CNN

Folks, these are politicians. They're looking out for number one – themselves – no one else.
What's more, this is the New York legislature we're discussing. They might start the morning talking, but soon enough they'll be yelling and shouting to be heard. And no one is doing any listening, which means, no matter who is in charge, that nothing will get done.
Sigh. Sort of sounds like legislatures around the country, including DC.

Staging a coup by secretly coniving with only two Democrats is NOT 'reaching accross the aisle'!

These 2 guys are toast in the next election.

Those two senators should remember who elected them. The people in their districts, not the GOP strong arm artists. Maybe they will find their spine again at election time, or they can plan their retirement.

To all the celebrating GOPers posting, the Pubbies have been in control of the NY state senate for 40 year until 4 months ago so all this "evil liberalism" you continually whine about happened on their watch and with their approval and consent. The NY governor when the decisions were made that are now plaguing state finances was one George Pataki, Republican.

Yep the Republican are bringing sweeping change to Albany. It's going right back to the bad old days of inept Republican governance and backroom deals bad for the people but good for greedy special interests.

Congrats! Stand up cheer! That's something to be proud of.

If Democrats did this, the media would call it reaching across the aisle.

Well – let's hope that gridlock does disappear from NY state government. At first blush though, this appears to be a desperate ploy by the Republicans to put themselves in the limelight.

I saw this on Monday on the news. The ones that defected, and gave the GOP the majority status back, well I guess my plans of leaving NY state are going in high gear. For 40 plus years the GOP held the majority in this state, with their Rockefeller drug laws and all that nonsense and not alot of stuff got done. At least some things got done with the DEMS holding the Senate as majority for the first time in a long time, but regardless of what party is in power, within a few years I will be leaving NY for good after 20 plus years of living here just tired of the way things are and attitude. Anyhow, its politics and thats how things are. Either party in power, this is not a good time for our country or this state.

which is it? Did the GOP 'take control', or is it a 'bipartisan' control?

And Democracy dies with a deal ! The Republican Party will stop at nothing to re-own this country. No lie too Big, No War to costly, yet anything for the people too socialist ! New York shame on You !!!!

Yeah, go after the two weak Liberals. They lost their re-election for 2010 and then we take back control of NYC. I personally don't think the Republican party is dead, that would be stupid, but I can dream right? Who would vote for old guys with the same old burned out ideas, or a young woman who thinks the world is 6,000 years old. She is the biggest financial moron since...well, Bush. You constantly talk about the second U.S Democratic president in 30 years. People fear change. Clinton brought our National Debt down to almost nothing, brought the number of people on Welfare down to the lowest point in 30 years. Nixon? Corrupt. Bush? Idiotic. Reagan was ok, I'll admit that. A lot of the president is the cabinet he picks though, the president is a mediator and thinks up some ideas, but it all relies on the cabinet for his ideas to be passed. Personally, there are a lot more teenagers ready to vote Liberal than Conservative, even in Conservative redneck states like NC, I would know, I'm trapped here.

-Billy

This is sad.

its not that people dislike the dems–they know that the liberals in the nation are steering them down the wrong road–like him personally or not, Obama is a bad influence on the country in spite of "historical significance" or any other superficial reason. Seems no one is advising this young inexperienced President and he seems to only know how to speak, spend and act cool.

i will be voting anti incumbent this next election-

that is real change

Well, there goes Gay marriage.

Leave it to the democrats to once again steal defeat from the jaws of victory. Predictable, if nothing else.

You mean they were Democrats.... They aren't welcome in our party anymore. They're Republicans now.

We need to do a much better job of vetting our people.

There is always impeachment...guess the two turncoats will lose their seats in the next election....

Hope this bipartisan bulwark blocks all kinds of bickerings and brawls to avoid unpleasant events in general.

Monserrate might have beaten his girlfriend and Espada might not even live in his own district making them dirty... DEMOCRATS!!! I love how liberals are saying this is the evil NY GOP who did something wrong!! NO, it was corrupt and questionable DEMOCRATS who sold out their own party because their party was such a basket case (remember star governor gets caught with prostitutes, replacement had 3 affairs?). 2010 is going to be a bloodbath for DEMOCRATS who have lost their way and support even more bankrupt policies that hurt the average voter.

