While he didn't have a prime time speaking spot like Senator Hillary Clinton did, Governor David Paterson did get a chance to speak at the Democratic National Convention yesterday. It was only for 4 minutes at 5:50 p.m. (and his theme music was "New York, New York"), but he made the best of it, even joking during applause and chants of his name during his entrance, "Thank you, my time is up!" more ›

After a bitter primary season, Hillary Clinton gave a rousing and passionate speech in support of presidential candidate Barack Obama during the second night of the Democratic Convention. She said she was a "proud supporter of Barack Obama" and "Barack Obama is my candidate, and he must be our president." more ›

The Democratic National Convention's first night in Denver was capped off by a speech by Michelle Obama, but the emotional highpoint was a speech from Senator Ted Kennedy. The ailing lion of the political dynasty surprised many by speaking, as he has been undergoing treatment for cancer. Introduced by his niece and Obama adviser Caroline Kennedy, Kennedy stirred the crowd:

Nothing, nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight... more ›

The NY Times Styles section looks at how the The Year of the Political Blogger Has Arrived, both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions extended credentials to bloggers. However, not all bloggers are created equal: At the DNC, there's the national credential ",which offers the same access granted to members of traditional news media organizations," while the "coveted" state blogger credential "allows one blogger per state to cover the convention alongside its state delegation, with unlimited floor access" (Room 8 is representing NY). Our Washington DC blog, DCist, was chosen as DC's state blogger and editor Sommer Mathis is already in Denver. She reports on what's in the DNC media swag bag, "an official Denver 2008 reusable water bottle from Visa... a bottle of Walgreen's brand ibuprofen and minipack of Walgreen's brand facial tissue, a bottle of hand sanitizer from the Hogan & Hartson law firm...magnetic poetry from SEIU..." more ›

Billionaire Tom Golisano's seven-figure donation next week's DNC in Denver has, according to the NY Times, worried some Republicans that he may be leaning towards Barack Obama for president. Though Golisano is a registered Republican, he did run for Governor as an independent twice (losing both times to George Pataki). Golisano, who made his fortune with payroll processing company, formed a political action committee and plans to supports candidates who share his views; he has previously said, “We are going to endorse Republicans, we are going to endorse Democrats, we are going to endorse independents. It’s going to be for candidates all over the state.” more ›

more ›

Former president Bill Clinton will speak on the third night of the Democratic National Convention later this month. The AP reports his address will precede one by Barack Obama's TBD running mate. Obama is confident that his constituents and those of Hillary Clinton will get along, and the Senator from NY herself told supporters she and her former rival were "working together to make sure it's a big success." However, there's the possibility she make seek a roll-call vote, prompting Newsday to report, "at best would be a distraction and at worst a disaster." Obama referred to that possibility, saying only, "We're still working out the mechanics, the coordination." more ›

With all the news of identity theft, of course it would have to hit couples who are getting married. The Post has an alarming story about a number of couples who, when applying for a marriage license, have found themselves already "married." It's believed that thieves use other people's identities to get marriage licenses and green cards. Denise Daskalkis "filed two appeals, multiple petitions, and attended a hearing at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings," calling the two-year process hell while a Laura Berrios was "denied a domestic partnership with her lesbian lover because she had supposedly been married - to a man - for a decade." Berrios dryly said to the Post, "I've been out of the closet since I was 16. Trust me, I never have and never will get married [to a man]." more ›

In unsurprising but still headline-generating news, Senator Hillary Clinton has declared herself in the 2008 presidential race this morning. She posted a message on her website, HillaryClinton.com. Here is some of her statement:

I'm in. And I'm in to win. more ›

Peter Boyle, who you may know as the father ("Frank") on "Everybody Loves Raymond", died last night at the age of 71, in Manhattan. more ›

