Hakeem Jeffries (Photo: Facebook)

Months into his first term, his short time in Washington D.C. has Congressman Hakeem Jeffries convinced the Tea Party is out of control.

"Every day I'm in Washington D.C., I'm focused on two things: battling the Tea Party and standing up for President Obama," Mr. Jeffries, a Democrat, said last night at a Brooklyn fundraiser for his successor, Assemblyman Walter Mosley. "The Tea Party folks, they're off the chain. From my perspective, the right thing to do for the country is to make sure we invest in our economy and we stand up for programs like Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid--and stand up for the most vulnerable people among us."

Mr. Jeffries added that he would take the fight to the whole "crew" of Republican leadership, drawing wild applause from his supporters at the Crown Heights restaurant.

"As opposed to what the other side wants to do, which is to basically balance the budget on the backs of children and seniors, working families and the middle class," he said. "And despite what John Boehner says, despite Paul Ryan, despite that whole crew, we're not going to let it happen."

Since replacing the retired Edolphus Towns, Mr. Jeffries has been appointed to the Budget Committee and Judiciary Committee. Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, one of the GOP's rising stars, chairs the Budget Committee and has aggressively pushed for spending cuts as a way to trigger economic growth.

Mr. Jeffries, needless to say, is no fan of that approach.

A screenshot of the IEBC's partial results in the Siaya gubernatorial election. (Photo: Vote.IEBC.or.ke)

President Barack Obama's half-brother, Abong'o Malik Obama, won't be the second member of his family to launch a political career. Mr. Obama was defeated in his bid to be governor of Kenya's Siaya County this week by what seems to have been a very large margin.

Mr. Obama is the eldest child of President Obama's father. They have different mothers. Mr. Obama served as the best man at the president's wedding to Michelle Obama in 1992.

According to the Daily Nation newspaper in Nairobi, the Siaya gubernatorial race was won by Cornel Rasanga with William Oduol coming in second. The Daily Nation did not report Mr. Obama totals, however the Kenyan Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which oversaw the elections and has been releasing sporadically updated results since Kenyans headed to the polls Monday, published a partial count that showed him in third place with just a little over one percent of the initial vote. Three other candidates trailed behind Mr. Obama. A call from Politicker to the IEBC Election Hotline this morning to inquire about the full count for the Siaya gubernatorial election went unanswered.

Siaya is one of 47 counties that were created in the the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, which was ratified after the 2007 presidential elections there ended with violence that left over 1,000 people dead and a disputed result. This year's race had few violent incidents, but it was not without controversy. There were technical glitches at polling stations throughout the country. Though all the votes have not been counted the two members of the ticket headed towards a likely victory in the presidential election, Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto, have both been charged by the International Criminal Court with “crimes against humanity” for allegedly orchestrating the violence that followed the last elections. The United States and other Western nations have vowed there will be unspecified “consequences” for Kenya if Mr. Kenyatta emerges victorious.

In an interview with Politicker on Tuesday, Mr. Obama said there was initially a "blackout" with no information released about the election results in Siaya. Because of delay, Mr. Obama said he believed there was "a high risk that the results may be manipulated."

Mr. Obama was running as an independent candidate. The winner of the race, Mr. Rasanga, is a member of one of Kenya's major political parties, the Orange Democratic Movement, or ODM. Mr. Oduol, who came in second, belongs to the National Agenda Party of Kenya.

As of this writing, Mr. Obama has not responded to requests to comment on the results of his race and whether he believes they are legitimate. Our last communication with him came via text message Tuesday afternoon as the official results were still coming in.

"Am number three so far," Mr. Obama wrote.

A graphic representation of "Martian Meals" from Sen. Tom Coburn's "Wastebook." (Photo: Coburn.Senate.gov)

With the $85 billion in automatic so-called "sequester" budget cuts set to take affect tomorrow, the National Republican Congressional Committee has released a series of press releases blaming the situation on President Barack Obama's fondness for "martian menus" and "robotic squirrels." According to the NRCC, President Obama and House Democrats are more interested in funding wasteful programs and "scaring American families" than protecting the country from the impending, drastic cuts, so they highlighted a series of initiatives, including plans to develop food for astronauts and funding for a "Robosquirrel" used to research rattlesnake behavior. Several versions of the NRCC statement were released pairing President Barack Obama with different Democratic members of Congress.

"Most Americans will never get to order off the ‘Mars Menu’ that their taxpayer dollars are funding, but instead of cutting wasteful programs like that one, President Obama and Jim Himes are allowing cuts to important programs and services," NRCC Communications Director Andrea Bozek said in the statement targeting Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes. “Rather than trying to scare Americans, Obama and Himes should agree to responsible cuts to wasteful Washington spending.”

