Buy Yourself Another Saturday

Richard Vernon: You're not fooling anyone, Bender. The next screw that falls out will be you.
John Bender: Eat my shorts.
Richard Vernon: What was that?
John Bender: Eat... My... Shorts.
Richard Vernon: You just bought yourself another Saturday.
John Bender: Ooh, I'm crushed.
Richard Vernon: You just bought one more.
John Bender: Well I'm free the Saturday after that. Beyond that, I'm going to have to check my calendar.
Richard Vernon: Good, cause it's going to be filled. We'll keep going. You want another one? Just say the word say it. Instead of going to prison you'll come here. Are you through?

This is how we all feel about these debates isn't it. It's okay to admit it. We keep having them, little new information comes out. Candidates just go into robotic mode. Even Brooklyn Heights Blogger Homer Fink was bored, and he's not bored by anything. Homer, did you tweet this? I walked into the debate at 7 PM, heard Steve Levin utter "affordable housing", took some photos, and got the hell out of there. Oh, and Brooklyn News 12 wants to do a debate too, in addition to the one that NY1 and Transportation Alternatives are doing. You just bought yourself another Saturday. (Updated: I think Citizen Union's Dick Dadey made an excellent Richard Vernon Tuesday night. So I guess Ken Diamondstone would also be Carl the Janitor in this analogy, or maybe Molly Ringwald's father.)

Instead, I hustled up to a Democratic Mayoral Forum hosted by Manhattan Young Democrats, Living Liberally and Democracy for America (DFNYC Director Heather Woodfield, pictured above with the good Reverend Billy, democracy-alleuliah). Tony Avella, a Bayside Queens councilmember and mayoral candidate was standing outside chatting with supporters, as Steve Behar, one of the candidates in a tight six-way race to replace him, hovered around.

"This is the first night in weeks that I haven't spent the night canvassing," said Behar (below left). "I've lost about fourteen pounds. Nothing I'm trying just constantly moving. You forget to eat sometimes." Sounds like Steve is on the Diana Reyna diet.

Also standing outside was Drinking Liberally founder Justin Krebs (above right) who moderated the first question and answer period. Reverend Billy followed and then City Comptroller Billy Thompson, qhestioned by MYD's Al Benninghoff, rounded out the forum. Reverend Billy kept things broad, sermonizing against Starbucks, left, praising Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik Khan, slamming Parks Commissioner Adrien Benepe, and speaking about the importance of neighborhoods.

"Mysterious professionals are making NYC green? No! It's peopel who live in their neighborhoods who will make this city Green!" said Reverend Billy. "We have to have a Green mayor. The city is on the cisp of becoming the first great Green city."
Billy Thompson came on, at about 8 PM, and anwered several questions about city planning, democracy, and education.

"We have received hundreds of millions in funding from the state for small class sizes: one of the best indicators for student learning. Students do better with smaller class sizes."

Al asked him about were the most significant ideas separating him from Mayor Micahel Bloomberg, referring to the term limits vote.

"I guess it's a belief in democracy," said Thompson.

8:30 PM. Crap. TV On the Radio is performing at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Will I make it over there by their opening? Time to call on my little used superpowers... up up and away!

P.S. MYD's Taylor Stitek wants everyone to know that you should join the Manhattan Young Democrats & Hudson River Park's Clean Sanctuary Campaign to beautify and reduce human impact on the Hudson River"What: RallyHost: Manhattan Young DemocratsStart Time: Saturday, August 15 at 9:00amEnd Time: Saturday, August 15 at 11:00amWhere: The Gansevoort Section of Hudson River Park, one block south of 14th Street at the Hudson River.