Politics on the Hudson

The new coalition that hopes to rule the state Senate didn’t win any friends with the media today.

As scores of reporters, photographers and other media types milled around outside the Republicans’ office waiting to be allowed into a press conference early this afternoon, they were told instead to gather outside the Senate chambers – about 50 yards from where they were standing.

After a pell-mell scramble to get good positions, journalists were kept waiting for about two hours and 15 minutes, tightly packed into the area, with some TV photographers having to keep their heavy equipment on their shoulders for much of the time. TV lights and the surplus of bodies soon made the space uncomfortably warm.

They were given several false alarms about the impending arrival of the stars of the show.  Some drifted away before the emergence of the leaders, but then came back to add to the crush.  Some reporters tried to organize a mass exodus, but, being harder to herd than cats, most stayed put. Reporters asked the Senate pr staff to call it off for the moment, and just tell them when to reconvene. But they were rebuffed.

The scene became more frenzied as the deadlines for TV evening newscasts approached, with camera operators arguing even during the remarks from the leaders when they finally showed up. Then there was general pushing and shoving as the journalists pursued the three politicians through the halls.

There were no reports of fatalities or serious injuries, however. And quotes were gotten,  still photographs shot and TV images captured.