The sequester was designed to promote a debt reduction with the assumption Democrats and Republicans would work on a compromise to avoid the severe cuts. However, the two parties have been unable to reach an agreement on a budget plan with Democrats favoring debt reduction through tax increases and Republicans pushing to cut spending on government programs. The NRCC statement was meant to highlight wasteful programs and used examples taken from Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn's "Wastebook 2012," which lists allegedly "outdated and outlandish projects" financed by the government.

One of the versions of the NRCC statement focused on New York Congressman Steve Israel. The title was, "Obama and Israel Agree: Protect Martian Menus and Robotic Squirrels While Scaring American Families With Threat of Cuts." We certainly never thought we'd see an email from a Republican organization containing the phrase "Obama and Israel Agree" in any capacity.

Read the full version of the NRCC statement below.

"Obama and Israel Agree:

Protect Martian Menus and Robotic Squirrels While Scaring American Families With Threat of Cuts

Billions of Dollars Allocated for Wasteful Programs

WASHINGTON – A total of $325,000 to fund research on robotic squirrels. Another $99,000 for taxpayer-funded vodka, whiskey and gin. Nearly $1 million for NASA to develop a “Mars Menu.”

With President Obama’s $85 billion sequester set to take effect, those are just a few of the programs Obama and Steve Israel are so committed to protecting that they are willing to gut important services instead.

Just this week, President Obama spoke about the need to prioritize and make smart decisions – and now Obama and Israel have shown American families that their priority is protecting wasteful Washington spending.

“Most Americans will never get to order off the ‘Mars Menu’ that their taxpayer dollars are funding, but instead of cutting wasteful programs like that one, President Obama and Steve Israel are allowing cuts to important programs and services,” said NRCC Communications Director Andrea Bozek. “Rather than trying to scare Americans, Obama and Israel should agree to responsible cuts to wasteful Washington spending.”

President Obama, In Newport News, Virginia, Tuesday Said We Needed To Prioritize Our Spending Choice And Make Smart Decisions. “You step back and you say, what is it that's important -- our child's education, making sure they're healthy, making sure we can get to the job, keeping our house repaired? And then you say, here are the things that aren't so important and you cut those out. You prioritize, and you make smart decisions. Well, we should be doing the same thing.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks, Newport News, VA, 2/26/13)

Federal Officials Have Freed Hundreds Of Illegal Immigrants In Several States Due To Obama’s Sequester. “Several hundred illegal immigrants have been released from detention centers in Georgia and other states, federal officials confirmed Tuesday. They said the releases were made to cut costs in advance of automatic spending cuts that are scheduled to take effect Friday.” (Jeremy Redmon, “Feds Free Illegal Immigrants In Georgia, Other States,” The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, 2/26/13)

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Will Furlough 5,000 Border Patrol Agents. “Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano warned Monday that her agency would be forced to furlough 5,000 border control agents under mandatory spending cuts, likely allowing more illegal immigrants into the country and potentially compromising national security.” (David Nakamura, “Napolitano Warns That Sequester Would Affect Border Security,” The Washington Post, 2/25/13)

TSA Agents Would Also Be Furloughed. “There could also be longer security lines at airports because of anticipated furloughs of Transportation Security Administration workers. In addition, deplaning from international flights could be slower because Customs and Border Protection agents are expected to work fewer hours.” (Matthew Wald, “Federal Spending Cuts Threaten Delays In Air Travel,” The New York Times, 2/21/13)

Obama’s Sequester Will Cut Medicare By 2 Percent. “With the imposition of at least some of them appearing more and more likely, here's a look, by the numbers, at Washington's self-imposed budget austerity (aka ‘sequestration’ or the ‘sequester’) … 2% - Cuts to Medicare if sequestration takes effect.” (Amy Roberts, “By The Numbers: Automatic Spending Cuts,” CNN, 2/19/13)

Up To $902 Million Will Be Cut From Loan Guarantees To Small Business In The Sequester. “With the imposition of at least some of them appearing more and more likely, here's a look, by the numbers, at Washington's self-imposed budget austerity (aka ‘sequestration’ or the ‘sequester’) … Up to $902 million - Reductions in loan guarantees to small businesses if sequestration takes effect.” (Amy Roberts, “By The Numbers: Automatic Spending Cuts,” CNN, 2/19/13)

The Federal Government Awarded $99,000 To A New York Distillery. (2012 Waste Book, Office Of Senator Tom Coburn, Accessed On 2/27/13)

