Ottawa December 2008 Attempted Putsch - NY Parallel

[jbg]

Shades of the Parliamentary attempted coup d' etat of December 2008.

No one doubts that the Democrats earned their majority, fair and square, in the N.Y. Senate, breaking 42 years of G.O.P. domination. Last week, the G.O.P. tried to steal it back (link to article), excerpts below:

June 14, 2009

Senate Coup Exposes Albany’s Lack of Order

By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE

ALBANY — As New York’s governor, David A. Paterson might be expected to act as the leader of his party. But when two renegade Democrats handed control of the State Senate to the Republicans, he said there was little he could do but vent.

“I have no way to actually dictate the process, other than to use this forum to express my feelings about it,” Mr. Paterson, a Democrat, said at a news conference on Monday.

The governor was not the only one flailing.

Last week’s coup may signal the final breakdown of New York’s long-declining political order, in which governors and senators were once feared and powerful county leaders provided a check on ethnic feuds or individual ambition. Even veterans of New York’s rough-and-tumble political scene seemed shocked at the revolt, which left the balance of state power in the hands of two freshman senators, Pedro Espada Jr. and Hiram Monserrate, and a rogue billionaire, Tom Golisano, who helped organize their defection.

This event is the end result of the breakdown in tradition that started with the abolition of the seniority system, and party discipline. Gone is the era when a President could approach Congress with a matter of urgent national importance and get prompt action.

This past October, amid a financial meltdown, Nanci Pelosi's tepid leadership prolonged the stock market slide and asset collapse, leading to loss of values and jobs. Was her purpose to help propel Barack Obama to the White House?

Who knows in this day and age of banana republic politics.

In places as diverse as Canada's Parliament, where the Liberal, NDP, and the Bloc tried to pull off a coup to overturn the results of elections two months earlier, to New York's Senate, rules, both written and unwritten, are being trounced. Sometimes the victims are "progressive" forces, as is the case in New York. Sometimes it's "conservative" forces as was the case in Canada, and the U.S. House last fall.

It doesn't matter whose ox is being gored. Democracy depends upon a consensus to abide by fair play and good-faith dealing. It is now gone.

Edited June 15, 2009 by jbg

[Smallc]

[jbg]

I guess.

A coup is a coup, much like a proof is a proof.

[Smallc]

Except when it isn't a coup of course.

[Visionseeker]

The two situations are in no way analogous. The NY Senate has experienced a reverse Cadman or maybe a Belinda Stronach moment in that unprincipled and indictable Democrats have crossed the floor.

The threatened December pull down was a legitimate parliamentary exercise where representatives for parties that had almost 2/3 of the vote suggested that they might act.

[jbg]

The two situations are in no way analogous. The NY Senate has experienced a reverse Cadman or maybe a Belinda Stronach moment in that unprincipled and indictable Democrats have crossed the floor.

The threatened December pull down was a legitimate parliamentary exercise where representatives for parties that had almost 2/3 of the vote suggested that they might act.

How about this latest set of theatrics (link to article, exerpts below)?

June 24, 2009

Come to Order! Not a Chance, if It’s Albany

By DANNY HAKIM

ALBANY — New York did not have one State Senate on Tuesday. It had two.

Democrats sneaked into the Senate chamber shortly after noon, seizing control of the rostrum and locking Republicans out of the room. Republicans were finally allowed to enter about 2:30 p.m., but when they tried to station one of their own members on the dais they were blocked by the sergeants-at-arms.

So then something extraordinary — and rather embarrassing — happened.

The two sides, like feuding junior high schoolers refusing to acknowledge each other, began holding separate legislative sessions at the same time. Side by side, the parties, each asserting that it rightfully controls the Senate, talked and sometimes shouted over one another, gaveling through votes that are certain to be disputed. There were two Senate presidents, two gavels, two sets of bills being voted on.

“This is turning into the worst reality TV show ever: ‘I’m a Senator, Get Me Out of Here,’ ” said Thomas R. Suozzi, Nassau County executive and former Democratic candidate for governor. “Jon and Kate are fighting less than these guys “

******snip****

One wonders. How do these so-called "leaders" expect to engender any respect? Where's any sense of dignity, of gravitas?

Edited June 26, 2009 by jbg

[jbg]

The two situations are in no way analogous. The NY Senate has experienced a reverse Cadman or maybe a Belinda Stronach moment in that unprincipled and indictable Democrats have crossed the floor.

It turns out that Espada returned to the fold in return for becoming "Senate Majority Leader", which is a non-post carrying extra money. Quite indictable in my opinion.

The threatened December pull down was a legitimate parliamentary exercise where representatives for parties that had almost 2/3 of the vote suggested that they might act.

I don't see how it's a legitimate excercise when the CPC jumped to 143 ridings from 127 or 128. Sounds like a coup to me.

[Smallc]

It doesn't really matter what it sounds like to you. Party seat count is irrelevant as long as a minority situation exists when it comes to forming coalition governments. It's all about confidence.