| One of the more intriguing stories of the weekend was the news that Governor David Paterson offered Sen. Darrel Aubertine the chairmanship of the New York Power Authority.
Aubertine put it best, saying that "this would have been a beneficial financial move for me and my family." But politically, it would not have been a smart move.
If you take Aubertine out of SD-48, you take away a seat that we hold and has a large Republican enrollment advantage. If SD-48 had a large Democratic enrollment advantage, it would be a smart move (see John Sabini's appointment to New York State Racing and Wagering Board). But this would not be a smart political move, considering it has been nearly four months since we won SD-48 in a special election and Aubertine makes it possible for us to hold onto that seat for years to come.
So what was Paterson thinking? I don't think he's making a concerted effort to undermine our attempt to take back the Senate in November, but he isn't making things easier for us. The offer to Aubertine was puzzling and raises some serious questions.
- Why Darrel Aubertine? He doesn't sit on the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee. He is a farmer by trade. What qualifies him for the NYPA post?
- It's one thing to make the Sabini appointment. It's another to make this one. Is Paterson really not concerned with who holds the Senate?
Both of those questions are tough to answer. Maybe there's something about Aubertine I don't know. But based on what we have seen with Paterson over the last few months, it would appear that he is not too concerned with the prospects of a Democratic Senate beginning in 2009. |