It Cost The Federal Government $1.6 Million To Develop A Video Game Based On A Fictional NASA Mission. (2012 Waste Book, Office Of Senator Tom Coburn, Accessed On 2/27/13)

The Federal Government Spent $947,000 On Researching Food To Serve On Mars. (2012 Waste Book, Office Of Senator Tom Coburn, Accessed On 2/27/13)

$697,177 Was Used To Develop A Musical On Climate Change And Biodiversity. (2012 Waste Book, Office Of Senator Tom Coburn, Accessed On 2/27/13)

The Federal Government Spent $325,000 To Develop A Robotic Squirrel. (2012 Waste Book, Office Of Senator Tom Coburn, Accessed On 2/27/13)"

Carolyn Maloney

New York City Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney was quite pleased with President Barack Obama's State of the Union address last night, but she's not optimistic about Congress heeding the president's call to to avoid the $85 billion in automatic spending cuts known as the "sequester" that are scheduled to go into effect March 1.

"I love his speech he came out swinging," Ms. Maloney told Politicker about the president's speech last night. 

Ms. Maloney also said "there's no question" President Obama's speech was an indication he will be more aggressive in pushing for his agenda in his second term than he was in his first.

"He sounded very F.D.R. with all his specific programs plans and visions," she said.

One of the central elements of the president's State of the Union address was  a push for Congress to avoid the sequester cuts by coming to a deficit reduction agreement ahead of the deadline. While Republicans have said they want spending cuts to focus on social programs and so-called entitlements, Democrats have focused on closing tax loopholes. President Obama urged his fellow Democrats to "embrace the need for modest reforms" in Medicare and other social programs, but he also expressed the need to get "rid of tax loopholes and deductions."

"I realize that tax reform and entitlement reform will not be easy.  The politics will be hard for both sides.  None of us will get 100 percent of what we want," President Obama said. "But the alternative will cost us jobs, hurt our economy, visit hardship on millions of hardworking Americans.  So let’s set party interests aside and work to pass a budget that replaces reckless cuts with smart savings and wise investments in our future."

Though Ms. Maloney said she "certainly hope[s] that there will be an agreement," she was decidedly pessimistic about the prospect her colleagues in Congress will be able to make a deal to dodge sequestration.

"It's in the interest of the country, it's in the interest of our economy to avoid these across-the-board, automatic cuts, but we seem far apart at this point," explained Ms. Maloney. "In order to move forward, you need compromise, and when the opposition party is saying they're not going to compromise, I don't see how you move forward."

Though she described the Republicans as "pretty dug in" on the budget fight, Ms. Maloney held out hope there may be a last minute deal as there was when Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell managed to come to an agreement to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" earlier this year.

"Maybe they change," Ms. Maloney said of the Republicans. "That's what happened with Biden and McConnell. Maybe Biden and McConnell will come in or the president comes in at the end, but right now, we're marching towards sequestration. I hope we can avert it or there will be an agreement, but they seem very divided."

For his part, Mr. McConnell indicated he won't be part of any at-the-buzzer dealmaking when asked about the looming sequester by The Hill yesterday.

"Read my lips: I am not interested in an eleventh-hour negotiation," he said.

Governor Andrew Cuomo (Photo: Getty)

Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a lengthy statement responding to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address last night commending the president's education proposals, call to raise the minimum wage and commitment to gun control.

"President Obama put forward a bold, comprehensive agenda in his 2013 State of the Union Address that continues to rebuild our nation’s economy and strengthens the middle class," the governor began. "The vision President Obama presented tonight is one we embrace here in New York. The President laid out an agenda for a vibrant American future, where we work together to bring jobs back from overseas, train our young people to have the skills they need to succeed in the workforce, and ensure those who work long and hard hours can provide for their families."

Governor Cuomo specifically highlighted President Obama's push for universal preschool and his proposal to increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.00 an hour. In New York, Governor Cuomo had previously put forward a plan to raise the state minimum wage to $8.75 an hour in his budget.

"The President from his first day in office has sought to reform our education system to benefit our students, and the vision he put forward tonight continues this effort by calling for all our children to have access to high quality preschool education," Governor Cuomo said. "I commend his proposal to raise the federal minimum wage, in recognition that the current rate is not enough to earn a living."

In the past month, Governor Cuomo pushed to pass a "sweeping" gun control policy package in New York at the expense of his own poll numbers. He applauded the president's call for "commonsense" gun control measures including background checks and a ban on high-capacity magazines.

"Since the President delivered his 2012 State of the Union Address just twelve months ago, our nation has felt more than in any year before the tragic consequences of gun violence, from the senseless shooting in Aurora, Colorado, the evil massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, to the murder of two of our first responders in Webster," said the governor. "The President is right to say that action must be taken. The vast majority of Americans believe in sensible gun safety laws, and I commend the President for outlining a series of reasonable measures to reduce gun violence in our nation."

