As if conservatives weren't empowered enough after claiming liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava's scalp in the NY-23 special congressional election, they've been given another reason to revolt against the GOP establishment.
Dede Scozzafava has endorsed her Democratic opponent over the conservative candidate Doug Hoffman, and now the party has a big "I told you so" coming.
Prior to her endorsement, Red County's Chip Hanlon told Newt Gingrich, the highest-profile Republican to support Scozzafava, "To us, Dede Scozzafava strikes us as one, that in a crucial hour, at a crucial vote, will let us down."
Gingrich admitted, "She might." Then he proceeded to defend her candidacy. Full transcript.
Scozzafava didn't even wait until election day to let Gingrich down, and now conservatives, even more incensed, are on the warpath for the scalps of those that backed her over Hoffman.
Said Hanlon, who engineered the conservative blog revolt against Scozzafava:
I had been feeling like Republicans on the winning side of this race shouldn't spend too much time cabbage-patching in the end zone, and that we should fight the urge to endlessly harangue those who backed Scozzafava. Learning lessons from this race and moving forward more unified would have been a desirable goal. It still is a desirable goal.BUT, this has become such a complete fiasco that I am now firmly in the "heads must roll" camp.Let's get Hoffman over the goal line on Tuesday, then start sharpening the long blades on Wednesday.
Gingrich, who is eyeing the 2012 GOP nomination, may be a head shorter by the time all is said and done.
Eric Ingemunson is active in local politics and is a national correspondent for RedCounty.com. His commentary has been featured on Hannity, CNN, NBC, Inside Edition, and KFI's The John and Ken Show.
Eric was born and raised in Ventura County and currently resides in Simi Valley, where he is an IT manager at a leading tax software developer. He earned a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from California Lutheran University, where he was also an editor for the university newspaper.
As a conservative, Eric supports smaller government, less taxation, more individual freedom, the rule of law, and a strict adherence to the Constitution.
Ouch!!
I'm curious of your thoughts of the implications of NY-23, Katie. Do you think it's got legs?
Eric:
Based on Ms. Scozzafava's inglorious "tail-between-the-legs" exit from the NY 23 race this weekend, the answer to the rhetorical question you posed in your earlier blog post regarding whether this race provides a temporary moment where it is practical to be ideological, the answer today is not only Yes, but HELL YES!.
Ms. Scozzafava was a poor standard bearer of Republican pragmatism, since she ignored the sound and courageous advice of a far more principled and pragmatic Republican, Abraham Lincoln who said, "..The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.."
By her decision to "head-for-the Adirondack Hills," rather than stand her political ground and battle the Conservative Hoffman as a matter of principle, Ms. Scozzafava amply demonstrated that when the going got tough, that RINO got going.
And now, this petulant RINO adds insult to Republican injury by skewering GOP Bull Elephants like Gingrich, who risked much to endorse her in the first place, with an endorsement of Democrat, Owens. In this blogger’s opinion, by both of her actions, Ms. Scozzafava demonstrated that she was a poor standard bearer for Republican pragmatists, and an unworthy opponent for Democrat Owens..
Prior to next Tuesday's election, only a blogging fool would predict with certainty whether Ms. Scozzafava's exit from the race will benefit Hoffman or Owens more. But if Hoffman wins next Tuesday, then it is likely that the Republicans will experience an "Electoral Exacta." (with wins in NY 23 and the Virginia Governorship).
It's still not as clear whether they will, however, experience a "Transformative Trifecta", given a third win by Christie in New Jersey.. New Jersey trends Democratic, and has not elected a Republican Governor since 1997..
If that happens, then you can bet that not only will Newt Gingrich have to recalibrate, so will Team Obama, BIG TIME, since the White House has sent in their A-Team of Political Pollsters, Strategists, and Field Organizers to both VA and NJ. And today, the President himself campaigned in NJ to try rally the Democratic troops, and staunch the bleeding of independents, the dominant registered voting bloc in NJ, from Corrzine’s corner.
