GunPoliticsNY.com

I don’t have much use for the teacher’s union, but their mouthpiece hits the bullseye with this quip:

“… In a statement, UFT President Michael Mulgrew said, “Dozens of candidates in local and citywide elections have won with UFT backing in recent years, and many are seeking it this year, while running away from Bloomberg and his record.  Right now most candidates would rather be the victim of zombie attack than get a Michael Bloomberg endorsement.” …”

Same thing with guns. Mayor Mike doesn’t get this.

Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin’s name has been floated as a possible Republican candidate for Governor for awhile.  Today Fred Dicker raises the level of rumormongering on his possible candidacy:

“An aggressive upstate lawmaker who backs gun rights and Texas-style low taxes and calls Gov. Cuomo a “bully” has emerged as a likely — some say certain — Republican candidate against Cuomo next year, The Post has learned.  Rensselaer County Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin … has privately told legislative colleagues he’s planning to run …”

Steve is one of the few Albany politicians who speaks his mind and is not afraid to stir the pot.  That’s good.  The bad is that while Governor Cuomo’s popularity continues to decline, he does have a large campaign warchest as well as a nearly 2-1 Democrat enrollment advantage in the state.  Being able to raise enough money to make the race competitive would be his biggest hurdle.  His next obstacle would be the GOP establishment itself:

“… Republicans are also bitterly divided over the SAFE Act, which was supported by Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos of Nassau County and nearly all other GOP senators in the city and Long Island.  State Republicans privately concede McLaughlin could wind up being their nominee by default, because few in their party believe Cuomo can be beaten …”

This concerns me because the downstate RINO’s are in bed with the Tammany Democrats.  Having a candidate who disrupts the status quo would not be welcomed by either party.

They still have no idea why they could not move the gun control agenda in Congress.

Mayor Bloomberg isn’t.

From the Daily News, “Schumer asks Bloomberg to holster attacks against anti-gun-check Democrats“:

“Top U.S. Senate Democrats, including New York’s Chuck Schumer, want Mayor Michael Bloomberg to lay off his attacks Dems who voted against background checks for gun buyers …”

From ABC News, “Reid Warns Bloomberg Against Attacks on Democrats“:

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said today that he expressed his displeasure with Michael Bloomberg in a phone call this week over his plan to target Democratic senators who voted against gun legislation, but Reid conceded he could not control the mayor of New York City …”

Didn’t take long for my previous statement to be proven true:

“… Bloomberg made his appeal in personal letters to hundreds of donors, arguing that denying the senators campaign cash would get them to change their positions on gun control.  But some of the donors called the mayor’s argument ridiculous, and they vowed to continue writing checks …”

Nice reality check.  Mayor Mike must be angry especially since the Daily News did a story on it.

“… Another donor – who has given money to several of the senators – said that Bloomberg is being “naïve” in focusing solely on gun control, since the senators support other positions that are helpful to the city …”

No, he’s being supremely arrogant.  It takes a helluva big ego to send letters to people, most of whom Bloomberg probably does not know personally, and tell them not to financially support candidates who do not support Bloomberg’s personal agenda.

The antis are getting ready for another try in Congress.

First, Joe Biden will hold some sort of dog-and-pony show at the White House next week:

“… The focus will be President Barack Obama’s plan to protect communities and children by reducing gun violence …”

Second, Mayor Bloomberg is trying to cut off the flow of money to Democrats:

“… On Wednesday, Mr. Bloomberg will send a personal letter to hundreds of the biggest Democratic donors in New York urging them to cut off contributions to the four Democratic senators who helped block a bill in April that would have strengthened background checks on gun purchasers …”

I doubt Bloomberg’s effort will go over well.  Gun control is his pet issue.  It simply isn’t a big deal to most Democrats regardless of their personal opinions on the issue.

Senator Kathy Marchione delivers 150,000+ signatures to Governor Cuomo calling for repeal of the SAFE Act.

Of course, both Cuomo and most of the media, will ignore this.