Four Things We Learned From the NY 23 Race

Fox News ^ | Nov 4, 2009 | Andrea Tantaros

[yongin]

After weeks of ups and downs and unknowns in the special election for the 23rd congressional district of New York with conservative candidate Doug Hoffman losing to Democrat Bill Owens (one that which played out much like a political telanovela) analysts can agree on one absolute: we love drama.

This race was reality television at its best with all the necessary ingredients: an underdog (Hoffman), a train wreck (Scozzafava), celebrity influence (Palin) and an attentive national media. And like many reality shows, after you've watched it you feel like you learned almost nothing.

So what did we learn about NY 23 besides its dizzying storyline?

1. We learned that the Republican Party establishment in Washington is not losing its influence; it simply backed a bad candidate in Scozzafava -- someone it never initially selected, nominated or wholeheartedly endorsed. Sometimes, candidates are just plain weak (see the Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia governor's races) and in places like New York where third party candidates are common, a door is opened for someone outside the norm.

2. We learned that Sarah Palin doesn't just "go rogue" herself; she helps others do the same. Palin's an earned media machine. She was able to help bring the battle to the national stage (Heck, the woman could get the national press corps to focus on a potato sack race competition). Even those who think the former Alaska governor is political poison, at the very least, have to admit her endorsement didn't hurt Hoffman and didn't help Scozzafava. The real question: is this a trend...for her? If Sarah Palin has any hopes of winning a national office

[SoConPubbie]

From the Article:

3. From the NY 23 race we also learned that this is not the beginning of a GOP civil war. For decades moderates and conservatives have faced each other in primaries, but when faux Republicans like Scozzafava who espouse liberal beliefs run for higher office they run the risk of getting challenged, clipped or even defeated by someone from the right, or often helping the guy on the left.

Andrea is another pundit either on the GOP payroll, or just does not get it.

[yongin]

George Stephanopoulos Take on NY-23

Winners:

Rahm Emanuel – for opening seat up with McHugh pick for Army Secretary.

Chuck Schumer and Steve Israel – for convincing Scozzafava to endorse Owens.

Joe Biden – for closing the deal with last minute rally. (Now 2-0 v Sarah Palin)

Dede Scozzafava – what will she get from the White House and grateful Dems?

Losers:
Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty – if you go for the kill, you gotta win.

NRCC – lost once with Scozzafava, once with Hoffman.

Club for Growth – a million dollars is a terrible thing to waste.

Too Early to Tell:

Newt Gingrich – will he be rewarded or punished for prescient Cassandra warning?

Health Care – Pelosi needs every vote she can get – Owens will help. But will overall Tuesday results make moderate Senate Dems even more cautious?

[OneWingedShark]

We learned that GOP candidates will endorse Democrats over third-party peoples; thus lending credibility to the accusation that Republicans and Democrats are two heads of the same political party.

[Smokin' Joe]

We learned that the Republican Party establishment in Washington is not losing its influence; it simply backed a bad candidate in Scozzafava -- someone it never initially selected, nominated or wholeheartedly endorsed.

De-nial is more than a river...

Spin it any way y'all want, but the Republican Party had best 'get it' and adapt to the renewed environment of Conservative spirit in America, or it will go the way of the dinosaurs.

[vetvetdoug]

IMO if there is a third party then the Democrats will garner all of the marbles. We need to clean out the chafe from the Republican Party and go for a running of the table.

[grey_whiskers]

1. We learned that the Republican Party establishment in Washington is not losing its influence; it simply backed a bad candidate in Scozzafava -- someone it never initially selected, nominated or wholeheartedly endorsed. Sometimes, candidates are just plain weak (see the Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia governor's races) and in places like New York where third party candidates are common, a door is opened for someone outside the norm.

So much influence that they couldn't keep her from endorsing the DEM??

2. We learned that Sarah Palin doesn't just "go rogue" herself; she helps others do the same. Palin's an earned media machine. She was able to help bring the battle to the national stage (Heck, the woman could get the national press corps to focus on a potato sack race competition). Even those who think the former Alaska governor is political poison, at the very least, have to admit her endorsement didn't hurt Hoffman and didn't help Scozzafava.

Check the polling numbers for each before and AFTER Sarah's Facebook.

Compare and contrast that to this level of involvement by Obama for Corzine, to help calibrate the scale:

3. From the NY 23 race we also learned that this is not the beginning of a GOP civil war. For decades moderates and conservatives have faced each other in primaries, but when faux Republicans like Scozzafava who espouse liberal beliefs run for higher office they run the risk of getting challenged, clipped or even defeated by someone from the right, or often helping the guy on the left.

No, it won't be Civil at all. The RINOs, poofters, and Dem moles in the DC establishment have been condescending long enough: they're about to get it back IN SPADES at the ballot box.

4. We learned that despite all the craziness, the voters -- not the pundits, polls or the politicians -- make the final call. But in the case of NY 23, maybe the most telling takeaway is the only absolute: we love a good story.

