Jason Horowitz

Despite all the talk among presidential candidates and United States generals, Rudy Giuliani doesn't think it's an appropriate time to be debating "don't ask, don't tell."

Here's the emailed response to a question I put to his campaign yesterday:

"We're at war and now isn't the time to question our military's admissions policy."

The statement is part of a pattern for Giuliani, who has a strong record on gay rights issues, but is simultaneously trying to avoid a) overt flip-flops on his liberal social positions and b) statements that might alienate his party's conservative base.

Giuliani's rivals both support current military policy.

On Thursday, Sen. John McCain's said at a New York fund-raiser that, after conferring with military leaders, he felt the policy was working.

"I think it's logical to leave this issue alone," he said.

Mitt Romney's spokesman, Kevin Madden, said, "Gov. Romney supports 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' He agrees with the president's decision to maintain the policy."

It's worth noting that Giuliani has been finessing this issue for years.

Back in December of 1999, when Hillary Clinton first voiced criticisms of the "don't ask" compromise forged by her husband, Giuliani -- who was gearing up to run against her at the time -- avoided giving a clear answer on the issue.

"I'm going to take a look at it," he said.

--Jason Horowitz

Rudy Giuliani will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in D.C. on March 2, which should make for some YouTube moments.

Jason Horowitz looked at how some conservatives are unconvinced with Rudy's red state credentials. And Maggie Haberman of the Post got her hands on Rudy's writing from his days as an outspoken liberal college student. And for most of his campaign so far, Rudy has been seeking only friendly audiences.

So get your tickets now.

-- Azi Paybarah

Jason Horowitz writes about the reaction among conservative leaders to the pro-Second Amendment, strict constructionist, marriage-between-a-man-and-woman version of Rudy Giuliani. Bob Barr says, "It's a sleight of hand."

Niall Stanage interviews former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix about the Bush administration's increasingly hard line with Iran. Dark stuff.

Albert Gore III tells Spencer Morgan that as far as he knows, his dad is thinking about winning an Oscar -- and that's all.

Azi Paybarah talks to an Eliot Spitzer donor who thinks that the governor's reforms could set him up to be President.

Azi also reports from a Barack Obama meet-up, where some female supporters explain why they chose the Senator from Illinois over the Senator from New York.

Steve Kornacki thinks Hillary Clinton could be the next Ed Muskie.

Joe Conason thinks the New York Times needs to reckon with its history on the Clintons and Whitewater.

Harry Siegel still doesn't quite know what to make of Ground Zero.

Nick Von Hoffman says that the Scooter Libby trial is a test for the press.

And there's lots of good stuff here.

-- Josh Benson

So there's been a lot of interest in Jason Horowitz's piece on Joe Biden in this week's Observer, and we've gotten a number of requests from readers who want to listen to the interview.

As is often the case when Biden speaks his mind, there's no shortage of material. In the story, we led with the fact that he savaged the Iraq plans of fellow Democratic presidential contenders Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards, and that he did so in unusually personal terms.

We also noted that Biden chose to describe Obama using adjectives like "articulate" and "nice-looking," to which a spokesman for Obama responded by saying that Biden's words "speak for themselves."

That was the part that Drudge picked up and ran with. There's now a debate going on at Talking Points Memo about whether the addition of a comma before the word "who" in this sentence -- "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy" - would have affected its meaning.

Anyway, listen for yourself.

Here's Joe Biden on Hillary, Obama and Edwards.

-- Josh Benson

Jason Horowitz has an interview with Joe Biden that's going to shift the debate among Democrats over America's options in Iraq. Biden -- one of the party's most prominent voices on foreign policy -- tells Horowitz that Hillary Clinton's plan would be a disaster, that Barack Obama hasn't offered anything of substance and that John Edwards doesn't know what he's talking about at all.

Biden, who's running for president, also wonders why Hillary Clinton isn't more popular.

Michael Calderone reports on Dean Baquet's return to the Times.

