Christie Reconsiders Run For Presidency
City Hall News Picks “Winners and Losers” After Turner Victory
City Hall News listed it’s ranks of “Winners and Losers” recenty, and we thought a couple of names were worth sharing.
One notable familiar face is Brooklyn Conservative Party Chieftain Jerry Kassar, who is mentioned for his involvement in the Bob Turner race. City Hall News notes that the win for Turner might provide a buffer of GOP support for Republican regular Marty Golden. Both men have not always been the subject of adoring pieces on this blog (and we have been treated in kind).
Diverting Resources from Turner, Brooklyn GOP Hunted Fellow Republicans in Primaries–With More “Atlas Hate Mailers”
"The Duke"
It’s amazing how much the focus of the Brooklyn GOP has been in eating its young and attacking its own.
We were amazed to see the gusto with which the county brazenly assailed and ultimately failed to quash a variety of local GOP candidates in the primary this month, presumably in the hope of delivering death blows to those who have refused to take orders from them. But compromising major races at the expense of exacting revenge against fellow Republicans, in the estimation of many, goes too far.
Now, we’ve recently learned from a local Brooklyn GOP source that the GOP leadership diverted resources from Bob Turner’s 9th Congressional campaign to aim their cannons at their enemies. Meanwhile, we also were told that another Atlas hate mailer was seen before the primaries.
Despite Establishment’s “Atlas Hate Mailer,” Regina-Potter Retains Leadership As GOP Cabal Candidates Flop
Former Assemblyman Arnaldo Ferraro, Lucretia Regina-Potter and Michael Bennette
So much for mud-slinging.
Lucretia Regina-Potter won Tuesday’s primary in the 49th Assembly District for the Republican leadership, and her running mate, Michael Bennette, is claiming victory, as well.
This came after a targeted attack against her and Bennette using this blog and stunning lies in a “September surprise” mailer that was too ridiculous to be believed.
Victory for Turner, NY1 Reports
NY1 is calling the race for Turner in the 9th Congressional. We can’t wait to see if he won in Brooklyn, Queens, or both…
Media–And Voters–Await 9th Congressional Results
Everyone’s watching and waiting–but the media are especially.
Amidst rumors of absenteeism on the part of the Brooklyn GOP establishment, Republican Bob Turner awaits the results of an election that has caught the attention of the nation.
Meanwhile, The Brooklyn Politics reported earlier today that the courts had “[impounded] the [absentee & provisiona ballots] because of ‘gross incompetence’ on behalf of the Board of Elections, citing ‘absentee ballots being mailed to dead people.'”
BREAKING NEWS: BROOKLYN GOP LEADERS USE LIES, ATLAS SHRUGS IN 49TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT HATE MAILER
If you were looking for evidence that the Brooklyn GOP was engaged in a bellicose frenzy in the 49th Assembly District, look no further than the local mailboxes of Republican voters.
In Tuesday’s primary, veteran State Committeewoman Lucretia Regina-Potter (along with her running mate, Michael Bennette) is running to keep her position against two unknown hacks the party has put up in a desperate puppet power play to unsettle the district and “reign” over it once and for all. That seems to be the idea…
More stunning than the lies and hateful slime thrown in a recent frantic mailing is the use of Atlas Shrugs in Brooklyn as a major political talking point.
The Life And Times of Atlas Shrugs in Brooklyn
These days, we all have reasons to look back at the past. For some, those reasons stem from resurfaced sorrows, loss, and tragedy. For others, it’s the memories of things that could have been, but were not.
But sometimes, when you look back, despite a lack of complete satisfaction, you cannot help but be intrigued, if not astonished, by what you’ve witnessed and by the lessons you’ve learned as a result.
I know I feel that way about my fellow writers and Brooklyn Republicans in the past few years.
On the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11, Atlas Shrugs in Brooklyn Remembers the Sacrifice and Heroism of That Day
NEWSFLASH: Atlas Shrugs Not Written By Judge
Who is John Galt?
Having to say something over and over again can get tiresome.
