Early in the day, Democrat Malcolm Smith referred to himself as the President.... Later in the day, Democrat Pedro Espada Jr. referred to himself as the President.... Politicians did the same thing in Iran. Need I say more?

The week ends the way it began: with confusion regarding who is in charge in the State Senate.

Today, Democrat Malcolm Smith said, "Right now there's only one president of the Senate and that's myself." But his fellow Democrats are meeting in Manhattan to decide if another lawmaker should lead them. And an Albany judge chose to stay out of the power struggle until Monday, saying lawmakers should "resolve this among yourselves" over the weekend. What are the odds of that happening?

Instead of fighting for power, what should State lawmakers have been working on this week? Should Democrats replace Malcolm Smith to ensure power of the Senate? Are you disappointed a judge went home for the weekend without reaching a decision?

Send us your thoughts using the link above.

In order for the democrats to regain the majority and control of the state senate, I feel that Senator Malcolm Smith should step down from his leadership position and be replaced by a senator who have the respect of many New Yorkers and the have demonstrated leadership in the past. I would like to see Senator Eric Adams, former police officer, like Monserate, and former president of 100 Black law enforcers. He has the integrity to get this body of legislators together and get back to the work which they were elected to do.

Henry------Parkchester

mr smith in the words of Donald Trump "YOUR FIRED"

tom
richmondtown

Hello all. Liz from Sunnyside here again.

This is appalling. How dare Espada and Monserrate do this? How dare they waste a week of taxpayers' time acting like children in a sandbox, fighting over who gets the biggest truck? Did their constituents tell them, "Look boys, ya gotta try to take over the Senate." No! They did this only for themselves, without a care in the world for the people who voted for them.

This is an egregious abuse of power like none I've ever seen in over 20 years of voting. They should be fired outright and their seats taken away from them. Can they be impeached? And every other Senator, Democratic or Republican, and their staff members should take up a civil suit against them and make them pay for the losses they incurred in regard to every meeting, flight, luncheon, breakfast, dinner, rally, lecture, etc. they missed because of this.

If the people in their districts are not all deadbeats, they will never be elected to anything ever again.

They all should be ashamed of themselves. Throw all of the bums out!

Rich
Midtown East

welcome to planet Uranus. Our space ship will dock on the albany side of the hudson at thug alley around the corner from the cufflink store. IMPEACH espada and monserrate censure skelos.

john
kissena Park

EVERYONE SHOULD REALIZE THAT ESPADA COULD SELL A DIAPER RASH TO A BABY. THIS WREAKS OF THE NEED FOR A RICO INVESTIGATION. INVESTIGATE THE OBVIOUS. FOLLOW THE DOLLAR. SNIFF THE CORRUPTERS OUT OF OFFICE. ABSOLUTE POWER, CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY.

JOE, BAY TERRACE

I do not believe that there is a chance in hell that things will be settled by Monday.

As for Malcolm Smith, if he was doing so well #1, he wouldn't be out in the cold; # 2, Smith doesn't sound too convincing not even to himself; and #3, the Democratic group is as sleazy and the Republicans.

Never thought I'd feel this way, but in the past few months my views of the Albany legislature has changed dramatically.

Denise
Flatbush, Brooklyn

Hi John,

As usual they all do their own thing. Again we are not considered at all, just keep paying taxes and leave the rest to them. Did they find the keys yet?

maxxiee
mp

This squabbling is a disgrace and a disappointment to New Yorkers who are depending on their legislators to do their job, which is advocating the people's concern in Albany. Apparently, they prefer wasting our time being fixated on partisan lines. This won't be resolved by Monday, though I don't blame the judge for remaining out of the crossfire either!

Jennifer
Brooklyn

Why would the democrats keep Smith? He's a failed real estate developer who lost a paternity suit. He's only in his position because of his mother's connections and the luck of his best friend, Governor Paterson. And, even if the democrats could keep him, his reputation is so damaged by this that he would be ineffective, even by Albany standards.

Rob
Gramercy

When are these senators going back to work? We have big issues and bills that need to be put into law. I am sadden the courts want to run away because they do not want to be blamed for another chaos that may occur. It has been a week LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, can we trust them to get to work.

GET BACK to work Senators!!!

Freddy
Washington heights

I think they should have people in office with little means, and kick out these people that don't care about the little people

Ronald

We pay thier salaries. We're thier bosses. Yet time and time again, these politicians sell us out. The dead presidents always over rule the living New Yorkers. New York is OUR company and our employees should be fired. That includes our spineless City Council as well. They sell thier souls to those with the biggest wallets. Come election time, we need to REALLY listen to the candidates and not vote for the richest or most popular .

Norman
Upper Eastside

Alright John, Go to one of these Republican houses and see where live. And then see where the people who are arguing on your show live.

jj

First I must say... Opinion is not truth. 2nd... Facts are always subject to change which indicates that the facts within a given time period may not be rooted in truth. If the knuckleheads in political positions do not understand the aforementioned than the unruliness will endure. The foundation al principles established by our forefathers are rapidly being forgotten.

Ed from Brooklyn

Tom Golisano, having a vested interest against higher taxes on the wealthy to support the State he loves, has been quoted in a full page newspaper ad run over the weekend declaring Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate as politicans putting the "people" of the Bronx and Queens first.
This is so true, and of the people of the Bronx and Queens that come first, Pedro and Hiram head both lists respectively.
Pedro Espada has so many ethics violations and potential financial corruption scandals created by his desire to maintain office at all costs. Monserrate uses his power to futher his misogynist agenda.
Both are said to have appeal because of their "independent" political beliefs, but independence is when one stands up to one's own party by voting one's conscience.
These two political hacks use independence as a means or tool to get something for themselves, Espada now being a heartbeat away from the Governorship and another indictment. This is not independence; it is doing whatever it takes to get ahead.
Both Monserrate and Espada are said to have high appeal in districts, yet this is because of the ethnic similarities with their constituents, not because of their independent integrity.
What can be said of Golisano, Monserrate and Espada is they have a common bond not of altruistic virtue, but of pure self interest, and birds of a feather do tend to flock together when not making strange bedfellows.

David D.
Astoria

The judge was smart to stay out of this. Why make a decision on who is right or wrong when they are all wrong. The problem is not with the judge, not the State Senators, we the people who put these self-centered, money grabbing, dishonest frauds in office are totally responsible for what's happening in Albany. We need to wise up the politicians are not interested in US, they are interested in only THEMSELVES. We should retaliate by not re-electing any of them and never vote for anybody twice.

That's All folks!
Eddie J
Brooklyn