This Week’s Elections: Tea Party Post Mortem
by Patrick TuoheyDoug Hoffman lost his race in the 23rd Congressional District of New York, a seat held by Republicans for the past 120 years. John McHugh held the seat since 1992 and won with such large margins (he was even unopposed in 2002) that when I pitched him to provide polling for his campaign, it was a challenge to even argue why he needed polling in the first place.
Dede Scozzafava was chased out of the race by conservative Tea Party activists. Her campaign may have been inept, and local GOP leaders may have erred in selecting her, but activists had no business dictating terms from afar. Despite her flaws, Scozzafava was ahead in the polls before the Tea Party brouhaha. (So much for respecting local control.) Their result was to actually shrink the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives. (Moreover, the newly-elected Democrat Congressman Bill Owens may provide the deciding vote on passing Pelosi Care, up for debate tonight in the House.) Just as conservative Democrats voted for Speaker Pelosi, liberal Republicans like Scozzafava would have supported the Party’s leadership. A RINO is better than no R at all. The good news is that the district is likely to support the Republican candidate in 2010 after what I suspect will be a vigorous primary.
The most laughable criticism of Scozzafava was that she showed no loyalty to conservatives by endorsing the Democrat in the race–this from Tea Partiers who showed no loyalty to the Republican Party by pushing a third party candidate in the first place.
Here in Missouri, activists were pleased with national results. Twitter was rife with self-congratulatory chatter. One wrote, “Obama’s most significant accomplish? Re-awaking the conservative movement.” Even Missouri’s Lt. Governor Peter Kinder emailed, “This was a referendum on the direction Democrats like Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama are taking our nation. Voters are upset with the failed stimulus, the government’s proposed takeover of our health care system, and the national energy tax known as ‘cap and trade.’”
My fear is that Tea Parties will be so enamored with national politics that they will miss opportunities to win real and lasting victories in state and city races. In Missouri smoldered the ruins of what could have been Tea Party victories: a quarter-cent sales tax in Jackson County won renewal (with 71%) despite the funds once being the subject of a grand jury investigation; usually conservative Springfield passed a new sales tax during a recession (with 55%); and St. Louis passed a smoking ban (with 65%) generally regarded by us righties as an affront to liberty. If this is the “re-awakening of the conservative movement” in a red state that voted for McCain, I fear for the future.
There is a year left before the 2010 elections–and Tuesday should offer a powerful lesson to activists everywhere. Namely, there is no substitute for hard work in smaller local races that actually have an impact on people and their pocketbooks. Activists need to identify potential candidates and campaign staffers in their own neighborhoods, focus on the issues and races where they are best equipped to make a difference and not let small differences overshadow what we have in common.
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636 Comments
This is the same argument that the Republican party used to get Sen. Specter re-elected last time. I was swayed, and I voted for him, and now I am kicking myself in the behind (no jokes please).
Why can't we just vote for conservative principals? That may clean up the Republican Party faster than you think.
Way to miss the point of this loss. This is a win, even with a "D" in the seat, because there was no reason for the local party to nominate such a liberal "Republican". If this was a race in a heavily liberal district, then she may have been acceptable; however, there is no reason to accept such a horribly liberal candidate as a matter of course. These types of candidates have pushed the Republican party into a D-lite version that is no longer acceptable. If I wanted a Democrat in office, I would vote for Democrats.
You've got to have some basic, core beliefs that are non-negotiable and I believe fiscal conservatism is non-negotiable.
Patrick Tuohey, interesting article.
I hear what you are saying, out of both sides of your mouth.
Quite frankly, people are getting tired of being told what, and how to think. We are getting tired of being told, and lectured; from Nancy Pelosi, to Barney Frank, to Newtered Newt Gingrich.
Your article states that Dede didn't show loyalty to conservatives because she endorsed the Democrat; while Tea Partiers showed no loyalty to the Party by endorsing a third party conservative. Sometimes, a line in the sand needs to be drawn, and folks need to stand up. Sometimes, folks need to stop talking from both sides of their mouth, with forked tounge. Sometimes, folks need to stop listening to pollsters. Sometimes, Conservatives need to stand up, and say screw the party. What has the GOP got US?
The GOP got US eight years of the RINO Bush, and the GOP got US Obama.
