Spin Cycle

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith telling lobbyists — jokingly, he says – they should contribute now because it will be more expensive to win favor with Democrats when they control the Senate.

2. State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos saying, “That’s thuggery, and I think that’s totally inappropriate.”

3. Carey Campbell, head of a Virginia third-party movement, putting Michael Bloomberg on his state’s ballot as a potential spoiler.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Will Bower, a founder of a group that insists on nominating Hillary Clinton rather than Barack Obama at the Democratic convention, saying: “What we want... is to save the Democratic party from itself.”

2. Obama, agreeing to a symbolic roll-call vote with Clinton’s name before the convention, saying this “will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history.”

3. Rep. Bob Barr, Libertarian Party candidate, saying Sen. John McCain doesn’t show “he believes in dramatically shrinking the size and cost of the federal government.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, saying of Sen. John McCain: “It’s John McCain who wears $500 shoes, has six houses and comes from one of the richest families in his state.”

2. Lt. Col. Mark Wright, Pentagon spokesman, saying of the surpassing of 500 U.S. military deaths in the Afghanistan war: “In terms of miletones, it’s important to point out that no casualty is more significant than any other.”

3. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) saying a boost for offshore drilling would send the message “America is serious about becoming independent of foreign oil.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Suffolk Executive Steve Levy saying of the so-called Montauk monster: “If this could be certified as the Suffolk version of the Loch Ness monster... we'd sell tickets and get a lot of revenue.”

2. Nassau Executive Tom Suozzi spending industrial-development funds to promote local tourism at a Manhattan news conference — alongside singer Ashanti.

3. Nassau Legis. Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) saying of the tourism expenditures: “This does nothing more than promote Tom Suozzi.”

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Barack Obama, for an overseas tour that had a " White House feel," as Politico.com noted.

2. Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, for announcing an upstate tour to campaign for a property-tax cap - where he'd likely need support if he ran again for statewide office.

3. John McCain's campaign blog, for using Obama's wreath-laying at the Holocaust Memorial in Israel to attack him for once saying the U.S. can't always use troops to prevent genocide.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Gov. David A. Paterson, who’s called New York’s accidental governor, asking his audience at the NAACP: “Why was this non-illustrious title held all these years for me?”

2. Sen. John McCain drawing a standing ovation by saying, “I will get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice. I will do that."

3. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Bronx,Queens) saying he is disappointed by the pace at which the government of India is moving on the U.S.-India nuclear cooperation deal.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Democrat, saying, "Barack (Obama) has been talking down to black people. I want to cut his ---- off."

2. Former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, a GOP adviser to Sen. John McCain, complaining, “We have sort of become a nation of whiners…This is a mental recession.”

3. U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) claiming that U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) “is running the Alaska Democratic Party” through his chairmanship of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Rep. Anthony Weiner saying of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, “He’s had a lapdog press corps.”

2. Wealthy upstate maverick Tom Golisano letting it be known he may get involved in the fight for the state Senate by backing candidates he favors with $1 million each.

3. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who was a Hillary Clinton supporter, tweaking Sen. John McCain by saying: “I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.”

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion?

1. Sen. Joseph Bruno, in his farewell speech as majority leader, tweaking Sen. Kemp Hannon’s rebellion on a final bill that Bruno tried to sneak through the house, saying: “That’s the love-hate part of what goes on around here...Love-hate, love-hate.”

2. Hannon, health committee chairman, rising and angrily declaring of Bruno’s parting maneuver: “In seven years of discussion ... I have never heard of this...I was told we weren't going to do this.”

3. Barack Obama campaign manager David Plouffe organizing grass-roots “persuasion armies” to convince swing voters to back the Democrat.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Susan Rice, top foreign policy advisor to Sen. Barack Obama, warning that John McCain would “give us a stupid approach to the war on terrorism for four more years.”

2. Fred Dalton Thompson, acting as campaign surrogate for McCain, saying of Obama: “He has come up as a typical young man in a hurry.”

3. Thomas Suozzi, Nassau County executive, Suozzi, championing a property tax cap by donning a cap with the number 74 — the percentage of New Yorkers found in a poll to favor the idea.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion?

1. E.D. Hill, anchor on Fox News, suggesting a fist bump between Barack Obama and wife Michelle could be seen as a "terrorist fist jab."

2. The “Media Matters” organization starting a petition demanding an apology from Hill.

3. Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell fighting the Islander East natural-gas pipeline proposed for the Long Island Sound between her state and Wading River.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco (R-Schenectady) proposing legislation that would give senior citizens a $200 tax rebate and provide tax credits to replace old fuel tanks.

2. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D- Jamaica Estates) saying he will back Barack Obama, but would not do so prior to Hillary Clinton’s withdrawal because he and other supporters were “waiting for the leader to hand over the sword,"

3. The Rev. James Lisante of the Rockville Centre diocese endorsing Republican candidates during opening prayers at GOP events over the past three years.

