Goodbye, New York marriage equality June 8, 2009 Jill Ugh. But hey, as long as Espada can satisfy his thirst for power…
As a New Yorker, I would like it noted that I am ashamed of my state. (And also that my state senator is for marriage equality, however little good it does now.)
The other 30-odd Democrats should boycott the chamber en masse until special elections for the two turkeys are held (which they will soon anyway as both are in serious trouble with the law) and their replacements are seated, which (as both seats are in strongly Dem territory) puts the chamber back in Dem control. The GOP and their two buddies could do basic business, but they wouldn’t have the quorum needed to pass legislation.
The Republican power in the State Senate exists due to extreme gerrymandering (compare the Assembly) and a few ancient incumbents. The girlfriend-slasher and the indicted one have little chance of being renominated in 2010, and the Republicans have no chance of winning any Democratic-held seats. In fact, they’re likely to lose more in 2010; Frank Padavan in particular is on the verge of losing. I wouldn’t bet on Republican safety in any of the upstate or Long Island districts, either, despite the massive gerrymandering. In addition, the New York City population went up, and the upstate rural population dropped, which is doom (doom I tell you!) for Republicans in the next redistricting. The current redistricting is already very extreme in its suppression of Democrats, and yet there are 32 Democratic districts (nearly 33). Even if they somehow retain gerrymandering power, they’ll *still* lose control after they redistrict. If they don’t retain gerrymandering power, they’ll be decimated. Unfortunately, without a viable candidate for Governor, it looks like we may have a Republican governor to go with a Democratic legislature. Sigh.
Phoenix Woman, I think that plan would play right into the Republican strengths – i.e. gridlock being a good thing.