Now that everyone has some time to digest the complaint against Carl Kruger, there's a lot more information on what he and the others are accused of as well some more info on just what genuinely odd fellow Kruger is.
Like Joe Bruno, Carl Kruger and William Boyland were charged by federal prosecutors with corruption and "theft of honest services." But while Bruno's conviction is being appealed after a Supreme Court ruling that many believe will lead to its overturning, experts familiar with both cases argue that Kruger is not likely to have the same legal grounds to push back.
....
In Skilling vs. United States, the Supreme Court nullified certain applications of the "honest services" law, but left in place those applying to "bribery and kickbacks."
Federal prosecutors appear to be targeting Kruger on these exact charges, legal sources say.
"The Skilling decision specifically allowed prosecutors to continue to go forward on bribery cases and kickback cases," said one person close to the Bruno case. "That's exactly what Kruger is being charged with here."
....
"Over the course of time, there were individuals involved in business and lobbying that basically had Senator Kruger on the payroll to do their bidding, while they were supposed to be serving the interest of the public," Bharara said, arguing that the pattern of abuse set Kruger apart.
But there was something unusual about Mr. Kruger. He rarely socialized with fellow senators, seemed uncomfortable in crowds, frequently took his lunch alone in the drab Capitol cafeteria and, in an age of ubiquitous cellphones, could be spotted whispering into public pay phones.
On Thursday, federal prosecutors unveiled a 53-page criminal complaint against Mr. Kruger, 61, that unlocked many of the mysteries of his life - but deepened others. It portrayed a man who had amassed at least $1 million in bribes in return for political favors: helping hospitals seeking to merge, obtaining state money for real-estate developers, expanding the business hours of liquor stores.
And it revealed, prosecutors say, that the seemingly measured senator was using the bribes to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, financing a four-door Bentley Arnage and a $2 million waterfront home originally built for a boss of the Luchese crime family.
...
Despite listing his official residence as his sister's home on Avenue L in Mill Basin, Mr. Kruger had all but moved in with the Turanos in their 7,000-square-foot home, which towers over others in the neighborhood and features ostentatious sculptures of frolicking children and soaring seagulls.
....
And it was Michael Turano, the complaint said, who established shell companies to conceal the bribes, and later used the money to finance the Bentley, pay credit card bills and make mortgage payments on the house. One of the accounts bore the name "Bassett," the name of the street on which they lived.
....
He has also faced unusually intense criticism from gay rights activists for his 2009 vote against a Senate bill legalizing same-sex marriage. Activists traveled last year to the Turano residence and the Brooklyn home of Mr. Kruger's sister, protesting loudly and saying Mr. Kruger himself was gay. Mr. Kruger has said he is not gay.
Um, he's gay. Duh. (He was one of the "three men in a closet" who voted against marriage equality, by the way. He was the only Dem in that group. I'll leave it to you sort out who the other two were.)
Not sure what exactly his sexual orientation has to do with him likely being a crook, but the Post...goes there anyway.
Closeted Brooklyn state Sen. Carl Kruger, a Democratic powerhouse, traded political favors for more than $1 million in bribes over the last five years -- which his live-in boyfriend helped launder, the feds charged yesterday.
Kruger and his secret longtime companion, Manhattan gynecologist Michael Turano, were among eight men arrested in a sweeping government "pay-to-play" corruption scandal.
....
Neighbors said that Kruger clearly lived in the massive Mill Basin home owned by Michael Turano, while neighbors of Kruger's "official" residence in the Georgetown section of Brooklyn said either that they did not recognize him or that he was rarely, if ever, there. The feds, meanwhile, said Boyland accepted a no-show job that paid him $177,000 over five years from health-care provider MediSys in exchange for trying to secure millions of dollars in grants to its hospitals.
....
The criminal complaint revealed that on Monday, FBI agents raided Lipsky's Upper West Side residence, where they found $102,000 in cash from a safe in a closet and $4,000 "in crisp, large denominational bills from the pocket of a suit belonging to Lipsky."
