A politically ambitious young man meets a well-connected (son of the former chair of the local electric company, with a wife who worked at a local white shoe law firm) local activist who lived in his neighborhood at a meeting about education.

Like any smart candidate, the pol wannabe follows up. Both men become heavily involved in an education project sponsored by a foundation headed by a former Reagan administration ambassador.

Later in the year, when the young man runs for office, the activist holds a small coffee for the young candidate at his home. The young candidate wins. Two years later, the City where both lived names the activist ???Man of the Year.??? Still later, the two men both serve on the Board of a local anti-poverty group and attend about a dozen meetings together over the years. During this time, the activist gives the pol a check for $200, which, given his resources, seems rather stingy. Even after the pol leaves the board, the two men find themselves appearing together in panel discussions at least twice, and say hello to each other when they run into each other.

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A politically ambitious young man meets a well-connected (son of the former chair of the local electric company, with a wife who worked at a local white shoe law firm) local activist who lived in his neighborhood at a meeting about education.

Like any smart candidate, the pol wannabe follows up. Both men become heavily involved in an education project sponsored by a foundation headed by a former Reagan administration ambassador.

Later in the year, when the young man runs for office, the activist holds a small coffee for the young candidate at his home. The young candidate wins. Two years later, the City where both lived names the activist “Man of the Year.” Still later, the two men both serve on the Board of a local anti-poverty group and attend about a dozen meetings together over the years. During this time, the activist gives the pol a check for $200, which, given his resources, seems rather stingy. Even after the pol leaves the board, the two men find themselves appearing together in panel discussions at least twice, and say hello to each other when they run into each other.

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When is a candidate too old to run for President??? This is a question that has to be crossing voters' minds as we enter the closing days of what feels like a never-ending Presidential election cycle.

During the primary season I was convinced that John McCain was the Republicans' best shot at taking the Presidency.?? Now, however, I recognize that at that time I didn't take into account McCain's age and the image that he would present to the electorate.

Sad but true, McCain's age is posing a daunting factor in this race as image plays oh so ever an important place in the peoples' choice.?? Just as Nixon's five o'clock shadow and sweaty forehead turned voters to John F. Kennedy and just as George H.W. Bush's looking at his watch during his debate and taking ill in the lap of the Japanese Prime Minister cast a shadow on his race against Bill Clinton, so John McCain's age is presenting an ever present obstacle in his run against Barack Obama.

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When is a candidate too old to run for President?  This is a question that has to be crossing voters' minds as we enter the closing days of what feels like a never-ending Presidential election cycle.

During the primary season I was convinced that John McCain was the Republicans' best shot at taking the Presidency.  Now, however, I recognize that at that time I didn't take into account McCain's age and the image that he would present to the electorate.

Sad but true, McCain's age is posing a daunting factor in this race as image plays oh so ever an important place in the peoples' choice.  Just as Nixon's five o'clock shadow and sweaty forehead turned voters to John F. Kennedy and just as George H.W. Bush's looking at his watch during his debate and taking ill in the lap of the Japanese Prime Minister cast a shadow on his race against Bill Clinton, so John McCain's age is presenting an ever present obstacle in his run against Barack Obama.

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???Even at this late hour in the campaign, there are essential things we don't know about Senator Obama or the record that he brings to this campaign???

???My opponent has invited serious questioning by announcing a few weeks ago that he would quote -- "take off the gloves." Since then, whenever I have questioned his policies or his record, he has called me a liar.

Rather than answer his critics, Senator Obama will try to distract you from noticing that he never answers the serious and legitimate questions he has been asked. But let me reply in the plainest terms I know. I don't need lessons about telling the truth to American people. And were I ever to need any improvement in that regard, I probably wouldn't seek advice from a Chicago politician.

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“Even at this late hour in the campaign, there are essential things we don't know about Senator Obama or the record that he brings to this campaign…

…My opponent has invited serious questioning by announcing a few weeks ago that he would quote -- "take off the gloves." Since then, whenever I have questioned his policies or his record, he has called me a liar.

