Eliot Spitzer running for city comptroller

Eliot Spitzer in a media scrum yesterday

Surely this must have been Eliot Spitzer’s thinking before he announced for city comptroller. Looking out at the political landscape he would have seen, for example, South Carolina’s Mark Sanford winning election to Congress after having gone AWOL as governor to carry on an affair in Argentina. Or, closer to home, Anthony Weiner now running for mayor after leaving Congress in disgrace for having tweeted images of his privates to women.

If these and others can come back, why not a governor caught procuring consenting hookers? “I’m hoping there will be forgiveness,” says Spitzer.

Or how about his first campaign for attorney general? He swore up and down that he’d financed it through loans from his wealthy father that were repaid. Later, we learned it was his father who covered the loans — which made them illegal donations, not loans. All this to help him win office as New York’s chief law enforcer.Perhaps New Yorkers will forgive him for publicly humiliating his wife and children when his prostitution habit was exposed. But a taste for call girls may be the least of the ethical lapses of Eliot Spitzer. It helps here to recall how he was caught: When he pressed officials at his bank in New York to remove his name from wire transfers he was sending to the escort agency, they refused — and alerted authorities that something improper was going on.

Not to mention the way he bullied Hank Greenberg into resigning as AIG chairman, and the decline of the company that followed.

Spitzer called himself a “steamroller,” though as governor his agenda was steamrolled by Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver. Meanwhile, he used state police to spy on political enemies, and then tried to cover it up.

The conventional thinking holds that Spitzer hopes New Yorkers won’t spend too much time revisiting the headlines he generated as Client No. 9. But it’s equally possible he’s betting that a focus on his sex life may help him distract attention from his other, more destructive behavior as both attorney general and governor.

[Source: NYPost]

Obama Vs. Romney: The Battle For The Economy

[Evan Vucci/AP Photo]

NBC's Peter Alexander reports about the Obama Vs. Romney battle campaign of who has what it takes to turn this economic climate change around before the election in November.

By NBC News

In the sharpened rhetoric between president Obama and Mitt Romney will speak at the NAACP convention a little later today over the state of the economy.  The NAACP is the nation’s oldest civil rights organization. Romney can expect to face a skeptical audience here, Four years ago then candidate Obama won 95% of the African-American vote but Romney is hoping this community will take a listen to his policies today.

Meanwhile the president and Romney have been going back and forth exchanging fire over everything from taxes to who is most to blame for shipping jobs overseas.

“We tried it their way through multiple last decades, and it didn’t work” President Obama said.

President Obama campaigning in the battleground state of Iowa,

“This old style liberalism of bigger and bigger government and bigger and bigger taxes has got to end and we will end it in November.” Mitt Romney said.

Mitt Romney campaigning in the battleground state of Colorado, new polls show the race is dead even. Romney chose Colorado where the unemployment rate is 9% to dismiss the president’s call to let the bush era tax rates expire, for Americans making more than $250,000 dollars a year.

“So at the very time the American people are seeing fewer jobs created than we need, the president announces he's going to make it harder for jobs to be created.” Romney continued. The President chose Iowa where the unemployment rate is well below the national average at 5.1% to defend his proposal.

“To give me another tax break, or to give Warren Buffett another tax break, or to give Mitt Romney another tax break, that would cost - that would cost about a trillion dollars.” President Obama continued.

And President Obama continued to raise questions about Romney’s business record at Bain capital.

“Governor Romney has experienced owning companies called pioneers in the business of outsourcing.”

But for the first time Tuesday Romney pushed back calling Mr. Obama’s claims false and tried to shift attention to the President’s record. “This president has been outsourcing a good deal of American jobs himself. If it’s an outsourcer in chief, it’s president of the united states, not the guy who is running to replace him.” said Romney.

Meanwhile the President’s half brother, George Obama, who lives in a poor neighborhood in Kenya makes a film debut and soon to be released documentary by a harsh critic of the president, tries unsuccessfully to get George Obama to talk critically about his famous half brother.

“The theme of the articles was that Obama had not done anything to help you” he asked George Obama.

“I think he has a family of his own, He’s supposed to help his family, I’m of an age to help myself. He’s got other issues to deal with.” George Obama said.

“Taking care of the world but you shouldn’t start at home.” said the interviewer.

 “Yeah he’s taking care of the world, so he’s taking care of me. I’m part of the world” George continued.