Governor Cuomo closed his response to the president's State of the Union speech by noting the support New York's lawmakers received from the White House in their push for federal aid following Hurricane Sandy and indicating his desire to have "continued collaboration" with the Obama administration and other officials in Washington.

"Over the past months, New Yorkers have been thankful for the President’s leadership and action in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The federal funding that our Congressional delegation fought so hard for and the President signed into law will be a major help for our state and entire region, and will enable our communities to rebuild smarter and stronger than before," the governor said. "As President Obama begins his second term in office and our nation’s economy begins to get back on track, I look forward to continued collaboration between New York and our federal partners as we work toward finding solutions to the problems we face and building a bright future for our children."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg (Photo: Getty)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has emerged as one of the nation's loudest gun control advocates in recent months. Unsurprisingly, in his response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address last night, the mayor focused on the Commander in Chief's push for stronger gun control laws including background checks and a ban on high-capacity magazines.

"Tonight, President Obama made a clarion call to fix the nation’s broken gun laws," Mayor Bloomberg said in a statement. "In a chamber filled with both survivors of gun violence and the men and women of the United States Congress who have the power to improve our gun laws, President Obama implored both parties to come together on an issue that has the support of the vast majority of Americans: keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people."

Mayor Bloomberg also praised the president for expressing support for another one of his pet issues--immigration reform.

"I was also very encouraged that the President has placed immigration at the forefront of his jobs agenda," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Reforming our immigration laws is critical to job creation and securing our nation’s economic future. I am more hopeful than ever that the President can work with leaders of both parties to achieve meaningful reform on these profound issues."

President Barack Obama delivering his State of the Union address this evening. (Photo: Getty)

President Obama included his discussion of environmental issues and climate change after outlining initiatives to grow manufacturing jobs and before discussing plans to improve national infrastructure and help home owners. He closed this portion of his speech by describing all of these proposals as potentially spurring job growth.

"These initiatives in manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, and housing will help entrepreneurs and small business owners expand and create new jobs," President Obama said in the prepared version of his remarks.

Sandwiched in between his policies on manufacturing jobs, road and bridge construction and housing, President Obama expressed a need for the government to "do more to combat climate change." To bolster this argument, he cited several weather events, including Hurricane Sandy."

"Yes, it’s true that no single event makes a trend. But the fact is, the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15. Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods--all are now more frequent and intense," said the president. "We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence. Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science--and act before it’s too late."

President Obama went on to call for a "bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change" that would "make meaningful progress on this issue while driving strong economic growth." Specifically, he called for expanding solar and wind energy initiatives, fastracking oil and gas permits to take advantage of a "natural gas boom" that he said has "led to cleaner power and greater energy independence" and funding research and technology to help natural gas burn "even cleaner." He also proposed using oil and gas revenues from public lands to "fund an Energy Security Trust that will drive new research and technology to shift our cars and trucks off oil for good." He hinted this was also a good economic move by noting it was supported by "a non-partisan coalition of CEOs and retired generals and admirals."

The President also stuck with the strategy of casting his policies on more controversial issues in terms of potential economic benefit when he brought up immigration.

"Our economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of striving, hopeful immigrants," President Obama said. "And right now, leaders from the business, labor, law enforcement, and faith communities all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform."

On this front, President Obama said he would push for "strong border security" and for "establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship" including background checks, taxes and penalties, English language requirements and prioritization for those who have been attempting to come to the U.S. through legal channels. He closed his call for immigration reform by citing another potential economic benefit--an influx of "highly-skilled" workers.
 
"Real reform means fixing the legal immigration system to cut waiting periods, reduce bureaucracy, and attract the highly-skilled entrepreneurs and engineers that will help create jobs and grow our economy," said President Obama.
 
President Obama closed his speech by bringing up another potentially controversial issue, gun control. Though he didn't turn to economic arguments to support his plans for increased regulation of firearms, he framed the issue as a question of securing the safety of the nation's children, and as a result, far more important to the future of the nation than any plan to improve America's financial situation.

"Of course, what I’ve said tonight matters little if we don’t come together to protect our most precious resource--our children," the president began. "It has been two months since Newtown. I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different. Overwhelming majorities of Americans ... have come together around commonsense reform."

President Obama said these "commonsense" gun control reforms include background checks and banning high-capacity magazines.

"Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress. If you want to vote no, that’s your choice. But these proposals deserve a vote," President Obama said. "Because in the two months since Newtown, more than a thousand birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun."
 
