting Go of George

Irene: Mayor calls for mandatory evacuations. [NY Times]

Irene: Free transit in the mandatory evacuation zones. [Reuters]

Irene: Cuomo said to stay out of the mountains too. [WSJ]

Irene: Gillibrand’s Twitter list of resources. [Twitter]

Irene: Dispatch from Fire Island. [Daily Intel]

Not 2012: Pataki says Obama is “stealing from our children’s future.” [ABC News]

Not 2012: Pataki didn’t offer an explanation for not running. [NY Times]

2012: What’s wrong with a moderate Republican? [Capital NY]

2012: Romney canceled some fundraisers on Long Island. [Politico]

NY-9: Schneiderman for Weprin. [Yeshiva News]

Tolls: Truckers push Cuomo to re-think. [Today's Trucking]

Suffrage: Gillibrand in favor, more to do. [HuffPo]

By Reid Pillifant 8/25/11 11:06am

dinapolimoney

DiNapoli Does GMA; No Sign of Cuomo

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli got some national attention on Good Morning America this morning, where he gave away oversized checks to ABC employees who had money waiting in the office’s unclaimed funds database.

The seven-minute segment included a cartoon of DiNapoli being orbited by some cash, along with a few checks to individual crew members Read More

By Reid Pillifant 8/23/11 6:17pm

earthquake

Andrew Cuomo Didn't Feel Anything

Governor Andrew Cuomo was at an undisclosed location on Long Island this afternoon when the state was rattled by an earthquake in Virginia.

“I’m on Long Island but I didn’t feel anything,” Cuomo told reporters on a conference call a few hours later. “People who were with me said they felt it, but I didn’t feel anything.”

Cuomo was joined on the call by his Director of State Operations, Howard Glaser, who said, in essence, that everything is fine. Read More

By Azi Paybarah and Reid Pillifant 8/23/11 2:22pm

when the earth moves

Brooklyn Shakes, Midtown Evacuates During Virginia Quake

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s midtown office was evacuated, an aide said, after this afternoon’s earthquake, whose epicenter is reportedly near Richmond, Virginia. So far, no injuries were reported.

Reports about the quake came in immediately, from a number of sources.

“Of course, Isaac called to gossip about the earthquake,” a colleague said just now.

Of course, Isaac is Isaac Weinberer, the NYC Dept. of Transportation Commissioner and consummate political chatter box.

“Did anyone else feel their office shake just now? Or just me?” Jesse Derris, a Senior V.P. at Sunshine Sachs, wrote on Facebook. “BUILDING WAS SHAKING” wrote Katharine Herrup, a Brooklyn resident (who once wrote for the New York Sun).

Capital New York reporter Dana Rubinstein Tweeted, calmly, “totally just felt my building shake.”

A breaking news alert on the New York Times homepage says the epicenter is near Richmond, Virginia.

By Reid Pillifant 8/23/11 2:05pm

anchoring

P1130105

MSNBC Reins in the Reverend; Sharpton Hired On, Can't Endorse or Contribute

MSNBC officially hired the Reverend Al Sharpton this afternoon to host “PoliticsNation,” during the network’s 6 p.m. hour.

“I’m thrilled that he’s now reached a point in his career where he’s able to devote himself to hosting a nightly show,” said MSNBC president Phil Griffin in a statement that called Sharpton one of the network’s “most thoughtful and entertaining guests.” Read More

By Reid Pillifant 8/22/11 2:45pm

libya

Schumer Asks Libya (Again) for Lockerbie Bomber [Updated]

With Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi’s government suddenly in jeopardy in Libya, Senator Charles Schumer is once again calling for the return of Abdul Al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber who was granted compassionate release from a Scottish prison in 2009.

“Two years after an incorrect medical prognosis prompted his release from prison, the Lockerbie bomber is not only Read More

By Reid Pillifant 8/22/11 9:34am

NY-9

Gillibrand for Weprin, On Entitlements

Last week, Chuck Schumer endorsed David Weprin for the senator’s old congressional seat in New York’s Ninth Congressional District. This morning, he was joined by the junior senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, who said she was backing Weprin to help protect entitlements.

“David Weprin is the right choice for voters because he will fight to protect Medicare and Social Security and work to get our economy back on track,” Gillibrand said in a statement.

“David understands that the key to protecting the middle class is to fight against the Republican efforts to privatize Medicare and Social Security. I’m proud to endorse David Weprin and I look forward to working with him on behalf of the working families and seniors who call Brooklyn and Queens home.” Read More

By Reid Pillifant 8/19/11 4:56pm

2012

King Peter

King Clarifies His Rick Perry Remarks, Could Be 'Dominating Candidate'

In a story this morning about Hill Republicans’ unease with Rick Perry, Politico quoted Peter King expressing some concern about Perry’s cavalier, off-the-cuff attitude in his first few days of campaigning.

“You can’t be calling Bernanke a traitor and you can’t be questioning whether or not Barack Obama loves America, that type of thing,” said Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and veteran Long Island incumbent. “I’ve been with Perry a few times, and I can see how he could project, again, if it’s done the right way. But no, if he continues this, he’ll have a tough time.”

In fact, King told me this afternoon, he was trying to express what a compelling candidate Perry could be.

“Perry, more than any Republican, has the chance to really capitalize on President Obama’s lack of leadership,” King said. “He really dominates a room when he walks in. He’s one of those larger-than-life people. … He is so different from President Obama in that way, in that he is really able to exude confidence and leadership. So it’s up to him.” Read More