D&C: Albany Dysfunction & Seeing the Light
Well, I was all excited. WAS. You may remember, that after frequently mentioning the need for reform & change in Albany, the D&C last fall endorsed every single state leg incumbent except Susan John. You may also remember I was incensed enough to write a rebuttal that stopped just short of using the words heck and darn.
When I saw this on the D&C editorial blog a couple days ago, about a meeting they had with Seymour Lachman, author of “3 Men In A Room” (about Albany dysfunction), I was excited:
After years of reading and writing about the dysfunction in Albany, I must admit that I’ve come to think that I’ve heard it all. But Lachman unleashed new furor in me and those who sat around the table listening to story after story of how the power-mongers operate.
Like Adam Sandler on that plane in the movie “The Wedding Singer”, I wanted to say “Even Billy Idol gets it!”
Then today, I read this on their blog:
…look for a Sunday editorial that explores what it could mean if Democrats takeover the Senate. After Democrat Craig Johnson of Long Island won a seat in a special election this week, Democrats are just two seats a way from a takeover.
Frankly, we’re concerned. Just look at what’s happening in the Democratic controlled Assembly. It’s downstate-centric. If ever there was any doubt, the results of the comptroller’s vote this week should have been evidence enough.
Aaaaaaaaaaugh! (Sound of Charlie Brown repeatedly banging his head against wall.) As Exile said in the comments on a recent post:
What’s immensely disappointing is that the D&C, which constantly whines about how its readers don’t care what happens in Albany, is telling its readers to be wary of turning the Senate over to Democrats. How can they be so foolish as to not see that the only way things can change is if Spitzer can get an ally in the State Senate?
Look, individual assemblycritters or senators are NOT going to stand up to current power-brokers Bruno and Silver, and they will continue to electe them to the leadership posts. They hold the purse strings and will dole out the “allowance” to their “kids” in order to enforce loyalty. This allowance will continue to be used to buy votes and keep incumbents in office.
I’m open to other ideas on how we can change this killing inertia in Albany, but for now, the best path I’ve seen to desperately needed reform is to flip the senate. We need to change owners of this “Republican Institution”, the place “where reform goes to die”.
I’m not giving up hope on the D&C editors though! They’re smart folks, and they’ll come around. I can feel it. Then again, I heard Dick Cheney once described as “A really smart guy who’s come to all the wrong conclusions.” Uh-oh…. 
Gotta go play with the kids, I’ll check back in later.
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Unfortunately, reform doesn’t only go to the Senate to die, it dies just as easily in the Democratically controlled Assembly. If the entire legislature were Democratically controlled Governor Spitzer’s measures would likely go through easier but they would certainly balk if the Governor pointed the reform mirror in their direction.
The Senate’s and Assembly’s legislative process is broken and one party rule wouldn’t change that because leaders like being leaders and they’re there for themselves.
I agree, both leaders gotta go, Silver and Bruno. But which one is closer to being toppled? Bruno by 2 seats.
I also agree that Spitzer’s measures would go through easier with a Dem controlled leg. If we get those reforms, even if it’s one party rule, wouldn’t CMCE make it easier to primary incumbents?
They’re smart folks
Is that a joke?
The grid lock exists because all parties need each other. The Senate and Legislature both need to be reformed because it is their acceptance of the status quo that is hurting New York.
If you are able to reform one, through party change or whatever the other will follow. It is a natural occurrence because the forces holding it back, ie requirement to maintain the status quo is gone.
I think it is a physics problem really, two equal forces working in opposite directions canceling each other. Once one of the forces is gone the other can move.
Stuk, you’re right– but see my comment above from 2 hours before yours:
Just because my son isn’t potty trained yet doesn’t mean I can’t expect him to be a big boy. He knows the right thing to do, he just hasn’t made up his mind to do it yet. “Hate potty!”
This is a multi step, multi year process. First the Senate, then the dead wood in the Assembly. We can’t get sidetracked.
The Senate first.
Then the Assembly.
Ah, clarity.
I’m torn between referencing the Star Wars, blow-up-the-Death-Star line: “Stay on target…”, and the South Park, Halloween-episode-Cartman-line: “Focus…on…the…candy…”
Once Bruno is gone, Spitzer will hopefully be able to deal with SIlver.
Find me a plan for getting rid of Silver and I’ll back it 100%.
I think Stuk and Johnny are missing the point that the Senate Democrats did not vote for DiNapoli.
“Silver called a closed door meeting of Dem Leaders, Silver chose DiNapoli as Comptroller but it’s the Senate that needs a change?”
This statement seems to insinuate that the Senate Democrats also went along with Silver, but this is not the case. If the Senate goes Democratic, the Governor’s hand will be seriously strengthened, and Silver’s will be weakened. Just look at who he chose to be Deputy Governor. This should be a signal of where his strength lies.
Besides, Bruno is being investigated by the FBI, I mean come on!
Unless there is a popular revolt (unlikely), or a change in the state constitution to allow popular referendums and/or popular recall of sitting politicians (even more unlikely), my only hope for change is death, illness and/or scandal.
Since I fervently believe that political monopoly inevitably leads to corruption (a variant on “absolute power corrupts absolutely”) I’m looking for the FBI to take down the Statehouse leadership. Let’s hope it’s already happening. It seems that the Bush “Justice” department has been preferentially targeting Democratic lawmakers for sting operations. Perhaps there will be a “Silver” lining to their abuse of power.