Jonathan Tasini

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 »

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

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

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

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

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.  read more »

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

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

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.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

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.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

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?  read more »

The 30-second Sheehan ad is here.

-- Azi Paybarah

A reader forwards her thoughts on the MoveOn.org survey about whether the group which put Ned Lamont on the map should get behind Hillary Clinton's anti-war challenger, Jonathan Tasini.

First problem is, the Clinton-Tasini question was No. 4 in a mailing with the subject line, "Help Set MoveOn's Course." Second problem is that it went to a select number of New York members, not the full membership.

The survey is now closed and "The results are confidential and are only used for planning purposes."  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

Eliot Spitzer's spokeswoman explains why skipping yesterday's debate in Buffalo is no big deal.

A Spitzer spokeswoman pointed out that the four exchanges Spitzer has agreed to participate in -- two before the Democratic primary and two before the general election, if he wins the primary -- are four times as many as George E. Pataki and H. Carl McCall had four years ago during their campaigns for governor and more than in any recent race for governor.

Hillary Clinton gets ready to skip her one and only debate with Jonathan Tasini.

With two weeks left until the primary, Clinton's campaign has stonewalled all questions about debating rival Jonathan Tasini with the mantra: "We'll see how the campaign develops."

And Mark Green defends his comparison campaign.

"If Democratic candidates can't comment on and criticize an opponent's public record based on public documents, why even have a primary?"

-- Azi Paybarah

Even when he’s not sporting his trademark cowboy boots, it’s tough to take U.S.  read more »

Even when he’s not sporting his trademark cowboy boots, it’s tough to take U.S.  read more »

Tonight, Jonathan Tasini rides with Critical Mass bikers in Union Square.

Tom Suozzi appears on NY1.

On Saturday, a march "against Israel aggression in Lebanon and Gaza" kicks off at 2 p.m. in Astoria's Athens Square Park.

Democrats in Bayside car pool to help Andrea Stewart-Cousins's campaign in Westchester.

Hiram Monserrate campaigns for state senate at a heal fair and block party this Saturday.

Tom Suozzi sits down with WB11's Marvin Scott at 6 a.m.

On Sunday, Suozzi chats with Gabe Pressman at 6 a.m.

The four Democrats in the Brooklyn 11th congressional race attend a town hall meeting at 3 at St. Jerome Church (Norstrand and Newkirk).

Eliot Spitzer goes to Rev. Floyd Flake's church in Queens at 9 a.m. the Majority Baptist Church at 11, and picks up an endorsement of the Grand Council of Guardians on the City Hall steps at noon.

Carl Andrews makes a "call to action" outside St. Marks Episcopal Church (1417 Union Street, Brooklyn) at 10:30.

Jonathan Tasini attends a town hall meeting Sunday at 7 (55 Washington Square South) and discusses "How to Get Out of Iraq and Why Attacking Iran Would be Really Dumb."

And C-SPAN 2 has a re-run of Mark Warner's trip to New Hampshire.

-- Azi Paybarah

In this week's paper, Jason Horowitz follows Jonathan Tasini, and hears from NY1 why there probably won't be a debate between Tasini and Hillary Clinton.

"We haven't proposed a debate. We haven't prevented him from doing anything--Hillary Clinton will not do one," said Steve Paulus, the general manager of NY1 News. "The bottom line is that we are not the ones preventing him from debating--that's the incumbent."

And Steve Kornacki plays the expectation game with Hillary and thinks she can be the Democratic nominee without winning the early primaries or caucuses in 2008.

"After all, if Hillary can lower the bar enough in the early states, she could be in position to declare victory without actually winning."  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

Mike Bloomberg said he's staying in City Hall and ruled out a presidential run.

Patrick Healy looks at Hillary Clinton's anti-war challenger, Jonathan Tasini. He's progressive, but as the head of Democracy for America noted, "I think progressives are a lot more pragmatic than people think..."

Another Hillary challenger, Republican candidate KT McFarland, is resuming her campaign after her daughter's arrest for shoplifting. The AP reports she is accused of stealing clothes worth $250.

And Crain's [no link] reports that Brooklyn congressional candidate Yvette Clarke doesn't have a diploma from Oberlin College, the school she mentions in her bio.

-- Azi Paybarah

During a very friendly appearance on conservative commentator Glenn Beck's radio show, Greg Sargent reports, Joe Lieberman agreed with just much of what Beck said, including that the real reason we invaded Iraq wasn't over WMD but because we wanted to "pop the head of the snake in Iran."

