Today word leaked that New York City Department of Health is considering banning “Happy Hour” because it contributes to “heavy drinking among adults.”

High-level conversations have gone beyond merely “throwing pencils on the ceiling and seeing what sticks,” another Health source revealed.

 

Sources said the happy-hour ban is being pushed by the agency’s marathon-running boss, Commissioner Thomas Farley, and is serious enough for one source to say the alcohol lobby had better find itself a good lawyer.

 

Agency spokesman Sam Miller denied existing “plans to pursue any policy around discount-alcohol sale.”

 

But sources said the anti-booze sentiment at the agency has reached a fever pitch, with officials recently asking state officials about the “legality of liquor in ice cream,” referring to potent products infused with bourbon, rum and tequila.

 

A prohibition on discounted drinks is solidly in line with Farley’s goals, which he outlined in his “Take Care New York 2012” report.

As if banning smoking in just about every location in New York wasn’t enough now Nanny Bloomberg is out to regulate another “sin” into extinction.

Andrew Breitbart (1969-2012)

Andrew passed away unexpectedly from natural causes shortly after midnight this morning in Los Angeles.

We have lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a dear friend, a patriot and a happy warrior.

Andrew lived boldly, so that we more timid souls would dare to live freely and fully, and fight for the fragile liberty he showed us how to love.

The NBC affiliate station in San Diego quotes his father-in-law Orson Bean as saying

Breitbart was walking near his home in Brentwood, Calif just after midnight Thursday when he collapsed according to his father-in-law Orson Bean. Someone saw Breitbart fall and called 911. Emergency crews tried to revive him and rushed him to the emergency room at UCLA Medical Center

Andrew was kind enough last year to allow our club to host him as he launched the release of ,Righteous Indignation, his second book. It was one of the best attended events of the year. The club was beyond impressed with Andrew, not just his ability to draw 50 plus people on a late Sunday afternoon to hear him speak, but with his engaging personality.

Turned out that would not be the last time I would see or speak to Andrew.

A couple of months later I was sitting outside of the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, enduring scowls and bit of verbal abuse from liberals for wearing my Defeat Obama t-shirt while waiting on my girlfriend to meet me for lunch, when Andrew walked up to me to ask me how I had been. Having only meet him once before it took me a moment to register who this scruffy individual in a t-shirt and jeans was. My confusion being obvious Andrew took it in stride and reintroduced himself. It was a rather short encounter because he was late to catch a flight home. However we exchanged emails addresses and kept in touch after that.

Though I had not known him long I will miss the big guy because for me politics, and the world, will be a little less entertaining and enjoyable without him around. In fact now that I think about it I think I might go throw on a Defeat Obama t-shirt and sit outside of Apple a bit today because I know Andrew would prefer we keep up the fight.

If you weren’t there for his visit in April here is the video for your enjoyment.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Made Killing Off Housing Collapse

 Now New York’s Junior Senator Says She is a Champion of Congressional Inside Trading Reform!

Albany, NY – January 31…When New York’s junior senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-WFP) was a member of Congress – and privy to inside information on a plethora of topics – her husband “shorted” housing stocks at least 34 times , making a financial killing for the couple, as millions of Americans saw the value of their homes abruptly plummet. The Gillibrand’s timing in betting against the housing market was conspicuously perfect, the New York State Republican Party today noted.

Now, Senator Gillbrand is purporting to be a champion of reform against “insider trading” among members of Congress – using the issue to raise money for her re-election campaign. In a fundraising email blast released Monday, Ms. Gillibrand writes:

“I introduced the STOCK Act in November after a 60 Minutes report first exposed the issue of insider trading in Congress. This bill would stop it once and for all, because no member of Congress should unfairly benefit from information they gain from their work as lawmakers. Americans have a right to know that their elected officials are playing by the same rules as they are.”

