Today’s Strategy room focused on the first 18 months of Obama and, of course, the Con’s on the show deemed them among the worst in recent Presidential history. They of course ignore the fact that this President inherited the worst economy in since the 1930’s, 2 costly wars and a swelling deficit. They ignore the fact that when President Obama took office, the economy was bleeding over 700,000 jobs per month and now the economy is producing jobs. Time will tell. Obama’s numbers are almost identical to where Regan’s were at this point in his presidency and if the GOP could they would carve him into Mt. Rushmore today. Obama will recover in the same way Regan did. What do you think?

Here I am on NPR earlier today talking about the NYS Senate and Marriage equality
WSHU PUBLIC RADIO

Lazio Has $688K On Hand, Loaned Himself $200K (Updated)

GOP Primary now all but certain…. Lazio’s spending faster then he raises….

I had a blast on Hannity. Joe Piscipo was a riot and it’s always fun to meet a former SNL cast member…

Here in NY, campaign finance reports were released and there was one major absentee, GOP Nominee Rick Lazio. His Democratic opponent raised over $9 million during the past 6 months and has more cash on hand then any candidate in the history of the state. Lazio may have mailed his filling in to avoid a story today which either means he did really well and wants his own spotlight or really poorly and wan’t no one to notice. We will see soon.

For all the talk about this being the year of the challenger, here in NYS, incumbents out-raised challengers by a total of 8 to 1 up from 6 to 1 two years ago. I think this just means incumbents are working harder to save their jobs. They know its a tough year.

I probably won’t post too much over the weekend I am competing in the New York City Triathlon on Sunday morning and I can’t wait. I’m on Fox’s Strategy Room Tuesday at 3pm with my Monica Crowley… This show is on the web and you can watch it by clicking this link http://live.foxnews.com/strategy-room. There’s a live chat feature so you can post questions during the show… Have a great weekend, try to stay cool…

I will be on the Great American Panel with comedian Joe Piscopo of SNL fame and GOP strategist Karen Hanretty. We will be discussing BP’s ties to the release of the Lockerbie Bomber and a variety of other topics…. Tune in at 9pm Fox News Channel…

This is a re-post from the Daily Politics. 0% of voters polled would give the legislature an “A” for their budget work and an overwhelming number of voters give them a failing grade. I guess summer school is in order then. Maybe they should get back to Albany and re-take this class. The poll also gives Democrats a huge advantage in the upcoming statewide elections. Today is filling day so I expect we will be seeing who’s been doing the fundraising work.

Siena: Voters Give Legislators A Big Fat “F” On State Budget Work »
BY CELESTE KATZ

Here’s the latest from the Siena Research Institute:

“Nearly half of New Yorkers give the State Legislature an “F” for its work on the state budget this year, while about one-quarter say Governor David Paterson deserves a failing grade, according to a Siena College poll of registered New York voters released today. The Governor is supported by about half of voters for his vetoes of legislative member items, but strongly opposed on his veto of additional education spending.”

“Voters are not impressed – to say the least – with state leaders’ handling of this year’s budget. Forty-seven percent of voters say the Legislature deserves a failing grade, with another 24 percent grading its effort as a ‘D.’ Fewer than one percent gave the Legislature an ‘A’ and only seven percent offered a ‘B.’ If your children came home from college with a grade point average of less than 1.0 you might think about not paying for them to go back to school the next semester,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg. “Will voters return legislators to Albany this November after flunking them for their most important job? It’s going to be a fascinating election to watch.”

Some other highlights for you:

* Andrew Cuomo leads Rick Lazio 60-28%, down from 60-24% in June. Cuomo’s lead over Paladino rose to 64-23% , up from 60-23%.

*In a three-way race, Cuomo garners 54% to Lazio’s 23% and 10% for Paladino. In a Republican Party primary, Lazio’s lead over Paladino fell to 40-20%, down from 45-18% last month, although 40% of Republicans remain undecided.

* By a margin of 61-25% , voters have an unfavorable view of the New York State Assembly. Things are even worse for the State Senate, with an identical 25% favorable rating and a 66% unfavorable rating.

* Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has a two-to-one negative favorability rating, 20-40 percent and Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson is unknown to 83% of voters.

* Voters, by a margin of 54-36%, support giving SUNY greater flexibility on how much tuition they charge. Support is much stronger upstate than in New York City.

* About 34% percent want to see a larger majority for the Democrats in the state Senate; 26% want to see the GOP retake control and 35% of voters, including a plurality of independent voters, want to see the Senate continue to be closely divided.

* Comptroller Tom DiNapoli leads GOP challenger Harry Wilson 48-24% , up from 42-23 percent in June. DiNapoli is still unknown to nearly two-thirds of voters and Wilson is unknown to 85%.

* Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand leads Bruce Blakeman 51-28%, Joseph DioGuardi 51-29% and David Malpass 50-27%. In a GOP primary match-up, it’s 24% DioGuardi, 7% Blakeman and 5% Malpass with 64% of Republicans undecided.

* Gary Berntsen and Jay Townsend, who both want to unseat Sen. Chuck Schumer, remain unknown to at least 80% of all voters and Republicans. Schumer has a 60-28% favorability rating and 55% percent of voters say they are prepared to re-elect him.

* President Obama is viewed favorably by 60% of voters and unfavorably by 37%, the largest percentage ever in a Siena College poll.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/07/siena-voters-give-legislators.html#more#ixzz0tlUzXxqK