Category: Linked

Today is a primary day in NY. They schedule them like this so no one will actually know its a primary day and the incumbents can stay in power. Or at least that’s what a conspiracy theorist might theorize.
Unlike most primaries in NY, there are some actual races and actual issues of actual import attached. Herewith, a rundown, starting locally and moving out (as always, you must be a registered Democrat to play this game):
In 11211, State Senator Martin Connor is being challenged by Dan Squadron. Connor has the backing of the Democratic establishment (most of the Democratic Congressional delegation, Markowitz, Thompson, Gotbaum, Quinn and most of the senate and assembly Democrats as well). Squadron has been endorsed by Bloomberg, Schumer and Wiener, and the Times. In addition to areas of Brooklyn, Connor’s district covers much of lower Manhattan.
Next door, Congressman Ed Towns is being challenged by Kevin Powell. Towns has the establishment endorsements, including the Clintons. (Obscure sore point on Towns – he was the congressman who crossed Congressional boundaries to lobby against the landmarking of 184 Kent.)
Back in Manhattan, Assemblyman (and Assembly Speaker) Shelly Silver is facing a rather serious challenge from Luke Henry and Paul Newell. Newell has the press endorsements wrapped up, with all three papers supporting his bid. Which may not be enough with a split ballot against an entrenched incumbent. Still, if you’ve supported any of Bloomberg’s big plans over the past few years (the Jets, congestion pricing, just to name two), you might want to give Newell a look.
Special bonus – by voting tomorrow, you will be among the first New Yorkers to use new voting machines.

There may be room for music at a restored McCarren Pool after all. (This is somewhat old news – there certainly won’t be room for Pool Party sized events, and any larger events will probably happen in the Spring and Autumn, not in the Summer.)

David Byrne’s “Olde Times Square” bike rack,
44th Street, west of Times Square.
A convenient roost for tourists.

Passing through Times Square this afternoon, I noticed another of the David Byrne bike racks. It would seem that like hipsters, tourists don’t get the bike racks either. Note the traditional bike rack, right, with bike, as compared to the “Olde Times Square” bike rack, left, with tourists.

No Pies ‘n’ Thighs until December.
(via The Driggs.)

McCain’s voicemail to Sarah Palin.
(Via DF.)

Ask and you shall receive: yesterday I wondered what the over/under was on Palin’s nomination surviving to Election Day. Today, Intrade has a line on it. The odds are pretty long at this point – traders are giving her an 86% of staying on the ticket through 4 November.
But given the substantive revelations of the past 48 hours, this may be a smart bet to take. Putting aside issues that really don’t address her qualifications and state of mind (beauty pageants, teen pregnancy, DWI arrests), in the past two days we have learned the following: Palin lied about her opposition to the Bridge to Nowhere; was barracuda when it came to raking in earmarks for the town of Wassila (thanks in part to the Abramoff-connected lobbyist she hired); has tried to fire at least three employees for lack of loyalty; was a director of the 527 group created by muck-master Ted Stevens; and has a spouse whose former political party declares its hatred for the government and flag of America and actively pushes for secession. For good measure, Palin has also claimed international experience by virtue of a refueling stop in Ireland.
This is by no means an exhaustive list.
At this point it is clear that John McCain’s vetting of Sarah Palin consisted of a Google search that probably didn’t go past the first page (may they clicked on “I’m Feeling Lucky”). McCain talked to the woman for a total of 20 minutes before deciding to put her a heartbeat away from the presidency. This is how he handled the most important decision of his presidential campaign – really, the first major executive decision in his political career.
John McCain doesn’t care about governing; he only cares about being president. That’s not putting country first.

The end of a (three-year) era at McCarren Pool.
Apparently the “hipsters” aren’t looking forward to swimming there: “most said that they thought the pool would be too dirty”. Seriously, most of the “hipsters” interviewed said this? How many is most?

Is there an over/under on how long Palin’s candidacy will last?
And with new evidence coming out on an hourly basis that McCain didn’t do the most basic vetting of Palin, how much longer will we have to hear about his superior “experience”? In the “most important decision of his candidacy”, McCain decided to shoot from the hip. He rolled the dice. If this is how McCain would operate as president (and there is every reason to believe that it absolutely is how he would operate as president), we should all be losing sleep at night.
John McCain forgot the most important qualification for a VP: do no harm. He went for the pander trifecta (the base, blue collar voters and women) with a nominee whom he had met for less than 20 minutes.
I said it before and I’ll say it again – I’ll take judgement and discretion over experience.

La Bouillabaisse has reopened (yet again), in Red Hook this time. I never went to the Carroll Gardens version, but the Atlantic Avenue original was great (I’m talking early to mid 1990s – by the late 90s it had changed ownership and it was decidedly not great). I hope that’s what they’ve recreated.

John McCain (who is not a celebrity) appeared on the Tonight Show for the 13th time last night. In response to jokes from Jay Leno about McCain’s inability to remember how many houses he owns, McCain (reluctantly, I’m sure) responded by talking about his five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.