By Azi Paybarah 8/25/11 9:52am

2012

Want to buy GeorgePataki.net ?

How Much is GeorgePataki.net Worth?

$449, apparently.

Buying different versions of a candidate’s website is, for many, a necessary step before officially entering a race. It’s also, one of the first things a rival candidate does to give their opponents fits, which happened to Jane Corwin, who earlier this year became the first Republican to lose in NY-26 in nearly four decades.

(Other factors contributed to her loss, too, like an erratic operative and vocalizing support of Paul Ryan’s budget.)

Corwin, incidentally, was using the same technology company — NetBoots — that Pataki is currently using.

The question now is, who wants to buy GeorgePataki.net more, Giuliani or Romney?

By Reid Pillifant 5/25/11 3:13pm

very special elections

israel top line

Israel Crows About NY-26, Eyes Ryan’s Seat [Video]

Long Island Congressman Steve Israel, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said there are three lessons both parties should learn from yesterday’s special election in New York’s 26th Congressional District.

“They are Medicare, Medicare, and Medicare,” Israel told ABC’s TopLine this afternoon.

All joking aside, Democrats are pushing the notion that the surprise victory of the Democratic candidate, Kathy Hochul, in such a conservative district is a bellwether for the public’s reaction to Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget plan.

Video after the jump. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 5/24/11 9:00pm

very special elections

Hochul, Davis and Corwin. (graphic via www.politicsplus.org)

The Predictions for NY26: Hochul Edges Corwin, Davis Trails

By now, the polls have closed and the counting is underway. It’s unclear when exactly a winner will be declared. Part of the reason is because of Jane Corwin’s court-ordered injunction on declaring a winner, and, more generally, it’s a close race and counting paper ballots is never a quick or easy process.

Most people are going with public opinion polls, which give Democrat Kathy Hochul a slight lead. Although, Times Union reporter Jimmy Vielkind is giving the edge to Corwin.

Nobody is predicting a Jack Davis upset (but my mom thinks he’ll get more than 20 percent).

Anyway, here are the predictions, made by some very brave, and smart, politicos, before the polls closed. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 5/24/11 11:07am

very special elections

What is Your Prediction for NY26 Race? [Update]

All eyes will be on the NY26 race today, where Democrat Kathy Hochul has taken a small lead against one-time favorite, Republican Jane Corwin, with Tea Party candidate Jack Davis is still polling in double digits.

So, what are your predictions?

Email me your prediction (for example: Hochul-48, Corwin-45, Davis-2) and I’ll post them once the polls close at 9 pm tonight, next to your name or whatever it is people call you. [My email: azipaybarah at gmail]

Along with bragging rights, I’ll see if I can get the winner(s) something laying around the Observer’s office. Maybe a t-shirt, or a mug. Or an Observer book.

Update: At 4:30, catch live footage of guys who have a much better crystal ball than I do — Brian Lehrer and Nate Silver. The topic: prediction elections.

By Azi Paybarah 5/24/11 8:41am

suggested reading

dailynews-tuesday

Morning Read: Hochul, Corwin and Davis

NY26: “Hochul’s campaign may become a prototype for many races next year.” [Jerry Zremski / Buffalo News]

NY26: Corwin acknowledges not addressing Medicare criticism early enough. [Robert McCarthy / Buffalo News]

NY26: Editors back Corwin; calls Tea Party candidate Davis “a fraud and a spoiler.” [NY Post]

Obama: Drinks Guinness in Ireland. [Philip Caufield and Helen Kennedy / Daily News]

Same-Sex Marriage: “I know the governor is a busy person, but I think my vote is pretty significant given the fact that I vote first,” said uncommitted GOP Alesi. [Joe Spector / Democrat and Chronicle]

Third Terms: Doesn’t seem like Bloomberg knows what to do with it. [Michael Powell / NY Times]

Warnings: “We can expect New York to lead the country in outmigration for the near future.” [Fred Seigel / NY Post]

Taxis: US Attorney in Manhattan reportedly probes why new city cabs aren’t wheelchair accessible. [Michael Grynbaum / NY Times]

Taxis: The story hits the wires. [AP]

Fire House Closures: “It concerns me greatly how the mayor treats public safety, especially fire safety, in a very cavalier manner,” said Avella. [Jonathan Lemire / Daily News]

Fire House Closures: Editors say cut funding to non-profits, keep fire houses. [NY Post]