At about 9:54 a.m. that same day -- as the search was ongoing -- a call was made from Kruger's phone, which was tapped by authorities, to Lipsky's phone, the complaint said.
....
"Immediately afterward," the complaint said, "26 calls were placed from the Kruger phone to the Lipsky phone every few minutes from approximately 9:55 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. These calls were unanswered."
Seven minutes after that last call -- and right after Kruger was told by a "known New York state political operative" that Lipsky had asked that Kruger stop calling him because the FBI was at his house -- Kruger called Michael Turano and told him about the raid, the complaint said.
"I suggest you don't answer the door until I find out more about what's going on," Kruger told Turano, the complaint said.
It looks to be a rather interesting day in Albany corruption. We now know that not one, but two Brooklyn pols are answering to the Feds this morning. Added to this morning's perp walk is four term Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland, who will be facing charges along with lobbyist (and Committee To Scam New York flunky) Richard Lipsky and Senator Carl Kruger (D-Crooklyn).
Here's a roundup of the latest. Also do check out the awesome new blog about all things Brooklyn politics, cleverly named The Brooklyn Politics
State Senator Carl Kruger, a powerful and at times controversial Brooklyn Democrat; a state assemblyman; and an influential lobbyist are expected to turn themselves in on Thursday to federal authorities in Manhattan on corruption charges, according to several people briefed on the matter.
Mr. Kruger had been under investigation by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn who were looking into accusations that he had helped businessmen surmount bureaucratic hurdles in exchange for assistance raising campaign money, but the charges stemmed from an investigation by Manhattan federal prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Others, including William F. Boyland Jr., a four-term Democratic state assemblyman from Brooklyn, and Richard Lipsky, a lobbyist, and two hospital executives, were also expected to face charges in the case, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the charges had not been made public.
...
Mr. Levitis, who owned the Rasputin nightclub on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, was accused by prosecutors in Brooklyn of lying about a discussion he had had with an F.B.I. confidential informant who was posing as a businessman looking for help with an inspection. The discussion was secretly recorded.
During that conversation, according to the charges, Mr. Levitis, a personal-injury lawyer, solicited a $3,000 payment, telling the informant that he would pass on $2,000 to an aide to Mr. Kruger and keep the rest. Mr. Levitis also told him that he might have to hold a fund-raiser for the lawmaker.
Mr. Kruger has for years been a wily fixture in the Capitol. His ability to reach across the aisle and form close alliances with Republicans helped him earn a committee chairmanship when Democrats were in the minority. When his party won control of the chamber two years ago, Mr. Kruger joined two lawmakers from the Bronx in withholding votes from fellow Democrats until given perquisites and leadership positions, including the chairmanship of the Finance Committee.
State Sen. Carl Kruger, one of the most powerful players in Albany, and Assemblyman William Boyland are expected to surrender Thursday to face charges in a long-running, broad-reaching bribery conspiracy, sources told the Daily News.
Federal prosecutors are expected to charge Kruger, a veteran Brooklyn Democrat, with using his clout as a public official to line his pockets, several sources said. Several of those who allegedly paid the bribes will also be charged.
Boyland, also a Brooklyn Democrat, was hired as a consultant by companies seeking influence in Albany, sources said.
The feds have been eying Kruger since 2007 amid allegations he collected campaign cash in exchange for political favors.
Sources said Kruger took bribes to do favors for hospital executives, a Brooklyn-based developer and a lobbyist, Richard Lipsky.
The payoffs were funneled into checking accounts that Kruger had access to, the sources said.
State Senator Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) surrendered to federal authorities to face corruption charges.
Kruger, flanked by his attorney Ben Brafman and two other men, turned himself in to the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in Manhattan around 8:30 a.m.
The senator, looking solemn and wearing a dark suit, walked silently into the building.
"He's saddened because he's one of the most dedicated public servants for the past 25 years with an impeccable reputation," Brafman said. "This obviously is a difficult day for all of us."
....
When asked about the pending charges against him, he said, "I have no comment. My attorney will be releasing a statement later today." He then walked off with his head down.
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A Democratic operative said, "Everyone knows that Carl has been using his post to take money for years, so this isn't surprising. What's more surprising is that it didn't happen 10 years ago."
