At least one radio station is running ads by the NYS Democratic Committee putting the Senate Saga clearly on the Republicans who controlled the Senate for 40 years. What ever happened to truth in advertising? If I owned a radio station, I would not accept an advertisement from either side unless they could verify that what was being "sold" was truth. The fact that this station accepted the ad just reaffirms that money talks.

The Democrats in the Senate are currently passing bills, but the Governor will refuse to sign them into law. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/06/paterson-wont-sign-the-senate.html Will this saga ever end? Maybe there is a bright side to all of this: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/06/nyc-sales-tax-derailed.html

The United States Senate may soon have similar problems as Minnesota's Supreme Court has ruled that Al Franken has won the long contested Senate race.

Rich Lowry opines on the "cap-and-trade" bill: http://www.nypost.com/seven/06302009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/written_to_fail_176795.htm

And Thomas Sowell write on Obamacare: http://townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2009/06/30/alice_in_medical_care
And George Will does also: http://townhall.com/Columnists/GeorgeWill/2009/06/30/a_fix_well_likely_regret

Ralph Peters writes about our Troops leaving Iraq's cities and states in part "And it's a day of vindication for a former president who saw clearly, but spoke poorly (to the delighted mortification of the media).
Now we have a president who expresses himself beautifully, but seems blind to international reality. And it's up to him to determine whether Iraq was a new beginning or a dead end. " Read the rest of his column here: http://www.nypost.com/seven/06302009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/bye_bye__babylon_176790.htm

Maddoff will never get out of jail alive...thankfully the Judge sent a strong message to others. http://www.nypost.com/seven/06292009/news/regionalnews/sentencing_today_for_bernie_madoff_176707.htm

Supreme Court Nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, lost again in a Supreme Court review of her decision in the New Haven, Ct reverse discrimination case. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090629/D994GMG82.html

And all citizens lost in the Congressional vote on "Cap and Trade" http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124597505076157449.html The US Senators must be educated this summer when they are home...your work is cut out for you.
http://townhall.com/columnists/MyronEbell/2009/06/29/waxman-markey_is_hilarious,_but_the_joke_is_on_us

http://townhall.com/columnists/HarryRJacksonJr/2009/06/29/congress_votes_for_bad_weather


Do you think NY State Senators will be going home this summer? I'm certain, many will be getting an earful on what is not going on in the State Senate, but unfortunately many whose actions are the most disgraceful run in districts where their constituents do not follow the shenanigans of Albany no matter how well it is publicized.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Well, this has been an eventful week. With Michael Jackson’s death pushing Gov. Mark Sanford off of center stage and completely taking over the news cycle, we probably won’t be hearing much about anything else, at least for this weekend.

But there’s still plenty going on in New York, as we saw this week... and still a lot of questions about what will happen in the coming weeks and months, and the coming year.

Will Gov. Paterson get credit for signing a good bill into law?

I hope so: http://tinyurl.com/ltvj3v

This is the legislation that Andrew Cuomo spoke about at our CPPAC gathering this past February. That caused quite a stir – but it just goes to show that good ideas like streamlining our state’s government and lower taxes can win support from across the political spectrum. This is a victory for the Conservative Party, and for taxpayers.

Will the NY Senate ever get back to normal?

Supposedly there’s a deal in the works – the whole saga might be resolved before you finish reading this... or not.
http://tinyurl.com/nwwwfw

Who will run for Governor?

Seems like Rick Lazio is definitely in...
http://tinyurl.com/lzrkpn

Rudy Giuliani continues to raise his profile...
http://tinyurl.com/kt36nl

And of course, there’s the simmering Cuomo/Paterson battle...
http://tinyurl.com/m5engm

What about the U.S. Senate?

Kirsten Gillibrand could be in trouble...
http://tinyurl.com/nzq7gc

Peter King’s numbers are probably lower than he would like right now against both Gillibrand and Maloney – but that will change once the campaign gets into high gear, and the two Democrats go on the attack against each other and more voters start paying attention. Of course, all this is IF Rep. King actually decides to run.