After receiving some attention from the editorial boards of The New York Times and New York Post, Jonathan Tasini finds out from The Huffington Post why he has seen practically no love from his fellow travelers in MoveOn.org. Executive Director Eli Pariser says that they follow the lead of their members and "we've heard almost nothing from MoveOn members on Tasini."

On the Republican side of the Senate race, KT McFarland, on hiatus to deal with her daughter's shoplifting, shows that she has not completely checked out. Her press secretary, Morgan Ortagus takes issue with John Spencer calling for a debate with Hillary while ignoring McFarland's calls for a debate. We especially like the use of underlining.

"I think you well know that Mrs. McFarland is taking a few days off to deal with a family crisis, but that doesn't make you the Republican candidate for Senate"

--Jason Horowitz

Tonight, Lolita Jackson, the mayor's community affairs liason in Manhattan, celebrates her birthday by singing at the Knitting Factory at 7 pm. Think of a Republican Ella Fitzgerald.

Tomorrow, Jonathan Tasini releases his economic plan at the Kittay House Senior Center in the Bronx.

The Empire State Development Corporation holds a public hearing on the Atlantic Yards plan at the New York City College of Technology.

Scott Stringer helps sort and fill backpacks for homeless children at the Javits Convention Center.

—Nicole Brydson

No, seriously.

Following the New York Post editorial last week, the Times wrote this morning that Hillary should debate her anti-war challenger, Jonathan Tasini.

Hillary "has not been forced to discuss in great detail exactly what she thinks should be done now that things have gone so far awry in the Middle East." - NY Times Hillary's "stance on Iraq - always adaptable to changing circumstances - could stand a little clarification." - NY Post -- Azi Paybarah

Hillary Clinton may be endorsed by practically every Democrat running in New York, but at least two of them of have gotten donations from her primary opponent, Jonathan Tasini.

Tasini donated $200 to Brooklyn Assembly candidate Bill Batson, and $100 to Harlem state senate candidate Bill Perkins.

Fielding the call for Batson was his fundraiser, who is Tasini's former campaign manger, Liese Schneider. She said the two became friends after handing out countless pieces of campaign literature for Mayor Dinkins. But is being friends the same thing as endorsing?

"Their support for each other is personal, not political," she said.

I called Perkins's campaign manger, Richard Fife, and asked why he thought his candidate got some Tasini money. Fife attributed it to the fact that Perkins sponsored the anti-war resolution in the City Council and has been "outspoken" about the issue.  read more »

When asked if they planned to highlight Tasini's support, Fife said he'll get back to me.

-- Azi Paybarah

Jonathan Tasini released five "Internet ads" today on Israel, labor, health care, discrimination and this one, on the war in Iraq.

The money line:

"Hillary Clinton voted for the war and continues to support the occupation to this day. I believe the United States should withdraw from Iraq immediately and end the occupation."

So far, the clip was viewed 12 times on YouTube.

-- Azi Paybarah

Here's Hillary Clinton's new ad.

Notice the fire fighters, military bases and talk about the upstate economy.

No acknowledgement, explicit or otherwise, of Jonathan Tasini.

-- Azi Paybarah

Hillary Clinton's lack of campaigning gets some attention from the Times.

This, on the day The Post comes to the defense of her anti-war challenger, Jonathan Tasini, saying Hillary's position on Iraq could "stand a little clarification" and asks why NY1 has barred Tasini from a debate while allowing "fringe Democrats" Charlie King and Sean Patrick Maloney to participate Thursday evening.

Can't wait for NY1's response.

As for the other all-but certain candidate running right now, Eliot Spitzer, his mystery is revealed. Daily News columnist Bill Hammond has a crack at explaining "how the millionaire's son who graduated from Horace Mann, Princeton and Harvard morphs into a champion for average New Yorkers." (Hint: cool TV ads.)

Mayor Bloomberg auditions for quote of the week, with this line about why he opposes paying for 9/11 health-related injuries. "[I]f we pay for this, there will be some library that won't be able to stay open an extra day..." How many TV ads can his (potential) '08 rivals make from that one?

And finally, in a story about how the federal government keeps suing NYC agencies, this odd fact:

"The federal government is arguing with the transit authority over an informational flyer that features a photograph of a Sikh transit authority employee wearing a turban with the logo...The transit authority is willing to remove the photograph only if the Justice Department pays a model to don the turban..."

-- Azi Paybarah

Observer super-intern Samuel Jacobs has this dispatch from Jonathan Tasini's press conference at City Hall earlier today:

Backed by two-dozen supporters holding blue Jonathan Tasini signs--"Vote for what you believe in"--Jonathan Tasini chastised New York reporters at his 12:30 press conference.

