Malcolm Smith to join IDC/GOP New York State Senate coalition

[krazen1211]

http://m.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/dem_smith_to_join_gop_coalition_gj4vs696rJXr5SNhs6453O

Queens Democrat Malcolm Smith is joining forces with Republicans in a new coalition to run the fractured state Senate, the Post has learned.

In a stunning move, Smith, the former Senate majority leader, will join the Independent Democratic Caucus, which includes four other renegades who will help keep the GOP in charge.




Haha.

[danny]

The New York senate democrats are pathetic.

[politicallefty]

That may be true, but every upstate district is underpopulated while every downstate district is overpopulated. As if gerrymandering wasn't bad enough on its own, the NY State Senate is badly malapportioned. Take a look. (I'm fairly sure that was the final adopted map.)

[Holmes]

Smith? I'm surprised. Maybe I shouldn't be, though.

[Landslide Lyndon]

That may be true, but every upstate district is underpopulated while every downstate district is overpopulated. As if gerrymandering wasn't bad enough on its own, the NY State Senate is badly malapportioned. Take a look. (I'm fairly sure that was the final adopted map.)

If this is true then how the heck has this thing survived all the court challenges?

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Congratulations Phil Cuomo

[Meeker]

That may be true, but every upstate district is underpopulated while every downstate district is overpopulated. As if gerrymandering wasn't bad enough on its own, the NY State Senate is badly malapportioned. Take a look. (I'm fairly sure that was the final adopted map.)

If this is true then how the heck has this thing survived all the court challenges?

The USSC has ruled that districts need only be within 10% of each other. While this map complies with that, I think one could make a case that certain populations were targeted under these new lines. I haven't heard if a court case is being pursued.

[Zioneer]

I wonder if any NY State Senate Democrats want to make upstate New York it's own state because of this...

[bgwah]

Haha. I suppose Cuomo had something to do with this?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

If only Spitzer had kept his pants on...

[krazen1211]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/nyregion/malcolm-smith-defects-joining-dissenting-democrats.html


Mr. Skelos and Mr. Klein said the Senate would adopt new rules that formally recognized the Independent Democratic Conference, which has five members, as a third caucus in the Senate, in addition to the Republicans’ and Democrats’. Mr. Skelos and Mr. Klein would have “joint and equal authority” over the bills that the Senate takes up, committee assignments, appointments and state budget negotiations. They would take turns serving as the temporary president of the Senate, a position defined in the State Constitution, alternating in the position every two weeks.



Haha.

[Zioneer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/nyregion/malcolm-smith-defects-joining-dissenting-democrats.html


Mr. Skelos and Mr. Klein said the Senate would adopt new rules that formally recognized the Independent Democratic Conference, which has five members, as a third caucus in the Senate, in addition to the Republicans’ and Democrats’. Mr. Skelos and Mr. Klein would have “joint and equal authority” over the bills that the Senate takes up, committee assignments, appointments and state budget negotiations. They would take turns serving as the temporary president of the Senate, a position defined in the State Constitution, alternating in the position every two weeks.



Haha.

So... New York has three parties now, technically?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Is the Alaska Senate run like that? With about half the GOP Senators caucusing with the Democrats?

[Vosem]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/nyregion/malcolm-smith-defects-joining-dissenting-democrats.html


Mr. Skelos and Mr. Klein said the Senate would adopt new rules that formally recognized the Independent Democratic Conference, which has five members, as a third caucus in the Senate, in addition to the Republicans’ and Democrats’. Mr. Skelos and Mr. Klein would have “joint and equal authority” over the bills that the Senate takes up, committee assignments, appointments and state budget negotiations. They would take turns serving as the temporary president of the Senate, a position defined in the State Constitution, alternating in the position every two weeks.



Haha.

So... New York has three parties now, technically?

New York has at least 5 (Republican, Democratic, Independence, Working Families, Conservative) and I believe as of the elections of 2010 the Greens have joined them. What has happened is that the New York State Senate Democrats (they are all Democrats) have devolved into two blocs who hate each other. They will be facing each other in primaries, not the general. (And they will be facing each other very little; most of the Senators in the IDC are personally popular, but I think most new Democratic Senators will make it a campaign plank to caucus with the mainstream Democrats; those who don't want to do that will probably run as Republicans).

Is the Alaska Senate run like that? With about half the GOP Senators caucusing with the Democrats?

It was, but as of the 2012 elections is no longer.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

http://www.ktva.com/news/alaska-election-2012/Republicans-Take-Control-of-State-Senate-177789301.html?m=y

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It is still kind of crazy, but in the opposite direction.

[Barnes]

The New York senate democrats are pathetic.

The New York Senate in general fits that description.

[Bacon King]

http://www.ktva.com/news/alaska-election-2012/Republicans-Take-Control-of-State-Senate-177789301.html?m=y

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It is still kind of crazy, but in the opposite direction.

That'd be pretty cool and unique if both parties were all in the same caucus together. Considering the Democrats in the AK Senate are already accustomed to working across party lines I doubt they'd have much of a problem to keep doing it.

[politicallefty]

If Cuomo runs, Democratic primary voters should not forget this.

[CatoMinor]

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Hahahahahahaha.

[CatoMinor]

I would like to take a moment to thank the men and women of the NY state Senate for all their hard work keeping it so entertaining.

[krazen1211]

http://politicker.com/2012/12/ruben-diaz-rings-in-the-new-year-with-jabs-at-the-state-senate-and-uncle-tom-malcolm-smith/

This year on December 31st, when I bend my knees in church and make my New Year’s resolutions, you should know that I will be making the following political wishes for some people:

1. For Senator John Sampson, to find better and more faithful friends.

2. For reporters Bob Kappstatter, from the Bronx Times and Jim Odato from the Times Union, to learn how to be impartial and objective journalists.

3. For Senator Jeff Klein and his Gang of Four, to find a parachute to allow them to make their landing easy and soft when Senator Dean Skelos and the Republicans – fearing the Conservative Party – reject their support for a progressive agenda, leaving the Gang of Four out in the cold.

4. For Senator Malcolm Smith, to find another minority to join him in order for him not to be the only Uncle Tom in the house.

5. For Assemblyman-Elect Luis Sepulveda, to take it a little bit easier with a little more patience and wait for his time, because it will come.

6. For my three friends, Carl Kruger, Pedro Espada, and Hiram Monserrate, to try to get together in 2013 while they are away and write a book instructing Jeff Klein and the Gang of Four how to deal with Dean Skelos and what to expect from him.

7. To Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, to buy a back-stabbing proof vest.

8.  For Senator Adriano Espaillat, to get a big handkerchief to wipe away his saliva because Charlie Rangel will be there for many years more – and aside from that, Adam Clayton Powell is warming up in the bullpen.

9. For Governor Andrew Cuomo, to be honest enough to admit that he has been the creator of the mess in the New York State Senate.

10. As for myself, should these nine other wishes come true, that I will be able to take a break and keep my mouth shut.

This is Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!






Hahahaha.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Can someone show enough goodwill to explain me where the clusterf**k in the NY Senate comes from?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Rubén Díaz makes New Year's resolutions in church?

[CatoMinor]

Can someone show enough goodwill to explain me where the clusterf**k in the NY Senate comes from?

Tradition mostly.

I think this is a win-win situation. In New York Cuomo, independents, moderates etc... see a win for bi-partisanship and for the rest of us we get political entertainment at its finest.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

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Hahahahahahaha.

I remember that... that was pretty crazy back then.