Budgets: Alternatives to Bloomberg’s cuts. [Javier Hernandez / NY Times]

Ticket-Fixing: Bronx cop admits doing some. [Kirstan Conley / NY Post]

Ticket-Fixing: Details came as cop testified in court. [CJ Hughes / NY Times]

Transit: “Mayor Bloomberg in danger of being deadbeat dad when it comes to mass transit.” [Pete Donohue / Daily News]

Traffic: Bill requiring additional mirrors on trucks passed State Senate; could pass Assembly by Wednesday. [Glenn Blain / Wednesday]

Fees: LIPA charging locals $5 per pole to hang American flags for parade. [Mark Harringon / Newsday]

Fees: It’s the wood. [Newsday]

Fines: Editors want de Blasio to pay $303,750 fine for illegal posturing postering. [Daily News]

Pay Days: “Lawmakers who moonlight as attorneys” push a bill to boost lawyers fee’s on malpractice lawsuits. [Brendan Scott / NY Post]

Reform: What will jolt state lawmakers to action? [Bill Hammond / Daily News]

Redistricting: Editors say GOP plan in Nassau is “a radical act of disenfranchisement.” [NY Times]

CityTime: Long-delayed, over-priced computer system is operational. [Michael Saul / WSJ]

Alcohol: Push to sell wine in grocery stores. [Jimmy Vielkind / Times Union]

Crime: Man said he spent two nights in jail after police stop him for drinking Snapple. [Katie Nelson / Daily News]

Polls: No more smoking bans, say readers. [Crains]

Cartoons: Obama and his Middle East policy. [Michael Ramirez / Democrat and Chronicle]

By Azi Paybarah 5/23/11 5:27pm

suggested reading

Republican Jane Corwin [via youtube]

Roundup: Cuomo’s Clinton Problem, Alesi’s Explanation

2016: Cuomo’s problem is that Hillary is still viable, and “They’re too similar.” [Steve Kornacki / Capital New York]

GOP Media: Fox’s Roger Ailes thinks Palin is “stupid.” [Gabriel Sherman / NYmag]

GOP Media: “I am confident that if Sherman reported he spoke with ‘a Republican close to Ailes’ that he indeed spoke with a ‘Republican close to Ailes.’ ” [Michael Calderone / HuffPo]

NY26: Corwin admits she didn’t respond to Medicaid criticism soon enough. “When she started making these comments, I thought this was so outrageous, nobody is ever going to believe it.” [Youtube]

NY26: Fight between Chamber of Commerce and local newspaper over an ad. [Burgess Everett / Politico]

NY26: Green Party candidate entered GOP candidate’s office, made calls for her, and videotaped it, says aide on rival campaign. [Twitter]

NY26: Hochul leads. [Public Policy Polling]

Same-Sex Marriage: GOP Alesi downplays his attendance at LGBT event. [Nick Reisman / Capital Tonight]

Same-Sex Marriage: “Right now, at least, Mr. Cuomo and advocates do not have the votes they need.” [Tom Kaplan / NY Times]

Special Elections: Changing the rules in Brooklyn. [Jimmy Vielkind / Capitol Confidential]

Smoking: Ban in park, begins. [Jordan Ossad / CNN]

Smoking: Ban “expected to be enforced mostly by New Yorkers themselves.” [Josh Robin / NY1]

Media: Bruni first gay op-ed columnist. [Chris O'Shea / FishbowlNY]

Pics: Obama and Biden, arm-in-arm. [Pete Souza / Flickr]

Pics: Bloomberg gets a medal in OK. [Edward Reed / Flickr]

Books: First book loaned out by NY Public Library was called “Farm Management.” [Clyde Haberman / NY Times]

Corwin video after the jump. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 2:56pm

suggested reading

Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, heading south on Riverside Drive on his way to work. photo credit: Angel Franco/The New York Times

Sunday Reading: After the Rapture and the Meaning of NY26

2016: Hillary? [Patrick Reddy / Buffalo News]

’67 Borders: “[W]e cannot afford to wait another decade, or another two decades, or another three decades, to achieve peace,” said Obama. [AP]

’67 Borders: Obama explains “it means that the parties themselves – Israelis and Palestinians – will negotiate a border that is different than the one that existed on June 4, 1967.” [Alisan Gendar / NY Daily News]

’67 Borders: White House won’t say if top adviser Dennis Ross backs Obama’s position. [Helene Cooper and Mark Landler]

