I used to turn down pot so I could someday run for Congress By Alan S. Chartock When I was a young man, I refused to smoke marijuana when offered the opportunity. I thought that it might interfere with my future career—at the time, I thought I might like to run for Congress and that 
Shifting elections away from anniversary date is a mistake The move is shortsighted and contrary to the public interest. The decision in question: shifting the state primary from Tuesday, Sept. 11 to Thursday, Sept. 13. The governor and the state legislature have decided that Sept. 11 is, as the New York Times put it last week, “a
There are some interesting clues to insider politics. Clinton has announced that she is not interested in serving another term. She says she will not campaign for the president. Her husband, Bill, says he wishes his wife would run for the top job. The woman who replaced Clinton in the Senate, Kirsten Gillibrand, says she
Even a saint wouldn’t survive today’s 24-hour news cycle by Alan Chartock Why would anyone in their right mind run for political office? The way I figure it, you have got to be nuts to want to be a congressman, state legislator or mayor in this tabloidridden, 24-hour, “gotcha” news environment. Let’s face it: The hypocrisy of the people going after our 
It was a political holiday this week, but for some reason there were still plenty of winners and losers to consider. Redistricting seemed to be nearing some sort of end game, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg raised the stakes on pension reform. Albany and Washington were on vacation, as were public school 