It is time for a complete change. Obama was right in one respect: everybody needs to grab a mop, and start scrubbing.
Dede had shown her true colors. Us tea partiers were smart to get her out and vote Conservative. And boy was it a very close race. We also need to get McCain, Graham, Snowe, Collins out of office. And make sure that we don't vote for people like Huckabee, Pawlenty, Newt and Romney in the primary for 2012. Obama can easily beat them and we'll be stuck with him until 2016, we can't afford that.
You are incorrect, sir. A RINO is not a (R) when they cannot be trusted to move the values of our party forward. You forget that Hoffman lost by 4 points after only being in the race for 30 days. Not to mention that the 6% of those had voted for Dede would have not been a factor, and more than likely been in the Hoffman camp. Had he been supported throughout the campaign, and had not the 11 appointed someone who looked like they could win, rather than standing on the principles of the party, there would perhaps not be the deciding vote in the pocket of the libs.
Uh, this is what we did in VA. Namely, got conservatives McDonnell and Cuccinelli elected. No RINOS–I do not want to pull the collective knives out of our back from the likes of Spector, Collins and Snowe. Unfortunately, the national Republican party does not get it, e.g., Scoozaffazzfaazfaaz and Crist. We need more primarying till the conservatives retake the party.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by 14jazznwine: This Week’s Elections: Tea Party Post Mortem: Big Government (blog)
by Patrick Tuohey Doug Hoffman lost his.. http://bit.ly/3S2Myb...
You know, I agree with local control. I didn't contribute to this race for that (and another) reason. Are you telling me that the nearly 1 million dollars the GOP donated to Scozzafava was LOCAL money? I don't think so.
This sentence pretty much sums up why you are so very wrong:
"The most laughable criticism of Scozzafava was that she showed no loyalty to conservatives by endorsing the Democrat in the race–this from Tea Partiers who showed no loyalty to the Republican Party by pushing a third party candidate in the first place."
Conservatives don't value loyalty to the Party above loyalty to conservative principles. But the GOP establishment has made it perfectly clear they do. And they defended their choice of the very liberal Scozzafava (CARD CHECK? Hello?) based on their claim that she was a loyal Republican.
There was nothing 'laughable' or hypocritical about Tea Partiers pointing out that the MAIN selling point the GOP offered- that this was a loyal Republican- was just one more point on which the GOP establishment was dead wrong. Basically, that leaves us with nothing they were right about. And there's no way I will believe she would have voted against the Health Care Bill.
And teh reason Hoffman lost is because Scozzafava dropped out of the race- she is so far to the left that the people supporting her threw their votes to the Democrat. Had she stayed in, I believe Hoffman would have won.
Hmmmm.
1. It is not my -job- to vote Republican.
2. It is the JOB of the Republican party to provide candidates that I am willing to vote for.
3. Don't get it? Then your career will be very short.
I get so tired of combating this inanity. Scozzafava was not forced out by anyone. She lost in the battle of ideas. The polls of voters in her district showed she couldn't win because people realized what a terrible candidate she was. Turns out Republicans aren't all that enamored by people to the left of even the Democratic Party.
The idea that conservative have to shelve principle and support all Republicans all the time is stupid and short-sighted, and is exactly the attitude that got us here. How did supporting Arlen Specter work out for you? Jim Jeffords?
What the Patrick Tuohey's, David Brooks' and David Frum's of the Republican world don't understand is that liberal Republicans hurt the party brand. Elections are determined by politically motivated groups, NOT absolute majorities. The reason this is the case is because NOT EVERYONE VOTES. It is utterly clueless to pretend like there is no electoral cost to be paid for constantly sacrificing principle to elect big government Republicans. We've already seen the cost. Motivating conservatives, which make up the largest single ideological group, is the key to winning. The way to do that is to restore the Republican brand of fiscal discipline and limited government. Electing big government liberals like Dede Scozzafava is doing the exact opposite.
You seem to be forgetting that she'd been rated MORE LIBERAL than the Democrat. Oh and since you're in Missouri, do you have a right to opine on the election?
"Post Mortem" is a flawed title: if we are anything, it is more invigorated and ready to fight to the figurative death.
Your article has only made me more committed.
