I mean, c'mon guys—-Did nobody at either paper think that the "Standing O!" headline for the Obama's date night in the city might be a wee bit too obvious, that maybe the other guys might run with the exact same thing?

(via Brian Van's Tumblr)

Of course, the reporter who first published New York State Senator Diaz's "they're going to see exactly what we can do" rant is Liz Benjamin of the Daily News, not the Post's octogenarian gossip doyenne Liz Smith. (Benjamin, in addition to being 100 years younger than Smith, is a brunette.)

FYI, here were Diaz's remarks:

"The gays are calling my office. They're jamming my phones. They're going to see what we can do. They've going to see exactly what we can do. Ed Koch is going to see what we can do. They're just going to see. That is what I'm telling you."

And here is his clarification:

For the Record

I need to state exactly what I told Liz Benjamin from the NY Daily News this past Tuesday evening because some of the important facts that I told her were not reported:

I told Liz Smith that the gay community has been jamming my office phone line and making threats to me and my staff. I told her that I am very angry that my office has received phone calls threatening my life and calling the women on my staff “whores” and “bitches”. I told her that to add to those names, Ed Koch called us rats.

I told Liz that the only rat is Ed Koch. I told her that when he was Mayor and was rejected in my community, the only person who stood by him was this rat, and that now this rat is good no more. I told her that I am so angry that because of their calls and editorial boards and because of the insulting Koch statement, there is nothing else that they can do to us or say to us, and that they will see what we can do.

That, my friends, was the basis of my anger, not because the gay community is jamming my phone lines. I am an elected official and I am an old man, and they can do this any time. It was the content of their calls that made me angry. I welcome people to call my office - but with respect to me and to my staff.

When I told Liz that they will see what we can do, this was not at all meant to be a physical threat. As far as what we can do, we have many options, which include: going to the Republican Party, staying neutral to create an impasse, or going to the Democratic Party.

So that is the whole story, and I hope it will set the record straight, for good or for bad.

Yes, sure. That clarifies everything! He was furious because Malcolm Smith and the Albany Senate Democrats refused to cave on their principled support for gay marriage and let him be the majority leader, so he told the gays, and Ed Koch, that "they'll see what we can do" as an explanation that he and his colleagues have many options open to them, not as an open threat to fuck over the gay community. Also, he is very old, so you shouldn't be mean to him.

May 2003. This, according to Jack Shafer, is when Keith Olbermann instigated the NBC/Fox War. In a throwaway wisecrack at the close of his show, Olbermann compared Fox Blowhard Mascot Bill O'Reilly to Joe McCarthy. By 2006, the two hosts were fighting with each other almost nightly.

January 2006 Bill devotes his nightly comment to attacking NBC itself—and not Olbermann by name. "But 'Talking Points' is troubled by the behavior of NBC, which cheap shots FOX News on a regular basis and has been doing so for some time." He then takes it to the next level by going over Keith's head and pinning the blame on NBC President Robert Wright! (Keith responded by declaring O'Reilly his Worst Person in the World.)

October 2006 Fox's NBC war was expanding beyond Olbermann and O'Reilly. Fox gossip Roger Friedman turned a benefit report into an odd swipe at NBC's ratings, blaming Wright for the failure of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

January 2007 The O'Reilly Factor presented a fair and balanced report on The Decline of NBC News. "As we reported NBC News has taken a sharp turn to the left under executive Jeff Zucker and Robert Wright with elements at NBC News now actually using propaganda from far left web sites as primary source material. Unbelievable." He went on to gleefully report on the supposed misdoings of Maria Bartiromo, bringing in a financial analyst willing to publicly trash CNBC.

April 2007 As the odious Michelle Malkin hosted his program, O'Reilly appeared via satellite to blame the Don Imus affair on Jeff Zucker. Meanwhile, Fox business correspondent Terry Keenan gleefully reported that NBC's parent company GE wanted to unload the network.

January 2008 The war heats up! O'Reilly does one of his patented ambushes of General Electric head Jeffrey Immelt! Supposedly because of some deal with Iran, but mainly because GE owns NBC and NBC employs Keith Olbermann and Keith Olbermann makes fun of Bill O'Reilly.

