Hoffman un-unconcedes the NY-23 special election.
Hoffman un-unconcedes the NY-23 special election.
Yesterday, ThinkProgress reported that Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman had rescinded his concession to Democrat Bill Owens in the special congressional election in New York’s 23rd district. Hoffman went on Glenn Beck’s radio show and said he was feeling “hopeful” about the fact that Owens’ lead over him was narrowing with the counting of the district’s absentee ballots. “[I]f I knew this information at the election night, I would not have conceded,” said Hoffman. When Beck asked, “So are you un-conceding?” Hoffman replied, “If that’s possible, yes.” However, today Hoffman’s spokesman told the Syracuse Post-Standard that he is un-unconceding:
Hoffman is not “un-conceding” the race, contrary to what he said Monday when pressed by Glenn Beck on his national talk radio show.
“What really matters is the count that is taking place today,” Rob Ryan, Hoffman’s spokesman told The Post-Standard. “When we see the direction that is taking, we will make the decision.”
Ryan added, “There has been no formal action to contest the vote, and depending on how the absentee count turns out we will decide how to proceed.”
As Gawker’s Alex Pareene wrote yesterday, it looks like upstate New York may have its own Norm Coleman.
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Unnh..un..unnhh…
November 17th, 2009 at 3:19 pmHoffman’s pretzel twist is comedy gold. Of course, when your “mentor” is Glenda, this is to be expected. Looking forward to more comedy from these two.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:20 pmHoffman/Beck 2012.
How long would it take them to destroy the nation? I’d say four months.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:22 pmLOL! You can’t make this stuff up! These Repugs are the biggest idiots I have witnessed in my 42 years! Sarah and this nitwit, Michelle Bachman and the GOPs newest blond tart, Carrie Prejean. Man, if this is the future of the Repug Party, they are in serious trouble.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pmIt’s not as if what a conservative says actually has any meaning in the real world.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pmWell hell, I know I asked for a different act yesterday but come on!
November 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pmWait until more results come in. Hoffman might just un-un-unconcede the race.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:25 pmWho is this guy Hoffman again?
November 17th, 2009 at 3:26 pm“Hoffman un-unconcedes the NY-23 special election.”
Good luck to Hoffman trying to eye the absentee ballots when Hoffman is a carpet bagger that doesn’t live that district. Hoffman is a Norm Coleman wannabe without a brain. And the GOP banked the farm on this clown to win the Congressional seat? Keep it classy, GOP.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:27 pmHoffman un-unconcedes the NY-23 special election.
In other news, a spokesman for the Chicago Cubs said the team has indicated that they may concede that they did not win the World Series this year.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:28 pmIdiocracy
November 17th, 2009 at 3:28 pmIdiocracy I say…
Idiocracy
P.D. says,
Ain’t it the truth! I remember when the repiggies were squeling with glee about the “end” of the Democratic Party. Now, with the rouges in Teabaggistan demanding idealogical purity from its candidates, facts and reality be dammed, it looks like the shoe’s on the other foot.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:29 pmshoeless says,
Yeah, well that happens evey year.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:30 pm“[I]f I knew this information at the election night, I would not have conceded,” said Hoffman. When Beck asked, “So are you un-conceding?” Hoffman replied, “If that’s possible, yes.”
Understanding that the conservative element of politics is rife with devious, deluded and despicable candidates these days, I did think that after the experience of Dumbya, the right wing wouldn’t be so likely to support truly dumb ones anymore.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:31 pmGuess I was mistaken.
Perhaps this will spur his detractors to un-unvote for him.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:31 pmJim@13, It wasn’t just the Repugs crowing about the Dems ‘Demise’ but MSM as well. Remember in 2008 when MSM were going on and on how Bill and Hillary would damage the Party? Of the fact that the African American community would shun Bill and Hillary? Or the real whopper, Hillary supporters would NEVER support Obama? Talk about ‘Liberal’ media. What a crock.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:33 pmThis guy has been gonged. Is it asking too much that he leave the stage already? He’s turning into the most publicized also-ran since Carrie Prejean.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:34 pmHasn’t Owens already been sworn in and seated?
November 17th, 2009 at 3:34 pmRinnngggg….
“Hello?”
“Yeah, Hoffman? This is Beck. Whadda you mean you are un-unconceding? You didn’t clear this with me! I want you to get back out there and un-un-unconcede right now! Got it?”
“Uh, unh huh.”
November 17th, 2009 at 3:35 pmIs it really possible to take back a concession? And have it all hinge on the final vote count before you make up your mind? And just exactly how do you “un-swear” the winner Owens out of office?
This Hoffman guy is the epitome of a real decision maker, isn’t he? If he does win and does get seated in Congress, is this an insight into how he might vote on close decisions?
“Ah, I may want to change my vote later based on how everybody else votes, so, I’ll get back to you on my vote after all the other votes are counted.”
