I don't understand how or why Malcolm Smith is in the position he's in. The Senator finally gets enough votes to become leader and a few of his own force him to hand out cushy leadership positions to them just so that Smith can become majority leader.
It is being reported that Espada, Kruger and Diaz have secured leadership posts, although Smith obviously doesn't seem that comfortable admitting he's been ripped off. As well, I'm wondering how upset the rest of the Democratic Caucus is - being that their loyalty to the party has moved them to the back of the line waiting for leadership perks.
With this deal done, how many Republican Senators will remain in the Senate? Many of them are old and I bet even more of them are tired. What's the point in hanging around anylonger? This is especially true as there will likely be little momentum for a GOP revival in 2010. And after that, if Dem's still control all three parts of the triumverate, a partisan redistricting process will potentially seal the deal for the Democrats for the next decade.
How many open seats will need to filled for the GOP statewide? And will elected State Senators like Golden, Lanza and Padavan hang around until the GOP can make a comeback?
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written by Alibaba , December 09, 2008
I think that at least two out of three of them will hang around - however, after this last election Senator Padavan has got to work harder and should also start grooming somebody to eventually run in his place. In fact, all the older Republicans should do that - but they don't. Rudy did not groom anybody to run as a Republican after he had to leave office. They are into personality cult and that is bad for the GOP in New York State with our low numbers.
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written by Jay Golub , December 09, 2008
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12...143346.htm
The post comments on the "shenanigans"...
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written by Jay Golub , December 10, 2008
http://www.nydailynews.com/new...eling.html
it's all falling apart, says the Daily News.
This line concerns me the most about the potential reasons for the "gang of three"'s mutiny against the Democratic Party...
""We in the Hispanic community cannot allow that this will only be a position in name only," Diaz said. "They have to live up to the agreement."
...what is that all about? "WE" in the "hispanic" community???
Is this thing turning into an African-American Democrat vs. Hispanic Democrat issue?
If it is, the GOP needs to make plans beyond just using dirty tricks to get these three Senators to caucus with the rest of the Republicans in the Senate and keep control, but to make real inroads into the Hispanic community for all the RIGHT reasons.
Grassroots organization needs to be developed along with an understanding and senstitivty to the issues that matter to them generally. This has been discussed for more than a decade here in the NY GOP, but nothing more than just fleeting efforts have been made.
The future of the GOP is in many places, but working to gain the real support of the Hispanic community and thier leaders would be a great start...
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written by Dan Halloran , December 10, 2008
Jay,
You're right on the money here- our Party needs to cultivate and help place the rising stars in all our ethnic communities.
At the Queens Village Republican Club's meeting last week, there were numerous members asking, where was the effort to bring the Hispanic, Asian, and Black leaders in our party to the forefront of election battles...
We must strive to support the notion that all our communities should have the opportunity to be a REAL part of the elective process. We must also ensure that such efforts are not TOKEN efforts, but genuine sharing of the power of the party to demonstrate our committment to a party that IS by, and for, its people.
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written by Jay Golub , December 10, 2008
"We must also ensure that such efforts are not TOKEN efforts, but genuine sharing of the power of the party to demonstrate our committment to a party that IS by, and for, its people."
i like the sentiment, but i think it's not that complicated. I think the GOP and most of it's recent class of candidates have been unable to express the clear tie between conservative government values and prosperity for the working class.
the connection is there - the effort has not.
Pataki used to always hire people to run "Hispanics for Pataki" (or something with a similar name...) and then once the campaign was over the Pataki people would essentially rip the phones out of the wall and never be seen again.
the bitter taste in the mouths of many communities has yet to recover.
The combination of issues and effort will over-come this barrier for the GOP. I hope that effort starts soon...
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written by Jay Golub , December 13, 2008
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12...143947.htm
now what??? This is amazing that it could even happen. The selling out on both sides is a true embarrassment...
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written by Jay Golub , December 16, 2008
In the NY Post yesterday it was reported that there is a deal in the works to make Malcolm Smith the leader...
"Paterson, who helped negotiate an initial agreement with Gang members earlier this month only to see it fall apart last week, told associates he's hoping current Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau) will negotiate a final deal with Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-Queens) making Smith the new majority leader in January, at which point Democrats will hold a 32-30 majority."
...if Fred Dicker is correct in his reporting, Skelos should resign as Republican leader immediately.