“…this from Tea Partiers who showed no loyalty to the Republican Party…”
That’s it–conservatives are loyal to conservatism, not to the letter after a candidate’s name. If Republicans won’t stand for conservative principles, then their “moderate” plans must be for watered-down socialism. Good luck with that platform.
Scoob, you're right, but I really caution you on Crist. Senators are supposed to represent their state's interests in Congress, NOT the people. (We have the House of Reprsentatives for that.) Florida is diverse, and needs a Senator that represents his State, not the national Republican party. I'm not hearing anything from Rubio that talks State interests, only Republican and Conservative interests.
I'm not saying Crist is the answer, but Rubio needs to show he can do his job in the Senate for Florida, otherwise he'll end up gifting the election to the Democrats. And no, right now, we can't afford that on "principle."
Well said!
If you trust Katie Coric and the rest of the lame stream media, the Republicans need more RINO's to win elections. I'm sorry, but I really don't think they offer sincere help. We need to return to the conservative principles that will actually benifit the country rather than settling for someone with an R beside their name. California's finding out the hard way.
Can anyone tell me an issue that Scozzafava and Owens would have voted DIFFERENTLY on? I can't honestly think of any. Today she probably would be the lone Republican vote for Pelosicare allowing Dems to say it was "bipartisan". This was a backroom deal by the local party that reflected nothing of rank and file Republicans putting Scozafava in there. Frankly, the loss is valuable if it keeps the party out of touch elites from putting or supporting any candidates like her again. Her endorsing the Democrat in the election is all you need to know that she would be a pain in the a** to principled conservatives. This loss is constructive. The 6% she got of the vote were the early voting and absentee votes that were cast before she dropped out. Hard to know how those would have gone if she were never there. When you think you have enough votes to block something like cap and tax you can rely on Lindsay Graham, the 2 Maine girls, and John McCain to be "bipartisan" so they can be the belles of the ball in the media.
Someone posted a link on Twitter to a NY Times obituary of a Democrat who represented that area (though the district number was different then) within my lifetime. That Dem was succeeded by another Dem., so where does this "Republican for 130 years" crap come from?
Scozzafava was a shill and a GOP infiltrator.
As soon as you figure out who in the Republican party those people are the better.
Why am I not surprised to see that the moron who wrote this article used to work for Frank Luntz. Patrick Tuohey (the author of this article) is another political class high society hack. He is basically telling us we aren't qualified to get involved in these matters and we should just shut up. I bet he thinks Bachman's little house call on capital hill was a complete waste of time also.
Mr. Tuohey, I couldn't agree more. Local politics should come first, uhmmm, except that the constitution has been shredded and limited/shared powers doctrine has been thrown right out the window.
Who gives a damn about a local sales tax that pales in comparison to what the Federal government will be doing to us if this outrageous spending is not stopped.
Read the first paragraph: Patrick Tuohey is a professional pollster. Quite frankly, I'm getting tired of these professional peckerwoods telling me anything, let alone how I should think, act, or vote. If people like that want a real job, that contributes to the GDP, why don't they flip burgers at Wendys, as opposed to creating "value" for their bogus industry? They are part of the never ending election cycle; part of the machine. They are not part of any solution, they are in fact part of the problem.
"this from Tea Partiers who showed no loyalty to the Republican Party by pushing a third party candidate in the first place."
It is not my job to be loyal to a party. They work for me, not the other way around.
That picture scared the hell out of me!
There is no way that Scozzafava would have voted against Pelosi care. How better could she have made a name for herself than to follow this crap bill and this crap movement? This dude is retarded if he thinks this is going to kill the Tea Party movement. If anything, it reinvigorated the movement. RINOs out!
Gads, if Scozzafava was a true (R) she would have endorsed Hoffman. That's what mature, professional team players do, no matter what,. When they drop out they throw their support to unite, not undercut. It also helps to mention that Owens and Scozzafava were both listed on the ballots – TWICE EACH! WHat a joke!
And Hoffman STILL got 45%. He got a bigger percent than Bill CLinton did to win the presidency, with Bush I and Ross Perot on the ballot, so he was and remains a serious contender.
Scozzafava was either totally self-centered spiteful OR purposely sucked up nearly a cool million, diverting funds which could have helped Hoffman, everything calculated to help the (D). The GOP should have taken the Tea Partiers warning early on that she wasn't going to be reliable, in any way shape or form.
