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Torching the Big Tent (NY Times on the GOP)
NY TImes ^
| 10/25/09
| Pinchy "loaf" Sulzberger
Posted on 10/26/2009 8:34:05 AM PDT by pissant
The feeble pulse of moderation in the Republican Party is in danger of flat-lining in the Nov. 3 Congressional election in upstate New York. Luminaries like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich have taken opposing sides over whether the party dare tolerate the official Republican candidate in the 23rd district Dede Scozzafava, a six-term assemblywoman whose record includes refreshing tinges of centrism.
Ms. Scozzafava was nominated by local party leaders as eminently electable despite or because of her defense of womens abortion rights and her tolerant views on same-sex marriage.
She is already shunned by many more ideologically narrow House Republicans, and deep-pocketed right-wing purists, pouring in hundreds of thousands of dollars, have driven up the poll numbers of Douglas Hoffman on the Conservative line. Barely noticed in the intramural scrum is the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens. He could profit most from the three-way split in the heavily Republican district, which was vacated by John McHugh, the G.O.P. moderate appointed secretary of the Army by President Obama.
Helping to elect the Democrat is not the aim of ambitious conservatives like Ms. Palin, last years vice presidential nominee, who is now intent on building a national constituency. She pronounced Scozzafavas candidacy unacceptable because it blurs the lines, at least of Ms. Palins idea of party orthodoxy. Mr. Gingrich, the former House speaker, nostalgic for the G.O.P.s big tent fantasy days, disagreed.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: New York
KEYWORDS: bigtent; dnc4rinos; gop; gopfuture; liberalbias; msm; msm4rinos; ny23; nytimes; propagandawingofdnc; rinoparty; rinopurge; rinos; scozzafava; whigpartyii
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To: pissant
There is a difference between being a good party member and being dedicated to a political ideology. I am a conservative, and I will vote for a conservative. I have no interest in voting for a liberal or moderate Republican. I would rather vote for a Blue Dog Democrat than a liberal Republican. It was RINOs that destroyed the “tent”. Why give them another chance to do it again? It seems illogical to elect a liberal Republican that votes with the liberal Democrats. Please save us from “centrists”.
To: pissant
I am surprised that a video or transcript of Gingrich on Fox&Friends yesterday hasn't made it to the Internet (that I can find).
Basically, he said to the conservatives regarding the upstate NY race, Butt out. It's none of YOUR business.
He went on to say it was a local election with local values, and so what if the upstaters want to elect a liberal Hoffman was polling last, while Scozzafava was polling first.
22
posted on
10/26/2009 8:53:04 AM PDT
by
TomGuy
To: pissant
refreshing tinges of centrism...defense of womens abortion rights and her tolerant views on same-sex marriage" Note where lies "centrism" on the NYT's sliding scale.
23
posted on
10/26/2009 8:53:19 AM PDT
by
dead
(I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
To: pissant
I’d really like an opportunity to sit down with the guys who picked Scozzafava and try to understand exactly what made that pick sound good to them. I’m not even, or at least not just, talking about her politics. I’m talking about “Teh Stupid...it burns.” Not to mention Teh Ugly. No wonder Pinch likes her.
24
posted on
10/26/2009 8:53:43 AM PDT
by
RichInOC
(No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
To: dead
Funny how they never seek centrism or moderation from the democrats.
25
posted on
10/26/2009 8:57:01 AM PDT
by
cripplecreek
(Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
To: pissant
This confirms my theorum that the media DEFINE centrism as wherever the RAT party is on the political spectrum at any given time. The NYT would no doubt consider Mao a centrist.
26
posted on
10/26/2009 8:57:57 AM PDT
by
Hacklehead
(Liberalism is the art of taking what works, breaking it, and then blaming conservatives.)
To: pissant
The problem with the “big tent” is that there isn’t any room for anyone who leans conservative.