Next up Patterson, and getting rid of that horrible entrenched politician Sheldon Silver in the Assembly. Gentlemen, your time is up, enjoy what you have while it lasts.

ranjit Wrote: It is amazing to see liberal bastion of New York crumbling down to the policies of the messiah. Soon, this change will be all across the fruited plains of this great nation. Wake up folks

Settle down there, Sparky. This is the NY state legislature we're talking about. They won't get anything done no matter who is running the show. They never do. Have a nice day!

Who said the two swicthed parties? They are still Democrats (maybe only in name, but they have not become Republicans).

Was the NY Senate any better up till 5 months ago when Republicans were in charge? No. Albany is a sad, sad mess and both parties are to blame.

This is how it's supposed to work for states and fed. Not one party, but what is best for the people.

Why can't our politicians stop listening to lobbyists and start listening to WE THE PEOPLE?

I think the country is changing in that we and the journalists are holding the politicians out for public inspection. No more secrets and no more 'PARTY BEFORE THE PEOPLE'.

I like it – hope everyone else does too.

It is amazing to see liberal bastion of New York crumbling down to the policies of the messiah. Soon, this change will be all across the fruited plains of this great nation. Wake up folks

Are these people behaving like ACORN? Where's the outrage? I though votes counted...remember that conservatives.

Oh, no, it's a GOP comeback...and then I woke up. LOL

Step one in the recovery of this once great Country, 2010 is not far away and then 2012.

People or sheep seem to like this President (I personally hate his guts just like you "people hated Bush" so save the condemnation), but if you notice they are not liking his policies nearly as much.

Those numbers are ALL on their way down Barry.

Experiment failed, one and done.

Is this a legit change of command? If they're not actually switching parties or caucusing with the GOP, does that really change the majority? I understand thy have the right to question leadership, but I thought that leaders were chosen at the beginning session?

this is corruption at its best, all that republicans are good for. It sounds great that Republicans can stall and block anything from happening, then get Espada into "president pro tempore" in exchange for getting a majority. They just went after two weak weak people and made a corrupt move for their votes in this matter.

Great... the Dems flinched. Oh well. It is true that works has to get done, it is too bad the Republicans couldn't have been the ones to be adults about it. Unlike some of the folks in BOTH parties, but predominantly the last round of Republicans I am not willing to bite my nose off to spite my face, I guess the two Dems felt the same way.

Now that is change we can believe in ! ! ! Go N.Y. Note to Dems: Get used to this. It is the way of things to come...lol. If you don't blieve me go to Rasmussen and check their polling data. The GOP is now trusted more on all of the hot button issues for this country. And with the EU seeing the light and going right, it is only a matter of time that the US joins the trend. Heck, maybe even some liberals will join in since they think that everything the Europeans do is the best...hahaha!

So it's not acceptable for 2 NY Dems to switch and give the Republicans control of the state senate because it will "reverse the will of the people who voted for a Democratic majority," but it is okay for Arlen Specter to jump ship from R to D to give the Democrats a veto-proof majority in the US Senate even though the people never expressed that will?

Yes, I know it's NY vs PA, state vs US, but the impact is the same. Individual elected officials are changing their voting intentions if not their party alignment, and it's okay R-to-D but not D-to-R.

Can you say double-standard?

Are the people finally waking up and realizing we might be heading in a wrong direction?

The Democrats making themselves look like fools in New York.

Hey Dems I thought the Republican Party was DEAD? You mental midgets are so funny, you put your second Democratic President in the White House in the last 30 yrs and some way you people believe you have slayed the Dragon and the Republicans are irrelevant now? HA ........Either you have a short memory or just plain Dumb or Both, I will go with C.

it's another day of Republican obstructionism, lies, deceit, and total lack of governing. Who are the Republicans kidding? I guess all the rich people must've shown up at the polls.

Two Democrats depicted to the GOP, you've seen the election result in Europe, the libtards lose BIG time, the same thing will happen in this country. The people in Europe have finally realized socialism is killing their country, they're moving to the right.

I just can not believe this. Our New York Government is inventing new ways to be dysfunctional. We are on the brink of being bankrupt and we will have a continued gridlock just like we have had for the last three decades. What are we doing following California into the abyss?

