Malcolm Smith (or whoever is leading the state Senate’s Democrats today): Tear down this wall!
Or, at least, unlock the Senate chamber doors — and let Republicans in, to finish “the people’s business.”
It’s time for Dems to admit defeat and hand power to the GOP team, however detestable that may be.
Time to end the circus, the national humiliation. Time to provide the state with legislation needed to keep functioning.
Why should Dems give up?
Simple math: 32 is greater than 30.
And Republicans have 32 votes, counting two ethically challenged renegade Democrats, Pedro Espada Jr. and Hiram Monserrate, who turned on their fellow Dems and are siding with Republicans.
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Democrats have but 30 — if that.
Let’s face it: Smith, in particular, was toast Monday. Even before he lost those two key votes, it was clear he could not control his members. A viable leader would never have let matters go so awry.
Nor should Dems fight back, or stall, with courtroom tricks. Smith & Co. claimed the coup is illegal under procedural rules and threatened litigation.
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Yesterday, Smith and his hand-picked secretary of the Senate, Angelo Aponte, actually locked the doors. That left Republicans to threaten an outdoor session today — or to move the whole affair to Kingston, New York’s original capital.
(Meanwhile, Gov. Paterson canceled all of his scheduled out-of-state travel, lest Espada, the new president pro tem, become acting governor in his absence. “Pathetic” is hardly the word for this.)
But even if Democrats were to win in court, their leader (Smith or otherwise) would get the boot the minute he tried to convene a session. Republicans, along with Espada and Monserrate, would presumably just reaffirm Skelos as majority leader and Espada as president pro tem.
Could Dems somehow buy a vote or two and regain control? Probably not — but if they try, time will slip by.
And legislation is needed quickly — in particular, renewal of the law that puts the mayor in charge of city schools; it expires at month’s end. And bills that will help the city balance its budget.
Sure, the drama makes for a good show. But there are serious matters at stake.
Smith could go out with at least a smattering of dignity by quickly ceding control. Today wouldn’t be too soon.