God bless you NY23 – you are going to need it.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:37 pmGeo@19, Yeah! He has. The full ceremony and everything. I believe he already cast the vote for Health Care reform. I guess Glen Beck and this fellow were blowing smoke out their ass.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:37 pmIf Hoffman ever sanes up, he’ll be glad Glenda didn’t have him dress up in his Howdy Doody costume for the un-concession.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:37 pmP.D. says@ 17
November 17th, 2009 at 3:38 pmYeah, I forgot about that part of it. Funny, I never heard a word from the MSM that suggested that they were going to admit that they were wrong. Course, I’m not holding my breath either waiting for it.
What rings in my head was the way they treated Al Gore on a big election…..ie for president. Were they so gracious? No is the answer.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:38 pmNo trolls? I guess they are licking thier wounds because this guy backed out. Glenn Beck FAILED.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:41 pmGeorgette Orwell says
November 17th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Hasn’t Owens already been sworn in and seated?
___________________________________________________________
Not only sworn in and seated, but already voted on the health care reform bill. It was after that vote that Beck convinced Hoffman to “un-concede” the election and fight for the seat.
Hoffman obviously has a ring in his nose tied to a chain held by Beck. But unless he can gain a wide majority of the absentee ballots, he’s toast.
That won’t stop the GOP, though. Even though Hoffman technically isn’t a GOP candidate, the Republicans will find some small irregularity with the vote count, take the matter to court, and attempt to drag this out for months. Anything to keep another Democrat out of the House for as long as they can.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:42 pmRooty-toot-toot!
Rooty-toot-toot!
We are the boys
from The Institute!!
Sorry, all. Dougie the Panty-Sniffing Pervert just brings this to mind for some reason…
November 17th, 2009 at 3:42 pmGlen Beck: ‘if you take what I say as gospel, you’re an idiot.’
Hoffman, you’re an idiot.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:44 pmi thought we made a pact in this country after the last dickweed left office: we’d only vote for candidate who don’t mangle the english language. “unconcede”? what kind of happy horseshit is that?
memo to hoffy:
November 17th, 2009 at 3:45 pmyou can “unconcede” all you want but it won’t make you an “unloser”
This guy looks like Mr. Whipple in drag.
C’mon, republics, is the best you have to offer or did Sarahcrow make some promises she can’t keep?
November 17th, 2009 at 3:46 pm” it looks like upstate New York may have its own Norm Coleman.”
that’s what you get for not putting the trash out at the curb where it belongs…
November 17th, 2009 at 3:50 pmThis is what happens when you have Glenn Beck as a mentor. Hoffman will now have to ask Boner for money to continue his fight if it’s legal. Remember John Kerry conceded the election only to fine out he won Ohio and the election.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:52 pmDoes anyone else feel like we really have entered the “Twilight Zone”? These people get more bizarre (sp?) every day
November 17th, 2009 at 3:59 pmAh Hoffman putting the “special” in special election.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:00 pmI don’t feel like the political concession makes any sense. Our democracy takes time to count all the votes and neither candidate should feel pressured to end the process early. Of course, going to court to invalidate the election results is a different matter.
What is strange in this case is that Owens has already been sworn into office. If the count were to turn out in Hoffman’s favor that would make for an ugly situation. Luckily it is very unlikely that absentee ballots would differ so much from the rest of the ballots cast.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:02 pmman the white wing wrong side repub party sure can F-up a wet dream with a condom on.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:03 pmJackie says:
“Hoffman will now have to ask Boner for money to continue his fight if it’s legal.”
a strategy i wholly support; drain the repukeliscum’s coffers over a pissant house of reps seat.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:03 pmAs a, sometimes, proud Minnesotan I have to say… sigh.
I can just hear the local Reichwhiners, when this is settled in a few days, start whining about how our automatic recount “stole” the election for Al Franken and cost millions of dollars.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:06 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
and how did that work for him mr. puke?
worked out great for gore, he won the nobel peace prize, it was the rest of us who got fcuked on that deal.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:13 pmMr.Duke says:
BUH BUH BUH BUH ALGORE!!!!!!!!11!
It’s so adorable when teabaggers try to debate with real human beings.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:14 pm41 – differece being Gore had actually won the election, of course, but good point anyway, dookie.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:15 pmMr Duke
No you DONT. You are a liar and a brainwashed moron. Gore never officially conceded. He told Bush he WAS going to concede because he was misled by false numbers. Lets rememeber that those votes WERE eventually counted and when all valid votes were counted, that is when the valid overvotes were counted too, Gore WON Florida by ANY COUNTING SCENARIO
November 17th, 2009 at 4:21 pmCan somsone tell me what it is about Hoffman’s affect? It seems so bizare.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:23 pmDoug Hoffman is a bug-eyed sweaty freak.
Is there any connection between him and the Rev. Haggard?
November 17th, 2009 at 4:24 pmJust asking.
The NY-23 race could find itself in the same company (gawd, let’s hope it doesn’t end up that close) as the ‘04 governor’s race in my home state of WA and the Franken-Coleman saga. Both of these races put an exclamation point on the importance of counting every vote. If it is the case, as Rachel Maddow reported last night, that Owens’ lead has dwindled to 3,000 with 10,000 absentee ballots still to be counted, it is only fair to question whether this election was prematurely certified and the office of Representative conferred on Mr. Owens.
