Diana Taylor
Bloomberg and Gallet
Just as new poll numbers revive speculation that Michael Bloomberg could successfully run for governor of New York in 2010, someone who wants to see Bloomberg run for another, higher office emailed this photo to fellow supporters.
It shows Bloomberg, top advisor Kevin Sheekey and the mayor's girlfriend Diana Taylor meeting Karin Gallet, an organizer in the movement to draft Bloomberg into the presidential race. The meeting took place after Bloomberg's public interview with Tom Brokaw at Cooper Union late last month.
While Bloomberg has talked down his interest in that race, he has demonstrated a willingness at least to be photographed for the cause.
Not Quite a Bloomberg Party
On September 27, Mike Bloomberg's significant other, Diana Taylor, and some of her notable friends will be hosting a fundraiser for Jeanine Pirro. An example, perhaps, of Mike Bloomberg keeping up his ostensible Republican ties without offending the sensibilities of certain Democrats running statewide. read more »
Others on the host committee for the event include Anne Eisenhower, Christy Ferer, Gail Hilson, Karin Luter, Bambi Lyman and Bettina Zilkha. It will be held in a private home on 5th Avenue.
—Nicole BrydsonThe Morning Read: May 23, 2006
Ada Smith gains the backing of the Democratic party in her re-election bid.
The Sun reports that Eliot Spitzer believes some hospitals should close, and that John Faso asked Diana Taylor to be his running mate.
The Albany Times Union reports Faso has chosen Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef as his running mate.
—Nicole BrydsonThe Morning Read: April 26, 2005
The Daily News reports on Eliot Spitzer and Diana Taylor's joint press conference.
And the Sun takes a look at the latest in Albany.
—Nicole BrydsonInner Circle
The theme of this year's Inner Circle Dinner, the City Hall version of the Gridiron, was "$pent," and Mike cooperated, with an extended skit with the cast of Spamalot that was harsher than any of the roasting the press had done earlier Saturday evening. The papers covered the main show, but there were a few details that didn't wind up in print.
They included Bill Cunningham laughing uproriously at a verion of Landslide that featured Patti Harris and Diana Taylor dueling over who really won the election for Mike and the Mayor taking a shot at Cheney (Mr. Vice President, you need a license for that," he says after a shot rings out.).
I didn' t see Freddy there, but he might have liked it. "I wish I had those ideas," Mike says at one point of some policy planks of Ferrer's. "You will," says Sheekey. The Mayor also describes his vast volunteer operation as "50,000 volunteers -- give or take 20,000."
The Sun and NY1 News were the media outlets taking particular shots from the Mayor: "I don't recognize you." "That's because I'm on New York One," goes one exchange. (Though I'm not sure not being mentioned at all is such a good thing either.)
It's V-Day, Dammit!
Spin Cycle: Sheekey Up, Weld Down
[Note: We now have an "extended entry" feature, which means that if you want to read this whole item, you can click the "continue reading" link at the bottom.]
I've been flaky, to say the least, about The Politicker's occasional forays into the awards business, but two bits of spin last week -- one brilliant, one abysmal -- have inspired a return. First:
The Al Sharpton "So Crazy It Just Might Work" Award for great spin goes to Bloomberg political advisor Kevin Sheekey. At least, I'm guessing that it's Sheekey who decided to spin the Mayor's companion Diana Taylor's failure to land the top job at the FDIC as a consequence of Mike's standing up to the NRA. According to this narrative, Bush wanted Taylor for the job, but the gun-nuts in the Senate told the White House they'd block the appointment. She takes a bullet, so to speak, for Mike, gun-control martyr. read more »
The only problem is that nobody involved aside from New York Post headline writers seems to believe the story. (If you read the original piece, which got the wood, you can see the writer hedging pretty hard, and quoting a source who thinks something came up in vetting.) I don't have an explanation -- lots of great theories out there! -- but a conservative source with strong ties both to the White House and the Hill was among those who dismissed the notion that the NRA played a decisive role.
Taylor Staying in the City
From American Banker (subscription required):
"Diana L. Taylor, the White House's initial pick to head the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., is no longer expected to be nominated for the post, several sources said Friday....Whether she withdrew or the White House pulled the nomination was unclear Friday. Ms. Taylor and White House officials would not discuss the matter."
Exclusive: A Challenge for Shelly?
That speculation dissolved when nobody could name a serious challenger.
But now, The Politicker hears, Bloomberg's circle has a favorite: City Councilwoman Margarita Lopez.
Lopez is now running for Manhattan Borough President, but if she doesn't make it through that crowded field, it's easy to see Bloomberg would backing a woman he's long had a personal liking for. She's also shown her political strength against Shelly by beating his chief-of-staff, Judy Rapfogel, in a 1997 Council race.
In a quick interview this morning, Lopez said she returns the affection -- "He is truly, truly a gentleman," she said -- but called the suggestion she would run against Silver "ludicrous."
"If people would like to challenge the leadership of the State of New York, people should do it themselves," she said. read more »
Lopez added that she and Bloomberg never talk politics. They talk issues, and they talk about their personal lives.
"Sometimes we talk about Diana Taylor, his partner," she said.