Kruger has one of the Legislature's largest campaign war chests: $2.6 million as of last July.
Lipsky was fired yesterday by The Committee to Save New York, a coalition lobbing for Gov. Cuomo's budget. Committee spokesman Bill Cunningham said Lipsky, who was retained three week ago, was booted "to remove any distraction."
Kruger demonstrated a propensity for bucking the wishes of Democratic conference leaders unless his demands for more clout -- including the committee chairmanship -- were met. In late 2008, he formed a caucus known as the "four amigos" along with Democrats Hiram Monserrate of Queens as well as Pedro Espada Jr. and Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx. The renegade quartet refused to back Sen. Malcolm Smith as majority leader unless they were given additional perks.
In June 2009, Espada and Monserrate defected to the Republican conference in a coup that would have tipped control of the Senate -- as well as attached perks and legislative authority -- to the GOP. That day, Kruger was seen asking Espada why he was not offered the opportunity to participate in the coup.
Oh dear. Carl was upset he didn't get to come out and play in the coup. Sad. That episode further illustrates that Albany's corruption problem is most certainly bipartisan. So do this, also from the Times Union:
Prosecutors have made a cottage industry of scrutinizing members of the Senate. Espada, who was given the title of majority leader after the 2009 coup, was charged in December with embezzlement and conspiracy for taking money from the Soundview health clinic he runs with members of his family. Espada has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges; his case is pending. He lost a 2010 Democratic primary to Sen. Gustavo Rivera.
Espada was indicted a week after Sen. Vincent Leibell, a Republican from Putnam County, pleaded guilty to shaking down a lawyer in his district for partial kickbacks of money received from groups that received taxpayer-funded "member items" the senator had steered toward them.
Another of the so-called amigos, Monserrate, was found guilty of misdemeanor assault for manhandling his girlfriend during a domestic dispute at their apartment. Monserrate was expelled from the Senate in February 2010, and lost a special election to Sen. Jose Peralta, a Democrat.
Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn, is awaiting sentencing on a December 2010 misdemeanor conviction of criminal mischief related to an altercation with a New York Post photographer. He was re-elected last year and continues to serve in the chamber.
Former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno was found guilty of federal charges that he deprived the public of its right to honest services. Jurors sustained charges that Bruno accepted $200,000 in business-consulting fees from a company that later did state business, and was paid $80,000 for a horse prosecutors said was "virtually worthless" from a man seeking racing business from the state.
What a mess. Like I said, it should be a rather interesting day.
For those of you with free time on Wednesday nights, now you can spend every Wednesday until the primary phone banking for Gustavo Rivera, courtesy of the excellent group, ACT NOW. RSVP here.
Thank you for joining ACT NOW's efforts to unseat the notoriously corrupt Pedro Espada and to elect progressive reformer Gustavo Rivera to the New York State Senate.
We'll be meeting every Wednesday at 211 East 43rd Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues), Suite 306, and phoning from 5:30-8:30PM.
In other Pedro-related news, he has snagged one illustrious endorsement, ridden with the typos one would expect from campaign workers dumb enough to work for Diaz:
Earlier this afternoon, at 1:30PM, while standing in front of the beautiful Church of the Mediator located at 351 East 231 Street in Riverdale, New York State Senator Ruben Diaz,Sr. endorsed the Re-Election of New York State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr for another term. Senator Esapda was described as the seminole [sic] leader who worked closely with Senator diaz [sic] to save senior centers from closing. Senator Diaz exhorted the public to prevent the election of an unknown rookie who, "does not know where the Senate is".
Senator Diaz extolled Senator Espada's many years of fighting for the community, and he enthusisastically [sic] endorsed Senator Espada 's Re-election [sic] in the September 14, 2010 Democratic Primary.
Several members of the Bronx Clergy also publicly endorsed Senator Espada att [sic] the press conference.
Senator Espada thnaked [sic] Senator diaz [sic] for his support and he made brief remarks, and he took questions from news reporters afterward.