After thinking about how this all happened, I wonder if getting rid of this early voting thing would be an answer? Due to the fact Scozzafava got 6% of the vote, possibly most from early voting, and when she removed herself from the race Hoffman would have won. I think there is too much of an opportunity for early votes to be messed with, and we should be the patriots we are and vote on election day, Just my opinion though.
I have been a registered Republican and have voted Republican since 1968. Patrick, you can take your ideas along with the rest of the Republican party and join the socialists. Give me Liberty or Give Me Death!
Exactly!
Dede Scozzafava endorsed the Democrat, not the Conservative endorsed by the NRCC. Yet the naive Mr. Touhey believes Scozzafava would have obeyed her House party leaders.
Perhaps his dissatisfaction with the Tea Party movement is a manifestation of his deeper disappointment that, yet again, the Great Pumpkin skipped his house on Halloween.
Any candidate that supports/is supported by ACORN will never get my vote. Dede is one of those.
I feel the same way. I no longer give to the Republican Party but do give to the candidate with Conservative values. If enough of us do this, they might get the message!
As soon as I saw Scuzzyfava on the tube, I knew she was not a real Republican. I mean LOOK AT HER. There is no comparing her to Michelle Bachman or Sarah Palin. She is defintely more of a PELOSI.
Mr. Tuohey,
Conservatives reached the tipping point, and it's the Republicans that caused it. The RINOs and spineless conservative Republicans have given the Democrats and liberals everything they've wanted, have acquiesced on every important vote, and refuse to listen. The party screwed up; the people did their job.
Moderates serve a useful purpose in the Republican party. They are like when a Division 1 football team plays a division 2 team. A useful scrimmage against what they might face in a real game, and if the conservative cannot beat a moderate in the relatively conservative Republican primary then they would most likely fail in the general election in which case it is better to have someone somewhat conservative than not, and after all, most moderates go as the wind blows. Snowe, Collins, et. al. have been opposing the government take-over of health care. WHY? Not because they have a strong conservative principles but because WE THE PEOPLE (the Tea Parties) have led the way for them to understand what is at stake. These moderates are talking much more like conservatives as of late. When it comes to moderates, we the people have to provide the leadership; they will not.
Patrick
Koolaid comes in two flavors one with a D and one with an R I suggest you rethink your assumptions. Tea Party folks are not Republicans we are republicans (small r) we beleive in conservative principals and want to take the Republican party in a new direction. This Rino would have voted for health care and cap and trade as would many other member of the GOP if they beleived they could hide behind the old "it is the best deal we could get, we have to play the cards we are dealt". The tea party folks want to upturn the table, clear the temple of the soft money changers and cheats. We are taking this local all over America and we will continue to. If I choose to send my money to a candidate running for in a local election that will be voting on national issues so be it . What sanctamonius elitist do with there money is there business. One thing I know is they will not be getting mine nor will the GOP unless they start standing for founding principles. …
…This election was selected because it was a one year post it is a shot across the bow. We owed no allegence to Dede Scozzafava, We owe no allegiance to the GOP. The GOP owes an allegience to us we are the grass roots we are campaign funds. We will own this party, if not this election cycle the next. We are not going home and waiting for our "betters" to fix this. Before you lecture us on the laughability of the critisism on Dede Scozzafava loyalty consider the source that came from the RINOs who supported her not the tea party folks. we knew better.
This guy just does not get it….does not get it…….does not get it…..
Tuohey says;
"The most laughable criticism of Scozzafava was that she showed no loyalty to conservatives by endorsing the Democrat in the race–this from Tea Partiers who showed no loyalty to the Republican Party by pushing a third party candidate in the first place."
Get a clue Tuohey, Scozzafava was no conservative and her hypocritical type of "R" is worse than any type of "D". Conservatives owe no loyalty to the republican party, the republicans abandoned us YEARS ago. We are coming for ALL elected officials no matter what party they caucus with. If they do not want to follow the constitution then they are on the list. I suggest we take out hypocrites with an "R" next to their name FIRST.
It is the belief that the Republican Party should be more welcoming and have a "big-tent" that has given us Pelosi, Reid and B. Hussein Obama! You are wrong sir! As one other poster put it, my job is NOT to vote Republican, the RNC's job is to put forward candidates that I will vote for. I will NOT vote for someone simply because of their party affiiation.
