Nap time

As anyone who has ever stayed in a hospital knows, the hardest thing to do is to get a good nights’ sleep. It brought to mind last night, as I struggled with the usual hospital issues, all of the times at the capitol when staying awake was a huge challenge. I’m now in a position to admit that more than once, typically in an LOB hearing room, I may have shut my eyes and missed a handful of the inspired words of our elected leaders.

This experience has also given me new appreciation of the skill of some lawmakers who could fall asleep at the drop of a hat.

I remember Senator Marty Knorr of Queens (inevitably, Marty Snore, in LCA parlance) who perfected the skill of sitting in his chair, not moving a muscle, but giving no indication that he was conscious. More interesting to watch was Senator Walter Floss of Erie County. Floss had the classic looks of a 19th-century lawmaker: a shock of white hair, a flowing white moustache, and an ample paunch. All that was missing from the scene was a spittoon by his Senate desk. Floss’ sleeping in his seat was far more interesting than Knorr’s – and more visible, since he sat in the first row, just a few feet away from reporters. First his eyes would get glassy, then he would tilt back in his seat, his eyes rolling back in his head. Finally, he would slouch forward, with his head bouncing off his chest.

I have to admit that both of these sleepers were Republicans. All I can figure is that, even in those days, planning various heists and scams at least kept the Democrats alert.