Funny, I thought Diaz couldn't support any legislator who voted for marriage equality. But I guess Espada is corrupt enough to warm Diaz's completely straight heart. That, or Diaz is impressed with his leadership of a storied Florida Native American tribe.
Update: Here's video of Diaz's endorsement of Clay Davis Pedro:
In New York, battlelines are being sharply drawn between bigotry and equality. And leadership is losing the will to stand with bigotry, no matter how well entrenched its proponents are.
The background is, there was a fundraiser last night for New York State Seantor Ruben Diaz. A Pentecostal minister, Diaz has been the single biggest impediment to the progress of LGBT affirmative legislation in New York state. He stood alone on the Senate floor and urged a no vote on the historic marriage equality bill last December. Unfortunately, despite a dozen senators taking to the floor in suport of equality, and only one Senator speaking against it, the vote failed.
Just this June, Diaz also used his committee position to vote down the movement of GENDA bill, which would have extended discrimination protection to the transgender community. (Yes, NY still does not have that, shamefully.)
Increasingly, the LGBT community is recognizing that equality in New York State can not move forward, so long a Diaz remains in the Senate. Removing Diaz is the single biggest victory LGBT New Yorkers, and their supporters, could score.
When local LGBT activists got wind that New York State Senate Majority Leader John Sampson lent his name and planned to co-host a fundraiser for Daiz, Queer Rising planned a protest. It's all well and good to protest Diaz himself, but he is frankly, unreachable. He has told supporters:
"These election results will be vital to us as Christians and God-fearing people to keep our family, moral and traditional values that our ancestors left us and that the Bible teaches us."
Another politician who can't distinguish the Bible from the Constitution, or Democracy from Theocracy.
So activists have expanded their focus to include John Sampson's complicity with LGBT disenfranchisement. The message: you can't have it both ways any longer. You can't support the LGBT community and those that fight the LGBT community.
Not sure what Brodsky thinks he will gain with this:
Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. informed me today that he intends to campaign "heavily, heavily, heavily" for his preferred AG candidate, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, and predicted the Westchester Democrat will "carry the Hispanic community - at least in the Bronx, if not all of the city."
That is, of course, a snub to Diaz Sr.'s colleague, Sen. Eric Schneiderman, who is touted by supporters as the strongest Democratic AG contender among black and Hispanic voters in the absence of a candidate of color among the hopefuls angling to replace AG Andrew Cuomo.
I'm not so sure that the person we need to police Albany should be touting support from Diaz and Sheldon Silver. But that's just my opinion.
The continued logic has been that Rev. Ruben Diaz isn't such a bad Democrat. Sure he was the main leader against marriage equality. Sure he supported and supports Monserrate and Espada no matter their treachery or corruption. But in the end, he's still a Democrat on most issues, right? If this sounds a little bit like Joe "With Us on Everything But the War" Lieberman, then you're not going to be surprised at the punchline. In a letter released today relating to marriage equality, Diaz Sr. officially crossed party lines and endorsed Frank Padavan over Tony Avella. And it was all over a single issue; marriage equality.
Senators Shirley Huntley, Frank Padavan and Hiram Monserrate were instrumental in joining me to defeat the gay marriage bill in the New York State Senate. Today the State of New York does not have legalized gay marriage and we have to praise God and thank Senators Shirley Huntley, Frank Padavan and Hiram Monserrate.
They all risked their chances of being elected in order to take this stand.
We in the Christian community - and all God-fearing people - owe them our support, our respect and our help.
The homosexual community has targeted the three of them and put candidates - funded with money from the homosexual community - so their candidate can vote for gay marriage next year.
Therefore, I am counting on all of you to not only pray for Senators Shirley Huntley, Frank Padavan and Hiram Monserrate, but to also offer them all of the support and help that you can give during their re-election efforts or elections to another position.
As a State Senator, a Pastor, and a Christian, I need Senators Shirley Huntley, Frank Padavan and Hiram Monserrate back in the New York State legislature for next year when the gay marriage issue will take top priority in New York State. We do not have the luxury of losing these three legislators who have fought so hard for our family, moral and traditional values in the State legislature.
