Today’s New York Times brings welcome news that the Governor has been making quiet and promising efforts to reshape his bold style [0]. In particular, while the blogs have spent the better part of the past couple of weeks ferreting out Roger Stone and his one man “spam” campaign on behalf of Joe Bruno (btw – well done Daily Gotham and Albany Project) – the Governor has been reaching out to a group of seasoned advisers to help steer him through the current storm – (i.e., “trooper blooper”).

This new “kitchen cabinet” includes Robert E. Rubin, former treasury secretary under President Clinton; Jerry Speyer, a real estate developer who has advised governors since Hugh L. Carey; Abraham M. Lackman, a Republican and former top aide to Joe Bruno; Marc V. Shaw, Mike Bloomberg’s former first deputy mayor; Elizabeth Moore, former counsel to Gov. Mario Cuomo and first head of the Ethics commission; and James R. Tallon, Jr., former majority leader of the State Assembly. Talk about bringing in the “adults.”

In short, Mr. Lackman observed that, “this is as bad as I’ve ever seen it,” referring to the current atmosphere in Albany while Mr. Tallon noted that the “idea [was] to have a candid conversation with [the Governor] about the bigger picture, the process.” Indeed, Mr. Rubin said there was little talk of policy, instead, “the discussion was more about how do you make a transition from attorney general to a governor” – “there have been plenty of governors who have been forceful, but the question is how do you do it and get results.” Finally, people who “get it.”

Now, the important – and only “real” – point here is results. How is the governor going to deliver on all those great policy and reform ideas he spoke about last fall? That is why it is a great relief to hear that PROCESS is getting to the Governor and from people of weight. This idea is vitally important – albeit boring – if activists, reformers and “true believers” wish to see rhetoric translated into tangible policies. First, though, the Governor must do something about repairing and ameliorating the poisonous atmosphere in Albany and hopefully this kitchen cabinet can help navigate the Governor through the shoals over the next several months.

Indeed these efforts are laudable, if not overdue and very welcome, but they are by no means a “quick fix.” Mr. Lackman has posited that his hope is civility will return in the next 12 months. This is both telling and troubling. That is, reading between the lines, Mr. Lackman is saying that Republicans are in no mood to make up in a hurry. This is troubling for Democrats and politically astute for the Republicans.

To understand why you need only look at the Craig Johnson race in February. Remember the way Democrats picked up this Republican seat via the post-election euphoric wave the Governor was riding at the time? Many, including the DSCC, thought that that goodwill and optimism would continue until next November and be the basis of another mini-tsunami when state senate elections are decided. Those hopes and plans are on the scrap heap at this point and the Republican foot dragging on the “forgive and forget” front only reinforces that.

This does not mean doom and gloom – there is a silver lining in this cloud. In short, by next fall – when voters start to focus on the upcoming elections – the Governor will hopefully have recovered from this episode and be less of the drag he is now for state Democratic candidates. Indeed, if the Governor’s “kitchen cabinet” can get him and the voters to re-focus on process the DSCC can use that to re-ignite the flame of reform next November.

The question is – will the DSCC do this? Are they capable of pulling this off? Do they have the resources? Are they in the process of garnering those resources (i.e., money and ground troops)? Do they even have a plan? These are the proverbial $64,000 questions and should be foremost in the minds of activists and reformers between now and November ‘08.

The good news is the DSCC had a plan in the spring when the political climate was different. It was well thought out and ambitious – compared to the feckless slop the former leadership was peddling last year. Unfortunately though, the DSCC has been deafeningly silent these past few months. We can only hope their silence means they have been back at the drawing board adjusting that plan to today’s and next November’s reality. If not, they better start – the window of opportunity and time for action is closing fast.

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