By Ray Cardello for September 12, 2026, Season 33 / Post 14

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Politics should not be an emotional arena. There should be opposing policies and views, debate, compromise, and results – hopefully in the best interest of the people. The two things that can stir emotion, even anger, are insincerity and outright lying. Both of these are associated with Congresswoman Sandy Cortez far too frequently, and it would serve the country well if her supporters would see past the packaging and foam peanuts to what is really in the box. Sandy Cortez is a below-average member of Congress and does not deserve a place in the upper chamber or the Oval Office. Either could happen in the near future, and that would be too bad for New York or America.

Cortez is an above-average politician and an opportunist. She has parlayed her looks, energy, charisma, and brilliant use of social media into a career in Washington that is completely devoid of accomplishments. It is difficult to get pieces of legislation through the sausage grinder of the Capitol to be signed into law, but Cortez has none to her credit in seven years on the Hill. She has probably logged more miles and done more rallies and speeches than anyone else in Congress, other than Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren, but Sandy is the Queen of the JV team. When someone is best known for killing thousands of Amazon jobs in her district or wearing a fancy gown to the Met, you have not done your job as a legislator.

Cortez is definitely eyeing the Presidency in 2028. Like Hillary, Sandy believes she is destined for the top spot. She is delusional. I would pay tomorrow to see a debate between either Marco Rubio or JD Vance and Sandy Cortez. Like Harris in 2020, it would be a one-and-done.

I want to look at her performance over the last few weeks and cite why it should kill any chances of her attaining a higher office; one occurrence should jeopardize her future in office, except the media will bury the footage, and most people will never know how she insulted them.

Many New Yorkers had already urged Zohmar Mamdani not to attend any 9/11 observances. The feeling was that attending would make him a high-level hypocrite. He did attend and was seen in many videos standing with Sandy Cortez. Unfortunately for both of them, the camera caught them both sharing a good chuckle during the solemn roll call of the victims of the tower tragedy. The shot showed tears around them and smiles and laughter between them. This is far worse and more disrespectful than Biden checking his watch as flag-draped coffins were being returned to America. This stunt alone should be a career killer for both, but not when you are Democrats.

Cortez was in Orlando, FL, addressing the National Baptist Convention. Sandy has never discussed God, but to get the Southern Black vote, she will become a Pastor. Of course, she was into her phony Black accent, a trick that Kamala used all the time, when she had to go to racism and noted the uptick in Black lynchings in the United States. She made it seem like the KKK was back in town. What she failed to disclose in this convenient lie was that 10 of the eleven hangings were already closed cases of suicide, and the eleventh was a homicide with the Black male suspect arrested for hanging his girlfriend. It is amazing how you can use statistics to support your story if you don’t mind abandoning the truth.

These aren’t one-offs or just hiccups for the Congresswoman. These are part of a continuous narrative exposing an immature woman in a position of power who wants more and doesn’t have people around her to say no. I hope she does run for Chuck Schumer’s Senate seat or the Presidency in 2028, as long as she has to vacate her House seat. That way, when the voters say they have had enough of the law-making bartender, she can fade away, but she owes America an apology for the chuckle.

Author’s Note: Graphics created by Grok AI. Grok’s comments about the images: The poster is the packaging: bright smile, energy, the thing that still photographs well. Everything behind the tear is the box—empty podium, unsigned paper, the light of a memorial that does not care how many followers you have. The chuckle during the roll call is the moment the foam peanuts stop hiding the contents. Looks and rallies got her this far; they do not get her through a debate with someone who actually legislates, and they do not survive a camera that catches the grin while names are still being read. The image is the article in one frame: the cuteness is peeling, and what is underneath is not ready for the next office.