“Unspinnable realities,” determine Obama’s fate.

Sampson: “I like my tobacco bonds.”

Ravitch: “[N]obody’s asked for my opinion”

DiNapoli says the budget is late.

Bloomberg and Quinn yell at Albany for more money.

Halloran yells at (and films) a cop.

Parker’s fight bill advances.

Silver says borrowing isn’t needed.

Murphy: “I am proud to accept the endorsement of the Independence Party of New York.”

Port Chester breaks a barrier.

Pawlenty sticks a toe in early states.

And from Mark Green: “More recently, Mr. Bloomberg told a friend that he'd think about running for president as an independent in 2012 if he could break the 'political habit of voting by party.'"

Every time a gun is fired, a shell casing is left behind. Mayor Michael Bloomberg traveled to Albany on Tuesday to push a bill to put traceable codes on each of those shells. He came back empty-handed.

Vance's probe is focusing on the independence Party; Cuomo on the defensive.

State Board of Elections officlas are looking at the Independence Party also.

Tobacco may run a primary against McMahon, for the Independence Party nomination.

Marathon man Phil Singer is a year older.

Congress continues deliberation on Rep. Barney Frank’s Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010.

Rep. Charlie Rangel introduces  a resolution recognizing the 60^th anniversary of the Korean War.

9 a.m. Michael Bloomberg presents an award to Friends of the High Line, at 10^th Avenue and 16^th Street.

9:30 a.m. Jessica Lappin, Karen Koslowitz and others discuss strengthening the enforcement of food vendor laws, on the steps of City Hall.

10 a.m. The City Council holds a hearing about revoking food vendor permits for parking violations, on the 16^th floor of 250 Broadway.

10 a.m. Joel Klein participates in a fitness demonstration, at 2100 Walton Avenue, in the Bronx.

10 a.m. The City Council holds a hearing to identify buildings whose conditions trigger allergies and asthma, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

10 a.m. The City Council holds a hearing on a pilot program to eliminate mold and vermin conditions in housing units, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

10 a.m. The City Council holds a hearing on closing the gender wage gap, on the 14^th floor of 250 Broadway.

10:30 a.m. The State Senate has a hearing on violent youths being released prematurely, at Hearing Room A in the LOB, in Albany. Live video here.

11 a.m. David Paterson holds a meting with legislative leaders, in the Red Room of the Capitol, in Albany.

Noon. James Sanders, Liz Crowley, Steve Cassidy, Al Hagan and others rally to prevent fire house closures, at 1615 Central Avenue, in Far Rockaway.

1 p.m. The City Council holds a hearing about requiring the City Clerk to provide information about same-sex marriages, on the 14^th floor of 250 Broadway.

1 p.m. The City Council has a hearing on Paterson’s Immigrant Pardon Board, on the 16^th floor of 250 Broadway.

3 p.m. The City Council’s Progressive Caucus discusses “revenue raising options” for the city budget, on the steps of City Hall.

5:30 p.m. Dan Maffei is a guest speaker on an AARP telephone town hall.

6 p.m. Crowley has a fund-raiser at 63-98 Woodhaven Boulevard, in Queens.

6 p.m. The Charter Revision Commission holds a hearing on “public integrity” and takes expert testimony from several invited guests, at 160 Convent Avenue. Live video streaming here.

6:30 p.m. Brooklyn Young Republicans have their annual party, at 174 Smith Street.

8 p.m. Gustavo Rivera has a comedy fund-raiser at 240 West 54^th Street.

Every time a gun is fired, a shell casing is left behind. Mayor Michael Bloomberg traveled to Albany on Tuesday to push a bill to put traceable codes on each of those shells. He came back empty-handed.

Bloomberg and gun control advocates want to require manufacturers to stamp shell casings with ...

Paterson: “I don’t think I should be setting up a layoff plan for the next governor to do.”

A homeless advocacy group wants a better definition for “disorderly conduct.”

Medina: “The city will spend an estimated $296 million on school safety, a $5.4 million increase. In 2008, the budget was roughly $204 million.”

Pillifant: “Mr. Barron seems to be the most outspoken among black leaders concerned about the diversity in Mr. Cuomo's camp.”

Bloomerg and the Hotel Trades team up against cheap hotels.

