NYTimes Has No Love For Freddie Either

More bad news for Fernando Ferrer's latest campaign for mayor of NYC as even the Left-leaning NYTimes is endorsing Michael Bloomberg:

The New York Times enthusiastically endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg for re-election, saying he was on course to be one of the best mayors the city has ever had.

The overwhelmingly positive editorial published in Sunday's editions said Bloomberg, a Republican, has not been as entertaining as his predecessors but "has been better at running the city."

"If he continues his record of accomplishment over the next four years, he may be remembered as one of the greatest mayors in New York history," the editorial said.

Recent opinion polls put Bloomberg well ahead of his Democratic challenger, Fernando Ferrer.

The Times praised Bloomberg for accomplishments including bringing down the crime rate, establishing the 311 telephone hot line for reporting city complaints and remaining "focused on getting things done, not getting headlines."

The Times endorsed Bloomberg's Democratic opponent, Mark Green, in 2001, criticizing Bloomberg's "out-of-control campaign spending" and saying he was unwilling to engage his opponent in "an even fight."

Granted, Ferrer is already at a serious disadvantage campaign-wise running against a billionaire in Bloomsberg, but his image as an uninspiring, insincere, flip-flopper who will say anything to win doesn't help him either. Needless to say these character traits have hindered greatly of late, including of course, John Kerry last year. Al Gore himself, having battled for years an image as being dour and aloof, lost in '00 despite being VP for 8 years is certainly no guarantee of victory at the polls, even with a booming economy and a general contentment with current affairs.

Republicans take stances and stick to them. Democrats continue to play the game of trying to please everybody. Of course, aligning yourself with con artists like Al Sharpton, Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson isn't going to help you win mayor of any town either, much less NYC.

Fernando Ferrer on Amadou Diallo

Fernando Ferrer on Amadou Diallo
Via the NY Daily News:
"I don't believe it was a crime," Ferrer, who was Bronx borough president at the time of the slaying, told members of the Sergeants Benevolent Association. "Do I believe there was an attempt by many, in a lot of different places, to overindict? Sure." The comments were far different in tone than Ferrer's remarks when he was running for mayor in 2001. The year before, the four cops who fired 41 shots at Diallo in front of his Bronx home when they mistook his wallet for a gun were acquitted of murder.Mayoral hopeful Fernando Ferrer told the police sergeants union yesterday that there was a broad attempt to "overindict" the officers involved in the infamous 1999 shooting of Amadou Diallo.

And yet we wonder why this guy has twice failed to become mayor. I'm not a Fernando "Freddie" Ferrer fan. Not in the least. The man just can't be trusted. And he lost to Mark Green! Mark Green!!! But in regard to the Diallo statement, Ferrer proves one thing: He will say and do anything to win. Hmmm.....does that remind you of someone?

Unfortunately, Black folks just don't get it. The notion that Freddie Ferrer can get away with calling the Diallo murder anything less than what it is, is severely harmful. Today, some 6 years later the Diallo crime still stands as one of the most tragic and racially divisive episodes in NYC's history. 41 shots is a grim reminder of a racist administration that catered to "fixing" crime at literally ANY cost. The facts of the Diallo case showed that the four cops were badly trained and completely out of control. Police officers should be in control of the situation; 41 shots showed that they were very clearly out of control.

The instances when it is necessary for a police officer to shoot and kill another human being should be when a threat is real, not perceived. Four well-armed officers clearly had a tactical advantage if they used good judgement and training. For an officer to shoot wildly, hitting the victim in the bottom of his foot (he was clearly down at the time) is inexcusable.

And so was Freddie Ferrer's statement to the Sergeants association.

For Ferrer to have any chance in defeating Mayor Bloomberg this November he will need to win, in a landslide, the Black and Hispanic vote. He can count on Hispanics because he's Hispanic himself and well, Hispanics have a history of immense loyalty in voting for one of their own. Therefore it's the Black vote that could be the biggest factor in deciding who our next mayor will be. And far from me to recommend that any Black person vote Republican, keep in mind that Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a 30-year Democrat who only joined the Republican party in 2001 so he could win. In other words, think of the mayoral race as a Democrat (Ferrer) vs. a "closet" Democrat (Bloomberg). Which leaves my vote out because Bloomberg is a liberal and voting for Ferrer would be stepping on the memory of Amadou Diallo.

Democrats Fight To Lose To Bloomberg

In light of polls showing that most New Yorkers won't even show up to vote, 4 Democrats are still vying for The Right To Lose to Mayor Mike Bloomberg in the upcoming 2005 mayoral election. You've probably never heard of them, so I'll provide you with a little information on each: there's Fernando Ferrer (I think he has some important position up in the Bronx), Virginia Fields (she's Black), Anthony Weiner (I have no idea who he is) and Some Other White Guy.

Apparently, the race for The Right To Lose To Bloomberg is getting tight as the favorite, Ferrer, may not be able to get the 40% of the vote needed to avoid a runoff. Wouldn't THAT be....I don't know, kind of embarrassing??? But lucky for Ferrer, he just got an endorsement from pseudo-preacher and FBI informant Al Sharpton, so Ferrer will probably win the primary now since Black people love Sharpton so much! Of course, all of this is kind of ironic in a "liberal" town like New York City, where the President would be hard-pressed to get a vote, yet has seen a Republican in the mayoral seat for 12, going on 16 years now.