NY Observer > Jonathan Tasini http://www.observer.com/taxonomy/term/25570/feed Articles from Observer.com en Former Clinton Opponent Says It's (Still) About the War http://www.observer.com/2008/tasini-its-still-about-war Here's Jonathan Tasini, Hillary Clinton’s Democratic primary opponent in the 2006 Senate race, who I saw at a Barack Obama rally in Harlem over the weekend.
 read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/tasini-its-still-about-war#comments Politics Barack Obama Hillary Clinton Jonathan Tasini Tue, 13 May 2008 13:41:23 -0400 Azi Paybarah 69141 at http://www.observer.com Waist Deep in the Big Muddy http://www.observer.com/node/30166 The anti-war activists Jonathan Tasini was looking for during his primary challenge to Hillary Clinton may finally emerge this weekend as the Working Families Party is films an anti-war ad this Saturday in Prospect Park.

They're looking for volunteers to lip sync a Pete Seeger song for the shoot and help "send a message to Washington bring the troops home from Iraq."

-- Azi Paybarah ]]> http://www.observer.com/node/30166#comments Politics Hillary Clinton Jonathan Tasini Pete Seeger Prospect Park Fri, 22 Sep 2006 05:52:03 -0400 Observer Staff 30166 at http://www.observer.com Tasini Goes Green, Site Goes Dark http://www.observer.com/node/30128 Before Jonathan Tasini announced his decision today to endorse the Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate over Hillary Clinton, there was a lively debate on his campaign blog about what he should do.

Of the 75 commenters, most agreed with "Benno," who said that "Hillary has demonstrated that she DOES NOT WANT OUR SUPPORT!"

But another commenter, John Halle, warned Tasini risked looking like Joe Lieberman if he stayed in the Democratic Party while opposing the Democratic candidate.

Jonathan is required, technically, to support his party's nominee. It would be hypocritical for those of us who are criticizing Lieberman for abandoning the Dems when the vote goes against him [to tell] Jonathan to do the same. If Jonathan stays in the party but does not support the nominee, he will be permanently tainted, as Lieberman should be, by his sabotage of the campaign. Given this predicament, Jonathan should use this opportunity to withdraw from the Dems...

And in true Joe Lieberman fashion, Tasini's website now appears to be down.

Conspiracy anyone? -- Azi Paybarah]]> http://www.observer.com/node/30128#comments Politics Hillary Clinton John Halle Jonathan Tasini Joseph Lieberman Tue, 19 Sep 2006 05:46:30 -0400 Observer Staff 30128 at http://www.observer.com What Happens Next http://www.observer.com/node/30062 Literature has dropped, ads have aired, and consultants have spun. Now it's time for predictions.

Who gets more votes: Eliot Spitzer or Hillary Clinton? Andrew Cuomo or Mark Green? John Spencer or KT McFarland? Jonathan Tasini, Tom Suozzi or Sean Maloney? Charlie King or write-in candidates?

Who wins in Brooklyn's 11th Congressional district? By how much? Who wins in Brooklyn's 10th Congressional district? By how much?

Which of the state legislative races will produce the most surprising result?

Does Suozzi win Nassau?

Where does Maloney get the most votes? Where does King get the most votes?

Does Tasini get through to Hillary when he calls to concede? -- Azi Paybarah]]> http://www.observer.com/node/30062#comments Politics Brooklyn Jonathan Tasini Sean Maloney Thomas Suozzi Tue, 12 Sep 2006 08:13:00 -0400 Observer Staff 30062 at http://www.observer.com Tasini Focused on His Own Opponent http://www.observer.com/node/30052 The novelty of beating Tom Suozzi in the opinion polls has worn off for Jonathan Tasini.

In July, Hillary's anti-war opponent could hardly contain himself upon learning of poll results showing him outperforming the Nassau County Executive among Democratic voters.

But today, as both he and Suozzi hovering around 10 percent in the polls, Tasini seemed determined to focus on his own ability to win votes against a powerful Senate incumbent rather than on the dubious prospect of narrowly outperforming the prospective loser of the governor's race.

"Every vote I get is a vote against an incumbent who voted for the war," he said. "I don't measure our success against what Tom Suozzi does. I really don't."

Tasini will maintain a frantic pace through his last day of campaigning tomorrow, starting with an event at 6:00 a.m. at the Coalition School for Social Change on W. 58th St. -- Azi Paybarah]]> http://www.observer.com/node/30052#comments Politics Coalition School Jonathan Tasini Thomas Suozzi Mon, 11 Sep 2006 11:17:33 -0400 Observer Staff 30052 at http://www.observer.com Elsewhere: Hillary, Rudy, Ada http://www.observer.com/node/30034
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A CNN poll says voters are itching to see Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani square off in 2008.

That is, if Hillary can get past her primary opponent, Jonathan Tasini, who was endorsed by Gay City News.

