It Looks Like Marriage WILL Come To A Vote In NY Senate Tonight

Well, shut my mouth. If Sen. Ruben Diaz has fled to his Albany office to pray against the gays, THAT is surely the strongest sign that the marriage vote will rilly, rilly happen tonight.

Here's the strongest sign yet that the gay marriage bill will indeed come to the Senate floor for a vote before the day is over: Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., the measure's most outspoken opponent, has retired to his Albany office to pray.

"I don't know why it has to be done in special session. I don't know why it has to be today. Is it going to be done? I believe so," Diaz Sr. told me rather glumly during a brief telephone interview just now. "Of course I'm going to vote 'no' - that's my position...I will hold all my comments for the floor if the issue comes to the floor. You will hear me say everything I have to say about it. I have a strong feeling that it is (coming to the floor). I’m in my office. I'm calling around. I'm praying." "...I don’t know anything anymore," Diaz Sr. added. "I don’t know what’s going on anymore. People give you word and then they go back on their word. There is no gentleman’s agreement anymore. Me, I give you my word and I don’t go back on it. Not anymore."

Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell, who is carrying the marriage bill in the lower house, told Jimmy Vielkind this afternoon that the Assembly plans to re-pass the measure

Whether we have the votes to actually pass same-sex marriage remains highly debatable, despite assurances from openly gay pols like Sen. Tom Duane and NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Nevertheless, I'll order in some dinner and get a live stream/live blog going of the Senate proceedings.