Here in Missouri, I have witnessed the Missouri Republican party run one conservative after another off. They did it in the Senate race that gave us Claire McCaskill. They are doing it again by putting ALL of their resources behind Roy "I just Smoked a" Blunt, a man that is more RINO than he is conservative. The Missouri Republican party will hand that senate seat to an ACORN funded, crooked idiot named Robin Carnahan.
The Republican party needs to wake up! Michael Steele simply needs to go away! Unless they do, I would almost bet the farm that you will see the rise of a third party run by Conservatives. The Republican party will simply cease to exist.
Activists need to identify potential candidates and campaign staffers in their own neighborhoods,
As a former resident in John Mica's district, and a former Republican I can attest to only one thing that the "local" Republican party ever wanted from me: money. And if not money, then some sort of prestige. Activism? At most just some push-polling on the phones.
There was a vigorous discussion of this perplexing and enervating characteristic of the GOP on my blog a while back and I was amazed at the number of younger Republican women who found no room for involvement in the social/political activities of the GOP. It's outdated and perhaps (I hope not) hopelessly tin-eared to women under the age of 50.
Besides, "tea party" is a misnomer. It's more of a Whiskey Rebellion in the making.
1st Big Government writer I am going to avoid… Congratulations, Patrick Tuohey, you are a moron.
It's time to stop being party hacks and start voting with our conscience. You're just wrong in your assessment. If the Republicans keep putting big-government candidates up for vote, the Republican party is going to continue to lose. You don't have to put full on conservatives up, but they do need to be true to the constitution, and not power hungry. What happened to Dede was good, unfortunate for her, but it was inevitable. The republicans screwed up, and I'd rather the Democrat get that spot then another RINO.
I'm glad everyone else here gets it. I read his article several times, and kept asking myself, "is it me, am I missing something"? The more I read it, the madder I got. I don't need some condescending clown, some pompous, pious, pontificating peckerwood talking down to me any longer. Newt was enough.
It is time for people to get pissed off, and stand up. Enough is enough. People like the writer, got US to where we are today, and it is a sad, despicable state of affairs.
I will not support the GOP when they pick a RINO, she would have voted for this health care bill an we all know it.
Scuzzyface was a Trojan Horse. A turncoat that played the game of "under the table" deals. Money talks and she was a weak and disgusting female who opted out for the pay. Code Pink is calling you Scuzzy…answer the phone.
As for the GOP Committee who nominated her: RINOS.
Thats who we need to get rid of first….the Committee Rinos.
Made up by somebody's spin machine. In fact NY23 was a Dem seat 1923-1973.
I told the same to Mr. Tuohey a short time back.
Pity he didn't listen…
Mr. Hoffman can now campaign for the nomination. And as you say, win it.
Then he can run against Mr. Owens and his record in the office, as Pelosi could not wait to hurry up and swear in the Democrats and have them help save her votes on the bills.
WE can now point to the NY party as having less than any clue as to who they put up as a candidate, (didn't they KNOW what she was)? And, without Dede being available to provide even the most minimalist of fig leaves of bipartisanship for the current crop of bills…they FULLY OWN THE ISSUE…no Bush here…
Mr. Hoffman saved the Party from putting their foot directly into the dog squeeze…you should be praising him from on high…
"The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain…"
Sun Tzu
Moreover, I wrote this a year ago:
Our Republican leaders have held onto power by scaring us, telling us we don't want to see a Democrat majority with a Democrat President. So, we keep on re-electing them, fearing third-party Ross Perot losses to Clinton-like candidates. And the Old Guard refuses to yield any real voice or power to the younger pups who I believe are every bit as smart when it comes to what is True. They may be green on how to leech more cash from lobbyists or taxpayers, but that's not exactly a strike against them. Well hello, the Democratic majority is here now. And the Big Dogs are toothless to stop it.
It's time to put every single Republican leader on notice: you're out. This will accomplish one or two things: They will know they are toast and will man-up and do whatever it takes to assuage their Base. Or, they will pander even more with empty promises to you and very fat promises to their lobbyists and other freeloaders. But wait! Your part here is important, because no matter what sort of backbone they exhibit at this point is too little too late. You will thank them for their late efforts and politely kick them to the curb. Hard.