And so the feud widened. From Bill versus Keith to Fox versus NBC to News Corp versus General Electric. It went as high as Immelt and Rupert Murdoch! Fox News head Roger Ailes called NBC head Jeff Zucker personally to complain about Olbermann and threaten to take the battle to the New York Post. Murdoch called Zucker to ask that the network not play a video of a blogger harassing O'Reilly.

Page Six, the Post's gossip arm, constantly runs embarrassing stories about Olbermann. Which often leads to Olbermann naming some News Corp or Post-related figure his Worst Person in the World. And then the cycle begins anew! Over and over again!

Post columnist Andrea Peyser overhears Keith bitching about Connie Chung, Keith calls Peyser the worst person in the world, a few months later, Page Six reports that Olbermann is bad in bed! Then column editor Richard Johnson gets the first of his Worst Person in the World awards. (The second would come when he threatened to rape Vanessa Grigoriadis.) It's fun!

But the involvement of Murdoch? The harassment of Immelt? As GE decides whether it wants to keep its toes in the broadcasting business, this ego-driven bullshit might help convince them it's not worth it. Bill might win this one, sort of!

As in most things Murdochian, Rupert doesn't dirty his hands. While it's fun to pretend to see his fingerprints on each Olbermann smear in Page Six, the truth is Johnson and Post head Col Allen do indeed call the shots. They just know which shots they're supposed to call. Just like Roger Ailes at Fox, all the way down to Bill.

Would that GE and NBC/Universal had a message machine so in tune? They've got the cable blowhards warring with the broadcast newsmen and it all ends up publicized by one News Corp outlet or another.

The real winners, as always: us!

"I have been a gossip columnist for all my 10 years in New York—first with the online fashion column 'Chic Happens,' and six years full-time with the Daily News. But for a writer New York is like a fairground, and I think it’s time to go on some of the other rides. Also lately I’ve developed a peculiar attitude towards scandal—with some of the items that have crossed my desk I’ve thought, 'This really isn’t any of my business.' Which is problematic for a professional gossip columnist.

"I approached Gatecrasher as essentially a humor column that happened to be about gossip. But now for me it’s time to Leave Britney Alone. Two weeks ago I went down to Palm Beach for Ivana Trump’s wedding, which was a hoot. Around midnight, as the reception was winding down, I found Kathy Hilton alone in a corridor. She was in front of a full-length mirror, holding her dress and dancing with her own reflection like a happy teenager. Something about that moment struck me as the perfect image to leave Gossip with."

Ben's retirement completes a circle. Every single New York City gossip columnist who started out around the same time as I did are all gone now, victims of the inevitable burn out. Well, all but one...

"Late Friday afternoon Mr. Zuckerman submitted a bid of $580 million for the Long Island-based newspaper, according to a person briefed on the matter. The bid sets up a potential bargaining battle by the owners of New York’s two tabloids: The Daily News and The New York Post.

"Mr. Zuckerman opted not to submit a higher bid. Instead, he will make the argument to the Tribune Company, the debt-laden parent company of Newsday, that his bid is more attractive because it does not have the potential to fall into regulatory limbo.

"Mr. Murdoch’s offer would almost certainly be scrutinized by the Federal Communications Commission under its new media ownership rule."

In related news... I hope you fall off a curb and crack your stupid hip, Rupe. You old prick. [NYT]

It seems to us that Dunn would like his contract renewed, so surely he'll have to show Zuckerman some bigger circ and revenue increases than the News has been pulling in lately. But! Two features staffers have left in the last two weeks, and sources say that it's only a matter of time until Mooney's favorite staffers are shown the door.

Mooney "was a dinosaur. Getting rid of him was long overdue," said a staffer. Mooney's dismissal is also almost certainly part of a coming reorganization of the national desk; sources say that the national reporters' jobs are likely not in jeopardy, but that the days of the national desk as a separate department could be coming to an end. Sounds like now would be a great time to go raiding for reporters and editors, should anyone hiring have any favorites at the News.