Will taxes, gas prices and electric bills skyrocket?

Yes, if President Obama and the Democrats in Washington pass the Waxman-Markey climate change bill. The Heritage Foundation has some good analysis of this bill’s true impact – and how the liberals are twisting the facts to get their way.

http://tinyurl.com/nuw5hr

Do the Democrats stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?

Not if they’re throwing a political temper tantrum...
http://tinyurl.com/l3jxo3

What a disgrace, especially as we get ready to celebrate Independence Day – and especially as courageous people in Iran are rising up and risking their lives for the basic freedoms we too often take for granted.

The Conservative Party made news exposing the Democrats’ blatant disregard for our flag and our Pledge. Check it out here...
http://tinyurl.com/locwuf

Enjoy your weekend, and if you’re traveling this week for the July 4th holiday, be safe and have fun.

To quote Liz Benjamin "And the Albany version of Groundhog Day continues."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/#ixzz0JTKntrEj&C
And the Times Union's recap of today's Session: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/16148/baby-steps-and-two-extraordinary-session-for-the-price-of-one/#respond

More from Liz Benjamin: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/06/speed-sessions.html#comments

WINS New York is reporting there is a deal ... so far nothing is on any of the blogs in Albany...
will keep you posted if something pops up.

Karl Rove on Obamacare: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124588632634150501.html
and one more on Obamacare: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124588779662250705.html#mod=loomia?loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r3:c0.16002:b26057578

While the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) has reported that the average household will only have to pay an additional $175 per year by 2020...this article says don't believe their estimate:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124588837560750781.html

And this under "is the honeymoon over" label: http://townhall.com/Columnists/CalThomas/2009/06/25/the_presidents_news_conference

If you plan to watch the ABC Primetime on President Obama's Health Care Reforms as drafted by Senators Kennedy and Dodd, you may want to read former Lt. Governor Betsy McCaughey's article in today's Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/06/24/2009-06-24_how_health_care_reforms_will_mess_with_your_coverage.html

And it continues! Was yesterday's session legal? Will there be a session today? It was supposed to start a half hour ago. Justice McNamara denied a Republican request for a TRO. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/06/mcnamara-to-senate-gop-no-tro.html#co Guess we will just have to wait. Will the Senate Democrats stand for the Pledge of Allegiance today? Or will they continue to dishonor their Flag? (see earlier post)

This just in: They came, they gaveled in, they left. Read more here: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/06/mini-session.html#comments


The residents of the first Congressional District seem to be a little restless with their Congressman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq5mWkF5zuo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emeetup%2Ecom%2FCSA%2D1776%2DMeetup%2DGroup%2Fboards%2Fthread%2F7144120%2F&feature=player_embedded and might we add, rightfully so.

Interesting article by ACU's Donald Devine: http://acuf.org/issues/issue134/090620news.asp

And more must reads on Obamacare: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124579852347944191.html
http://townhall.com/Columnists/MichelleMalkin/2009/06/24/whos_funding_the_obamacare_campaign

While Glenn Beck has a new book entitled "Common Sense" it is Thomas Sowell who has been espousing common sense for decades: http://townhall.com/Columnists/ThomasSowell/2009/06/24/another_good_thing

Get ready for another bazaar day in Albany! While much has been written about the shennigans that took place, many have not reported the absolutely disgraceful behaviour of the New York State Democrats: When the republicans began with the Pledge of Allegiance....THEY REMAINED IN THEIR SEATS! In fact, Marcia Kramer of CBS News reports that when one democrat tried to stand, he was pulled down! http://wcbstv.com/politics/espada.senate.albany.2.1056280.html

New York State elected officials refusing to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance and the News is not reporting it? How many Americans have died defending our Flag and all that it stands for and the Press, on the most part, does not report this? It should be front page news!

Irene Jay Liu, the Albany Times Union blogger, fortunately has a video http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/15993/video-of-senate-gop-regular-session/ of the Democrats sitting on their bottoms. Watch it asap, because the way things are...it may disappear.

A special thank you to Irene Jay Liu and Marcia Kramer for reporting on this shameful action.