’67 Borders: Josh Greenman shakes his head. [NY Daily News]

NY26: Medicaid a big issue; Davis spoiling Corwin’s chances. [Rick Karlin / Times Union]

NY26: If Hochul wins, she’ll be a blue dog, and pull Dems to the right. [Down with Tyranny]

NY26: If Corwin loses, “a lot of other Republican congressmen are going to suddenly dump Ryanism.” [Kyle Smith / NY Post]

NY26: Corwin emails “Our opponents are bringing in liberal downstate unions and radical special interests to drive out their vote.” [Twitter]

NY26: GOP County Exec Collins has a lot riding on the election. [Bob McCarthy / Buffalo News]

NY26: Corwin must know where her chief of staff is; Hochul didn’t do much on tollbooths; Davis is unhinged; seat may not exist after redistricting. [Donn Esmonde / Buffalo News]

NY26: “If Corwin can turn the conversation back to the economy, she wins.” [Rick Moran / American Thinker]

NY26: The district is Republican leaning, 75 miles, 7 counties; voters mostly German-Irish-Italian defendants with a median income of $55,028. [Phil Fairbanks / Buffalo News]

Medicare: Ryan plan makes Obamacare something Dems can be proud of. [NY Times]

Same-Sex Marriage: Editors push for legalization; eyes Republican McDonald. [Times Union]

School Salary: $500,000 for retired superintendent on LI. “Obscene” say editors. [NY Daily News]

Pension: Doctors say retired FDNY member no longer disabled. Law Department, FDNY and pension board scrambling. [David Seifman]

GOP Takeover: Insurgent County Leader has establishment support on Staten Island. [Tom Wrobleski / SI Advance]

Bike Lanes: Wolfson would ride faster if Grynbaum could keep up. [Michael Grynbaum / NY Times]

Art Funding: Advocate tells lawmakers institutions will lose $35.5 million in Bloomberg budget; refuse to explain figures to reporters. [Michael Saul and Erica Orden / Wall Street Journal]

Hotel Safety: Assemblyman Lancman wants hotel staffers to have panic buttons. [Twitter]

The Bible and Sex: A quiz. [Nick Kristof]

Books: Central Park Jogger retrospective, informative; history of public health policy in NYC worth reading; Zoning Handbook “entertaining.” [Sam Roberts]

Rapture: Daily News tries cashing in on it. [Tumblr]

By Azi Paybarah 5/19/11 4:46pm

very special elections

Robocall Hits Dem Consultant for Working With Tea Party

Jack Davis ran for Congress three times as a Democrat and is currently a Tea Party candidate in New York’s 26th Congressional District, siphoning votes away from the Republican candidate, Jane Corwin, who is running in a dead heat with the Democratic candidate, Kathy Hochul.

Now, there’s a one-minute, anonymous robocall going out to a number of political operatives and reporters in New York City, criticizing one of Davis’s consultants, Jim Spencer, a Democrat, for his work in the race.

The ad appears aimed at the professional class of political operatives and writers, and it’s unclear if it’s also targeting regular voters. The caller, who is not identified, says at one point:

During your next election, when you are choosing which consultant to help you with your campaign mail, remember that Jim Spencer and the Campaign Network had no business calling themselves progressive when they’re currently representing a Tea Party candidate.

A New York City-based Democratic operative not working in the race forwarded me a recording of the call they got on their cell phone.

Update: A smart point from a reader on Twitter: “It’s like a weird reverse psychology call. Jack Davis is NO #teaparty candidate, but the caller feeds the premise that he is.”

Here’s my transcription:

This is an important message regarding the closely watched special election for Congress in the 26th District in New York.

Democratic consultant Jim Spencer, president of the Campaign Network in Boston is being paid big money to help the Tea Party candidate in this critical bellwether election. Although Jim Spencer has worked for Congressman Joe Kennedy, Governor Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, he’s now changed his stripes and is backing the multi-millionaire Tea Party candidate while making a fortune for his supposedly progressive firm. The battle over Medicaid is being fought in Washington DC and the American people finally have the chance to weigh in through this crucial special election. During your next election, when you are choosing which consultant to help you with your campaign mail, remember that Jim Spencer and the Campaign Network had no business calling themselves progressive when they’re currently representing a Tea Party candidate.

Thank you for your attention to this important Democratic matter.

And, just for fun, here is how Google Voice translated the same message: Read More