This column is written in that annual political black hole I’ve mentioned previously. For a political columnist who writes on weekends but hits the street on Thursday, commenting on a Tuesday Election Day becomes an exercise in futility or creativity or reflection.

First, a couple of facts: my work week really prevents me from finding the time to write Tuesday night or Wednesday; although I occasionally comment on things non-political, this column is primarily political and I think it a given that if you write a column about turkeys, you gotta stick to the topic on Thanksgiving.

Tuesday (11/7) was Election Day. (Actually, as I write this on Sunday (11/5) Tuesday (11/7) will be Election Day and we hit the streets and the net Thursday 11/9).

Got that? There may be a test later.

Because of the timeline above, I’m not reacting to Election results – will Alan Hevesi prevail or the Dems take control of Congress – but to some political trends in the air and some that have been there rotting for a long time.



WHEN IN DOUBT

The Sunday NY Times – I don’t quote them often but have always thought the Manhattan oriented paper represented the best thought on the New York journalist scene – in their Long Island section, published an editorial entitled “When in Doubt on Tuesday.” Basically it advised, if you aren’t sure which State legislator to vote for follow the simple rule to vote against the party which controls the legislative body or the “RADS” rule. Simply put vote Republicans for Assembly, Democrats for Senate. Basically, vote against the guys in charge because they have failed.

Their reasoning is solid – but you’ve already voted. The nation’s worst legislature is a result of a system gone so bad that the people must scream change. The Republicans have controlled the Senate for 40 years and the Dems the Assembly for over 30, and with Governors of both parties, they have botched the job.

We have continuously written about the advantages of incumbency: the Repubs control Senate redistricting, the Dems, the Assembly; campaign finance laws permit big money to buy elections; lobbyists have too much influence over the fundraising; incumbents hand out State money (member items) as if it were their own (sometimes they think it is); the State pays for mailing and staff; etc.

The terrible system of leadership control of almost everything including the souls of the elected members have led to three men in a room running the State – badly. The fine legislators we’ve elected, term after term, are the ones who allow this to continue because as Lieutenant Governor-elect David Paterson told us a week ago, they benefit from the culture.

The redistricting system gives them lifetime jobs. The lobbyists get them fat. Campaign finance laws enrich their bank accounts and member items allow them to reward supporters. So even though “reform” is a wonderful sounding word to some, it has not been worth the fight and so real good people have gone along with a pathetic process to get ahead. Shame on them.

There are heroes on the horizon. The election of Eliot Spitzer and running mate David Paterson offers NYS the best hope for government reform we’ve had in my lifetime. As we reported last week after our sit down with Paterson, we believe that Spitzer sees job one as legislative reform. We expect reapportionment to be taken out of the hands of the legislature; we expect absolute power to be taken from the legislative leaders; we expect the budget process opened up and no more hidden member items; and we expect the worst legislature in the nation to have a second chance.

We will be watching how they perform.

We also expect this to be the last term where Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority leader Joe Bruno continue to hold their positions. If Spitzer is to accomplish the job, Silver will not stand for election in two years and retire to the lucrative law firm he has been protecting for years; and Bruno will, in the next election (2008), see his Republican majority and his authority disappear as the people will respond to the Spitzer message of change.

In the interim, you may see Bruno attempt to survive by allying himself with Spitzer and Silver (also appearing to be a good Dem).

This has never been an issue of which party is better. Don’t believe that because Spitzer is Democratic that the Dems are the good guys. Both parties failed us equally -- only Spitzer is the likely hero. This is a failure of process corrupted by money and greed and hopefully corrected by some fresh air breathed by a guy who cares.

Anyone who claims this is the Dems over the Repubs, can’t tell the asses from the elephants.

Finally, we won’t forget Paterson’s words that if the legislature doesn’t sign on to the changes, “there will be a civil War in Albany.”

Bravo!

Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer, who is the best hope for New York legislative reform in a lifetime, with Tribune Publisher Mike Schenkler