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NY-23 2009: America has changed [Hoffman concedes defeat to Owens]
Doug Hoffman for Congress ^ | 2009-11-04

Posted on 11/03/2009 9:58:12 PM PST by rabscuttle385

America has changed, and you have helped. Although we did not succeed in winning this election, we have succeeded in making sure political parties and special interests no longer take the people for granted. I believe we have sent a powerful message and laid the groundwork for future conservative campaigns.

I congratulate Bill Owens on a hard won victory. In our tradition of free elections, our country continues. And although Bill Owens has won, I believe America is turning the page to a new dawn.

The ideas of freedom, sound fiscal management and citizen government have sprung back into our consciousness. Our founding fathers would be proud of New York 23. It was here that our principles, those that have been the foundation of our nation, came back to life with a vengeance. And it was here that the people rose up against the political bosses who tried to impose their will. It was here that people reached out to control their own destinies again.

Despite the election results, I am optimistic for our future, because now I know that I am not alone in wanting to repair our great nation. Throughout this campaign I have been inspired by the outpouring of support and the intensity of that support.

I’ve met many different people in this campaign, from many walks of life and many professions; each with a different personal story to share. Yet we are all united in the belief that by participating in democracy, we could inspire change.

I urge that no one feel defeated, for this was only one of many elections. We came close, we put our agenda in front of the nation and the nation took notice. The worse thing we could do now, is not continue forward. Next year there are other elections and other candidates who have drawn inspiration from our efforts.

I would like to thank all of you who placed your faith in me, who worked tirelessly and shared your enthusiasm with those around you. You are all patriots, you have all stood up for your country and I am honored to stand among you.

Thank you,



TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: New York
KEYWORDS: hoffman; ny2009; ny23; owens; scuzzafava; scuzzy
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To: Cedar

Pretty snappy comeback. :)


121 posted on 11/03/2009 10:59:00 PM PST by perfect_rovian_storm (The worst is behind us. Unfortunately it is really well endowed.)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm
We lost bigtime tonight. The other races were meaningless compared to this one. Winning this was imperative to teaching the GOP a lesson that it refuses to learn. I think that any meaningful win in 2010 is dead at this point, because we’ve lost the fight in our own party that needs to take place before we can win on the national stage.

You are correct. The message tonight is RINOs win and conservatives don't, despite huge donations from out of state, and backing from Rush, Palin, and the Tea Party.

I don't know why conservatives blew their load on this race.

Why did they think NY voters would embrace a conservative in a RINO seat? After failing to stop McCain in the primaries and failing to elect Palin. I have to assume a couple marches went well and conservatives thought it nullified the 08 elections and we could now afford to throw away congressional seats. Conservatives didn't stop a socialist on the SCOTUS, or the GM take over, and they haven't stopped Obamacare or cap and tax. All the political pull of the T-party power-brokers behind a spoiler. what a shame.

Conservatives sent a message to 0. The message is "The anti-obama constituency is so powerless they are fighting for second place. This is a good day to be a rat." The rats are willing to bend, overlook, and break any law to win. They will lie to win. They will pretend to be centrists. We can't do that for fear the conservatives will desert the party. Conservatives think the best way win is to bludgeon the inhabitants of Reagan's Big Tent.

The GOP promoted a moderate candidate in New York in a RINO seat. That is a winning stratagy. Hoffman got every conservative vote, and he lost. Conservatives should consider a strategy that expends less energy going after RINOs in favor of going after democrats ( the guys in power ), but they wont. Conservatives will blame the GOP leadership for an unelectable conservative failing to win in a liberal state.

The GOP now has 2 out of 31 congressional seats in NY.

122 posted on 11/03/2009 11:00:45 PM PST by Once-Ler (ProLife ProGun ProGod ProSoldier ProBusiness Republican To The Core)
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To: ReneeLynn
Stop being a negative defeatist. I think the NJ thing is just amazing.

The thread title is about NY not NJ. If you don't think NY is a defeat for conservatives it just proves what I believe. Consevatives are not about winning or stopping the rats. The GOP should listen.

123 posted on 11/03/2009 11:05:28 PM PST by Once-Ler (ProLife ProGun ProGod ProSoldier ProBusiness Republican To The Core)
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To: All

Does anybody know who appointed Dede Scozzafava to be the GOP candidate? He should resign from whatever position he holds in the GOP. World class bungle. I plan to write to GOPers in Congress and party organizations to demand it.


124 posted on 11/03/2009 11:06:53 PM PST by AlienCrossfirePlayer (No big tent!)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

I think the lesson may be that it is a bad idea for the GOP hierarchy to make liberal Democrats in Republican drag their candidates of choice and expect us to take kindly to it.

That said: Please accept my apologies for jumping on you, I know you are a manly man, and a patriot!!


125 posted on 11/03/2009 11:07:43 PM PST by roses of sharon (Call the NFL and welcome their new Commissioner, Al Sharpton.)
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To: grey_whiskers

From top to bottom, very well said.

Cheers....


126 posted on 11/03/2009 11:08:28 PM PST by Gator113 (Obamba, Reid, Pelosi, the socialist triad.)
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To: Once-Ler

If the only realistic choice was between the leftist Democrat and the even more leftist Republican, this was a good result.


127 posted on 11/03/2009 11:10:59 PM PST by Psalm 144 (FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY ADULT LIFE, I AM PROUD OF NEW JERSEY!)
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To: Once-Ler

Your reasoning is weak.

The only reason Hoffman lost is because Dede’s friends still voted for her. If it was a true two-person race, just Hoffman and the Dem, Hoffman would have won.