"The press has not covered this race properly," he said, with black cowboy boots firmly planted on the first step of City Hall. "We're polling at the exact same number that Ned Lamont was polling at, trailing by 55 points."

In his prepared remarks, Tasini attempted once again to link the fortunes of New York's junior senator with Joe Lieberman's, calling the two "ideological soulmates" when it comes to Iraq, taxes, NAFTA, and coziness with Washington lobbyists.

And quoting Ross Perot, Tasini called Senator Clinton's recent denunciation of Donald Rumsfeld on the Senate floor "gorilla dust."

Some of the most combative comments came, several Tasini supporters later, from liberal columnist Barbara Ehrenreich.

"It's amusing that some commentators since Ned Lamont's victory, that some are saying that the Democratic Party is being taking over by crazies," she said.

"We are the mainstream that opposes the war. I feel very strongly that Jonathan should get the media's attention. Any exclusion is an example of class prejudice."

Betsy Gotbaum discusses the findings in her review of a city hunger hotline at Campo Ministerio Serepta soup kitchen on the Lower East Side.

Jonathan Tasini holds a press conference on the significance of the Connecticut Democratic Primary for the anti-war vote against Hiliary Clinton on the steps of City Hall.

Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi shares his knowledge of New York government with teens from Bukharian and Queens at the Teen Lounge at the Central Queens YM/YWHA.

Gay Men's Health Crisis commemorates its 25th anniversary with a vigil and candlelight march beginning at the Colonial House Inn.

—Nicole Brydson

Courage. Conviction. Constancy.  read more »

Courage. Conviction. Constancy.These are among the most prized of political virtues.  read more »

Greenwich Village residents protest the construction on a New York University dorm between Third and Fourth Avenues.

A meeting of the directors of the New York State Urban Development Corporation will be held.

Jonathan Tasini denounces media outlets who refuse to include him in Senate candidates debate at Exhale Restaurant.

Wesley Clark campaigns with Eric Massa in Rochester.

—Nicole Brydson

A side-note to Gur's excellent, news-making interview with Jonathan Tasini on Room Eight: It's kind of interesting that Tasini's views on Israel have remained below the radar until this point, even if he is a protest candidate. Here's a picture of him back in March addressing a memorial event for Rachel Corrie, the pro-Palestinian American activist who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer while protesting the demolition of a home in the Gaza Strip. The event was organized after the New York cancellation of a biographical play, "My Name is Rachel Corrie."

I don't know what Tasini said there, but the text accompanying this photo gallery describes the event this way:

"Declaring that the Sharon government could destroy her body but could never kill her spirit, people have stood up to those who would cave in to the new McCarthyism that attempts to stifle opposition and protest to the unjust policies of the U.S. and Israeli occupations."

-- Josh Benson

Jonathan Tasini can hardly contain himself.

On the same day a Quinnipiac University poll showed anti-war (and yes, other stuff) candidate Ned Lamont leading Joe Lieberman 51-47, a Marist poll had Tasini narrowing the gap in his primary with Hillary Clinton to a mere 70 points.

"Somebody handed me the poll, I looked and I said, 'what!?'"

"We're doing better than Suozzi is doing! I was amazed. We are doing almost double of what we thought. I'm a happy camper."

Comparing his progress with the success of the Lamont campaign, Tasini noted that his Connecticut counterpart has received much more media attention from both the local and national press -- and that he's backed by a lot more money.

"With all due respect to Ned Lamont, he is a multi-millionaire, if I was a multi millionaire I would be pollling in the 30's or 40's."  read more »

For the record, Tasini said that he backs Lamont even though "he has not reciprocated."

--Jason Horowitz

Jonathan Tasini is clearly enjoying himself today after collecting the necessary number of petitions to appear on the primary ballot against Hillary Clinton.

He told us that he collected "north of 30,000, easy," and that he "would have gotten a lot more petitions signed if it weren't for the damned rain."

He said the petitions keep flowing in via Federal Express and personal visits to his headquarters, and that most of those who signed were "so furious about the war."

And where are the people angriest?

"Union Square was a gold mine," he said. "The green market in particular."

- Jason Horowitz

Not content to rest after his big Times profile today, Hillary Clinton's opponent Jonathan Tasini will be seeking out like-minded anti-war Democrats to sign his petitions at the Howard Zinn and James Carroll chat at the 92nd Street Y tonight.