Recently, Room 8’s Gatemouth released a lengthy manifesto in reply to the antics of an entirely irrelevant hate blog regarding Mr. Judge. He, we are sure, had his reasons for doing so…
Regardless, after gauging the political chatter out there, I thought this an appropriate time to issue our own simple statement about Jonathan Judge: he is not and has not been a writer of this blog.
Last week marked one of the most crippling political defeats in the tenure of one of New York’s worst mayors, Michael Bloomberg.
It was tremendously satisfying to watch this arrogant, nasty billionaire’s mayoralty crash into the ocean of failure, a destination it had flirted with for years. From the loss of the Olympics to the loss of a West Side stadium to the raising of property taxes and the proposal of congestion taxes, Mr. Bloomberg has been consistently one of the most unsuccessful executives this city has ever had.
But with the loss of Bloomberg’s Harriet Miers came a more obvious and satisfying realization about the state of the Third Term Bloomberg: it’s politically deceased.
Last week, we were the first to report the fact that Young Republican President Jonathan Judge would be stepping down in his role as leader of the GOP club that traces its roots back to the 19th century.
Recently, Mr. Judge issued a statement explaining his decision, his hopes for his organization and the cancer that has metastasized within the ranks of the GOP establishment in Brooklyn.
The man the GOP gave the Wilson Pakula to so that he could run for an illegitimate third term remains as unpopular as ever.
Indeed, his poll numbers now rival the worst of President Obama’s numbers.
Mayor Bloomberg, an enemy of reform and a deep-pocketed egotist, has long been disliked by the writers of this blog. Indeed, when we started Atlas Shrugs in Brooklyn, one of our first critiques was of Mr. Bloomberg’s pursuit of a third term.
For reasons not fully known to us, we have learned that Brooklyn Young Republican President Jonathan Judge will not be continuing on as leader of the Young Republicans.
The withdrawal would mark the end of a multi-year period of activism within the organization, which witnessed many changes, fundraisers, and accolades as it continues to weather the storms produced by the irate and irrelevant Chairman of the Brooklyn GOP, Craig Eaton.
The move could also potentially mark the beginning of a new project or political aim for the young GOP leader. Meanwhile, establishment figures can only watch with concern (given their own failures) as a Young Republican organization that owes no allegiance to the weak old hands of politics moves forward.
You’re fired?
That’s the word coming in from our sources regarding the non-hiring of wannabe GOP Executive Director Karen Fischer, whose claim to fame remains a botched 49th Assembly campaign that witnessed the loss of Republican teenage newbie Peter Cipriano.
Apparently, GOP big man Craig Eaton is supposedly fearful of hell that could be raised by elevating the political diva.
How Quickly We Forget November: Michael Grimm, the victorious Republican Congressman, is being unfairly attacked by some on his own side
The honeymoon might be over, but the offending party here is not Mr. Grimm.
That was my response when reading my colleague’s piece about the recent debacle between Congressman Michael Grimm and various Tea Partiers, who took offense to a statement made by Rep. Grimm about keeping the government from shutting down.
The fact is Mr. Grimm’s remarks were not targeted to the Tea Party movement as a whole, and much of this angst toward him is unnecessary.
When The Honeymoon Ends: Grimm Divorces Himself From “The Extreme Right of the Tea Party”
It seems the honeymoon is over.
Michael Grimm, considered by some to be a “conservative warrior” during his successful campaign to oust Democrat Michael McMahon from the 13th Congressional district, has divorced himself from what he called “the extreme right wing of the Tea Party” this week.
The statement doing so was both poorly worded and poorly received from those ordinarily considered Grimm’s base–conservatives and Tea Partiers–who have expressed anger over the remarks. The move also suggests (to some) Mr. Grimm’s attempts to moderate himself politically in advance of a presidential election year in a district that was just as willing to vote Republican as it was Democrat in the past four years.
The Karen Fischer Problem: Divisive Figure Remains Hidden As Establishment Figures Express Discontent
Where did she go?
That’s the question a number of reformers and readers are asking us about the mysterious Karen Fischer, the failed campaign manager whom Craig Eaton was poised to raise to a position of “Executive Director,” with unknown duties and for an undisclosed salary.
