NY-23: A Coming Political Revolution?
Tags: Conservatism, NY-23, Second American Revolution.
Click here to get Caucus of Corruption: The Truth About The New Democratic Majority by Matt Margolis and Mark Noonan.
Patrick Ruffini on the NY-23 race:
The key fact that sticks out in my mind about Doug Hoffman’s incredible momentum in NY-23 is that his election would not have been possible had he been the Republican nominee. The fact that we may be about to elect a non-squish from New York has everything to do with the fact that he is running as a third-party independent, and not a Republican (even if the Conservative Party is an auxiliary of the Republicans in most elections).
Hoffman as a Republican would have been too obvious a target and the subject of a relentless barrage of negative TV, websites, mail, and phones branding him as outside the mainstream, anti-choice, anti-worker, etc. But politically, Hoffman has managed to avoid all that until five days out, when it’s now clear he’s the frontrunner. And as Chris Cillizza points out this morning, Hoffman’s success in the polls is built on the back among strong support among independents and (primarily) not Republican regulars disgusted at Scozzafava.
It could be that with the GOP brand damaged by past GOP actions and the relentless hate campaign against us by the Democrats (and the MSM allies, of course) that in at least some circumstances it might be better to go with a non-GOP conservative or libertarian. This might prove especially true in areas where the GOP has been routed for three or four election cycles (think California and New England). While the GOP can still be massively successful (as we’re about to be in Virginia), we might have to put together new coalitions in other areas of the country currently closed off to us.
Ruffini shows how it might be done:
If you’re a party person, don’t dismiss this just yet. Say you’re the NRCC and you haven’t found a good recruit against a vulnerable House Democrat. Say the Republican nominee is a joke, or the incumbent is unopposed. Three months out, you go to your star recruit who turned you down a year ago and ask him to run as an independent. It’s a three month campaign as opposed to an 18-month campaign. They don’t have to quit their law practice or small business. They enter in the last few miles of the race, and you put serious pressure on the joke nominee to step aside, or put out word through local media and talk radio that this is the guy.
Those out there who have been attentive will realize that I’ve been working along these lines for a while now – as in my concept of running a libertarian against Nancy Pelosi. Lets face facts – no GOPer is going to be elected anything in San Francisco…but a well-funded libertarian who might agree with Nancy on a lot of social issues but is with us on taxes, spending, national defense and judicial restraint? We’d be in 7th heaven if we could pull off such a coup! And while that is an obviously forlorn hope (Pelosi would likely muscle her way to victory…but she’d have to fight for it, and that in and of itself is worth the effort), there are probably 100 seats out there held by Democrats for which a traditional GOPer might not go over so well…but a conservative or libertarian independent just might be able to win, if well funded. And even if its a losing effort, by forcing the Democrats to defend a very large number of seats, we prevent them from concentrating fire on our vulnerable members. I can see no downside to this.
As I’ve said before – I am a Republican and I believe that it will be through a revitalized Republican party that America will be reformed…but I’m also someone who is dedicated to an end to the current power structure, and thus it is in my interest to put as many different view points as possible in the halls of power. It would be ok to me if neither the GOP nor the Democrats had a Congressional majority but had to court independent conservative and libertarian support. It would slow things down; muck things up…and make any resultant legislation a genuine compromise much more likely to serve the interests of the people than the politicians.
Thank you for visiting Blogs For Victory. If you enjoy our content, please consider making a donation to help us cover the costs of our servers.Mark Noonan is co-author (with Matt Margolis) of Caucus of Corruption: The Truth About The New Democratic Majority. He also blogs at Nevada News and Views. Follow Mark on Twitter.
21 Responses to “NY-23: A Coming Political Revolution?”
Caucus of Corruption
Several of us who participate in an off-blog (troll-free) discussion group have been talking about this for months.
There is an entrenched status quo mentality among too much of the GOP. While it would be nice to have the party wake up and see the errors of its ways, it would also be nice to have talking kitty cats and flying unicorns—in other words, not likely. I don’t think this means the party is inherently corrupt, just that it is not easy to move away from your comfort level.
