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Can you pronounce your friends' names? Hold on, let's narrow that down. Can you pronounce the names of your "great friends"? Pres. Obama can't—at least when it comes to Kirsten Gillibrand. PBO was at an event at GE in Schenectady, New York today, announcing his selection of GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt as a senior economic adviser. The president began his remarks by recognizing dignitaries in attendance. The only ones among them he identified as "great friends of mine" were the two New York senators. He then proceeded to mispronounce Gillibrand's last name. View video after the jump.

If only this were a coalition of the left and the right working out differences. But alas, it’s just a coalition of mostly liberal politicians who used to label themselves by a political party and now would rather fly stealth. Sigh. If you are not familiar with “No Lables”, no worries, it’s brand new and they certainly deserve a Hat Tip for brevity. Here’s their declaration: We are not labels – we are people. We care deeply about our country. We are frustrated and concerned about the tone of politics. We are passionate about addressing America’s challenges. We are Democrats,...

_resident Obama's $858 billion tax package won a huge bipartisan majority in the Senate Monday evening, setting it up for a contentious debate in the House. In a 83-15 vote, the Senate quashed a filibuster by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Va.). Fifteen lawmakers voted against it, including five Republicans: Sens. Tom Coburn (Okla.), Jim DeMint (S.C.), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), John Ensign (Nev.) and George Voinovich (Ohio). Nine Democrats and one independent voted against the bill: Sens. Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Russ Feingold (Wis.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Frank Lautenberg (N.J.), Pat Leahy (Vt.), Carl Levin (Mich.), Mark...

This early word from inside the campaign Voter turnout is high everywhere but Manhattan area.. Sufflok county 3 to 1 Repub over Dem.. Great for us.. Things look good but I am cautiously optimistic

There he goes again. Carl P. Paladino, the Republican candidate for governor, promised he would be politically incorrect. He wasn’t kidding. On Thursday, during a rally in Hicksville, N.Y., he called the state’s junior United States senator, Kirsten E. Gillibrand, “Schumer’s little girl.” It was an apparent reference to Ms. Gillibrand’s close relationship with Senator Charles E. Schumer, but Mr. Paladino’s dismissive description of the only woman to hold statewide elected office in New York jolted the political world. His comments were reported on the Web site of Newsday and by NY1. Mr. Paladino, a businessman from Buffalo, has previously...

Joseph DioGuardi gesticulates vivaciously — a habit perhaps inherited, if the stereotype is to be believed, from his Italian-born father. He speaks with an accent retained from childhood in the East Bronx, with rhotacisms laid over precise and racing speech about budget and austerity. DioGuardi has risen from busboy, to accountant, to congressman (NY-20 from 1984 to 1988), and, now, to Senate candidate. His favorite gimmick is to take out his old congressional voting card and do this spiel: “This is really a credit card, because every time you put it in, you raise the national debt. It’s the most...

If you've been following the New York Senate polls closely for the last year, you've noticed that Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has been hovering around 50 percent for most of the past two years. This is dangerous territory for any incumbent to be in - by my count, only three incumbents in the last three years who averaged less than 50 percent in August polling have gone on to win in November... --snip-- Conclusion DioGuardi isn't likely to win, but it certainly is possible. The SurveyUSA poll is a best-case scenario for DioGuardi among current polling, but it nevertheless depicts...

Financially supported by Emily's List snip Voted NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies. Congressional Summary:To require that amounts appropriated for the United Nations Population Fund are not used by organizations which support coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. Proponent's argument to vote Yes: Sen. WICKER (R-MS): This amendment with one issue and one issue only--whether US taxpayer dollars will be provided to help fund coercive population control policies, such as China's one-child policy--a policy that relies on coerced abortion and forced sterilization. snip As it has always done, Kemp-Kasten allows the President to certify that funds are not...

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has been endorsed for election by a leading gun control group, two years after earning a top rating from the National Rifle Association. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence notes that Gillibrand had been an NRA favorite when she was an upstate congresswoman in a Republican district. But the group says that in less than two years as an appointed U.S. senator, she has become a leader in what the Brady group calls sensible gun laws. Gillibrand accepted the endorsement on Aug. 12, saying it reflects her opposition to illegal guns...

A new Quinnipiac poll in New York shows Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) way ahead of any of her three possible Republican challengers for U.S. Senate. She beats Bruce Blakeman (R), 44% to 26%, tops David Malpass (R), 45% to 24%, and is ahead of Joseph DioGuardi (R), 43% to 28%. Said pollster Maurice Carroll: "Who are those guys who want to run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand? In match-ups, each of the three gets the generic Republican vote. But most voters don't know much about any of them."

