In a comment at Daily Kos, one of the good folks from Take 19 reports that the rumors of Ari Fleischer's political suicide may be greatly exaggerated.

No definitive word, but we may be getting all giddy for nothing.

Oh well, we'll still have this to amuse us.

Update: As Take-19 points out, consider the source: Human Events Online isn't exactly a collection of the brightest tools in the political shed. They couldn't even get the district right, referring to it as the "24th".

Republicans for the Reelection for 34th State Senate District, Democratic State Senator Jeff Klein.

Republicans from The Bronx and Westchester part of the 34th senate district will be endorsing, campaigning and fundraising for Senator Jeff Klein of the 34th district.

Somtimes we have to cross party lines for the right person to represent us in Albany. Jeff Klein has rose through the ranks as a seasoned politician and is more than qualified than Bronx GOP leader Jay Savino, who has never held any type of elected office and just wants to shoot to the top, before you walk, you have to crawl, Jay Savino. We need someone in this everchanging society with the experience, knowledge and know how and that is why we want Senator Jeff Klein, plus there are just to many skeletons in Jay Savino's closet??? More info to come.

Democrats and Rupublicans in the 34th senate district: let us unite and support and vote for Senator Jeff Klein in 2006, the right choice.

I'm trying to sort this out, but I am pretty sure that the next win will give Democrats the majority in Congress. Stay tuned!

CNN calls the race for Gillibrand out in Westchester, 53 - 47. Westchester has turned a shade of blue tonight!

Last night was the Brooklyn New Democratic Majority meeting. These meetings, which are co-hosted by Michael Bouldin, election protection advocate Marjorie Gersten, and myself, often leave me a bit disappointed because we often have a small turnout. But they also leave me excited because those who do show are very active and are good souruces of info for what is going on inside campaigns.

To give you an idea of the dedication, among those who came last night (and who are die-hard regulars), one person had vertigo, one person's mother went to the hospital earlier that day, and one person had suffered a fall earlier in the week...while on her way to help the Harrison campaign. And they all came...tired and sore, but they came.

Mostly we all just talked amongst ourselves, largely because most of us see eachother all the time and are already involved. The few newcomers did get some info on various events and resources around the city. Even introduced a couple of them to Daily Gotham!

One thing I got from the meeting was a sense of how things are feeling within two local Congressional campaigns: those of John Hall (NY-19) and Steve Harrison (NY-13).

It looks as if Eliot and Andrea Stewart-Cousins didn't get the memo from new Senate Dem Leader designate Malcolm Smith about not trying to win any seats this year - because this sure looks like trying.

Now, if we could see some similar action in the other close races we have, it really would be most appreciated at the activist base - because right now, it sure looks like we want to recapture the Senate more than the members of that august body do. Which really is kind of fucking infuriating somewhat aggravating.

(Hat tip Daily Politics}

If you want to win back Congress and our democracy, remember that there are two Congressional races nearby that need our help. If you aren't helping Steve Harrison in Bay Ridge and Staten Island, you can be helping John Hall in Westchester.

This is a message from a DFNYC organizer friend of mine about John Hall and two trips she is organizing to canvass for Hall:

Me and a my Democracy for New York City friends have decided to adopt one congressional candidate to work for. Having one candidate to work for makes it much simpler for us to contact our friends and encourage everyone to get involved.

The candidate is John Hall. John is running for congress in the 19th congressional district which covers Northern Westchester county and much of the Hudson Valley.

Why John Hall?

* He is a person who has a history of involvement in causes that we care about. He was active in the campaign to close down the Indian Point and Shoreham nuclear power plants.
* He has been strongly endorsed by people I really trust - Robert F Kennedy Junior and Pete Seeger as well as many labor unions AFL-CIO, SEIU.

I have written fairly often about the one major Congressional race in NYC: the NY-13 race where Steve Harrison is running against Vito Fossella in Bay Ridge and Staten Island. But for many New Yorkers Westchester is just as close as Staten Island, and there is another important Congressional race just to the north of NYC. In the NY-19 race John Hall is running to defeat Sue Kelly.

Both of these races are much closer than people realize based on internal polls, but the Republican candidates have more money. It's the ususal story: Republicans with money against Democrats with heart and lots of volunteers.

I have met Steve Harrison and can vouch for his quality as a sound candidate. He is a moderate Democrat, not as progressive as myself, but so is his district. He is a great match for his district and has an excellent knack for talking with people. Fossella is tainted with the Abramoff and Foley scandals and this, as well as his waffling on Social Security and his previous close ties with Bush, Cheney and Rove, have soured the district on him. If Harrison can reach out enough, he has a shot at winning. Recent fundraisers as well as institutional support from the DCCC should boost his chances. And an informal internal poll indicated a very close race. But when you are being out-raised by the Republicans, you need people on the ground. If you are a New Yorker living closer to Staten Island or Bay Ridge than to Westchester, please contact Steve Harrison's campaign and give them a few hours of your time. By the way, Fossella is doing his damnedest to seem like he isn't a Republican. He doesn't admit it on his website and he stands under signs that say "Independent." But he has brough Cheney and Rove to NYC for fundraisers, has taken money from Abramoff and Foley and votes with Bush almost all the time.

Important developments in the race to face 19th CD incumbent Sue Kelly over the last week showed lots of added steam to the campaign of folk-rock performer John Hall and some to another of his Democratic Party Rivals.

John Hall was endorsed by Jim Martorano, the Yorktown democrat who dropped out of the race four weeks ago. Jim M’s supporters in Westchester and Yorktown may give Hall an assist there. Democracy for Westchester also endorsed Hall. Most importantly, the New York State United Teachers which represents public school teachers in the district endorsed hall today. If the teachers and hospital workers really put effort into their Hall endorsements, that will multiply his already extensive resources. Finally -- folk and rock performers who support Hall will participate in a NYC Town Hall fundraising Concert on August 20, 2006. Jackson Browne, Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle and Nanci Griffith (See the Events Notice, for more details).

Judy Aydelott, who has had the lead in fundraising among the Democrats, has been hosting free community dinners around the District in which voter dissatisfaction with Sue Kelly has been the subject of discussion. Aydellot, an attorney and Iraq war opponent was formerly a Republican.

Update on Petitions and Endorsements in the 19th CD race to replace Sue Kelly.

1) Judy Aydelott has been endorsed by the National Women’s Political Caucus and by Emily’s List.

Her campaign stated that it filed petitions containing 3,554 signatures and that the Hall campaign had filed a “general” challenge to her petitions.

2) John Hall was endorsed by the County Democratic Committees of Orange, Duchess and Rockland counties; The American Federation of Musicians and its Local 802 (orchestra, theatre, club and studio musicians); Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (skilled electricians); United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 (supermarket and grocery store employees); and the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 1. (stage hands etc.) in addition to SEIU 1199

His campaign said it filed more than 4200 signatures on designating petitions.

3) Darren Rigger’s campaign stated that it filed 1,871 signatures and that it expected a “general" challenge to its petitions as well.

4) Ben Schuldiner’s campaign stated it had been endorsed by Vassar College Democrats (a 500-member group) and that the campaign had filed petitions containing more than 2,800 signatures.