We have talked about the fact that it will probably take a very strong independent conservative movement to shake things up, to make the GOP face an either/or. Either they regroup, redefine their conservative principles and stick to them, or they become an increasingly irrelevant party, along with the Socialist Democrats, as a more American party rises from the chaos of the two outdated traditional parties.
By “American” I mean based on the traditions and laws and writings and Constitution of the United States of America, as created by the Founding Fathers. Under this broad umbrella is room for those who are more socially liberal, but not for those who merely ignore or subvert the Constitution when it becomes inconvenient.
Thomas Jefferson
“God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.
The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is
wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts
they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions,
it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. …
And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not
warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of
resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as
to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost
in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
It is its natural manure.”
we are coming closer every day.
a lesson in hypicricy(what he does is not what he says…and he says what he says not because of what he does…but to fool anyone who hears him..its what comes from his mouth that is a sin)
Democratic National Committee documents acquired by the Times reveal that “high-dollar fundraisers have been promised access to senior White House officials in exchange for pledges to donate $30,400 personally or to bundle $300,000 in contributions ahead of the 2010 midterm elections.” Yup, they’re just haggling over the price.
Many Obama bundlers have secured slots on federal advisory panels and commissions. Still more have benefited from the time-honored patronage tradition of rewarding political benefactors with ambassadorships. Clinton did it. Bush did it. And despite all his fantastical, Balloon Boy-level rhetoric of bringing a “new politics” to Washington, Obama’s done it, too.
His ambassador to London, Louis Susman, is a Chicago crony with no diplomatic experience who bundled between $200,000 and $500,000 for Team Obama and is known as “The Vacuum Cleaner” for his fundraising prowess. His ambassador to France, entertainment mogul Charlie Rivkin headed up Obama’s California fundraising operations, raking in $500,000 for the campaign and another $300,000 for the inaugural. His ambassador to Spain, Boston money man Alan Solomont, also bundled the same amounts for the campaign and inaugural.
In June 2008, candidate Obama railed: “We need a President who will look out for the interests of hardworking families, not just their big campaign donors and corporate allies.” Immediately after the speech, he headed to a campaign fundraiser at the Manhattan headquarters of Credit Suisse, one of the major investment companies caught up in the subprime lending debacle. President Obama collected another $3 million last week at another Manhattan fundraiser after carping about Wall Street’s “self-interestedness.” Audacity is his middle name.
When Obama inveighs against Wall Street greed and politicians beholden to Big Business, remember this: The Wall Street gamblers that Obama and his wife carped about on the campaign trail shoveled money to his campaign hand over fist.
Neo,
One of my favorite Jefferson quotes. Isn’t it amazing that, in over two centuries, we have only taken up arms against each other once. It will be interesting to see if we have the civility and demeanor to solve our present problem through the ballot.
spook
Hmmmmm
Hillary in the head scarf is infuriating. NOW complained about Obama’s males only play dates, but says nothing about the Sec. of State caving in to Islamic social customs. How PC of them…..
Pic here of the “smartest woman in world” where is her berka?
I guess her pantsuit is close enough…..UGH!!!!
http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/2009/10/hillary-in-head-scarf.html
spook
It will be interesting to see if we have the civility and demeanor to solve our present problem through the ballot.
The left wont unless they can steal it.
I have grave doubts about the marxists. After seeing them in action for the last 50 years, seems armed revolution/takeover is always their MO
The RRL has only won total control (Russia, Cuba, China, Laos, Viet Nam…) by the use of violence. I think they realize they can’t do that here, and are also emboldened by the erosion of intellectual vigor and national literacy here in the US. Here they have successfully undermined the very foundation of the nation through their control of education, creating a whole generation of ignoramuses who believe Columbus was a villain, whites are evil, etc., and these fools now have their own children in the same kinds of indoctrination centers.
We can only wait and see if the bloodless revolution of the Neo-Left will succeed. Certainly the last ten months of rapidly weakening US influence, whether economically or politically, will make that goal easier—unless it alarms enough to cause a counterrevolution.
The RRL is already aware of that mounting resentment of their antics, and so are starting their preemptive strikes against us, trying to lablel us as domestic terrorists, radicals, and now claiming we are planning armed revolt.
