| It seems like this is really catching on. Rumors are going around that Sen. Jim Alesi is considering switching parties, taking him from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. In doing so, Alesi would provide the Democrats with something they aren't assured of getting from the "Gang of Three": A vote for Sen. Malcolm Smith.
Of course, that is probably the only good thing about this. As far as Republicans go, Alesi is a Republican. There is nothing moderate about him. In his Project Vote Smart interest group ratings, Alesi is clearly anti-choice and isn't too much better on marriage equality either. He is a conservative, so depending on Alesi to push through progressive legislation would be a joke. Alesi also didn't fare too well in the Drum Major Institute's legislative scorecard, which awarded Alesi a score of 43 percent and a "D-" on DMI's key issues.
These same rumors also suggest that Alesi might not be the one. This is just speculation, but could Sen. Joe Robach be considering a switch as well? It wouldn't be beneath him. After all, he was campaigning without mentioning his political party and it was reported that there was literature out there tying Robach to Barack Obama.
In Robach's case, switching sides would make him vulnerable in 2010. Surely he would draw a real Republican challenger, but he also would draw a Democratic challenger. Robach, if he were to switch, would be exposed for his flip-flopping. Whichever party is in charge, he wants to be a member of it. That's not how it should be. But again, his switch is only speculation.
These rumors bring a whole new element to the New York State Senate saga that has unfolded. If there are more Republicans out there like Alesi who are considering a switch, that would make for a very interesting January. It also might make the "Gang of Three" powerless. Let's say Alesi does switch. That would mean that one of the "Gang of Three" will be irrelevant. And if another Republican switches, another member of the "Gang of Three" would be. Not that Republicans switching is the ideal way to get the "Gang of Three" to come to their senses, but it would make them obsolete rather quickly. |
