Behind an Early Endorsement
The decision by the Jewish Press, the politically conservative, denominationally Orthodox Brooklyn weekly, to endorse Eliot Spitzer in February raised some eyebrows. Like most papers, they usually endorse a few days or weeks before an election.
But one person familiar with the paper's workings said the endorsement didn't just come out of the blue. Spitzer and Shelly Silver met with the paper's editors last Friday, and pushed hard for the early endorsement. Part, it seems, of a strategy of trying to cut Tom Suozzi off at every pass.
I understand that Shelly Silver has a bill in Albany to cancle all elections and allow family members and staffers to succed legislatures as a right of birth. His bill will also allow eleted officials to take on outside jobs as lobbyists and government contractors.
I guess Spitzer won't be doing anything to prohibit mohels from infecting infants either.
smart move! Spitzer and Silver: The S & S Boys (like Mantle and Maris the M & M boys) are giving a demonstration of political competence. If this continues and they get to do governmental competence too, New York will be really lucky!
1) The Spitzer strategy at this point seems to be to create the appearance of a fair acompli so that people just assume he's the nominee presumptove and that Suozzi is a mere nuisance candidate (in the Melvin Klenetsky mode). Every constituency group (black, Orthodox Jews, pro-choicers) is being marshalled to the cause, and they go willingly, some because they want so desparately to win (and who can blaim them) and some because they want so desparately to be with whoever they see as the prohibitively presumptive governor.
2) The edorsement by the JP proves that, however conservative they may be on social issues, the Orthodox establishment is more interested in being on the side that's winning, with all that entails, than with any social agenda. Or as one Rabbi once said "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's". Or was that render unto Spitzer?
(I understand that Shelly Silver has a bill in Albany to cancle all elections and allow family members and staffers to succed legislatures as a right of birth. His bill will also allow eleted officials to take on outside jobs as lobbyists and government contractors.)
I understand the bill is bi-partisan, and I hope it passes, as an honest system would be less offensive than the sham we have now.
Perhaps that's behind Pataki's hospitalization -- he's having the location of politcal conscience removed. It hasn't been used for much as the species has evolved, but they're worried that because it's still there there is always conern it might act up and cause a problem.
Where does suozzi get any votes. He's a charmimg guy, but the primary voters are already bought and sold. The race is a suicide mission. Perhaps he feels you cant kill the dead and that he's already gone "all in".
Suozzi could turn this whole thing into a positive if he could contain his ego.
The Jewish Press has the disconcerting habit of keeping one eye on ad sales, and the other on electability - which doesn't leave much attention for issues and policy.
It's not that you can buy the JP endorsement just by committing to a certain amount of advertising, but without meeting their threshold you can't hope to snare it in a competitive race.
Some good analysis here. I like the fact that Spitzer is seeking endorsements and not taking anything for granted. And, if he is serious about reform, and is working with Silver, it could be a good thing. I think Shelly could be for reform, he just has no idea where to start.
1:06: Astute observations. When a liberal paper or group does this, I accurately call them a whore. When conservatives do this, I prefer to congratulate them on their pragmatism, and be thankful.
The Jewish Press are LOSERS!
http://yeshivaworld.blogspot.com/2006/02/jewish-press-governor-endorsement.html
And so is Shelly!
http://yeshivaworld.blogspot.com/2006/02/shelly-silver-shakes-down-jp.html
Gatemouth, I wondered if there was anyone left with objectivity. Indeed, I concur with your conclusions.
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Three phrases should be among the most common in our daily usage. They are: Thank you, I am grateful and I appreciate.
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The Jewish Press has the disconcerting habit of keeping one eye on ad sales, and the other on electability - which doesn't leave much attention for issues and policy.