If a politician is going to choose sides in a political battle, and his side wins, it likely will mean good things for the politician's future and benefits in the form of money for his district. But if the other side wins, it could mean political death, or at least injury, and a loss in favors for the home constituency. These scenarios surfaced last week when Assemblyman William Magee, R-Nelson, supported Assemblyman Michael Bragman's attempt to overthrow Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Magee went out on a limb when he became one of the 25 assemblymen to back Bragman, because if the coup attempt were to fail, then Silver likely would punish those who were disloyal. And sure enough, the overthrow try has been unsuccessful.
Punishment seems as much a part of the game as loyalty.
Silver stripped Bragman of his majority leader's title last week and deposed two committee chairmen who openly supported Bragman. Bragman said Silver threatened Democrats with primaries and a loss of campaign funds and assistance. He said Silver also threatened to draw them out of their legislative districts in the 2002 reapportionment. So far, Magee said, he had not suffered retribution from Silver or anyone else. And earlier this week he was still chairman of the Assembly Agriculture Committee.