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This belongs to you. Take it back...
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US Senate 
Wed Feb 17, 2010 at 22:03:26 PM EST
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"Southern voters are interested in solutions," said Harold Ford Jr. in 2003. "They can spot a fake." Perhaps this explains Ford's subsequent decision to decamp from the South in search of a more gullible electorate.
--Jonathan Chait, Nowhere Man, The vain search for Harold Ford's principles.
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Tue Jan 26, 2010 at 08:14:00 AM EST
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Hilarious.
A lot of politicians flip-flop on the issues. What really puts Harold Ford at the head of the butt-sniffing chain is that he's not pulling this reversal in Clustermunch, Iowa... He's doing this in New York City, media capital of the world, where they keep all those little bits of tape that have recordings of what you said and did. Hell, there's a whole newspaper page dedicated to everything famous people do. Get a little huffy with the maître d' at Per Se tonight and by this time tomorrow they're picking bits of you out of Cindy Adams' stool!
...
So, for lifting your leg on New Yorkers and telling us it's just egg cream, you sir, are my Alpha Dog of The Week.
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Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 17:39:30 PM EST
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Ann Coulter's "favorite Democrat", the Conservadem Tennessean who is being courted by literally dozens of New Yorkers to become their new US Senator, a man who claims who have lived here in the Empire State for over three years, has never cast a vote here. Ever. Why? He just registered to vote in NY on November 23, 2009.
Harold Ford Jr., the former congressman from Tennessee who is considering a Senate run against Kirsten Gillibrand, has reportedly been living in New York for the last three years.
But he only registered to vote here in November of 2009, according to a spokeswoman for the city Board of Elections.
The spokeswoman, Valerie Vasquez, said Ford registered to vote here on November 23, 2009.
Yeah, that'll fly.
UPDATE: Nice catch by an emailer. In an interesting twist, note that Ford registered to vote in NY on November 23rd and that we first saw this ridiculous idea floated in a trial balloon from the de facto go to publication for messaging from people who suck, the Politico, on November 24th.
Coincidence? I think not.
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Thu Jul 23, 2009 at 21:04:43 PM EDT
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Enough is Enough. Schumer is far from perfect, but at least he seems to know how to twist some arms and isn't fucking stupid enough to think Republicans have good intentions. Reid's gotta go.
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Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 12:20:10 PM EDT
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Wow.
Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and announced today that he will run in 2010 as a Democrat, according to a statement he released this morning.
Specter's decision would give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate assuming Democrat Al Franken is eventually sworn in as the next Senator from Minnesota. (Former Sen. Norm Coleman is appealing Franken's victory in the state Supreme Court.)
"I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary," said Specter in a statement. "I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election."
He added: "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."
What's huge here is that Specter didn't pull a Jeffords or Lieberman and become an independent, he went whole hog and became a Democrat. I'm hearing he has not changed his position on cloture for the Employee Free Choice Act, but I have a feeling that may change. Regardless, the GOP in the US SEnate now has all the more motivation to drag the Minnesota race out to even more ridiculous lengths to prevent Al Franken becoming that 60th vote.
I had a feeling that something like this may happen as it is probably the only chance Specter has to hold on to that seat, but it's still somewhat of a shock to read it in black and white.
I'm also not terribly thrilled at the fact that Specter is now the odds on favorite for the Dem nomination for this seat next year. If I had to choose between a party switching Specter and an actual Democrat, I'm pretty sure I'd prefer the genuine article.
Regardless, this is huge news. Expect a week of non stop Specter coverage.
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Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 09:27:22 AM EST
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By my calculation, that's better than 2-1.
Most New Yorkers want special elections to fill future U.S. Senate vacancies rather than allowing the governor sole authority to name someone to the powerful position, according to a poll released Thursday.
The Siena College poll found 65 percent of voters want state law changed so voters would decide who gets the job. If the law is changed, it would prevent a repeat of the secretive and widely criticized process that led to Gov. David Paterson's appointment of upstate congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to the Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Another 30 percent of the voters polled wanted the state law to remain unchanged.
Count me in the majority on this one.
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Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 12:36:37 PM EST
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Vice President Biden just administered the oath to our new junior Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand. It's official: we again have two senators and, boy do we ever need them.
I wish her well.
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Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 20:12:15 PM EST
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Just talked to someone in Albany that I trust as well as a congressional staffer that apparently got a heads up about an hour ago.
Kirsten Gillibrand will be our new junior senator from New York.
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Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 19:37:15 PM EST
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TV station WPIX is reporting in an "exclusive" that Governor Paterson will choose Rep Kirsten Gillibrand to replace Hillary Clinton in the US Senate.
Confirmed: Kirsten Gillibrand Chosen to Fill Clinton's Senate Seat
PIX11 News has learned Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand is the choice of Governor David Paterson to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. Two Congressional sources tell PIX News that the Governor will make his announcement in Albany at noon tomorrow. He has invited members of the state's Democratic Congressional delegation to join him.