Cuomo's mom: "I am very happy but then I get sad, because I know he is going to have a lot of work to do and I know how he works"

NY Law Journal eyes the AG race.

Question-time legislation passed the state Senate.

Wendy Williams advice to NYS Senate: “If a gay person wants to get married they should be allowed to get married.”

Kerry Kennedy teams up with Pedro Espada, Jr.

Richard Brodsky takes on Google.

And pictured above is Michael Bloomberg, Dick Brown and Howard Wolfson who, among others, traveled to Albany lobbying (unsuccessfully) for gun-control legislation.

State Senator Marty Golden wasn't in the chambers when the microstamping legislation was being voted on, but he doesn't want to be blamed for the bill's failure.

Golden, a Republican, said three Democrats were opposing the bill and that even if he did vote, the bill would not have passed.

Not that he was supporting it anyway.

In a brief telephone interview, Golden told me:

What happened with that is the Democrats voted the bill down -- three Democrats. I thought it was amazing that [Eric] Schneiderman was telling people he had the votes, put the bill up for a vote and not have the votes that he said he has, and that was [David] Valesky, [Darrel] Aurbertine and [Bill] Stachowski.

If those three Democrats voted for the bill, that bill would be law today.

State Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm Smith wants some appreciation for his conference for their role in preventing a government shutdown yesterday.

From Smith:

The Majority Democrats have again answered the call and stepped up to provide leadership when it is most necessary.  We are pleased that we did the responsible thing by passing the budget extender.

Though the press has failed to report it this way, the Majority Democrats have been responsible public servants in fulfilling the sincere duties pledged to our constituents, and will continue to do so. We are committed to keeping the government up and running, and ready to effectively serve the citizens of New York.”

One day after the Manhattan D.A. said the Independence Party isn’t cooperating with his investigation, Andrew Cuomo said he has “confidence” in the organization.

The director of a charitable group is accused of selling donated used cars and pocketing the money -- and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says the fraudulent practice may be widespread.

John Haggerty fallout: "A footnote in the indictment said [NYS Independence] party officials kept 'a portion of the stolen funds.' "

A lawyer notes Bloomberg filed a statement with the Board of Elections saying he'll pay for campaign activities out of his campaign account, not his personal account.

The Manhattan DA "made clear that the grand jury was continuing to investigate the state Independence Party, which acted as a conduit for Bloomberg's money."

Rep. Scott Murphy (Green County Democrats/flickr)

10 a.m. Rep. Scott Murphy testifies about efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, in Washington. Testimony live here.

11 a.m. The City Council has a hearing on landmarks, at 250 Broadway, 16^th ...

Former Manhattan D.A. Robert Morgenthau with his successor, Cy Vance (Azi Paybarah/flickr)

Erosion.

Ira Glass on Albany (via Seiler): "Have politics have gotten so messed up that we just can’t solve our problems?"

Bloomberg charms, again: “I’m sorry that ...

Rep. Carolyn Maloney is not accepting an invitation to debate her Democratic opponent, Reshma Saujani.

Saujani sent a letter last month inviting Maloney to six “respectful and robust debates.”

Maloney’s campaign declined, calling it a "political stunt."

Maloney's spokeswoman emailed me to say, “While the Congresswoman is creating jobs ...

New York State Comptroller candidate Harry Wilson is keeping the Independence Party's endorsement, according to his spokesman Bill O'Reilly.

Laura Italiano and David Seifman have this detail showing Michael Bloomberg, initially, liked Haggerty's campaign work:

"The mayor had been so pleased with his efforts that he sent him a separate $120,000 contribution three weeks after the election so Haggerty could launch his own political action committee."

Despite being indicted by the Manhattan DA for allegedly stealing $1.1 million from Michael Bloomberg's campaign, John Haggerty is keeping his job on Carl Paladino's gubernatorial campaign.

Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos led his conference into session and issued this warning before the budget vote today:

Pollster Peter Feld doesn't think the sky is falling for Democrats, despite the slippage Andrew Cuomo, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand recorded amongst independents in today's Siena poll.

That's mainly because Republicans don't have a strong field this year. And the paid media hasn't started. Also, it's fair to ...

Independent voters are moving away from Democrats and towards Republicans, according to a survey released by the Siena Research Institute.

From the poll: