GOP establishment-backed candidate Dede Scozzafava withdraws from NY-23 special election.
GOP establishment-backed candidate Dede Scozzafava withdraws from NY-23 special election.
In recent weeks, the special congressional election in New York’s 23 district has been heating up, with “big tent” and “establishment” Republicans — such as Newt Gingrich, the RNC, and the NRCC — backing Dede Scozzafava, and “purist” Republicans — such as Sarah Palin, Rick Santorum, and Bill Kristol — backing Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. Scozzafava had been “under siege” from these conservatives “because she supported gay rights and abortion rights and was considered too liberal on various fiscal issues.” Today — just three days before the election — Scozzafava has announced that she’s withdrawing because polling shows her too far behind to win:
“Today, I again seek to act for the good of our community,” Ms. Scozzafava wrote in a letter to friends and supporters. “It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so. I am and have always been a proud Republican. It is my hope that with my actions today, my party will emerge stronger and our district and our nation can take an important step towards restoring the enduring strength and economic prosperity that has defined us for generations.
Scozzafava has not yet thrown her support behind either Hoffman or Democratic candidate Bill Owens, and her name will remain on the ballot. Gingrich recently slammed his fellow conservatives for the “precedent” they’re setting, saying, “So I say to my many conservative friends who suddenly decided that whether they’re from Minnesota or Alaska or Texas, they know more than the upstate New York Republicans? I don’t think so. And I don’t think it’s a good precedent.”
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How does Malkin describe the Dem?
October 31st, 2009 at 2:17 pmHistory will record this as the “offical” beginning of the end of the Republican party. The day that the radical right seized control of the Republican party, and the day Repulicans meekly surrendered. It doesn’t matter who wins the seat.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:18 pmBut but Michelle, Palin says their is no difference between them. So doesn that make Hoffman a radical leftist?
October 31st, 2009 at 2:19 pmThis is great news for rational Americans. It means that the crazies are in charge of the republican party and the split in the party is widening. It’s only a matter of time before the party splits in two and becomes too small to cause any real problems.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:19 pmThe conservatives are eating their own.
The schadenfreude is delicious.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:20 pmIn my spare time I write jingles.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:24 pmIn my spare time I write jingles.
Like Contract With America and New Way Forward and Stay The Course?
October 31st, 2009 at 2:26 pmI would guess it’s to late to remove her name from the ballot and many will still vote for the name with the (R) next to it. This should divide the right wing vote between the Conservative and Republican candidates allowing the Democrat to win with thirty something percent of the vote.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:32 pmParody or not. Doug is getting a little tiresome. Sorry Doug. It had to be said…
October 31st, 2009 at 2:32 pmI never thought I’d say this, but I agree wholeheartedly with Gingrich.
Not only is this about the extreme conservative stranglehold on the Republican Party, but about politicians from other regions assuming they know “what’s best” for a region in which they’ve never lived. Palin needs to keep her nose out of other races, because she only takes their good news as personal achievements.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:39 pmThe radical right must be leaping for joy now that they have captured the Republican party. They think it is a beautiful flower that has just sprouted. But if they pull back they will realize the flower sprouted on a pile of dirt that is waiting to fill the political grave of the Republican party.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:39 pmWiz, the repiggie party is just a pile of GOPshite.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:41 pmThe fact she didn’t endorse the Repug is very telling. Here she was, selected by the members of her own Party, only to be ataacked and ridculed. If the people vote for Hoffman, they are crazy. The Repugs are facing extinction.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:42 pmSo the Republican Party no longer even supports its own candidates?
So just what is the purpose of this party?
October 31st, 2009 at 2:43 pmLooks like another Dem seat in the House. ;)
October 31st, 2009 at 2:44 pmRead between the lines.
The GOP leaders ordered her to quit because, (a) two GOP candidates in the race would split the vote, and the Democratic candidate would win; and (b) she’s not an ultra-right-wing lunatic, so she was the one who had to go.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:45 pmHoodathunk says:
So the Republican Party no longer even supports its own candidates?
So just what is the purpose of this party?
Isn’t that just what stuck us with Joe LIEberman?
I wonder if the Far Right will eventually leave the Republican Party completely and form their own.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:47 pmNo one can deny who is running the gop now.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:51 pmGummitch, I think it would be the moderate Right that will leave and let the whackos have their fun.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:51 pmThe Dem is still a long shot in that republican part of the state – but a clear winner may not be known.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:54 pmCan Scozzafava give away her votes to Hoffman?
