Steve Malanga

Steve Malanga, senior fellow at Giuliani's preferred think tank, the Manhattan Institute, thinks that Rudy Giuliani's formation of a exploratory committee for president was as good as an official declaration. Almost.

"Having talked to some of the people in Rudy's administration, I think they give it up to 90 percent chance that he will run," said Malanga. "The odds seem to be in favor of it."

Malanga, along with a number of other Giuliani observers I've been talking to, said that the GOP setbacks in Tuesday's midterm elections only make his candidacy more likely.

"The election, to a certain extent, makes a candidate like Rudy more interesting in 2008. The far right, the Christian right, is likely to have less influence in the next election within the party. Moderates are going to be looking for a candidate with broader appeal.

"He is one of the people with a national appeal that fits that model. That helps with the typical criticism that he won't make it through the primary."

--Jason Horowitz

At last, a chance to reintroduce the neglected Minarik Award!

Yesterday, Fox's Bill O'Reilly took a look at New York politics, with results so predictable they stray well across the border into parody:

Unresolved Problems Segment: Picking out bad politicians Guest: Author Steve Malagna (sic)

"Of all the politicians across America, does one stand out as the very worst? According to Steve Malanga of the conservative Manhattan Institute, that dubious distinction may belong to Sheldon Silver, Democratic speaker of the New York State Assembly. Malanga listed a few of Silver's shortcomings.

"He works for trial lawyer firms, so New York State probably has the worst environment for lawsuits in the country. We also have a plague of insurance fraud, but can't get tougher laws. This is a very far-left Democratic Party in New York, so part of the ideology is that you don't increase any penalties."

The Factor added that Sheldon Silver has actually blocked laws that would penalize sexual predators.  read more »

"He stopped legislation that would have tracked the most dangerous sex offenders with electronic devices, and that would have mandated that communities be notified of sex offenders. Everyone should know that Sheldon Silver is blocking legislation that would protect children and be tougher on sex offenders.

"That's why we call this man the worst politician in office today."