After Bin Laden

Views From the Top: Local Pols Make Sense of Bin Laden’s Death

Minutes after President Barack Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden, the blocks surrounding the World Trade Center site were flooded with people. “It’s awesome,” said 22-year-old Laura Cunningham, holding a Budweiser can while perched on the shoulders of her 6-foot-tall friend, Greg. “It’s weird to celebrate someone’s death,” she added. “It’s not exactly Read More

Local Undecided Decides on Health Care

Eliot Engel–one of several New York Democrats who were undecided about the health care bill–has now decided. He’s voting yes, he told MSNBC earlier today.

“Upon reviewing the bill, I am satisfied that the bill has moved a great deal towards the House bill in terms of compensating my state and doing the right Read More

Weiner Doesn’t Want Another Lieberman

Anthony Weiner took advantage of Harold Ford, Jr.’s potential Senate bid to take another swipe at Senator (and imperfect speller) Joe Lieberman—his health care nemesis.

“If [Mr. Ford] thinks that it’s an appealing argument to position yourself as being somebody who will stand up to Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer, well I don’t think Read More

Obama Redefines the Debate for New York’s Israel Boosters

Barack Obama is changing what it means to be a pro-Israel politician in America.

That much is obvious from the unusually thoughtful, nuanced and varied reactions by officials in New York—the world capital of Israel-boosterism—to his criticisms of the Netanyahu government’s settlement policies.

“I think Obama feels that this type of shock Read More