Though President Obama took on climate change, immigration reform and gun control in his speech, there were two notable hot-button issues he didn't address; gay marriage and abortion. The president only briefly alluded to gay and lesbian issues once in his speech when he described efforts to take care of the country's armed forces and cited the plan announced yesterday to provide benefits to same-sex spouses of servicemembers as an example of his administration's commitment to the troops.

"We must to protect those who serve their country abroad, and we will maintain the best military in the world," said the president. "We will invest in new capabilities, even as we reduce waste and wartime spending. We will ensure equal treatment for all service members, and equal benefits for their families--gay and straight."

Reproductive rights and the abortion debate were not mentioned at all in the president's speech. However, issue featured prominently in Senator Marco Rubio's Republican response to the State of the Union, which began on a loud, pro-life note.

"The State of the Union address is always a reminder of how unique America is," Mr. Rubio said. "But America is exceptional, because we believe that every life, at every stage, is precious."

Ed Koch standing in his Midtown office on January 18. (Photo: Emily Anne Epstein)

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch died earlier this morning at the age of 88 after being hospitalized for congestive heart disease. Mr. Koch served as the 105th Mayor of New York City for three terms from 1978 until 1989. With a larger-than-life personality, Mr. Koch relished a position that allowed him to become something of a national ambassador for New York City.

Though critics accused Mr. Koch of worsening racial tensions in the city and not doing enough to fight the AIDS crisis that was particularly devastating to the gay community, Mr. Koch was fiercely proud of  his legacy, specifically, what he saw as his efforts to save New York from the financial crisis of the late 1970's, his vast expansion of public housing and programs and efforts he saw as bringing a more meritocratic approach to local government. Politicker conducted one of the final interviews with Mr. Koch on January 17, just two weeks before his death, and he characterized his administration as paving the way for his successors.

"I'm proud of what I did," he said. "I also believe that both Giuliani and, particularly, Mike Bloomberg have made tremendous contributions to this city. ... And I look upon what I did as laying the groundwork and the foundation on which they could build, and without what I did, they couldn't have done what they did. So, I'm proud of my contributions."

In his later years, Mr. Koch remained involved in politics and, as he was throughout his time in office, engaged with the press. He penned movie reviews online, wrote books and newspaper columns, endorsed in many local and national elections up until his death and served on a panel of political "Wise Guys" on NY1's nightly political program Inside City Hall. Today, a documentary about his life, Koch, premieres in theaters. When we spoke with Mr. Koch last month, we joked with him that, with his memoirs once turned into a musical and, his appearances in television, books, the web and, now, the film, he was something of a mayoral "king of all media." Mr. Koch clearly enjoyed the suggestion.

"I never thought of it that way, but you could say that," he said with a laugh and huge grin.

Mr. Koch got his start in politics in 1963 as a district leader by defeating Carmine DeSapio, the last boss of the notorious Tammany Hall political machine that dominated city politics from the late 18th century until the 1960's. He went on to serve in the City Council and for four terms in the House of Representatives.

(Photo: Emily Anne Epstein)

In his later years, Mr. Koch became something of a mayor emeritus, a man whose face and name were once almost synonymous with the five boroughs and allowed him to enjoy continued life in the public eye until his final days. One of his proudest moments came in March 2011 when the Queensboro Bridge was renamed in his honor--a move that was not without opposition in City Hall. The new documentary about his life features many scenes in which Mr. Koch seems to have almost paternal feelings about the city, including one in which, while driving past the bridge he lovingly refers to it as "my bridge." We asked him whether it would be accurate to say, as a mayor in winter, it would be accurate to describe him as feeling "protective" of the city he once ruled. He laughed and pointed to another scene in the film.

"You know, the film opens with me coming back from Washington when I was a congressman and I say as I look out the plane window, 'And this all belongs to me.' It's a very exciting moment and it happened every time I rode either way and came back at night," he said. "So do I feel something very special about the city? Of course."

Mr. Koch became mayor after the 1977 election, a campaign in which he was decidedly an underdog. As a bachelor and a man with a shrill voice that consultants and vocal coaches urged him to correct, Mr. Koch was in many ways an improbable choice for the city. However, by emphasizing a desire to restore order after the riots that followed the 1977 blackouts and a bombastic, combative approach to campaigning, he was able to earn a victory.

"The very fact that I became mayor in 1977 conveys how you can't figure out what the people will do," he told us.  "Nobody thought I would be elected. When I entered I got four percent of the vote in the first poll, four percent."

