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.

[cc2k]

Has everyone seen this: “The Most Important Number in Politics Today.”

Doug Hoffman is the Conservative alternative in this race (or Hoffman by PayPal).

Markos Moulitsas, founder of The Daily Kos has endorsed Scozzafava. Dede Scozzafava has also been endorsed by NYSUT, the largest labor union in New York, and an affiliate of the National Education Association.

Scozzafava also holds these positions:

• Pro choice
• In favor of gay marriage
• In favor of Employee Free Choice Act (and has said she would co-sponsor Card Check legislation)
• In favor of the Stimulus
• In favor of Bank Bailouts

Scozzafava has also run in past elections on the Working Families Party (a progressive party associated with ACORN) line on the ballot.

This lady isn’t a RINO, she is a big “R” libeRal democRat. Mark Steyn has coined the term DIABLO for her and others like her. Democrat In All But Label Only.

There are also at least 17 unprincipled DIABLO enablers in the house who have donated funds or otherwise supported to this LibeRal democRat's DIABLO’s campaign. They include Boehner, Cantor, Sessions, Hensarling, Brown-Waite and McCotter. I don’t have a full list, but I will be looking for it. These unprincipled enablers should be targeted for elimination in the primaries next year.

Also, perhaps those of us who donated to the RNC or RCCC should ask for our money back so we can support the conservative candidates of our choice.

Other threads related to this race:
• Top Republicans jump ship in NY-23 (Santorum joins Palin, Bachmann, Thompson, Armey, Forbes)
• Conservative Rebellion Explodes in New York over Extreme Liberal GOP Candidate
• 2009/2010: Palin backs Hoffman (NY-23)
• DFU SONG: New York New York (the Doug Hoffman campaign song)
• Big day for Hoffman after Palin endorsement: $116K
• Palin Endorses Hoffman = Huge Donation Increase
• PALIN MAKES HEADLINES AND SCARES THE GOP SILLY WITH ENDORSEMENT
• Kansas GOP Rep. Tiahrt Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23
• Scozzafava Declares Herself Part of Abramoff Wing of GOP: Funnels Campaign Cash to Family
• Pawlenty tiptoes into a race that's fracturing the GOP
• Huckabee Doesn't Endorse Hoffman In NY-23 -- But Agrees With Him On Everything
• Sarah Palin's latest blunder (Liberal Wishful Thinking)
• Scozzafava Declares Herself Part of Abramoff Wing of GOP: Funnels Campaign Cash to Family
• Scozza-mentum: T-Paw may endorse Hoffman
• Doug Hoffman returns for a NiteCap at Freedom Radio Sunday 8pm

More threads ...

---

From the desk of cc2k:

I support Doug Hoffman for Congress (PayPal). Please, spread the word about this important election on November 3, 2009 in New York’s 23rd congressional district.

[Ge0ffrey]

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

[classified]

So is the race between the R and the C. Is the D even in the race anymore?

[DGHoodini]

Hey, you “pragmatist” RINO Party “leaders”:

If you won’t represent our views.
Don’t claim to speak for us!

We *will* disavow you!

[goldstategop]

So is the Washington leadership. If the district goes to a Democrat so be it. But we'll know who fumbled away the seat if Hoffman doesn't win.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[Kimberly GG]

“This is the game-changer,” added Dick Armey”...

In some respects, true. If Hoffman looses, will we be hearing screams about how his supporters divided the party, causing the Dem to win....similar to the rants heard against those who refused to support McCain/Palin? If he wins, hopefully, going forward, we will NOT be subject to such accusations!

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.

[SumProVita]

“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.”

YES!!!! Strong conservative principles WORK when followed.

[olezip]

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.

I look at the choice as between conservatives vs. RINOs, not pragmatists. Democrat-lite has repeatedly failed for the Republican Party; voters would rather have a real Democrat every time. The conservatives are just trying to get the Republican Party back on track, more like a return to the consistent principles put forth by Ronald Reagan.

[SumProVita]

“If Hoffman looses...”

Donate to his campaign:
http://www.doughoffmanforcongress.com

[ez]

The D is leading the race with 33% since the R and C are splitting over 50 percent of the pie.

[Dr. Sivana]

When David Duke was the top Republican vote-getter in the Louisiana in 1991, the entire Republican establishment rightly withdrew support for the nominee, preferring Edwin Edwards, a common political crook and a Democrat.

Scozzafava is out of bounds for conservatives just as David Duke is.

[classified]

I’m sure the D will end up losing in the end.

[GregH]

The D is actually winning in the polls as the R and the C are splitting each others votes.

[AD from SpringBay]

“This is the game-changer,” added Dick Armey...

With all due respect to Mr. Armey - this is a game changer. Win or lose, there will be other battles like this one. My guess is the RNC will have to see this happen several times before they understand and before the house cleaning is done.

[fishtank]

Going Rogue - indeed.

Necessary.

[cc2k]

classified wrote:

So is the race between the R and the C. Is the D even in the race anymore?

There is a Democrat in the race. And a well financed one at that. Bill Owens is his name, and up through October 14, he was well ahead in the polls and in fundraising. He is slightly to the right of the Republican on the issues, but well to the left of Hoffman and also of John McHugh, the congressman who won this district with 65% of the vote last year.

The Democrats think this will be a big win if they can pull it off. But Hoffman has a really good chance. His positions on the issues are fairly close to McHugh’s positions. He needs to work, though. All this national attention has been getting him funding to advertise. He also has been rumored to have the best ground game. That might be what it comes down to.

Hoffman really needs to concentrate on his district, though, and let the national attention do what it will. He was criticized earlier in the week because he canceled a local “meet the candidates&rquo; event to go on Glenn Beck’s TV hour. He was wise enough to cancel the Beck interview and make the local appearance. Hoffman also had an interview at a local paper, and wasn’t as up to speed on local issues as they had hoped. He needs to remember, all politics is local.

I think the endorsements he has been getting are an indication that he is moving up in the polls in the districts, though. The published polls are a little stale, even the latest one released was done mostly before the police 911 call incident and Scozzafava’s lies about that event. And there hasn’t been a poll released since Palin’s endorsement. That endorsement helped immensely with funding, but might not be worth much in the polls. I wonder if John McHugh will say anything about this race for his old seat?

---

From the desk of cc2k:

I support Doug Hoffman for Congress (PayPal). Please, spread the word about this important election on November 3, 2009 in New York’s 23rd congressional district.

[I am Richard Brandon]

“They’re making New York 23 a last stand,” blogger Erick Erickson tells Politico. “New York should be a hill to die on for conservative activists.”

Last stand!

More like an opening salvo!

[hoosiermama]

We need to use the “OBAMA METHOD”: Find out the dirt on the Diablo and insist she step aside......;~)

[norwaypinesavage]

Sarah was out in front on this one. I hope the Beltway RINOs are quaking in their boots.

[Lundy_s Lane II]

The latest poll results from M-W show the following:

Bill Owens (D) 35%

Dede Scozzafava (R) 30%

Doug Hoffman (C) 23%

Undecided 12%

http://oswegocountytoday.com/?p=24306

So it is possible for Doug Hoffman to win just need to peel some support from Scozzafava and for the undecided to split to Doug Hoffman’s favor.

I think it will be very close with Hoffman having a real shot at winning.