That's right folks. Diaz Sr. supporting and endorsing a corrupt, expelled Senator and a crotchety anti-progress Republican going up against a strong, reform-oriented Democrat. In one of the best races in the state, in a year where redistricting and future control of the Senate is on the line, one of our 32 members of the State Senate caucus crosses over and gives his full support and blessings to Frank Padavan.
...about the Monserrate Committee, and, well...I'll let Senator Diaz' statement speak for itself:
First, it is disappointing to hear Senate Conference President John Sampson saying that he is putting together an independent and impartial Senate Committee to investigate Senator Hiram Monserrate and at the same time sending a message to the committee members by stating "As a father and as a husband, I am not only angry, I am also pissed off". That statement alone may be interpreted as a direct order to the committee to "get Monserrate".
Second, it is even more disturbing to hear the supposed President of the so called "independent and impartial committee", Senator Eric Schneiderman saying that he spoke with Senator Dean Skelos and reminded him that "since back in June we all know what this individual is capable of doing". So much for impartiality.
Third, if anyone thinks that there could be any Republican Senator who will be impartial to Senator Monserrate after the embarrassment that Senators Espada and Monserrate put them through back in June, he or she must be on another planet.
Four, to add insult to injury, there are five Hispanic Senators among the 32 Democratic Senators. One must question why not even one of them was appointed to the committee.
For these four reasons and more, I believe that the real intention of this "independent and impartial" committee is to get even with Senator Monserrate for what he did to the Democrats this past June and to use the Republicans who have been praying for such an opportunity to settle the score with Senator Monserrate.
We've heard about Sarah Palin's infamous Facebook message blasting the "Obama death squads." Now Liz Benjamin has uncovered a link to our very own state Senator Ruben Diaz!
That's right. Sen. Diaz even went so far as to write a letter to Rep. Henry Waxman, who chairs the Energy & Commerce Committee, worried that the section of the House bill (H.R.3200) that caused Palin to talk of "death squads" may "diminish respect for the inherent dignity of each of [senior citizens'] lives."
The problem is that Section 1233 of H.R. 3200 merely requires Medicare to pay, no more than once every five years, for a consultation if a senior citizen wants information on things like living wills, durable powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, etc. In other words, this provision gives senior citizens the knowledge they need to decide for themselves what they want, and who they want making decisions for them when they cannot make decisions for themselves.
(Side note: The bill is not "House Resolution 3200," as Sen. Diaz refers to it, but "H.R. 3200" -- maybe he needs to learn a bit about federal legislation.)
Awfully nice friends you've got there, Senator Diaz.
New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms named Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. its statesman of the year today during Legislative Day 2009 "To Every Generation". The event drew hundreds of Christians, some donning signs indicating their opposition to legislation that would legalize same-sex marriages.
Diaz has been with the group on the issue. He is a Democrat from the Bronx and a reverend.
Several speakers at the event included lawyer David Gibbs III, who represented the parents of Theresa "Terri" Schiavo, and Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage and the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy.
Three Democratic state senators who have blocked the plan to charge tolls on the East River bridges and so prevent transit service cuts and fare hikes say they simply want to protect their constituents.
Most of Krueger’s constituents do have a car but do not use it for a daily drive to Manhattan’s central business district. Of the 32 percent of his constituents who commute to that part of Manhttan, about 84 percent take mass transit.
In Diaz’s Bronx district more than five times as many people take mass transit to the business district as drive. Two thirds of his constituents do not even own a car. In Espada's adjacent Bronx district, more than 70 percent of residents do not have a car and less than 4 percent drive to the central business district as compared with 29 percent who take mass transit.
Taxi drivers have to pay, too, and they will have to increase their fares. Who is gonna pay for that? The people,” Diaz told Gotham Gazette. Or at least all those residents of the South Bronx who take cabs to work every day.
...
The impasse among the Democrats leaves the decision on the tolls up to the Republicans, particularly the three GOP state senators from the city, the Times reports. In the meantime, the South Bronx restaurant worker and the medical tech from Mill Basin can rest easy knowing that, if subway fares rise, thy can always take a taxi to work.
