tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379274852009-10-06T20:29:48.165-04:00A New Yorker born in the San Fernando Valley finds his way home, discovers the joy of politics on the way.Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.comBlogger5000125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-47498888750249251932009-07-09T12:20:00.000-04:002009-07-09T12:20:03.858-04:00

Ah, Senators Max Baucus and Chuck Grassley. Two men that control a large portion of how health care reform will happen...or not. We've got to let them know that when it comes to industry lobbyists and the majority of Americans who are screwed by health insurance, the people must prevail.

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-52677707132865791582009-07-09T11:55:00.000-04:002009-07-09T11:56:49.681-04:00

A match made in heaven.When Michael Bloomberg found Christine Quinn as Speaker of the City Council, there was no limit to how much love wealthy developers could see. In the building boom the city had seen during the last few years, huge developments were green-lighted and long-term residents were screwed by the lack of planning for schools and infrastructure. Now that the economy has soured,

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-79485912684540968212009-07-08T16:55:00.000-04:002009-07-08T16:57:04.061-04:00

The rumors are flying fast and furious this afternoon. Now that it has been pretty-much confirmed that Paterson will appoint a Lieutenant Governor in a few minutes from now, the question of course is...who will that person be? The goal one would hope is that he or she is non-controversial and well-respected. Yet in these times, I don't even think Jesus or Gandhi could fit that criteria for all

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-91957488477941620532009-07-08T15:55:00.000-04:002009-07-08T15:55:25.378-04:00

Watch as this financial industry hack tries to explain why Congress should not pass regulations for Wall Street. He means to say that there should be something in place, but what he really means slips right out.

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-80854538221098120072009-07-08T15:35:00.000-04:002009-07-08T15:37:58.203-04:00

For the last month, Governor Paterson has called for special Senate sessions and made statements about the stalemate following Espada and Monserrate's coup attempt on June 8. For the most part, he's been largely ignored, whether it be with those stern messages to get back to work or the declarations that Senators must gavel in and gavel out everyday, even if the sessions last three minutes. If he

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-50335169919832899042009-07-07T13:05:00.001-04:002009-07-07T15:39:29.413-04:00

Here in New York the state legislature managed to close a $17 billion dollar budget gap for this year. California is still working on a budgetary mess that makes NY's situation look easy. Most states around the country have had to skimp on programs and raise taxes due to this difficult economy, but there is one overarching reason why this is happening....and it boils down to the battle between

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-28875599861466391742009-07-06T14:35:00.001-04:002009-07-06T14:40:07.616-04:00

Not in so many words, but his reaction to a constituent the other night showed the Iowan Senator's true feelings about government-run health care and not just the talking points he usually spouts to defend his vote for the health insurance industry:

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-23445816284164100532009-07-06T10:45:00.002-04:002009-07-06T10:45:03.260-04:00

Mayor Bloomberg is at it again with his false and misleading advertisements. His promise of creating hundreds of thousands of jobs has already been addressed. Now it is time to go after the "safest city in America" line. Bloomberg loves to claim that he is responsible for NYC's safe record, but the way he goes about it is disingenuous at best. In fact, he was already admonished by the FBI for the

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-5097597112624315652009-07-06T10:20:00.000-04:002009-07-06T10:27:08.477-04:00

David Paterson has been suffering as governor for months now. Thanks to ineffective leadership, constant flip-flopping on everything from getting same-sex marriage passed to the structure of the budget and overseeing a dysfunctional state capitol, New Yorkers are clamoring for someone new next year. Now Paterson still has a few months left before Democrats coalesce around AG Cuomo in the primary,

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-48289502427494799032009-07-02T11:15:00.000-04:002009-07-02T11:15:03.361-04:00

In the form of advertising, the DNC is getting behind the President and the more progressively- minded Democrats in Congress who are advocating for health care reform. Legislators that are in bed with health insurance companies have to be reminded repeatedly that the American people's best interest must come first, not just for those that donate the most amount of money to their campaign accounts.

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-16288957300063517782009-07-02T11:00:00.000-04:002009-07-02T11:01:04.529-04:00

In a grand display of pledging allegiance to Mayor Bloomberg, Councilmember Simcha Felder is reportedly getting a bill ready to do away with the Public Advocate's office. The elected position was created as to protect New Yorkers from potential abuses from the Mayor and Council. It is seen as a nuisance by Bloomberg and the ethically dubious members in the Council that interferes with their

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-576492480622436432009-07-02T10:20:00.001-04:002009-07-02T10:22:40.572-04:00

The Mayor may not care about Muslim holidays in our city's schools, but he sure was in a panic over the end of mayoral control. Contrary to Bloomberg's claims that New York's school children would be engulfed in bureaucratic chaos, quite the opposite occurred. The procedure to put the old system back in place went very well on its first day, for administrators and the kids.From The NY Daily News:

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-39926134581484109742009-07-01T23:50:00.000-04:002009-07-01T23:50:00.317-04:00

God bless Michael Steele. The comedy of errors RNC Chairman is always ready to give a few words for the media to broadcast. With Al Franken officially becoming Senator-Elect this week, he didn't disappoint his fans (from both parties) on this subject.

