Friday’s Briefing: The Brawl At The Reception

by Contributor | May 30, 2008 11:58 am

In this corner, your daily briefing of news from around the state. In the other corner, you. No reading below the belt. Ding!

Round one: The gay marriage issue.

Gov. Paterson held a news conference Thursday (watch the whole thing here[1]) to explain his reason for ordering state agencies to recognize gay couples legally married elsewhere. In brief, Paterson says it’s the law, the same law that recognizes legal common-law marriages from other states.

• Joe Bruno[2] and the Republicans cry foul.
• Opponents [3]howl[4], then try to figure out how to fight back.
• There may not be much of a fight[5], say legal experts.
• The change may spread to businesses[6]. It’s a big boost[7] for same-sex couples.
• How Gov. Paterson comes by his support[8] for recognizing same-sex marriage.
• Allowing gay marriage in New York State: Good for the economy[9]?

Elsewhere:

Have you noticed that since David Paterson moved from Lieutenant Governor to Governor, that there’s no new Lieutenant Governor? There isn’t gonna be one[10], says Senate Majority Leader Bruno, who thinks he has two votes in the Senate, now that’s he’s acting Lt. Gov and therefore the presiding officer of the Senate. Not so, says Shelly Silver[11] from the Assembly.

By the way: If something happens to Paterson and there’s no Lt. Gov., guess who becomes Governor? Yep, Joe Bruno. Oh, and he may be being coy about it, but Bruno’s running for reelection[12].

Bits and crumbs:

Paterson wants to save shad in the Hudson[13].

State Republicans held a big dinner last night in NYC. Political red meat was on the menu. Vice Pres. Dick Cheney[14] predicted the GOP will take back State Senate seats. For dessert? A nice helping of scorn for Barack Obama and Eliot Spitzer. Guess who “had another engagement” last night? Former Gov. George Pataki[15].

Away from politics:

• Kids, don’t blog this at home[16].
• One of the last uncontacted tribes in the world is contacted. They’re less than pleased about it[17].
• And what’s the fastest way to get around[18] New York City?

And we cannot allow the passing of the great Harvey Korman to go unnoticed. Since it seems that embedding these YouTube thingies breaks the page, we’ll just link to some of his best:

• In all his demented glory[19] in “Blazing Saddles”.
• He’s in some of the bloopers in this Carol Burnett Show gag reel[20]. (Language not safe for work, but worth it.)
• He doesn’t do a thing here[21], but laugh, like the rest of us, at Tim Conway.

Got a good link we missed? Drop it in the comments.

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