I'm not sure just whose interests the Diva Three think they are standing up for, but it's pretty obvious it's not those of the people they were elected to represent.
The Senate leadership deal is officially done, and Queens Democrat Malcolm Smith has finally landed the 32 votes he needs to be majority leader of the Senate, putting the chamber back into Democratic hands for the first time in 43 years.
Flanked by members of his conference - including all of the Gang of Three - who marched from Sen. Carl Kruger's office in the LOB to the Capitol to join their fellow Democrats, Smith announced his victory.
Smith confirmed the details of the deal between himself and the three erstwhile renegades that have been reported throughout the day.
In short:
- Kruger, who ducked out without speaking to reporters, will chair the Finance Committee ($34,000 lu-lu), which Smith said does have a budget of between $5 million and $6 million. Sen. Liz Krueger will be vice chair of that committee (that's a new position, and so has no existing lu-lu; she's also chair of Select Committee on Budget Reform).
- Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. will chair the Aging Committe ($12,500 lu-lu), and also will head a new Latino Task Force.
- Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. will chair the Housing Committee ($12,500 lu-lu) and will also serve as vice chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, the most powerful committee in the Senate, (Smith is the chairman) and president of the Senate for Urban Policy.
From a release just sent from the next Senate Majority Leader:
The Senate Democratic Conference emerged from their meeting tonight with the announcement that Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith will serve as Senate Majority Leader, securing a Democratic Majority for the first time in 43 years.
Under the leadership of Senator Smith, the Senate will move New York in a new direction, taking steps to create a more open, accountable and inclusive legislative process.
"We are one Senate, united behind the common purpose of getting New York back on track and creating a government that operates in a more efficient and transparent manner to meet the needs of all New Yorkers," said Senator Smith.
At the meeting, the Democratic Conference solidified its commitment to reform the Senate into a more functional legislative body that allows good ideas to be openly debated by all members.
"Through the appointment of committee chairs with real standing and duties and a comprehensive review of the Senate's rules of procedure, we will restore the Senate's ability to achieve the peoples' agenda," said Senator Smith.
"In the face of the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, the new Democratic Majority will work with the Governor and all of our legislative colleagues to revive the economy through job creation and economic development," said Senator Smith.
And there it is. It's going to be a very interesting session.
I've greatly enjoyed a much needed vacation from regular posting, but posting will be back to normal as of tomorrow morning.
It's put up or shut up time for Dems in Albany. I plan to be all over it. I hope you will be, too.
Senate Democrats appeared on the verge of a last-minute deal Monday night that could avoid chaos when lawmakers go back in session Tuesday.
...
One source said that Sen. Carl Kruger, a Brooklyn Democrat and a leader of the rebel Democrats, would become chairman of the powerful Finance Committee, and Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., a Bronx Democrat and another so-called Gang of Three member, would become chairman of the Aging Committee. Bronx Democrat Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., who under a previous deal that fell apart was to become majority leader, would receive an "influential policy position," sources said.
"Espada will come out the most senior and influential Hispanic in state government," one source said of the Bronx Democrat.
Unlike the previously aborted deal, the positions of president pro tempore and majority leader will not be decoupled. Smith (D-Queens) will hold both titles.
Also, Kruger's Finance Committee will not get a separately funded staff, a source said.
Another source said the Gang of Three will get the titles they seek, but will have no power over the legislative agenda.
Will the caucus sign off on this deal after they pretty much revolted after the last one? I suspect that they will. That said, as I've said before, I'd have gone all Michael Corleone on the Diva Three.
My offer is this: nothing.
Also, this proposed deal proves once again that this whole ridiculous charade was always what it looked like. This was never about "empowering Latinos" or any other such thing. This was about extorting the best possible deal for themselves from the rest of the caucus, a caucus they didn't lift a finger to grow. It also shows what many folks suspected for years, namely that Carl Kruger would never pull the trigger and caucus with the GOP, despite the millions of dollars of your money they invested in him over the years. He was happy to take the money, but never had the guts to do what they the Senate GOP thought they were paying for.