Matt Schuerman writes about an apostle of congestion pricing.

Steve Kornacki explains why Chuck Hagel is the John McCain.

And Joe Conason thinks the Bush administration is heading for disaster with its Iran policy.

-- Josh Benson

Jason Horowitz reports on Hillary Clinton's tour of Iraq and Afghanistan and catches up with Barack Obama on the day of his announcement.

Steve Kornacki says that there's nothing gimmicky about Obama's candidacy.

Joe Conason writes that the administration's broad strategy for the Iraq region is no strategy at all.

And Richard Brookhiser thinks that the bad guys in Iraq will have a field day if the American military stops pressing the fight.

-- Josh Benson

Jason Horowitz writes about the efforts of Washington Democrats to assert themselves on Iraq without handing the Republicans a political gift. As Charlie Rangel put it:

"The President will say we're in business with Osama bin Laden. Anytime, politically, you have to explain what you are saying, you have a problem. And so if I am there saying, 'Cut the funds for Iraq and the war in Iraq,' then someone is going to say, 'You are taking away rifles.'"

Joe Conason thinks the Democrats ought to cut funding for the war anyway.

Steve Kornacki explains the political perils of the McCain Doctrine.

And John Koblin writes, from amid the steaming wreckage in Foxborough, about the feel-good season of the New York Jets.

-- Josh Benson

Jason Horowitz has a story about forgotten presidential candidate John Edwards. The former vice presidential candidate told Horowitz that he is unsurprised at being overshadowed by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but also said that the only question the national press should be asking is, "How are you doing in Iowa and New Hampshire?"

Steve Kornacki writes about the real test of Rudy Giuliani's seriousness as a presidential candidate (hint: it's not Michael DuHaime) and examines the political upside to John McCain's advocacy of a increase of troop levels in Iraq. Lizzy Ratner spends some time with Bill Samuels - son of Howard - who is sinking the family fortune into the creation of a New Tammany.

Joe Conason thinks that Newt Gingrich's ideas on combating terrorism are a little crazy.

Tom Scocca says that the Knicks aren't looking for respect, but pity.

And finally, an announcement: This week's Observer is a "double issue," which means, most significantly, that the staff is taking a week off. (Except for Azi, who is constitutionally incapable of not working.) We're therefore turning the Politicker for the next few days over to Andrew Rice, distinguished Observer alumnus, Uganda expert and Philadelphia sports fan. Treat him just as you'd treat us. Or, on second thought, be nice to him. Happy dark week!

-- Josh Benson

Jason Horowitz reports on the presidential dreams of Chris Dodd.

Lizzy Ratner and Azi report on the Berger Commission's recommendations for closing and merging New York hospitals and why they are - and aren't - a big deal.

Matthew Schuerman writes about the end of cheap rentals on the Far East Side of Manhattan.

Steve Kornacki explains why the negative effect of Nancy Pelosi's leadership machinations on the Democrats' external public relations is the least of her concerns.

Joe Conason says that the president's evolving language on Iraq doesn't reflect any significant change in his thinking.

-- Josh Benson

The respectable party last night was at the Sheraton.

But the truly great victory celebration was in Harlem, where Charlie Rangel and a few close friends celebrated his ascension to the House Ways and Means chairmanship.

It turned out to be a seven-hour affair in a bar and lounge across the street from his offices in the Adam Clayton Powell building on 125th street. Rangel wore a typically well-tailored suit, with a gold Congressional clip on his burgundy tie and a white button on his lapel that said "Bush" with a black line through it.

"You have no idea what it is like to be held hostage by the Republicans in the House," he said. "The Republicans didn't understand what was going on. But the people got it!"

Between camera flashes and throaty cheers, Rangel took a weak stab at modesty.

"It's the most exciting thing to happen tonight," he said. "My chairmanship is like a grain of sand on a vast beach compared to the intelligence of all the voters."  read more »

"I'm a big deal!" shouted Anthony Weiner as he walked down the steps of the Sheraton towards an interview with Fox News.