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Ran into Gail Goode — who is challenging Kirsten Gillibrand for her Senate seat in the Democratic primary — in Congress Park Friday afternoon. She is in town for the weekend and will be shaking hands at the Tom Petty concert Friday and at the Travers Saturday. "I think it's very important that people know that 45,000 people put me on the ballot," she said, contrasting that with the "one person" — Gov. David Paterson — who put Gillibrand in her seat to replace Hillary Clinton. "I think it's very important for New Yorkers to know that...

<p>2010 is shaping up to be an excellent year for conservatives, who are leading in most of the races around the country for the November midterm elections.</p> <p>A brief panoramic view of the various campaigns will reveal that voters are clearly intent on making significant changes to Congress this year.</p>

Ex-Senator D’Amato under fire for tilting election to Gillibrand at Republicans’ expense Published on May 27, 2010 by Official Wire (OfficialWire) WASHINGTON, DC While the media continues to call the New York Senate race a done deal in favor of Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand, shady subplots involving her rise to prominence remain unexamined. America Outraged Political Action Committee has been seeking to expose what it calls “an egregious case of political cronyism” involving former Republican senator and political power broker Al D’Amato and Gillibrand, the daughter of a prominent lobbyist. Among the connections: Gillibrand's father, Doug Rutnik, a contributor mostly...

Lack of insightful media coverage of political dirty tricks leads to “Stop D’Amato” Facebook campaign Published on May 27, 2010 by Official Wire (OfficialWire) WASHINGTON, D.C. You’ve seen Facebook sites that try to find a million fans of something. Now, thanks to inadequate media coverage in New York, a Facebook fan site is being used to educate the voting public. Created by America Outraged Political Action Committee, the recently launched “1,000+ People to STOP the D’Amato Machine!” (http://www.facebook.com/stopdamato) seeks to find over a thousand people by May 28 to “like” the page and voice their disapproval of political power broker...

PAC Project Dedicated to Exposing Tricks and Political Machines in Elections Washington, DC.- May 27, 2010 What does an out-of-control state or federal deficit have to do with campaign tricks and political machines? According to America Outraged Political Action Committee (PAC), plenty. Political trickery or “machines,” methods that prevent a popular candidate from achieving nomination or election, are used specifically for the purpose of usurping the process that ensures the voters’ interests are legitimately represented. When this occurs, the small segment of supporters expect a return for their campaign “investment” such as salary or pension hikes. The voters who were...

When Kirsten Gillibrand was chosen to fill the Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton following Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State, the upstate New York Democrat was hailed as a more 'conservative' face to the Democratic Party. Gillibrand touted her supposed support for 'gun rights,' and many fell for the ruse that led individuals and organizations such as the NRA to endorse her for the seat. Comedian Victoria Jackson sings a song during a tea party rally in Buffalo, N.Y. on Monday, April 12, 2010. (AP Photo/David Duprey). No sooner had she taken the seat, however, than she began cozying...

"Invisible people do not count in this country," Cortes-Vazquez told reporters at a lower Manhattan news conference. "Invisible people do not have a voice." Apparently, she doesn't believe that there is a difference between ILLEGAL MEXICAN and LEGAL MEXICAN.

Not only is New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- known to have some kind of score to settle with Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand -- showing interest in Gillibrand's potential challengers, but now his long-time girlfriend is popping up as a sought-after GOP candidate. The New York Senate race is getting personal for Big Apple Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Very personal. Not only is the registered independent -- known to have some kind of score to settle with Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand -- showing interest in Gillibrand's potential challengers, but now his long-time girlfriend is popping up as a sought-after GOP...

Encouraged by state and national Republican Party leaders, Dan Senor, an author, private equity executive and Defense Department adviser in the last Bush administration, is seriously considering a political challenge against Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, according to three people told of the discussions. Mr. Senor, 38, who is married to the CNN anchorwoman Campbell Brown, is expected to decide in the next month whether to run. The discussions between Mr. Senor and the Republican leaders reflect their dissatisfaction with the existing field of Republican candidates in the state and their consensus that Ms. Gillibrand remains vulnerable to a challenger in...

The emergence of real-estate magnate -- and Daily News Publisher -- Mortimer Zuckerman as a potential candidate for the United States Senate is an event all New Yorkers of good will can welcome. This isn't an endorsement of Zuckerman's candidacy. Indeed, it's not at all clear that he'll even make the run. But here's hoping he does. The Senate seat in question is now held by David Paterson protégé -- and Chuck Schumer hand puppet -- Kirsten Gillibrand. She's an upstate cipher whose sole qualification for the job is that Paterson appointed her to it when Hillary Rodham Clinton gave...