Scozzafava Drops Out Of NY 23: What Does That Say About The GOP?
State Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava (above, right) has quit the race for the congressional seat that had been occupied by John McHugh in New York’s 23rd district. Scozzafava is a moderate Republican, but not right-wing enough for today’s GOP, and so all the money is flowing to conservative Doug Hoffman (center), who doesn’t even live in the district. The move probably will hurt the momentum Bill Owens (left) has been showing. Scozzafava released this statement:
“In recent days, polls have indicated that my chances of winning this election are not as strong as we would like them to be. The reality that I’ve come to accept is that in today’s political arena, you must be able to back up your message with money–and as I’ve been outspent on both sides, I’ve been unable to effectively address many of the charges that have been made about my record,” Scozzafava said in a statement. “It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so.”
Scozzafava, who is a Republican in the tradition of many New Yorkers, such as Jacob Javits and Nelson Rockefeller, is pro-gay, pro-union and pro-choice. Unfortunately, that doesn’t fly with today’s national party. Her resignation from the face may help keep the seat in Republican hands, as the party moves further to the right.
Was that a coup? Or a Chicago-like politics??
October 31st, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Is that a banana republican party?
October 31st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
So what?
I say let them degenerate into a party of hatred and ignorance. Nobody is voting for this nonsense and nobody but a small minority of corporate-spun Fox News viewers even believe all this bull-crud.
Let their party destroy itself by putting up the most insane people they can find, because these are the people like identify with.
then when they lose all their power and start whining about the “liberal conspiracy” we can all remind them at they shot themselves in the foot.
flap Reply:
October 31st, 2009 at 7:44 pm
“putting up the most insane people they can find”
Just because people disagree with you doesn’t make them insane.
Why should Republicans become watered-down versions of Democrats? No thanks. KEEP THE CHANGE.
October 31st, 2009 at 4:14 pm
What it says is that now you see why conservatives don’t fall for your media friends line of crap that if the Republicans were more liberal they’d win elections, everyone sees what a transparent play for unelectability that is. Do you think opponents are going to give advice on how to help the opposition WIN? The people of the 23rd had three choices, and Scozzafava came in a distant last. And don’t blame it on the endorsements, in 1991 David Duke was abandoned by all the GOP including President Bush and still was nominated by the Louisiana citizens because that was the climate at that time in that state. And thus it is in the 23rd, will you liberals stop equating “Republican” with “conservative,” the 23rd district is a relatively conservative district. They weren’t going to vote for Kucinich with an R by her name. And you keep forgetting that Owens is a moderate who is far more conservative than you will be, so if he wins its not some great victory for San Francisco values. Thats how elections ought to be, sane people realize Olympia Snowe keeps getting reelected in Maine by overwhelming numbers because that area is a large government left of center region but they feel comfortable with her brand of politics and party identification. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who every conservative readily admits was a terrible governor and horribly unqualified for the job (which is why Gerry Brown is probably the next governor of California, due to his prior experience), managed to win California as a Republican because he ran on issues pertinent to that region. You ran a post on Jim Webb of Virginia walking into DC with his gun, violating the laws. Well, guess what, even the people with a D by their name in Virginia are literate enough to know what the Second Amendment really means and they elect people who reflect those values. This is a REPRESENTATIVE democracy, the people from Alaska don’t hold the same positions as the people from Manhattan.
And althoguh most conservatives want Hoffman to win, obviously, they aren’t that upset if Owens pulls out a victory. It was a tremendous victory for Hoffman to outbid the party establishment and take back control of the debate, and running neck to neck with his competitor is an amazing accomplishment.
The Founding Fathers said the key to democracy was people who had no interest in government as a career leaving their station in life, serving the people of their community, and then returning to a private life. Maybe you should read a biography of George Washington, who was a great president not because of some bold agenda of crammign crap down people’s throats but because he reluctantly served when asked even though he would much rather have stayed at Mount Vernon. Of course a person who loves their country isn’t what is ideal, people who want to be dictators for life and blow the treasury sowing pork and special interest seed money across the country to create gerrymandered safe seats and bribe the constituents into ignoring their situation just to win that majority by the letter is what the left is after. And the Republicans who decided to follow this very philosophy gave America George Bush and Karl Rove, so just look in the mirror. Maybe instead of criticizing regular people who want to run, we should encourage them.
Am I the only one who remembers the Paul Wellstone “Fast Paul” ads? He’d be ashamed of the two parties today and their dedication to victory at any cost.
OldLefty Reply:
October 31st, 2009 at 7:19 pm
It’s the same as expecting liberals to fall for YOUR media friends line of crap that if Democrats were more Conservative, they’d win elections. they’d win elections.
Hoffman had a meeting with the local newspaper, brought Dick Army with him, and knew nothing about local issues, but he may appeal to the lowest common denominator.
And one newspaper called Washington a “scourge and misfortune.”.
The only difference between then and now, is the enormous amount of money.
burqa Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 11:15 pm
“will you liberals stop equating “Republican” with “conservative,””
We do that when we see the conservatives use expressions like “RINO.”
The message is someone is not a Republican unless they are conservative.
So who are the ones doung the “equating,” hmmmm?
October 31st, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Dems and liberals get sooooo tied up in knots whenever a very liberal Republican loses an attempt to successfully run for political office.
What is happining in NY23 is a good thing.
GOOD LUCK MR. HOFFMAN.
OldLefty Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:19 am
YEAH!…because Hoffman does not live in the district, and could not answer any questions about is$ues within the district…..but he DOES tell the conservatives there that they’re pretty.
Daddio Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 am
What kind of cheese do you like Lefty?
The problem is is that you liberals saw one of your own in Scozzafava only with an R beside her name. That way no matter who won with her in the race you would get the candidate you wanted elected.
OldLefty Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:30 am
The Scozzafava race is no different than the Spector, or Liberman.
You guys hate Spector because you see a liberal, you love Liberman because you see a right winger.
If he was a liberal who does not live in the district, and could not answer any questions about is$ues within the district…….please!
Daddio Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:40 am
Never said I “hated” anyone Lefty. I don’t like their particular ideology or agendas, but I don’t “hate” them.
I see a liberal in Lieberman. But I also see in Lieberman a man who says what he means and means what he says. He stands by his principles. I probably don’t agree with him about 90 percent of the time, but he is very stong on national defense which is the primary concern of our federal government.
Spector has no principles. He switched parties simply because his Republican challenger was going to defeat him in the primary. He is your typical Washington politician…in it simply for the power. I see Lieberman as a man who is there for love of country.
OldLefty Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 am
Few people actually say the “hate”.
I think it is hard to see ANY principles in Lieberman, except what Likud tells him is good for Israel.
He was FOR universal health care (the same as Congress has), before he was against it….not to mention his wife worked for a lobbying group who represented Big Pharm.
He was AGAINST the filibuster before he was for it.
I see no evidence that he is for a strong national defense. Don’t confuse defense with defense industry.
Lieberman has pretty much put himself up to bidder…basically, “Ok, everybody…what will you offer me?”
Daddio Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:57 am
So Lieberman was ok at one time then he removed himself from the Democrat party and now he is a man of no principles? Isn’t that the same kind of talk you accuse Republicans of about Spector?
You speak with forked tongue.
OldLefty Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:02 am
Actually, Lieberman lost in a free and fair election, ( while Democrats supported him until he lost.)
He THEN campaigned for the Republicans, BASHING Obama and Democrats, THEN came crawling back when they won the majority, (chairmanships and other majority perks having more weight than principles)
And what is the “Democrat party”…a new party??
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:15 am
The republicans are now eating their own. It is a party in its death throes.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:01 am