On Politics 6/9/09: You Cannot Make This Stuff Up

Banana Republics, third world dictatorships, military juntas, you pick the derogatory name normally associated with malfunctioning governments. The terms bring to mind a modern-day Nero, fiddling while the country goes to hell-in-a-handbasket (we're on cliche overload today people).

As a current example, what would someone objectively call a situation where members of a particular party, both previously accused of personal criminal activities, decided to switch their voting allegiance within a legislative body in the middle of a session, and, for the cherry on this particularly rotten sundae, have one of the two be elected President of the group?

Ladies and gentlemen, it's the New York State Senate!

In perhaps the most bizarre you-cannot-make-this-stuff-up moment in recent political memory (or, in the common texting vernacular, the "WTF" moment - you can figure out the translation), the above actually occurred yesterday in Albany. Two of the Senate Democrats were bribed, bought, coerced, only God knows how or why to change their voting positions to side with the Republicans (well, the guy who got elected President by the Republicans, Mr. Espada, obviously got an immediate reward; and to think, that fine character is now, with no Lieutenant Governor, next in line for Governor if Paterson resigns or keels over).

The subsequent post-coup press conference provided more clues, as billionaire Tom Golisano stood readily by to state his political action committee would provide funding for any Democrats willing to switch. Now, where I come from, that's 2 + 2 = bought and paid for. In this state, who knows what that equation / evidence means to people.

As I wrote when the great Arlen Specter switcheroo occurred, no one should condone the actions of someone in office switching from one political party to another after the voters have had their say. Wait until you are going back up for election, or as my astute neighbor Gary pointed out, if you decide to switch, it's time for a special election. Fair is fair, we voted for you in one cloaked in one clothing, not for something hidden underneath. You want to change your affiliation or affection or cross-dress, do it after you're out of office.

Good riddance to them all.