Friends, throughout this whole State Senate set of shenanigans, the Democratic/Liberal/Progressive/Elitist media and blogs have been conveying to people that the Bi-Partisan Coalition has been playing politics while the Democratic party, led by either Malcolm Smith or John Sampson, or someone else depending on whom you ask, is trying to govern. The Governor’s recent actions should make it painfully obvious that this is not the case. Governor Paterson is too busy playing politics for this crisis to end anytime soon.
Anytime the Bi-Partisan Coalition and the Democratic Conference come close to an agreement, the Governor steps in and finds a way to mess it all up. Yesterday was the latest example. Both sides were close to a operating agreement, by the close of business today, if not earlier. However, sensing that this veritable source of headlines may soon go away and that the senate stalemate would end, the governor needed to throw a wrench in the process, hence illegally naming Richard Ravitch as Lieutenant Governor. If he didn’t have a deadlocked Senate to pontificate on, how else would Paterson get his poll numbers to rise? He needs the Senate and the rest of state government to be in disarray, it allows him to act mightier than thou and as if he has any leadership ability whatsoever. In one month and a day of crisis, its clear what the problem is, and its not the Republicans, it might not even be a majority of the Democrats. The problem is David Paterson and the Senate Democratic leadership of Malcolm Smith, John Sampson, Jeff Klein and Diane Savino.
If its not bad enough that the Governor is playing politics, he’s playing poorly. If he had any semblance of leadership skill, he would be negotiating an agreement in good faith, cozying up to all parties like he’s the girl at the prom after-party who didn’t have a date. Depending on the day, he’ll have a brand new bosom buddy. Not only that, but in his announcement last night announcing Ravitch, he mentioned that he had “consulted with the best legal minds in the state.” Uh, you did Dave? Your own Attorney General, the #1 lawyer in the state of New York says that what you did violated the law! I can’t understand why the Governor would want to pick a fight with Andy Cuomo before he has to. When he enters the primary, he’s going to mop the floor with Paterson, why bother picking a fight now and essentially asking Cuomo to challenge your gubernatorial authority.
Governor Paterson, I ask you kindly, as a resident of New York State, please stop playing politics and try actually governing (not that you’re any better at that).