[fieldmarshaldj]

"The NY setup really sucks, doesn't it..."

Ain't that the truth. The party is actually eroding at the Congressional level despite having a Governor and State Senate and its majority in the latter is based precariously on a stack of cards. In NY, it ain't about ideology, but patronage, and as a result, the whole state resembles the old Soviet Union in that regard. Whole parties sell out on patronage and cut deals with each other over it so as not to infringe on the others' turf. For any serious-minded person to want to emulate this system anywhere else, one that discourages ethics, open-government and participation by the people, they are clearly uninterested in a "free republic."

[EternalVigilance]

Oh I know. I ran a presidential primary campaign up there, and the cards were all completely stacked.

Not sure how to crack that nut and change things. The only thing I can think of is a mass uprising of the GOP electorate demanding reform of the process.

That would require some real leadership from some key people to make that happen.