Congressman Grimm is not pleased. (Photo: Facebook)

As President Barack Obama's opponents pile on in the aftermath of multiple recent controversies--notably his reaction to the Benghazi attacks, revelations that the Internal Revenue Service focused on conservative-aligned nonprofits and the Justice Department's unprecedented snooping on press communications--one local congressman wants it to be known that he is also not pleased.

To wit, Republican Rep. Michael Grimm, who represents Staten Island and southern Brooklyn, released a lengthy statement this afternoon blasting Mr. Obama for "bringing Chicago-style politics to the White House." This style of underhanded rule, Mr. Grimm said, has resulted in a presidency that is “the most secretive, deceptive, and divisive we’ve seen in modern times."

For its part, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney has said the administration had no knowledge of the Justice Department's secret efforts to obtain Associated Press reporters' and editors' telephone records, which the news agency slammed as a "massive and unprecedented intrusion."

Regarding the IRS subjecting conservative groups to additional scrutiny, Mr. Obama himself said Monday that he "will not tolerate it." But on questions as to whether his administration politicized its response to the September 11th, 2012 attacks on America's embassy in Benghazi, Libya, Mr. Obama insisted, “There's no 'there' there."

None of that was enough to persuade, Mr. Grimm, of course, whose entire statement ripping into the president can be viewed below:

“President Obama’s legacy is going to be one tarnished by scandal after scandal. This president had an opportunity to unite our country and move it forward better and stronger. Instead, he brought Chicago-style politics to the White House and divided us as a nation.

“Today this president continues to blame Republicans for politicizing Benghazi, when it is his very own administration that covered up the facts. He was slow to react to the IRS targeting conservative Tea Party groups, and today he denies knowledge of the Justice Department seizing the phone records of AP reporters.

“The president claims to be in the dark on one event after another. What are they doing over there? Who’s accountable if it’s not the commander in chief?

“Instead of a legacy of ‘hope and change,’ President Obama will be known for bringing Chicago-style politics to the White House. The most ‘transparent administration in history’ is actually the most secretive, deceptive, and divisive we’ve seen in modern times. This administration has misled the American people one too many times, and it’s time it is held accountable.”

Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. (Photo John Moore/Getty Images)

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday the country’s interpretation of the Constitution will “have to change” to allow for greater security to stave off future attacks.

“The people who are worried about privacy have a legitimate worry,” Mr. Bloomberg said during a press conference in Midtown. “But we live in a complex world where you’re going to have to have a level of security greater than you did back in the olden days, if you will. And our laws and our interpretation of the Constitution, I think, have to change.”

Mr. Bloomberg, who has come under fire for the N.Y.P.D.’s monitoring of Muslim communities and other aggressive tactics, said the rest of the country needs to learn from the attacks.

“Look, we live in a very dangerous world. We know there are people who want to take away our freedoms. New Yorkers probably know that as much if not more than anybody else after the terrible tragedy of 9/11,” he said.

“We have to understand that in the world going forward, we’re going to have more cameras and that kind of stuff. That’s good in some sense, but it’s different from what we are used to," he said.

The mayor pointed to the gun debate and noted the courts have allowed for increasingly stringent regulations in response to ever-more powerful weapons.

“Clearly the  Supreme Court has recognized that you have to have different interpretations of the Second Amendment and what it applies to and reasonable gun laws … Here we’re going to to have to live with reasonable levels of security,” he said, pointing to the use of magnetometers to catch weapons in city schools.

“It really says something bad about us that we have to do it. But our obligation first and foremost is to keep our kids safe in the schools; first and foremost, to keep you safe if you go to a sporting event; first and foremost is to keep you safe if you walk down the streets or go into our parks," he said. "We cannot let the terrorists put us in a situation where we can’t do those things. And the ways to do that is to provide what we think is an appropriate level of protection."

Still, Mr. Bloomberg argued the attacks shouldn't be used as an excuse to persecute certain religions or groups.

“What we cant do is let the protection get in the way of us enjoying our freedoms," he said.  "You still want to let people practice their religion, no matter what that religion is. And I think one of the great dangers here is going and categorizing anybody from one religion as a terrorist. That’s not true … That would let the terrorists win. That’s what they want us to do.”

(Photo: Getty)

For a good portion of the day, outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been testifying before Congress about federal government's response to the September 11th attacks against the American diplomatic mission in Libya, but that doesn't mean presidential politics have completely left the room.

Indeed, in front of the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this afternoon, Ms. Clinton faced at least two questioners dropping not-so-subtle suggestions regarding her hypothetical campaign for the White House in 2016. Notably, Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch, who represents the Miami suburbs, expressed hope he'll be seeing Ms. Clinton politicking in his swing state in the future.

"Secretary of Clinton, first I'd like to thank you for the truly remarkable job that you've done as Secretary of State,"  Mr. Deutch began. "You have represented the interests of this nation magnificently. I for one hope that, after a bit of rest, you will consider a return to public service. Should that return take you to Florida, I will look forward to welcoming you there."

It was not only Democrats noting Ms. Clinton's possible presidential campaign, however. Rep. Steve Chabot, a Republican hailing from Ohio, placed himself in a similar situation.

"Madam Secretary, first let me thank you for your service. I wish you the best in your future endeavors," he said, pausing before delivering his punchline. "Mostly."

Ms. Clinton heartily laughed at Mr. Chabot's remark but otherwise didn't address the speculation.

Congressman Towns (Photo: Getty)

In City & State this morning, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries started to lay out negative arguments in his campaign to unseat Congressman Ed Towns. This evening, Mr. Towns defended himself against the various charges while not referring to Mr. Jeffries by name once. The third candidate in the race, Councilman Charles Barron, was unmentioned.

Mr. Towns believes he knows why Mr. Jeffries would go after his record though.

His press release specifically stated Mr. Towns "says he understands why his opponent—who vigorously supported him in his 2008 and 2010 primary—is now ready to tear him down."

“I understand that he is eager to ascend to a higher office and I have no problem with anybody being ambitious, but throwing out unsubstantiated charges is not the way to do it," Mr. Towns said. "It gets the media’s attention, but it will not make you an effective representative.”

In the release, Mr. Towns answered two of the charges Mr. Jeffries made in City & State. In response to Mr. Jeffries saying “seniority without action is like a race car with no engine,” Mr. Towns said his unnamed opponent “may denigrate the seniority process but he would soon learn if he ever becomes a member of the House of Representatives, that it takes time to prove your worth."

Secondly, Mr. Towns defended his record on the foreclosure crisis by saying "my opponent was not paying attention to my work" and "if he were to go back and review my record, he would learn that I took on some of the country’s top CEO’s and many of them resigned after coming before my committee. But I won’t take credit for that.”

The press release was sure to note the last statement was "said with a smile."