Earlier: Remembering When We Cared About 'Tabloid Wars'

*If, in our refusal to watch, we missed any excellent Hud Morgan action, let us know. Thanks.

The only thing that kept us from turning the damn thing off was the increased presence of Deputy Metro man-muffin Greg Gittrich, whose glasses kept coming on and off so frequently that we were fully expecting him to rip them off like Clark Kent and give the camera a sexy, steely stare. No dice. But let's focus on him again, shall we? We know he's married, possibly to a Times reporter. True? Anyone know? Bet that results in all sorts of bedroom power struggles.

Also worth noting: the show, having thus far aired Mondays at 9 PM, is moving to the 7 PM slot. So the ratings have been bad — but does the show really have to be reduced to Alex Trebek's level?

Earlier: Gawker's Coverage of Tabloid Wars

And the extra dosage: Feel Hud's pain as he is ruthlessly mocked by Grove and EIC Michael Cooke for wearing flip-flops. Bonus mockery when Grove brings up Cooke's rumored foot fetish.

Earlier: Gawker's Happily Insipid Coverage of 'Tabloid Wars'

• 9:03PM EST: Dylan loves it when they open the episode with something super catchy. This week it's,"Exclusives make good stories great." Dude, such an awesome way to start.
• 9:05PM EST: Hud Morgan eats with Lizzie Grubman and uses "frattastic" and "blingtastic" in a single sitting. Dylan's all like, "Why can't I be as cool as Hud?" After this liveblog, he's going to practice using "glamtastic" in everyday speech.
• 9:10PM EST: Dylan gets so sad when babysitters are murdered. He remembers when his own babysitter died before his very eyes, after a fatal accident involving a sharp edge on a can of SpaghettiOs.
• 9:12PM EST: Kerry Burke covers night of "Harry Potter pahty to Harry Potter pahty." Is Kerry Burke cooler than Hud Morgan? Dylan would like to see the issue settled with a mud-wrestling match.
• 9:19PM EST: Dammit, Hud is working on a piece about cougar hunting. Fuck that! Dylan knows he's the real hunter. Booyakasha.
• 9:20PM EST: Dude, Hud is seriously so cool with Maria Sharapova. What Dylan wouldn't give for an opportunity with that piece of trim...
• 9:22PM EST: Monsignor Eugene Clark — videotape and police documents. His alleged lover is his secretary. Seriously, this happened to Dylan one time: he was totally banging his intern while he was at the monastery. Total scandal, for reals.
• 9:23PM EST: Editor Michael Cooke opts to axe Barbara Ross' story; will 'kill self' and blame Ross if Post gets it. Dylan wonders what Cooke's breath smells like when he says these things.
• 9:23PM EST: Dylan hates these people who can't use cell phones. C'mon, Ross, it's 2006. He's so gonna roast her later.
• 9:25PM EST: Burke is still working on the "gorgeous" Harry Potter book. Honestly, Dylan thought the book was pretty special, but he's hesitant to use the word "gorgeous." Maybe "dazzling" or "foxy."
• 9:29PM EST: Deputy city editor Kirsten Danis wants to "give people their say," asks if they're "ethically and morally covered" in addition to being "legally covered." Dylan blacks out.
• 9:34PM EST: Michael Cooke and Lloyd Grove ridicule Hud Morgan's sandals. Grove accuses Cooke of being a foot fetishist. Cooke asks Grove how his diet's going. Dylan remembers that he hasn't taken his evening Hoodia.
• 9:34PM EST: Dylan just took his Hoodia.
• 9:35PM EST: Ooh, Kerry's getting a haircut. Dylan loves going to class night at Bumble and Bumble.
• 9:35PM EST: Young male, black, 29, found in building with head bashed in. Deputy metro muffin Greg Gittrich thinks the story is "very good," which offends Dylan's delicate sensibilities.
• 9:36 EST: Dylan faints.
• 9:38 EST: Dylan is revived with smelling salts.
• 9:43PM EST: More Adam Lisberg cruising Long Island. The last time Dylan cruised anywhere near Long Island, he found himself in the Meatrack.
• 9:45PM EST: Morgan: "Hard not to want to climb the media ladder." Don't Dylan know it!
• 9:46PM EST: This "urban cougar" story smacks of the infamous Village Voice story that sacked Nick Sylvester. Young men sleeping with older women? No way! Dylan smells a rat. Or maybe he just smells old-lady crotch.
• 9:51PM EST: Lisberg has own Jedi-mind shift, flips a bitch on a one-lane highway, hot on the heels of a potential Monsignor-carrying limo. HE-RO. Who the fuck doesn't Dylan idolize? He's just got so much love to give, you know?
• 9:51PM EST: Lisberg finds the Monsignor, snaps picture, gets on-the-record denial in under 15 seconds. "Holy fucking shit," he says. Well done, but now Dylan has to hold a binder in front of his Dylan-parts.
• 9:52PM EST: In another life, Dylan totally imagined himself to be a headline writer. Rhyming is fun!
• 9:59PM EST: Priest story "unfolded nicely." Dylan agrees, having always secretly desired the life of a naughty choir boy.