This story of betrayal of the grass roots, first by the party bosses in NY, then by the DC establishment, in NY 23 is by no means a good story. The good story was Corzine getting PWN3D in NJ despite repeated live, in person campaign visits from Obama (see above) and the SWEEP of top elected offices in VA, despite the Dems' earlier claims that this state represented a bellwether for the Dems future prospects.

Oh, and the defeat of Gay Marriage in liberal Maine.

Cheers!

[varon]

If Sarah Palin has any hopes of winning a national office ............

we need to topple the national Republican hierarchy who are as afraid of her as are the Socialists and will jointly attempt to destroy her.

[Navy Patriot]

We learned McHugh the RSC and the RNC are still collectively dumber than a stump.

We learned that Sarah Palin Fred Thompson and Tim Pawlenty were among the few to see McHugh's foolish move for what it was, and try to do something to deny Rats a seat that Republican stupidity made available.

We learned Scuzzyfloozie was a ringer, right from the very start, undetected by RINO country clubbers.

Just wait, McHugh will be astounded when Zer0 screws the Army, how could it possibly happen??????

[Fetid Facts]

“We learned that despite all the craziness, the voters — not the pundits, polls or the politicians — make the final call. “

Who is this “we” the author speaks of? I think most people have known since childhood that the voters make the final call (except in races where the Democrat loses by a slim margin and the necessary votes for a win are manufactured.)

I also think Sarah should continue to endorse principled conservative candidates even if they do look nerdy and are not gifted public speakers. By doing so she distinguishes herself from the RINOs and establishes her position with the Republican base, not to mention independents who are too conservative to consider themselves Republicans.

[DannyTN]

"the Republican Party establishment in Washington is not losing its influence; it simply backed a bad candidate in Scozzafava -- someone it never initially selected, nominated or wholeheartedly endorsed."

ROFLMAO. If they didn't select, nominate and endorse Scuzzy, who the heck did? Clinton didn't have sex with that woman either.

[Fetid Facts]

I agree. We have a far left party with a few moderate members—the Democrats, and a moderate party with a few conservative members—the Republicans. The only way a third party helps Republicans is if it’s more left than the Jackass party, and while those parties exist, they’re lucky to get 1% of the vote.

A conservative third party with any substantial following will only hand the election to the Dems. The best bet for conservatives is to move the Republicans to the the right.

[AndyJackson]

the Republican Party establishment in Washington is not losing its influence; it simply backed a bad candidate

Well, when the dims run with the notion that Dim losses don't mean declining 0 influence, the pubbie establishment can only fight that kind of illogic with incredible illogic of its own. Wouldn't think of trying a good idea. Nope. Wouldn't be prudent.

With two brain dead parties we have no choice but to look elsewhere for leadership.

[AndyJackson]

McHugh's foolish move

What kind of idiot trades seniority in the House for Secretary of the Army for the other side? Every day I am more underwhelmed by the combined IQ of the pubbie starting bench.

[Navy Patriot]

What kind of idiot trades seniority in the House for Secretary of the Army for the other side?

The Republican kind!

Bizzarro world.

[Souled_Out]

"We learned that GOP candidates will endorse Democrats over third-party peoples; thus lending credibility to the accusation that Republicans and Democrats are two heads of the same political party."

---

We also learned that Republicans will vote for Democrats rather than put a Conservative in office. Conservatives are to the Republican party what Blacks are to the Democrat party.

We are played for our votes, left waiting after the votes are in and blamed for any loses.

[Dan Middleton]

"Andrea is another pundit either on the GOP payroll, or just does not get it."

I see nothing particularly objectionable in the paragraph you quoted, unless you're upset because you WANT it to be the beginning of a "GOP civil war," and what followed was entirely obvious and correct.

[new cruelty]

George Stephanopoulos Take on NY-23: will overall Tuesday results make moderate Senate Dems even more cautious?

Why? Cautious of what? george babbles a bunch of bull crap about how rahm, schumer, biden, scozzafava are all winners for their acts in this election... if they're so great, why would anyone have anything to fear from conservatives?

[onevoter]

Let’s face it - one thing that we, as Republicans learned from this “good story” is that our party is falling for the media line that the Republicans need to move to the middle in order to win. First they shoved John McCain down our throats (and onto our ballots) and now this joke from New York. I, for one, couldn’t have been more disappointed that Newt Gingrich and many others endorsed her to begin with. Our party IS splitting - we are stuck in a position of truly conservative voters vs. a party that is shifting more and more to the left. That is the setting that is giving Sarah Palin her fan base- unlike the long-time insiders, she actually GETS IT! This writer obviously doesn’t.

[AndyJackson]

He can spend the next 3 years watching his autopen sign discharge certificates. Maybe by the end of his time he will figure out how it works, unless 0 tosses him out in a year or so because he needs someone with a positive IQ.

[TChad]

1. We learned that the Republican Party establishment in Washington is not losing its influence...

Wrong, we learned that conservatives have the influence (and the will and the means) to defeat the GOP's beloved RINOs. The GOP's influence was shown to be less than the conservatives' influence. We defeated the RINO, we just failed to defeat the Democrat.

