Kearns future assembly speaker????

[gorja]

Michael Kearns could be next Assembly Speaker

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Matthew Ricchiazzi in Uncategorized // 0 Comments

As we speak there are rumblings in Albany that South Buffalo’s Assemblyman Michael Kearns could become the next Speaker of the New York State Assembly.
Kearns has said that he hasn’t ruled out the possibility.
The rumors come shortly after Erie County Republican Chairman Nicholas Langworthy, an influential figure in the NYGOP, endorsed the Kearns’ candidacy. Kearns ran for election with the backing of the Democratic, Republican, and Independence parties.
Langworthy is seen as one of the GOP’s up and coming stars, who has built a surprisingly solid and respected Republican Party in one of the state’s most heavily Democrat enrolled counties. He has the repetitional clout to get the Assembly GOP behind a Kearns candidacy.
Kearns has another powerful backer: G. Steven Pigeon, one of the State’s most powerful political operatives, who is no stranger to plots of equal intrigue. Pigeon has the monied connections that could finance the kind of influence peddling that could secure the office.
Imagine the prospective coalition: anchored by the Assembly Republicans — who would otherwise have no opportunity at the Speakership themselves; joined by a faction of breakaway Upstate Democrats and good government types.
Observers from across the political spectrum say that an Assembly Speaker from Western New York could yield a kind of influence for the region that has been unseen in generations. Everything from tax policies, to infrastructure investments, to economic development programs could be impacted if a Buffalonian is sitting among the Capitol’s three men in a room.

For more-
http://buffalochronicle.com/2015/01/24/michael-kearns-could-be-next-assembly-speaker/

[grump]

I'd be surprised if NYC lets that plum get away.

[nogods]

we went through this before - with an assembly man from the Syracuse area who was going to usurp Silver. Hopefully even if Kerns fails the voters will send him back to the assembly as a message to Silver that upstate is fedup.

Mike Bragman's uprising was crushed by Sheldon Silver; maybe, he says now, Silver did him a favor

[TheDude]

For more-
http://buffalochronicle.com/2015/01/24/michael-kearns-could-be-next-assembly-speaker/

That is quite possibly the dumbest article ever written.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

That is quite possibly the dumbest article ever written.

What's even worse is that it can't happen....even though it should.

It does not matter if you're a Rep or Dem...if you're from upstate you have no power.

[grump]

Or perhaps Kearns can get elected queen of the May. One's as likely as the other.

[BorderBob]

But if the general consensus is that power corrupts, ...

Akin to being named number three in Al Qaeda.




b.b.

[Linda_D]

That is quite possibly the dumbest article ever written.

I agree. There are 106 Democrats and only 44 Republicans in the NYS Assembly. Thinking that Republicans endorsing Kearns for Assembly Speaker is anything but the kiss of death to his possible candidacy is really too stupid to be true.

Furthermore, Steve Pigeon is no longer particularly "powerful" in local Democratic circles as he's repeatedly back too many Republicans and third party candidates over endorsed Democratic candidates; has been accused of helping Golisano and his cronies to circumvent campaign contribution limits; and has been linked to a federal probe involving Senator Pedro Espada who was sentence to prison for embezzlement.

As for Pigeon being powerful state-wide, ROFLMAO. Only ignorant and naive Republicans from WNY would ever think that.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

I agree. There are 106 Democrats and only 44 Republicans in the NYS Assembly. Thinking that Republicans endorsing Kearns for Assembly Speaker is anything but the kiss of death to his possible candidacy is really too stupid to be true.

Help me understand this. Ricchiazzi is a fool but one thing he stood out did make sense...at least to me. That being, unless your a Dem from Downstate, you really have no power in the Assembly. He also made the good point that 'Downstate' is indifferent to 'Upstate' in many, many regards. Now as far as Pigeon goes...he may not have power like he used to but he was behind the parliamentary coup a few years ago. Maybe he does not have the pull to do it again but I think at the very least it shows something like this is possible in Albany.


So maybe this is never ever going to happen but it makes a hell of a lot of sense. Why would a Republican vote for a Republican in the Assembly? It would be very easy for a Republican to sell the Upstate/Downstate divide and say he/she was voting for upstate.

[Linda_D]

Actually, Ricchiazzi's claim that Upstaters have no power is untrue. Conservative Republicans, who are overwhelmingly from Upstate and who have successfully marginalized the Republican Party in the state, view it that way. In other words, the upstate-downstate "rift" is only in the mind of upstate conservatives unhappy that most New Yorkers, no matter where they live, do not share their values.

The fact is that most upstate Democratic politicians share most of the same values as most downstate Democratic politicians, and they work well together. Those few upstate Democrats who don't, like Kearns -- who is really a Republican running as a Democrat because he couldn't get elected in his district otherwise -- are left on the outside looking in. Party loyalty counts in the state legislature, and if you want to move up the ranks, you have to toe the party line. Assembly Democrats are NOT electing a quasi-Republican who had previously insulted the current speaker as their new Speaker. Kearns blew his chance for the Speakership in his first week as a state assemblyman.

