An American Lion

Albatross, New Zealand

Bernard Kerik is coming unglued in jail:

A federal judge says former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik is displaying some worrying behavior in jail.

Judge Stephen Robinson did not describe the symptoms Friday. But he says the Westchester County jail's psychiatric director told him about words or actions "that raised the level of concern."

Robinson raised the possibility that Kerik would have to waive doctor-patient privilege or even undergo a court-ordered examination.

Defense lawyer Barry Berke says Kerik is not taking medication but is "regularly speaking to staffers."

In prison, I had to take medication, but that was because I couldn't get used to the food. I had to go vegan for a while, and I lost about twenty pounds off of my already-slim figure. I had to eat nutrition bars and drink Ensure for a time. I would be playing Scattergories in the day room, and I would be winning--I used to dominate prison Scattergories because, well, that's just the kind of person I am and I could always prevail in the voting as to whether or not to accept certain answers--and I would pass out from not eating. It wasn't pretty. I won't go into my constipation--I'm not really allowed to talk about my lengthy battles with constipation. 

Kerik has pleaded not guilty to accepting co-op renovations in exchange for recommending a company that sought city business.

Kerik won glowing reviews for his leadership after 9/11. He withdrew his nomination to lead the federal Homeland Security agency as corruption allegations mounted.

Earlier this month, Robinson revoked bail for Kerik and sent him to jail to await his corruption trial.

Calling Kerik "a toxic combination of self-minded focus and arrogance," Judge Stephen Robinson said he was revoking the $500,000 bail because Kerik disclosed sealed case information to the trustee of his legal defense fund.

There's ethics, and then there are "New York Ethics," and I don't doubt that Kerik was fine as far as New York ethics are concerned. Here's an example--in most parts of the United States, you can't fire an underling by throwing them out of a speeding car. You can in New York, provided the underling isn't a relative of someone with some juice.

Kerik really hurts Rudy Guiliani's chances of being the next governor of New York. Is Rudy running? I would give him money if he was.