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-29662095065428431372009-07-01T23:40:00.000-04:002009-07-01T23:40:13.612-04:00

The only interests of note for Pedro Espada tightly circle around Pedro Espada. When he ran for State Senate again last year, it wasn't for some greater good for the East Bronx. No, it was about the self-aggrandizement of Pedro Espada. Once elected, one of the many complaints about the new Senator was that he didn't even bother to open a district office. Well, finally after several months he has

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-75035417072422268032009-06-30T11:20:00.000-04:002009-06-30T11:23:40.642-04:00

The M.T.A. has no problem raising the fare for straphangers in their attempt to make ends meet. Yet when it comes to the rich and powerful, they have no problem making deals with people like Bruce Ratner in his attempt to build part of his Atlantic Yards site. The only problem though with saving Ratner some money is that the M.T.A. violated the law in doing so.From Hot Indie News:Brennan said the

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-5342240622686766702009-06-29T08:30:00.000-04:002009-06-29T08:30:11.333-04:00

When it comes to hypocritical conservatives, one thing we are starting to expect is that when they are caught with their hand in the cookie jar, lame and laughable excuses are soon to follow. This one from Governor Sanford is priceless:

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-84072275827335674292009-06-29T08:10:00.000-04:002009-06-29T08:11:14.913-04:00

Borough President can be seen as a largely ceremonial job with no real duties but in Brooklyn this year, voters are going to be presented with a real choice for the office. Marty Markowitz is an affable guy, gets plenty of laughs and is generally well liked. Yet his hearty support for Bruce Ratner and the Atlantic Yards development is loathed by Brooklynites that wish to preserve their home and

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-15812672218361176072009-06-28T22:45:00.001-04:002009-06-28T22:58:40.513-04:00

It has been almost eight months since the 2008 elections, yet Minnesota still does not have one of their state's senators over in Washington. After a recount of a closely contested race, Al Franken held a narrow but definite lead over incumbent Norm Coleman. Fall, winter and now spring have passed us by and Norm is still challenging the results in the state's Supreme Court, despite not wanting

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-3281954968958058982009-06-25T15:20:00.000-04:002009-06-25T15:22:35.112-04:00

When you are a politician and current New York State Senator, which cliché works better? Yeah, it is a tough question considering the current predicament.

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-46819092407933624802009-06-25T15:05:00.000-04:002009-06-25T15:06:33.793-04:00

There are plenty of crybabies in the senate chamber. Some, but not all senators have been seen throwing temper tantrums over the pledge of allegiance, who gets to sit on the rostrum as well as sneaking in before business hours to lay claim to the prestigious shameful institution of government that is the state senate. The theatrics mesmerize the eyes of the press and earn the scorn of the voters.

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-1647077178833526402009-06-25T10:45:00.000-04:002009-06-25T10:45:04.099-04:00

The New York Blade has already endorsed the main opponent of Bloomberg's chief ally in the City Council, so why on Earth would they think about endorsing the Mayor's re-election? It is a potential endorsement that Matt Arnold of the NY Liberal Examiner thinks is bizarre given Bloomberg's record on LGBT issues (before the beginning of election season of course). Arnold makes the case for the Blade

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-27032567542839355472009-06-25T10:15:00.000-04:002009-06-25T10:19:06.519-04:00

New York, this is your State Senate not at work. After the pledge of allegiance, both Dems and Repubs try to hold dueling sessions.I wonder what's in store today? Since the Governor is threatening to withhold pay, both sides now seem willing to show up.

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-28287168141100746642009-06-25T10:00:00.000-04:002009-06-25T10:00:57.613-04:00

The Democratic caucus may have a majority, but DINOs (Democrats in name only) have been trying to appease their Republican friends in the Senate to nix any and all possibilities of giving Americans a choice on whether they want a public or private health care plan. Allies of private insurance groups (like all Republicans, Sen. Max Baucus(D), Sen. Conrad (D) and other conserva-dems) protest that a

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-78014965647901421152009-06-25T08:00:00.000-04:002009-06-25T08:00:52.074-04:00

There have already been stories about how much empathy Bloomberg has for the least amongst us in the city. The latest to come from the desk of the plutocrat Mayor is sadly, not much different. His biggest supporters say that because he runs a media empire, running a city government should be pretty much the same way. Bloomberg prefers efficiency, expediency and a business model to good government

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37927485.post-66497978430530345552009-06-24T16:30:00.001-04:002009-06-24T16:30:12.605-04:00

Well it has certainly been a crazy day down in South Carolina. The pundits are going overboard in talking about this scandalous subject. GoOPer Ron Christie think Sanford may be toast for having an extramarital affair with an Argentine woman for several years but I think we all know that Sanford is beyond toast, he's completely and utterly finished in politics.Forget the Presidential run in 2012,

Josh"Ing"Silversteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587725602808985721noreply@blogger.com0