Politirazzi

Seriously, how famous is Shepard Fairey now?

The artist's iconic image of Barack Obama has seamlessly translated to French politics. And with a chilling effect.

— Emily Ngo

Gawker makes a very, very fair point: Why does Obama's podium hate women?

— Emily Ngo

(AP)

The announcement of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state to the Obama administration thrills those who view rivalry and competition as the essential element in achievement.

Some political analysts consider the Clinton appointment — in combination with the continuation of Robert Gates as defense secretary — a great risk, but Obama’s “team of rivals” reflects the reality that the United States is not a homogeneous country.

By naming Clinton to a position she is very much qualified for, President-elect Barack Obama demonstrates confidence, trust and ambition.

— Emily Ngo

By Jason Fink

City Councilwoman Jessica Lappin may throw her hat in the ring for public advocate, a member of her staff said.

Lappin (D-Manhattan) is “strongly considering” joining a crowded field to replace Betsy Gotbaum, who does not plan to seek re-election, according to the staff member.

Also expected to run in the Democratic primary next year are Council members Eric Gioia, (D-Sunnyside); Bill de Blasio, (D-Brooklyn); John Liu, (D-Flushing); attorney Norman Siegel and Assemb. Adam Clayton Powell, (D-Manhattan).

Lappin, 33, served as chief of staff to former Council Speaker Gifford Miller before winning election in 2005. She represents the Upper East Side.

In an interview last week, before she made her intentions for higher office known, Lappin said she has spent her time in the council pushing for more park space, tightened safety regulations for construction cranes and more schools in her district.

The public advocate, a position created in 1993, presides over City Council meetings and serves as an ombudsman for city government.

It is one of two citywide elected offices expected to open up next year, as City Comptroller William Thompson plans to run for mayor.

Robert Gates and Peter Orszag are the last to be named to the Obama administration but there's little overlooking the other candidates' link to President Bill Clinton's inner circle.

Here's amNewYork's breakdown:

Secretary of state: Hillary Clinton

White House chief of staff: Rahm Emanuel, a former senior adviser to Bill Clinton

Attorney general: Eric H. Holder Jr., deputy attorney general with the Clinton administration

Secretary of commerce: Bill Richardson, Clinton’s energy secretary

Director of the National Economic Council: Lawrence Summers, Treasury secretary in the final year of the Clinton administration

White House counsel: Gregory Craig, Clinton’s impeachment lawyer

Image via Flickr

President-elect Barack Obama certainly knows how to have a little fun. The hardcore White Sox fan this week split the press at his conferences into "White Sox" and "Cubs" sections. The Southside heroes were on right, and the Northside zeroes on his left (pardon my bias), but the reporters' designations seemed arbitrary.

— Emily Ngo

Though Kevin Johnson will likely feel the income tax bite under Obama, he has donated time and money to the Democrat's campaign. (RJ Mickelson/amNY)

By Emily Ngo

Kevin Johnson cast a ballot for Barack Obama knowing he was likely casting away thousands of his own tax dollars.

The 31-year-old radiologist believes the price is worth a stronger America.

“It’s a shared sacrifice and a shared responsibility,” said Johnson, a Manhattan resident and a member of the 3,200-strong Doctors for Obama group. “I’m fully aware of what it will cost me, but this much is expected of us.”

While the vast majority of working Americans would see tax relief under President-elect Obama’s plan, 5 percent — individuals earning more than $200,000 and households earning more than $250,000 — would see a significant hike. If Obama’s proposal becomes reality, taxes for the top two income tiers would rise from 33 percent and 35 percent to 36 percent and 39.6 percent.

Still, Obama’s appeal has resounded with the well-off. Americans in the $200,000-plus bracket voted for the nation’s first black president over John McCain 52 percent to 46 percent, according to CNN. Celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey and Warren Buffett who would pay millions more in income taxes, turned out in droves to elect the Democrat. And support groups such as Young American Scientists for Obama and Investment Bankers for Obama popped up on the Internet.

“The notion that at the national level rich people vote for Republicans because they cut their taxes, it’s just wrong,” said Daniel Gross, an economics expert with Newsweek and Slate. “For a lot of well-off people, there’s a lot more to life than marginal tax rates and capital gains.

Continue reading "New York's well-off: Yes, we can pay taxes" »

By Jason Fink

With Sen. Hillary Clinton all but assured of getting the nod to become President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of state, the speculation now is that New York’s attorney general, Andrew Cuomo, is the front-runner to be her replacement.

One news Website, examiner.com, proclaimed Cuomo the “all but certain” choice for the seat, though several people yesterday cautioned that the report is jumping the gun.

“I think you have to take the governor at his word that he will make a decision when the vacancy occurs,” said Evan Stavisky, a Democratic political consultant based in New York.

By all accounts, Gov. David Paterson, who will appoint Clinton’s replacement, is keeping it close to the vest. As he eyes his own re-election bid in two years, Paterson needs to consider crucial political constituencies — upstate voters, the state’s Hispanic political leadership, and women.