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi hosting a press conference with Suffolk social-services leaders to warn of the dangers of mothers co-sleeping with their young kids.

2. Scott McClellan, former Bush administration spokesman, claiming retroactively to have objected to the way policies were shaped.

3. Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole condemning McClellan as “a miserable creature” for doing so.

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Brookhaven’s Democratic supervisor, Brian Foley, running for the state Senate seat of veteran Republican Caesar Trunzo, saying he will “bring a new level of energy” to representing the district.

2. Jesse Garcia, Brookhaven GOP chairman, calling Foley “a failure as town supervisor.”

3. Rep. Joseph Crowley, Queens Democratic chairman, dumping state Sen. John Sabini to support NYC Councilman Hiram Monserrate for the job.

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Richard Iannuzzi, president of New York State United Teachers, citing a contentious atmosphere in Albany to conclude: “Labor is in a good place.”

2. Nassau Independence Party Chairman Bobby Kumar expressing satisfaction at recent judicial cross-endorsements by the major parties, suggesting that “good judges” deserve new terms.

3. State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo stepping onto center stage on the school pension issue by scheduling a public hearing with state legislators for Thursday on Long Island.

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Gov. David Paterson saying he couldn’t condone civil-disobedience that halted traffic in protest of the Sean Bell shooting case.

2. Democrat Tracey Cline — after winning a primary to succeed disgraced ex-Raleigh DA Michael Nifong — saying: “This was not about the Duke lacrosse case...This was the healing after the lacrosse case...”

3. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, asked if he’d encourage Hillary Clinton to stay in the presidential race, responding: “I'm not going to get into it.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Former Democratic National Committee Chairman and delegate Joe Andrew abandoning the candidacy of Sen. Hillary Clinton and saying he expected to be attacked for it.

2. Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh downplaying expectations about his help for ally Clinton in Tuesday’s primary, saying: “My connection to the people of Indiana is personal, it's close. But it's hard to transfer that.”

3. Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island) saying after he was arrested for drunken driving: “Last night, I made an error in judgement.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota announcing a crackdown on reckless drivers.

2. LI County executives Steve Levy and Thomas Suozzi threatening to pull county police from highway patrol if the state does not fund them.

3. Seven LI Assemblymen proposing to suspend the state's gas tax from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Which was the most fevered lunge for self promotion by a power player?

1. Clinton-administration-flack-turned-ABC-moderator George Stephanopoulos remarking: “The questions (in Wednesday’s debate) were tough and fair and appropriate and relevant.”

2. Barack Obama remarking: “Last night I think we set a new record because it took us 45 minutes before we even started talking about a single issue that matters to the American people.”

3. Bill Clinton remarking: “I didn't hear her whining when he said she was untruthful in Iowa.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. New York State’s chief judge, Judith Kaye, suing for pay raises for her colleagues.

2. Assemb. Harvey Weisenberg’s $5,000 member item for the Long Beach Polar Bear Club.

3. Elton John, who's British, declaring in support of Hillary Clinton that he’s amazed “at the mysoginistic attitude” in the U.S.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) announcing a lawsuit against the Bush administration, seeking documents and testimony related to dismissals of 9 U.S. Attorneys last year.

2. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) calling the suit a “partisan political stunt” and “a complete waste of time.”

3. New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn asserting that a controversial practice of holding funds in reserve “continued against my instructions” and allocations to fictitious groups pre-dates her role.

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Sen. Hillary Clinton calling her account of dodging sniper fire in Bosnia mistaken — after videotapes showed it to be totally fictitious.

2. Sen. John McCain shifting emphasis after saying of borrowers as well as bankers: "It is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly.”

3. Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Sen. Barack Obama’s pastor, saying: “The Italians for the most part looked down their garlic noses at the Galileans.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. New York City Buildings Commissioner Pat Lancaster proclaiming after the arrest of an employee who allegedly faked an inspection of the E. 51st St. crane that collapsed, killing 7: “I do not and will not tolerate any misconduct in my department.”

2. Gov. David Paterson saying if it turned out he did not pay back his campaign for a hotel room he used for a tryst with a woman friend “I will do it now.”

3. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver praising Paterson’s disclosure of infidelities, saying: “The governor said ‘let me get a budget done, I’m putting this out of the way.’”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1.Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer apologizing and resigning but saying “I and the remarkable people with whom I worked have accomplished a great deal.”

2. Former Rep. Geraldine Ferraro saying, “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position.”

3. Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick calling news stories that he lied about a relationship with a staffer part of an “illegal lynch mob mentality.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Hillary Clinton declaring we need a president “tested and ready to be commander-in-chief on Day One.”

2. Barack Obama saying “The Clinton campaign has been true to its word in employing a kitchen sink strategy...three or four (attacks) a day.”

3. John McCain saying: “Stand up with me, my friends, stand up and fight for America...”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self promotion?

1. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver tapping the head of his personal-injury law firm to serve on a state judicial-screening panel.

