superchuck500
U.S. Blues
Offline
This is truly fascinating to watch - and I think it shows just how troubled US politics are right now.
You have the incumbent mayor Eric Adams - running for re-election as an independent - who was literally indicted for defrauding the City and its taxpayers, but managed to have the charges dropped after cozying up to Donald Trump. Amazingly, Adams has the support of billionaire Bill Ackman and others.
Then you have Andrew Cuomo, who had to resign as the Governor of New York based on widespread sexual misconduct allegations and a growing impeachment investigation. Cuomo tried to win the democratic primary but lost and announced his candidacy as an independent. He recently said "If I lose, I'm moving to Florida" - which is quite a statement from someone trying to win a position where everyone believes that you must love the city, as a baseline quality.
Both Adams and Cuomo are behind in the polls to Zohran Mamdani, the foreign-born (naturalized citizen) who serves in the New York state house and won the Democratic primary on an energetic campaign on issues such as rent controls and affordable housing, transportation costs, grocery costs, and other issues that appeal to the lower and middle income demographics, as well as the young. But critics accuse his plans of free buses, public-supported childcare, and rent controls as socialistic.
So here you have Mamdani, the only candidate with a genuine platform of issues and solutions that draws on a groundswell of support and enthusiasm, being blasted by both the Republican/MAGA establishment as socialist, and the old democratic establishment and their wealthy financial backers because he's an outsider and presents a threat to their control. Trump has even threatened to de-naturalize and deport him - which is an absolutely psychotic reaction.
But Mamdani is leading the polls, most likely because (a) he isn't a known corrupt individual and (b) is bringing a batch of ideas that the people believe will help in key areas where they believe something needs to change. If he continues to lead at the election draws near, the attacks and vitriol are going grow . . . but I think you have to be very critical in looking at who these voices are and why they are saying what they're saying.
And it's very revealing.
You have the incumbent mayor Eric Adams - running for re-election as an independent - who was literally indicted for defrauding the City and its taxpayers, but managed to have the charges dropped after cozying up to Donald Trump. Amazingly, Adams has the support of billionaire Bill Ackman and others.
Then you have Andrew Cuomo, who had to resign as the Governor of New York based on widespread sexual misconduct allegations and a growing impeachment investigation. Cuomo tried to win the democratic primary but lost and announced his candidacy as an independent. He recently said "If I lose, I'm moving to Florida" - which is quite a statement from someone trying to win a position where everyone believes that you must love the city, as a baseline quality.
Both Adams and Cuomo are behind in the polls to Zohran Mamdani, the foreign-born (naturalized citizen) who serves in the New York state house and won the Democratic primary on an energetic campaign on issues such as rent controls and affordable housing, transportation costs, grocery costs, and other issues that appeal to the lower and middle income demographics, as well as the young. But critics accuse his plans of free buses, public-supported childcare, and rent controls as socialistic.
So here you have Mamdani, the only candidate with a genuine platform of issues and solutions that draws on a groundswell of support and enthusiasm, being blasted by both the Republican/MAGA establishment as socialist, and the old democratic establishment and their wealthy financial backers because he's an outsider and presents a threat to their control. Trump has even threatened to de-naturalize and deport him - which is an absolutely psychotic reaction.
But Mamdani is leading the polls, most likely because (a) he isn't a known corrupt individual and (b) is bringing a batch of ideas that the people believe will help in key areas where they believe something needs to change. If he continues to lead at the election draws near, the attacks and vitriol are going grow . . . but I think you have to be very critical in looking at who these voices are and why they are saying what they're saying.
And it's very revealing.
Last edited:
