The Conservative Victory in New York (Outside of NY-23, Westerchester county, for one)

The Corner @ NRO ^ | November 4, 2009 | Kathryn Jean Lopez

[St. Louis Conservative]

From a New York political observer:

The biggest defeat for RINOs in New York wasn't the pre-election collapse of Dede Scozzafava in the 23rd CD. It was tonight's stunning victory by conservative Republican Rob Astorino in the race for County Executive of Westchester County—the affluent and heavily taxed suburb just north of NYC, which has been solidly Democratic for more than a decade. Astorino's victory is a stinging rebuke to the brand of New York Republicanism personified by Assemblywoman Scozzafava, former Gov. (and Westchester native son) George Pataki, and Westchester's famously liberal former state Sen. Nicky Spano of Yonkers, who had endorsed incumbent Democratic County Executive Andy Spano (no relation) and engineered Andy Spano's endorsement by the local Conservative party. Astorino, 42, a county legislator who used to co-host a satellite radio show with Cardinal Egan, happens to be pro-life — but going against the trend established by Pataki and other suburban Republicans in the 1990s, he didn't waver from that position. He knew the pro-choice swing vote in Westchester would be motivated by primarily economic issues. He was right, and has a bright future in statewide politics if he does a good job. An even more stunning Republican showing came in the other big, affluent NYC suburb, Nassau County, where an underfunded Republican named Ed Mangano was — as of midnight — in a dead heat with the charismatic Democratic County Executive Tom Suozzi. Meanwhile, the GOP recaptured control of that county's legislature. Nassau residents apparently were so fed up with the status quo that they may have returned control of county government to the same discredited GOP machine that nearly drove the county into bankruptcy just eight years ago. In a word, Wow.

[Niuhuru]

I knew it would happen like this. People are so fed up withe placating ‘step softly’ politicians that actual leaders are being elected.

[NewJerseyJoe]

Considering that (A) nobody had heard of Doug Hoffman before about 3 weeks ago, (B) thousands of votes in St. Lawrence County were not counted, and (C) Hoffman still got almost 50% of the vote, I don't write off NY-23 as a complete loss.

If it taught nothing else, it dealt a black eye to Newt Gingrich, Michael Steele, and all the other appeasers. (I'm waiting for them to come out today with their "see-we-told-you-so" speeches.)

NY-23 was an imperfect blueprint for what is still to come. These are exciting times.

[nodumbblonde]

Considering that (A) nobody had heard of Doug Hoffman before about 3 weeks ago, (B) thousands of votes in St. Lawrence County were not counted, and (C) Hoffman still got almost 50% of the vote, I don't write off NY-23 as a complete loss.

And running 3rd party! I hope that shook up some RINOs!

[US Navy Vet]

I would say that one thing that this race did was flush out RINOs and make RINOs take a stand and now we know who our allies are. Newtie and the RNC can go FO!

[Alex Murphy]

If it taught nothing else, it dealt a black eye to Newt Gingrich, Michael Steele, and all the other appeasers. (I'm waiting for them to come out today with their "see-we-told-you-so" speeches.)

Bingo!

[nodumbblonde]

I think they’ve staked everything on the belief that conservatives will stick to the (R).

I honestly don’t know if a 3rd party candidate can ever win The Big One but I sure like that these RINOs have to be a little off-balance now and (hopefully), wondering: “Am I next?”

Makes me want to drop a line to my little buddy, Dick Lugar. :D

[Breto]

I hate to say this but I think Rush took down Hoffman with his Bestiality comment. Very bad timing. If he had waited until after Hoffman won, which I believe he would have, it would have been perfect. Now its just fodder for the moderates to say conservatives and Palin cant win.

[ROTB]

Could you please name the day Rush did that? PErhaps even a link?

Rush not annointing Hunter or Tancredo in 2008 still bugs me to no end. If you can give me a solid reason to declare Rush a traitor, I’m done.

[Breto]

check his website. He made the comments Nov 2 2009. It is the first stupid thing I have ever see him do but it was stupid and it did give the Dem an opportunity to be the man and stand up for the ladies valor.

From rushlimbaugh.com

“BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: Do you remember my great line yesterday about Dede Scozzafava? The libs are outraged by it and Owens in New York-23 has come out to defend Dede Scozzafava against this brazen personal attack launched by me and all I said was — I think it was a fabulous line. I mean, I like the line so much I’m going to repeat it for you. I accused her of bestiality, screwed every RINO in the country. The play on words there is RINO, Republican-in-name-only. By screwed I meant she just gave them the shaft, she just showed the world what RINOs are. They think I was actually accusing her of bestiality. Here’s a montage of liberals offended by it.”

[ROTB]

So, people change their votes on dreck like this?

[Breto]

Unfortunately yes and examples abound where skittish people react and usually its on the republican side. Liberals don’t seem to react the same. To them perversions are a resume enhancer.