E.J. Kessler

In The Observer's political pages,I take a look at who's trying to start a Bloomberg '08 buzz, and why, and entertain the notion semi-seriously for a few paragraphs. (Um, Happy Birthday, Mr. Mayor?)

Also, E.J. Kessler is underwhelmed by Pat Manning and Joe Conason writes on Dick Cheney.

Elsewhere in the paper, Jason Horowitz looks into the Met's antiquities problems and Matt Schuerman finds a controversy on Brooklyn's Fulton Street.

I take a look at Andrew Cuomo's non-campaign campaign in a story that tries to parse his issue advocacy, his political work, and his major supporter: Local 1199.

And Roberto Ramirez comes out of hiding to meet Jess and me in the neighborhood, talk up Freddy's prospects, and drop a hint: he's thinking of running for office again.

In the same article, Jess examines some data from an exclusive Pace University poll that has more bad news for Freddy.

The poll also turns up some interesting data for Matt Schuerman on the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, which has more supporters than opponents, with strong backing by Brooklynites (50%) and blacks (59%).

In a separate piece, Matt asks the inevitable question: Mike may suddenly be talking about Ground Zero again, but is it just talk?

The Observer's rockin' coverage of the mess at the Times continues.  read more »

E.J. Kessler looks at the divided labor movement.

And The Observer's edit heads endorse Mike....while, quietly, The Politicker remains committed to Jimmy McMillan.

Jason Horowitz and I accost Jeanine Pirro around the corner from The Observer office, and we get an earful about her coming campaign to unseat Hillary. Primaries? Fuhgettaboudit!

Then Jason checks in on Mayor Michael Bloomberg's volunteer campaign corps, which may be the largest the city has ever seen. Critics and rivals wonder whether the 25,000 figure the mayor is floating is true...and how he's been keeping them all in coffee.  read more »

Over in Wise Guys, E.J. Kessler chats with John Faso, the former State Assembly minority leader, and argues that, in the absence of a big banner name (like, say, Giuliani), Mr. Faso could be might be the most viable Republican candidate to run against Eliot Spitzer.

And Matthew Schuerman examines the decision that Governor Pataki must make before Sept. 11 rolls around again: whether to keep the controversial International Freedom Center at Ground Zero.

The Forward's E.J. Kessler wonders:

"Have I been under water, or has mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner dropped out of the news? Shouldn't we be seeing another anti-terrorism press release? Something? This is a mayoral campaign based on the premise 'I get ink, therefore I am,' after all."  read more »

He must be around here somewhere!