“Senator Gillibrand and her husband profited handsomely off the collapse of the U.S. housing market, and she never adequately explained where they got the special insight to make those profitable bets,” said State GOP Chairman Cox. “Not a lot of ordinary Americans knew to bet against the housing markets; Ms. Gillibrand needs to finally answer whether what she learned in Congress about the imminent collapse of the market had anything to do with her husband shorting housing stocks. In purporting to be a champion of insider trading reform – in a fundraising appeal no less – Ms. Gillibrand may be being too cute by half. This may not pass the smell test.”

The New York Daily News  reported yesterday that six Democrats holding state senate seats have been grouped into three senate districts. Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Chairman Michael Gianaris and Jose Peralta in one, Toby Ann Stavisky and Tony Avella in another, and Eric Adams and Velmanette Montgomery in the last.

I’ve also read that both David Storobin and Lew Fidler, the candidates for the upcoming special election to replace Carl Kruger, both live outside of the new district lines. If true this is likely going to be very disappointing to the both the expected rematch this fall won’t have the opportunity to materialize.

We also are getting a 63 state senate district. This new district was inserted and designed to help the GOP retain control of the chamber.

“The speech was well delivered, with soaring Cuomo-esque rhetoric, however in a time of financial and fiscal crisis for New York State, the question is will the Governor deliver.”

“In our view the two major issues facing Albany are pension reform and mandate relief. On pension reform the Governor was very specific. The question is will he spend his political capital to produce results through the use of his extraordinary executive budgetary powers?”

“On mandate relief he was extremely vague and did not even mention Medicaid reform. Kicking the can down the road for another year is not a solution.”

“While it appears he continues to want to wear republican clothes, our mission is to make sure he wears them well.”

With disgraced Democratic State Senator Carl Kruger’s resignation Tuesday as part his agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to plead guilty to federal charges of bribery and conspiracy charges, Brooklyn GOP Chairman Craig Eaton called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to immediately recognize this resignation and immediately schedule a special election to fill the 27th Senate District seat for April 24, 2012.

“New York State, and the Board of Elections, is hemorrhaging money. Now that Brooklyn voters have yet another vacant seat to fill thanks to yet another corrupt Democrat, Governor Cuomo must schedule a Special Election as soon as possible – and in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible”, said Eaton. “The people of the 27th Senate district have been without adequate representation for far too long. A Special Election coinciding with the scheduled primary in April is the quickest and most cost effective way to do this.”

Some may argue that scheduling any Special Election with the April primary would result in a higher Republican turnout – a point Eaton dismisses based on recent history. “Governor Cuomo scheduled the 9th Congressional special election for the same day as Democratic primaries in Brooklyn”, said Eaton. “Congressman Bob Turner didn’t complain about his transparent attempt to draw more Democrats to the polls. He got out the vote and he won.”

“If Governor Cuomo doesn’t do the right thing and schedule the 27th Senate Special Election for April 24th, then all should question his commitment to cutting government waste and call him out for putting politics ahead of the people of Brooklyn.”

I’d like to say I could have said it better but I think that hit it just right.

To download a pdf of the the meeting’s minutes click here.

One can also argue that 90% of our legislative body is “unelected.” Many run unopposed every two years and the ones that get a challenger are usually re-elected by a significant margin. The leaders of both Legislative bodies fit this predicament. Speaker Sheldon Silver of the Assembly and Majority Leader Joseph Bruno the Senate never face serious opposition and are re-elected by default.

Right now, a State Budget is due on April 1 and some serious work needs to be done to create a balanced budget. Proposals of tax increases are being made to cover the spending increases. Little is being done about spending cuts. Governor Paterson has some real work cut out for him. Most New Yorkers should be worried, because he comes from the liberal belief of raising taxes and fees to cover spending shortfalls. Liberals never stop to think that if you raise taxes on the highest earners, these residents may simply move across the river to avoid the tax. Also, raising taxes doesn’t help in the property tax issue that burdens the upstate economy. What business wants to move into Elmira or Syracuse, Buffalo or Rochester, if the business climate is unfriendly to your business?