Fucking fucking fuck. Two Democratic state senators have defected to the Republicans, giving Republicans control of the New York State Senate. So much for marriage equality in New York in the next year and a half.
The two who defected are a real couple of winners:
Why Mr. Espada and Mr. Monserrate suddenly defected on Monday afternoon was not immediately clear. Both men are under investigation by the authorities. The state attorney general’s office is investigating a health care agency, Soundview HealthCare Network, that Mr. Espada ran until recently. And Mr. Monserrate, who was indicted on felony assault charges in March stemming from an attack on his companion, would automatically be thrown out of office if convicted.
What the fuck is wrong with this state? Why is it so hard to get marriage equality in New York, of all places? First the state supreme court screws us, and now this. It’s not just upstate that’s the problem — these anti-gay Democrats are from New York City: the Bronx and Queens.
I am so pissed off right now.
Why is no one taking the long view? These pricks will be gone in less than two years. These are not seats Republicans can carry.
Also, marriage equality? Wasn’t going to happen this session anyway.
For what it’s worth, if convicted and thrown-out, the new electee may be democratic!
As I had shoved in my face two weeks ago, just because someone is from a borough of New York City does not mean they are liberal. There are a lot of racists, Christians, and social conservative bigots in Brooklyn and Queens and while tradition and class might make them vote for Democrats, Monserrate and Espada are the wonderful kind of Democrat they vote for. Another real winner is “Democratic” Assemblyman Dov Hikind.
Notice that the states in which gay marriage has been adopted by the the legislature (ME, NH, VT) have been small, relatively placid and generally uncontentious places. New York is none of those things.
Hmm… I don’t think Espada is anti-gay? It looks like he co-sponsored the gay marriage bill according to this (although other places just say he would be a yes vote):
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/espada-claims-to-still-want-ny-senate-gay-marriage-vote/legal-issues/2009/06/09/3245#more-3245
Either way, it looks like both of them don’t belong there.
Yeah, I saw something like that about him this morning, which just makes this whole thing even weirder.
Actually, in Espada’s case, it looks he was pissed that he couldn’t get his earmarks passed:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/nyregion/10switchsub.html?pagewanted=2
Both of the switchers are bought and paid for by millionaire Tom Golisano.