It's been a busy month!

This past month was the petitioning season for candidates seeking office. My spare time has been preciously small and it has prevented me from being more active with my blog. A few things have occurred and I think I'll just combine everything with my thoughts on each.

1. Adam Brecht drops out for a bid for US Senator next year. The first to officially announce a challenge against Senator Clinton, Adam toured New York and spoke at many engagements to bring his message of reform and improving New York. Unfortunately, he did not receive a glance over by the State Party, as they tinker with the idea of "selecting" Jeanine PIrro as Ms. Clinton's challenger. Not that we already don't have three other well qualified candidates already announcing their candidacy as Ms. Pirro keeps quiet on her own accord or by the direction of the Party bigs. It's a dog eat dog world and I wish Adam Brecht luck in his future endeavors.

2. There's a Medicaid scam that the New York Times wrote two long and in-depth stories on. It's also being covered by other print media and Henry Stern's New York Civic. Now, politicians are coming out infront of the cameras ready to do battle in getting to the bottom of this. New Yorkers should be really paying attention to this issue and keep it in the back of their heads for the 2006 elections. If nothing gets done and they continue to waste tax-payers money, we should go to the polls to vote out those in power. Democrat or Republican, it doesn't matter. If you're in office, you are accountable. You are doing nothing. We need new blood. They should be aware that we're watching.

3. Bill O'Reilly has ranked our good Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver as the worst politician in America. Wow! What honors. This should show Republicans that it is time to run a strong and credible candidate against Mr. Silver next year. We need to find a candidate now, not next May. We need a reformer and a strong voice for change challenging everything that Silver has done (bad) and not done (even worse), so the People of lower Manhattan wake up and say, "Wow! Bill O'Reilly is right. He is a corrupt politician and we need someone new representing us.

4. Steve Shaw drops out of the mayoral race and Tom Ognibene is hanging by threads. Will we have democracy and see a Republican Primary in September? Already, Mr. Ognibene's been challeged by four people, likely Bloomberg folk. I have this love-hate thing with Mayor Bloomberg. I think he's done an "okay" job as mayor, but I disagree with his property tax increase of three years ago, I disagree with his smoking ban, I disagree with his shutting out anyone who wants to run against him within the party he simply wears as a shell, I think he needs to do more for education and stop cooking the books on reduced crime. I've spoken with a few Republicans who have already said they intend on voting for Mr. Ognibene this November, if Mr. Bloomberg doesn't allow a primary. It would be different if there is a primary, where they may vote for Mr. Ognibene on September 13, but then vote for Mayor Bloomberg on November 8. We'll see how this plays out. Here's hoping that Mr. Ognibene on the Conservative line will get out conservative Republicans who would otherwise not go to the polls without a real candidate for them.

4. Scandals rock the Democrats. Mr. Miller has his mailingsgate and Ms. Fields has her photogate. Mr. Ferrer had his Diallogate and poor Mr. Weiner has no gate, other than a "whodat-gate." Christopher Brodeur has a shot. Now's his time to get his message out an alternative Democratic candidate for Mayor. At least his campaign is interesting.

5. Yankees have been winning even though they don't have any pitching right now. Unfortunately, I can't be as objective with the Yanks the way I am with the Braves. Bobby Cox & Leo Mazzone have to be two of the best coaches in baseball, if not the best. These two are first ballot Hall of Famers. Somehow the Yankees won the "Team of the 90s" along with the "Team of the Century." They certainly deserve the Century one, but the 90s were the Braves. With the constant changes from year to year, Bobby Cox has led his team to win the division every year since 1992 and even into many World Series.

6. The Mets have been playing .500 ball up unti their recent four game winning streak. Will they go on a tear and win 10 of their next 12 games? I really like this team for its mix of veterans and young players. They are exciting. They haven't shown they can contend, but give them a year and they may finally overtake Bobby Cox's crew.

7. Hockey is back! Almost. So is Adam Graves. Will we see a team worth watching in the Garden this Fall?

I hope to be back more often but there is a lot going on and there are many sites to visit. There's also a lot of heat outside. I can't wait to see my next Con Ed bill.