"Pulling a (Judge) Crater"

[bapopik at AOL.COM]

PULLING A (JUDGE) CRATER
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Someone has died, and long-lost details into the mysterious August 6 (my birthday, of course), 1930 disappearance of Judge Crater have surface. It's on page one of the New York Post. "The Big Apple" made page 35.
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It's said that "pulling a crater" was slang. Any citations?
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OFF TOPIC: THE CAMPAIGN
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It's been a humiliating week, just as it's been all my life. I need $30,000 to qualify for matching funds. I need $250 from people in NYC for the 4-1 match. I can give myself some of that, but I need contributions.
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A New York Sun article said that the winner of the Democratic primary "wins the office." This presumably was an improvement of the same writer's "will sail through." I wrote in that a primary is not a general election, and of course, that wasn't published. A Village Voice "Manhattan Borough President" article didn't even mention me. A Metro article didn't mention me. A League of Women Voters debate didn't include me, and I was told that the good league will probably not hold a general election debate. A Parks1 forum didn't invite me. An Inwood Runners forum didn't invite me. Mayor Bloomberg is walking through Harlem this week--I wasn't invited, but we're on the same ticket. I went to a Young Republican Club meeting; other candidates were announced, but not me. Even a Democrat was announced (Public Advocate candidate Jay Golub, Republican turned Democrat, managed by the club's founder).
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I held my first Met Club fundraiser last night. It's the only local Republican Club in Manhattan with a building. After great pressure, they finally gave me an e-mail announcement to the members (who have been already tapped out by the local city council candidates). My event wasn't given a one-day reminder like the other candidates were (how difficult is it to send e-mail these days??). One person (now living in Albany!) from the Met Club showed up. One. I guess he wasn't given the Popik warning to stay away.
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My website got 5,300 hits the other day, but you can't give money to me, because no web designer can help me (even for pay).
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After a big mailing, I got two envelopes. One envelope contained $5. There's not even an amount on my contribution card for $5. The other envelope was stamped by the postal service that it was delivered empty....