The sources told reporter Marvin Scott that the Governor has called members of the delegation for their views after Caroline Kennedy withdrew herself from consideration. One of the contenders, longterm Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney canceled a scheduled appearance on "PIX News Closeup" Friday because of a "conflict," which she did not disclose. She too will be in Albany. According to the sources, Gillibrand, now in her second congressional term, was favored by both Senator Churck Schumer and Secretary of State Clinton. Paterson has been under pressure to select a woman.
With most Democratic leaders in Albany coming from the New York City area, one source said this would be an important move for the Governor to have a Senator from upstate. And it is felt Gillibrand would be an asset to Paterson in any bid for election in 2010.
Grain of salt and all. I mean, it's PIX 11, for cryin' out loud, but I think they just may be right.
UPDATE: MSNBC is now reporting that Paterson has asked Gillibrand to meet him in Albany at 11am tomorrow morning, an hour before his noon announcement.
It's Gillibrand.
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Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 18:13:38 PM EST
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I'm listening to the Governor's "Supporter's conference call", happening right this minute and moderated by our very own NYBri, and the Governor just let loose an interesting morsel of information.
Apparently, the Governor had chosen his pick to replace Hillary Clinton on Sunday and decided to hold onto that information until after the inauguration in hopes of not taking any attention away from that event.
At least that's what he said.
Also, I can break this news right now: Our own Brian Keeler will NOT be our new US Senator. That comes straight from the Governor's mouth.
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Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 17:53:29 PM EST
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As usual, Robert is spot on. I just got a press release from the Governor's office detailing his public schedule for tomorrow. So far that schedule has only one event listed:
Friday, January 23
Governor David A. Paterson is in New York City and Albany.
12:00 PM Announces U.S. Senate Appointment
Empire State Plaza Concourse
Meeting Room 6
Albany
OPEN PRESS
In other news, I also just got this statement from the Governor about the Caroline Kennedy mess:
Last night Caroline Kennedy informed the Governor that she was withdrawing her name from consideration for an appointment to the United States Senate for personal reasons. This decision was hers alone.
The Governor had a private conversation with Ms. Kennedy yesterday afternoon. Out of respect for her decision making process, the Governor's Office did not respond to any inquiries in order to allow her time to deliberate. The Governor considers Caroline a friend and knows she will continue to serve New York well inside or outside of government. We wish her well in all her future endeavors.
The Governor is now entering the final phase of his selection process. He has not informed any Senate candidates that they have not been selected, nor has any information gathered during this selection process created a necessity for any candidate to withdraw. Any speculation to the contrary is both inaccurate and inappropriate.
Whatever. The circus is almost over.
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Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 14:34:22 PM EST
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Caroline Kennedy: the gift that keeps on sucking.
Of all the many ways in which Caroline Kennedy's brief and unofficial candidacy for the U.S. Senate was mishandled, one final ungraceful note is striking particularly close to home. Sources close to Senator Edward M. Kennedy tell TIME that his circle - including his immediate family - is furious that his brain cancer is being cited by some in her camp as the reason for her decision to withdraw her name from consideration for the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton in New York.
"It looks horrible," says one former aide to Ted Kennedy. "It makes him look like he is at death's door." In fact, those close to Kennedy, 76, say that while the Senator is suffering occasional seizures, like the one that sent him to a hospital on Tuesday during the celebratory Capitol lunch for the newly inaugurated President, he is generally doing well. And they add that Kennedy is fully engaged in the effort to pass universal health-care legislation - a cause for which he has fought for decades, and one in which he will play a crucial role as chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
"He is crazy about her. He encouraged her" in her bid for the Senate seat, one close associate says of Ted Kennedy's relationship with his niece. "But using him as an excuse, as though things were on the downward spiral, is not going to be O.K. with him ... This will get in the way of health reform" - by suggesting that a key legislator involved in putting the bill together may be incapacitated.
This is a person who thought she was ready to be a US Senator? From New York? Really?
Oh, and Halperin (I know, I know) adds this tidbit:
TIME's Mark Halperin reports that one knowledgeable Democratic source says there was another, unspecified "personal reason." The source says that it arose 48 hours before Kennedy fully expected to be chosen by Paterson. Without talking to her political advisers, Kennedy called Paterson and told him that she had a personal issue that made her inclined to withdraw her name. He told her to take 24 hours to reconsider. She took that time on her own, according to the source, and ultimately decided to stick with her original decision.
Whatever. I think we dodged a bullet here, folks.
