LET THE MERRY-GO-ROUND BEGIN

Now that Hillary's off to State, the decision falls to Gov. Paterson as to who's filling that seat. Suffice to say ain't no Moynihans in this crowd:

On the other hand, the New York State chapter of NOW wants a woman to succeed Clinton. That could boost the chance that New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn could become the first openly lesbian member of the U.S. Senate. And if all that speculation weren't enough, the New York Post reports that Paterson and Senator Chuck Schumer may already have a deal to appoint a relative nobody to the spot. It seems that Schumer's priority is that he get recognized as New York's senior Senator, and Andrew Cuomo would be the only contender for the Senate seat to threaten that status. Schumer apparently wants a less high-profile junior Senator -- someone like Buffalo Representative Brian Higgins, or Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand. Whoever ultimately succeeds Clinton, both the successor and Paterson will be up for re-election in 2010. Waiting in the wings are New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (whose popularity has dipped since he announced his plan to seek a third term), and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

A relative nobody? Shoot, I'll apply.

DOG BITES MAN (AND OTHER NEARBY MEATLIKE SUBSTANCES)

Rudy Giuliani says he's thinking about running for governor in '10.

A lot depends on how Gov. Paterson handles this budget-cut fight, especially with Democrats taking over the whole show in January. If Paterson is perceived as having gotten rolled by Shelly Silver et al., Rudy swoops in as The Guy To Give Albany The Kick In The Teeth They Deserve (Plus A Few Gratuitous Knees To The Groin).

Big-name wise, it's not like there's a whole lot else the state GOP has to choose from - without Rudy they'd be thisclose to rummaging through old rolodexes looking for Pierre Rinfret's phone number only to realize he died two years ago. (They asked 19 people before he said yes? Sheesh, I woulda done it back then just to meet girls, but then I was pretty pathetic in 1990. Not like now, oh no.)