So, after a long weekend of pondering the actions of the New York State Senate I think, think, I have figured out why Pedro Espada was made Majority Leader. I believe, both Democrats and Republicans are fearful of Governor David Patersons pick for Lt. Governor, Richard Ravitch, for differing reasons.
Democrats were afraid that should Richard Ravitch assume the position of Lt. Governor a new head hancho would be in charge of the senate. The Dems like the position they are in now. They like not having to report to anyone but themselves. So, naturally, they do not want the governor steping on their turf. Also, the senate would look entirely useless if they could not solve the problem on their own. Should the Governor have to step in a fix the problem it would add insult to injury and make the clear statment that the Senate Dems can not run a body of government without creating some sort of catastrophic issue. So, a deal needed to be brokered quickly.
The Republicans were put, due to their own actions, into a precarious position once Paterson announced his plans to make Richard Ravitch Lt. Governor. I believe that as long as the senate remained non-functioning a court was likely to find the governor’s actions legal because he was fulfilling the long held practice of check and balances. The executive was checking the legislature to ensure they would not continue to drag down the state government. Also, i am willing to bet more than one judge the republicans consulted told them this. So, therefore the republicans had two choices, gamble it all on a judge who believes in strict constitutionalism, or conceed something to ensure they get something.
I believe they told Espada to go back to the dems and say you can have power but our guy, Espada, must be Majority Leader. That way they can hold it over his head for years that without the Republicans he would not have recieved the placement giving them some leverage. If they had not, there was a decent chance that Ravitch would have come in and given the Dems the majority again and the Republicans would have gotten nothing back and held the blame for the tie-up.
Pedro Espada, Espada needed the have a position of power otherwise his ass was going to be voted out of office faster than anyone can imagine. If this whole debacle ended with him on the losing side he would never be allowed back into politics. So, by making a deal and becoming Majority Leader he now stands a chance at retaining his seat.
And lastly, Governor Paterson. Paterson stood the most to gain from this whole situation. His ratings have been in the tank since winter and he needed something to drag him back into the game. He only had to appear resolute and hold the senates feet to the fire for the duration of this process to make this happen. In a more expert political maneuverm, he appointed a Lt. Governor. See, it does not matter if Richard Ravitch was allowed to take the seat at all. It only matters that he made the attempt to solve the issue and flexed his muscles. He can now claim that he solved the senate deadbolt in his campaign to be elected.
Now it all makes sense…