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Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 08:58:08 AM EST
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Big Media Matt states the obvious:
Around seven percent of the nation's population lives in New York State. But the constitution allocates just two percent of the nation's senators to my home state. That's too bad, and it's particularly a problem in policy areas such as transportation where we get a structural bias away from the needs of places like New York. But do you know what's even worse? Right now New York really has only one Senator since Hillary Clinton obviously isn't focusing her energy on this matter, but David Patterson hasn't gotten around to naming a replacement yet. He's doing a disservice to his constituents and to residents of big cities everywhere.
Tick tock, Governor.
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Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 01:12:14 AM EST
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Enough already. Apparently she's really out this time.
Caroline Kennedy withdraws Senate bid
Caroline Kennedy said she has withdrawn her name from consideration for the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton, in a statement released early Thursday morning.
"I informed Governor Paterson today that for personal reasons I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the United States Senate," the official statement read.
Confirmation of the decision followed hours of conflicting reports from several news agencies.
Can you hear that? That's the sound of the rest of the nation laughing at us, our Governor and the rest of the whole ridiculous process.
Hey, Governor, pull the trigger. This has gone on long enough. We're a punchline now.
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Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 19:38:11 PM EST
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And word is that she took herself out. Everything that I have heard over the last 10 days or so was that it was hers if she wanted it. The Times has the scoop:
Kennedy Is Said to Withdraw Senate Bid
Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn from consideration for the vacant Senate seat in New York, according to a person told of her decision.
On Wednesday she called the governor, David Paterson, who is making the selection of who should succeed Senator Hillary Clinton. Her concerns about Senator Edward M. Kennedy's deteriorating health (he was hospitalized after a seizure during the inaugural lunch on Tuesday ) prompted her decision to withdraw, this person said. Coping with the health issues of her uncle, with whom she enjoys an extraordinarily close bond, was her most important priority; a situation not conducive to starting a high profile public job.
She was planning to issue a statement on Wednesday evening.
Ms. Kennedy's decision comes nearly two months after she, along with several members of Congress and leading political officials, began auditioning to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton in the coveted position.
Can't say I saw this one coming. My guess is that Paterson didn't see it coming either as she was his pick as far as I know. My guess is that this is now between Kirsten Gillibrand or Tom Suozzi. Then again, this really shakes things up.
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Tue Dec 30, 2008 at 19:53:41 PM EST
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I'm one of those who truly dislikes the idea of Governor Paterson appointing Caroline Kennedy to the US Senate seat about to be vacated by Senator Clinton. Although she doesn't have much of a record as an elected official to go on, and won't release her financial information to the public, we can pick up bits and tabs of info here and there-- and not much of it interests me. Bloomberg likes her a lot(two strikes...although his aide, Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, is no longer "out front" in her campaign), and she did not vote for Carl McCall for Governor(many strikes-- I thought he would have been a very good, as well as historic, governor).
But, this just shows an inability to do, like, um, you know, the "public speaking" thing that, um, politicians do, ya know?
Governor Paterson: appoint somebody with appropriate skills and experience, 'kay? This is not, after all, Alaska.
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Thu Dec 11, 2008 at 20:05:39 PM EST
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In his post here on Tuesday, Robert had a good synopsis of general consensus on a suitable US Senate appointee:
Judging by the reaction every post about the soon-to-be vacant U.S. Senate has gotten, I believe it would be fair to say that the TAP community wants someone who is a progressive Democrat with experience as an elected official and someone who can help Governor David Paterson (and other Democrats) in 2010 and beyond.
I'd add to that a strong preference being expressed for somebody with some statewide name recognition, maybe even somebody who has campaigned for statewide office.
Well, folks, today Paterson met with somebody who fits all that to a "t."
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 at 21:52:59 PM EST
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I agree.
It's one thing when the children of politicians use their name and network advantages to make political careers for themselves - regrettable but inevitable in our very imperfect meritocracy - but quite another when it's just bestowed on them.
That pretty much sums up my thoughts on the increasingly likely appointment of Caroline Kennedy to our soon to be vacant US Senate seat.
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Tue Dec 02, 2008 at 14:59:09 PM EST
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Governor Paterson met with the President-elect today. Apparently, Obama joked with the Gov about how his poaching of Hillary Clinton wasn't exactly making his life easier. Then Paterson basically told everyone to butt out. It's his decision as to whom he will send to DC in Hillary's place and nobody else's and all those folks who think they are "part of the process" aren't. Ben has the scoop:
Paterson didn't offer any clues to which way he's leaning to fill Hillary Clinton's seat, though he knocked down a rumor that Obama or people close to him have pushed the nomination of Caroline Kennedy.
"That actually didn't happen, though every name has been mentioned to me by someone," he said.
He added that he hasn't solicited Obama's opinion on the pick.
"An individual who had access [to Paterson] went to [Obama's aides] and said I wanted them to give me their choice," Paterson said. "I never sent this person to do that. I know who it is but I never sent the person to do that."
"There are a lot of people to in the middle now who want to, as the kids say, play high post - act like they're in the process," he reflected. "But they're not."
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