Rather than answer his critics, Senator Obama will try to distract you from noticing that he never answers the serious and legitimate questions he has been asked. But let me reply in the plainest terms I know. I don't need lessons about telling the truth to American people. And were I ever to need any improvement in that regard, I probably wouldn't seek advice from a Chicago politician.

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced legislation to the City Council Tuesday that would extend term limits and allow him and other elected city officials to run for a third term in office. NY1 News contacted all 51 City Council members to find out where they stand on the issue.

The Council Member's were asked: "Do you plan to support the Mayor???s bill to extend term limits?"

Summary
??? There are 51 members, including the Speaker.
??? 14 say they support the mayor's bill.
??? 17 said they oppose it.
??? 20 are undecided.

Breakdown
RESPONDED "YES"
Maria del Carmen Arroyo, (D) Bronx
*Maria Baez, (D) Bronx
*Leroy Comrie, (D) Queens
*Erik Martin Dilan, (D) Brooklyn
*Lewis Fidler, (D) Brooklyn
*Robert Jackson, (D) Manhattan
*G. Oliver Koppell, (D) Bronx
*Miguel Martinez, (D) Manhattan
*Michael Nelson, (D) Brooklyn
*Domenic Recchia, (D) Brooklyn
*Diana Reyna, (D) Brooklyn
*Joel Rivera, (D) Bronx
*Larry Seabrook, (D) Bronx
*Al Vann, (D) Brooklyn

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced legislation to the City Council Tuesday that would extend term limits and allow him and other elected city officials to run for a third term in office. NY1 News contacted all 51 City Council members to find out where they stand on the issue.

The Council Member's were asked: "Do you plan to support the Mayor’s bill to extend term limits?"

Summary
• There are 51 members, including the Speaker.
• 14 say they support the mayor's bill.
• 17 said they oppose it.
• 20 are undecided.

Breakdown
RESPONDED "YES"
Maria del Carmen Arroyo, (D) Bronx
*Maria Baez, (D) Bronx
*Leroy Comrie, (D) Queens
*Erik Martin Dilan, (D) Brooklyn
*Lewis Fidler, (D) Brooklyn
*Robert Jackson, (D) Manhattan
*G. Oliver Koppell, (D) Bronx
*Miguel Martinez, (D) Manhattan
*Michael Nelson, (D) Brooklyn
*Domenic Recchia, (D) Brooklyn
*Diana Reyna, (D) Brooklyn
*Joel Rivera, (D) Bronx
*Larry Seabrook, (D) Bronx
*Al Vann, (D) Brooklyn

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From Gary Tilzer

An addition of an extra term for city officials will have a chilling effect on competition for elective office, worsening a political system in the City which is already on life support. ??The immediate critical problem is not that less than 1% of registered voters during the last primary had a choice at the polls; it is the centralization of control in the hands of a new breed of powerbrokers that has evolved since the corruption scandal uncovered in the 1980???s in the Koch administration.

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From Gary Tilzer

An addition of an extra term for city officials will have a chilling effect on competition for elective office, worsening a political system in the City which is already on life support.  The immediate critical problem is not that less than 1% of registered voters during the last primary had a choice at the polls; it is the centralization of control in the hands of a new breed of powerbrokers that has evolved since the corruption scandal uncovered in the 1980’s in the Koch administration.

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The Treaty of the Tycoons between Mike Bloomberg, indispensable Mayor and Ronald Lauder, sperm lottery winner and former patronage employee in the Reagan administration raises some interesting questions about the future Charter Revision Commission.

Lauder???s mouthpiece, Howard Rubenstein told the NY Post on behalf of the toilet water ??heir ???I will reluctantly support the mayor's legislation to extend term limits to three terms, with the understanding that I will serve on a Charter-revision commission which will place the questions of the number of terms before the voters in 2010."