Now, amidst controversy among GOP establishment loyalists, Ms. Fischer’s appointment has, apparently, been permanently put on hiatus.
With Kruger in Hot Water, Is Eaton Losing Control Over His Own Frankenstein’s Monster?
Craig Eaton's Frankenstein's monster? Are those loyal to the GOP Chairman acting outside his authority?
The recent self-surrender of Carl Kruger to the authorities really struck me and my colleagues. Why? because it actually might become a source of even further division in an already fractured GOP establishment that is currently in the midst of a war against the non-bootleg Brooklyn Young Republicans.
Not many of you may recall this, but Carl Kruger was the state Senator who put forth a “resolution” to commend GOP Chairman Craig Eaton for his community service award given to him last year. That alone raised questions about the relationship between the two men.
Now, with Duke Eaton so fearful and paranoid over the potential loss of his chairmanship, it seems more and more like forces loyal to him are acting outside of his authority, making moves to challenge Kruger without the apparent consent of the Chairman.
In Wake of Eaton’s Duplicity, Local and Update Insiders Fail to Stifle Resolve of “Proudly Independent” Young Republicans
They’re not going away anytime soon.
That was the overall message of a strongly-worded and effective response of the Young Republicans of Brooklyn via their President, former City Council candidate Jonathan Judge, this week. It came in response to the decision of the Association of New York State Young Republican Clubs, Inc. to unilaterally admit Brooklyn GOP Chairman Craig Eaton’s youth club into the statewide organization, the Young Republicans’ statement indicated.
It follows the deceitful move of Eaton to quietly finance his own young Republican group to challenge the Young Republican Club that has existed in Brooklyn since 1880.
Controversial Faux Tea Party Leader Exits Stage as Former Candidate Hayon Quietly Takes Reigns
Brooklyn Tea Party "Mad Hatter" John Press no longer leader of controversial coven of extremists.
Sayonara, John Press.
The controversial zealot who forced himself into the public arena by issuing a fatwa against the formation of mosques in both Brooklyn and Manhattan–including the so-called Ground Zero Mosque–has stepped down as chieftain of the divisive “Tea Party” group he formed in Brooklyn.
You will recall our blog had some strong sentiments regarding Mr. Press’s views on a variety of subjects…
Atlas Poll: 75% Believe GOP Chairman’s Assault on Young Republicans is “Outside Authority,” Benefiting Democrats
With nearly 550 votes cast in our Atlas Poll, the word for Brooklyn GOP Chairman Eaton is Grimm–I mean, grim.
Of those voting on the issue of Mr. Eaton’s decision to attack the Young Republicans of Brooklyn and replace them with an organization loyal only to him personally, 3/4 disapprove of his actions.
This comes after a slew of bad press stories hit the local media and blogosphere, which we ourselves covered.
Angry Abbate Bashes Black & Bloomberg For “Robbing” Innocent Schools
Fiorello LaGuardia Club nemesis and 49th AD “union poodle” Assemblyman Peter Abbate, who earned an easy win over unknown GOP neophyte Peter Cipriano last November, is out loudly attacking Cathie Black, accusing her of robbing innocent schools that are just seeking fiscal responsibility.
Upsetting GOP Libertarians, Eaton’s “Bootleg Young Republicans” Trash Talk Ron Paul
You might as well have trash talked Mother Theresa to Catholics.
You see, for many libertarians, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is a kind of idol–indeed, he is even more than that to most. While not all Republicans like him, there are many individuals who associate with the Republican Party because they believe in the principles espoused or associated with Congressman Paul.
Which is why GOP Chairman Craig Eaton‘s newly formed “Bootleg Young Republicans” (a description used by the original Brooklyn Young Republican Club, led by recent Eaton target Jonathan Judge) are in some hot water this week. While attending CPAC (a fact which was not noticed or reported in any precincts besides Mr. Eaton’s affiliated blogs), members of Eaton’s newly formed political goon squad disparaged Ron Paul mercilessly on Twitter.
Grimm Staff Pick Highlights Rift With Eaton, Deference to Conservative Chieftain Kassar
"All By Myself"? That could be the theme song for the GOP Chairman, sources say.
