In the US you join a party and campaign to get yourself elected. In a parliamentary system you join a party and they campaign to get you elected. It’s a different sort of organization.

That said, tbh, I’m not sure there were enough votes in the Senate to pass the bill *anyway*. Smith obviously was playing politics, but several notable Democrats openly opposed the bill, along with most Republicans.

1. What did Malcom Smith do to be so hated by the “Gang of Four” and how still did he manage to be so despised yet powerful enough to get the Senate Minority leadership (and then the Majority leadership)?

2. How is it not an astute thing to hold from calling for a vote until one can be assured of a bill’s passage? Our fight for equality (as incomplete as it is) is not at the same level where any visibility or discussion was automatically good for us. If Smith brought it to a vote and it failed, would it not be a disincentive for a vote in the near future, even after the 2010 elections? A recent rejection would create the perfect cover for fence-sitters to say there’s no reason to revisit the issue. Further, marriage equality has had such a wonderful string of successes recently that such a significant failure as a legislative failure in NY would rob us of valuable momentum. Your thoughts?

3. Related to this, if indeed Smith made a deal with Rubin Diaz Sr, it would have been, as noted here, under threat of defection for Diaz’s part. How would that have benefited marriage equality? Not only would control of the Senate and all its committees switch to the Republicans, but pro-equality Democrats (including Smith) would have no bargaining power at all.

4. Last, it’s assumed here that Diaz’s defection alone would have automatically reverted control to the Republicans. But how would they do that being 31-31?
Looking forward to a continued discussion!

The Rev. Dr. Richard Thomas Nolan and Robert Charles Pingpank were married Thursday in Hartford.
Dr. Nolan (far left) and Mr. Pingpank, both 72, graduated from Trinity, where they met.
NY TIMES: tinyurl.com/ltys3g

What an I talking about? You know what I’m talking about. The treatment we receive from our so-called friends in the Democratic Party. I am a life long Democrat. I have worked and voted and voted and worked. All to too little avail. I am 51 years old, a professional and a business owner. Before I die, I want to see my rights and those of younger gays who follow me granted in this “Land Of the Free” But to get there we will need to also be “Brave” and even more importantly “Smart”.

Blacks went from having to give up seats to white bus riders to being guaranteed the right to drive the bus in less than a decade. From Selma to civil rights in less than five years. How? They acted as one to demand these things.

My gay brothers and sisters let’s act as one…just one time. How? Simple. in 2010 give your political contributions, your volunteer hours and your votes to the enemy of our enemy…the Republican Party.

What you say? They are our enemy too” In my view yes they are. That’s not the point. A cohesive demonstration of our collective power once and for all is the point.

How many democrtic congresses and administrations after that do you think it will take to repeal DADT, DOMA and pass ENDA and Hate Crimes Laws. I say just one more. And all we have to do is leave them “Just One Time” With me? e-mail me at mikethe drugcounselor@yahoo.com

Peoples’ opinions don’t change overnight. The Republicans in the NYS Senate are still the same people they were before Skelos was Majority Leader. If their conscience says vote for equality, they will still vote for equality. And if their conscience says vote for bigotry, they will still vote for bigotry.