1. Mud flew in the nymag.com comments over Gabriel Sherman’s story about the ugly gubernatorial battle between Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine and Republican Chris Christie (“New Jersey Nasty,” October 19). Readers were incensed not only by Corzine’s dirty tactics but by what they perceived to be the author’s bias in his favor. Many painted Christie as a victim. “Corzine cannot point to any accomplishments that will gain him four more years in Trenton,” wrote one commenter. “So he makes fun of his opponent’s body. When Christie is elected, both he and Jersey State government will be thinner and healthier after his first term!” Another noted, “Christie seems to be quite a threat to the Dems, if their main strategy is spending $17 mil to call him ‘fatso’. Warts and all, he promises far more effective leadership than Corleone Corzine.” Others disapproved of the focus on Christie’s weight. “It is in no way relevant to the election,” wrote one reader. “Those harping on Christie’s health-related issues are neglecting to see him as a potential leader and scrutinize him as such.” And at least one person felt it was their duty to remind everyone that Christie and Corzine aren’t the only contenders in this field: “What about [Chris] Daggett? This is a three-way race, not two. Daggett just got the endorsement of the Star-Ledger yesterday.”
2. As we noted last week, Adam Platt’s recent review of Charlie Palmer’s Aureole (“Great No More,” October 12) sparked a frenzy among commenters eager to defend the eatery. Palmer himself wrote in to comment on the review: “It’s pointless to review a review. I do believe he’s dead wrong. I have given my life to my work and I embrace my success both as a chef and as a businessman. My staff—like most restaurant people—work hard. Really hard. I am extremely proud of their enthusiasm and professionalism in making my vision of a midtown Aureole come alive, particularly during such a shaky time in our industry. And I am proud that our colleagues and guests reached out to us [after the review] with stories of their own experiences, offering their best wishes and support.”
3. Our bi-annual Home Design feature (“Was/Is,” by Wendy Goodman, October 19) earned praise for showcasing unique takes on New York City living. “Ms. Goodman never fails to deliver really enjoyable design issues. Nice mix of uptown/downtown/out-of-town places with a slight touch of the eccentric,” said one commenter. In particular, Bill Peterson’s East Village brownstone with retractable façade garnered praise. “Mastered the art of staying true to the roots while significantly improving the quality of its purpose. And that is just for starters,” said one commenter. Another just noted, “Nice, clean, and simple. Modern but still warm and cozy.”
4. Jennifer Senior’s examination of the politics of office affairs in light of the David Letterman blackmail case (“Intelligencer: Dave’s Crushes,” October 19) prompted a flood of opinions on proper workplace behavior. “When a woman is so much younger, and being hit on by her boss, a very powerful boss in an industry where women have few opportunities, the woman is at a great disadvantage,” said one. “And in this case, Letterman has been around the block a lot more times than any of these women. Perhaps they can walk away, but at what cost?” Another echoed that sentiment, noting, “Some office romances are fine, but in Letterman’s case, there’s every reason to believe he was playing some kind of self-serving power game.” However, not everyone was disapproving of intra-office courting: “We all spend more waking hours of our days with co-workers in these modern-day corporate sweatshops than we do with our own families. We deserve to have a little fun.”