OntheWilderSide

As per news reported at the Time Union/Capitol Confidential and the Daily News/Elizabeth Benjamin’s blog:

Instead of meeting the judges 1pm deadline to hammer everything out, all the parties did agree to a recess until 10am tomorrow, and that seemed to satisfy the judge for now.

The Governor had tried to call a meeting of all leadership parties (not including Sheldon Silver) at 3pm. But, it is not clear if that is still on based on negotiations moving forward in other ways.

The Democrats: Seem to have got Monserrate back. Keeping Malcolm Smith in his positions/roles. Adding a new position of “Conference Leader” for State Senator John Sampson. It appears to me that this situation is a way to let Malcolm Smith save face and retain power, but use Sampson’s people skills and management style to smoothe over some of the differences that caused some Democrats angst.

Malcolm Smith and John Sampson have written to Skelos and Espada asking for a meeting to discuss power sharing. The letter basically concedes that the Dems and Reps each have equal sides and equal power right now.

Here is my commentary:

So, what happened is…

The Democrats have the majority of the State Senate. After campaigning for years that the world would be shiny and great and progressive for the working class if all the Dem State Senators won their races, they finally won.

And, now that the Democrats have the majority, they messed it up again.

Instead of fighting strong and to the end, the Democrats failed to keep hold of the majority. And, when things get tough, they are giving in.

Same old. Same old. When the Republicans are the majority, the majority is privileged, so the rich are well represented. When the Democrats are the majority, everyone should be nice and compromise with the Reps, so that the rich are well represented.

The Democrats either don’t REALLY want to win for the working class. Or, the Democrats are too ignorant and weak to win for the working class. Either way, it is the same thing.

Just like Gore and 2000, when the real result was America elected Democrat Gore (as proven in the newspaper consortium recount) but Gore and folks were too weak and/or foolish to win in the court.

Just like always. You can’t win with the Democrats. They never win.

Of course, it could all be a plan. If the Democrats hold the Governorship, the State Assembly, and the State Senate, anyone could see the Democratic Party should put their money where there mouth is and give the people what is promised. But, they did nearly nothing for several months of having a majority in all branches. So, now, if the Democrats have the excuse of saying that they are “just sharing power” in the State Senate, then the Dems can pass idealistic bills in the Assembly, and blame the Republicans as thwarters when it does not pass in the State Senate. Same excuse and tactics used for many years.

Pretty sickening.

Gotta find a better way.

Filed under: New York State Politics, News, politics, progressive politics, rants Tagged: | Dean Skelos, democratic party, democrats, Espada, John Sampson, Malcom Smith, Monserrate, NY, NY State Senate, Senator Sampson, State Senate