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So that deal to share power between State Senate minority leader Malcolm Smith and the "Gang of Three" Senators is dead. Smith said this morning, "When we first started out, the discussion was about reform and changing the government," but now negotiations were suspended "effective immediately." City Room reports that someone asked Smith, "You really thought this was about reform?" Ha!
The State Senate Democrats have been debating on who will lead ever since the Democrats gained control of the Senate in early November. Dissident Senators, the "Gang of Four"—which lost a member to become the "Gang of Three"—banded together, partly because they feel Latinos have been underrepresented in the government's ranks. Last week's power sharing deal was announced, with Smith as Senate president pro tempore and State Senator-elect Pedro Espada as majority leader—amid reports that the Smith agreed to take gay marriage discussions off the table to please the Gang of Three.
Now, Smith is being accused of trying to "slice-and-dice" the majority leader position," but the Queens politician apparently doesn't care if the three Senators head to the Republicans (the Dems currently have a 32-30 majority)! He said, "We would rather wait two more years to take charge of the Senate than to simply serve the interest of the few." Espada said, "Throughout this process, Malcolm Smith has proved to be the not-ready-for-prime-time leader. I will not sit in the room with him again unless he's got the total support of his own conference."
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Screw the "Gang of Three." They're really Republicans anyway who happen to run as Democrats to trick voters. Why should should there be compromise of key Democratic positions just to appease 3 self interested douchebags? Same old NY State politics.
All from NYC -- go figure. This city needs a Blagojevich moment.
These three should be isolated and then replaced. It is very sad to watch these petty battles in the midst of a massive budget crisis. These guys have no interest whatsoever in improving our state.
Espada, Kruger, and Diaz do not deserve to represent anyone in the Senate. They are vying for positions for total self interest, not thinking of New York State one bit.
Please explain to me why Diaz should be the majority leader, he just got elected, he isn't even a member of the State Senate yet. What does the other Democratic State Senators think of this guy walking right into the leadership position? Not to mention this guy is already being fined by the NYS Election Board for questionable or missing filings, and by NYC election officials for his campaign for Bronx Borough President. It's disgusting to think this guy would have such power in the State government.
Espada, the reverend, just wants to prevent a political debate on the issue of gay marriage. Let the debate commence and then argue your side, that's how it works. Using blackmail to prevent the issue from coming to the floor at all is low and not the signs of a person who feels confident in his position.
Then you have Kruger from Brooklyn. He wants a leadership position on the Senate's powerful fiscal committee, a position which would control funding for many State projects. Do we want someone who obtained this position through blackmail holding the State pocketbook?
This just reaks of corruption and underhandedness. Who needs Illinois when you have Albany!
FAMILY BUSINESS
Team Stealth–the governor, four state senators, the influence-interested billionaire contributor–
Huddles sub rosa, old boy to old boy,
Sharing the spoils, oiling the machine.
Welcome to Albany, Illinois.