As for Pigeon, he's got so much baggage from the Espada episode that he's lucky he's not in the pokey along with his pal. Furthermore, Pigeon has been linked to assisting Tom Golisano in circumventing state election laws limiting financial contributions to political candidates and campaigns, and those crows may yet come home to roost. With Silver being arrested for corruption and Pigeon splattered with fallout from the Espada scandal, nobody in Albany is going to have anything to do with him because they do NOT want any crows roosting on them.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

Actually, Ricchiazzi's claim that Upstaters have no power is untrue. Conservative Republicans, who are overwhelmingly from Upstate and who have successfully marginalized the Republican Party in the state, view it that way. In other words, the upstate-downstate "rift" is only in the mind of upstate conservatives unhappy that most New Yorkers, no matter where they live, do not share their values.

From everything that I can see...there is zero power in 'upstate'.... All of the power is downstate, either in NYC metro (Democrats) or Long Island or bedroom communities (Republicans)...if you don't see the upstate/downstate 'rift' not existing, let alone not even having to do with a party...I think that's pretty naive to be honest.

The fact is that most upstate Democratic politicians share most of the same values as most downstate Democratic politicians, and they work well together. Those few upstate Democrats who don't, like Kearns -- who is really a Republican running as a Democrat because he couldn't get elected in his district otherwise -- are left on the outside looking in. Party loyalty counts in the state legislature, and if you want to move up the ranks, you have to toe the party line. Assembly Democrats are NOT electing a quasi-Republican who had previously insulted the current speaker as their new Speaker. Kearns blew his chance for the Speakership in his first week as a state assemblyman.

Oh come on. State politics have very little to do with values. Only idiots vote for a State lawmaker on 'values'.... It's about power, resources and investment. It's about PORK! Period. Those things cross party lines.

If WNY had any real power, everything from tolls, power, preservation and taxation would look different. All of those things are currently tilted for downstate. Tilted just the same for Long Island and Queens.

Values...as you would put it....ROTFLMAO at such a naive statement.

As for Pigeon, he's got so much baggage from the Espada episode that he's lucky he's not in the pokey along with his pal. Furthermore, Pigeon has been linked to assisting Tom Golisano in circumventing state election laws limiting financial contributions to political candidates and campaigns, and those crows may yet come home to roost. With Silver being arrested for corruption and Pigeon splattered with fallout from the Espada scandal, nobody in Albany is going to have anything to do with him because they do NOT want any crows roosting on them.

I think you give 'Albany' too much credit.

[nogods]

Actually, Ricchiazzi's claim that Upstaters have no power is untrue. Conservative Republicans, who are overwhelmingly from Upstate and who have successfully marginalized the Republican Party in the state, view it that way. In other words, the upstate-downstate "rift" is only in the mind of upstate conservatives unhappy that most New Yorkers, no matter where they live, do not share their values.

The fact is that most upstate Democratic politicians share most of the same values as most downstate Democratic politicians, and they work well together. Those few upstate Democrats who don't, like Kearns -- who is really a Republican running as a Democrat because he couldn't get elected in his district otherwise -- are left on the outside looking in. Party loyalty counts in the state legislature, and if you want to move up the ranks, you have to toe the party line. Assembly Democrats are NOT electing a quasi-Republican who had previously insulted the current speaker as their new Speaker. Kearns blew his chance for the Speakership in his first week as a state assemblyman.

As for Pigeon, he's got so much baggage from the Espada episode that he's lucky he's not in the pokey along with his pal. Furthermore, Pigeon has been linked to assisting Tom Golisano in circumventing state election laws limiting financial contributions to political candidates and campaigns, and those crows may yet come home to roost. With Silver being arrested for corruption and Pigeon splattered with fallout from the Espada scandal, nobody in Albany is going to have anything to do with him because they do NOT want any crows roosting on them.

+1

Those who hate values center on the community rather than self will naturally disagree with you.

[NY The Vampire State]

The only people, and I mean the ONLY people who don't want a change in government are the ones reaping the benefits of the current broken system.

[Linda_D]

From everything that I can see...there is zero power in 'upstate'.... All of the power is downstate, either in NYC metro (Democrats) or Long Island or bedroom communities (Republicans)...if you don't see the upstate/downstate 'rift' not existing, let alone not even having to do with a party...I think that's pretty naive to be honest.



Oh come on. State politics have very little to do with values. Only idiots vote for a State lawmaker on 'values'.... It's about power, resources and investment. It's about PORK! Period. Those things cross party lines.

If WNY had any real power, everything from tolls, power, preservation and taxation would look different. All of those things are currently tilted for downstate. Tilted just the same for Long Island and Queens.

Values...as you would put it....ROTFLMAO at such a naive statement.



I think you give 'Albany' too much credit.

The Assembly majority leader is Joseph Morrelle from near Rochester, making him the 2nd most powerful man in the NYS Assembly. The last time I looked, Rochester was considered "Upstate". He is one of four assemblymen likely to be elected the next speaker. Mickey Kearns does not even merit a mention. Linky

You think Democrats having values is funny because the "values" the Right espouses run to xenophobia, religious bigotry, and greed all wrapped up in American flags.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

The Assembly majority leader is Joseph Morrelle from near Rochester, making him the 2nd most powerful man in the NYS Assembly. The last time I looked, Rochester was considered "Upstate". He is one of four assemblymen likely to be elected the next speaker. Mickey Kearns does not even merit a mention. Linky

You think Democrats having values is funny because the "values" the Right espouses run to xenophobia, religious bigotry, and greed all wrapped up in American flags.

Heh.

Saying the majority leader is the 2nd most powerful person is like saying the Vice President is the 2nd most powerful. NOW I know you don't know what you're talking about.


As for values....you missed my point completely. I said you were stupid to vote for someone at the state level over value issues. If you can't see why...you're a fool.