[neverdem]

This is rich. That might be an understatement.

[Cindy]

Thread Bump.

[Darkwolf377]

If Dems took over it would be “Change comes to the New York Senate.” But here it’s a takeover! Body snatchers! YOU’RE NEXT!!!!!

[ABQHispConservative]

I love how Paterson talks about the dysfunction in Albany, when the rats have been in charge of the Gov. office. So really, no leadership from the governors office.

[exist]

How do people get any work done in New York? It’s always somethin’ up there...

[heartwood]

These kinds of shenanigans have occurred in a couple of other states recently. In general my impression has been that GOP-to-Dem party-switchers have been reprehensible power-greedy RINOs while Dem-to-GOP switchers have been motivated by disgust with their own party’s corruption and venality. But in this case I’m not so sure — I have a bad impression of the switchers, who sound unprincipled to me.

[rmlew]

Coup? Was it a coup when Vt Senator Jeffords defected in 2001?
This was a proceedural motion to elect a new leadership and restore balanced government to New York

[RetSignman]

"Let's just be real clear. The Senate Democrats are still in the majority"
(insert picture of "Baghdad Bob")

[RSmithOpt]

Nothing will change much nationally until we have a viable conservative 3rd party.

[Caipirabob]

COUP IN ALBANY: GOP Takes Over NY State Senate

As of late I haven't any real differences between the two parties with the exception of a few people here and there...then there's Sarah.

So lets see what these clowns do. Maybe there will be some improvements. Still, I can hardly get excited about "socialist light".

[john drake]

I wish this would happen in Chicago.....never mind, 49 of the 50 alderman are democratic.....

[gridlock]

So when Jumpin' Jim Jeffords (my namesake!) goes to the Dems in the US Senate, he is a principled man, a Profile in Courage, standing up for democracy, truth and the American Way.

And when two Donks wander off the Plantation in NY, they are anti-democratic usurpers.

I love this quote from the article...

Smith was elected Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate in January of 2009, becoming the first African-American Majority Leader in New York State history and the first Democratic leader in almost 40 years.

Conversely, Monserrate was recently indicted for beating his girlfriend. And who can forget Espada, who represents the Bronx and lives in Mamaroneck. He put on an orange ski hat when CBS 2 HD confronted him outside his home

So, why is being an African American the converse of beating your girlfriend, defrauding voters or (shudder...) wearing an orange ski hat? It is not related at all. There is this notion that being the first African American (Fill-In-The-Blank) imbues a politician with all sorts of wonderful qualities, which are just assumed.

[panaxanax]

Thanks for the ping, neverdem.

[Scotswife]

The only problem with all of this is - in New York - how exactly do you tell the difference between a Republican and a democrat?

And in the end - all the decisions come down to 3 guys regardless of how many are sitting out there raising their hands.

[4yearlurker]

The writer of the article is obviously bias towards the Rats. Using words like “coup” & “plotting” When Specter switched parties he was standing up for his principles,and what he believed in,and doing what was right. The news media sucks.

[Non-Sequitur]

Interesting. And in New York of all places. What caused the defections? I couldn’t tell from scanning the story.

[McGruff]

During the coup, Democrats fled the chamber, turned out the lights, and cut off the Internet feed of chamber proceedings, leaving Republicans and their two Democratic friends to take the vote in the dark.

That's priceless. Kind of sounds like The Redcoats turning tail and running during the Revolutionary War. Great job NY State. The Revolution has begun.

[stentorian conservative]

I may be showing my ignorance here, but what is the historical significance of shutting off the lights. Pelosi pulled that stunt in D.C. last year.

WTH?

[jalisco555]

It’s like two Crips deciding to join the Bloods.

[The Duke]

Every day I become more and more convinced that the entire Democratic Party should be treated as a criminal conspiracy.

I don't say this lightly.