The Unrepentant Republican Party

Americant Thinker ^ | August 26, 2010 | Sam Foster

[neverdem]

English novelist George Eliot once penned the following: "Iteration, like friction, is likely to generate heat instead of progress." Albert Einstein famously quipped, "insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." 

There are more than a few famous quotes on the destructive nature inherent in the repetition of foolish behavior. What is to be said for the way in which the Republican Party is actively pursuing a repeat of last November's special election for NY's 23^rd Congressional District? If you were outraged at Dede Scozzafava, wait until you see their latest candidate, Matt Doheny.

It was merely ten short months ago that the nation was held captive by events surrounding the special election for NY's 23^rd Congressional District. We saw the ascendancy of conservative Doug Hoffman and the rejection of the progressive establishment Republican and SEIU-Working Families candidate Dede Scozzafava. The contest ended with a narrow victory of 3,000 votes for Democrat Bill Owens, who won as a result of Dede Scozzafava draining 5% of the vote.

In the aftermath, conservatives caught a glimpse of what they hoped was a moment of clarity from Republicans when high-ranking Republican leaders such as John Boehner openly regretted their support for Dede Scozzafava's candidacy. Convinced of their sincerity, conservatives moved on, but did the GOP?

Seemingly, Hoffman's strong grassroots support, national attention, and narrow defeat should have ensured him the confidence of the county Republican leaders for the November elections. 

It did not. 

Although Doug Hoffman had been seeking the Republican candidacy since his defeat in 2009, the local party leaders sought out a primary challenger. By last April, NY-23's Matt Doheny had secured nine out of eleven endorsements from county Republicans. The Republican committees never contacted Doug Hoffman for a meeting, citing a variety of excuses.

David Sickler, Republican Chairman for the Ogdensburg City Republican Committee, intimated the intentions for the committees' decision in an opinion essay for a local newspaper. To summarize, Mr. Sickler came up with two important reasons for backing Matt Doheny. He felt that Doheny was the more rounded candidate. More importantly, he and his contemporaries still harbored a grudge against Doug Hoffman for having bucked Scozzafava's coronation. The local kingmakers desired a more...loyal candidate.

If Republicans are looking for a loyalist, then Doheny is their Manchurian Candidate in disguise. He proved himself to be quite the party lapdog by going along with the candidacy of Dede Scozzafava and financially supporting her election bid with the highest donation allowed by law. Stepping even further, he turned down the chance to run on the Conservative Party ticket ahead of Doug Hoffman, sacrificing his so-called conservative ideals in exchange for not "alienating the Republican Party." 

Amid questions stemming from his contributions and support of Dede Scozzafava, Mr. Doheny has brazenly shown unrepentant solidarity with his Republican handlers and adamantly maintains no regrets in supporting Scozzafava's candidacy. Absent too, is any criticism of Dede Scozzafava's liberal views. The omission raises the question: if Doheny is in fact a different candidate from Dede, why wouldn't he be critical of her views?

The truth is that Dede Scozzafava may actually be a better candidate than Matt Doheny. While Matt certainly appears to have superior qualifications, the lawyer-turned-banker has an extremely flawed past. Earlier this month, Matt Doheny admitted to having been charged with two separate BUI convictions two weeks apart from each other. During one of Doheny's altercations with the Coast Guard, he became so belligerent that he needed to be restrained with handcuffs. The charges weren't just some mild, youthful indiscretion from twenty years ago; this happened in 2004. Highlighting perhaps both a lack of judgment and character, records show that Doheny was sued twice for rent evasion at two separate apartments as recently as 2005. 

Matt may be articulate and affable, but his past trouble with the law is not going to play well in an election where voters are particularly sensitive to their candidates' ethical fiber. Did the Republican leadership even bother vetting this candidate?

I attempted to contact Matt Doheny's campaign and several Republican Committee Chairmen to determine whether Matt had informed them of his criminal convictions prior to receiving the Republican endorsement. I received no comment. However, they say actions speak louder than words, and local Republican bosses are still flocking to Doheny's camp. Last week, former NY-23 congressman David Martin endorsed Doheny and, in a show of solidarity with the party elite, defended the party chairman's political decision-making.