Pat Tuohey
http://www.marcomresearch.com/TMRad.htm
I was right. A professional pollster. That just turned me off, right quick.
The idea that republicans would give dede one cent and one moment of her time considering she was a big supporter of card check is ASININE.
Bouncing her out on her ass was the Right thing to do.
If she would have voted with the republicans ——-than why did she turn around and support the democrat???
and don't forget, that owens fella broke 4 promises in less than one hour. even obama said if he would tell the honest truth, no way he gets elected. with good old nancy, and barry, how much longer would it have taken dede to brake any number of promises? the people who voted for owens are now stuck for one year with a liar for a representative. how many of those idiots from ny-23 will be dumb enough to vote for that windbag owens again?
"Brevity is the soul of wit…"
Ben Franklin.
"An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it. Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self sustained."
Mahatma Gandhi
+1 to you, sir!
I seem to remember the last candidate selected for us was John McCain while kicking out all of the real conservatives in the race.
Nuff said.
"I am no partisan apologist, mind you, and would not support Ms. Scozzafava."
Patrick Tuohey in another Big Government post two weeks ago:
http://biggovernment.com/2009/10/25/honey-i-shrun...
Wrong and wrong.
Who the hell cares about ACORN? I certainly don't while my money is being poured into AIG, Goldman Sachs, and Blackwater. You Fox News drones need to grow up. There's graft everywhere, and there was plenty while Bush was in power. We try and hold the government accountable and all you do is yell about Van Jones and birth certificates. I don't give a crap. I just want to see a sustainable society, that's what the "conserve" in conservative should really be about.
The more I look at Pat Tuohey
http://www.marcomresearch.com/our_clients.htm
The madder I get. I don't need some goddamned professional pollster, telling me how I should think, or vote.
I supported Big Government here since day one, but someone writing from on high, from their throne, reeks of bias. It reeks of impropriety. It smacks of skewing the thought process of the populace. Tuohey needs to write for Ariana Huffington.
Is this just me? I'd like some of you alls input here. I think it stinks.
The more I look at Pat Tuohey
http://www.marcomresearch.com/our_clients.htm
The madder I get. I don't need some goddamned professional pollster, telling me how I should think, or vote.
I supported Big Government here since day one, but someone writing from on high, from their throne, reeks of bias. It reeks of impropriety. It smacks of skewing the thought process of the populace. Tuohey needs to write for Ariana Huffington.
Is this just me? I'd like some of you alls input here. I think it stinks.
You are right on with your analysis.
"The GOP got US eight years of the RINO Bush, and the GOP got US Obama. " —-Couldn't agree more!
Well said!
Not sure, but what I am sure about is that Tuohey doesn't understand the Tea Party movement at all…
Tea Party participant does not = republican.
WHEN WILL THE GOP GET THE MESSAGE? WE ARE SICK OF RINOS! AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY NEEDS TO GET THE MESSAGE, STOP PUTTING IN COMMUNIST RACIST THUGS
Is this a fucking joke? I'm pretty damn sure it isn't April yet.
Holly,
You are right. Enough is enough. We are fed up.
Cowboy I am not happy with this clown, but perhaps we need the purging experience. The division between that which was and that which will be is palpable. Wait I think I just purged some heartshaped junks.. lets throw him under the bus
Scozzafava would have been a political Hasan.
"The most laughable criticism of Scozzafava was that she showed no loyalty to conservatives by endorsing the Democrat in the race–this from Tea Partiers who showed no loyalty to the Republican Party by pushing a third party candidate in the first place."
Since when are the TEA partiers beholden to the tax and spend Republicans?
I guess the writer is clueless to what the TEA party is all about.
Yeah, because our party would be so much stronger with hacks like Scuzzy stabbing us in the back at every turn. C'mon man, look at some of the people/groups that were endorsing this hack.
This is so crucial. As we've seen over and over with the Maine twins, if just one RINO votes for something then suddenly it's "bipartisan" and conservatives are just a bunch of naysayers trying to block the "will of the people". That meme gets parroted by the MSM and then I end up having to explain that Olympia Snowe is NOT a conservative, and barely a Republican and that the vast majority of conservatives don't want their tax dollars paying for abortions (or whatever craziness they get one of the RINOs to vote for).
