Shocking: Republicans Take Back New York Senate
Democrats appeared to have lost their majority in the New York State Senate on Monday, in a stunning and sudden reversal of fortunes for a party that has controlled the chamber for barely five months.
A raucous leadership fight erupted on the floor of the Senate around 3 p.m., with two Democrats, Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens, joining the 30 Senate Republicans in a motion that would displace Democrats as the party in control.
Republicans reacted immediately. They issued a statement saying: “A new bipartisan, coalition is being established that is bringing real reform to the Senate right now.”
This development is so shocking because Democrats only took control of the Senate a mere four months ago. Before that, Republicans had controlled it for four decades.
They won the elections for two reasons: Bush’s low favorability ratings and massive public support for Obama.
Not anymore, it seems.
At least one reason Republicans rebelled against Democrats, and were joined by two Democrats, is the direction in which the latter have tried to take the state. They proposed terrible budgets and want to raise taxes. New Yorkers voted for change, but not of the far-left kind.
Additionally, Governor David Paterson (needless to say a Democrat) is incredibly unpopular. In fact, he is the least popular governor in history. Perhaps this too played a role; who knows?
Lastly, some say that the gay marriage issue helped the Republican opposition. The Democratic leadership wants to legalize gay marriage. Voters, however, do not. It could be that the two Democrats sided with Republicans today out of fear they would lose their seats during the next elections if they would allow their party’s leader to push gay marriage down voters’ throats.
More later. As I said, the news took me – and everyone else for that matter – by surprise. Perhaps we’ll find out later why this happened exactly, and why these two Democrats sided with Republicans. All the possible reasons mentioned above are merely speculation. Keep that in mind when you read this post.
“The Democratic leadership wants to make legalize [sic] interracial marriage. Voters, however, do not. It could be that the two Democrats sided with Republicans today out of fear they would lose their seats during the next elections if they would allow their party’s leader to push interracial marriage through [sic] voters’ throats.”
Yeah, let’s obey the poor lumpen with their half-cooked obsession with having the privilege to deny their fellow citizens their birthrights.
Also, these two democrats are no more desirable figures than Specter, judging from their history.
“They proposed terrible budgets that would, among other horrific ideas, raise taxes”
Yes, lowering taxes worked for Reagan and increasing them harmed the economy under Clinton. During the 1947 to 1964 period, the high tax rate also prevented America from having a sustained boom.
Perhaps this doesn’t apply to you, Michael, since I believe you’re in favor of marriage, but is this a new talking point or something? Legislative measures are now pushing a gay marriage agenda down people’s throats? I thought that’s what the Republicans were screaming for? They don’t like judicial activism and wanted a legislative approach.
And now that it’s happening, this is also suddenly passing an uber-liberal agenda as well?
So I guess if all states start doing referendums on this it will then be tyranny of the majority?
- … Bush’s low favorability ratings and massive public support for Obama.
Guess what this tells us is that Bush’s low ratings were ephemeral (read: manufactured) and public support for BHO isn’t so massive anymore.
All predictable. Hardly “shocking”, at least, given the lies required to create such a negative public impression of Bush and the level of misdirection required to hide BHO’s abject lack of experience and unfitness for the job.
- I guess if all states start doing referendums on this it will then be tyranny of the majority?
But gay marriage IS a liberal agenda, which apparently doesn’t have much popular support among the people, themselves (as opposed to politicians seeking MSM approval) if Prop 8 was any indication. That’s exactly why conservatives (don’t know about “Republicans”) want the matter decided legislatively rather than through judicial fiat. What’s been most interesting is the general quietude surrounding the legislative victories for gay marriage and the unhinged vitriol and outright mob hysteria that followed passage of Prop 8.
Yea, but my point is that some people suddenly seem to decide that the legislative process is also bad (only when controlled by the Democrats, of course).
Tad bit touchy on it aren’t you MM?
I think you need to go back to basics.
- Legislating via Judicial branch is wrong, flat out.
- Since individuals are married in a State, it should be a State Issue. (never mind the whole basis for the Republic to begin with).
- Just because legislation happens on the State level does not mean one should automatically say – ahh ya got me! and skip down the corridor merrily. One stands for what they stand for and one fights for what they believe in (and what their constituents voted you for)………. Just let them fight for it in the proper venue.
This was extremely Democratic, Michael. DEmocratic leaders thought they could quickly pass a law, the state disagreed, Dems lost control.
MM- Interested and MvdG are right- just because conservatives think that the legislature is the appropriate place to debate issues like gay marriage doesn’t mean that the liberal side is always going to win that debate. The Dems who were pushing for a referendum are within their rights to do so but they shouldn’t be surprised when they lose political support if that’s not what their constituents elected them to do.
Kastanj- we’re talking about state taxation here, not federal. Since you’re not from the US you probably have no clue of the history of ridiculously high taxation in certain states like NY and CA.
The good news is the Left in NY is acting just like we all knew they would
You guys only have a small piece of the picture. Read about the billionare who helped facilitate this coup. He was whining about the thought of his taxes going up a little and stated he would move to Florida if something wasn’t done. Guess he can’t afford to pay anymore if he pays that much at all. Off shore tax havens come to mind….