The unrepentant GOP is not unique to NY-23, either. In NY's 1^st congressional district, Chairman Ed Cox continues to push his son's candidacy over conservative and district favorite Randy Altschuler at the expense of losing an opportunity to unseat three-term Democrat Tim Bishop.

While the September primaries will likely resolve the Republicans' mistake in NY-1, the damage has already been done in the case of NY-23. Given NY's proclivity for third-party ballot lines, Matt's name will appear on the Independence Party ticket, and Doug Hoffman on the Conservative line, despite the Republican primary outcome. The flagrant hatred exhibited by Republican leaders for Hoffman makes it hard to believe that party bosses could unite under Doug Hoffman's potential candidacy. Thus, another three-way race is brewing in NY-23, and the possibility for the district to shed its sickly shade of blue is quickly slipping out of reach.

Republicans hope to flip as many as eight NY seats in their bid to retake Congress and halt the Obama agenda. In a state as blue as NY, every race counts, which makes the unrepentant Republicans in NY-23 all the more culpable. By never recognizing or admitting their mistakes with Dede Scozzafava, they have repeated their mistakes in their support of Matt Doheny. 

Despite numerous opportunities to change course over the last year, NY-23's Republican kingmakers have made it clear that they are not asking for forgiveness. It demands the question: how long will this NY-23 story repeat itself, and where will it happen next? 

Sam Foster is a writer for the blog Left Coast Rebel and founder of Upstate Political Report, a site dedicated to covering NY congressional races. Please feel free to e-mail him at livingstonconservative@gmail.com.

[neverdem]

This is emblematic of a Rockefeller wing of the GOP that refuses to die. Big gov't RINOs need a stake through the heart.

[rrrod]

Dont give up...conservatives are winning batlles left and right..keep the call going to the RNC the senate and house re election committees and dont mince words. Give em hell!

[screaminsunshine]

Blah Blah Blah!
Sis boom bah!

They are busted.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

The RINOs are in politics for profit, they have no heartfelt loyalty to American ideals, it is all go along to get along, end justifies the means to them.

When McCain talks about amnesty he must be aware of the effect it will have on political demographics, but HE DOESN'T CARE!

[roses of sharon]

Mehlman/Wallace/Schmidt are holding a gay marriage event next month.

What the heck are they up to? Right before the elections? Are they trying to help Dems win?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Sure looks that way.

[truthfreedom]

Is there a Republican Primary in 23?

It sounds like Doheny isn’t as bad on the issues as Dede.
If there’s a primary, and there should be, right, where, presumably, Hoffmann runs against Doheny, shouldn’t the winner of the Primary run as the Republican nominee and the loser just not run?

There were special circumstances last time around to not support the Republican. This time, there are no special circumstances.

[nathanbedford]

On Monday I posted this reply:

If you are an establishment Republican who views politics as an occupation, a business, your object is not to wage political crusades but to lucratively farm the political landscape. In other words, you want the status quo to prevail, you want the game to be played within the boundaries, you want business as usual. Above all, you do not want anything to interfere with your principal business which is lobbying, and politics is but the smarmy, inconvenient, and tedious dues one must pay to keep the lobbying going.

So the object is not to be a winner but to be a player.

It seems to me that if you consider a John McCain, his incentive is to be a player out of ego, a conception of himself and his own self-worth, rather than for the pecuniary advantage he might gain. I think he made that commitment in the Hanoi Hilton when he was finally broken. As for the money, his marriage took care of that ambition. I believe him when he said he does not know how many houses he owns, that is not his focus.

So John McCain wants to be a player out of patriotic reasons, as misguided as they have proved to be in application. He can rationalize amnesty and the effects that will have on demographics and on conservatism as a righteous reaction to racism. Subconsciously, he calculates, or assumes, that he will always be able to ride the wave and stay ahead of the demographics, thus remaining a player.

[lentulusgracchus]

[Art.] .....their Manchurian Candidate in disguise....

Pleonasm.

</Bill Buckley>

[neverdem]

Stem Cells, Life, and the Law - A federal court steps into the debate.