2. After bowing out of a presidential run, Mayor Michael Bloomberg not squelching speculation on a vice-presidency.

3. Ralph Nader running again.

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Chris Bodkin, Islip board member and former Republican, eying the Democratic nomination against veteran Sen. Caesar Trunzo, who as Islip GOP chair had tried to dump him from the town’s party ticket.

2. Jimmy Dahroug, an aide to Suffolk Executive Steve Levy, seeking the nomination and preparing for a primary, calling Bodkin a top-down, not grass-roots, choice.

3. Suffolk Legis. Ricardo Montano saying Bodkin, as recent Democrat, ought to “get at the end of the line.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Rep. Dan Burton (R-Indiana) rushing to defend substance-suspected pitcher Roger Clemens during last week’s Congressional steroid hearings, saying in part: “He’s a titan in baseball... Now how does he get his reputation back?”

2. United Federation of Teachers President Randy Weingarten endorsing the Republican candidate in a special state Senate race — a couple of weeks before the GOP-controlled house fast-tracked a retirement bill for her teachers as approved in negotiations with the city.

3. Assemb. David Gantt (D-Rochester) saying as sheriff’s deputies escorted him and other protesters from a public meeting, “And you guys wonder...why a guy in Missouri goes and shoots some damn body.” (Gantt later apologized).

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion?

1. Mitt Romney, claiming as he suspended his losing presidential campaign that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton would make America more susceptible to terrorism — and so, “in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.”

2. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg saying for the first time that he would support a ban on smoking in cars carrying children.

3. Lt. Gov. David Paterson, prospective appointee as U.S. Senator if Clinton wins the presidency, saying of her big-state primary victories Tuesday: “Democrats in New York State love Hillary Clinton and Republicans respect her and that didn't surprise me.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion?

1. Suffolk Legis. Brian Beedenbender (D-Centerreach) pushing legislation to require licensed contractors in the county to document their employees' legal working status.

2. Rev. Allan Ramirez condemning the measure, and arguments used to support it, as “race-baiting.”

3. Radio commentator Rush Limbaugh saying Sen. John McCain, despite winning GOP primaries, “is not the choice of conservatives as opposed to the Republican establishment.”

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Bill Clinton saying of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: “It's weird, you know, but if you love somebody, you would think they would be good. It's just harder (to withstand attacks).”

2. Sen. John McCain praising his currently lower-polling rival Republican, Rudy Giuliani, during a debate as “an American hero.”

3. Giuliani, who as NYC mayor fought unsuccessfully to keep a commuter tax, saying of Mitt Romney and McCain: “When Mitt and John were facing the choice of lower taxes, each chose higher taxes.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion?

1. Mike Huckabee saying in South Carolina, “If somebody came to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we'd tell them where to put the pole.”

2. Sen. Barack Obama discussing Ronald Reagan as a role-model for change.

3. John Edwards declaring, “I will never use Ronald Reagan as an example of change.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion?

1. President George W. Bush predicting a peace treaty between Israelis and Palestinians before he leaves office in less than a year.

2. Gov. Eliot Spitzer describing a funding scheme for state universities as a bid to “unlock some of the value of the New York State Lottery.”

3. Suffolk Executive Steve Levy saying after his inaugurual ceremony, “This was a feel-good day to reflect on the successes of the last four years.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Brent Seaborn, adviser to Rudy Giuliani, calling their primary state strategy “bold” and “innovative.”

2. Mike Huckabee adviser Ed Rollins claiming Giuliani is “done” and “has no money” and was “hurt terribly by those police cruises with his girlfriends.”

3. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, after landing third in Iowa, saying of the Democratic candidates: “Together we have presented the case for change.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Nassau County Assessor Harvey Levinson calling top public officials’ raises “a long time coming” — and claiming his job is “the most difficult and stressful elected position in the State of New York.”

2. Sen. Hillary Clinton declaring herself “tested” and “ready to lead on Day One” — less than two weeks after Rudy Giuliani unveiled his slogan, “Tested, ready, now.”

3. Presidential candidate Bill Richardson saying in a campaign commercial that he’s “negotiated with some of our most difficult adversaries” — as a black-and-white still photo shows him meeting the late Saddam Hussein.

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke declaring that “unfair and deceptive acts and practices... have no place in our mortgage system.”

2. New York City Councilman Jim Gennaro (D-Queens), a likely state Senate candidate, referring to himself Bob Dole-style: “There’s not a person in this room who can say that Jim Gennaro hasn’t been fair with them.”

3. Nassau Legis. Francis Becker (R-Lynbrook) saying, “We're severely underpaid and we're asking for a raise so we can send our kids to college.”

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. State Sen. Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn), arguing for legislative pay raises, declaring: “Show me the money.”

2. Rudy Giuliani claiming that he ran an “open, transparent” government as New York City mayor.

3. Alberto Gonzales, fourced out as U.S. attorney general, collecting fat speaking fees.