According to Tasini's campaign, he'll also be looking for signatures in the coming days outside movie theaters playing "The Road To Guantanamo," "An Inconvenient Truth" and "The War Tapes."

The guy knows his audience.

- Jason Horowitz

So for all you spending quality time with your computers on this rainy Saturday afternoon, the Working Families Party, after a long and arduous roll call, just endorsed Hillary Clinton up in Albany. She got 93.6 percent of the vote. Hillary wasn't here to celebrate. (The party's chairman informed the convention that Hillary's plane got stuck in Farmingdale, though no one really expected her to show.)

Jonathan Tasini, was in attendance though, and he got 6.36 percent.

"Why don't you round it up to seven," he pleaded.

--Jason Horowitz

While we're awaiting the results of today's (seriously) exciting vote at the Republican convention between Bill Weld and John Faso, the following:

It wouldn't be convention season without the Working Families Party, which will have its say on the statewide candidates this Saturday at the Desmond Hotel in Albany.

The party will formally endorse Spitzer-Paterson and Alan Hevesi and -- given the way the state's most political influential unions have lined up in the attorney general's race - the rank-and-file seems pretty likely to give their backing to Andrew Cuomo for attorney general.

The most interesting storyline will be the efforts of Jonathan Tasini, the anti-war protest candidate in the U.S. Senate race, to force Hillary Clinton into a potentially uncomfortable primary election that will focus almost exclusively on Iraq.

It's doubtful whether Tasini can actually get the 25 percent of delegates necessary to get on the ballot, but he should at least receive a somewhat more sympathetic hearing from the WFP's left-leaning members than he did from the Democrats in Buffalo.

(No word yet on whether he's planning to show up on a bike.)

The other interesting sub-plot, which won't be resolved until November, will be the party's efforts to leapfrog the Conservative Party into fourth place on the ballot. The WFP drew 167,000 votes on its line for Chuck Schumer two years ago, and is aiming to get 200,000 this year for Spitzer.

Can it be done? Predictions, please.

Urban Elephants has a lovely chart of county support for Republican candidates for senate as of yesterday.

Over at the Sun Azi reports that Andrew Cuomo skipped another Harlem event.

Gawker chimes in on Mayor Mike's internet policy.  read more »

And Capitol Confidential reports that lefty Clinton challenger Jon Tasini will bike a 600 mile trail around the state trying to drum up support for his campaign.

—Nicole Brydson

Tasini Waits for No Man

To the Editor:  read more »

Tasini Waits for No Man   To the Editor:    read more »

For all the chatter about Hillary-as-lightning rod, her name doesn't seem to work any better as a fundraising tool on the anti-war left than it does on the (mostly fabled) Clinton-hating Right. Stop Her Now, the most professional of the anti-Hillary operations, is now in debt. And the campaign of Jonathan Tasini, the liberal Clinton Senate challenger, had a remarkably poor first two months of fundraising, considering the wide attention he got on places like DailyKos and other energy centers of the Left.

He raised $24,236 from just 22 donors, according to his report to the Federal Elections Commission. (That's about $500 more than Stop Her Now raised, actually.) Barbara Ehrenreich maxed out. Lawrence Lessig chipped in. There was certainly no out-pouring of small-dollar Web support.

Tasini told me when he launched his campaign, "If there's a base of [financial and volunteer] support within about 30 to 60 days, I think this campaign has legs and is going to get off the ground.... This may not touch an nerve and then we're not going to be able to do it. We'll see."

Does 22 donors count as touching a nerve?

Azi, liberated (at the moment) from New York Press and writing at a new blog of his own, reports that Hillary's rival on the left, Jonathan Tasini, is claiming to have won a Working Families Party straw poll.

If, by "straw poll," you mean "stopping random people in a hotel lobby," says a WFP spokesman.

Over at The Nation, John Nichols is taking Jonathan Tasini seriously.

"Unlike Pirro, Tasini understands the issues, he's quick on his feet, he knows his way around the state's union halls and he recognizes that Clinton's greatest vulnerability is a cautious centrism that has frequently put her at odds with grassroots Democrats," he writes.

Tasini also has a blog of his own, featuring his policy and politics musings along with an insidery (and you know how we hate insidery blogs around here) view from the Change to Win wing of the labor movement. The blog also features, in comments on the post announcing his candidacy, some debate from the left over the wisdom of running.

On the Republican side, New York Press's Azi wonders what's up with the fact that http://www.pirroforag.com is live. Kinda.  read more »

Up on top of the ballot, meanwhile, Scott Sala is not so impressed with a Republican Mayor for Spitzer.