| If you thought soap operas only aired during the weekdays, just wait until tomorrow when the Senate Democrats meet in New York City.
According to Liz, that big deal made with the "Gang of Three" might come to a screeching halt tomorrow if some Democratic senators have their way.
I have spoken to several Democratic lawmakers now who employed words like "blowup" and "disgrace" to describe what might happen at the closed-door conference (the former characterization and the deal Smith struck with the Gang of Three (the latter), which senators who stuck by Smith and helped him fight for the majority consider giving away the store to the renegade threesome - two of whom have longstanding GOP ties.
There are a number of problems here, not the least of which is the fact that if the now-tenuous deal blows up, it will send the Senate Democrats back to the drawing board, return the chamber to leadership-free limbo and perhaps drive the trio back into the arms of the Republicans, at least in the short term.
Some Democrats say even staying in the minority for another session is preferable to giving away the store in a deal that empowers the Gang of Three. A few took particular offense at the idea that control of legislation would rest in the hands of Senator-elect Pedro Espada Jr. as vice chairman of the Rules Committee.
The reasoning behind this is that sooner or later, given the aged GOP conference and the demographics of the state, more seats are going to end up being won by Democrats. The year that everyone should really be concerned about is 2010, because that's when the Senate that will control the next round of redistricting will be elected.
I am going to propose this: If these three won't vote for a Democratic leader without deals, then let them vote for Dean Skelos. Then those three can go back to their Democratic districts in 2010 and explain to them why they voted for Dean Skelos over Malcolm Smith. That should be the bargaining chip here. There is no reason to cave to these three opportunists. Let them walk and explain to their voters in 2010 why they voted for a Republican state senate when their voters sent them to Albany to be part of a Democratic senate.
Yes, I am saying I would rather be in the minority for the next two years than to cave to the thugs who want to rob us and create their own "Gang of Three Men In A Room." Then we could have a real shot at getting three TRUE Democrats to replace the traitors and then build our majority throughout the state, including upstate where we made serious gains this year and on Long Island where there might be another seat or two to grab in 2010.
If Malcolm Smith wants to be a leader, he needs to show some fortitude. This deal is not only bad for Senate Democrats, but it is also bad for him. He needs to realize that and for the good of the caucus, I hope he will realize that before tomorrow's meeting. |