Weiner was joking about his new status in a Democratic majority. But he conceeded that the success will create some tensions between ambitious representatives.

"There is going to be a tussle within the Democratic Party," he said, and not only between politicians competing for plum jobs. "There are some forces in the Party that think we should be evening scores."

--Jason Horowitz

While Eliot Spitzer stays mum, David Paterson seems to have become the Democratic ticket's point man for discussion of the possibility of removing Alan Hevesi from office.

Here's what he told me yesterday about the hypothetical mechanics of that process:

"Now that the prosecutor has said that there are no fixed rules for the interpretation of how a removal procedure should go, either we have to agree on them or we have to take the rules that exist in the impeachment proceedings, and those are the rules, generally, that I think will apply."

He said that as a potential juror, effectively, he has attempted to remain impartial, and has steered clear of discussing the facts of the case. He criticized other legislators, including Joe Bruno, for immediately calling for Hevesi's removal.

"I'm the one that is running for higher office here. You would think that if you wanted to manipulate politics I had the greatest benefit by doing it, but I haven't said anything about the facts," he said. "This is the reform that Albany needs, not just legislative reform but personal ethics, where you understand what your duty is as a public servant and you oblige it."

--Jason Horowitz

Eliot Spitzer just revoked his endorsement of Alan Hevesi. "Recent developments in the Comptroller's race are deeply troubling," said Spitzer in a statement. "The outcome of the Ethics Commission investigation presents information that compromises Alan Hevesi's ability to fulfill his responsibilities."

"J. Christopher Callaghan's experience and substantive positions lead me to believe he is not qualified to be Comptroller. Therefore, I can no longer support either candidate in the state Comptroller's race. I am confident that State Senate proceedings will carefully evaluate the facts and recommend appropriate action. In the event that Mr. Hevesi is removed from office through such a proceeding, it is the obligation of state leaders to act in a bipartisan manner to find a highly-qualified replacement."

UPDATE: Here's Alan Hevesi's response:

"I have a great deal of respect for Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and believe he will make an excellent governor and will implement essential reforms. I also believe that 5 million voters should choose the next State Comptroller on November 7th."

--Jason Horowitz

Jason Horowitz takes a look at Pete King, a wartime congressman who, unlike most of his Republican colleagues and fellow candidates, isn't scared of talking about the war. "I am what I am," he said. He's a hawk, but will that hurt him in November?

Choire Sicha hits the roads of Hillaryland, where the onetime "cutie" stares daggers into John Spencer at the debate in Rochester. He also observes the sophisticated mechanics of the Hillary news cycle: reporters want to know about 08, so Hillary talks about 08, and then reporters write about Hillary talking about 08.

John Koblin has the goods on Bill Clinton's three-day 60th birthday bash. He tells us who's going (Burkle!) how much guests are paying (60 - 500 grand) the entertainment (The Rolling Stones, golfing) and who's tired of Bill's endless fund-raising carnivals (much of New York.)

Steve Kornacki follows the ripples of Barack Obama's announcement that he is "considering" a presidential run all the way into the House. Sure, the country's lone black Senator is generating great excitement, but what about guys, like, Charlie Rangel, who have helped run the country for decades? Why hasn't anybody ever been excited about any of them?

And Joe Conason is evermore depressed by the Republican leadership and the spiraling situation in Iraq.  read more »

Chuck Schumer is planning to give a speech tomorrow morning outlining proposals on how to increase employment among black males.

Last week, I followed Schumer around a bit as he researched the issue first hand at the East Harlem offices of STRIVE, a group that provides coaching on how to get and retain jobs.

He was in classic Schumer research mode, peppering the program's administrator's with questions ("What's the youngest age" "What's going on here" "Is it free, the food?") and hunching over during class time to quiz the course instructors about success levels, tactics and goals.

According to one of the workforce development experts who met with Schumer for over an hour after the tour, the Senator showed special interest in how emphasizing improvement in "soft skills" like attitudes, communications, and collaboration could lead to more employment, and was curious about whether STRIVE's program could be replicated on a larger scale.

