Ramblings From The Desk
Of A Political Junkie Journalist

C’MON: Mike Neibauer, former hoohah of the Queens Independence Party stopped by the office to promote himself. In his right hand he had a picture of himself and "The Donald." In his left hand he had a picture of the Hirshfeldmobile.

Now these two developers (Donald Trump and Abe Hirshfeld) have several things in common that seem to appeal to Niebauer and maybe the small group of folks who identify with their party. Donald, for a couple of days in his life, almost seriously considered a run for president on the Independence Party line.

Hirshfeld – a perennial candidate from Florida to New York – is running for U.S. Senator from New York seeking the Independence line. Hirshfeld, according to Niebauer, is using one of his Jackson Heights apartment buildings as his official residence. We’ve asked to set up an interview there. We’d like to see how it’s furnished.

Hirshfeld, last year beat a couple of serious prosecutions. One for tax evasion, the other for attempted murder. Yeah, you remember, he allegedly tried to bump off a former real estate partner he was in a dispute with — but the guy died of natural causes and Abe is free to run again. So Neibauer talks Abe into a Hirshfeld motor home, which Mike uses to drive Abe on his upstate campaign swing. At other times you can see it parked in the Neibauer driveway. The former Independence Party hoohah speaks with panic of the time Abe took the wheel on a mountain road.

Politics is a wonderful thing.

Then there is Neibauer’s other almost prospective client — "The Donald." Can’t tell if it was a wish to be like Jesse or a desire to promote Trump Inc, but Donald toyed with a big time run. He hired real consultants, real pollsters and spent a moment seriously considering the insanity.

Well, this is their party. I guess it exists because our previous third parties failed us.

The Liberal Party — once a New York major player — sold out for access and left of center just isn’t fashionable these days.

Commercializing Our Heritage

Received as part of a mailing promoting a brand of paper to printers, this item demonstrates there is life after the presidency.

But sorry guys, don’t fool yourself — the Independence Party isn’t. Pat Buchanan, Jesse Ventura, Ross Perot and Donald Trump need more than a large tent to bring them together. The party is schizophrenic; it’s a lightening rod for malcontents and power hungry showmen. Sorry, there’s no ideology, no cause and no real party.

And in New York, Neibauer has found Hirshfeld. Or Hirshfeld has found the Party, or whatever. And what does the parking magnate have in common with the Art of the Deal man? One thing more than the description you read above, In addition, they are very, very wealthy.

To Neibauer, it’s business.

To the handful of Party people, it’s money.

As far as the Independence Party is concerned, in their last Primary I remember, the winner got eight votes.

The Socialist Worker Party, now they’re for real.

FRONTRUNNER: Not so long ago, an item ran on the NYConfidential page – our citywide gossip page – which referred to Carol Gresser as the 2001 Queens Beep frontrunner. No, we wouldn’t swear she is. However, if we had to place a bet on one candidate (out of a potential field of six or so) Carol would be the frontrunner. Great odds, no. Most likely by a little, yes.

It’s still a long way off.

So when Sheldon Leffler engaged in an extended phone call with Mike Nussbaum, the Trib associate publisher, challenging our characterization of Gresser, we were surprised. He couldn’t produce poll results to show we misjudged. He just objected and objected and objected. Sheldon wanted what Sheldon wanted. I guess he wanted to be called the frontrunner.

But wishing doesn’t make it so.

Well Sheldon, there’s Gresser, Karen Koslowitz, Helen Marshall and if they all drop out, then Sheldon, maybe you’re the frontrunner. But, maybe not.

We’re not trying to be unfair to Leffler but we’ve been writing and editing political commentary for quite some time. It has always bugged us when professional politicians believe they can attempt to dictate how we cover them. There are a slew of them who are comfortable telling us we got something wrong but they’ll never let us know when there’s something big in the making. Unless that is, it makes them look good. And then they want to spin it their way and release it on schedule to an obedient press corps.

You politicians pol, we’ll spin.

DIALLO: I am not any more of an expert on this tragic case than anyone else. I’m not sure I can contribute to the extensive dialogue that already exists. I don’t think I have sufficient information to disagree with the verdict. I do however, condemn the training, attitude and societal racial profiling that have contributed to this most tragic fatal incident.

