Posted on 11/02/2009 5:32:43 AM PST by markomalley
The conservative coup in upstate New York did much more than lay bare the power of conservative activists: It exposed how little control GOP officials hold over this surging and formidable political movement.
In the wake of conservatives’ role in forcing liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava out of Tuesday’s special election in New York’s 23rd District, GOP officials are trying to make it seem as if they are helping to stoke the passion — and can harness it to upend President Barack Obama and Democrats. They didn’t — and they can’t.
Many of the activists who helped knock out Scozzafava told POLITICO that the passion is building despite — and sometimes to spite — Republican leaders in Washington.
“I don’t give a crap about party,” said Jennifer Bernstone, a tea party organizer for Central New York 912, which helped to lead the anti-Scozzafava charge. “Grass-roots activists don’t care about party.”
Says Everett Wilkinson, a tea party organizer in Florida: “We are not going to allow our [movement] to be stolen by the GOP or by any political party.”
This energy on the right seems to exist outside the control of the conventional political structure, and GOP politicians and operatives are as likely to be victims of this anger as beneficiaries.
GOP leaders are about to learn the lesson again, several conservatives warned. Grass-roots activists are ready to turn their fire on Republicans in a host of races across the country, said Adam Brandon, a spokesman for FreedomWorks, an organization that helped gin up the tea party protests and town hall flare-ups.
“If you look at other bellwether races, we’re still going to be on opposing sides,” said Brandon, who pointed to the Florida Senate race, where a conservative former state House speaker is taking on GOP-establishment-backed Gov. Charlie Crist
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
If John McCain ever had a “soulmate”, that would have to be Charlie Crist.
At least McCain has a background of serving his country. Crist has done nothing but serve himself.
You are really going out of your way to post some good stuff. Keep up the good work!
B U M P
tnx
“In the wake of conservatives’ role in forcing liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava out of Tuesday’s special election in New York’s 23rd District, GOP officials are trying to make it seem as if they are helping to stoke the passion — and can harness it to upend President Barack Obama and Democrats. They didn’t — and they can’t.”
As another FReeper said (I paraphrase): Expect a mob of Pubbie ‘leaders’ trying to race to the front of the conservative resurgence shouting “Follow me!!” Guess what, boys and girls - the train has been out of the station for some time, and the best you can hope for is to be allowed to climb aboard.
” “We are not going to allow our [movement] to be stolen by the GOP or by any political party.” “
We need to keep up the momentum and ‘hoffman’ every Primary, and every election - from dogcatcher on up - between now and, well, forever....
The most important statement from this whole article:
“I don’t give a crap about party,” said Jennifer Bernstone, a tea party organizer for Central New York 912, which helped to lead the anti-Scozzafava charge. “Grass-roots activists don’t care about party.”
The sooner the GOP understands that Principal trumps Party every time the sooner they will be the Majority in Congress.
Sarah Palin.
Marco Rubio is our guy.
He can beat Charlie, but he needs our help.
Hopefully that will come to an end. Maybe when they realize that the money has dried up some of them will come to their senses. How much did they waste on Dede, over a $million?
“At least McCain has a background of serving his country. Crist has done nothing but serve himself.”
McCain left that admirable background of serving his country in his wake as he turned towards less than admirable self indulgence.
Now, driftdiver, you just hurt Lindsey Graham’s feelimgs.
Everyone. Eagles Up! Do ANYTHING that you can do in the next day. Outside of the Free Republic Bubble, talking just to ourselves, preaching just to the choir.
Be proactive and find a way to help in the NY-23rd, even if you are miles and states away form this election district--you can do so by phone and fax and e mail. The Obama White House has thrown down the gauntlet. They cannot suffer a MASSIVE OBAMA PR LOSS if this district goes to Conservative Doug Hoffman.
Crunch time, folks.