This isn't exactly a sexy issue, but the fact that no one in the Senate is paying much attention to it represents that much more of an opportunity for Schumer, or someone else, to make a big mark by proposing something truly original.

I'll be curious to see whether the STRIVE model -- a sort of workforce development version of Scared Straight -- makes it into the address.

--Jason Horowitz

Jason Horowitz talks to Rudy Giuliani on the road and finds him encouraged, 2008-wise, by polls and crowd reaction. Horowitz also catches America's Mayor motivating the audience at a (mostly) private Republican fund-raiser with scary stories about Nancy Pelosi.

Choire Sicha watches Hillary Clinton mingling with fancy-pants Connecticut donors and marching with statewide candidates on Columbus Day. He also went along on her trip with Eliot Spitzer to Long Island, where television cameras achieved a remarkable strobe effect by lighting up whenever she talked and going dark whenever Spitzer did.

Suzy Hansen reports on an academic-fueled media storm over NYU historian Tony Judt, who says that Jewish groups are interfering with his right to talk about Israel. Leon Wieseltier, among others, disagrees strongly.

Joe Conason says that Kim Jong Il's nukes are a product of the president's foreign policy failings.

Niall Stanage observes leaders in the New York Irish community congratulating themselves on the end of an era.

And this week, bonus Horowitz: he writes about the prosecutorial appetites of New Jersey's U.S. Attorney.

-- Josh Benson

Joe Conason says Fox and the Bush administration can't handle Bill Clinton's dose of truthiness, and Steve Kornacki looks at the impact of the former president's publicity blitz on Hillary, Gore and the rest of the 2008 contenders.

Jason Horowitz writes about Al Gore's sleeper cells of presidential donors and operatives, still waiting for the call.

Niall Stanage says that John Bolton deserves an up-or-down vote in the Senate even if his UN colleagues find his behavior upsetting.

Matt Schuerman reports that the city's plans for the Sunnyside rail yards could make a guy named Michael Bailkin into New York's next big development kingpin.

Tom Scocca gets rebellious LA Times boss Dean Baquet to say meaningful things about his birthday cake.

And here's an insider's account of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's noisy visit to New York from writer, music exec and Farsi translator extraordinaire Hooman Majd.

-- Josh Benson

Early-bird Jason Horowitz made it to this morning's 8 a.m. press conference where the Rev. Al Sharpton endorsed Andrew Cuomo. Standing with Charlie King and Cuomo, the Rev. Al Sharpton said, "It's time to stop the politics of desperation, of mudslinging."

As if there was any doubt who he was referring to, Sharpton added, "This last minute desperation campaign is, in my opinion, what got us off the mark in 2001."

He'll be here all week, folks.

The presser, which for some reason was scheduled right before the 8:30 AG debate, ended without anyone taking questions.

-- Azi Paybarah

Jason Horowitz reports on Andrew Cuomo and Mark Green's frantic efforts to attach themselves to Eliot Spitzer, who seems to want no part of what's going on between them, and to co-opt use of the AG's imagery in their ads. Said Cuomo: "He gave me a picture first."

Sheelah Kolhatkar speaks with The New Republic editor suspended for anonymously defending his work in the comments section of his own blog. "I took the blogosphere's bait..."

Steve Kornacki thinksthat if John Edwards keeps up his steady campaigning, "there simply won't be any room for Al Gore's dramatic midsummer re-emergence."

Lizzy Ratner reports on the return of silicone breast implants.

And Sara Vilkomerson writes about Fall Madness.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

Jason Horowitz gets an earful from the Green Party's candidate for governor, Malachy McCourt, who isn't impressed with the other candidates.

"And they actually talk about rolling their sleeves up and getting to work--those fuckers. I have been a laborer. I worked on the docks. That was my fucking living for years. These fuckers have never worked--not a day."

