Quinn's identity crisis

From the NY Post:

Quinn has been able to get by up to now because she is hiding under the wings of Mayor Bloomberg. His power and money shelter her, and she has repaid him by acting more as a deputy mayor than the head of the legislative branch. He owes her for that, and for organizing the votes that allowed them both a third term.

It is worth noting that, of the big scandals involving Bloomberg’s contracts on technology and other private vendors, none was uncovered by the City Council. Agency oversight has rarely been strong in the council, but under Quinn, it is an oxymoron.

At heart, Quinn is not a reformer. She is a creature of the clubhouse and advocacy worlds, with taxpayer cash and special-interest logrolling the coins of her realm. As a gay friend of hers said to me recently, “She is an old-fashioned Irish pol who happens to be a lesbian.”

Now, there is nothing disqualifying about being either an Irish pol or a lesbian. But even a combination of the two does not guarantee a ticket to the mayoralty in these complex times.

The challenge to those who enter the arena under the banner of identity politics is to take a broader view as they climb the ladder. When the job comes with real power and ultimate responsibility, it is not enough to just grease the squeaky wheels and call it a day.

Look at this way: If a handler were to advise Quinn to be herself, who would she be?