We need to keep the New York governorship in Democratic hands

[bluestateguy]

Eliot Spitzer was unpopular before this scandal broke. I can't imagine how bad his ratings will go now. We need to keep that office in Democratic hands if we want to control the NY redistricting in 2011. We are one seat away from winning the NY senate, and most analysts think it will be done this year. If we control the NY redistricting, we can make the GOP an endangered species in NY and carve up the state to have a 100% Democratic congressional delegation by 2012. But that can't happen if there is a Republican veto pen in the governor's mansion.

I just don't see Spitzer recovering from this scandal politically. Even if he limps through his term in office, how would he get re-elected? Better to start fresh with a new Democratic governor.

[leftynyc]

1. Perhaps Andrew Cuomo

Perhaps Nita Lowey. Perhaps Mike Bloomberg. Perhaps Hillary Clinton.

[bluestateguy]

2. I was thinking of the Lt. Gov.

But of course Hillary is more than qualified and would have my full support.

[leftynyc]

11. If Lt Governor Patterson

steps in and has a seamless transition that would be great for New York. But Gov of New York is a very high profile job and there are going to be a lot of people who want to run.

[calico1]

7. The Lt. Gov., Patterson will take over

if Spitzer resigns. This is what everyone expects.

[leftynyc]

10. Yes, of course until the next election

I'm just jumping ahead. It's a high profile job and it'll be a stampede of people wanting it. I'm hearing very good things about Mr. Patterson and I think he's ready to step in.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Paterson has an impressive bio...

To be a blind, African-American and to make it to the Lt Governor's position is inspiring, to say the least.:thumbsup:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. I am hopeful that if Spitzer resigns, Paterson will do a great job for my state.

His resume is impressive.

[TomClash]

5. Excuse me but if Spitzer resigns, David Patterson gets the job nt

[bluestateguy]

6. I'm aware of that

My post did not imply otherwise.

[DaDooRonRon]

8. This little piece of your post here:

"If we control the NY redistricting, we can make the GOP an endangered species in NY and carve up the state to have a 100% Democratic congressional delegation by 2012" - did you write this before or after everyone huffed and puffed with righteous indignation over the Republicans doing this very thing in Texas?

The hypocrisy in this place lately has just been astounding.

"But it's OK - OUR side is doing it!"

Makes one proud, doesn't it?

[leftynyc]

12. Perhaps it time for the democrats

to play by the same rules as everyone else does. Because complaining about it certainly didn't change anything or stop the pubs from doing the damage.

[bluestateguy]

13. Not the same thing

What the GOP did in Texas was unprecedented: a mid-decade redistricting for purely political reasons, and not a court mandate. States can redistrict to their hearts delight at the beginning of the decade as long as they are in compliance with the VRA and other court orders (Reynolds v . Sims, Westbury v. Sanders).

[DaDooRonRon]

16. Oh, I feel much better now

Gee, as long as the "rules" are in place to gerrymander at will well then that's just peachy.

Gee, why do I think that there will be the usual hue and cry when Republican controlled states do the same thing?

Oh, just a hunch on my part...

Maybe someone should look at what is best for the citizens instead of what's best for the parties - nah, what am I thinking??

That would require REAL democractic elections, and neither party wants anything to do with THAT albatross.

[rucky]

9. Apparently the Lt. Gov is a rising star.

New Yorkers are pretty psyched about him.

[KharmaTrain]

14. No One Man Is A Party...Nor Should Be

Here in Illinois we're dealing with a very unpopular governor who many of us suspect is the real target in the Rezko investigation. He could be the 4th governor in my lifetime to end up in the Grey Bar Hotel. Two of the three sent to jail so far were Democrats. The damage lasts as long as you stay with the flawed politician and put the individual over the party.

New York is a heavily Democratic state with many quality and qualified politicians and I would hope that they will step up, should Spitzer be forced to step down, to join ranks and quickly move forward with their agenda. There's two years until the next election and I don't see how Spitzer could dovetail into other races this year unless this story drags out. Yes, it's damage control time...but this is something we need to do with sunshine...not denial or ignoring.

In many ways, I'm glad if there's a scandal, it happened in a solid blue state as compared to losing a Senator or destroying a party in a purple or red state. If there's any "victim" of this scandal, it could be the junior senator's current campaign.

[HamdenRice]

15. "We are one seat away from winning the NY senate" -- Nope, not any more

NY's weird constitution makes this so. Paterson becomes governor. Bruno (Repub majority leader) becomes the tie breaker. There is no provision for replacing Lt. Gov. in mid term.

How convenient.

Read more about it here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2988882&mesg_id=2988882