128 posted on 11/03/2009 11:11:33 PM PST by Cedar
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To: roses of sharon

You may be right. I hope you are, because I can see the RINOs slamming this one down on us for a long time to come.

I know I sound defeatist on this thread and I’m not typically a defeatist person, but this one hits me hard knowing how the slime that we’re dealing with uses these types of things and how easily some of the rank and file buys their BS.

In any case, I know you’re one of the good ones around here, so no need for apologies. :)


129 posted on 11/03/2009 11:13:38 PM PST by perfect_rovian_storm (The worst is behind us. Unfortunately it is really well endowed.)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

I am sorry that we lost this race as well. However, this loss isn’t nearly as bad as you make out. The fact that a previously unknown conservative candidate was able to come within 4 percentage points of winning a congressional race, in a congressional district that Obama carried last year, despite the fact that his Democratic opponent was endorsed by his Republican opponent is still very significant. The margin of the loss was small enough that it seems likely that an equally conservative candidate could clearly have won if he had had the backing of the Republican Party from the beggining. Especially if he was a more charismatic candidate.


130 posted on 11/03/2009 11:14:05 PM PST by dschapin
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To: Once-Ler
I know everyone is going to freak but Hoffman lost because he had a weird vibe on TV and radio, period. The conservatives won because they shot a RINO and in the end a probably nice guy with conservative values was just kinda weird, stiff and not a very good communicator so he couldn't close the deal. That's it folks. BUT JERSEY was the deal !!!! Jersey was a huge middle finger to Obama and the left, AND THEY KNOW IT! So all in all it was a great night for the constitution and America. Now attack away
131 posted on 11/03/2009 11:15:59 PM PST by Pacothecat
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To: Once-Ler
The GOP promoted a moderate candidate in New York in a RINO seat. That is a winning stratagy.

Winning for whom?

For the socially liberal cabal of Neocon Country Club Republican Establishment RINOs?

And for what agenda?

None of any value.

132 posted on 11/03/2009 11:19:52 PM PST by Z in Washington
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To: rabscuttle385

Hoffman will be the GOP nominee for the 2010 congressional race. He will ride the tidal wave in to congress along with all the other new GOP congressmen that will be showing up thanks to Obambi....


133 posted on 11/03/2009 11:20:40 PM PST by Fred (Thats Racist!!!)
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To: Cedar
If it was a true two-person race, just Hoffman and the Dem, Hoffman would have won.

The 6% who voted GOP knew Dede wouldn't win. That is called a protest vote. That is moderate Republicans, who couldn't vote rat, giving the finger to Rush, Palin, and out of state money. How do you conclude those voter would go out and vote for Hoffman if Dede wasn't running? They were already at the polls TONIGHT and pulled the lever for Dede. Why would they choose Hoffman when they clearly rejected him?

It's not logical. It's just what you want to believe so you can blame the GOP for running a moderate in a liberal state.

134 posted on 11/03/2009 11:22:35 PM PST by Once-Ler (ProLife ProGun ProGod ProSoldier ProBusiness Republican To The Core)
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To: Once-Ler
The GOP promoted a moderate candidate in New York in a RINO seat.

The daily kos endorsed her because she was not a moderate, as her endorsement of the democrat and throwing the race proved.

daily kos endorsed Dede Scozzafava saying “fueled by the fact that Dede Scozzafava, the Republican, is actually the most liberal candidate in the race. (Heck, she has run on the very liberalWorking Families Party ballot line in the past.)

Sure, she is a Republican, and opposes the public option. But she’s been willing to raise taxes when budgets require it, and is to the left of most Democrats on social issues (including supporting gay marriage).”

Romney/Scozzafava 2012

135 posted on 11/03/2009 11:22:54 PM PST by ansel12
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To: Once-Ler

Look at how bizarre this is, you have a 45% vs 49% race and a GOP candidate with 6%, yet you endorse her and she endorses the democrat, you are barking up the wrong tree on this race, she is the odd man out and the spoiler, not Hoffman.


136 posted on 11/03/2009 11:26:30 PM PST by ansel12
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To: Z in Washington
And for what agenda?

Defeating rats...the guys in COMPLETE power with 60 votes in the Senate, a huge majority in the House, and the Presidency. The rats do not need 1 GOP vote to pass anything they want, and conservatives handed them another seat in the House. I'm sorry that logic escapes you.

137 posted on 11/03/2009 11:26:54 PM PST by Once-Ler (ProLife ProGun ProGod ProSoldier ProBusiness Republican To The Core)
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To: Once-Ler

What I saw in NY 23 is that RINO’s can’t win and have no desire to impede the agenda of the Democrats. I saw that a RINO would rather see a Democrat win a congressional seat rather than anyone else from the conservative wing of their base do so. In fact, they go out of their way to ENDORSE Democrats!

So NY 23 taught me that RINOs are really Democrats.

Sorry! Ain’t votin’ for no liberal Democrats! Neither the aisle-crossing kind nor the real deal!


138 posted on 11/03/2009 11:27:00 PM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: Once-Ler

Just admit it. If it had been Hoffman all along, it’s much more likely he would be the winner tonight. I think previous polls showed Dede behind the Dem, even before she got exposed for who she really is -—supporting the Democrat candidate!!

Can’t believe any GOP die-hard, which you seem to be, would be proud of her!


139 posted on 11/03/2009 11:28:39 PM PST by Cedar
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

Never give up, just pivot and start anew.


140 posted on 11/03/2009 11:30:08 PM PST by roses of sharon (Call the NFL and welcome their new Commissioner, Al Sharpton.)
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