EPA's Gun Control

Progressives Against Progress - The rise of environmentalism poisoned liberals’ historical optimism.

Obama SG urges tossing CO2 ruling, greens howl

Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[TheThinker]

I read a post the other day that basically said that Republican leaders usually prefer being the minority party. It takes more guts to say no and stand on principle. They don’t want to deal with the heat of nominating and supporting true conservatives.

[cva66snipe]

Either the Rockefeller Wing of the GOP has to go or the party does and the sooner the better. The one policy two parties system we've been under since 1989 is destroying our nation.

I actually had some hope in 1994 after the elections. Look at the ones who sold us out. Dole, Lott, and Newt for starters. My states GOP Primary resulted in a RINO's RINO getting the GOP nod over the proved Conservative by voting record Lt. Governor. Some here in FR were shilling for the RINO actually just like some still think the sun rises and sets on Juan McCain.

In my lifetime there has been but one non Rockefeller GOP POTUS and under him we all prospered. People have their hopes built up high for this November. Unless policy of the GOP is changed simply voting out the DEMs will accomplish nothing just as the two house GOP Majority for nearly 12 years accomplished nothing.

I'm sick and tired of the GOP laying the failures of the party on the DEMs. If one man could take on a two house opposing majority as a Traditional Republican President and get a good portion of his policies through how come the GOP can't get it's act together? Why? Because a Rockefeller Republican is worse than a Liberal DEM in my eyes. They stop all hope of an opposing party to liberalism and socialism and do it solely to line their stinking greedy power happy Liberal elitist pockets.

[lentulusgracchus]

If you are an establishment Republican who views politics as an occupation, a business, your object is not to wage political crusades but to ....keep the lobbying going.

That, my FRiend, is a Hallmark Hall of Fame post. Very well spoken. It is the most succinct, most economically and powerfully explanatory epitome of the modern, dysfunctional, gangrenous "moderate" wing of the Republican Party and its RNC subsidiary (witness Ken Mehlman's "coming out" party) that I've ever seen.

Thank you.

[lentulusgracchus]

.....Republican leaders usually prefer being the minority party....

If you see their actual goals and objectives as those of political rainmakers and lobbyists-manque', as explained by our FRiend nathanbedford above, then their preference for minority status is completely explained.

Their game isn't to do anything; it's to avert things, things they can claim a credit for, from their grateful employers on "K" Street.

[lentulusgracchus]

Lucidity ping. I am dazzled by the strobes.

Discussion?

[okie01]

If you are an establishment Republican who views politics as an occupation, a business, your object is not to wage political crusades but to lucratively farm the political landscape.

The essence of truth. The establishment Republican is in it for the opportunity to impact legislation in favor of his patrons -- thus earning his keep.

Things like principle don't sully his outlook.

The standard Democrat politician is no different -- though perhaps more egregious in their corruption. However, their leadership is also driven by overriding principle -- in a way that establishment Republicans are not.

The leadership sees that their minions are appropriately rewarded with largesse, but only after the higher cause of socialism has been served.

In this context, a few standard-issue GOP politicians could be digested -- if there was a stronger Republican leadership, more committed to conservative principles.

Our shortfall is in conservative leadership, not necessarily in conservative numbers.

[dalebert]

cut off their left arm.

[dalebert]

cut off their left arm.

[lentulusgracchus]

Mehlman/Wallace/Schmidt are holding a gay marriage event next month. What the heck are they up to? Right before the elections? Are they trying to help Dems win?

Beatdown/death-message for social conservatives. Stay home. Don't vote. Nobody wants you voting. You are no longer part of the body politic. Homosexuals are, they have money -- but you aren't.

[campaignPete R-CT]

I guess the real “issue” is: whom did you support last November after Dede dropped out. Doheny supported Dede and then Dede and he supported DEM Owens after Dede dropped out 3 days before the election. This gave Owens the victory and led to ObamaCare passing.

Owens said in his campaign that he opposed the Senate Bill and then changed his mind 2 days after his election victory.

So Doheny is DOA for conservatives. Primary is 9/14.