NEW YORK STUNNER – AT 8:50 A.M. ET:  One thing about former New York City Mayor Ed Koch – he calls him as he sees 'em.  Although a lifelong Democrat, Koch has never hesitated to take on the Dem establishment.  He won his spurs in New York by taking on and defeating former Tammany Hall boss Carmine DeSapio.

More spurs were awarded when Koch took on small-time President Jimmy Carter, leading a frustrated Carter aide to comment that Ed Koch represented all that was wrong with the Democratic Party.  No, he represented all that was right. 

Now Ed is doing it again, sticking his aging thumb right into the eye of Barack Obama.  There'll be a special election in New York to replace the highly unusual and embarrassing Congressman Anthony Weiner, who recently resigned when fine-art photos of him appeared on the internet.  And Ed Koch is suggesting that he may back...the Republican.  Read all about it, from The New York Post:

In "a shot across President Obama's bow," Democratic former Mayor Ed Koch yesterday urged voters in Queens and Brooklyn to make "history" by voting for the Republican candidate to replace randy ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner in the Sept. 13 special election -- as a protest against the White House's policy on Israel.

Koch -- a staunch ally of Israel -- said he would "vote for Bob Turner" if the Republican-Conservative candidate backs Israel and opposes cutbacks to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

Turner can get that done.  This is New York.  Those programs are popular here, even with Republicans, who generally don't go near them.

"If Jewish New Yorkers and others who support Israel were to turn away from the Democratic Party in that congressional election and elect the Republican candidate to Congress in 2011, it might very well cause President Obama to change his hostile position on the state of Israel and to re-establish the special relationship presidents before him had supported," Koch said in his weekly commentary.

That's pretty strong medicine.  Actually, most American supporters of Israel are Christians, including large numbers of evangelicals.  If Koch's message reaches them, and if they consider support for Israel a key issue, this thing could snowball.

Obama has shown disrespect for a number of American allies, from Great Britain through Canada to Israel, but, of them, only Israel has a very active and passionate group of supporters.  Ed Koch has performed another service.  Now I want to see him support the Republican candidate for president.

As far as Ed giving any serious support to Obama:  As we say here, fuggedaboutit!

July 12, 2011