Choire Sicha taps into the mind of Charles Barron, who recalled telling his wife once, "you need to know that God has called me to be a catalyst for the liberation of my people. Can you handle it?"

Jerry Skurnik has a must-read guide to the Times endorsements.

Last week, The Times went after longtime State Senator Martin Connor for challenging his opponent's residency in the Brooklyn district, citing his actions in an endorsement of his opponent, Ken Diamondstone. But in another legislative race in Queens, the paper backed the Assembly candidacy of Ellen Young--who had engaged in the same tactic.

And I look at the business community's new best friend, Christine Quinn.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

In this week's paper, Jason Horowitz follows Jonathan Tasini, and hears from NY1 why there probably won't be a debate between Tasini and Hillary Clinton.

"We haven't proposed a debate. We haven't prevented him from doing anything--Hillary Clinton will not do one," said Steve Paulus, the general manager of NY1 News. "The bottom line is that we are not the ones preventing him from debating--that's the incumbent."

And Steve Kornacki plays the expectation game with Hillary and thinks she can be the Democratic nominee without winning the early primaries or caucuses in 2008.

"After all, if Hillary can lower the bar enough in the early states, she could be in position to declare victory without actually winning."  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

Get the popcorn and TiVo ready.

The four Democratic attorney general candidates go head-to-head-to-head-to-head at their NY1 debate tonight.

As Jason Horowitz wrote this week, Mark Green has already been trying all week to get a jump on the debate with Andrew Cuomo. Sean Maloney came to Cuomo's defense, telling Green to "step off the ledge." Charlie King, who worked with Cuomo at HUD, hasn't been too vocal in correcting Green's charges.

In other words, this should be interesting. Predictions?

-- Azi Paybarah

The Lamont camp is watching the tallies come in and they like what they are seeing. It's still too soon to say, but there is a cheerful chatter in the background whenever a Lamont official picks up the phone. Hotline had Lamont up by more than 10 percent with more than 7 percent reported.

According to one senior official in the campaign, turnout easily topped 40 percent.

We're waiting to hear from Lieberman's office. --Jason Horowitz

Jason Horowitz just called in with some comments from a couple of randomly sampled voters at Joe Lieberman's polling place in New Haven this morning:

Elizabeth Turner, an 81-year-old retired art professor who voted for Ned Lamont: "I like the idea of a choice and new energy. I have voted in lots of primaries. I've always voted democrat down the line. This time, I got to be selective and I liked it... This time, it was the war issue that eliminated Lieberman. I think that if he loses by a big blast, he will be in big trouble." Marjorie Rosenthal, a 39-year-old pediatrician who voted for Joe Lieberman: "I think he's wrong about the war, but I think there are more issues than just that." She said she liked Lieberman's late attempts to explain his war position over the weekend, but added, "I think it's hard to believe what these people say in the eleventh hour."

-- Josh Benson

Jason Horowitz just called in from the Lieberman campaign trail to report that at the last couple of events this morning - at a diner and a library - there were dozens of media and a determined pack of high school students in Lieberman t-shirts... but not too many actual voters.

Still, in another sign that the Lieberman folks are remaining optimistic about the impact of Bill Clinton's splashy visit on their sagging fortunes, the hot new campaign accessory among staffers is a button picturing the senator and the former president labeled -- what else? -- The Hug.

Better, perhaps, than The Kiss. But less original.  read more »

-- Josh Benson

This morning, assistant managing editor and web editor Jake Brooks distributed a surprising email. (It follows after the jump.)

His email announced a stunning victory over the staff of Trader Monthly at last night's softball game in East River Park. This morning, the bullpen was abuzz.

"They were worthy competition," said politics reporter Jason Horowitz.

"Except for the girls," said intern Max Abelson. Hey now.

"There was one guy who basically slid the distance from first base to second base," said Mr. Horowitz.

Were any of the Trader Monthly fellows... well, hot?

"I'm no expert," said NYTV reporter Rebecca Dana. "There was one guy.... he was sort of bridge-and-tunnel-hot."