We all know that Chairman Eaton was heard talking up his special “relationship” with Congressman Grimm last month, which was revealed to be mere puffery and nothing more.
In a follow-up to that story I covered last month, a trusted Brooklyn Republican source has disclosed some interesting facts and observations about Mr. Eaton’s continued irrelevance in the scheme of GOP politics, particularly involving Rep. Grimm.
What we are beginning to see is the influence of the Brooklyn Conservatives (and by extension Sen. Marty Golden) and the increasingly diminishing role of the GOP Chairman in affecting the decisions of local Republican elected officials.
It’s not just the blogs now.
Brooklyn GOP Chairman Craig “The Duke of Bay Ridge” Eaton and his small band of minions are facing a literal blitzkrieg of bad press following Mr. Eaton’s audaciously brazen move to attack the Brooklyn Young Republican Club and “replace it” with a bootleg “official” one.
As of now, The Daily News, The L Magazine, The Brooklyn Paper, and The Brooklyn Daily Eagle have all reported on this event that has brought about complete party “chaos” and has pitted old establishment figures against young vibrant reformers.
Brooklyn's Nikita? Some Brooklyn GOP insiders liken Eaton's tactics to those of the Soviets.
“We will bury you!” (“Мы вас похороним!)
Those words, spoken by one-time erratic Soviet Premier Khrushchev, could have easily been spoken by GOP Chairman Craig Eaton, whose recent attempt to muzzle the reform-minded Brooklyn Young Republicans is already being compared by some insiders to the Russian leader himself.
Indeed, some insiders are already calling Eaton’s would-be replacement of the YR’s a Brooklyn Young Apparatchik Club.
But these tactics are not new for Brooklyn’s own 21st century Nikita.
Shakespearian Tragedy? Craig Eaton's most recent paranoid attacks are so epic in nature they threaten to rip the party into shreds of Birnam wood.
The center cannot hold. Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.
GOP Macbeth Craig Eaton (aka The Duke of Bay Ridge) must be brushing up on his Yeats lately. His most recent brazen act to personally finance a cloned young Republican group to “counter” the authentic Brooklyn Young Republican Club did not go unnoticed the past two days.
The local media, both online and in print, have taken notice of this crisis that threatens to tear the party asunder.
UPDATE: “Authentic” Brooklyn Young Republican Club Moves Swiftly Responding to Eaton’s “Misleading Announcement”
The story of the day has a new update.
Catching the Bay Ridge GOP off guard, the Brooklyn Young Republican Club issued a poignant and direct response to GOP Chairman Craig Eaton’s announcement of a fake “re-launch” of the Young Republicans in a rash attempt to confuse young Republicans and undermine the real YR Organization from enlisting members.
Tracing their history to 1880, the Brooklyn YRs contrasted their activism and history with Eaton’s “all-talk, no-action status quo.”
In Desperation, Brooklyn GOP Chairman Personally Finances Rogue Young Republican Club to Counter Reform
GOP Chairman or paranoid, fascistic Duke? This image was made by one GOP activist fed up with the Eaton-style of politics.
“Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Shakespeare’s MacBeth could have been talking about Brooklyn GOP Chairman Craig Eaton, who has lately been on a paranoia binge, expressing suspicion by allegedly maintaining a small, tight knit group of three or four confidantes.
But in his most brazen and fascistic move yet, the beleaguered GOP Duke of Bay Ridge has finally fired a Fort Sumter shot at one of his most hated perceived rivals, the Brooklyn Young Republican Club, by personally financing an opposing splinter club answerable only to him.
With No Other Donations, Brooklyn GOP’s Only Fundraising Comes From Bloomberg in 2011
Still the one! In a parade setting, the look on Eaton's face says it all: pride--and arrogance. Yet, Bloomberg is still footing his bill.
$50,000.
That number would be somewhat impressive for a county GOP fundraising in a short, non-election period. But what if that $50,000 was a single contribution and it was not earned by any other means than a political deal?
With the embarrassingly late (and just plain embarrassing) campaign disclosures of the Brooklyn GOP, we find this to be the case, as they show one sole donation from none other than Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The strength of the American press has always been in its ability to inform the citizenry of newsworthy information while simultaneously impacting public discourse.