27
posted on
10/26/2009 8:58:01 AM PDT
by
Blood of Tyrants
(The Second Amendment. Don't MAKE me use it.)
To: 1Old Pro
newt keeps mistakenly preaching that this was a LOCAL election from the people
IIRC, he did the opposite in the early 90s with his Contract for America. His intent then was to create a 'national' election for the House membership.
28
posted on
10/26/2009 8:58:10 AM PDT
by
TomGuy
To: Blood of Tyrants
The problem with the big tent is that there isnt any room for anyone who leans conservative.
By design.
They will vote the party candidate, whomever it is. After all, where else are they going to go? Fishing?
29
posted on
10/26/2009 9:01:25 AM PDT
by
TomGuy
To: dirtboy
I wonder if the NY Times would view a Dem candidate who was against cap and trade, against health care reform, and against abortion as demonstrating refreshing tinges of centrism.
I'm still waiting to see their article extolling the blue dogs for having some concerns about the host of health care legislation.
To: pissant
With Dedes being so far to the left she might just split the RAT vote. I wonder if the NYT has thought about that?
31
posted on
10/26/2009 9:02:23 AM PDT
by
Beagle8U
(Free Republic -- One stop shopping ....... It's the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
To: pissant
Mrs. Palin, tear down that tent!!!!
32
posted on
10/26/2009 9:03:17 AM PDT
by
blf1776
(The Left is ruthless, the GOP is spineless.)
To: Blood of Tyrants
Another FReeper once said that around election time the RINOs step outside the big tent and shake hands, invite us inside, offer to feed us and ask us to vote for their guy.
After the vote they make us feel like we’ve overstayed our welcome and point us toward the door.
In off years the only time they see us is when they step outside to chuck rocks at us.
33
posted on
10/26/2009 9:04:22 AM PDT
by
cripplecreek
(Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
To: cripplecreek
In off years the only time they see us is when they step outside to chuck rocks at us.As a Ron Paul supporter, I can relate.
34
posted on
10/26/2009 9:09:36 AM PDT
by
mvpel
(Michael Pelletier)
To: TomGuy
Whether Hoffman wins or loses in NY, I hope the GOP gets the message: We will not sit by and just take whatever RINO they put on the ticket.
35
posted on
10/26/2009 9:13:09 AM PDT
by
Blood of Tyrants
(The Second Amendment. Don't MAKE me use it.)
To: cripplecreek
After the vote they make us feel like weve overstayed our welcome and point us toward the door.Young, vibrant, enthusiastic Ron Paul supporters packed a Hillsborough County Republican "meet-the-candidates" event at a Nashua golf course, in order to hear Rep. Paul talk about sound money, shrinking the size and reach of government, and obeying the Constitution, and you should have seen the grey-haired party stalwarts seethe at having to put up with it. Especially when the airplane towing the Ron Paul banner began circling overhead.
36
posted on
10/26/2009 9:13:13 AM PDT
by
mvpel
(Michael Pelletier)
To: TomGuy
I didn’t realize that Newt had moved to upstate NY. If he hasn’t, perhaps he should take his own advice, and butt out.
37
posted on
10/26/2009 9:14:24 AM PDT
by
stop_fascism
(Georgism is Capitalism's best, last hope)
To: TomGuy
Pot calling Kettle.
Considering he involved himself he has no room to speak. Neither does the Republican Leadership since their advice was consulted for this “local” race.
To: pissant
“refreshing tinges of centrism”.
You know when the NY Times likes a candidate, that’s someone who votes with liberals.
Regretably, the NY Times’ ink-laden advice lacks utility even when viewed through the lens of pet bird droppings.
39
posted on
10/26/2009 9:21:15 AM PDT
by
rod1
To: pissant
Oh, Pinchy, oh, Pinchy, oh, yeah, baby, you’re hittin’ that sweet spot. C’mon, baby. Hit me again.
40
posted on
10/26/2009 9:21:38 AM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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