On Politics 7/8/09: One Step Up, Two Steps Back

As Albany turns...

Today, we have Governor Paterson announcing the proposed appointment of Richard Ravich to fill the vacant post of Lieutenant Governor, which has been vacant since his "ascension" into his current position after the downfall of Eliot Spitzer. Given his often lackluster and remedial performance since assuming the role, it's hard to term anything related to Mr. Paterson as an "ascension". However, in this circumstance, Paterson appears to be willing to try something in order to break the logjam afflicting our state and its business.

One might think that there would be praise and relief espoused from both sides of the aisle for this attempt at correcting the ongoing malaise brought on by inane partisan bickering and duplicitous political behavior. Unsurprisingly, you might be wrong.

After predominately supportive pronouncements from Democrats, Republicans weighed in with one overriding promise; they're going to filer a lawsuit. Ah yes, that's a plan to surely resolve this crisis - get the lawyers involved! That should only exacerbate and elongate the successful resolution of this nonsense. By the time all the initial lawsuits and counter-suits are processed, perhaps New York City will have actually seceded from the state.

If that doesn't scare you, how about this frightening addendum: Attorney General Cuomo has declared that he does not believe it is within the Governor's powers to appoint a replacement for Lt. Governor. Now, silly me, I think this may have more to do with Cuomo enjoying the possible future political benefit of this morass continuing, since he will be sure to remind us all how he had nothing to do with it if he runs for Governor, as has been wildly suspected, in 2010.

It's just another point of proof that everyone goes negative these days. I'd much rather vote for Cuomo if he did something to help rectify the calamity, rather than listen to him point out the negative again and again, bookending it with "it wasn't my fault". Saying you weren't responsible, but adding to the misery by exploiting it for your personal political gain at the expense of the voters, should earn you a little Schadenfrude from the rest of us if you do poorly in the election.