“Getting Cuomo out of the state may be wise for Paterson,” said Bruce Berg, chairman of the political science department at Fordham University.

Cuomo ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2002 and has been viewed as a possible rival to Paterson in 2010.

Berg also suggested Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn), one of the other names that have cropped up repeatedly.

“She might do far more for Paterson’s re-election chances in gaining support from Hispanic New Yorkers,” he said.

A Paterson spokeswoman today did not respond to a request for comment and the governor has said publicly only that he will not select himself.

“At this point, it’s all speculation,” said John Milgram, Cuomo’s press secretary.

A Marist poll released last week showed Cuomo with the support of 43 percent of respondents, far higher than the other contenders in the survey: Velazquez, Rep. Steve Israel (D-Happaugue), Rep. Nita Lowey (D-White Plains) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens).

By Meg Boyle

Because it's never too late to reminisce.

Grading the Election
(Yes! The Whole Thing!)

Demerit: Super Delegates
Go ahead, America, vote your conscience. If we don’t agree with you, we can just hand the nomination to another candidate. After all, we know better than you do about these things. We’re Democrats.

Gold Star: Huckabee Plays the Bass
In a band called Capitol Offense. Amazing.

Demerit: Rudy
Sir, I know Iowa is cold in the winter. No, you’re right, Florida is much warmer. Sunnier, too, yes. No, I get it, really. But couldn’t we … no? Um, sir, you’re going to have to campaign in more than one state. What was that? I missed a spot? Oh, sorry! Can we have an aide get me more suntan lotion?

Continue reading "Grading the election" »

By Jason Fink

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani may now have his sights set on Albany and is also not discounting a second shot at the White House.

With the state Republican party badly wounded following this month’s Democratic landslide, the hard-charging former two-term mayor is emerging as the favorite to lead the GOP back to power as a candidate for governor in 2010.

“He’s an impact player, he’s a game changer,” said Assemb. James Tedisco (R-Schenectady), the minority leader. “He could put the Republicans back on the map.”

Asked about the possibility of a gubernatorial run following a speech in Dubai, Giuliani left the door open.

“I don’t know if I’d be interested in it, but I’ll think about it when the right time comes along,” he said.

“No one knows whether you’ll do something again until you come to the point of: ‘Is it possible to do it again? Would you have a chance of winning?’” he said of a second White House bid.

Even if he decides to return to public service, there are doubts as to whether Giuliani could translate his strength as a tough law-and-order mayor into votes when Americans are now more concerned about the economy and jobs than about crime and terrorism.

“It’s very clear after the last election that it’s the economy. He’s going to have to focus on that,” said John Friscia, chairman of the Staten Island Republican Party.

Continue reading "Giuliani looking to make a comeback?" »

There were enough dirty rumors floating around this election season to last Politirazzi several lifetimes. Though no one was gullible enough to believe them all, some were pretty ... believable. In the vein of Ashton Kutcher's "Punk'd" spinoff that lured paparazzi with faux celebrity news, the New York Times has uncovered a faux blogger.

He's the one who sparked the Palin-doesn't-know-Africa-is-a-continent rumor. It certainly caught on. Blame that info-hungry blogosphere. Curse you, info-hungry blogosphere.

— Emily Ngo

Thanks to clever marketing, President-elect Barack Obama's signature logo and slogans will be recognizable for generations to come. The font used in his "Change" and "Hope" signs is Gotham, a typeface that has exploded in popularity. It's now even more widely used in non-political fields.

Rocdove has come up with an Obama graphic generator, and though, the application has seen some technical difficulties, it was pretty cool while it lasted.

— Emily Ngo

By Emily Ngo

Just one week after Election Day, Sarah Palin is reversing course on something she was criticized for: not granting media interviews.

The former GOP vice presidential nominee spoke with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren Monday and NBC’s “Today” host Matt Lauer Tuesday and is scheduled to appear with Wolf Blitzer on CNN Wednesday.

“I think the economic collapse had a heckuva lot more to do with the campaign’s collapse than me personally,” the Alaska governor told Lauer.

The 44-year-old mother of five said she resents claims that she torpedoed John McCain’s presidential hopes: “It’s pretty brutal.”

Without the McCain campaign orchestrating her steps, Palin is speaking out as a matter of self-preservation, said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University.

“She feels that her reputation has been damaged,” Bystrom said. “It may be as simple as wanting to rehabilitate her image and go on being governor of Alaska, or it could be as broad as, ‘I want to have a political future beyond being governor of Alaska.’ ”

Continue reading "Palin facing media to save face?" »

(AP)

By Bragg Van Antwerp

Like many, I watched with interest Monday as President-elect Obama visited President Bush at the White House.

While watching the video and seeing the pictures of Bush and Obama, I was sincerely moved. Sometimes the beauty of our democracy is apparent when I would least expect it, and Monday was a wonderful example of so much of what makes our country great.

When I read that Bush and Obama had talked for nearly two hours — but without any aides, note-takers, etc. — literally alone — I was again somewhat awed by the largeness of the moment. Here were only the 43rd and soon-to-be 44th people to hold this office in the history of our country, talking in a refreshingly frank, open (and presumably off-the-record) manner.