Earlier: Liveblogging the Liveblog Coverage of 'Tabloid Wars'

Earlier: Gawker's Coverage of Tabloid Wars

9:01 PM EST: Dylan has just noticed that Lloyd Grove's then-fluffer Hud Morgan described his job as dealing with "lobotomized publicists." This is a seriously awesome way to open a liveblog!
9:04PM EST: There's a shooting; reporter Kerry Burke is set loose to cover the scene. Dylan feels really bad for Kerry and these tough assignments.
9:07PM EST: Hud Morgan shows off his skull and crossbones slippers; Dylan is totally going to blame this on Jared Paul Stern.
9:08PM EST: OMG! Morgan just told Lloyd Grove that Sheryl Crow is a "hot piece of ass." Dylan is dying.
9:12PM EST: Deputy metro manchunk Greg Gittrich refers to shot cop as a "gift from God" — Dylan can't belive Gittrich actually said this. How offensive!
9:19PM EST: Dylan really wants to talk about Tracy Connor, as she's in this episode quite a bit. Oooh — she used to work at the Post, just the angle Dylan was hoping for.
9:21PM EST: God, Dylan just can't stop thinking about that new Samuel L. Jackson movie. How about: "Snakes on a m*therf*cking Tabloid Wars." Yeah, that works. Right on, stream of consciousness.
9:24PM EST: Dylan cringes upon learning that Hud Morgan's Grandpa reads Gawker. Wonder if Dylan thinks Hud is gay.
9:29PM EST: This is big. Dylan just discovered the secret to tabloid media: cop shot equals cover.
9:32PM EST: Dylan just doesn't understand why Hud has to keep ragging on Tori Spelling. Donna was always Dylan's favorite.
9:33 EST: Seriously, Dylan really wants to know if Hud's gay. If he's not, why does he say things like "fetching?"
9:33 EST: Look! Adrian Grenier! Dylan has an Entourage season pass.
9:34 EST: Shirtless Hud Morgan makes Dylan uncomfortable.
9:34 EST: Dude, did you hear Hud say very little of the Post is actually true? Dylan would NEVER talk like that.
9:35 EST: Dylan would've gone to Hackensack with Hud Morgan.
9:35 EST: Hud Morgan loses "Queens virginity" — Dylan is disappointed that this isn't more graphic.
9:45PM EST: The wedding in a public pool reminds Dylan that he's not been swimming in so long!
9:47 EST: Dylan is softened by Hud Morgan's "realization" that gossip is stupid. He hears you, brah.
9:53PM EST: Gittrich wants to tell "the whole story" to "do right by this cop," but Dylan doesn't get what the fuss is about. He's secure in his masculinity, but Gittrich just doesn't do it for him.
9:58PM EST: Dylan is so not buying Morgan's "earnest and sentimental because it has to be" cancer crap. If Dylan were covering that story, he'd be gentle, tender — he'd give it soul.

Liveblogging Tabloid Wars: Hud Morgan, Slain Cop and a Public Pool Wedding [FishbowlNY]
Earlier: Gawker's Coverage of Tabloid Wars