Now that Democrats have had a victorious 2006 election year, attention is turning to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. New York and Denver are the two remaining cities left in the running, and the Daily News reports Senator Hillary Clinton wants the convention back in NYC. Her advisers say her support has nothing to do with the possibility that she may run, but let's face it, New York is where Bubba was nominated back in 1992. more ›

We always knew Mayor Bloomberg was a busy guy, but a NY Times article today makes him seem especially crunched for time. The article's first sentence says it all:

New York City’s bid to land the 2008 Democratic National Convention is in jeopardy because Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is spread so thin with fund-raising commitments that he may not be able to raise the money from private donors needed to pay for it, an official said on Thursday.

spot for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The NY Sun reports that Bloomberg and Quinn will have Lorraine Bracco as celebrity back-up at a cocktail reception at Millennium Park - and "Cosmopolitans, Manhattans, and 'Big Apple' Martinis" will be served. That's the way to a politician's heart - make 'em realize the bar scene in NYC will be better than in Denver or Minneapolis, the two other cities in contention. In June, the city tried to woo the Democrats - here's their itinerary. more ›

Picture of a live turkey in Battery Park courtesy of Gothamist Contribute user. more ›

Al Sharpton's website. more ›

For our money, we're enjoying the pictures of Ron Reagan, who interviewed Michael Moore, taking the future of America on a pub crawl, via MSNBC's Hardblogger. Gothamist is sure someone is live-blogging the convention. Also, since Gothamist thinks it's going to be a little slow in NY, news-wise, for the next month, as everyone gears up for the Republican National Convention, so expect more posts on animals! more ›

The NY Times had special Democratic Convention section, in addition to their Campaign 2004 site. And here's the Washington Post's extensive convention site. Talking Points Memo's Joshua Micah Marshall writes how MSNBC's convention coverage site (here) has "absorbed the blogging model to something like a mind-bending degree." It's true - MSNBC has a blog, Hardblogger, (heh!) and Gothamist was shocked Chris Matthews' posts weren't in all caps or bold....an assistant must have posted 'em. more ›

This week, Ask Gothamist answered your questions with all sorts of handy advice: more ›

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs announced his voter-registration/voter interest drive initiative, Citizen Change, earlier this week. The way to reach the 42 million voters between 18 and 30? The urgent, fatalistic and ultimately pithy: "Vote or Die!" (It also sounds like a video game.) The program is non-partisan, non-profit, and chock full of celebrity endorsers, with 50 Cent, Leonardo DiCaprio, Snoop Dogg, and Jay-Z and Ashton Kutcher on board. Vote or Die! shirts went on sale earlier this week, and Diddy Combs will be making appearance at both conventions - the Democratic National Convention on July 29 and the Republican National Convention on September 2. more ›

Time magazine's Person of the Year issue with Giuliani. And read Cuomo's keynote address to the 1984 Democratic National Convention.
more ›

Apparently, General Wesley Clark did not do enough jumping jacks for votes in New Hampshire. John Kerry's double digit win over Howard Dean in Dean's neck of the woods spells some doom for Dean. John Edwards is excited, but at this point, Gothamist will just wait to see what happens after the convention, weigh our options, and probably vote third party again. more ›

Restaurant Week began in 1992, as a way to welcome delegates for the Democratic National Convention (back then, the three-course lunches were $19.92, which means with the 1 cent increase each year versus inflation, diners are getting a great deal). When Restaurant Week celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2002, RW cofounderTim Zagat said, "In 1992, public perception of New York City was that it was expensive and unfriendly. Restaurant Week was created as a way of showing off the best of New York, demonstrating that we welcome visitors with open arms and that it�s still possible to find great values here." Yes, New York is now (Restaurant Week aside) expensive and friendly. more ›

The GOP also made sure to compliment and praise the city of New York, after the embarrassing effort from Tom DeLay to have all GOPers sequestered away on a boat. But don't worry, everyone, Gothamist is sure there will be more than enough embarrassment to pass around when they come to town. more ›