"They were really nice," said Mr. Brooks sternly.

"Except for the one," Ms. Dana said.

"Their two best players were on vacation," Mr. Brooks said.

And what about heat exhaustion incidents?

"I had one later that evening," Ms. Dana said. To wit: "I was exhausted and hot."

"Friendly!" said Mr. Horowitz. "Friendly bunch!"

"I hit a guy with a ball," said Michael Calderone, media and real estate reporter. Indeed he did. Right in the back. And: "There was a lot of glove sharing. And bat sharing."  read more »

"Athlete's hand!" said medical reporter Lizzy Ratner. "And fungus!"

Remember the Eliot Spitzer-John Whitehead pissing match that was all that was all over the New York Post just three months ago? Spitzer apparently apologized (sort of), at least to the businessmen who gathered in Felix Rohatyn's living room. In this week's Observer, Jason Horowitz relates the conversation:

"There was this big controversy with John Whitehead. He took it, he explained it, tried to explain," said Mr. Rohatyn, adding, "He understood that he'd made a mistake and we went on."

-Matthew Schuerman

Jason Horowitz has a story on Eliot Spitzer ongoing series of tutorials with captains of industry and big-headed wonks. Apparently, Spitzer is pretty eager to be governor already. -- Josh Benson  read more »

WEB HEDS: 07.19.06  

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Say what you will about Dan Gerstein, but he's a pro.

Here's what he told us a little while ago about the state of the race:

"It's an unfortunate reality in political journalism today that polls are a big driver of coverage and there is just no denying the gap we are facing in the polls. The good news is that most people aren't paying attention."

And here's what he said about the significance of the upcoming debate:

"In my view this is like opening night of the campaign. This is the first time of the two of these guys are side by side. If you discount the meeting in Mineola."

"There is a lot of pressure here for [Spitzer] to nip this in the bud."

This?

-- Jason Horowitz

David Yassky is about to receive the endorsement this afternoon of Thelma Davis, mother of slain Council Member James E. Davis, and another Brooklyn mother who lost a child to gun violence.

The endorsement is meant to underline Yassky's expertise in gun control, including his role in writing and passing the Brady Bill and Assault Weapons Ban as a congressional aide to then-Congressman Chuck Schumer.

While all of the candidates in the 11th are in favor of gun control, this is an area where Yassky's government experience seems to give him an advantage. It will be interesting to see whether something like this can get as much coverage as the racial narrative that everyone, including us, has been focusing on.

-- Jason Horowitz

About that fund-raiser Rupert Murdoch hosted for Hillary Clinton today: we heard that it went off as planned this morning at News Corp headquarters with about 60 people in attendance.

If anybody has additional details -- well, you know where to find us.

-- Jason Horowitz

Jason Horowitz's fine piece on the Lieberman-Lamont race in this week's Observer contains a stretcher, or 2, from N.Y. Congressman Anthony Weiner:

'[T]he Palestinian position seems to be perfect for the Internet world of pithy back-and-forth and 30-second You Tube tapes, where the Zionist position is more at home in a seven-page New York Review of Books article," said Representative Anthony Weiner, a pro-Israel hawk who opposes the war in Iraq.

Well, first of all, Weiner voted for the war in Iraq when it mattered, October 2002. Changed his mind later, after all the bloodshed began.

And as for the New York Review of Books, it has been the most courageous voice in this country in questioning the U.S.'s blind support of Israel. Look at Tony Judt's now-famous stunner in 2003 calling for a binational state in Palestine, or Michael Massing's exploration of the power of AIPAC over Congress, which has been cited again and again by critics of the lobby, or Henry Siegman's call in April for U.S. pressure on Israel to negotiate with Hamas. Now that is pithy.