Continue reading "Disappointed in leak of Bush, Obama talk" »

For those of you suffering election withdrawal, here's what appears to be a political social networking site to find others in the same position. Politics 4 All covers much of the presidential race, but hosts discussions about local politics as well. Just a reminder that there's more to politics than the presidential election.

And if you're just in need of a laugh:

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

— Emily Ngo

Does your living room look like this? (AP)

By Jason Fink

For those New Yorkers whose ideal Friday night date has become MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and her wry smirk, or were riveted when John King worked his magic on CNN’s slick wall-mounted electoral map, the end of the election means one thing: Campaign withdrawal.

Though millions across the city cheered and danced in the streets after Barack Obama won the presidency, an undercurrent of anxiety permeated the excitement. After all, the presidential campaign that began more than a year ago and has since dominated cable news and the blogosphere virtually 24/7 is now over.

“It’s kind of taken over my life,” said William Harvey, 25, of Washington Heights. “There will be withdrawal. I’m kind of addicted to it.”

Harvey, a violinist and staunch Obama supporter, said during the long campaign season he spent two to four hours a day reading political coverage on the Internet. He conceded the end of the election will free up more time to practice his instrument but said it might negatively impact his social life.

“There are some people who I won’t know what to talk about with,” he said.

Dr. Petros Levounis, director of the Addiction Institute of New York at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, said such obsessions stimulate the pleasure-reward pathways in the brain, working in a similar way to drugs or alcohol.

Continue reading "For political junkies, now is the withdrawal" »

Expats watch the returns at the swank coffee shop Choka La in south Delhi. Below, a girl shows her U.S. pride. (Mary Bowers)

By Kristen V. Brown
Special to amNewYork

Tucked away on a dusty side street of a deserted New Delhi shopping center, 100 or so Obama fans crammed into a small coffee house, eyes fixed firmly on CNN reporters as the West Coast polls neared closing.

With all the fervor of New Year’s Eve — party hats, Statue of Liberty tiaras and all – the entire room counted down the seconds. At 10:30 a.m. Indian Standard Time, CNN declared Barack Obama the next president of the United States. The Democrats of India’s capitol city went wild.

“Don’t you feel proud as a country,” asked Priya Malhotra, a New Yorker and Indian native on a visit home.

Karsten Thomas Strauss, a Columbia University graduate student interning at The Economic Times in Delhi, was elated.

“Being here with other Americans is great,” said Strauss. “The crowd has kind of exploded here, you wouldn’t find this kind of energy sitting at just any coffee bar in Delhi.”

According to the U.S. State Department’s 2005 estimates, 6.6 million Americans live abroad, making the overseas constituency the size of the 13th largest state, after Virginia. Of those, 57,000 expat voters reside in South Asian countries like India, where more than 500 voters watched the election in India's major cities.

The morning election watch was just one in a series of election events hosted by the Indian chapter of Democrats Abroad, the official overseas branch of the U.S. Democratic Party.

Earlier this season the group registered American voters in Delhi’s bustling Khan market, broadcast the debates, and played games like Palin bingo (yelling bingo every time Palin used words like “hockey mom” and “Joe Six-Pack” during the VP debate).

Continue reading "In New Delhi, New Yorkers savor win" »

(AP)

By Julie Gordon

Michelle Obama’s red-and-black election night frock may have inched her further away from her burgeoning Jackie O. style status — and closer into Mrs. O. No territory.

The future first lady — who has been praised in the past for her sophisticated, figure-flattering (and often affordable) choices — wore a Narciso Rodriguez dress Tuesday night that some called a fashion disaster. The look came straight from the American designer’s spring 2009 runway, though it was shown sans Michelle’s black cardigan.

“Oh, it was terrible. It certainly didn’t equal what the historic moment was,” said Peter Ishkhans, host of the Style Network’s “Peter Perfect.”

James Aguiar, host of ULTRA HD’s “Full Frontal Fashion,” called the dress a “rare misstep.”

The black, satin wrapping at the bodice cut her in two parts, making her look larger than she really is, he said.

“And satin is hard on television because it shows lumps,” he added.

Michelle could have benefited from a simple, form-fitting dress or a wrap style a la designer Diane von Furstenberg, Ishkhans said. He noted that the Rodriguez piece didn’t fit properly, with material bunching.

However, some commentators and members of the blogosphere praised Michelle’s choice.

Continue reading "Did Michelle dress like a mess?" »

Unable to find a copy of Wednesday’s New York Times with news of Barack Obama's historic victory on the cover?

You're not alone: Copies flew off newsstands as fast as they arrived and the paper was sold out at stores throughout the city by mid-morning.

Copies of the Daily News, New York Post, and amNewYork were also in short supply, quickly snapped up by New Yorkers looking for news and perhaps details on the election and souvenir to remember it by. (The Times printed 50,000 more copies Wednesday afternoon.)

Continue reading "$100+ for Wednesday's history-marking NYT?" »