NY Senate Dems reunite after years of schism

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY REID WILSON - 04/04/18 05:02 PM EDT

Two feuding factions of Democrats within the New York Senate have agreed to reconcile ahead of November’s elections, reuniting a party that has been fractured for years.

The schism, which began just after Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) took office, had pitted a handful of independent Democrats led by state Sen. Jeff Klein against the mainline Democratic caucus, run by state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Under the new agreement, Stewart-Cousins will become the sole leader of the Senate Democratic caucus. Klein will serve as her deputy.

“We are a house united, we stand, and we stand tall,” Stewart-Cousins said on Twitter.

Link to tweet

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/381686-ny-senate-dems-reunite-after-years-of-schism

[Squinch]

1. Those Dems have a lot of damn gall. They were elected as Dems, and effectively

worked as republicans, AND thereby gave the republicans a majority they shouldn't have had.

I am not one to primary Democrats, but if any of those guys are primaried, they should be replaced by people who won't use our votes as ways of getting into the house, and then absolutely ignoring what we sent them to do.

And PS, this has nothing to do with their seeing the light. WE have just been effective in scaring the shit out of them and demanding they rejoin the house Democrats. Assholes.

[brooklynite]

2. Fun Fact: It was under Republican Leadership that marriage equality was passed...

The prior majority Democratic Leadership was unable to wrangle the votes.

[Squinch]

3. I hesitate to interact with you because you have, in the past, said I was dishonest. Then you

scampered away silently when I proved you wrong about that.

But anyway, what is your point with this? You prefer that our elected Democrats act as republicans?

[marble falls]

6. I thought he was making a point that disunity cost us, that its about time this happened....

If he didn't, he meant to, I'm sure!

[Squinch]

9. Oops. Didn't work. It stands.

[CreekDog]

10. Defending the schism

can't say I'm surprised.

[elleng]

4. Democrats in New York State Senate Appear Set to Reconcile.

'After years of Democratic infighting that has helped keep Republicans in control of the New York State Senate, two long-warring factions of Democratic lawmakers in Albany are on the brink of reunifying, according to five people familiar with the discussions.

At a closed-door meeting at a Manhattan steakhouse on Tuesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo asked the two rival Democratic leaders to consider reconciling immediately, according to people in the room and people briefed on the discussion.

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who leads the main group of Democrats, and Senator Jeff Klein, who leads the breakaway group, the Independent Democratic Conference, appeared to tentatively agree. Ms. Stewart-Cousins asked to discuss the matter with her rank-and-file members and is expected to do so as early as Wednesday morning, before giving official approval.

The reunification would end one of the oddest political arrangements in the country, and in the history of New York State. In it, the breakaway conference, which is made up of eight Democratic state senators, has helped ensure Republican control of the State Senate.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/nyregion/new-york-state-senate-democrats.html?

[DinahMoeHum]

5. Doesn't matter. We're STILL gonna primary them. . .

. . .and hopefully kick some of them out by this summer, replaced by real Democrats.

[pecosbob]

7. IOW fake dems are scared of being primaried by real dems

and now are promising to actually vote like real dems. Republican incumbents retiring enmasse...blue dogs running for cover...must be something in the wind.

[LiberalLovinLug]

8. Something in the wind alright

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