Posted on 10/15/2009 6:05:22 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- The rise of conservative "tea party" activists around the country has created a dilemma for Republicans. They are breathing life into the party's quest to regain power. But they're also waging war on some candidates hand-picked by GOP leaders as the most likely to win.
In upstate New York, Dede Scozzafava, 49 years old, is the choice of local party leaders to defend a Republican seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, an abortion-rights candidate who could appeal to independents. Doug Hoffman, 59, is a local accountant backed by tea-party activists who has jumped into the race declaring himself the real conservative.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
But they’re also waging war on some candidates hand-picked by GOP leaders as the most likely to win [-LIE We are waging war on all LIBERALS].
In upstate New York, Dede Scozzafava, 49 years old, is the choice of local party leaders to defend a Republican seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, an abortion-rights candidate who could appeal to independents. Doug Hoffman, 59, is a local accountant backed by tea-party activists who has jumped into the race declaring himself the real conservative.
WSJ Community
Vote: What effect will conservative tea-party activists have on the GOP?
Conservative politics has been given a boost with the rise of “tea party” activists. But WSJ’s Naftali Bendavid says the support could backfire on the Republican Party, as opposition mounts to a number of the party’s midterm election candidates.
Mr. Hoffman has siphoned so much support from Ms. Scozzafava that their Democratic rival has vaulted into the lead, according to a poll released Thursday. The election is Nov. 3.
“I am not your run-of-the-mill politician, and maybe that’s why the Republican bosses didn’t like me,” Mr. Hoffman told a recent health-care forum sponsored by the Upstate New York Tea Party. In an interview, Ms. Scozzafava acknowledged her discomfort at the event. “I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy audience for me,” she said.
Republicans are poised to pick up a number of seats in next year’s congressional elections, pollsters estimate, on the back of a deep recession, public unease about the growth of government and the size of the nation’s deficit. Anti-Obama activism manifested in rallies and town-hall meetings has galvanized conservatives, injecting enthusiasm into the Republican base.
But these newly energized conservatives present GOP leaders with a potential problem: The party’s strategy for attracting moderate voters risks alienating activists who are demanding ideological purity, who may then gravitate to other candidates or stay at home. It’s a classic dilemma faced by parties in the minority — tension between those who want a return to the party’s ideological roots and those who want candidates most likely to win in their districts [That is a false statement, it implies CONSERVATIVES cannot win, and that is patently false since whenever Conservatism is truely tried; it wins more than not!].
I hope that Doug Hoffmann has a GREAT ground game!
I agree. I realize that there are a lot of corrupt Republicans and the rest of them I don't trust. I do, however, realize that we the American people come out better all around with Republicans running things than dimwitocrats.
Both parties, in my opinion, better hope Sarah Palin doesn't go rogue or they both may lose out.
One conservative vs. two liberals.
I’ll take those odds.
Without getting into some lengthy dissertation on Leftist controlled Trans-National Corporations with no loyalty to anything but the almighty dollar whom are buying the government(s) of their choices as they need them for whatever goals they have, I believe the stress for Americans today is on by-passing the Political Party, and supporting the Conservative American of choice in regaining control of our Government.
Send not a nickel to the RNC period. Spend your money only on the Conservative candidate, and if their isn’t one in your area look about and see if there is some other Conservative candidate you can support before you invest in any second choice that’s not what you think America really needs.
Whatever happens we must take control of the situation in D.C. no later then 2010, and with people we can trust to do the job for America, not themselves.
I never have worried about the independents. The only critters in the middle of the road around these parts are dead skunks.
I am totally amazed that anyone who favors killing little unborn babies can even remotely be considered a moderate.
“That is a false statement, it implies CONSERVATIVES cannot win, and that is patently false since whenever Conservatism is truely tried; it wins more than not!].”
Absolutely true... as the RINO Repub leadership never takes a risk to try running a real conservative - how the hell would they know if a real conservative could win or not...
Nearly 100 million people - adults have not voted in each of the past several Presidential Elections — nearly 100M — all we have to do to win is get several million previous non voters to show up and vote and WE WIN...
