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social media excitement!

(Photo: Facebook)

Politicians Celebrate Super Bowl Victory (!!!!!)

Everyone who hasn't been living under a rock knows the New York Giants whipped up an impressive victory in the Super Bowl last night. However, even rock-dwellers were aware of the news if they were friends with any elected officials on Facebook.

Generally, the excited politicians' responses needed at least five exclamation marks.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and State Senator Marty Golden were examples of this. Ms. Crowley wrote "NY Giants XLVI Super Bowl Champions!!!!!" while Mr. Golden wrote "Congratulations to the SuperBowl Champions the New York Giants!!!!!! Go Big Blue."

Councilman Jumaane Williams, who correctly predicted the score of the game, might have been the most excited of them all. "UH...Yeah! We did it again. ANY DAMN QUESTIONS!!!!!!!" he declared, adding "WHOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" He also had another "WHOAA" post containing 50 exclamation marks.

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Marty Markowitz (Photo: Facebook)

Markowitz Pitches ‘Coney Island Boardwalk Empire’

At last night's State of the Borough address, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz took some time to reiterate his call for a new casino in the Coney Island neighborhood.

"I'm not talking about turning Coney Island into Atlantic City, that's not what I'm not suggesting," he said, before pivoting into one of his many jokes of the evening. "Although I look forward to setting my DVR to recording the smash HBO drama Coney Island Boardwalk Empire."

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in out in out

Saint Jermaine Endeley (Photo: Facebook)

After Vacillating, Candidate [Again?] Drops Primary Bid Against Diane Savino

Saint Jermaine Endeley, a college student who had been campaigning in the Democratic primary against Staten Island State Senator Diane Savino, announced today that he is exiting the race.

"After weighing heavily the viability of my candidacy I have decided not to run for State Senate in 2012," he said in a statement. "While I hope to see the Senate Democrats united and to have my ideas promoted in Albany, I simply do not believe that I can win at this time and so I will instead focus my energy on other projects."

There was some confusion about whether Mr. Endeley dropped out previously, after blogs, including Politicker, reported that he had made such a decision. After initially declining to comment, the candidate subsequently denied these claims.

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Weighing In

Diane Savino (Photo: NYSenate.gov)

Senator Diane Savino On Mitt Romney And The Possible Coney Island Casino

State Senator Diane Savino is not pleased with GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. After watching Mr. Romney's New Hampshire victory speech, Senator Savino wrote a Facebook post saying, "I sometimes hate this frigging business." The Politicker talked to Senator Savino this morning to find out why she found Mr. Romney's speech "offensive" and to get her thoughts on the prospect of a casino in Coney Island, which is part of her seat in the 23rd District.

Senator Savino described Mr. Romney's speech as "the worst kind of gutter politics."

"He made direct statements accusing the President of exploiting the politics of envy, the statement that President Obama does not care about America, that President Obama is a socialist. It was really the worst kind of gutter politics," Senator Savino said. "You want to disagree with President Obama? Fine, but stop trying to insinuate or overtly state that he's un-American. That's what I took offense to." Read More

a ferry for two

Diane Savino and Nicole Malliotakis driving to Albany together. (Photo: Facebook)

Diane Savino and Nicole Malliotakis: Bipartisan BFFs

Democratic State Senator Diane Savino and Republican Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis both get along extremely well, and their Staten Island-based districts even overlap. According to the Staten Island Advance, both Ms. Savino and Ms. Malliotakis shop together at the same Staten Island Mall Macy's, arrive together at many of the same political events and drive up to Albany together as well.

"In a testament to those differences," the Advance writes, "Ms. Malliotakis's cell phone has "The Odd Couple" theme song as Ms. Savino's ring-tone."

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Early Exits

Saint Jermaine Enderley (Facebook)

21-Year-Old NYU Junior Drops Longshot Bid Against Senator Diane Savino

A little over a week after announcing his intention to challenge State Senator Diane Savino next year,  21-year-old NYU junior named Saint Jermaine Endeley may drop his bid to take the 23rd District seat. Word of Mr. Enderley's early departure from the race first appeared via a report on The Brooklyn Politics this afternoon that said "multiple sources familiar with the situation" expected Mr. Endeley to drop out of the race. Mr. Endeley subsequently told The Politicker he's re-evaluating his decision to run. "We don't know if were going forward at this point," Mr. Endeley said. "We're not talking to the press at this time, we'll have a statement tomorrow morning."

Mr. Endeley's young age wasn't the only atypical aspect of his candidacy, the upstart senate hopeful describes himself as a "pro-business" democrat and has a "5-5-5 Plan" reminiscent of the policies of Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain.  Read More

debt ceiling debate

The US Capitol Building is pictured at d

Beating the Debt Hoarse: As Washington Deadline Neared, Outrage Looked for An Outlet, and Ennui Reigned

As the American economy inched closer to collapse on Monday morning, 50 people took to the streets of Lower Manhattan, stripped naked and pantomimed life on Wall Street. One yelled about stock prices like a trader on the floor. Another swept the streets. A third pretended to sell hot dogs.

“This is a commentary on the absurdity of the situation,” said the artist behind the project, Zefrey Throwell. “It’s totally a Freudian nightmare to have people show up and work naked on Wall Street. This absurd statement I consider parallel to the lack of transparency on our financial structures.” Read More

NY-9

After Weprin Questions State Senate Vote on Marriage, Savino Tears Up Donation Check to His Campaign [Updated]

State Senator Diane Savino is furious with fellow Democrat David Weprin after he agreed with an interviewer who said there should be some type of inquiry into whether the  State Senate violated its rules when it voted to legalize same-sex marriage.

"I was this close to writing  a check to him and I tore it up," Savino told me. "He knows damn well" rules were followed, she said. "He should just defend his vote." Weprin, as a member of the Assembly, voted for the bill.

"I am calling on him to rethink" his comments, she said, referring to Weprin's interview with the conservative Orthodox Jewish news outlet, Voz is NeiasRead More

same-sex marriage

Same-Sex Marriage Senators Take The Show on the Road

Diane Savino and Tom Duane, two of New York's biggest backers for marriage equality, are headed to the Golden State in order to bask in the accolades of LGBT activists at the San Diego Pride Parade:

Writes the  San Diego Gay and Lesbian News website:

Two New York senators who played key political roles in passing their state’s marriage equality law on June 24 will be participating this weekend in San Diego LGBT Pride events...

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