Posted on 11/29/2008 7:42:56 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
In an attempt to keep Republican control of the state Senate, Majority Leader Dean Skelos is wooing three rebel Democrats with a proposal to form a "coalition government."
Skelos made the offer at a dinner meeting Tuesday night on City Island with the so-called "Gang of Three" - Carl Kruger of Brooklyn, and Pedro Espada and Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx, several sources familiar with the meeting said.
The Democratic rebels have thrown the Albany political world into a frenzy by refusing to back fellow Dem Malcolm Smith of Queens for majority leader.
Without their votes, the Democrats, who captured a slim 32-29 Senate majority for the first time in decades, cannot elevate Smith to the top Senate post. There's one undecided Senate race, in which incumbent Queens Republican Frank Padavan is clinging to a small lead in a recount.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
This is getting very interesting. Liberal state Senate Democrat Leader Malcolm Smith may not become Majority Leader after all. Whether the dissident Democrats are motivated by Smith’s liberalism or for non-ideological reasons is unknown to me.
Input from New York Freepers is encouraged.
The answer to your question is simple.
The New York State legislature is one of the the world’s oldest and most prominent gang of crooks. They are motivated only by the prospect of booty for themselves.
These three guys can get a lot of money and power by doing this, more than from the Dems.
Only in New York could something like this occur. Could you imagine Senator Mitch McConnell pulling this off in the U.S. Senate? I can't either.
There was a fourth Democrat, Senator-elect Hiram Monseratte, who had joined the “Gang of Three,” but he backed down not long after. But he refuses to support his party on the marriage issue.
They seem to be really against gay marriage.
The Latin ones also seem to have a racial chip on their shoulder over Smith and the Governor both being black and no major power for Hispanics.
Pedro Espada did switch to the GOP some time ago, I missed him switching back, I thought he lost reelection.
Ruben Diaz is a Pentacostal minister who is very liberal on economics, but socially very conservative.
Don’t see too many of those any more.
Pentecostal dem in NYC, wow.
Perfect running mate for Huckabee. ;0
If he holds to his convictions I can’t imagine he’d go for Wilson.
His words.
“I have not committed myself to anybody, and my position as an ordained minister and a pastor will not allow me to support any would be leader that will bring gay marriage to the Senate floor.”
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