Here’s something interesting; the signin for the White House. http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/disclosures/visitor-records
You’ll note that Jeremiah Wright has spent more time with the president that did General McChrystal.
Please notice how many visits from Nancy Keenan, Kim Gandy and (shudder) Andy Stern!
I don’t believe most Americans would approve of the entertainment list here. Michael Moore, Angela Davis and “some guy from the neighborhood” William Ayers.
Disgusting!
Count, you are such a racist!!
My bad, I just realized that William Ayers wouldn’t have used his real name, so it must be a fake.
I searched the list and couldn’t find Splodey McNailbomb.
I’ll thank you to remember I’m an equal opportunity racist!
A Libertarian that agrees with Nancy Pelosi on social issues? That sounds like a Republican nightmare to me.
America’s only hope at this point is in the development of new political parties. This is also the only thing that would stall the ceaseless and useless squabbling of the Republican and Democrat parties, if only to quash the uprising of such upstarts.
The key fact that sticks out in my mind about Doug Hoffman’s incredible momentum in NY-23 is that his election would not have been possible had he been the Republican nominee.
Considering the Republican nominee has won every single election in NY-23 since 1877, that seems like an odd claim. It seems more reasonable to suggest that Owens, the Dem nominee, would not have had a chance had it not been for the split provided by Scozzafava and Hoffman.
That being said, perhaps the most interesting statistic in the DKos/Research 2000 poll (indirectly) cited in the Ruffini article is that given a second choice, very few of them (11% in total, and essentially evenly split) indicated a preference for either of the other candidates, and almost a third indicated they wouldn’t vote at all. Now that’s interesting, because it does indicate considerable discontent (almost 10% of the total electorate) in either of the other candidates from established parties.
lunatic,
Politics is the art of the possible – it isn’t possible that I’ll get a fiscal, social and defense conservative out of San Francisco…if I can get two out of three, its still better than having a triple crown liberal.
Mark: Politics is the art of the possible…
Darn, you sound like Newt Gingrich! Lol!
It might also be worth mentioning that NY-23 is not a done deal. The most recent poll has Hoffman and Owens in a dead heat. Actually, that’s true of the last two polls (both Club for Growth and Research 2000) have both candidates within the poll’s margin of error). You know what they say about counting chicken fetuses.
Of course it’s not a done deal…the votes have not been counted yet, or as in the case of MN, recounted. But to have an independent conservative make such waves sends a message in and of itself, no matter what the outcome.
Ricorun,
To be sure, it can go either way – but it’ll either be Conservative or Democrat coming out the winner…the GOP establishment’s candidate is a sure loser.
“Politics is the art of the possible…”
no rico, that is the politics of hope and change!
Where we see where hope and change got us. Obamateur has high hopes and he is leaving us to count our little change.
tiredoflibbs, perhaps you need reminding that the “Politics is the art of the possible” quote was from Mark, not me. Try not to be too hard on him.
Amazona: But to have an independent conservative make such waves sends a message in and of itself, no matter what the outcome.
I agree. But the message I see being sent most forcefully is that the schism between moderates and conservatives is becoming intractable. And because it is, both are in danger of tossing one of the safest seats in electoral history over to the Dems.
politics are the interferrence with governance by the people…it essentially is individuals lusting to control and direct what others do…telling them they will do this or will not do that…it interfer’s because natural man is intelligent and the ideals of right and wrong come from within him…those politics that desire to control him do not take into account that he is already self regulated and his model of existence has survived centuries of politic’s…
we dont need kings and presidents…all we really need is freedom
Rico
I see being sent most forcefully is that the schism between
moderatesliberal rinos and conservatives is becoming intractable. And because it is, both are in danger of tossing one of the safest seats in electoral history over to the Dems.id rather see it go to a donk than have a traitor from our party pee on our shoes at every chance.
the time has come to purge them.
count
You’ll note that Jeremiah Wright has spent more time with the president that did General McChrystal.
Please notice how many visits from Nancy Keenan, Kim Gandy and (shudder) Andy Stern!
Not to mention je$$e jackass, michael moore, and every black athlete available.
disgusting.