But occasionally we have reason to question whether this strength does in fact exist or has atrophied beyond recognition.
We see that with the Kettle Black scandal that arose last year and that the media has all but ignored in the recent months.
Amid Spectre of Controversy, Eaton Poised to Hire Failed Campaign Outsider as New Executive Director
Eaton's hack-bodyguard? Embattled GOP Chairman turns to inexperienced, non-Brooklynite outsider to "herd the cats" as party divide deepens.
Circle the wagons!
Just when insiders didn’t think things could get any worse for the Brooklyn GOP establishment, its embattled monarch stepped on a huge land mine.
Infuriating even his own loyal acolytes, GOP Chairman Craig “The Duke” Eaton is poised to announce unknown non-Brooklynite Karen Fischer, manager of a failed local Assembly campaign, as the GOP Executive Director. This comes after the party has once again failed to file its campaign disclosures timely.
Rasmussen: 68% Prefer A Government With Fewer Services, Lower Taxes
For Republicans nationally, this poll should give us all something to think about:
House Republicans are proposing to follow their repeal of the national health care bill with billions in spending cuts, and most voters continue to favor a government that offers fewer services and lower taxes.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of Likely Voters prefer a government with fewer services and lower taxes rather than a more active one with more services and higher taxes. This is virtually identical to last month and consistent with findings since September.
Local Democratic Reform Blog Ushers In New Year By Skewering Golden
Bay Ridge Interpol mocks Sen. Golden's "Fire Escape" phone calls preventing him from voting on major issues
State Sen. Marty Golden’s foes are back on watch this year.
Local Democratic reform blog Bay Ridge Interpol, which has received press attention for their pithy, clever torpedoes at the GOP establishment, is back to business this year.
Target #1? The Golden Hind.
Last Sunday’s Oath Ceremony, Absence of Input on Staff Picks, Highlights Eaton’s Lack of Influence With Grimm
Recently, Brooklyn GOP Chairman Craig Eaton has tried to make it appear as though he and newly minted Congressman Michael Grimm are the best of pals.
But many Republican insiders we have spoken with have suspected that nothing could be further from the truth.
Now, one major source familiar with the matter says that Eaton’s decison last year to back lobbyist Michael Allegretti over Mr. Grimm and “his ego” have poisoned any chance for a genuine relationship.
Periodically, I like to give you an assessment of the scope of readers we’re reaching.
Well, I’ve reviewed the numbers and have a very positive update to report.
Fiorello LaGuardia Organization: Brooklyn GOP Is Even Weaker After “Pyrrhic Victory” in 49th
After my second installment in the What Were They Thinking? series was released, we contacted the Fiorello LaGuardia Club–which is the central organization of the 49th Assembly District GOP leadership–to discuss last year’s elections in their district.
They were cooperative and submitted a response.
Now, I will share it with all of you.
All twaddle and no teeth.
That’s right: I’m talking about the Brooklyn GOP’s insipid blog radio program, which has increasingly become the mouthpiece of the wounded party establishment. No more photo ops with Chairman Craig Eaton. No more YouTube clips of Marty Golden. Blog Talk Radio is now the means by which the party communicates to their paltry base of two or three listeners.
Recently, that pathetic GOP-sanctioned institution, which never misses an opportunity to mention this blog, has delivered the highest honor to us: the honor of an insult. And our response is this: Thank You.
The Best of Atlas: Our Favorite Posts of 2010 – Hank Rearden
I’m back for my first contribution in a while.
I make it a point to read all my colleagues’ postings, and I believe the most fascinating story of 2010 was the intricate story of the connections surrounding the Cathedral Club of Brooklyn.
Those connections led to my colleague Francisco D’Anconia to refer to the organization as “the Brooklyn GOP, Catholic Church and Vito Lopez united.”
What Were They Thinking – Part II: “Operation Regime Change”
A term used by The Duke of Bay Ridge's chief stooge Russell Gallo, who made threats against the 49th AD.
It was the cause célèbre of the summer and stunned the entire party–reformer and status quoer alike.
