(The Feds looking into Bill Powers, the man who orchestrated the coup that made Bruno Majority Leader, probably didn't help Uncle Joe either. - promoted by phillip anderson)
So I hear WRGB's report 10 minutes ago that Bruno is out, citing sources in the Senate majority conference.
And rush to TAP to break the good news, and young Robert already had it.
He is good, and well deserving of a DFA Netroots Nation scholarship.
So, Plan B is this non-breaking diary, based on a prescient Metroland story last Thursday.
Here's a taste:
For months, speculation about the senator's future has made the rounds in the Capital Region's political class. Many of these rumors have focused on stories of federal subpoenas and indictments tied to an FBI investigation into the embattled politician's outside business deals. Other rumors weigh the senator's options in the face of a historic loss by the Republican party of the Senate majority.
More below. |
Chet Hardin of Metroland laid out the basic reasons why Boss Bruno decided to ride off into the sunset, with the FBI still in pursuit.
A former high-ranking official in the Republican Party, who wished not to be named (Bill Powers?, Brendan Quinn?), pointed out that he has heard these rumors spreading throughout the GOP ranks as well.
"There is lots of speculation that Bruno, once his petitions are filed, will file an official declination and then his committee to fill vacancies will appoint someone."
Two of the three members of Bruno's committee to fill vacancies are from Rensselaer County, so the rumors abound that it is going to be Trish DeAngelis, or Kenny Bruno, or Jack Casey, or Frank Merola. It will be controlled by Rensselaer County.
Even Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino's name has been mentioned, but she is known to be outside the circle of friends of Senate Secretary Steve Boggess, a longtime aide to Bruno.
The ongoing federal investigation of Boss Bruno's corruption may be coming to an indictment, which makes now a good time to get out and start concentrating on staying out of prison.
"The FBI stuff sounds very real," the Republican insider said. "All the stories of people being subpoenaed, from all the information I am hearing, all of that is legitimate. Something is up. Whether it happens in July or it happens in November, something is coming. Everyone feels it, everyone senses it, it is just a question now of when."
Then there's the probability that Boss Bruno would not be majority leader next year, or even minority leader.
If the Senate Republicans lose, Bruno will definitely be gone from a leadership post, he (the anonymous GOP insider) concluded, because the Republicans will "throw his butt out."
Hardin also gets someone on the record, Doug Forand of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.
"What is Bruno going to do? Is he just petitioning to prop up a substitute, or does he really going to run and run aggressively?"
"As it turns out," he joked, "he doesn't call me."
snip
"This is the year. What we are trying to make happen has rarely been done before in state politics," said Forand. "The Democrats had the state Senate in 1964, following the Johnson landslide over Goldwater. Before that, I think you have to go back to 1938 since the Dems were in the majority. So the scope of change in government that we are trying to drive here in immense. With a $125 billion budget, there is a lot of vested interest in the status quo."
Considering the radically changed politics of the 43rd Senate District, first, the Democrats thankfully have an excellent candidate (Brian Premo) who will be on the ballot in November.
Second, of the five Rensselaer County Republicans mentioned, only one (the popular County Clerk Merola) would be obviously favored to win. The rest are undistinguished Boss Bruno hacks, or children, with little political base beyond their devotion to the Boss.
Third, Assemblyman Roy McDonald of Wilton, Saratoga County, would be the GOP's strongest candidate, but Boss Bruno's hacks will probably, as they did before when McDonald wanted to run for the Congressional seat disgraced by Sweeney, screw him again.
Fourth, this helps Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20), who is up against a trust-fund multi-millionaire Pataki hack.
Fifth, this also helps every Democrat running this year in Rensselaer and Saratoga counties.
Sixth, the idea that Democrats should vote for Boss Bruno because of all the pork he brings to the district is yesterday's papers.
There are more reasons that this is great news for the Democrats, but six are enough for now. |
