Democrats boarding D.C.-bound Biden express

Ronald J. Rosenberg, BridgeTower Media Newswires

Amtrak may have to put on a special Washington bound train if all those New Yorkers who now seek jobs with the potential Biden Administration actually get the call and Biden is confirmed as the winner.

The speculation of who might leave for the Beltway begins with Gov. Andrew Cuomo who, by his repeated insistence that he has no interest, is probably very interested. As former HUD secretary, he is particularly well armed to do battle with the Washington bureaucracy, but it would have to be a significant post that carries daily national exposure and one that might – just might – position him for a future presidential run (in which he has repeatedly and unconvincingly denied having any interest). That would compel us to believe that the governor is perfectly content to continue to live in Albany with a left-leaning legislature in a state that has a multi-billion-dollar deficit.

Far closer to home, Democrats galore must be sending in their resumes to the Biden HR department.

One name high on the list must be Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. Re-elected in November of 2019, he is term limited to run again for that office. One could speculate that this telegenic public official could make a statewide run but no Democrat is going anywhere with Andrew Cuomo owning the governor’s mansion. In addition, virtually every Long Island Democrat seeking statewide office needs to run the gauntlet of a primary and that means overcoming the enormous New York City Democratic extreme leftist machine.

It is a lesson not lost on other Long Island Democrats including Tom Suozzi who was soundly defeated in a Democratic primary for Governor with Manhattan’s Eliot Spitzer taking that prize. So it is clear: If you are a Democrat who seeks to get up and out of Long Island politics your best bet is catching a train to Washington if Biden is confirmed to be the next president.

That leaves a number of other possible Biden administration job applicants from Long Island. Former Congressman Steve Israel has pursued a number of careers following his retirement from The Hill. Author, educator, commentator, and think tank executive, he welcomed then private citizen Joe Biden to one of his symposiums where they both served up commentary and comedy. But if a return to public service isn’t to his liking he would be one of the more effective lobbyists in Washington having long ago passed the one year “cooling off” period that prohibits a member of the House from being a paid advocate, but thereafter allows House members to lobby to their hearts and bank account’s delight.

In the Peter King’s Congressional district former Babylon Town Councilwoman Jackie Gordon lost to Republican Andrew Garbarino. An African-American military veteran, she gave up her town council position to make that run as the Democrats thought this was the time, the place, and the person to flip the district “Blue.”

It would not be a surprise for the respected and influential Suffolk Democratic leader Rich Schaffer to ask the elected Biden team to seriously consider Jackie Gordon’s resume for an appropriate position in the administration.

For some it is a life’s calling and a commitment to public service. For others hoping to make their way to Washington, it is a lifeboat.

Martyred President John F. Kennedy once sought the “best and the brightest” of people to comprise his senior staff and power his presidency. Instead, just before his tragic assassination, “the best” started to pursue a course in Vietnam that had neither the force of will nor a strategy that would allow victory.

As Biden’s HR department wades through the resumes it would be best to avoid allowing our nation’s past to be prologue.

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Ronald J. Rosenberg, a graduate of St. John’s University Law School and resident of Old Westbury, is senior founding partner of Rosenberg, Calica & Birney LLP, a Garden City law firm.