Back to Mitt Romney now, there’s heavy speculation he would announce a running mate as early as this month, well in advance of the republican national convention. The thinking being he would use that running mate to help raise money now to compete with president Obama in the general election. But yesterday he was asked that very question on the trail in Colorado and he couldn’t have been any more vague saying he will make that decision down the road. 

STN Politics: The Day After Election For Congress

From Left-to-right: Joyce S. Johnson, Craig Schley, Charles B. Rangel, Clyde Williams and Adriano Espaillat.
 
By Ryan Ngala

[Harlem, New York]

Tuesday was the biggest election of the summer season, and the candidates who ran for congress were just getting warmed up. For many people getting their chance to vote and letting their voices be heard as they endeavored to pick the strongest candidates for congress, Tuesday’s primary was their opportunity to get things right for this important community in the heart of New York City.

As the polls opened for election from 6 am - 9 pm, many voters scrambled from schools and office buildings to vote in the neighborhoods where they live. For many residents, exercising their right to vote indicates their courage and willingness to do what is necessary and best for their community during these tough economic times. But what do they really want for the congressional candidates to do in order to fix things for the community? Usually, this community never expects to get this kind of media attention early in the week.

This was my first time voting in an election, ever!, I was among the first voters to arrive at my polling place at Ps. 175 located at 175 W. 134th Street; that location is just two stops from where I live on 132nd Street. As I entered into the building, I walked all the way to the back where they were doing the voting. As I stepped into the gymnasium, one of the poll workers at the front desk asked me for my address and I told her what it was. Then she pointed to the 25th District table where I was to stand in line and wait while many other people received their green and white ballot papers. The names of the five candidates were listed: Joyce S. Johnson, Craig Schley, Charles B. Rangel, Clyde Williams and Adriano Espaillat. Each voter then decided which candidate they wanted to vote for; they inserted the green and white ballot paper slip into the ballot scanner; as they inserted the ballot, the machine it read, “Thanks for voting.”

I walked out of the polling place and through the school building, I then walked across 125th Street and Lenox Avenue. I just wanted to see what was going on at Sylvia’s Restaurant; many news media had come there to cover the election story. News crews from NY1, CBS 2, and ABC 7 were amongst those gathered at Sylvia’s. Congressman Charles B. Rangel was expected to arrive soon; when he did, he was greeted by all of his supporters. They were happy for the opportunity to express their love and gratitude to him. He had promoted uplift and change, not only for Harlem, but also for the Bronx, and many people love Congressman Charles B. Rangel and call him “Charlie” as a nickname.

The number of votes that had been counted by then was just over 8,000, but soon the count was boosted high to more than 12,800 votes. The people were surprised at the miraculous results! It was a stunning victory that made him the projected winner of the 13th district. “Charlie, we love you!!!” a supporter shouted. At that point, Congressman Charles B. Rangel was being named “The Lion of Lenox Avenue!” His self – determination not only as a champion but also as a warrior has once again made him the trusted leader to the Harlem community.

Congressman Charles Rangel attends Community Town Hall Forum at First A.M.E Church: Bethel

By Ryan Ngala

[Harlem, New York]

During a special event at the First AME Church - Bethel, Congressman Charles B. Rangel and many guests greeted members of the congregation, To the church they deeply love in the house of God. He discussed issues about the elections, upcoming events and what’s going on in  New York City. This program was a community town hall forum held to inform people about voting in the upcoming election.

The congregation applauded Congressman Charles Rangel as he arrived at the sanctuary of the church, He sat down and after he was able to get everyone’s attention,  he talked about his re-election campaign for the election primary on Tuesday June the 26^th, 2012. In addition, Joyce Johnson, Clyde Williams, and Robert J. Rodriguez are also running for election this Tuesday. 

During his visit to the church, he talked about housing problems, health concerns, and crime in the community.  He asked questions about what people thought is going on in the community, and he spoke about people who drink and party too much. The congressman also voiced criticisms of many news media and local newspapers that report negatively about the Obama administration and its handling of the economy. Charles Rangel said in a statement that “Many people may not like Obama, but they don’t like the company they keep”. 

Finally, Mr. Rangel urged the congregation of the church to get out and vote on Tuesday, June the 26^th, He also reminded young voters to make their voices heard; he emphasized. That this election is so important to this community and that its outcome could bring justice to the people of the congregation. He cautioned voters to choose wisely and select the candidate who is highly capable. When the community town hall forum ended, refreshments were served.