mr. optimist,

i dont see it.  mr. paterson will seize this opportunity to pad his prospects for reelection. malcolm smith's status as majority leader-elect is secure and paterson will not waste this decision on a progressive, downstate politician with low name recognition. the congresswoman has a strong record of service and i would be happy to see her ascend to the senate, but don't hold your breath.  paterson gets that he is harlem, schumer is brooklyn, and upstate would expect to get some love in washington, if dave is going to be re-elected.

My dream selection is Maurice Hinchey.

I know Vito likes to speak a little spanish, but this district was carved for a Latino/a from Sunset Park to Bushwick.  It would be unfortunate if Vito were elected and New York had only one Latino in the House.  

I dunno Morgy, but it amazes me how many people will link you if you just start spouting idle speculation off the top of your head without having any knowledge of the subject matter.

First, we get the Hillary rumors, now we are already up to who would take Reina's seat when she goes to the Assembly.

Mr, I'm still holding out for Richard Holbrooke.

I do think Nydia is possible, because the ideal ethnic/gender/geography candiate doesn't exist unless you want to appoint the Syracuse City Council President. Still, it seems unlikely that our two US Senators will come from Park Slope and Carroll Gardens and share the same member of the State Assembly (I've seen Chuck ride past Nydia's house on his Sunday morning bike ride).   

But if it does happen, it seems unlikely that Vito would go to Congress, when it's been clear for years that Marty Dilan is his guy--there's even been at least one aborted run. And surely if not Marty, then Eric. Vito is not young, and while his ability to keep bouncing back from various health issues might make him a marvel of modern science, one doubts that, at this point in his career, he desires to go from being one of Albany's lion to being one of Washington's puppies--though I suppose it might seem a nice way to cap off a career, I somehow dount that Vito relishes the idea of dealing face to face with the Brooklyn Heights Association and the Lower East Side anarchists who think CODA is a right wing group.

On the other hand, the man's never run from a fight, so he might enjoy it.

As to who would take Vito's Assembly seat, that decision would be almost entirely in his control, subject to the state constitution, which would prohibit a resident of Daryl Towns' AD like Dilan from assuming the position (and it's too late to move). As to Reina, you will notice, she's no longer Vito's co-leader, but they've made up before, so who knows?

Must admit, this is fun. So who's your choice for Bing's Assembly seat after he takes Lappin's slot on the Council?.     

Kruger keeps the Senate tied up until Dilan goes to Congress, Vito takes his Senate seat, becomes Leader, and then Governor when Paterson gets a Cabinet Appointment

Then he confounds the reformers by making Abbie Hoffman's former lawyer the new Chief Justice.

Since we are just speculating here with no actual facts to back up our positions (de riguer in the blogosphere) my speculation is Suozzi.

Patterson needs support in the burbs, he owns the city for the re-election.  Suozzi ran against Spitzer that should give him some cred.  He also headed the property tax relief commission, the number one issue in the burbs.  Also, he has the hook up, Paterson's father works for his father's law firm.

Screw upstate. 

The problem with Paterson appointing Nydia Velazquez is that it would give New York state two Senators from Brooklyn.  Remember that Chuck Schumer also used to be a Brooklyn congressman.  New York is a big city and a big state, so do both Senators really need to live within a mile of each other in the same borough?

Since the governor is from Harlem and the AG is from Manhattan, I really think Paterson might need to pick someone from outside New York City.  I mean does every single high office holder in the state have to be from New York City?

Or how about this-- Paterson could pay off his political debts to the man who made him governor by appointing Eliot Spitzer (ripe for a comeback since the hooker charges were dropped) to the Senate.