Confusion Reigns in Albany; Shocking News About Coup Leader

The clowns are running the show in Albany. Only at this juncture nobody can say with any certainty which clowns.

Confusion gripped the Capitol and the Senate chamber remained dark yesterday, as Democrats feverishly scrambled to regain control after a Republican coup knocked them out of the box.

Deposed Senate leader Malcolm Smith (D-Queens) accused the Democratic mutineers of rank extortion and influence peddling.

The fast-paced, never-before-seen developments at the Capitol yesterday included:

* Senate business -- usually at a fever pitch in June -- ground to a halt yesterday while Democrats mulled legal action to delay a session scheduled for 3 p.m. today.

* Rumors swirled that a handful of other Democratic lawmakers were preparing to defect to the Republicans.

* The White House even jumped into the fray, trying to save Democratic control of the state Senate.

* More chaos loomed with the GOP threatening to hold a session in a public park near the Capitol today if Democrats failed to hand over keys to the gilded chamber.

"There is no constitutional requirement that we'll meet in that room," said Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., the Bronx Democrat who defected along with Hiram Monserrate of Queens to give the GOP a 32-30 working majority. "We'll just have to take it outside."

Meanwhile, Fred Dicker says Paterson has gotten what he's deserved.

The breathtaking coup that appears to have ousted Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith could claim what remains of Gov. Paterson's political career.

Not only is Paterson's record-high, tax-and-spend budget being blamed for pushing two Senate Democrats into the ranks of the Republicans, his claims to be a fiscally prudent government reformer are about to be put to the test in a way that could not have been imagined just a few days ago.

The new Republican/Democratic alliance that voted Monday to remove Smith is preparing to vote over the next two weeks on a range of conservative-oriented reforms, including a cap on state spending, a cap on local school property taxes, and the re-establishment of the popular STAR property tax rebates, which were abolished by Paterson's budget.

The problem for the unelected Paterson, who polls show is the most unpopular governor in the nation, is that he's proposed and supported both tax caps -- but he did so at a time when he was certain that neither would pass a Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Still, for my money the biggest shock to come out of this mess, orchestrated by Tom Golisano?

Dig this.

AMID all the chaos in Albany, the upstate billionaire at the center of the state Senate upheaval yesterday coyly confirmed he's dating tennis great Monica Seles.

Buffalo Sabres owner and upstate king-maker Thomas Golisano, 67 -- credited with convincing two rogue Democratic senators to join forces with the GOP -- has been spotted for months squiring around Seles, 35.

When asked yesterday if the two were a pair, the normally unflappable Paychex founder -- who was making the interview rounds all over the state capital -- seemed taken aback.

"Why do you want to know?" said Golisano, clearly more comfortable talking policy than romance.

Finally, the thrice-divorced Golisano told The Post's Jennifer Fermino, "Monica and I see each other."

The May-December pair first raised eyebrows last year, when Golisano brought her to a ceremony recognizing his $10 million donation to Niagara University.

He also brought Seles to a Sabres game, where the Tennis Hall of Famer sat with him and former President Bill Clinton. And, when asked in a Forbes.com article last fall what the coolest number in his cellphone was, Golisano crowed, "Monica Seles.' "

'New York Would Be Better Served If They Bought a One-Way Ticket'

Well, it's not like there's a recession and people are tightening their belts, cutting costs and doing without the luxuries in life. Of course, being a New York Democrat means never having to apologize for wasting taxpayer money.

While Rome burns, Malcolm Smith and his state Senate pals will be touring the world. Despite the crippling fiscal crisis and the threat of massive MTA fare hikes, the Senate majority leader plans to lead a delegation of fellow Democrats to Puerto Rico next weekend -- followed by outings to China, Israel and India.

The junket plans set off a firestorm of criticism.

"New York would be better served if they bought a one-way ticket," said Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos (R-LI).

Sen. Dean Skelos (R-LI) said, "I don't need to travel outside of New York -- and, frankly, I don't think anyone does -- to understand how important it is to try to create jobs here.

"That should be our overriding concern: create jobs, stimulate the economy and provide tax relief to people. If you have to go to India to figure that out, there's something wrong."

Maybe the hookers are cheaper there.

Season's Beatings: Unhinged Democrat Edition

We played Name That Party the other day when New York Democrat Hiram Monserrate was busted for slashing his girlfriend in the face with a beer bottle. Well, it turns out the mere sight of another man's business card sent the loony liberal into a volcanic rage.

So nice to see these Democrats comporting themselves like adults.

State Sen.-elect Hiram Monserrate flew into a volcanic rage and attacked his girlfriend after seeing another man's business card in her purse, sources told The Post yesterday.

The law-enforcement sources also believe that the jealous Monserrate was so angry that he deliberately broke a glass into jagged pieces so he could slash Karla Giraldo, who required 20 stitches around her left eye following the alleged domestic-violence assault.

Sources said her wound is consistent with a jagged piece of glass tearing into her skin.

Investigators have seen the business card and who it belongs to and consider it potential evidence in the case.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that a top aide to Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith showed up at the police station to offer assistance to Monserrate, a fellow Democrat, on the morning he was busted.

Smith's office confirmed that Chief of Staff Mortimer Lawrence - a former Queens assistant DA - went to the 105th Precinct station house in Queens Village to help Monserrate, but insisted Smith did not direct him to do so.

"[Lawrence] was there on his own volition to see how he could help an incoming member of the Senate," said Smith spokesman Austin Shaffran.

"He did not do anything to try to intervene on Mr. Monserrate's behalf. He did not speak to Monserrate at the precinct. Nor was his appearance at the direction of Senator Smith," Shaffran said.

Nah, those Dems would never try and help keep something like this hush-hush. I'm sure he was just there to help offer some solace to this deranged lunatic.

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