Her name will still be on all the ballots; it would be interesting if she’d give her votes to the Democrat, but repugs don’t do things like that.
Looking at Hoffman, doesnt he look like the “Crypt Keeper”?
October 31st, 2009 at 2:56 pmI’d be interested to know how the locals feel about the whackjob faction of the party coming around to tell them how to vote? I imagine they’re an independent lot.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:59 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
I wonder how many threatening phone calls Ms. Scozzafava got.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:14 pmHi Beefeater
October 31st, 2009 at 3:19 pmWhat do you think of K Street Whore? My feeling is that they are a fake ass poser pussy fraud. Your thoughts?
Thank you Club for Growth!
October 31st, 2009 at 3:29 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
dbadass says:
Are you implying they as in more than one moron posting using that sock??
October 31st, 2009 at 3:32 pmThat may explain why the silly little troll is posting the same crap over and over again, it doesn’t want to appear to have a detectable writing style.
Don’t worry about it, Kos will never support Paulbots and Birchers.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:34 pmSadly, Scozzafava is actually to the left of Owens on a number of issues (i.e., healthcare and same-sex marriage). She was also endorsed by ACORN and a faction of the SEIU.
Still, I would find it incredibly hard to believe that the Republicans who actually LIVE in the district (and would be voting in the election) would jump ship over to Hoffman. Scozzafava needs to endorse Owens in the next day or so, and compel her followers to still vote on election day. The only thing that can keep Owens from victory is low turnout.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:35 pmI think we are making this a little too complicated. The fact is that Ms. Scozzafava isn’t a “Barbie Doll”. The only time a Reichwhiner would vote for any woman is if she looks like a FAUX bimbo. Then, of course, she just made it worse by expressing her own ideas.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:41 pmJust watch–Gingrich will be all over Sunday talking heads gushing with support for Hoffman. Gingrich has to realize that the lunatic far right that is driving the carzy train he created will leave him behind if he doesn’t get on board. Any thing supported by nuts from “Minnesota or Alaska or Texas” can’t be a good sign for America.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:46 pmWow. Opted out or was scared out? Hopefully the former.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:46 pmpete–I beg to differ–they vote for Lindsey Graham, don’t they?
October 31st, 2009 at 3:47 pmAs of October 14, Hoffman was only ahead in fund raising by $50,000. Both Hoffman and Scozzafava ran terrible campaigns. The local papers have been particularly tough on Hoffman for being clueless on local issues.
BTW, I see that HRC donated to Scozzafava.
Unfortunately, this is going to put another crazy person in the House.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:47 pmThis is just too good….! This shows exactly what the Republican Party is….a bunch of radicals led by the crazy-bellicose fear merchants like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck that want to bring this country down. Even Ronald Reagan would be appalled. The radical out of the mainstream base of the GOP has taken over the Party….and Progressives all over this country should be celebrating.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:47 pmgummitch> I wasn’t the Democrats that put Joe Lieberman back in the Senate, it was the non-affiliated independents and Republicans. yes there were some diehard misguided, loyal Lieberman Democrats too, but the majority were the unaffiliateds.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:52 pmAbove the Clouds says:
pete–I beg to differ–they vote for Lindsey Graham, don’t they?
Well, they have up until now. However, ol’ Lindsey hasn’t been sticking to a “pure” message and is losing them.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:56 pmPalin meat?
October 31st, 2009 at 3:56 pmThe hate-filled right is moving America in the direction of increasing class war and hate-motivated violence. We are heading for a downward spiral into relative irrelevance.
October 31st, 2009 at 4:33 pmDoug Hoffman says:
In my spare time I write jingles.
In my spare time I throttle trolls.
October 31st, 2009 at 5:40 pmDoug Hoffman says:
In my spare time I write jingles.
In your spare time you apply a few mutha f uckin Crest Whitestrips.
October 31st, 2009 at 5:49 pm*you could apply
October 31st, 2009 at 5:50 pmWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
*you could apply
October 31st, 2009 at 5:50 pm
???
October 31st, 2009 at 6:16 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Hi Kenny.
October 31st, 2009 at 6:20 pmThe GOoP is being eaten by Teh Crazy.
And they seriously think this is going to win them elections…?
Whew. Good luck with that.
October 31st, 2009 at 6:27 pmHi Annie. I like your comments. They’re always funny and very interesting. Thanks.
