The congresswoman whose last name begins with a soft "g" may have to become the senator who reconsiders her hard-lined history against gun control control advocates. That seems to be the one thing we've learned in the less than 48 hours since it was revealed that Representative Kirsten Gillibrand would be named to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate following the Caroline Kennedy fiasco. more ›

While a new poll came out once again finding that New Yorkers would rather see Andrew Cuomo as their new senator instead of Caroline Kennedy, we're still waiting for the poll that confirms a more obvious fact: that New Yorkers would just rather this process be over already. Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco has announced legislation requiring US Senate vacancies be filled by special election, not gubernatorial appointments. Governor Paterson says that such a vote would take too long. As for when he might make up his mind, Paterson told reporters, "We're about to move into the period of the inauguration, and I don't want to distract from that. Otherwise, I would think that right after the inauguration." Paterson said that he has now interviewed 15 candidates for the position (though no word on if he has come up with a trusty numbering system). Cuomo was not eager to talk about it, but the News revealed that he was one of that group interviewed at Paterson's Manhattan office. more ›

A spokeswoman for Governor Paterson revealed that the governor only yesterday learned of the high price tag antique rugs bought for the Executive Mansion over the summer. His administration also denied all requests from the press to see the rug, that now has been revealed to be one of five purchased--for a total of just under $38,000. Assemblyman James Tedisco has already called on the governor to return the expensive carpeting. But once again the Office of General Services was defending the purchase saying, "We have to keep that mansion in the kind of condition it's in because it's a treasure to the public." And the general manager at Stark Carpeting, where the first rug was discovered to have been bought for over $20,000 defended the governor for actually being a spendthrift by not purchasing a $150,000 carpet, "They could have had the Bentley instead of the Ford." more ›