What a pointless waste of attention, effort and money. Sen. Ranzenhofer's only interest in getting this measure on the ballot is his hope that it will drive a specific constituency to the ballot box during his next race. Its a transparent, cynical waste of legislators' time and taxpayers' money just to increase his odds in his next election.

Since he says that the same bill was proposed five different times from 2000 through 2004, does he think that the 6th time will be a charm? What a waste of money and time.

And this guy wants to be taken seriously? This is how he "makes a statement"?
What a moron.
How is this being part of the solution?
Unless and until the entire membership of the NYS legislature is replaced (hopefully in the next election) NOTHING will change.
The thing is that people bitch about it, but people in these parts still vote along the (mostly republican) party lines and we get guys like this bozo.
It makes my blood boil.
I've said it here before and I'll say it again. It may sound like an idiotic approach to things, but until things in this state change, if you're an incumbent, I'm voting against you - and more people should do the same.
Ask yourself this...how much worse could it be if the entire membership of the legislature was turned over in one fell swoop?

I just don't see how this is a bad idea. Nobody disputes the notion of "three men in a room" or that downstate interests trump upstate interests. I never see anybody disagreeing with those assertions, not even Democrats.

So our upstate representatives are just supposed to shut up and take it?

Ranzenhofer is taking a stand to protect your interests, and people are bashing him for it? By his own admission -- as I take his comments -- this is a symbolic act. And it's an important one.

No wonder it's hard to get people to run for office.

As for "throw the bums out" -- who's going to replace them ... more partisan Republicans and Democrats? How is that going to change anything. So long as partisans run the legislature, no matter which party, it will remain dysfunctional. So long as party politics trumps common sense, we the people will continue to get taken to the cleaners.

Yes as you can see, the small towns in NYS are having a hard time securing the stimulus money, and NYC is going to get the majority of it. Read the News Article at the top of the page today. Here we go again with NYC taking it all, SUCKING US DRY. I want to be independant of NYC. Its the best idea I have heard Yet!

GO RAZENHOFER!!!!!

Karen
stimulus, not stimulis
independent, not independant

spelling not your strength?

Its an internet forum, not a dissertation.

Never alluded to formality, did I? Just questioned the lack of spelling skills. Chill out, Pete.

By the way, since we agree that this is a forum for discussion...any thoughts on the issue?

Nice, Bud when you spell your name your suppose to capitalize it right?? I'm no dummy, are you? Find something constructive to do. This is a Blogg silly. Take your bloodthursty attitude somewhere else. You know I'm right about this whole stimulus thing anyway. Truth hurts hah? There, now I questioned your spelling skills too. Not fun is it? to be insulted.

Thanks Pete for being a Gentlemen, your the last of a dying breed.

This has nothing to do with being Democrat or Republican. You guys need to stop playing that card. Its about the human quality of life, and what we want for ourselves. This is not a political blogg, although some use it as one for political gain. Why?

If this is the "bud" I know, you don't want to get me started on you. UGGGG

From Sen. Ranzenhofer:

"This is essentially a statement about what's going on right now in Albany," Ranzenhofer said. "The state is being run by three New York City Democrats in a room, working behind closed doors, out of view of the public and the press, and it's very frustrating."

Howard, this is a bad idea. It always is a bad idea when it is brought up. It is not realistic. While some New York City folks might dislike upstate and some upstaters might dislike "New York City Democrats", the reality is that we need each other.

Plus, there is something that Ranzenhofer is ignoring in his rationale for this state separatist movement he is helping create, along with an assemblyman (Steve Hawley) whose district overlaps with Ranzenhofer's senate district. Ranzenhofer's rationale was that "[t]he state is being run by three New York City Democrats in a room, working behind closed doors, out of view of the public and the press, and it's very frustrating."

The problem? This is how it has always been. For years. This is how it was when George Pataki, a Republican, was governor. And keep in mind that for 40-plus years, the Republicans had one of those three men in the room. And during the 12 years Pataki served as governor, he was in that same room.

When I complain about the three men in a room, I don't care what party these people are from or where they are from in terms of geography in New York. But Ranzenhofer showed his hand. This is about politics for him and his fellow Republican senators that joined in the separatist movement talk. This isn't about bettering New York or whatever other sorry reasoning they give for this movement.

bloodthursty? Or did you mean bloodthirsty? You haven't a clue about who I am or what I believe in. I am neither republican nor democrat. I am an independent thinker who says what he feels. And after reading some of your posts, I would argue YOU are the antagonist in many of these conversations. The disdain you show for Beth K and her posts is very apparent. So, as a Libertarian who believes the constitution should be the basis for our country's rules and regulations, I will continue to speak in a civil tone about what I feel.
And as far as this stimulus debacle, NO ONE WINS!! We have just pissed through enough spending to last 5 administrations....IN 60 DAYS! My kids are going to be saddled with this burden, and THAT IS THE TRUTH THAT HURTS!!!Do you have children Karen?? If so, give them a kiss and a hug, and let them know you are sorry for the mess our generation has left for them!

Then watch the video on youtube "The Second American Revolution" I have 3 girls, 26,with 6 yrs of college, 17, and 9. I know what its like to bust my hump to get my family through. My struggle is the student loans hubby and I are strapped with. Thats just one childs education. I dont know how we will afford 2 more in college. We owe over 30 grand, and lets not forget hubby loans from RIT. OUCH BABE

Enjoy the day, and GOD BLESS

I have watched the video. Thomas Paine is turning in his grave as we speak. The very fact we have become the same government we tried to get away from in 1776 hurts. Taxation without representation.

It may be a symbolic act, but it is an arbitrary and devisive act. It perpetuates a cynical notion that upstate and downstate are incapable of uniting, politically, for the better of ALL New York State. It's been raising its ugly head since NYC's near default back in the 1970s. The solution is to end two-party competition by electing third party candidates who are less concerned with the polarities of democrat and republican and more concerned with governance. Voters perpetuate Albany's woe's by participating as if the choice is between only two parties.
We could learn alot by studying the election of school board members. They run on their credentials- not their party affiliation.
Noteworthy- there is no mention of political parties in the Constitution.

C.M., George Washington specifically warned against political factions.