Your pen pal,
October 31st, 2009 at 6:31 pmChrissy
PS – I voted up on you and down on Kenny.
October 31st, 2009 at 6:32 pmThe party of no is being derailed by the rightwing taliban fringe. They will be completely irrelevant in two more election cycles. Book it.
October 31st, 2009 at 6:40 pmAs it turns out, Hoffman appears to support Bush-like policies that would have the impact of raising the taxes on the tea partiers and his other supporters.
If anyone wants to push Owens over the top, contact those in the local area and have them go to Hoffman’s appearances and ask him about that on video.
If they can’t ask about that, and they’re staunch liberals who agree with Hoffman, then have them get video of them congratulating Hoffman on being so liberal.
Then, upload the video to Youtube and make sure as many of his supporters as possible can see it.
October 31st, 2009 at 6:42 pmFor progressives, I would suggest that this is a win-win situation. If the Democrat wins, it will be breaking a GOP stranglehold on this Congressional seat which they have held for decades and decades. If the Conservative candidate wins, then the Teabaggers\Birthers/Deathers/Tenthers will be enpowered to further trash the Republican Party. Well, after eight years of torture, treason and tyranny under Bush and the goosestepping Republicans, well, let’s just call it poetic justice or just desserts…
October 31st, 2009 at 7:07 pmKenneth says:
…moving America in the direction of increasing class war…
That is the Repiggie way. Any questions?
“The pot calling the kettle black”. I believe that is a Left invention as I recall.
That’s more the Repiggie tactic. Nice try though.
October 31st, 2009 at 7:11 pmKenneth
Sure. You believe a whole MOUNTAIN of incredibly stupid things. You ARE a moron afterall. You are also an ignorant punkass troll who should just STFU and let the adults talk
October 31st, 2009 at 7:30 pmGive it up Slappy Beggerino. No matter how much you beg there is no pity for you here.
October 31st, 2009 at 7:31 pmWhy is it that Kenneth and I can never seem to connect? Must be the frequency…
October 31st, 2009 at 7:44 pmSo You Want Virtues??
Carpenters, don’t make virtues!
Writers use less words!(Don’t lend, confusion!)
Professors, are more, or less, what they teach!
Say!? Turn on the lights…where’s the switch?
October 31st, 2009 at 7:51 pmHi Kenny.
October 31st, 2009 at 8:10 pmI’m not familiar with NY-23. Is this normally a safe seat and for which party. Outwardly this looks like a traditionally safe Republican seat that was in danger of flipping unless the Republican dropped out.
October 31st, 2009 at 8:19 pmoh yeah, those slaveholders in the antebellum South were all liberals ,kenneth, those robber barons were all liberal, and corporate America is undoubtedly liberal…
October 31st, 2009 at 8:27 pmafter all you said that the Left invented class warfare…well history shows those entities listed above have perpetrated the class warfare on the people…
October 31st, 2009 at 8:27 pmA couple things stand out in this -
she didn’t offer support for Hoffman -
her name is still going to be on the ballot -
Both of which will undermine Hoffman’s votes.. although I honestly don’t see Owens gaining enough from it to win.. Mostly it’s just telling of the future of the Republican party.. doubtful at best.
October 31st, 2009 at 8:45 pmEntry #2 “wiz” boy says: “The day that the radical right seized control of the Republican party”. The radical right? Genius, read the federalist papers, or even just the constitution. I guess small government was always radical?, you drone.
October 31st, 2009 at 11:31 pmBaker
You ignorant moronic hivemind fool. I HAVE read them and FAR better than YOU I understood them. See you are too stupid to understand a mudpuddle so you wont mind if instead of pretending you had any insight we just laugh at you. I do love to laugh at morons as stupid as you
November 1st, 2009 at 3:14 amI prefer the positions of Scozzafava and I agree with Gingrich that the people of the district should be the ones deciding.
The outcome will be very interesting. If Hoffman were able to win, it will probably embolden fundamentalist Republicans to compromise even less than they do today.
In the long run, I think it further marginalizes the Republican party.
November 1st, 2009 at 8:29 amNot a huge surprise: Scozzafava endorsed Owens.
This should be a death knell to Hoffman.
And, much as I hate to say it, I agree with Steele and Gingrich..insofar as the strategy should always be to pick the best candidate for the district. Scozzafava is to the GOP in that district what Walt Minnick is to the Dems in Idaho: very far outside the base, but the best fit for the district.
November 1st, 2009 at 6:36 pm