Prelude to Republican Fratricide

NewMajority ^ | October 22nd, 2009 at 10:04 am | David Frum

[tgusa]

Not to everyone, apparently. You can tell an election is getting close by the number of sermons given about conservatives coming home to the party as well as the hordes of trolls coming out from under their bridges.

[Cedric]

the GOP SHOULD NOT win that seat by nominating a liberal.

Agreed.

[fluffdaddy]

“If Hoffman stays out, the GOP wins the seat.”

Wrong. If Hoffman stays out the House GOP is stuck with another RINO who will break ranks on key votes and weaken the party caucus, perhaps for decades. With Hoffman in one of two things happens. Either he pulls off an upset or he gets a clean shot at a very weak Dem incumbent next year. Either way conservatives and Republicans are better off.

Supporting Hoffman makes sense even if you ignore the fact that Dede is a terrible candidate. Ideology (and aesthetics) aside, she's an embarrassment we can well do without. None of the rationalizations for Republican support of Scozzafava make the slightest sense, and everyone with a firing synapse knows it.

[CharacterCounts]

Am I mistaken, or is the Democrat more moderate than the Republican in this election?

[Servant of the Cross]

There is no doubt that Frum is an idiot (as are "NY State GOP leaders").

State Republican Party leaders prevented an open primary race and instead engineered the nomination of one of their own, moderate, pro-choice Assemblywoman Deirdre Scozzafava.

A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency or simply to swell its numbers. ... PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

[Cedric]

I couldn’t.

[dirtboy]

If Hoffman stays out, the GOP wins the seat.

And for what? A pubbie that endorsed card check, tax hikes AND abortion? In other words, a pubbie that alienates just about every wing of the conservative movement - fiscal, economic freedom and socon? If you think Maine's Glimmer Twin RINO senators are bad, just wait.

[skully]

When is the last time a candidate chosen by a national party stepped aside so a candidate not chosen by the party could win?

None that I know of. Nor do I expect her to step aside, but she's still in the way. A liberal like her has no business running on the GOP ticket in this district. If there was a primary for this seat instead of her being hand picked by the party, she wouldn't even be on the ballot.

This seat is up for reelection again in 2010, and the GOP will have a primary. More likely a conservative candidate will run. It would be better to try and take out an incumbent Dem, then an incumbent RINO; otherwise will be doing more of the same vote splitting next year in this district. NY GOP messed this one up.

[Tribune7]

Regardless of politics, how could you support someone that calls the cops if asked a question? . . .I couldn't

Then the problem isn't Hoffman or the conservatives but the official candidate. The GOP simply picked a vain, unreasonable person. They blew it.

[CharacterCounts]

If Hoffman stays out, the GOP wins the seat.

And what do conservatives win?

That's right- nothing.

[Cedric]

I just don’t see Hoffman winning.

But if he’s the real deal, this race will raise his name ID and he can win the Republican primary in 2010.

The primaries are where the changes must take place.

[ConservativeWarrior]

The undeniable truth is that Hoffman will throw this election to the Democrat.

Don't you mean the undeniable truth is that the GOP will throw this election to the Democrat?

The only remaining question is whether it will be the Dem democrat, or the GOP democrat.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

We need to get Michael Steele replaced immediately...

Not likely. He was an affirmative action response to obama and any attempt to unseat him will have even more screams of "racism" leveled at the (R).

No, were stuck with steele for the foreseeable future, unfortunately.

[Cedric]

The choice was baffling.

But the GOP’s stuck with her now.

The ideal would be for her to come in 3rd, but I don't think that's gonna happen.

This Frum article is just a foretaste of what is to come if (as I suspect) the Democrat wins and Hoffman comes in 3rd.

[andy58-in-nh]

Living too long in DC apparently does cause long-term damage to your moral compass and ability to distinguish reality from the little fantasy bubble world of Gover-land.

It's not "fratricide", Frum: liberals are not our "brothers" in this fight. They are destructive invaders and need to be expelled before they destroy the GOP.

So, as Howie Carr likes to say: screw.

[PapaBear3625]

State Republican Party leaders prevented an open primary race and instead engineered the nomination of one of their own, moderate, pro-choice Assemblywoman Deirdre Scozzafava.

The Republican insiders did not vote ideology, they voted for an insider who could be counted on to push for favors for GOP insiders, in exchange for her legislative support to the Dems.

[Cedric]

Mr. Steele is entitled to preside over the 2010 Republican campaign.

[RichInOC]

Okay, Dave, if the Republican came off as smart and presentable and at least minimally competent (and at least minimally conservative) and the Conservative Party candidate were a stumbling mess, I might tend to give the GOPer the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately for you, it’s shaping up to be exactly the other way around. I’m trying to figure out exactly what the New York party saw in Ms. Scozzafava, because I’m not seeing it. Party loyalty is not a suicide pact.

[Cedric]

Mr. Steele is entitled to preside over the 2010 Republican campaign.

[skully]

But if he’s the real deal, this race will raise his name ID and he can win the Republican primary in 2010.

There's a good chance that'll be the case, unless Hoffman wins, and I think he has good chance to win.
I see your concern about the Dems getting another seat, but in this case; I think sending a msg to GOP leadership is more important, then giving this RINO a toe hold incumbency. Let the Dems have the seat for a year.

The NY GOP made this mess, but believe me the national GOP is watching this race, they'll get the point. Whether the GOP elite will set aside their arrogance and reach out to conservatives is another matter.