Not only did he seem to blow the chance to hang onto control by coercing the "gang of three" to join the GOP ranks, now he's actively working with Smith for him to take over?
If Skelos doesn't resign, he should just become a Democrat or, at least, start to caucus with them.
BTW, talk about over-playing your hand...
"Demands by the trio have appeared so over-the-top that aides to Paterson and the legislative leaders have begun using such terms as "Somali pirates" and "the three indictees" to describe them."
...Diaz, Kruger and Espanda seem to have even done more poorly than Skelos over the past few weeks.
These guys were sitting in a very good position and now they look like they have been dumped aside - partially by Skelos who was courting them this time last week. Now they can't even have a role in making sure that policies are in-line with thier values - such as a protection that gay-marriage wasn't inevitable in NY State.
Now they are minority members in the majority party on the outside looking in...
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written by RRR , December 17, 2008
In fairness toMajority Leader Skelos he succeeded to a highly weakened leadership post and then lost some of his members to the Obama phenonmen further weakening his hand. Now not only is the last bastion of GOP power and influence passing but so is the last bastion of GOP patronage. Literally thousand of Republicans will be given their walkjing papers shortly after the New Year and there will be no meaningful GOP represenation in the State. Naturally therefore if he can not piece together a coalition majority with the gang of three he has no choice but to try and crack the best deal for his conference in terms of operations, committee assignments and job retention for staff. If, as seems certain now the Senate Majority is to become the Senate Minority it makes sense to secure the best terms possible to be able to pass (or kill) legislation and take care of your people in the hopes that if they are to be a voice crying out in the wilderness or to be an effective opposition party they have some vestigial power and influence to work with and organize around - all the more important if they are looking for a Hail Mary pass or two between indictments and wins for the GOP to retake the Majority in 2010 before reapportionment. If they do not retake the Majority in 2010 regerrymandered district lines could make for a near permanent minority status and that means the deal Dean strikes is one they will have to live with for a long time indeed. Dean was not left much to work with and all in all allay fault for this is not very useful. Gearing up to take sSnate seats in 2010 throughout the State has to be the rallying cry regardless of who takes the helm should we succeed in the uphill and unlikely and retake lost ground.
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written by spunky , December 17, 2008
"...it makes sense to secure the best terms possible to be able to pass (or kill) legislation and take care of your people in the hopes that if they are to be a voice crying out in the wilderness or to be an effective opposition party..."
RRR, you make a good point. Sure it makes some sense to try to retain control if, that is, you were the one who just lost control. I would argue that if getting control, or at least getting a better negotiating position, in the state senate to ensure the GOP isn't gerrymandered into oblivion for the next decade is the minimal goal for Republicans in the next two years, than compromising values that could make the GOP a real, as you say, "opposition party" is not the way to go.
I think it's critical that the GOP grows in size, scope and strength. The future of NY State may hang in the balance. Full Democratic control of all branches in 2010 will probably cause the State of NY to go broke. But, if the GOP trys to hang onto control by supporting policies on government spending that mimic, if not exceed, the Democrats, the GOP will both to be an ineffective agent for conservative change and will fail for the purposes of patronage.
In my view, Skelos' actions, if well intended, are shortsighted and will not succeed.
The GOP needs to move to the Right of the Democrats on government spending and stay there. At times that position is not popular - like during the economic expansion of the last 20 years. t consistency has it's value. If Republicans would have not gotten lost in social conservative la-la land, we'd be WINNING elections THIS upcoming cycle. We wouldn't be talking about the GOP negotiating with the teacher's unionsand 1199 to try to hang onto a seat or two.
Principles count. If the GOP had more of them, they wouldn't be in need of all those pink slips next year.
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written by Jay Golub , December 22, 2008
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12...145365.htm
""It was tough to leave," Scott said last week. "We miss it every day. This is not New York, but down here I can have the life I want for my family. Moving here wasn't a choice, it was a necessity."
Between 2000 and 2005, 40,000 New Yorkers moved to Atlanta, according to the city's Regional Commission."
This is what the GOP should be focusing on. The fact that most middle-class New Yorkers can't afford to live here anymore is the central issue facing the State. Republicans should take the lead by pushing for spending and taxation restraints on Albany, not work to stay elected with gimmicks.
Honestly, it's much easier to win on the merits than to do otherwise.
Either way, New York's entire legislative body and our governor need to address the un-affordability of living in our state.....NOW.
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