Posts Tagged ‘NY-23’

Conservatives have a problem, and the NY-23 congressional race is only making it worse. Don’t get me wrong, I am pulling for Doug Hoffman, and if I lived in the district I’d certainly vote for him. But, there is the dilemma – stick with the GOP or go third party. The Republican Party has moved to the left, and conservatives are understandably feeling abandoned, after all there hasn’t been a real conservative candidate in over 20 years.

We must be careful though, we’ve been down this road before.

Remember, we all thought Bush 41 was going to be alright; he’d been the Gipper’s VP for eight years. But, that “no new taxes” campaign promise… I can still see those Saturday Night Live skits; Dana Carvey’s spot on, “it wouldn’t be prudent.” It was because of that broken promise many of us voted for Perot in 1992; good or bad, had we all stuck with 41, he’d have served a second term.

Here’s the problem, the Democrats own their base. The Republicans have sold theirs out. If you’re a liberal, you’re a Democrat; if you’re a socialist or a statist, you’re a Democrat. If you’re pro-choice, pro-union, pro-gun control, you’re a Democrat. If you’re a conservative, you might be a Republican, or a Libertarian, maybe Conservative Party member, or the American Conservative Party, or perhaps you’re a Constitutionist, or maybe you’re none of the above.

I know there are exceptions to the rule, Joe Liberman, Zell Miller, etc. The point is the Democrat Party has moved toward its money base, and the Republican Party has moved away from its. And yes, unfortunately, it is about the money.

You can say it’s about principal and not party, and to a certain degree, you’re right. But, at some point you have to look at party affiliation, it does serve its purpose. Without party affiliation there is no majority; without a majority there are no committee chairmanships; without committee chairmanships there is no agenda. If conservative groups write off the GOP, they must either find a way to band together into one major affiliation or risk remaining in the minority for another 40 years.

But then again perhaps the NY-23 election is a warning shot across the bow that turns the GOP ship around. I guess only time will tell.

Okay, I know I’m a day late on this, but so is Bloomberg; besides, Sunday is my family day. I have a wife and kids that need and deserve some Daddy time.

So, I read this this morning and literally laughed out loud. How is it that everyone except the establishment republicans saw this coming. Oh wait, I answered my own question.

Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) — Former Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava endorsed the Democratic contender for a vacant New York congressional seat over a Conservative backed by Republican leaders one day after she withdrew from the race.

Scozzafava, a state assemblywoman, yesterday announced she is supporting Democrat Bill Owens in his race against Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, in a Nov. 3 special election in New York’s traditionally Republican 23rd congressional district.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Scozzafava’s endorsement of Owens on its Web site. She didn’t return a message left at her campaign office, and her home voice mailbox was full. She appeared yesterday at a campaign event with Owens in Canton, New York, according to Jon Boughtin, an Owens spokesman.

So let’s recap, she gets the republican nod, campaigns on the GOP ticket, continually tries to explain how “she’s really a republican,” starts to fall behind, quits, then supports the Democrat, and now she’s not available for comment. Imagine that.

Stuart Rothenberg, publisher of the Washington-based Rothenberg Political Report, said in an interview that until Scozzafava suspended her campaign, there were “basically two Republicans in this race.”

“This significantly enhances the Republicans’ chances of holding the seat, but now with Hoffman,” Rothenberg said. “While everything I’ve seen leads me to believe Hoffman has the edge, I don’t think it’s a slam dunk.”

Scozzafava was closer to Democrats than Republicans on some issues, he said. Republican leaders in New York erred in selecting her to run for the seat because she wasn’t broadly acceptable to “the base” of Republican voters, said Rothenberg.

She wasn’t accepted, because she’s a LIBERAL. Even now, people are not understanding why grassroots organizations had a conniption. Conservatives have been without true representation for over 20 years.

White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said yesterday, “It’s rather telling when the Republican Party forces out a moderate Republican.” Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” she said the party is “becoming more and more extreme and more and more marginalized.”

