Republicans going rogue in upstate New York

Christian Science Monitor ^ | October 24, 2009 | Patrik Jonsson

[cc2k]

This fall's only congressional election, featuring a third-party conservative challenging the Republican nominee, tests the future of the GOP. Will the Tea Party insurgency prevail?

Atlanta

Pitting conservative purists against party pragmatists, a growing number of national Republican figures are bucking the party standard and backing a third-party candidate in the sole congressional election scheduled this year, upstate New York’s 23rd congressional district.

Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, former Senator Rick Santorum, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, current Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann, former Tennessee Senator and presidential candidate Fred Thompson, and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes have all backed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman over Republican Dede Scozzafava.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty — a potential presidential candidate in 2012 — suggested Friday on ABC News that he’s strongly considering backing Hoffman, as well.

“Our nation is at a crossroads, and this is once again a time for choosing,” Ms. Palin, author of the upcoming book, “Going Rogue,” wrote Thursday on her Facebook page. “This is the game-changer,” added Dick Armey, whose Freedom Works organization has supported the Tea Party movement.

Palin, et al. represent what can only be called the Tea Party insurgency, whose adherents point to mainstream Republicans — including party philosopher Newt Gingrich — and their support of Ms. Scozzafava as another sign that the GOP has strayed from its core principles.

[conservativegramma]

“DIABLO”...I like it!

Diablo means DEVIL in spanish. Spanish is one of the 4 romance langugages derived from Latin. The latin root for ‘Diablo’ is found in the Greek ‘Diabolos’. Literal translation means 1) to slander, to accuse others falsely, 2)as applied to men to be opposed to God and to side with evil.

Can there possibly be a more fitting description of democrats and rino repulicans???????

No more RINO for me! From now on its DIABLO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kimberly GG]

“All we have to keep our eyes open for now are the fake conservatives, that will surely try to ride the coattails of this movement.”

My point exactly.

[PhiKapMom]

I am not sure about NY State. I would think so but they have so many different rules there who knows.

Don’t see how anyone can get 50%.

[PhiKapMom]

I agree with everything you said. Right now I would be inclined to go with Pence for Speaker. I am so impressed with him as head of the Conference. They crank out the best articles — he is not afraid to take a stand.

Wouldn’t vote for the woman for dog catcher. Now you know why I won’t make a donation to RNC — don’t want to see my donation used to support such a liberal. RNC should have stayed out of it as they supported a real loser.

[mojitojoe]

She’s a mole. She’s no RINO, she’s a raging Progressive liberal. I donated to Hoffman.

[firebrand]

At least the national attention may prevent criminal ACORN shenanigans, Obama sticking his nose in to inflate his balloon puppet, and other Dem tricks like getting people to vote outside their true residential district.

[firebrand]

Here's one from youtube.

[Lundy_s Lane II]

Yes one put out by the Hoffman campaign. I haven’t seen that recently on air. But it was shown a few times awhile back.

[Al B.]

Funny how the term “going rogue” has become part of the political lexicon lately. Sorta like “death panels”. But she’s a featherhead doncha know? /s

[cc2k]

Others have answered your questions to a large degree, but just to clear one thing up. Hoffman has said that if elected, he would caucus with the Republicans. In general, that means that he would support their choice for speaker, and that the Republicans would seat him on committee(s) in seats that they control. Sanders worked with the Democrats in a similar way.

---

From the desk of cc2k:

Candidates I support: Doug Hoffman for Congress, NY 23rd (PayPal), David Harmer for Congress, CA 10th. Please, spread the word about these important special elections on November 3, 209: New York’s 23rd congressional district and California’s 10th congressional district.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Scozzafava isn't a “pragmatist,” she’s a liberal.

You caught that too. Implication being of course that conservatives are not earthbound pragmatists.

IMO, it is a LACK of pragmatism on the part of the Republican party to be backing Scozzafava. Pragmatism is backing a conservative candidate that can win a conservative district.

Common sense. A rare commodity at GOP headquarters. They don't even have brainstorming sessions there....can't be done without brains.

[firebrand]

The sound is louder when the remarks about the Scamozza are being made, then softer when Hoffman is finally mentioned. I hope this isn’t the way it came across on television.

[drummer10]

To All:

"In any event, I don’t consider folks like Armey and others who support amnesty, as part of ANY “conservative” party/movement. It would be no different than including McCain."

Armey, like most of the "GOP," are Opportunists.

BUMP!!!!

:-)

[drummer10]

To All: "“All we have to keep our eyes open for now are the fake conservatives, that will surely try to ride the coattails of this movement.”

My point exactly."

Excellent point!

Resist/REJECT the "OPPORTUNISTS."

:-)

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

In the general election, if the D polls 33% and there are only two alternatives to the D, one of those two must command more than 33%.

[ez]

Right, but 15 percent are undecided in this poll, so the D could get a share of them and rise above 33%.

[April Lexington]

That reminds me... my pool needs cleaning!

[seton89]

I don’t remember TO ever being a pool boy.

[April Lexington]

Sorry, sometimes my jokes just don’t work...

[FactReal]

LEFTISTS LOVE LIBERAL REPUBLICAN DEDE SCOZZAFAVA

by FactReal

RINO (Republican In Name Only)

DONATIONS FROM ABORTIONISTS & LABOR UNIONS: (PDF1, PDF2) Source: Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, FEC index:

$1,000 from the Planned Parenthood PAC (FEC Report)

$2,500 from the New York Choice PAC (FEC Report)

$5,000 from the National Education Association’s (NEA) political action committee (FEC Report)

$5,000 from the American Federation of Teachers PAC (FEC Report)

$2,500 from the union the International Longshoreman’s Association (FEC Report)

$2,500 from the unino the United Transportation Union PAC (FEC Report)

$1,000 from the union the local International Brotherhood of Electric Workers (FEC Report)

$2,000 from a renewable energy association (FEC Report)

ENDORSED BY LEFTISTS:

- Daily Kos' founder and far-left blogger Markos Moulitsas Zúñiga:

He enthused that Scozzafava has “been willing to raise taxes when budgets require it, and is to the left of most Democrats on social issues.”

- Several labor unions - Union Central Trades

NEWT GINGRICH IS WRONG IN ENDORSING DEDE

- Newt Gingrich: My support for Scozzafava is a means to a conservative majority What??? Newt, we already tried that strategy of endorsing a Republican-In-Name-Only (RINO) like John McCain which resulted with radical Obama in the White House. Other RINOS have only betrayed the American people by supporting liberal policies (i.e., Arlen Specter, Collins, Snowe). If the American people vote against Conservatism (small government, low taxes, fiscal responsiblity and freedom) so be it....we lose fair and square. Let the Democrats own their disaster.

FactReal