I sent emails to the RNC and Michael Steele last week before Scozzafava suspended her campaign telling them Scozzafava is a prime example of what’s wrong with the Republican Party and, if they don’t get back to Conservatism, they are doomed.
Now that Scozzafava has dropped out and endorsed the DemocRAT Owens, the RNC, Steele, and Newt have a lot of egg on their faces. I think Sarah Palin should be running the RNC. Maybe she can clean up the RNC like she cleaned up the Republican Party in Alaska.
Lindsey Graham?? Isn’t he another RINO?
They have no power because they betrayed us and we need to make sure that they never have the chance to do that again. I don’t understand where they could have gotten money for their “war chests” because sane people stopped taking their phone calls a long time ago.
Ginned up my arse! This is a ground swell of folks who have never been involved in politics. Real "change" is coming!!!!!!!!!!!
” the money has dried up some of them will come to their senses. “
Unfortunately, although the ‘grassroots fundraising’ makes the headlines, the vast majority of their money comes from BigBiz and corporate PACs....
And the ‘Big Donors’ are gonna redouble their efforts, since they know that a true Conservative Resurgence will mean the end of their gravy train....
Never has it been truer that ‘an honest politician is one who, once bought, stays bought’.....
The party was hijacked by them....strange that when the democrats looney left takes charge we get Barack Obama but if the conservatives take over the GOP we're in big trouble. the GOP got in trouble going to the left...not the right.
When Crist was talking about the bailout money I had this vision of some little dog so excited that it was wagging its tail off and wetting itself.
Corporations, PACs, Lobbies, Rhino’s!
IT’S ABOUT TIME TO START “PURGING” ALL THE RINOS WHO - WITH THEIR SO-CALLED “MODERATE VIEWS” FOR ‘BIG GOVERNMENT’ (yeah that includes you to GWB), RECKLESS SPENDING (bailout mania)- ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR LOSS OF POLITICAL CONTROL AND DECLINE IN OUR COUNTRY.
CRIST IS POLITICAL DEAD MEAT COME 2010!!!
You know John Glenn served this country well.........in the end though he was a corrupt liberal putz.............people change, or they float to their level.
This is proof that the MSM lied when they said the Republican Party was behind the tea parties. This race demonstrates that the Conservative movement is independent of Party.
hahha .....dede was never a conservative. more like a dem plant to help the other side get elected
Scozzafava showed her true colors by endorsing the Dem. A death to party bosses
I suspect in 2010 between my wife and myself we will give more than we have ever done in our life times.
Bitch took a million dollars of their money then stabbed them in the back....shows what dumasses they really are!
Crist is nothing more than a leftist RINO republican, I doubt he is even right of center.
Goodbye, John Boehner, Steele and others.
Maybe these GOP officials can explain how supporting a third party candidate is hijacking the GOP. If anything, its ignoring the GOP.
One of the talking heads said yesterday that Jeb Bush will endorse Rubio when the primary gets close, and, they said, that will put Rubio over the top to beat Crist.
That is baloney. Crist is going to lose because he is out of touch with GOP primary voters. Jeb Bush, if he does anything, will try to wheeze off of Rubio to build cred with the Tea Party.
Dear Mr. Bushes, thank all of you for your service. But no thanks to any more Bushes. OK? Got that?
“I will only give money to individual candidates. I will be receiving a check for $250 bucks because the government thinks I can be bought. My intent is to send half to Sarah and half to John Kasich for his run for Gov in Ohio.”
Oh, well done! I was going to support my local steakhouse with mine, but I think, now, I’ll send it to Sarah. You betcha!
Those numerous GOP officials that had the party running as “Democrats Light” sure did a great job of winning elections in ‘06 & ‘08. How can running as true Conservatives be any worse?
He impeached Clinton???
We are down to the Battle of Little Round Top at Gettysburg here, folks. This is really pivotal. A LOT rides on this over the next 36 hours.
