In the 28 days since the New York State Senate descended into chaos, I've said nothing; pretty much, I think the absurd state of affairs (oh wait, that state is South Carolina) speaks for itself. But hey, for anyone still getting familiar with the home game, here's a quick restatement of the obvious.
More than anything, this is just embarrassing; four year olds with temper tantrums will at least wear themselves out with a round of crying, throwing themselves around and wailing about the unfairness of it all; these are grown men and women and really, they should be able to work out compromises. It's indicative of the kind of ferns we've been electing to higher office (I know I'm mortified to bear any responsibility for Tom Duane just now, my state Senator from back when I lived in his extended gay district) that essentially no one has stepped forward to show grown-up leadership skills and try to solve this mess.
That includes David Paterson. Sure, I've been critical of Paterson for... okay, since like he started, but this is exquisitely awful. Paterson's attempts to sound commanding and above-the-fray are just about ludicrous, since he comes from the same operation and seemed no more inclined to lead it when he was there then he does now. And because no state Democrat can seem to come out and plainly state the obvious - look, he's got to go, and all of you know it - the party's leadership dithers.
Pedro Espada and Hiram Montserrate are no one's idea of governmental heroes; the latter is facing charges of assault on a girlfriend (and folded like a card table when pressed by the Dem leadership, leading to the current 31-31 tie), while the former is an ethical mess waiting to unfold, who probably doesn't even live in the district he's elected to represent (I know... details, details). Indeed, what's given all of this such a Surrealist Theater quality is how the lies Albany tells itself don't even make it past the city line these days - listening to Senators claim "ethical responsibility" and "our need to do the people's business" is ludicrous. You realize we've been able to see you for - oh, just for me - the past twenty years or so, don't you?
The solution is that there is no solution. Not with these guys (and gals). The palpable level of disgust with our state's government has yet to be tapped... but I suspect people will rather vote for a lawn chair than their sitting Senator, and while machine politics may thwart many ambitions, some sort of stiff breeze is bound to blow some of these characters out of office, none too soon.
Conservative who hope for some kind of dramatic right wing realignment (that first week, when gay marriage opponents convinced themselves that Espada and Montserrate were proof of an antigay wave among outerborough Democrats, was a hoot and a half) are kidding themselves. But the real mortification, I think, belongs to rank and file Democrats, who have fooled themselves, for years, into believing that the state's crony-driven machine was somehow a model of liberal heroism. This, when much of what we have to show for Democrats these days are named Cuomo (Andrew, shaping up to be an impressively bigger dud than Dad), Kennedy (Robert Jr. ...and Caroline), or Clinton (both him, her, ...and Chelsea, actually). We've been sold a bill of goods, and we keep wanting to believe we weren't. That has to change. Are you listening Kirsten Gillibrand? Or will a primary with Carol Maloney be required?
Something has to change, really it does. If we keep going with this insanity - doing the same political things over and over, expecting a different result - we won't need 28 days of political inaction... we'll need rehab. More than 28 days worth.
My father announced last week that he would not vote for a single incumbent. Maybe I should suggest the local lawn chair!!!!! Laughing.
Posted by: Jennifer | July 07, 2009 at 01:39 PM