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Dede Scozzafava is no longer in the race for New York's 23rd Congressional District. AP Photo
It is just one of the 438 Congressional districts but New York's 23rd has become a sympol of the struggle for the soul of the Republican party. Thus far it seems that the the more hardcore conservatives are winning that struggle as today Dede Scozzafava announced that she was suspending her campaign and allowing her followers to vote for whoever they wish. Scozzafava cited a lack of support and money as her reasons for the suspension and she did not endorse either of the two remaining candidates.
Barring a major surprise her departure from the race should all but gaurantee a victory for the conservative candidate Doug Hoffman. New York's 23rd's demographics overwhelmingly favor Republicans and the only hope for Democrats was for the Republican vote to be split allowing a Democratic spoiler. Now that Scozzafava has quit the Republican vote will likely unite behind Hoffman.
Conservatives like Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin had endorsed Hoffman. Both leaders along with their Tea Party supporters will likely declare New York's 23rd a decisive victory for the conservative movement. While Hoffman's probably victory is certainly good news in the short term it may spell doom for Republicans in 2010 or even 2012. Someone like Hoffman is certainly capable of winning in a Republican-dominated district like New York's 23rd but is questionable whether Republicans could survive the same infighting in more balanced Congressional districts or Senate races. As the saying goes sometimes you can win the battle but ultiately lose the war.
Comments
There are actually only 435 Congressional Districts
One line in your post is somewhat misleading:
"Conservatives like Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin had endorsed Hoffman."
By choosing a couple of lightning rod figures, you're trying to create the impression that Doug Hoffman is a candidate of the very fringe elements of the GOP, which is not true. It's also worth noting that MN Governor Tim Pawlenty, Fred and Jeri Thompson, and former NY Governor George Pataki had all endorsed Doug Hoffman prior to Scozzafava's withdrawal.
Moreover, this woman's stands on a host of issues suggest that she may be more at home in the Democrat Party: favoring abortion, same-sex marriage, and several gun control measures. In a district that hasn't been represented in the House by a Democrat since the Civil War, there is no reason conservatives should have sat meekly by and supported a RINO candidate who doesn't represent their core values.
Ronald Reagan said it best in 1975: a party rebuilds by showing bold colors; no "pale pastels"!
Trail -- that's the same Reagan who raised taxes and wanted to do away with nuclear weapons, right?
Now that Dede has withdrawn, perhaps Sarah Palin will reconsider her endorsement. Dede went rogue and pulled a Palin, even outdoing her by quitting before the election.
It's a really odd event in the 23rd. You have a conservative candidate who lives outside the district, being endorsed and supported by conservatives , who live outside the district, and claim that they, from outside the 23rd, represent the voters of the 23rd.
So now for the first time since the 1870's the Democrats have a chance to win the North Country seat. If we get Owens in, it will leave Peter King as the only GOP congressman in the Empire State.
Your dreaming Jeff. Owens doesn't have a chance, and conservative candidates, both Dems and Repubs, are going to be the mainstream in future elections. It is time to get this country back to the center. Obama and Bush falsely ran as candidates that they really weren't (Obama is too far left and Bush was not a conservative).
RPyeah--Reagan believed that nuclear arms were inherently evil and should be abolished. That said, he also practiced "trust but verify", something that made Gorbachev cringe every time he heard it. Most importantly, Reagan realized that as he upgraded the scope and power of our military forces after the Carter mess, the Soviets would be unable to keep pace, and would eventually fall into ruin. It all worked out rather well.
As to tax increases, the overall impact of Reagan's supply-side tax cuts successfully rebuilt our economy after a far worse downturn than today's. Yes, Reagan raised taxes a year later---it's called pulling back stimulus as a recession begins to abate. It's not unlike what the Fed will eventually do when it begins to raise interest rates. The federal defecit was 2.6% of GDP in 1981; eight years later---after he had grown the economy by one-third---the deficit was only 2.9% of GDP.
Unlike the current White House occupant,Ronald Reagan made America strong again.
Congrats to the Town Hallers, the teabaggers, the armed patriots at the rallies, and the other mobs.
A feather in the cap of Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson, George Pataki etc.
A thorn in the old line GOP of the likes of Gingrich. Adios old GOP.
Thank you Sarah Palin you just handed the Obama 4 more years, with your Right Wing endorsement, Sara this isn’t 1984, there no such things as family values anymore, DUMB ASS…..
Way to early to speculate on the impact this will have on the Republican Party. Let us see the results after Tuesday in the 23rd as well as Virgina and New Jersey. Even if it is a good show for the GOP it is still another whole year to suffer through before the true litmus test in 2010 and a lot can happen.
Ryan(our favorite dem)Witt: "Conservatives gain short-termed victory", always the optimist! It must be nice to live in the "state of denial". You ain't seen nothin' yet. Get ready for the ride!
trailrunner, a minor correction: The Hollow Army and military mess you refer to was created during the administration of Gerald Ford and his then-youngest-ever Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld.
The pay raises and troop increases and newer equipment actually began in the final two Carter budgets; Reagan simply continued the trend.
Don't believe it? Go look up annual end strength numbers, and keep in mind that Reagan's first budget didn't begin until Fiscal Year 1982 began on Oct. 1, 1981. (The federal fiscal year changed from July 1 to October 1 in 1976, the year of Five Quarters. Since Carter took office in January 1977, his FY 81 budget began before the 1980 November election.)
Jeff,
With Dede in there you effectively HAD a Democrat>
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