On Politics 7/10/09: Maybe...Finally...The End

There have been many names for it, depending on location or the era that you grew up in. Where I come from in beloved New Jersey, it would be referred to as a "scam". In Presidential political campaigns, it would be called a "flip-flop", albeit one that Guinness would be notating in their record book. If this were anything other than politics, it would be called something along the lines of "shameful", "brazen", or "outrageous".

Here's what it should be called - CRIMINAL.

The turncoat-turned-returnee NY State Senator Pedro Espada has announced that he will be rejoining the Democratic ranks in Albany in order to break the ongoing, embarrassing, stultifying deadlock in the Senate. Hell, Pedro The Weasel even tried to sound magnanimous about it in his press conference yesterday. And, for the record, exactly who holds a press conference to celebrate their return to the party they bolted from in a sheer, transparent attempt to obtain something for themselves one month ago? As oft-stated in this space, there is no shame anymore, just none. Whether it is tone-deaf, non-talented, exposure-starved humans appearing on reality TV shows (yes, this means the terrible "American Idol"), or politicians grandstanding that they have personally saved the day for the huddled masses yearning to be led, by returning to where they were elected to be in the first place, hubris is in apparent abundance all around us.

Forget Espada's previous fines for issues with campaign funding and residency requirements. Small potatoes compared to screwing your entire state for 30 days by jumping to the Elephant Team for a promised leadership position, while then negotiating an eventual return to the Donkeys for an improved spot. In essence my fellow New Yorkers, the business of the state was held hostage for 30 days by someone jumping back and forth in an attempt to climb as high as possible on two parallel ladders leading upward. All in the name of serving us, he says...you may now guffaw violently and loudly.

For God's sake, throw the bum out.