I have decided not to file petitions for the US Senate in New York, although it has been a great experience running the past four months. Upon the advice of Ted Sorensen, John Godfrey Morris, Jay Jacobs (State Chair of the Democratic Party), Stuart Brody, friend of more than 30 years who lives and practices law in New York and Senate President Pro Tem Malcolm Smith, I have decided to use my energies elsewhere.

Furthermore, the incumbent, Sen. Charles Schumer has turned into a ‘new best friend’ as have many others including Mason Smith, a novelist and boatbuilder who lives in the Adirondacks.

My number one supporters, Philip and Pamela Lasser have been very good about accepting my decision.

I can share this with you though; there is no better way to be a tourist in any great state than to do so by running for high public office. I was even able to get clubhouse tickets for the Saratoga Race track meet on August 22. And I had a wonderful trip to Cooperstown a the suggestion of Mark Brown. From Niagara Falls to Manhattan, the Finger Lakes to the North Country, the Hudson River Valley, the Catskills and the Adirondacks plus being adjacent to the Berkshires makes this part of the country spectacular.

I’m writing a book in which this enterprise will occupy several chapters. In a sense, my candidacy was a ‘controlled experiment’ and my questions were answered which I will share after the November elections.

In the meantime I wish to discuss the November elections from this new vantage point. As one whose number one objective is to see the re-election of President Obama in spite of all the negatives (there are more positives, I assure you!), I think losing either the House or the Senate in 2010 is good for him. I would prefer to lose the Senate, but not Harry Reid, though if Democrats become a minority either Chuck Schumer or Dick Durbin would be a better minority leader.

For me, the two most important Senate races are to re-elect Russ Feingold and elect Joe Sestak. I would also like to Blumenthal lose in Connecticut and Rand Paul win in Kentucky.

Its easier to run against deficient Republicans if you also expunge Democrats who ae outright liars.

I’m making small donations to Democrats I want to win. I’m not making any donations to the Democratic Senatorial Committee because I don’t want any of my money going to Blumenthal.

I still haven’t figured out South Carolina, but some day we’ll know the story. Another Republican win we shouldn’t waste time challenging.

What’s very important this year are battles for Governor because of Reapportionment. In a state like Illinois we really don’t need Quinn. We have a 4-3 Supreme Court, 3-3 at worst, and Mike Madigan as Speaker.

Every state has to be analyzed separately. But we can never forget the “R” word.

The Blagojevich Trial

Judge Zagel has done a masterful job presiding over this trial. As a taxpayer, I am very angry that a case has not been made. Blagojevich was correct in not testifying. Why speak up if the government has made a real case.

As Jerry Maguire said, “Show me the money.” They didn’t.

They did show that he spent a lot of money on clothes, but they were all made in the USA. Sarah Palin spent $150,000 for a three month campaign, Blago spent more than twice as much in six years.

And what happened to Rezko and Levine (especially the latter).

My bet is that Robert (the brother) gets off, but having to pay a lot in legal fees. And I won’t be surprised if our former Governor is found not guilty of the charges either. His mother Millie, would have given him a more appropriate punishment, that would have cost the taxpayers a lot less: washing his mouth out with soap.

The Wars We’re In

We are after terrorists wherever they are. We are not in a war in Iraq or Afghanistan because there is no enemy. The governments in place in those two countries are ours. Its time to totally revaluate.

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Phil Krone is a regular columnist for the Chicago Daily Observer