Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is really piling the praise on thick here at the Democratic convention, lauding to the skies the man who has targeted Albany – Democrats and Republicans alike – and seemed to target the speaker with his proposed reforms.

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Silver noted that he has known AG Andrew Cuomo since he was working in his father’s administration back in the 1980s, adding: “Andrew has earned our respect and support.

The speaker voiced some (very generalized) support for the AG’s call to clean up the Capitol, saying:

“Neither I, nor the Assembly Democrats, or anyone here, wants a continuation of the last 16 years in Albany.”

“…We are always at our best when we are working together, united on a common mission. Working together toward a common goal,” the speaker added.

“Given the state of the Republican Party today, that message should resonate loudly and clearly for all of us.”

“Speaking for the Assembly Democrats we are looking forward to having partners in our government to carry out the Democratic vision for New York state.”

Silver also sent a subtle message to the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, who right now has wide double-digit leads over all his would-be GOP opponents: The Legislature is a co-equal branch of government.

The speaker said he and his conference look forward to working with a leader who “appreciates and respects the legislative process for what it is – the very heart and soul of democracy.

That sounds to me like a bit of a swipe at Gov. David Paterson, with whom the speaker has not been getting along too well, of late. (Although Silver did inform the press a deal has been reached in Albany to keep the parks open).

It also could be read as a criticism of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, whose steamroller approach didn’t sit well with the speaker, either.

The two Democrats tangled early on in the short-lived Spitzer administration over the Legislature’s selection of former Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli to replace former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi.

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