With all do respect Ms. Jarrett, you’re an idiot. First of all, Republicans didn’t “force out a moderate,” they flooded her with money. Voters selected someone they liked better, and like a spoiled six-year old Scozzafava quit because she was losing; she picked up her marbles, and went home. And also, the “party” is not”becoming more and more marginalized,” and that’s the problem. Voters can’t see a difference in the two power parties, and that’s why the “extreme” candidate is winning.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele endorsed Hoffman and said the party will offer him financial backing. Hoffman “shares Republican principles and will serve the interests of his constituents in Congress,” Steele said in a statement.

It must difficult to see through all that egg on your face.

I haven’t talked about this, because, frankly, I never felt there was much I could do about it, and there still probably isn’t, but this is about more than the 23rd NY congressional district. It’s about principal, it’s about freedom, and it’s about “We the People.”

Here’s a quick rundown. Back in June, Obama appointed John McHugh to Secretary of the Army. With that appointment, McHugh’s was up to a special election on 3 Nov, a week from tomorrow. New York state GOP nominated Dede Scozzafava, a liberal republican state assemblywomen to run on the GOP ticket. Grass roots conservatives had a cow. Here’s why, Scozzofava is a tax and spend, pro-union, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, and basically pro-Democrat liberal.

Now, back to my point. Why is it that Michelle Malkin, Fred Thompson, Sarah Palin, Steve Forbes, Dick Armey, Mark Levin, and other conservative activists have lent support to NY-23 candidate Doug Hoffman? Perhaps because he’s conservative! He supports the 2nd amendment, he’s pro-life, supports the marriage amendment, smaller government and lower taxes – hmmm, sounds like he has the right ideas. But, Newt Gingrich and a few other brainwashed establishment republicans have a problem with Hoffman, because he’s third partier. Politico is reporting Newt was caught telling tea party organizer Lisa Miller “a vote for Hoffman would be a ‘mistake.’”

“I just think it is a mistake for the conservative movement to think splitting in the special election is a smart idea,” Gingrich said. “If we give that seat to the Democrats, shame on us.”

With all do respect Mr. Speaker, did you look at Scozzafava’s record, her whole record? What would a vote for her would be giving up?

Asked why he chose to back Scozzafava, who supports abortion rights, same sex marriage and has ties with local labor leaders, Gingrich responded, “Let’s just start with she is the nominee of the local party. My bias is to be for the nominee of the local party, and I don’t second guess the local party.”

Perhaps you should second guess the local party when it nominates a candidate who doesn’t fall in line with the party platform. Some have said the GOP is the open party, the tent party, the party that allows all candidates, the party that support all opinions, the party that positions itself for all Americans. Well, some may be right; perhaps it is the tent party, the all inclusive party, and because, it’s now the MINORITY party. It’s not about party Mr. Speaker, it’s about principals.

Gingrich also argued that Scozzafava, a state assemblywoman, stands a better chance of winning the seat over Hoffman, who is trailing in public polls.

“In the last poll that came out yesterday, she is well ahead,” he said. “And she is much more likely to beat the Democrat than Hoffman because Hoffman doesn’t live in the district.”

“He’s never won an election in the district,” Gingrich said of Hoffman, “[Scozzafava] represents the biggest county in the district. She actually knows the local issues, and Hoffman has says publicly he doesn’t know the local issues.”

Oh, I didn’t realize he was behind in the polls;  there is certainly no way he can win now. Does the name Virginia Shapard ring a bell, Newt? Oh, and he doesn’t know the local issues; by that don’t you mean he doesn’t know the pork? Isn’t this a national seat?

Mr Speaker, an old buddy of mine once gave me an analogy about a pan of brownies. He asked if a wanted a pan of brownies. Sure, why not, right? Well, what about if I swapped out a few chocolate chips, for something else – let’s say a byproduct of Alpo. They still look like brownies, probably smell like brownies. But, in reality, they’re full of crap. Well, apologies Mr. Speaker, but the grassroots conservative movement has a pretty good nose, and you sir, the NY GOP are peddling brownie, and them ain’t chocolate chips.

See the YouTube video here.