These days, it is increasingly the case that the outcome of hard-fought, close elections are often not definitive until well after the polls close, as I expect will be the case in both NY 23 and the NJ Governor's race on Tuesday night. However, one thing appears to be very certain. Beginning this Summer, American voters became very angry, frustrated with the elite leadership in both parties, and will not blindly follow those political elites, in either party, Especially if those elites do not demonstrate core leadership principles, speak truth to power, and stand-up for the little guy and gal..
It appears that candidacies such as Hoffman's in the high-profile NY 23 contests points to an anti-incumbent, anti-establishment sentiment that could be a prevailing theme in the 2010 congressional elections and beyond.
As stated very well by Douglas Astolfi, History Professor, at Florida's St. Leo University, " “We have two wars and we’re in a recession that neither party seems to address in any positive way. There’s a deep sense that government has abandoned the common man. People are frustrated and angry.” (See Christian Science Monitor News Story on Scozzafava’s exit at the URL above)
As the old Chinese proverb says very well, "..May you live in interesting times.." With political developments like these, we certainly do..
Ciao Commendatori
NostraDemus
I am most familiar with CA and local politics and to be honest, I think the "conservative" movement has been very destructive to the GOP. It has continued to lose voters and the DTS voting block has been the fastest growing block. If the GOP in CA wants to grow, it is going to have to cultivate the youth (which is accepting of gay marriage), gays, Latinos and drop the anti-choice retorhect - it turns away too many women. And it has to be disciplined against people who say they are "pro-family" or "pro-life" but don't really do anything other than rattle their sabers.
Right now it is the party of angry, old, white men and that isn't the make up of the state.
Women should be encouraged to endorse - which is why I also encourage Carla B. to endorse. Claira G. should also endorse now too. And people in the California Federated Republican Women's group should also endorse. RIght now, elected officials and wanna-bes just want them doing all the grunt work but remain silent. THat has to stop.
As far as 23rd goes - don't know enough to comment. Would be curious who is funding it though.
"Conservative" should be placed in quotes. Ronald Reagan was a conservative. Many of those who label themselves conservative today are right wing nutjobs in reality.
Actually it was Barry Goldwater who was the "conservative". Everyone is trying to hijack poor old Ronald Reagan. The "conservative" element forgets that he signed a pro-Choice bill.
One reason I refer to some as "right wing nutjobs" is that they are so extreme that if a guy like Ronald Reagan were to come along again he would never get elected because these wingnut bloggers would knock him out for being "too liberal".
Looks close with Hoffman slightly ahead. Any word or prediction?
Democrat Bill Owens ended up winning the race. First democrat in congress in that district in over 100 years. Nancy Pelosi thanks all the wingnuts for pursuing "ideological purity".
I meant Owens slightly ahead and now I guess it is official. First Dem in a district that historially votes Republican. I guess those that couldn't vote for him, voted for Dede - she got something like 6% of the vote.
It's an interesting dynamic. If the GOP picked Hoffman out of the gate, would the Republicans have won? Probably. If Hoffman chose not to run, would the GOP have won? Probably.
The conservatives are not going to go away this year or next year, so if the GOP wants to win, it will have to move right. Moving to the center will fracture the party and leave a void that a 3rd party will fill (read: Sarah Palin).
The other scenorio is that the "fringe element" quit trying to sabogatae the GOP. I'm a "conservative" but I'm not religious - the evangelical idealogy is what is killing the party. Most GOPer's believe in smaller government, no on the redistribution of wealth, free enterprise, etc. What is happening today ala the Sarah Palin mentality is that you believe in my version of Jesus Christ or I will punish you. Where is there room for Jews or Catholics or Muslims or Mormons or Athiests in the GOP?
"The conservatives are not going to go away this year or next year, so if the GOP wants to win, it will have to move right. Moving to the center will fracture the party and leave a void that a 3rd party will fill (read: Sarah Palin)."
ROTFLMAO!! Eric the GOP has moved so far to the right that if he were alive today Ronald Reagan could NEVER get the nomination because he increased taxes on several occasions. And I hate to tell you how Reagan responded when he found out that one of his staff was gay back as Governor in the sixties. With that he would get the boot from the nutjobs real quick.