Jason Horowitz has a piece on the Joe Lieberman race in which the senator yells at staffers over an event gone awry, supporters see anti-Semitic strains in the anti-war opposition, Ned Lamont eats potato skins and Anthony Weiner assesses a disconnect between internet liberals and Israel:

"We do have a problem with progressives and those in the blogosphere, because the Palestinian position seems to be perfect for the Internet world of pithy back-and-forth and 30-second You Tube tapes, where the Zionist position is more at home in a seven-page New York Review of Books article."

Read the whole thing here.

At a press conference today to celebrate the extension of a landscaped promenade on West Street - (just who are these cynics who say that there's been no progress in the area around Ground Zero?) -- Jason Horowitz caught up with George Pataki to ask whether he planned to do any more fundraising for John Faso.

There has been some grumbling among Faso supporters, as the Republican nominee struggles to raise money ahead of Tuesday's deadline, that the governor hasn't done enough.

Pataki's answer: "I've transferred funds from my campaign to his campaign and I do intend to help."

So Faso has that going for him.

-- Josh Benson

In a conversation yesterday with Chuck Schumer, Jason Horowitz got a little more insight into the book the senator plans to publish this January about the failure of both political parties to speak to voter concerns in the wireless internet age.

Technology, Schumer told Horowitz, had "changed everything," and had "created the war on terror."

The trick for Democrats to appeal to contemporary voters, he suggested, would be to govern without being beholden to interest groups. As an example, Schumer singled out the ACLU as the architect of the Democrats' doom during the Ronald Reagan years:

"When I got to Washington, crime was ripping apart my district. And I wanted to do something about it. People's whole life-savings was being ruined by crime. And I get here, and the Democrats have been in power for 50 years, 1981, and who is writing crime policy? Not just at the table, but writing it? The ACLU. And the ACLU had a view, some people have it, that -- let 1,000 innocent people go free lest you convict one innocent person. And it was amazing to me, and I saw why people voted for Ronald Reagan."

Schumer, who is in the midst of an effort to make a dent in the GOP's Senate majority, concluded that Reagan "had a point" at the time, but said that that rationale for voters after years of Republican rule was now "gone."

In a bit a strategic restraint, Schumer left unspoken the formulation he'd used in an interview the Times last month, when he concluded, "What Bill Clinton did was modify Reagan Republicanism and put a Democratic face on it. That's not going to work."

-- Josh Benson

As the Post reported today, A report ranking New York City's school system at the bottom of the country's largest school districts seems like the first speed bump in a while for what has been a long, smooth road of of good news for Mayor Bloomberg.

Perhaps most disturbing about the 2002- 20003 data are the serious disparities in graduation rates across racial and ethnic groups.

- Jason Horowitz

Jason Horowitz visits Suozziland.

Anna Schneider-Mayerson digs into Mark Green's contributors.

Observer Classics features Mike Bloomberg and Mark Green.

Joe Conason uncovers congressional hypocrisy.

Maybe the question shouldn't be why Rudy Giuliani should run for president, but why not?

RudyBlogger reacted to Jason Horowitz's piece about the beginning of the end of the post-9/11 Giuliani bubble by comparing the former mayor to Douglas MacArthur and Colin Powell -- national heroes who wound up sidelined after opting for "popularity over a down-and-dirty run for the presidency."

The conclusion:

Our political system has but one currency and that is power. Not popularity, but power. And you either have it or you don't. (Certainly Rudy-watchers must concede that power is something Hizzoner understands.) When it comes to making your mark in history, there is still no substitute for the Presidency.

-- Josh Benson

Jason Horowitz asks if this is the beginning of the end of Rudy's bubble.

Anna Schneider-Mayerson reports that Karl Rove learned via blackberry that he would not be charged with a crime.

Matthew Schuerman reports on the courting of the 2008 Democratic convention.

In Opinions, Joe Conason, Niall Stanage and Richard Brookhiser share their sentiments.

And David Yassky in the editorials.

Jason Horowitz reports on Iraq as rhetorical quagmire for New York's politicians.

Anna Schneider-Mayerson reports on Andrew Cuomo's private sector dealings.

Jason Horowitz and Nicole Brydson report on Bill Weld's withdrawal from the race for Governor.