I have no quick solutions. I merely suggest that we in Queens — the multi-cultural center of the world — could help a little. When someone walks by you on the street, smile at them, nod your head, say hello. Forget their dress, language, skin color, national origin. Nod, smile and remember: we are all children of our great Queens community. We can set an example. We can make a difference. You matter.

BRIAN’S SONG: Our friend, Flushing Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin announced Tuesday "that he will not be a candidate for any higher public office now, or in the future." McLaughlin will continue to serve as Assemblyman from the 25th AD and devote himself to labor as Prez of NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

This, for the moment, ends the speculation that had Brian running for everything from Mayor to Borough President. Alan Hevesi, Pete Vallone and Carol Gresser are probably smiling today.

WEPRIN: Ran into Mark Weprin and family in a restaurant. It was in Nassau, but good food is an excuse for legislators to wander from home. It was gratifying to hear Mark tell me that he and his Albany compatriots consider this column, Not4Publication a must read and enjoy it greatly — even Frank Padavan. Needless to say Frank has never been part of my fan club.

It’s always great hearing stuff like that. Thanx, Mark.

Oh by the way, Mark Weprin has a really cute baby!

FEEDBACK: We’ve said it before: this writer, every writer thrives on feedback. We sit and pound the keys of a computer sharing the words with ourselves and an editor. It’s not until you run into someone in a restaurant, get a phone call, letter, message or email that you really know people are reading and reacting.

When someone calls and asks: "Do you want my opinion?" It’s always a negative one.

To Mark and Mort and Carol and Clark; to Doug, Peter, Barry, Jim and Marsha and everyone else who has called, written or emailed, thanx and please keep it up.

Let any writer you read and appreciate, know you’re reacting.

Email, if you have it, is real easy.

You can always reach me at MSchenkler@queenstribune.com.

Clark Overton’s 1984 photo of Tribune baseball was emailed to us from Plattsburg. Can you find this writer? Clark follows us at: queenstribune.com

EMAIL: From Plattsburgh, NY, former Trib photog Clark Overton, whose 20+ year-old photo ran recently, writes: Thanks for the credit. I have been following QT on line weekly since I found out about it. There is absolutely NOTHING up here even remotely like it. The most excitement, in fact, was some kids recently tipped over some sleeping cows and then took lawn ornaments from one side of town and put them on someone else’s lawn on the other side of town in the middle of the night. They are still looking for the perpetrators. Have told a few transplants about your site and they have also been checking it out. Nice to hear from you. Will get back to checking out more negatives shortly. -Clark Overton

EAT ME: The "Wildman" is Coming! And he’s going to eat Flushing Meadows Park.

On Saturday, March 11, at 11:45 a.m., Queens resident, naturalist and author "Wildman" Steve Brill begins his 18th season of Wild Food: an Ecology Tour of Queens by eating Flushing Meadows Park.

Openers at Willow Lake will include sweet-and-hot day-lily shoots, spicy garlic mustard leaves with their horseradish-flavored taproots and wintercress. The grounds of the 1964-1965 NY World’s Fair offer beds of wild chickweed, dandelion greens, common mallow, sow thistle, shepherd’s purse and field garlic.

As always, Brill will season all the edible and medicinal plants with entertaining stories, science, folklore, conservation information, jokes, and jazz played on the Brillophone.

To attend, call (718) 291-6825. For the 2000 tour calendar, send a SASE to 143-25 84th Dr., Apt. 6C, Jamaica, NY, 11435, or e-mail wildmansteve@bigfoot.com.

SUCCESS: "Sir, what is the secret of your success?" a reporter asked a bank president.

"Two words"

"And, sir, what are they?"

"Right decisions."

"And how do you make right decisions?"

"One word."

"And, sir, what is that?"

"Experience."

"And how do you get experience?"

"Two words"

"And, sir, what are they?"

"Wrong decisions"

CONGRATS Nick Garaufis! (story pg 15).

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Michael Schenkler can be reached at: MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com

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