| It appears that by the time Assemblymember Gianaris, along with Common Cause and Citizens Union, had their press event calling on Governor Paterson to appoint a new Lt. Governor, Paterson's office had already been working on this possibility. Certainly the press statement coming out of the Governor's office seemed to indicate that.
So why didn't Governor Paterson head off the press event, and co-opt the group to stand with him when he made his announcement? From a purely political standpoint, that would have been the way to go.
In the first place, it would have taken everyone by surprise, and Paterson could have pushed forward while Cuomo, Skelos, Espada, et. al. were scrambling for a way to stop him.
Secondly, by sharing the stage with M of A Gianaris, Dick Dadey of Citizens Union, and Susan Lerner of Common Cause, and by letting all three of them speak, Paterson would have looked like a strong leader who brings people together and is not afraid to share credit, rather than a weak follower who merely reacts to others' press events.
In addition, Skelos and the gang of four would have little choice but to follow along, hoping that maybe they could find a judge who would strike down what the Senate accomplished in the meantime -- something they'd have a very difficult time with, because judges are loathe to reverse procedures undertaken by other branches of government.
Instead, we have a temporary restraining order that may have come too late (or maybe not), several lawsuits underway or pending, a complete breakdown of Senate negotiations that were reportedly making progress, and a governor whose latest move is questioned as much as any other move he's made.
Bad politics, Guv. |