Everyone. Eagles Up! Do ANYTHING that you can do in the next day. Outside of the Free Republic Bubble, talking just to ourselves, preaching just to the choir.
Be proactive and find a way to help in the NY-23rd, even if you are miles and states away form this election district—you can do so by phone and fax and e mail. The Obama White House has thrown down the gauntlet. They cannot suffer a MASSIVE OBAMA PR LOSS if this district goes to Conservative Doug Hoffman.
Crunch time, folks.
15 posted on Monday, November 02, 2009 6:49:16 AM by AmericanInTokyo
Not single handedly!
” How can running as true Conservatives be any worse? “
It’s that ‘running as’ that’s been a big part of our problem — for too long, we’ve been suckered by politicians that make conservative noises during campaigns, only to govern as ‘moderates’ (ie. ‘lickspittles for the Dems’), once elected....
We, as the Conservative electorate, need to grow up and start looking past the packaging....
“He impeached Clinton?”
Perhaps, have you seen what he’s been doing lately?
Cut spending, yet he wanted Barry Soetoro's stimulus money!!
Everybody in Florida KNEW or should know that Barry was visiting Florida last week, yet the Governor of the State did NOT know, meaning running away from the big hug he gave the usurper, Yellow!!!
I got campaign letter last week from Jeb Bush, Jr. for Marco Rubio!!!
Last I saw him on Greta's Record he firmly said NO to the Health Care bill!!
Still why did S.C. re-elected him, the State of Jim DeMint!!!
Still, he warned, load on too many conservatives, and they will “sink the boat.”
There you have it - too many conservatives in the Republican party.
That's the thinking of the Republican leadership.
Well Mr. Davis, tell me why you think conservatives should support your party.
It’s a tidal wave of patriotism I haven’t seen in my 61 years.
If you are not a conservative, you loose, it’s that simple.
Try to act like a conservative, you will be outed!
Let’s roll!
“We are not going to allow our [movement] to be stolen by the GOP or by any political party.”
That's for sure. The days of using scare tactics to get me to violate my core beliefs to shore a corrupt R-Party for their own sake are over.
“We have a lot of work to do. The [Doug] Hoffman campaign was the beginning. It was not the climax.”
The work for the soul of conservatism has only just begun. Republicans had best get on board while they still have a chance.
...said this rage against the GOP machine might feel good for disgruntled conservatives, but it could also land Republicans deep in the minority for years to come.
You think?! That choice is up to the liberally run GOP and certainly is not the fault of conservatives. The liberals have brought this war upon themselves. Their arrogance, stupidity and endless greed have done them in.
Still, he warned, load on too many conservatives, and they will “sink the boat.”
Yeah bub, your liberal GOP boat. You still aren't getting the message. I hope you know how to swim. LOL.
To be blunt, many conservative activists couldn't’t care less what Davis and top party officials think about them and their brand of politics.
That's certainly the truth. The liberal wing of the GOP have pissed away their future. They should just go ahead and abandon ship back to the Dim's rat infested flotilla.
Erick Erickson,....said grass-roots activists are done listening.
They are tired of listening to self-destructive propaganda emanating from the lips of the ratty mouths in the liberal wing of GOP party.
Right now, the power, the energy, the momentum — and the results — are on the side of the conservative activists.
And it will continue to grow once GOP-abused conservatives re-discover that thier voices can really make a difference once again.
Make no mistake: There is a huge divide between the public rants of this activist wing and the private angst of party leaders in D.C.
That's because they are still buying into the arrogant crap that they know better what's best for Republicans and conservatives and the rest of the American people. They're about to be handed their walking papers at long last.
Numerous GOP officials have told POLITICO they worry that the party has been hijacked by a noisy and powerful minority that will keep the GOP in a noisy and not-so-powerful minority for a long time.
Again, raw arrogance and monumental ignorance permeate the current liberal wing of the R-Party today. The conservative movement is and has always been the real power behind Republican wins in the past and will be again in the near future.
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