Quoted Text

     
One-party rule

First published in print: Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Come January 2009, New York's government will be under one-party rule.
     
With their long-sought victory in the Senate, the Democrats now control the governor's office, both houses of the Legislature and the posts of attorney general and state comptroller. One party alone will direct the government, draft and approve the budget, control the vast majority of the state's patronage, and — here's the icing on the political cake — be the watchdog over all this.

That should give everyone pause, including the Democrats. Perhaps most especially the Democrats. They will be, on all fronts, where the buck stops. No passing it off to the Republicans, who will be relegated to the role of loyal opposition.

If there's success, recovery, and good government, the Democrats can take the acclaim. If there's failure, stagnation and corruption, they can be assured of getting the blame.

The last time New York had such a monolithic situation was under the Republicans from 1943 to 1954. The Republicans also came close to complete dominance from 1969 to 1972, controlling everything except the comptroller's office.

For better or worse, an all-Democratic government doesn't necessarily mean all the players will march in lockstep. There will certainly be plenty of competing agendas, personalities, egos and loyalties. And although the Democrats' penchant for discord is probably exaggerated, it's still worth recalling Will Rogers' quip that, "I am not a member of any organized party — I am a Democrat."

The American humorist said that in 1935. Lesser known, but perhaps more relevant today, is his comment in a letter to former New York Gov. Al Smith in January 1929, just a month after Mr. Smith left office: "We can make this thing into a Party, instead of a Memory."

That's your opportunity, New York Democrats. Now, here are two challenges.

First, there's a $14 billion deficit this year and next to deal with. When it comes time to pass a budget next year, the work is going to fall entirely on Democrats to do it right. It will undoubtedly require some painful, unpopular decisions to rein it in. The Democrats will get the flak for making those tough choices, but the credit, too, if they work out.

Second, there's the Senate Republicans, suddenly in the minority. What a temptation, we imagine, for the Democrats to give them a taste of all that they endured over the years, from the significant — lower staff budgets and smaller member-item grants for their districts — to the exceedingly petty — such as Web page addresses that don't include their names.

How tempting, indeed. But we advise Democrats to recognize that this is a moment of great challenge. The challenge is to rise to greatness, not wallow in pettiness.

The Issue:

Democrats claim control of the state Senate, and with it, all of state government.

The Stakes:

That's a lot of power. They must govern well, and wisely.

Quoted from Shadow

When the Repubs had the control they didn't know what to do and screwed things up and we still ended up with stagnation and lack of progress.

Quoted from 233

we need two party rule --- but, then again, why stop at two parties? there should be multiple parties, which exist today .. to keep balance in check. we also need independent branches of govt. as the forefathers envisioned.

Quoted Text

One-party rule as old as the United States

By The Associated Press Associated Press Writer

Nov 2nd, 2008 | The executive and legislative branches have been controlled by the same party during 69 out of 110 sessions of Congress, from the Federalists of George Washington's administration to the Republicans of Abraham Lincoln's and the modern-day GOP during the tenure of George W. Bush.

Below are the 34 presidencies during which Congress was controlled by the same party at least part of the time:

--George Washington, Federalist.

--John Adams, Federalist.

--Thomas Jefferson, Democratic Republican.

--James Madison, Democratic Republican.

--James Monroe, Democratic Republican.

--Andrew Jackson, Democrat.

--Martin Van Buren, Democrat.

--William Henry Harrison, Whig.

--John Tyler, Whig.

--James Polk, Democrat.

--Franklin Pierce, Democrat.

--James Buchanan, Democrat.

--Abraham Lincoln, Republican.

--Andrew Johnson, Republican.

--Ulysses Grant, Republican.

--James Garfield, Republican.

--Chester Arthur, Republican.

--Benjamin Harrison, Republican.

--Grover Cleveland, Democrat.

--William McKinley, Republican.

--Theodore Roosevelt, Republican.

--William Taft, Republican.

--Woodrow Wilson, Democrat.

--Warren Harding, Republican.

--Calvin Coolidge, Republican.

--Herbert Hoover, Republican.

--Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Democrat.

--Harry Truman, Democrat.

--Dwight Eisenhower, Republican.

--John Kennedy, Democrat.

--Lyndon Johnson, Democrat.

--Jimmy Carter, Democrat.

--Bill Clinton, Democrat.

--George W. Bush, Republican.

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Sources:

Senate Historical Office: http://tinyurl.com/yqqzw

House Clerk: http://tinyurl.com/4sadqo