Post-Standard reporter Glenn Coin's story looking back at the New York State Legislature coup that shut down the state Senate for five weeks in the summer of 2009, and its impact -- or lack thereof -- on this year's re-election campaigns, sparked numerous cries from readers on syracuse.com to vote out all incumbents this November: Upstate_guy: "Vote out all...
State Sen. David Valesky (top left), D-Oneida, remains seated with most other Democrats as Republican senators and staff begin a session with the Pledge of Allegiance on June 23, 2009. Post-Standard reporter Glenn Coin's story looking back at the New York State Legislature coup that shut down the state Senate for five weeks in the summer of 2009, and its impact -- or lack thereof -- on this year's re-election campaigns, sparked numerous cries from readers on syracuse.com to vote out all incumbents this November:
Upstate_guy: "Vote out all incumbents. NY State politics is a farce all about power and the self-serving politician."
Patriot_in_Cicero: "If you like the recent record of 'achievements' and trends emerging from Albany, vote for the incumbent. If you don't like the way we're headed, vote against the incumbent."
kathryncard: "Unseat all incumbents regardless of their length in office, political affiliation, or 'record.' Just get rid of them, wipe the slate clean and start over."
It also engendered a debate over whether unseating incumbents will do anything to solve the dysfunction in Albany:
cnybill: "All of you anti-incumbent voters are just voting for the challenger regardless of who they are or what they stand for? Good plan. I'm sure electing a bunch of people who have no other qualifications other than not being an incumbent is the cure for the dysfunction in Albany."
dave5226: "The catch 22 issue of the incumbent being in a strategically better position on the power chessboard in Albany compared to the new blood who hasn't actually entered and learned to be dishonest is not only a matter of historical record, but precisely how the game is played. The vote is much more easily maneuvered by the funded clever incumbent who already knows the psychological propaganda to the naive multitudes who assume that some shred of honesty must exist at least some of the fancy dance speeches. You state you want all these people voted out of power, and reset the board? Well, the game will only resume its former degrade into the world of dog eat dog, where ego assumes the crown rather than the best interests of the people."
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