Throughout that first election and his administration Mr. Koch was known for rather gleefully sparring with his opponents and the reporters who covered him. He seemed to enjoy bringing what he agreed was a "New York attitude" to governance.

"I was not afraid of the press or the militants," he said. "It was uncomfortable, but I was not afraid. With respect to the press, I knew I knew more than they knew about city matters. With respect to the militants, I understood it. I mean, everybody believed in those days that they were being screwed, you know, that somebody was getting ahead of them."

Mr. Koch said his love of political sparring was cemented during an incident during his mayoralty where he confronted opponents on a picket line in his inimitable style and best-known catchphrase.

"There was this huge picket line of the union people with signs saying, 'Koch must go, Koch must go,' and they're yelling, just really angry," said Mr. Koch. "As I walked through the line to get to the entrance there were two women, one white, one black, and they were yelling, 'Koch must go! Koch must go!' And I couldn't help myself, so I turned to them and I said, 'How'm I doing?' Honest to god, they both said, 'You're doing wonderful, wonderful.' And then, as I walked further, then it began again, 'Koch must go!' So, it was at that moment that I realized that 75 percent of all the attacks are simply theatrics, drama, fun in a way. And it reduced the pain."

His critics felt he ignored their concerns, particularly as AIDS ravaged the city, when he shut a hospital that was beloved by the black community in Harlem and when he appointed a longtime associate with questionable credentials to head the Health and Hospitals Corporation in the mid-1980's. However, Mr. Koch argued he simply couldn't keep all New York's diverse constituencies happy while doing an honest job overseeing the five boroughs and fiercely defended his efforts to "run the most merit-situated government that we've ever had." Particularly, he viewed reforms he brought to the city's judicial system as one of his signature achievements.

"I'm very proud of--I changed the judicial system so that I no longer searched for candidates and fulfilled political obligations, which prior mayors had done using the appointments--the mayor appoints criminal court and family court judges," Mr. Koch said. "I created a committee in which the judicial agencies ... had as many delegates on there ... as I did. And then, in addition, we took the deans of three law schools and they were given the responsibility of finding candidates for each vacancy."

His system endured beyond his term although Mr. Koch notes one of his successors, Rudy Giuliani, "kept the system, but violated it." Mr. Koch and Mr. Giuliani's relationship varied wildly over the years. In 1989, when Mr. Giuliani first ran for mayor Mr. Koch supported David Dinkins. As a Jew, Mr. Koch's support was instrumental in helping Mr. Dinkins become the city's first African-American mayor at a time when tensions between Jews and blacks ran high. Mr. Koch had previously inflamed this rivalry when he attacked African-American presidential candidate Jesse Jackson for referring to New York as "Hymietown." After four years, Mr. Koch backed Mr. Giuliani in his successful effort to unseat Mr. Dinkins.

"When David had a terrible single term with Crown Heights as his legacy--nice man, but unsuccessful mayor--I then supported Giuliani against David," explained Mr. Koch.

In his former role as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Giuliani prosecuted many officials involved in corruption scandals that were seen as stopping his effort to run against Mr. Dinkins and secure a fourth term. In the end, Mr. Koch noted he was never directly implicated in the scandals.

"If Giuliani thought I was corrupt, you could have been sure he would have gone after me. You know, they always were after what they referred to as the 'big fish' and the danger in all these things is that the people they go after will lie and say, 'No, no it was the mayor,' in order to be able to get out from under," said Mr. Koch. "You had a U.S. Attorney who was very competent and who, ultimately, wanted to be mayor, so he was going to certainly try to destroy the then current mayor and he didn't."

Despite his eventual support for Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Koch became an opponent of his administration and began harshly criticizing him in a series of late 1990's Daily News columns. He eventually compiled the columns into a bluntly-titled book, Giuliani: Nasty Man, that he republished when Mr. Giuliani  attempted to run for president in 2007. However, in the end, Mr. Koch referred to Mr. Giuliani as simply, "a good mayor."

(Emily Anne Epstein)

Before his death, Mr. Koch had already made his endorsement in the next mayoral election and, even the upcoming 2016 presidential campaign, clear. For him, one of the most important national issues is the country's relationship with Israel. He described his backing of Israel as stemming from a desire to see his fellow Jews protected.

"I'm an American, this country's given me everything. I love this country. My support of Israel is, in part, similar to the support of a Polish-American who loves the fact that Poland stood up to the Russians," Mr. Koch said. "That is not due loyalty, which is often charged falsely, it is that I know that every night there is some Jewish community in the world that's under attack by the people in the same country in which they're citizens and the government's not protecting them. ... It's so important that there be a secure Israel that can accept them and give them sanctuary. It's happened before, it'll happen again. Regrettably, Israel didn't exist when the Nazis were in power, because Hitler offered to let the German Jews go if there was a country that would take them. No country would take them."

