As if being a Republican in NYS wasn't hard enough we now have Skelos and Co to thank for the latest episode in what is the continued soap opera of the NY GOP. First the loss of Tedisco now this. So far not a good year for the urban elephants.

As long as we have have these men in power representing NY's 2nd Party you can pretty much bet on continued minority status. At a meeting of Young Republicans not long ago a friend asked me if I could remember the last time there ever was a serious Republican primary challenge to a sitting state senator. Obviously I couldn't think of one. Can You? Democrat state senators are challenged all the time. Incumbents have a high re-election rate but at least the Dems face some opposition from within there own party.

The rumblings among the grassroots of the Republicans in NY(the few still left) is that it is time for primary challenges. This is easier said than done finding enough republicans to sign your petitions and then survive challenges is getting harder as republican registration dwindles. Aside from member Items the other major item the state senate republicans want to have their say on is redistricting. It is pretty much certain after the census that  various districts congress and state senate are going to be weighted towards new york city with those outside the city being merged. This is a reality the State Senate Republicans going forward are going to fight tooth and nail if the coup shakes out in their favor. It's a no brainer why they want the leadership deal to last until 2011. They want time to weigh in on redistricting.

But this is not how you build a party. This not how you lead a party out of the Minority. There is much to do and this is holding up the business of governing. 2010 was looking good for the NY GOP before the coup. You have an incumbent Senator with little name recognition and no legislative accomplishments, a governor with low approval ratings, the state senate democrats have failed to deliver on their empty promises, and we will have an ally in city hall with Mike Bloomberg(Sorry Thompson). The state senate Republicans should be focused on taking back Albany the old fashioned way by winning elections. Will the real Republicans please stand up?