Yay, New York

definitely a stunning development (4.00 / 4)

but robinia makes an excellent point in another thread. basically, we're about to get a more progressive governor than we ever could have elected.

maybe the biggest electoral victory ever hasn't been wasted as much as we may believe.

TODAY is day one. It always is.

---

by: phillip anderson @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:37:21 AM CDT

Maybe this time things will change on day 1 (4.00 / 1)

Now we've just got to have Gov. Paterson's back.  

---

by: JML @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:40:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Send him organic veggies and I LOVE NY! travel brochures (4.00 / 2)

We must keep David Paterson healthy, happy, and in NYS.  What a great moment to go hyper-local.  It may also be advisable to hire somebody to taste all his food, just to be safe.  Sounds like a fun, if high-risk, job :->

---

by: robinia @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:50:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bruno (0.00 / 0)

So, the breathless 30 point headlines in the NY Times saying "Bruno Linked to Corruption" detailing the FBI investigations into his influence peddling with various shell corporations are due any moment, right?  

Right?  

And the democrats will demand his resignation within 48 hours or he will be impeached. Right?

Oh well.  A boy can dream, can't he?

---

by: HudsonDan @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:40:06 AM CDT

Don't hold your breath (4.00 / 1)

---

by: JML @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:41:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Joe Bruno Will NOT Be Lt. Gov. (4.00 / 2)

We need to stay on top of this.  The office of Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York will be vacant until January 2011.  The New York State Constitution provides:

In case of vacancy in the office of lieutenant-governor alone, or if the lieutenant-governor shall be impeached, absent from the state or otherwise unable to discharge the duties of office, the temporary president of the senate shall perform all the duties of lieutenant-governor during such vacancy or inability.

That does not make Sen. Bruno Lt. Gov.

---

by: The Maven @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:45:26 AM CDT

Meaningless distinction (0.00 / 0)

Whether he de iure has the title pales in significance compared to the fact that he de facto has the powers of the office.

---

by: Bouldin @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:50:17 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

NO! (0.00 / 0)

Unless he say, LOSES THE POST by losing 2 senate seats this fall!

---

by: Stephen Nazwisko @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:54:51 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not Meaningless At All (4.00 / 2)

Would you also propose that we refer to David Paterson as Acting Governor?

Anyone who refers to Bruno as Lieutenant Governor is factually incorrect.  Performing the duties of the office does not give a person the title of the office.

Words have specific meanings, especially in a constitutional context.  In practice, there may be very little distinction, but legally, the difference is important.

---

by: The Maven @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:58:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

There it is! (0.00 / 0)

He said what I want to hear:

"I resign effective Monday, March 17th"

---

by: Soundpolitic @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:49:00 AM CDT

A Giant Has Fallen (4.00 / 2)

---

by: daniel.jones @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:51:06 AM CDT

Time for a constitution change (4.00 / 2)

get a referedum on the november ballot to give the sitting governor the right to choose his own Lt. Governor.

---

by: nassaupolitics @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:52:36 AM CDT

Is it just me, or is this great? (0.00 / 0)

Bruno has just lost ALL of his power.  

LtGov is a powerless, ceremonial position.

Bruno's senate seat is now open, and we have a top-tier challenge waiting in the wings.

I have high hopes for Paterson.  

Are things really that bad?

---

by: Roatti @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:56:16 AM CDT

Bruno has gained more (0.00 / 0)

He is still a senator and is acting governor if Paterson is ill or leaves the state.
We need a constitution change.

---

by: nassaupolitics @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:58:16 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

He doesn't have to resign his senate seat? (4.00 / 1)

That suuuuucks

---

by: Roatti @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:13:42 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

My main problem with this post is the theme... (4.00 / 4)

We just wasted the biggest electoral victory in the history of the state of New York. It's totally okay to begin throwing up right about now.

WE, wasted nothing.  WE did not take out an Emporors Club VIP membership and all that goes with it. Eliot Spitzer did all the wasting here.  WE need to have the back of our new Governor and move forward to nominate and support the best Democratic challengers that will assure an end to the additional honors of Pro Temporary that the majority control has heaped upon Uncle Joe Bruno!

---

by: politics64 @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:59:11 AM CDT

Bruno's Statement (0.00 / 0)

This was made about a half hour before Spitzer's remarks:

STATEMENT BY SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOSEPH L. BRUNO

For the last several days New York has faced a crisis unlike any other ever faced in State history, but it is now time to move on. Reports today that the Governor will resign underscore the severity of the crisis.

But this State has a constitution in place for such extraordinary times that provides for an orderly transition of government. At times like this, it is imperative that we join together and do what is best for the 19 million people of this State. We in the Senate, especially in the Majority, are committed to that goal and to deal, not only with an orderly transition of government, but to address our most pressing need which is the economic crisis before us.

Today, the Senate will pass its budget that we believe addresses the economic crisis in a way that rejects new taxes and limits spending. The Assembly is schedule to pass its budget and we are prepared to begin conference committees tomorrow and do the work we were elected to do.
As for Eliot Spitzer, my heart goes out to his wife and family at this time. He must deal with his own problems in his own way, but it is now time for us and all New Yorkers to move forward.

---

by: The Maven @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:01:14 AM CDT

negative (4.00 / 3)

This post seems needlessly negative... it was Spitzer who squandered the victory over the past year and three months.  This crisis was just the final nail in the coffin.

To quote Spitzer, let's not waste this crisis...

What's happened here is pretty seismic... and Bruno is old and his grip on power is not assured.  In fact, nothing is assured, so (1) let Paterson be Paterson and (2) take the anger and energy you had over Spitzer's situation and don't waste a drop of it.

---

by: NYCO @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:10:52 AM CDT

Precisely (0.00 / 0)

and congratulations to Governor Paterson!

I doubt this is what he had in mind, but I wish him the best in any event.

---

by: simonstl @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 20:29:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

the real waste was... (0.00 / 0)

...all the money that went to those statewide ads during the campaign and during the SEIU budget fight.  Eliot's super-duper-amazing margin did little to Joe Bruno and the Albany mess.

That money could have gotten us a senate majority in 2006.  Robinia's diary is exactly right -- these guys weren't team players, and it really hamstrung them.  Paterson is unlikely to make this sort of mistake.

Make no small plans.

---

by: demahir @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 13:15:20 PM CDT

thanks (0.00 / 0)

Not to dwell on the negative, but... (I'm not popping that Champaigne until Monday)...

Not everyone would write a speech of apologetic resignation using phrases like:

"I look at my time as governor with a sense of what might have been..."

and "I, and the remarkable people with whom I worked, have accomplished a great deal..."

and "...our greatest glory..."

And then talking like anybody would trust him to work for the common good again!  Sheesh.  Over-the-top tone, even on the way to the bottom.

---

by: robinia @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 13:55:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Easy to fix (0.00 / 0)

We just have to elect a democratic State Senate. Then Bruno will be replaced as Speaker by a Democrat.

---

by: sboatti @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 15:33:23 PM CDT