How many of us on this board are still grateful to President-Elect Apparent Al Gore for withdrawing his election night concession to W in 2000, and still feel a little betrayed by Kerry for conceeding the day after in ‘04. The circumstances are not identical but why not dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s if for no other reason than to ensure the legitimacy of victory? Had we demanded any less we Washingtonians might still be waking up every morning with Gov. Rossi in Olympia.
Overcoming 3,000 votes with about 10,000 to go may be mathematically unlikely (it would require roughly 65% Hoffman/35% Owens/0% Scozzafava and her name was still on the ballot) but not impossible. I live in a part of Washington State where Democrats who lead by 5 points or less on election night are preparing their concession speeches because there is this weird trend of late arriving ballots tilting convervative/Republican. And this NY-23 sounds even more strongly conservative than the enclave of Clark County where I reside. It’s doubtful that Hoffman will be declared the winner but stranger things have happened. A Congressional district choosing for its Representative a progressive candidate for the first time since Reconstruction, for example.
However uncomfortable and inexpedient it may be to concede ground of any kind to Teabaggers it is unfair to draw comparisons between Hoffman and Coleman when so many unprocessed ballots remain.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:30 pmThe only conclusion that seems likely is that Hoffman doesn’t actually have a memory. A lot of conservatives seem to have that problem.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:44 pmWow Beck sure is talented – he’s even a Ventriloquist – with Hoffman as the dummy.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:47 pmMr.Dookie says: I recall Al Gore did the same thing in Nov. 2000.
He did it before Dubby was sworn in.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:48 pmThe idiot Hoffman can unconcede all he wants. They’ve already sworn in his opponent.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:49 pmActually Gore did not concede at ALL. Telling your opponent you are going to officially concede even conceding to him is NOT in any way official and not in ANY RATIONAL WAY the same thing as an ACTUAL concession
November 17th, 2009 at 5:01 pmHoffman unconcedes. Well, he can unwin again!
November 17th, 2009 at 5:09 pmUmmmm, isn’t it kind of pointless since Owens has been sworn in already?
November 17th, 2009 at 5:21 pmAny politician who goes on Glenn Beck’s show is automatically unfit for office.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:27 pmAs far as I can tell, swearing Owens in holds no legal weight. If Hoffman manages to pull ahead, or even close enough to challenge the election, he can do so and Owens could still be pushed out of office.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:33 pmLooks like it proves the old axiom – two stupids DON’T make one non-stupid..It’s still two stupids. Beck and Beck-Lite.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:42 pmOh come on, it was a joke. Nobody is stupid enough to un-concede an election, never been done, couldn’t happen.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/algore2000concessionspeech.html
November 17th, 2009 at 5:42 pmSorry, but I thought once a candidate conceded, as Hoffman did, the election was legally over, no matter how the vote later comes out — unless there were some unlawful Karzai-type shenanigans. I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think you can say, “Only kidding,” later. If vote totals show Hoffman in the lead in the final tally, I think there will definitely be another Franken-Coleman tug-of-war because I think Hoffman was out the minute he said he was. That’s what I’d argue if I were Bill Owens, anyway.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
November 17th, 2009 at 5:43 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
EugeneDebs says:
Actually Gore did not concede at ALL. Telling your opponent you are going to officially concede even conceding to him is NOT in any way official and not in ANY RATIONAL WAY the same thing as an ACTUAL concession
Right. It depends what your definition of “is” is.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:50 pmboldly played, dookie.
get with the times, wouldja?
November 17th, 2009 at 6:22 pmRyan added, “There has been no formal action to contest the vote, and depending on how the absentee count turns out we will decide how to proceed.”
This is the part that I can’t believe.
They are saying – in exact words – that they will decide if they ‘un-concede’ when they find out if they’ve won.
Now.. I said yesterday ‘They can’t un-concede! (psst.. can they un-concede?’ Because though I find the idea of being able to un-concede the race ridiculous.. Owens is already sworn in and working in congress after all. I got some flack from a commenter about the fact that I ‘don’t know how congress works’ for even wondering if it was possible to retract a concession – but here we have Rob Ryan – his campaign spokesman, actually claiming they see the idea of ‘un-concession’ a possibility.
So I ask again… can a person withdraw a concession? They still seem to think so…
November 17th, 2009 at 6:38 pmThis just in :
Scozzafava is back in the race!…..
November 17th, 2009 at 6:45 pmI finally remembered who this guy reminds me of (but remove “The Incredible…):
http://livinginstereo.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/The%20Incredible%20Mr.%20Limpet.jpg
November 17th, 2009 at 7:56 pmThis guy gives me the willies.
Ten bucks says that he’s got a closet full of woman’s lingerie.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:58 pmMr DUKE no it doesnt. Did Gore stand up and officiall concede? Why no he didnt. Why are you so comitted to being such a moronic dooshbag? What is it about being a brainwashed moron that turns you on?
November 19th, 2009 at 2:51 am