The two Democrats who sent state politics into a frenzy of confusion and indecision by joining a Republican-backed coup laughed it up at a ballgame yesterday as Albany continued to sizzle.
State Sens. Pedro Espada Jr. and Hiram Monserrate gave the cameras the thumbs up during the Yankees' subway series loss to the Mets on Saturday, apparently unconcerned as Albany reels from the crisis they caused earlier this week.
"It's my day off, and I'm rooting for the Mets," Monserrate told the New York Post. The Queens Democrat showed no love for the Mets, wearing a jersey with his own name on the back (surprise, surprise) but he did sport an "I Love NY" cap.
"We never stopped being Democrats and we never will," Monserrate said. "Bipartisan means two parties -- I'm not a Republican, I'm a Democrat."
Monserrate and Espada dived into a VIP restaurant during the middle of the game, never to return to their seats. They laughed when asked whether it looked bad that they were kicked back at a ball game while Albany struggled to recover from their coup.
While the dissenters were at the game, Sen. John Sampson, who has all but officially received the reins to the Democratic leadership, endeavored to gain backing, earning as many as 18 supporters, according to the Post. The African-American senator, who many expect to take over embroiled Majority Leader Malcolm Smith's job, has at least 14 black and four other senators behind him already, the paper reported. He'd need a total of 16 votes to assume control over the 32-member Democratic chamber.
Meanwhile, a judge granted an injunction Saturday evening preventing Espada from assuming gubernatorial powers should Gov. David Paterson leave the state, which would be unlikely. Paterson has assured leaders he would stay in town until an agreement has been reached in Albany on who controls the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos hailed the injunction as a victory for the coalition.
"The Judge refused the desperate attempt by former Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith to prevent duly elected Senators from doing their jobs and will enable us to convene session as planned," Skelos said. "The only ramifications of the court ruling today relates to restraining Temporary Senate President Espada from performing the duties of Governor should the Governor leave the state tonight, an issue that will be heard in court tomorrow."
Barring a last-minute compromise between the warring factions, a judge will decide Monday who has control over the state Senate.