We learned that Sarah Palin doesn't just "go rogue" herself; she helps others do the same.

No, we just had our suspicions confirmed that Sarah Palin is a conservative who prefers to support conservatives. This was not always clear during the McCain campaign.

From the NY 23 race we also learned that this is not the beginning of a GOP civil war.

The GOP lost this battle. It represented a significant escalation of a very old GOP civil war.

We learned that despite all the craziness, the voters -- not the pundits, polls or the politicians -- make the final call.

Maybe it was news to Andrea Tantaros, but most people learn it in elementary school.

But in the case of NY 23, maybe the most telling takeaway is the only absolute: we love a good story.

Written like a true Peggy Noonanite to whom politics is theater and only theater. Lady, if you love theater, go review a damn play. Take Noonan with you.

Doug Hoffman was all but unknown to voters up until a few weeks ago. He was a mediocre candidate, a geeky accountant spouting conservative slogans while showing little interest in or understanding of local issues. His candidacy was promoted by out-of-state ideologues who were less pro-Hoffman than they were furious that the Scozzafava had been chosen as the Republican candidate. Despite those huge negatives, Hoffman came close to winning. It demonstrated the power of the resurgence of American conservatism -- and its current limits.

If onlys: If only Hoffman had faced Scozzafava in a primary, if only the election had been held a few weeks later so voters could have become more familiar with Hoffman, if only Scozzafava or Newt had endorsed Hoffman, if only more voters had learned that Scozzafava had withdrawn. Perhaps, if the polls are to be believed, if only Scozzafava had not withdrawn...

[TomasUSMC]

We learned that the Republican Party establishment in Washington is not losing its influence
//////////////////

oh oohh OH yes it is! The GOP didn’t pick Hoffman. The GOP picked the RINO. THE WORTHLESS GOP Leader Steele defended obambi his homebro - saying it wasn’t a referundem on the Prez. Another epic fail.

Palin was right. THE TEA PARTY FOLKS ARE RIGHT.

Its not about Red or Blue now, its about left or RIGHT.

[TomasUSMC]

The hell with big tent politics. NO MAS.

Tents ain’t used in an Attack, and WE ARE ATTACKING....big ponchos and combat boots ok. ....Those who want big tents go somewhere else. We don’t need people who sit on their butts in the big tent on election day.

We need ATTACKERS on election day.

[Navy Patriot]

In the Congress, Representative McHugh was a strong advocate for Fort Drum, for the Army, and for the needs of all those who serve. Fort Drum, home of the Army's 10th Mountain Division, is located in Waterville, N.Y., which is McHugh's hometown. Fort Drum also is part of McHugh's former congressional district.

McHugh successfully supported important acquisition reform legislation that was passed earlier this year.

McHugh's late father was an Army Air Corps B-17 bomber crewman during World War II and his mother was an Army nurse.

McHugh was far more effective in protecting the military from abuse, as a ranking Congressman, than Zer0 will allow as his flunky.

McHugh will be hobbled for everything except delivering the bad news to the Army, and Zer0/Rat crypto communists will keep him there so all the bad news will come from a Republican.

The Rats want a "kill the messenger" response from the military to rub off on Republicans.

It's a pity McHugh is not adept at strategic analysis, or he would have seen through this vile plot.

[OneWingedShark]

>We also learned that Republicans will vote for Democrats rather than put a Conservative in office. Conservatives are to the Republican party what Blacks are to the Democrat party.
>
>We are played for our votes, left waiting after the votes are in and blamed for any loses.

Indeed, I think Beck is right and we do need a third [second?] party.

[Smokin' Joe]

With two brain dead parties we have no choice but to look elsewhere for leadership.

We, after repeatedly requesting, pleading, demanding more conservative leadership from the GOP, have decided that despite our best efforts to point out the rocks and shoals on their current course, we either have to sieze the helm or man the lifeboats.

Now, as never before, Americans and Conservatives have the tools to build a new conservative political party, one which takes the former Republican platform and the Constitution to heart.

While a pro-life, pro-thrift, pro-energy development (including oil and gas and coal and nuclear and alternatives), pro-national defense, pro-Second Amendment, pro-industry (from small business up), Constitutionally-limited Federal Government might not be the cat's meow for some Americans, There is an awful lot there to like when confronted with the present alternative.

If the Republican party will not take advantage of the rising tide of discontent with the current state of American Government, and prefers to remain on liberty in the fleshpots and dens of corruption with which Democrat and Republican alike seem to be enamored, perhaps it is time to cast off from the two-party pier.

One of the tremendous concepts which is alien to hardcore Party voters is the idea that without principles, the Party means nothing. It is the principles which matter.

Sarah Palin apparently understands this.

Even if the remainder of the Republican Party heierarchy has an epiphany and suddenly realizes this, that to conservatives, principles are paramount, would we trust them to carry forth the standard?

No, not at this point.

[RinaseaofDs]

Common sense is anything but. The Republican Party is bereft of it.