Joe Conason writes it's politics as usual, instead of security.

Michael MacDonald writes in favor of public financing.

Jason Horowitz reports on Weld's post-convention barbeque.

Sheelah Kolhatkar asks where the marchers have gone.

Nicholas von Hoffman writes about English as a second language.

In the Editorials: Homeland Security and charter schools.  read more »

Jason Horowitz writes about the proliferation of Mike Bloomberg.

Niall Stanage thinks fueling Bloomberg '08 will prevent the Mayor from becoming lame.

Sheelah Kolhatkar and Anna Schneider-Mayerson write about Henry Paulson Jr.

Joe Conason digs into the obsession with the Clinton marriage.

Matthew Schuerman reports on Christine Quinn's Altantic Yards dance.

Richard Brookhiser thinks the Republicans have betrayed their contract.

Bloomberg and Pataki in the editorials.  read more »

Jason Horowitz reports on John McCain's big week in New York.

Observer Classics features Josh Benson on Al Gore.

Joe Conason doesn't think anyone is laughing at Al Gore anymore.

Julia Gorin doesn't believe the right should embrace Hillary.

Anna Schneider-Mayerson reports on Scooter Libby's difficult defense.

Jason Moring rounds up political self-help books for Democrats.

Michael Calderone and Tom McGeveran write about the Tower of Mike.  read more »

In the editorials: the Pataki legacy.

Things got off to an interesting start at the New School graduation ceremony at Madison Square Garden, where John McCain is set to give an address.

Jason Horowitz just called in to say that a student who was scheduled to perform a song and give a short speech departed from her prepared remarks at the beginning of the event to deliver a somewhat ruder introduction than school officials were expecting.

After finishing her song - it was about world peace - the student laid into the Senator from Arizona, saying that he didn't reflect the ideals of the university, and objected to his support of the war in Iraq.

McCain was about five feet away at the time. He didn't seem to have much of an immediate reaction.

The student returned to her seat with her arms raised in triumph as the crowd applauded.

Said New School President Bob Kerrey when he got to the microphone moment later: "We're having fun now, aren't we?"

We'll bring you reaction from McCain - who used a speech earlier this week to call for civility among people who disagree over the war - shortly.

Jason Horowitz asks if Hillary Clinton has a secret plan for war in Iraq.

Joe Conason thinks the President's decision to dispatch National Guard troops to the border smells of desperation.

Richard Brookhiser writes that George Bush's immigration policy sounds like that of John Kerry.  read more »

And the World Trade Memorial and the UFT in the editorials.

Amid heavy rain and scattered protests, John McCain trotted out the latest preview of his 2008 Blue State speech on the South Lawn at Columbia University this morning.

Here's what he said about the war in Iraq, read over the phone from the prepared text by a soaked and somewhat gloomy Jason Horowitz:

I believe the benefits of success will justify the costs and risks we have incurred. But if an American feels the decision was unwise, then they should state their opposition and argue for another course. It's your right and your obligation. I respect you for it. But I ask that you consider the possibility that I, too, am trying to meet my responsibilities, to follow my conscience, to do my duty as best as I can as God has given me light to see that duty.

Americans deserve more than tolerance from one another, we deserve each other's respect whether we think each other right or wrong in our views. As long as our character and our sincerity merit respect, and as long as we share, for all our differences, for all the noisy debates that enliven our politics, a mutual devotion to the sublime idea that this nation was conceived - that freedom is the inaliable right of mankind and in accord with the laws of nature and nature's creator.

The trick for McCain in 2008 will be to rekindle the fascination he held in 2000 for moderates and some liberals despite that fact that he sounds more hawkish than the Bush administration on Iraq and has embraced unapologetically conservative positions on social issues like gay rights and the teaching of evolution in schools.

Using today's magnanimous-sounding appeal today to the inner Marquis of Queensbury in every American as a template, it's not hard to see McCain's plan to maintain his appeal to the broad middle. No voters