Very likely, you, the average TAP reader, like me and most of the world, are pleased to see the Bush era drawing to a close. I'm totally relieved that it will not be followed by an administration in which the likes of Sarah Palin is a heartbeat from the Presidency, despite my sincere hope that women will ascend to the highest governmental posts in our country in my lifetime. Of course, I have significant differences on policy with both GW and the Winker from Wasalia. But, I have strong opinions on policy, and there aren't many pols who I find myself in total policy agreement with... so, I am somewhat tolerant of differences in view.
There's a line in the sand for me, though, that I won't cross. Something that makes me find a candidate for leadership dangerous and unacceptable, even if we share views on policy. I'm completely and relentlessly consistent on this issue, which both Sarah Palin and GW Bush went over the line on: any candidate who believes that God, not the people, chose him or her to lead is, IMHO, not fit to serve in office. Claiming to hear directly from the Divine on matters of policy and political leadership subverts democracy, I think.
Now, I was entirely consistent with my own attitude about this when considering the self-imposed plight of 3 Musketeers Gangsta Ruben Diaz. When jmcbride wrote a diary here titled Diaz -- the anti-democrat , he quoted Diaz (from Cap Con) thus:
I have not committed myself to anybody, and my position as an ordained minister and a pastor will not allow me to support any would be leader that will bring gay marriage to the Senate floor.
jmcbride added this thought:
Diaz apparently believes his unique and short lived power should allow him to control what gets to the floor for a vote.
To which I responded:
Worse than that.. he believes that his religion should control what gets to the floor for a vote. While power-hungry individuals are dealt with by our constitutional democracy through the means of regular elections, control of government by religious doctrine is, actually, flat-out prohibited.
I later suggested that if Diaz's ministerial/religious duties caused a conflict with his duties as a Senator, he should resign his position as Senator. Still feel that way. So, I was very pleased when Malcolm Smith re-thought his previous deal-making position on this issue, as per his press release:
Furthermore, real reform cannot and should not ever include limiting the civil rights of any New Yorkers. Those issues must be part of the legislative process.
Way to support the Constitution and fulfill your oath of office, Malcolm. Not that I expect theocrat Diaz to back down.
But, recently Smith said something to make me worry about how well he really understands this... (on the flip).
The three quixotic Senate holdouts (a good friend referred to them as the "Diva Three") have finally cut their deal and pledged their support to malcolm Smith who will indeed be the next Majority Leader of the New York State Senate. Liz has the goods:
The leadership battle that has frozen the Senate since Election Day is over, and the three renegade senators known as the Gang of Three have all pledged to support Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith for majority leader in exchange for an agreement that will result in what Sen. Carl Kruger called "significant and historic reform" of how the chamber operates.
...
I called Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., and he confirmed: "It's over. It's a done deal. We agreed."
But what about gay marriage - Diaz's signature issue and the one thing he said he absolutely wouldn't abide coming to the floor?
The senator refused to tell me anything about what kind of deal Smith struck on that (recall that Diaz said he wanted a written pledge that whoever he supported for leader would not bring a bill legalizing same-sex marriage). The only thing he would say was: "I'm comfortable that everything's going to be OK."
Diaz said all three of the gang members, including Senator-elect Pedro Espada Jr., were present at a meeting with Smith that lasted most of the afternoon.
Sorry, Dean. The calvary was never coming. You were never going to pick these folks off. You were never going to become Pedro Espada's Deputy ML.
I'd like to congratulate Senator Smith. He worked his tail off to get this majority and he's been working hard to prepare his caucus for the transition from the minority. And now it is time to deliver.
I both support the Senator and expect big things from him. That said, it's now put up or shut up time. For decades, the NY State Senate has been where reform went to die. There are no more excuses now. The people of this state have waited far too long for the type of leadership on these issues. We deserve better and we expect it, Senator.
"There's a possibility," Diaz said of supporting Smith. "We haven't closed the door on anything. We still have some demands."
Diaz had previously said he could never support a majority leader who would allow the legalization of gay marriage and support social issues Diaz opposes but that have strong support among the more liberal elements of the Democratic conference. Diaz has been critical of Smith.
