What's going on in New York?

[Hugabear]

I can't seem to find much discussion about the GOP power-grab in New York; even the New York forum doesn't seem to have much activity. Can anyone clue us in on the latest developments? All that I really know is that a couple of turncoat Democrats have sided with the rethugs, attempting to overthrow the Democratic leadership, and that the legislature has come to a screeching halt as a direct result.

[Hannah Bell]

1. I posted something on it here about a week ago. Got one response. Nobody cares about power grabs &

bought legislators, non-democracy at home, only in iran.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5839780


New York billionaire engineers legislative “coup”
The New York State Legislature was thrown into chaos this past Monday when two of the State Senate’s Democratic members suddenly announced they were joining with the Republican minority to reestablish de facto Republican control, less than six months after the Republicans lost their majority for the first time in 40 years...

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the whole sordid business is the role of Tom Golisano, a billionaire businessman... who apparently orchestrated the so-called revolt. Golisano has used his money to buy influence in state government for some years...in last November’s election, he backed several Democrats in state races and then took credit for the Democrats’ success in winning a narrow majority...

According to the New York Times, when Golisano met with Senate Majority Leader Smith a few months ago to demand that the new majority drop its plans for modest tax increases for the wealthy, the billionaire was not treated with sufficient deference.

After the taxes were enacted, Golisano changed his primary residence to Florida to avoid paying them and began meeting secretly with Republicans and with the two dissident Democrats...

These corrupt political methods are ultimately an expression of a society wracked by economic crisis and dominated by an immense chasm between the ruling financial oligarchy and the vast majority of the population that works for a living. Working people are politically disenfranchised, forced to choose between two parties dominated by big business and the wealthy elite. Under these conditions, politics is inevitably determined not by the will of the people and open debate, but by conspiracies, provocations and scandals.

[Hugabear]

3. Really is a sad state of affairs, isn't it?

The SCOTUS steals the election in 2000, and we do nothing.
BushCo steals the election in 2004, and we do nothing.
California rethugs overthrow a sitting Democratic governor and replace him with a friggin' actor, and nobody does anything.
New York rethugs stage a coup, and nobody does anything.

[Hannah Bell]

yep. the hypocrisy of the "solidarity" w/ iran is pretty stunning.

the new yorker says he don't know nothing, it's just a "bunch of spoiled kids".

[Soylent Brice]

7. welcome to paradise.

[shadowknows69]

15. Oh for fucks sake, send me a bus ticket to Albany or DC and I'll storm the gates then.

And you can have me dying on youtube to galvanize a sleeping US population. Would that be enough effort for you Super-Multitasking Activists? Frankly, I'm schizophrenic and I spend a good part of my day chasing away hallucinations so I'm sorry if I'm not as focused as I should be.

[shadowknows69]

2. Um, I'm a New Yorker and I care. I just don't pretend to understand it much

From my perspective it looks like a bunch of spoiled schoolchildren tussling in the recess yard.

[Hugabear]

4. What's the coverage like up there?

I can only gather what I see on the info, but I'm curious how the local media up there is handling it. I'm surprised that there doesn't seem to be a lot of outrage around the state. To me, it looks like the rethugs have pretty much overthrown the Democrats.

[shadowknows69]

5. I only watch local media occasionally. Can't stand the primary news station in my city.

News10now has some pretty good updates but I haven't watched in a few days. Yes, because of Iran. Guilty.

[Hannah Bell]

6. lol. we know nothing about ny, but everything about iran.

[shadowknows69]

8. I know, sad, but I get more frustrated watching my own leaders go evil

Than I do the ones we expect to. So I choose my battles.

[Hannah Bell]

10. but you don't have a battle in iran. not meaning to single you out, i'm

equally guilty, but the first step in generating pressure at home is to get people riled up about the bullshit & feeling like there are others riled up too, that have their back.

so they have the guts & will to organize to change it & aren't alone with "nothing can be done"

[shadowknows69]

9. Here's the latest from News10 Now. Am I forgiven?

<http://news10now.com/content/top_stories/475355/governor-paterson-calls-for-special-session/?RegionCookie=1013>

[Hannah Bell]

11. post on it every day & we'll talk :>)

[shadowknows69]

12. Or, you could look up info about our Empire State of Disaster yourself

But I'll try to oblige. B-)

[Captain Hilts]

13. Democrats without effective leadership. nt

[TimesSquareCowboy]

14. A billionaire runs the city and now a billionaire runs the state.

It's pretty embarrassing, really.

[Hannah Bell]

16. "embarrassing" is when you fart in a business meeting. "democracy" controlled by the rich is

something else.

[shadowknows69]

17. Yeah very. FWIW I have been trying to get people to realize that John McHugh

Is a horrible choice for Secretary of the Army. He's the rep of our district so I know a bit more about him than I do the mess in Albany. Must be nice to live in a perfectly run State. Care to give me directions to one?

[Hannah Bell]

18. kick