Jim Alesi is a state senator from my area who was almost universally well-liked until he filed an idiotic law suit a few months ago. Bad publicity from the suit has effectively ended his political career, I don’t think he can get re-elected at this point.
He’s going out on top as the first New York State Senate Republican to vote for marriage equality in New York State, perhaps a far, far better thing than he has ever done.
MAJeff
Will Skelos even allow a vote?
Whiskey Screams from a Guy With No Short-Term Memory
That’s not idiotic. Well, it is in a sense, but mostly the suit is malicious and savagely vindictive, and for no possible gain that I can see. Sorry to see that he’s the first Republican who will cast the vote in favor of equal marriage.
geg6
Is this actually, finally going to happen today?
I’ve been on pins and needles over this vote by my neighbors for days now.
liberal
@2:
Actually, I like it. For the same reason I liked Schindler’s list: the protagonist in that case was in some ways a far far better human than most people, but in other ways (e.g. how he treated his wife) a complete asshole. A much more interesting story than a black and white one, and is true to the point that humans are morally complicated creatures.
Mnemosyne
Along similar lines, Steve Benen has a story about the new senior enlisted advisor to the Marine Corps Commandant:
Congressional Republicans may be standing athwart history screaming, “Stop!” but we’re already past the crest of the hill and rolling down towards the other side.
OzoneR
Probably not, no. He’ll hold out until Democrats agree to weaken rent control and pass a property tax cap and then he’ll adjourn the Senate and go home.
alwhite
So, in the immortal words of Jon Stewart, he will forever be known as “The Staten Island Ferry”!
Murc
Do NOT count Alesi out.
I live in his district, and you would be AMAZED how many people vote for him simply out of habit and have no idea about the lawsuit at all. Hell, my mother has been pulling the lever for both him AND for Louise Slaughter since 1996. And his district contains a lot of socially liberal suburbanites who will remember THIS a lot more than they remember any legal argey-bargey.
I wouldn’t be surprised to continue to see him around for a long, long time.
(For the record, if this thing passes, he will get my vote. ONE vote, once. He’ll have earned it fair and square.)
Tom
Best of times, worst of times…