Anything would be better than what they have now. If left as it is it will be just another democratic welfare state wtih no money and even more massive deficits.

Please! We are not so naive to belive that this was done with the best interests of New Yorker's in mind...this was a pure and simple power grab by a party that could not bear to sit in the wings in the minority. And look who they got from the dem side to aid them...an indicted wife beater who cut his wife's face with glass, and one who just recently was caught not living in his district. Both or at least one, will be booted from the senate, and we'll be back to square one...the sad thing about all this, is that this really puts the final nail on the coffin for marriage equality in NYS.

Looking at the results of the California referendum election a few weeks back, the results of this weekend's EU elections and the switch in power in this state house, 2010 is going to be an electoral blood bath for Democrats.

You cannot look at this any other way. Look, when even the left leaning Eurpoeans are throwing the socialists out of office (The Socialist Party had its worst electoral showing since the end of WWII), you KNOW what our elections are going to look like. They will make 1994 look subtle by way of comparison.

But, don't think that means voters will be giving "republicans" a free pass. Don't get too comfortable, big-spending RINOs... your day will come soon, too.

DON'T RE-ELECT ANYONE!
535 unknown left-handed dog catchers from acrross the nation would be better than the current Congress. They couldn't possibly do any worse.

You mean spend, spend, spend, tax, tax, tax doesn't work!!!! The states that are in trouble financially are the liberal states, NY, NJ, CA, MASS. The same thing is happening with the US. Everybody's taxes are going up.

the only way the gop will control a thing is by tricks, wait 'til the people vote. bush/cheney killed the gop DEMS ALL THE WAY

The people of NY are fed up with the tax policies of Paterson and the rest. And of course the dems' only response is name calling because they're too stupid to figure out what's behind this move. Were these people complaining when Specter defected to their party? Didn't think so.

Tom Libous, from Binghamton, is claiming all the credit. It doesn't matter to him the NY Republicans did nothing while in power for decades and that if the people of NY wanted Republican leadership – they would have elected Republicans! They didn't!

Several years ago, the NYS legislature was voted the most dysfunctional state government in the country: bottom of the list. If you wondered why ... here's another example!

Sounds like California's legislature – they're doing nothing.

Does this mean the Dems are going to try to force us to take Arlen Specter back? he-he

we will hear a lot more 'NO' from new york now if the GOP's preceeding messages are any indication of what to expect from their results and behavior, the message of 'NO', but no solutions

The GOP is making a comeback, thank you Obama for making this happen. The American people do not want socialism and want a safer America.

You mean the Pedro Espada who was investigated for representing the Bronx while livinig in the affluent suburbs of Westchester? You mean Monserrate who beat his girlfriend good and proper, claimed it was accident and she covered it up too (like Rihanna)? Poor New York!

I fail to see how this is "despicable" or "illegal and unlawful." This was two elected officials leaving their party by their choice. Nothing illegal about that, it is purely their choice to swith parties or vote with the opposition. That is why we elect officials to make decisions that best serve their people not their parties. Dems in NY have passed massive tax and spend policies that hurt the state, at least we can now find a way to put the brakes on. The Dems in NY have nothing to stand on here, they had a Governer in a scandal, a Governer who is a joke, a state Assembly leader who is a fat cat and has ruined the state over the years, and now no Lt Governer to help them win tie votes. Hopefully now the Republicans led by Skelos will go back to their principles and block unwanted taxes and bad policies.

Great news for NY. Even the favorable opinion of George Bush is now up to 41%. American's can only be lied to so long before they realize that it is only BS they are hearing and it is their money that Obama is "redistributing" to his "friends".

Those two senators just killed their chances of winning re-election in New York.

Success!

Even a liberal haven like New York can get something right once in awhile.

Its about time that someone stood up for the People. These idiots in the Senate have been blocking republicans at every turn, and bankrupting the state with their policies. Good Job!

"...all to the detriment of the people represented by me and my 61 colleagues," Espada said in a statement.

Riiiiight...and becoming president pro tempore had nothing to do with his motivation to go along with this nonsense....

Backlash? I'm beginning to wonder if even the Democrats getting scared of Obama's spend! spend! spend! truly voodoo economics.

Who knows what's going on here, at the very least, it's interesting. Should be fun to watch.