So people who don't like my message tend to critcize me for quoting anonymous sources and rumors. I have always made it clear that I only do so when the rumors and sources are either confirmed by other sources or are reliable. And I also make clear when it is rumor. The New York Times is reporting anonymous sources and rumors that Governor Paterson has been asked by the Obama Administration, through Queens Democrat Gregory Meeks, to step aside in next year's Governor's race.

I am not sure how fair all the criticisms of Paterson have been. There has definitely be some right wing attacks that were NOT fair, but still were taken up by the media and sunk in. And in the case of Caroline Kennedy vs. Kristin Gillibrand for Clinton's Senate seat, I happen to think Paterson made the right choice, and given the aggressive nature of Kennedy's attempt to be annointed Senator, I am not sure Paterson could have said "no" to her without pissing people off. But there is no question that Paterson has not been very effective as Governor and is unlikely to impress voters enough to pull his numbers up enough to win. I am not much a fan of Andrew Cuomo, but I think there is definitely a strong logic to a Cuomo run and having Paterson step aside. And having the request come from Obama through Meeks is definitely the way to go about it. If the nation's first black President tells the state's first black governor to step aside, it is better than if some white politician did it.

For me the number one goal is to keep the man who is most despised by our firefighters, Giuliani, does not get elected. Although this year supporters of Brad Lander and David Yassky have been putting down groups like the Uniformed Firefighters Association as not as important as bigger unions or Melinda Katz, I personally believe in paying attention to the opinions of our firefighters. Their hatred of Giuliani's treatment of firefighters (as well as their endorsements of Josh Skaller and John Liu) mean something to me. So keeping Giuliani from being elected ANYTHING except maybe prom drag queen is important to me.