The Observer's Theodore Bressman caught up with Rep. Jerry Nadler today, who announced legislation to help people whose health was impacted by 9/11. "I cannot stand idly by while the EPA and the federal government treat New York like a petri dish left unattended," said Nadler. Ben has a read on the 11th congressional race's untold story: the split white vote.

Courier-Life decides to not endorse anyone in that race.

Upstate congressional races are not so close anymore.

Greg Sargent has Bill Clinton's letter objecting to ABC's docudrama which blames him for 9/11.

Blabbeando has an item about the role of the outspoken Rev. Ruben Diaz in the state senate race in Jackson Heights.

The new editor of The Village Voice told his staff today no more layoffs are expected.

Jewish Press, which normally has the voice and ear of Speaker Sheldon Silver, says they want George Pataki to reappoint Jeff Weisenfeld as a trustee of CUNY. School is back is session after all.

My old publisher takes a swipe at Ada Smith, the beleaguered state senator, saying she "is no lady."

Room 8's Adam Green delivers the news in his own special way.

And pictured above is the letter from Manhattan DA Bob Morgenthau praising Andrew Cuomo for "three years of public service." Although the issue of his tenure still seems strangely debatable. -- Azi Paybarah]]> http://www.observer.com/node/30034#comments Politics Cable News Network LP LLLP Hillary Clinton Jonathan Tasini Rudolph Giuliani Thu, 07 Sep 2006 13:26:32 -0400 Observer Staff 30034 at http://www.observer.com Events for September 4, 2006 http://www.observer.com/node/30000 Al Sharpton shares his thoughts with Inside City Hall tonight.

Jonathan Tasini wraps up a speech at Sarah Lawrence College.

The Harlem Republican Club's Labor Day Barbecue goes on until 8 p.m.

And at 11, C-SPAN shows a live performance of the play called, The Pundit Whodunit: The Case of the Political Puzzle.

-- Azi Paybarah]]> http://www.observer.com/node/30000#comments Politics Al Sharpton Jonathan Tasini National Cable Satellite Corporation Sarah Lawrence College Mon, 04 Sep 2006 13:58:29 -0400 Observer Staff 30000 at http://www.observer.com Elsewhere: Hillary, Faso, Pooches http://www.observer.com/node/29999
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Glenn Thrush notes Hillary Clinton isn't planning a victory party for next week's primary against Jonathan Tasini. But one is expected later this year, if "she manages -- somehow -- to pull off a win in November."

Hoping to pull off a win in November is CT. Rep. Christopher Shays, who said yesterday about Iraq: "I haven't changed my position one bit." Greg Sargent, using earlier quotes from Shays, disagrees.

Also looking for something to hope for this November is a Republican volunteer who went to John Faso's campaign office and found "that nobody was there. THIS IS NO WAY TO RUN AN OFFICE!!!!"

President Bush once looked out at the Bill Clinton's Presidential Library, and thought out loud, "A submarine could take this place out."

The president of the AFL-CIO, John Sweeney, thinks "This Labor Day, it appears that a 'perfect storm' is gathering that may well sweep away Republican control of the Congress this fall."

After the Anti-Defamation League found anti-Semitic remarks on MoveOn's website, the activist group is now "working to discern whether they were made as part of a right-wing campaign to target our organization."

And a reader sends in proof that Eliot Spitzer has support from at least one of the state's four-legged constituents.

-- Azi Paybarah]]> http://www.observer.com/node/29999#comments Politics Christopher Shays Glenn Thrush Hillary Clinton Jonathan Tasini Mon, 04 Sep 2006 13:30:35 -0400 Observer Staff 29999 at http://www.observer.com Tasini's Chicken http://www.observer.com/node/29995
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In place of the colorful West Indian Day Parade pictures you were expecting, here is an image of a Hillary Clinton heckler unhappy that she's not debating Jonathan Tasini.

Points for effort, if not originality. But the chicken costume - which was once deployed during one of Bill Clinton's campaigns - may not get Hillary to the podium.

In their endorsement of Hillary on Sunday, the Times wrote, "we are sorry that Mrs. Clinton did not respond to his demands for a debate." Which sounds pretty final.

-- Azi Paybarah]]> http://www.observer.com/node/29995#comments Politics Bill Clinton Hillary Clinton Jonathan Tasini Mon, 04 Sep 2006 10:00:00 -0400 Observer Staff 29995 at http://www.observer.com Sheehan Radio http://www.observer.com/node/29976
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Jonathan Tasini pulled out the Cindy Sheehan card, using the anti-war mom to record a new radio for his campaign.

"My son was killed in this immoral war. New Yorkers deserve a debate about Hillary Clinton's role in supporting the war and occupation. She should stop dodging the Democratic debate."

I wonder if Sheehan's anti-war message is as effective as Rep. John Murtha's?

The 30-second Sheehan ad is here. -- Azi Paybarah]]> http://www.observer.com/node/29976#comments Politics Cindy Sheehan Hillary Clinton John Murtha Jonathan Tasini Thu, 31 Aug 2006 08:10:05 -0400 Observer Staff 29976 at http://www.observer.com