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The Treaty of the Tycoons between Mike Bloomberg, indispensable Mayor and Ronald Lauder, sperm lottery winner and former patronage employee in the Reagan administration raises some interesting questions about the future Charter Revision Commission.

Lauder’s mouthpiece, Howard Rubenstein told the NY Post on behalf of the toilet water  heir “I will reluctantly support the mayor's legislation to extend term limits to three terms, with the understanding that I will serve on a Charter-revision commission which will place the questions of the number of terms before the voters in 2010."

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Now that Michael ???Caesar??? Bloomberg has disrespected ???we??? the people of New York City, it is only fitting that we (the little people) fight back. With this in mind, let me announce today, that I am starting a "Draft State Senator Eric Adams for Mayor" initiative. And before you fly off your rockers claiming that I am being somewhat reactionary: let me state just a few of my reasons here.??

To me, the worst thing any elected official can do to the ideals of democracy is disrespect the voter???s will. My ancestors died for the right to vote in this country. My matriarch and patriarch (Amphy and Bashana Jackson) fought in the 1812 War. Many of my kinfolk -in both the Caribbean and North America- gave blood for the democratic cause. It is in their honor that I will strongly oppose what Bloomberg and company intends to do: no matter how much the deck is stacked against me. Overturning term-limits through cowardly legislation is wrong with a capital ???W???. This is one of the worst things I have seen in politics anywhere.

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Now that Michael “Caesar” Bloomberg has disrespected “we” the people of New York City, it is only fitting that we (the little people) fight back. With this in mind, let me announce today, that I am starting a "Draft State Senator Eric Adams for Mayor" initiative. And before you fly off your rockers claiming that I am being somewhat reactionary: let me state just a few of my reasons here. 

To me, the worst thing any elected official can do to the ideals of democracy is disrespect the voter’s will. My ancestors died for the right to vote in this country. My matriarch and patriarch (Amphy and Bashana Jackson) fought in the 1812 War. Many of my kinfolk -in both the Caribbean and North America- gave blood for the democratic cause. It is in their honor that I will strongly oppose what Bloomberg and company intends to do: no matter how much the deck is stacked against me. Overturning term-limits through cowardly legislation is wrong with a capital “W”. This is one of the worst things I have seen in politics anywhere.

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via the NY Times

On Wednesday, after coffee and cookies with the mayor at Gracie Mansion, Mr. Lauder issued an eight-sentence statement pledging not to oppose a City Council bill that would endanger his crowning political achievement by extending the limits to three terms for next year???s election. In return, he received a seat on a charter revision commission that is to revisit the term limits issue in 2010 and submit it again to the voters in a referendum.

---

And so, with the sun setting and the players adjourning for the Yom Kippur holiday, the latest chapter in the on-again, off-again political life of the enigmatic 64-year-old billionaire came to an abrupt end.

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via the NY Times

On Wednesday, after coffee and cookies with the mayor at Gracie Mansion, Mr. Lauder issued an eight-sentence statement pledging not to oppose a City Council bill that would endanger his crowning political achievement by extending the limits to three terms for next year’s election. In return, he received a seat on a charter revision commission that is to revisit the term limits issue in 2010 and submit it again to the voters in a referendum.

---

And so, with the sun setting and the players adjourning for the Yom Kippur holiday, the latest chapter in the on-again, off-again political life of the enigmatic 64-year-old billionaire came to an abrupt end.

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On October 7, 2008, the second US Presidential debate was held. What was most startling was an exchange where Senator John McCain referred to his opponent as, "That One."

Check it out here:

The big question, given the approach of the Republican Party as well as McCain's own racially charged history, is, "That One" What?

On October 7, 2008, the second US Presidential debate was held. What was most startling was an exchange where Senator John McCain referred to his opponent as, "That One."

Check it out here:

The big question, given the approach of the Republican Party as well as McCain's own racially charged history, is, "That One" What?