There is no need to kiss the behinds of La Raza types — LULAC, MALDEF and the other socio-ethnic racists ... we need to recruit just a portion of the nearly 100 million previous non voters ... to subdue Obama, Reid and Pelosi...
GOP,
There will be no ‘gop comeback’. You filthy lying pigs must think we conservatives like being misled, lied to, and then raped.
You must also think we have no memory longer than 11 months.
You must also think that we’ve forgotten about what you did to Sarah Palin.
Do you not think we see you pulling down your pants and lying prone in front of barney frank every day?
Well, here’s a message for you: You lying dogs will NOT see power for years and years and years.
The old paradigm of ‘better than kerry’ and ‘better than obama’ i.e. Communist Lite, is OVER.
There will be *new* CHOICES soon and you diaper fill will be relegated to the ash heap of history.
Unfortunately FR rules don’t allow me to say what you really are; so let this be a small indicator of how YOUR FORMER BASE feels and will vote.
Clear?
I think it is time for some Tea Party people to enroll as candidates in Democratic primaries and suck the cash out of their campaigns.
Dems never have primaries.
Sacrifice flies draw the men on base to run home and score!!
Truthfully, I have gotten to the point where I relate to neither party. Snowe, McCain, and Graham do as much for me as Pelosi, Reid, and Schumer. They can all go to hell after they hang together. I will never vote while holding my nose again.
Stop thinking in terms of party/lesser of two evils, and start thinking how, in the long term best interests of the country, the GOP must be gotten rid of. The GOP is the biggest impediment to conservatism. In its place will come a real conservative party, a dramatic shrinking of government, huge tax reductions, and restoration of the Constitution.
“Truthfully, I have gotten to the point where I relate to neither party. Snowe, McCain, and Graham do as much for me as Pelosi, Reid, and Schumer. They can all go to hell after they hang together. I will never vote while holding my nose again.”
My sentiments exactly.
Amen to Rubio. Sent him a small check every month for the last three - also West who needs lots of help. And since I own property in Arizona and Texas, am registering in Arizona next year so I can vote AGAINST McLame.
If Obama succeeds; be it by creating a climate of hate; a 'viral vote'; and/or other toxic MO's to induce crisis; or simply steals Election(s); then all bets of off for future initiatives for any reasoned change from our side; much less, exclusively, Conservative change. Obama, Inc. looking for an easy and silent revolution and they will have it - silent or not - if Repubs allow them another successful election; another inch of power.
We are 'here' for many reasons; watching our Constitution being dismantled - and watching America's best interests be damned before the world.
One reason, IMHO; is that many Repubs thought they could simply send a message for 'their' desired, exclusive change and sat out the past two Elections whereby we lost a 'Majority' and the Presidency; OR; they voted spoiler 'third Party' which again, guaranteed a Dem win.
Do not believe for a minute that we would be dealing with the disastrous landscape we now are negotiating, had more Repubs chosen to participate with what was the 'field of Repubs' rather than waiting for their 'field of dreams'.
America lost and believe we will continue to lose at factoring speed, unless we support those Repubs; those who are deserving while insuring that better candidates replace those who are not. Think the 'throw them all out' and create NEW Party of ONLY perfect Conservatives - when not enough available - is not a worthy MO.
(This is how we have umpteen varieties of Christianity and 'First;Second. . .Third Christian Church on alternate corners - not a bad model; but one that does not work politically. The Dems did not do this; and look at the change within that Party; some folks, still not realizing the game change here.
Now, time is of the essence and we need ALL good and decent men to come to the aid of their Party. . .that is, our Party, IMHO/sigh.
Well, they’re not going to do that. If conservatives want the GOP to be conservative they will have to remove the current leadership and install actual conservatives. There is no other way.
Amen! If we don’t start doing that there will be no country long term.
Then let’s nominate conservatives in next year’s primaries. McCain is up for reelection. Let’s send him packing.
There will be no country if conservatives don’t have the will to reclaim the party that was once ours. If we can’t win back the GOP, how will we win back our country?
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