The 49th Assembly District debacle was one of the most talked about issues in the year 2010 in local GOP politics. Including a battle between two old foes, GOP Chairman ________ “The Duke of Bay Ridge” ________ (I do not refer to the Brooklyn GOP Chairman by name) and former Assemblyman Arnaldo Ferraro, the race centered on two GOP candidates, District Leader Lucretia Regina-Potter and unknown Peter Cipriano.
In the end, both Ferraro and The Duke came out of the race wounded, and today, the district can expect another two years of Democratic representation in Albany. The results left many scratching their heads, but one question about all characters involved stands above the rest: just what were they all thinking?
For last year’s pick, I extolled my colleague Dagny Taggart for her brilliant piece on the Brooklyn GOP’s garish holiday party.
This year, I will take a page from my colleague Midas Mulligan to choose one of John Galt’s pieces of the year, which I believe was one of the most defining events of 2010.
It was the beginning of the fabled 44th City Council District Special Election.
The Best of Atlas: Our Favorite Posts of 2010 – Midas Mulligan
As we all pause to rest and recollect on the past year, your fellow Atlas writers would like to share with you our favorite posts of 2010.
While this might have been the year of Scott Brown and the Tea Party, the GOP in Brooklyn is atrophying at a sad rate.
Since he became chairman, Craig “The Duke of Bay Ridge” Eaton has seen thousands of active Republicans disappear from the party’s ranks, confirming much of the criticism the writers of Atlas Shrugs in Brooklyn have directed at the failed “leader.”
We have some new numbers, and we thought we’d share them with you.
Has the Kettle been cursed?
That must a suspicion shared by Thomas Casatelli, owner of the conspicuous Kettle Black Bar, which has been the source of tremendous controversy this year.
Yesterday, Mr. Casatelli pleaded guilty to scamming the government out of $1 Million in taxes. This came just shortly after the Mayor himself made a somewhat curious appearance at the Bay Ridge haunt.
“Twas the night after Christmas, and then the snow came. But three days thereafter, it all looks the same.”
That could be the chorus running through many New Yorkers’ minds lately about the pathetic job being done by the Mayor to clean up the city and get the outer-boroughs back on track.
The haughty aristocrat-cum-mayor is failing miserably at solving this post-blizzard mess, and local Brooklynites have had enough of it.
Faux Democratic “Reformer” Carroll Now Pinocchio to Lopez’s Geppetto
Odd-looking District Leader Kevin Peter Carroll in an oversized suit. Weird...
The blogs are all a-Twitter about it.
It’s the recent patronage job taken by creepy-looking Democratic “reformer” (please!) Kevin Peter Carroll from Brooklyn Democratic Party Boss Vito Lopez.
The Kool Aid Express is going full steam ahead.
You recall last week I discussed how Brooklyn GOP Talk Radio, a pathetic online outlet for the “grunting heads” of the Bay Ridge Cabal, is misrepresenting the”successes” of the party, essentially acting as a kind of talking points for the party.
On their most recent broadcast, the GOP Bloviators (who refer to themselves coloquially as Moron #1 and Moron #2) confirmed their long-term obsession with our blog.
Atlas Celebrates 500 Posts For Reform
It seems like only yesterday we began Atlas.
As we reach a milestone of 500 posts on Atlas, we take this opportunity to thank you for continuing to read our blog and support the reform movement to change politics in our borough and our Republican Party for the better.
This is all for you 😉
RNC Shares Holiday Wishes With Young Republicans… But What About Brooklyn GOP “Leadership”?
- This card was apparently sent to the Brooklyn Young Republicans…but did the RNC forget Craig Eaton?
Have a holly, jolly Christmas, Brooklyn Young Republicans!
That, in effect, was what GOP Chairman Michael Steele said to the local GOP power base of youths by sending a personalized card this year.
But oddly enough, the Brooklyn GOP “leadership” neglected to highlight receipt of a similar card, something local GOP Duke Craig Eaton would almost certainly do given his notorious ego. But he did not, which begs the question: did the RNC forget the Bay Ridge Cabal this year?
Atlas Shrugs in Brooklyn 