Comic Relief

"I've got so much yet to do in Albany."   That was Assemblyman David Koon's hilarious explanation for dropping out of the 29th district congressional race, now that there will be no election until November.

OK, OK.   We know he can't help it and doesn't know better.   But Koon got our attention Saturday for providing that particular comic counterpoint to the grave business of recent days.

Until it became clear last week that there won't be a special election this Spring, Mr. Koon ran in hot pursuit of that same congressional seat, boisterously uninhibited by any commitment to future accomplishment in Albany.

The difference, of course, is that Koon's assembly seat isn't at risk if he runs in a special election now.   If he lost, he could still run for re-election to the Assembly in November.   But to run for Congress in November, rather than now, he'd have to forgo a bid for re-election to the Assembly.

And as no one knows better than David Koon, that Assembly seat is the very best gig he's ever likely to land.   Without it, we expect he'd be sweeping up somewhere.

The Assembly seat keeps such grim private-sector prospects at bay.   There's to be no election until November.   Therefore, suddenly -- after 12 years! -- there's "much to do in Albany."

With so much to do in Albany, why is it that with every opportunity to run for a different office, Koon puts his name out there?   County Executive in 2007.  State Senator the same year.   Congress in 2008.   Now Congress in 2010.   His own party rejects him each time.

The Democratic Party tolerates David Koon as someone who can milk a sympathy vote to hold that seat in the Assembly.   He can spin his wheels there and do no harm.   But that's it.

For Saturday's story the press asked Koon, will he be going through the next round of interviews as the Party's selects a nominee?   What next round?, he responded.

Mr. Koon's party is sending him a message.   We wonder if he's heard it yet.