Mr. Koch also framed his support for Israel in terms of its importance to American security.

"Israel is the only Democratic state [in the Middle East] it's the only one we can rely on," said Mr. Koch. "You look at the Islamic states and what is their goal? The destruction of western civilization."

One of the items that was on display in Mr. Koch's Midtown office up until his death was a framed photo showing him on a visit to Jerusalem being hit with a rock thrown by Palestinian protesters. The picture was accompanied by a letter from former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir thanking Mr. Koch for being the "first eminent American to be standing in the Old City." Mr. Koch said he received nine stitches after being wounded by the rock.

"If it had hit my eye, it would have taken my eye out," he said. "That's why I have such a low opinion of Tom Friedman, because he urged the third Intifada. He told the Arabs to throw stones."

Mr. Koch's views on Israel largely defined his relationship with President Barack Obama. Though he endorsed President Obama in 2008, he later backed Republican Bob Turner in his 2011 congressional campaign in a rebuke of the Obama administration's stance on Israel. Though Mr. Koch and Mr. Obama later reached a rapprochement, the former mayor said he's still worried about how President Obama will handle the situation in the Middle East.

"He has a philosophy which is different than mine and his philosophy is that somehow or other, he is the guy who can bring the Islamic states together with the United States and western civilization," said Mr. Koch. "I think he's dead wrong and, in order to do so, I believe he concluded earlier that that means lessening the ties with Israel. And then, as the result of the response from people like me, he decided he would change on that. How long that change lasts, I don't know. People generally, in deeply held philosophical positions, ultimately revert to them in time."

Though Mr. Koch was more than comfortable in the public eye, he was never comfortable discussing his personal life. After a lifetime as a bachelor, he faced persistent rumors he was gay that added to the anger directed at him during the AIDS crisis. Though Mr. Koch thought the documentary about his life depicted him as a "lonely" man. It also showed scenes of him with the family who surrounded him at his death.

"I wanted the world to see my family and my sister's grandchildren in particular, who I adore," said Mr. Koch pointing to a group of framed photos displayed prominently at the front of his desk in Midtown. "There are seven of them. They're all there."

As a man who led New York City for twelve years and remained relevant for decades after, one would think Mr. Koch might have left the world with some words of wisdom to pass on to his successor Mayor Michael Bloomberg about how to confront the post-mayoral period he will begin next year. However, Mr. Koch told us he had no advice for Mr. Bloomberg about the next chapter in his life.

"We have never talked about it and he doesn't need any advice from me," Mr. Koch said. "With $20 billion, you can buy the services of people who are much smarter than I am to provide the advice on this issue. So I could well understand why he doesnt need any advice from me."

Inaugural Cheez Its.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- For most Americans, the phrase Inaugural Ball conjures up images of the commander in chief and first lady clad in full evening dress taking a waltz on the dance floor. If you'd like to maintain that illusion of grandeur when 2016 rolls around, Politicker humbly suggests you stay home and watch the festivities on television, because the reality is far less glamorous. Last night's main Inaugural Ball was like a low rent prom complete with a gym-like venue, chips standing in for hors d'oeuvres and 80's music. Amid all these cut-rate accoutrements and incongruously overdressed guests, we also spotted a basketball legend, a dancing congresswoman and, of course, the president.

The route into the ball, which was held inside the Washington Convention Center, took guests decked out in black tie through a number of security checkpoints that left them waiting in lines stretching for blocks outside. Once in the ball, the situation wasn't much better. Escalators took guests down into a cavernous hall that, apart from a few light displays and several presidential seals people lined up to pose in front of, had few decorations to disguise the fact the space was essentially a massive cement hangar.

Though the crowd was wearing their finest and paid about $200 for the privilege of attending, the only food they were treated to was two varieties of pretzels and Cheez Its on paper plates. We spotted at least one guest snapping photos of the chip buffet.

"No one is going to believe they had Cheez Its at the ball!" she exclaimed.

Those who wished to imbibe needed to endure a lengthy wait to purchase drink tickets before a separate long line at the cash bar.

Musical acts performed on a stage in one corner of the room, but you probably had a better view at home as most areas of the huge convention hall had no view of the stage and most ball guests were trapped in line for drinks long enough to miss a substantial portion of the show. Highlights of the concert included Alicia Keys, who performed a remixed version of her hit "Girl On Fire" that must have alarmed the Secret Service agents in attendance.

"Obama's on fire," she sang. "Obama's on fire."