The stretch of Broadway on the side of City Hall is empty now, but for the past two hours thousands of people have been circulating within several blocks of Lower Manhattan. Gay and straight alike came down on this humid Saturday afternoon to protest the passage of Proposition 8 in California. It is equally a rally against similar measures in Arizona and Florida as well as the gay adoption ban in Arkansas.
It should be a no-brainer that all Americans should receive equal rights under the law, yet hate, ignorance and bigotry have prevented us from that from the beginning of our country. Yet as Jon Stewart so eloquently shoved in Bill O'Reilly's face the other night, the side of history is with us. That isn't just in Greenwich Village but every village and every city across our country. This is what progress looked like here in New York City.
Barbara and Robin Levine-Ritterman left New Haven City Hall with the first marriage license issued to a same-sex couple in Connecticut on Wednesday. Robin is holding the license.
Behold the abomination that is unabashed joy and love, Senator Diaz. I hope you will recover from witnessing such a horror.
You can make your arguments for any of the three: Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., Pedro Espada Jr. and Sen. Carl Kruger. While there are compelling arguments to make for Diaz and Espada, my pick is for Sen. Kruger.
Senator Carl Kruger of Brooklyn, a lifelong and staunch independent Democrat, made history in early 2007 when he was appointed Chair of the Senate Committee on Social Services, Children and Families - the first time in the history of the Legislature that a member of the minority conference was named to head a standing committee.
It is also worth mentioning that Kruger, during 2008-09, will receive the highest total of member item money than any other Democrat. Kruger received $850,000, which is more than the $657,000 that Sen. Malcolm Smith received.
Recent history has shown that Kruger has what it takes to get something for his willingness to deal with the Senate Republicans. That committee chair assignment is proof, as is his member item total for 2008-09. Those member item numbers came out in May, so it makes you wonder if the GOP saw the writing on the wall and figured that if it came close as it is now, having some sort of "in" with Kruger would help them. Whether they are successful or not is up to Kruger.
The Drum Major Institute'sMiddle Class Scorecard from 2001-2005 also gives us an idea of what kind of senator Kruger has been. According to my observations, Kruger received the second-lowest score (69 percent) of all the Senate Democrats in the scorecard.
So here you have Kruger, nowhere near a progressive, and he could be the difference between a 32-30 Democratic majority and a split. While Ruben Diaz Sr. might differ with the Democrats on certain social issues (he is anti-choice and anti-marriage equality), there are other issues he does align himself with the Democrats with. I can't see him leaving solely because of his social issues, but you never know. Espada Jr. is an interesting case too. He hasn't feared working with Republicans, so he could be a threat just as Kruger is. The only problem for Espada Jr. is that he replaced Efrain Gonzalez, who was also known to align himself with the GOP. If Espada Jr. plans on working with the GOP, he won't last more than one term in office. Period.
Then we come back to Kruger. Keep in mind that the other three members of the now-"Gang of Three" were Latinos. The Latino element of the group - Diaz Sr., Espada Jr. and Monserrate - claimed that Latinos lacked representation in the Senate Democratic caucus. Because Sen. Smith decided to create a new Latino caucus, that might be enough to please Diaz Sr. and Espada Jr. It appears that the creation of that caucus (along with a couple other gifts) was enough to get Monserrate on board. I assume the same could work for Diaz Sr. and Espada Jr.
But Kruger isn't Latino, so that won't work with him. The Senate Democrats shouldn't pander to him. If Kruger wants to represent the Democrats in the New York State Senate (as he was elected to do), then he should do that. If he wants to side with the GOP, that's his choice. But it's a choice he will have to live with when 2010 rolls around and, in the spirit of electing Governor David Paterson to his first full term, Democrats in the 27th Senate District will drop Kruger by the wayside.
The ball is in Kruger's court. Either become irrelevant in 2010 or ensure that your political career will be alive by joining the party that you have used to run on since 1994.
The background is, there was a fundraiser last night for New York State Seantor Ruben Diaz. A Pentecostal minister, 
