Malcolm Smith is taking a lot of heat lately since the returns came in on election day. The way he treated the four, then ultimately three renegades in the Democratic caucus was atrocious. The "deal" that was supposedly made, giving Diaz and especially Kruger and Espada incredible mantles of power at the expense of others in the caucus that were waiting for plum seats, in particular the Senators that worked the hardest to obtain the majority in the first place. Confusion has been the operative word since that deal was struck and on Monday morning, chaos ensued and Smith bolted from his first of two press conferences.
From The Daily Politics:
Solid like Jello, right Smith?Things started off badly when reporters were asked to sign in before the event started. Several flat out refused, noting that one of Smith's press aides, Marc Gronich, is a former LCA member and well-aware of his ex-colleagues' respective identities.
It all went downhill from there.
After announcing four committee assignments, Smith said he had another matter to attend to and departed without taking questions. As he walked off, reporters shouted questions at him. He answered just one, saying the support for his leadership is "solid."
Smith's departure left new Deputy Majority Leader William Stachowski and Insurance Committee Chairman Neil Breslin to face the irritated press corps all alone.
But questions about the uncertainty surrounding the Democratic coaltion were quickly and frequently cut off by Smith's press officers, who insisted reporters' queries should only focus on the committee assignments announced, but then cut those off, too.
Breslin quietly ducked out, leaving Stachowski to fend for himself.
If this is how the leadership is going to act in the new majority caucus, we are in for a wild ride. Of course, if the Gang of Three bolt and make their traitorous way over to Skelos and Company, we might just forget about a majority for another forty two years.
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