When President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, took the stage for their ceremonial dance, Jennifer Hudson performed a cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together." Their appearance caused guests to surge towards the stage or any corner of the room where they could get a glimpse of the first couple.

Initially, we didn't see any high-profile guests in the crowd, but after wandering the massive room we found a cordoned off area for "special guests." This elite section of the ball featured the same sad Cheez It and pretzel spread, but at least the drinks were free. Like a vision from a fever dream, we suddenly saw Knicks legend Patrick Ewing, who seemed to be have the only celebrity in the crowd, attempting to order a drink at the bar while contending with a steady stream of fans asking for his photo.

We asked Mr. Ewing about the speculation he could join the coaching staff of the Brooklyn Nets in the wake of the team firing head coach Avery Johnson last month. Mr. Ewing, who coached in Orlando and Houston after his playing career, said he hadn't heard from the Nets, but he would gladly take any coaching job.

"I'm willing to join any team, just give me the opportunity," Mr. Ewing said. "Just give me the opportunity anywhere, Brooklyn, New York, everywhere and anywhere."

Politicker also shared our personal story of giving up our Knicks fandom due to the way the team treated Mr. Ewing in his later years and eventually defecting to root for the Nets.

"I appreciate that," Mr. Ewing said.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney cutting a rug at the Inaugural Ball.

On our way out, we saw another familiar face, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who was working her way through the crowd with her two daughters and a young man. Ms. Maloney grabbed our hand and pulled us along with her.

"You having fun or covering the event?" she asked.

When we informed her we were indeed covering the event she expressed her sympathies. A few moments later the DJ put on Madonna and when the pop diva commanded, "dance and sing, get up and do your thing," the congresswoman dutifully obeyed.

"We've got to dance!" she shouted back to us as she spun away.

Mayor Bloomberg speaking about the president's gun control proposals at City Hall. (Photo: NYC.gov)

Earlier today, President Barack Obama unveiled a broad set of gun control proposals prompted by the wave of anti-gun sentiment generated by last month's massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a prominent gun control advocate, scheduled a press conference this afternoon to praise the White House for what he described as "a bold and comprehensive plan to tackle gun violence" that matches much of his own vision.

"Today it's clear that the president and the vice president heard us and they heard the American people," Mayor Bloomberg said. "The vast majority of Americans support common-sense gun regulations, and clearly, the White House was listening."

Mayor Bloomberg described the president's action on gun control as proof democracy "really works" once people make their opinions known.

"I've always thought that democracy really works. It's the public's responsibility, however, to express themselves and to say what they need," said the mayor. "If they do that, if they do it respectfully, and clearly and repetitively, democracy will give them what is best for this country."

The mayor continued by identifying specific elements of the president's plan, which includes pushing for legislation banning the sale of new assault weapons and a set of 23 executive actions, that match proposals he has demanded through the organization he co-founded, Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

"On the legislative side, we asked for background checks for all gun sales and that is in the president's plan, we asked for restrictions on military-style automatic rifles and that's there as well, we asked for tougher penalties for gun traffickers, it's in there," Mayor Bloomberg said. "On the executive side, we urged him to appoint an ATF director, increase prosecutions for those who lie on background checks, direct federal agencies to fill in the gaps of the background check data system and remove restrictions on gun violence data and research, and the president is doing all of those things....I want to thank both President Obama and Vice President Biden for standing up and supporting these common-sense steps."

After the mayor made his initial remarks, a reporter asked whether there was anything he felt was missing from the president's proposals. The mayor said he might make some additions, but emphasized he was pleased with the plan overall.

"I listened to him and I've taken some notes," said Mayor Bloomberg of the president. "I don't know that there isn't some things that I would add, but there's always going to be some things. You know, no piece of legislation is perfect and no piece of legislation is 100 percent effective. Think of it like a speeding limit, you may every once in a while violate the speeding limit, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't have speeding limits."

Now that the president has released his plan, it remains to be seen whether Congress will pass his legislative proposals.

"Now the hard work really begins," Mayor Bloomberg said of the push for congressional support.

Mayor Bloomberg said he believes mayors, who "can best express what is appropriate for their communities," and members of the public need to "seize this moment" and urge their congressional representatives to back the president's gun control plans.

"We're going to continue to need New Yorkers and Americans to keep explaining to members of Congress just how important this is," said the mayor. "In all the time I've been working on this issue, there has never been greater public support for common-sense gun laws and it's up to all of us to make sure that Congress hears that."

 Overall, the mayor expressed confidence that Congress would support the plan.

"Look, I'm always optimistic," he said. I think people don't change their minds overnight, but they do change their minds when they have an opportunity to get a broad range of facts and think about it."