The last thing the New York Republican Party needs to be known as is simply an obstructionist party. We spent the last seven years seeing obstructionism in Washington and it doesn't work. Not only was the Executive (President Bush) successful in much of his agenda, but the legislature (Sen. Reid & Rep. Pelosi) currently has the lowest approval rating ever! New York's legislature is already seen as disfunctional and we don't need to make it worse.

This year's State of the State address was a lateral shift for the governor. He intends to buckle down on costs and out of control taxes. His spending habits are still there, but he realizes he cannot spend as liberally as last year's fiscal cycle. If the governor wishes to be more fiscally conservative, then the NY Republican Party must do what it can to show it is the party of lower taxes, less spending and responsible government.

We cannot afford to simply be an obstructionist party. I believe Leader Tedisco will stand with the governor on policies that are conservative and for responsible spending. As for Leader Bruno, I'm not so sure. I only hope he will be someone that will use his pride and tell the people, "This is what we've been saying all along and it took a year for the governor to side with Republican policies. I can work with someone when they want to work for the People of this State, not when they work against them."

I can't tell if Governor Spitzer will have a better year than his first. If it ends up like Year One, we may actually see a successful Republican Party in the Senate & Assembly. If it runs smoothly, things may stay the same. I am not sure if it would be a good thing for us to lose the State Senate for two years. It may actually be a good thing, because it will put the State entirely in the hands of the Democrats and all the blame falls on them. We could then rebuild as a Party and reapproach how to take back the Senate in 2010.