The Power of Silver
I spoke to one astute Assembly Democrat today who spoke on the condition of anonymity, because, well, do you really want to start the session off making an enemy out of Spitzer or Silver? The member's take is that the longer Hevesi stays in office, the more it emboldens Silver.
"He is Hevesi's strongest backer, and if Hevesi stays he has a powerful ally in the comptroller's office, one who is of course not very happy with Spitzer."
In other words, it's an old-fashioned Albany power play.
"As it relates to this particularly move, I think the Speaker has the upper hand."
"Either Hevesi survives -- in which case Shelly is dramatically empowered -- or Hevesi does not make it and the legislature and Shelly get to appoint his replacement."
And what about Spitzer's much-discussed popular mandate?
"There is always room to maneuver on the margins."
--Jason Horowitz
This is so sad. Is anyone not corrupt? Silver should be stripped of power, Hevesi should resign and Pataki should stop spending our money. New York is really the center of being politically corrupt. Now that is what Bill Maher can call his next show...The Politically Corrupt starring New York. Come on Spitzer...prove me wrong!
Political Junkie is a fool. He doesnt understand politics and government.
Hevesi did nothing worse than Pataki and Giuiliani (with their security details for spouse and lovers), yet his sick wife wasnt "security risk" to the so called experts who report to Pataki.
Silver has 108 members of the assembly who have diverse grass roots needs that must be addressed. That causes what some unsophisticated people perceive as appearances of horse trading and power brokering. Meanwhile during 12 years of Pataki laziness, Silver saved the city transportation, education, human services and much more from draconian cuts and he convinced many of his suburban and rural members to go along with issues that didnt affect them or their constituents. So of course he has to help their interests too.
The Governor elect would be wise to recognize that if Silver stopped paying attention to his members and simply did the bidding of the new governor then he wouldnt be spealer for much longer.
Hevsie needs to resign, this is embarressing. He sends out an audit of a school district spending under 10,000 incorrectly and yet.....he himself blew over 160,000 and counting for a 'security detail for his wife' which really was just someone to drive her aruond.
He can be replaced by many good elected democrats in upstate new york who do what he does and what he did when he was NYC Comptroller
Do the right thing, Hevesi, and step down. This is embarressing.
Do the right thing NY and put in an upstate person to balance the power in Albany
One of the few replacement Comptroller candidates that both Spitzer and Silver can agree on is Nassau Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli. If they both agree on DiNapoli, the timetable for Hevesi's removal should fall into place.
It sounds like the Senate and Spitzer have made a deal on Hevesi's replacement (Bill Mulrow perhaps?) Silver is out of it.
Hey, Julius, you sophisticate you. Political junkie is right on the money and you know it, but thanks for the laugh.
And, Tom, please stop your pathetic pleading for another job. The point is to get a qualified replacement, not just another Silver hack.
Back to basics. Alan is toast. He knows it, Shelly knows it and Spitzer knows it. The only left is to fill in the details. Alan is scrambling to avoid a felony sacking. That would make it just about impossible for him to get hired following his resignation. A misdemeanor will do but not a felony. And by the way DiNapoli would be an excellent choice. Everyone likes him and he is not threatening. Absent the DiNapoli angle that is what is going to happen. Put it in the bank.