As the childish pandemonium in Albany continues to drag on, at least one man is working to create a brighter future for New York. That man, as you no doubt already deduced from the headline of this post, is potential gubernatorial candidate Rudy Giuliani. In a Times op-ed today, Giuliani calls for a state constitutional convention to “take a long hard look at our problems and then propose real, lasting solutions.” His timetable is a little off he somehow hopes that the state legislature could approve a measure authorizing the convention in the next few weeks but his suggested reforms aren’t bad, if also not entirely original. Especially in this political climate, when voters are likely tiring of the entire 62-member Senate, term limits and an end to incumbent-friendly gerrymandering sound like no-brainers. A clear-cut line of succession for lieutenant governor would ensure that a tie-breaking vote is always available to end a 31–31 Senate deadlock. And boosting judicial pay? Sure, why not. We don’t think demanding a supermajority for raising taxes is a great idea, unless we’re trying to trade our government dysfunction for California’s. But if Giuliani can actually get the ball rolling on a constitutional convention, perhaps New York’s liberal electorate will forgive the fact that he has disowned his gay friends, kind of hates President Obama, and pals around with Sarah Palin.