By forcing out Scozzafava, the Dems don't have that RINO (or DIABLO – Democrat In All But Label Only) voice to make a Kabuki bipartisanship, and instead they have to make their new Democrat break most of his electioneering promises in the first few hours of his congressional life.
Not bad, Mr. Hofman. Not bad at all. And thanks to the conservatives who get it. To paraphrase a bunch of good old boys, a Conservative don't need Ol' Pat Tuohey around anyhow.
The opportunity here is to get, stand behind, and encourage conservatives of every stripe. D or R is not enough anymore. Dede proved that in a direct way.
And pollsters are becoming part of the problem…
That's right! It's a matter of principal!
Patrick like most just don't get it… there is no D or R in commonsense.
I vote on principle not Party!
Even if Scuzzywuzzy won the seat would have still lost to a Democrat. Scuzzbucket had every intention of screwing the GOP and becoming a Democrat had she won. She was ACORN endorsed and when she dropped out endorsed Democrat Owens. I wish people in the GOP would learn that just because someone has an "R" doesn't mean we're going to vote for them. Blind allegance to a party is what led how the Marxist were able to take over the Democratic party.
Clueless Pat Tuohey. Here is a list of his "Case Studies."
http://www.marcomresearch.com/case_studies.htm
Perhaps he ought do a poll to see how his recent article was received; maybe do a focus group, on how to win friends and influence conservative voters.
The more i look at this, the madder I get. Ariana Huffington lecturing me would have gotten the same result. I do not need an insider, I do not need someone who studied with Bill Schneider at CNN. It stinks.
Leave it to a party man to blame the "Rabble" if the Tokyo-RINO's had not had their hearts set on another left wing mongrel in the party NY 23 could have easily been taken.
The RINO's lost 23, if by chance we had just been good little drones like you want DuhDuh would have lost anyway, and if she would have won we would have lost.
Conservatives, Liberatarians, and Independents have had enough of your beltway blather, your as tone deaf as Tokyo-Newt, it's the policy of corrupticrats is going down in flames.
If DuhDuh is the level of tactical sophistication we can expect from you and your RINO dingbats God help us all.
To hell with the Republican Party! They’ve morphed into big government Washington. No Child Left Behind, Prescription Drug Benefit for Seniors, Immigration Reform, TARP, these are not conservative principles. We’ve allowed some Republican politicians to attend some of our Tea Parties lately, be nice or we’ll run you off, get “right” or get gone. We want less government not more, never again will we allow the Republican Party to co-opt the mantle Conservative as a catch phrase. If you’re in the political business, don’t make long term plans.
The writer made one valid point: Involvement at the local, township, county and state level is essential, because that's where the national candidates cut their teeth (and can be weeded out with less difficultyy). Working at the precinct and committee level allows input into which candidates will get on the slate.
The writer is out of his skull, though, on his "analysis" of NY23: The GOP spent nearly a cool $Mil in anti-Hoffman advertising, to try to benefit Scuzzie — and she still wound up in single digits. For the 900 Grand spent on her behalf, she OWED it to the Party to at least stand mute. That alone reflects a complete lack of principle on her part. And, If the GOP had not dumped all of the smears and sleaze on Hoffman, there's a darn good chance he would've beaten Owens, And, in the third place, the tea partiers are not just Republicans, they are also Democrats and Independents – they are concerned for our country, not for a political party.
If the writer doesn't get that, he really should put a sock in it..
I had the same thought, mail in-s and early voting, the whole system is corrupt we can't even insist that your an American citizen before you vote.
Disgusting
Mr. Tuohey is just upset that he didnt get to go to antother cocktail ball, we screwed up his whole social calendar, now he and lovey will have to make other plans.
Overeducated underperfroming Oaf's seem to be all the rage these days in the RINO Sty, oh sorry Big Tent
They redistrict so often that you can't get an accurate count.
The only fools who are saying the 100+ year stuff are the RINO's and the Leftists
Stan,
I couldn't agree with you more. "Get right or get gone"? That is what the problem is: they "Caint get right".
The author above proves that the RINO's and Elites are still tone deaf, what made this oaf think he would get anything other than a tounge lashing here?
His tone was like he was signing to the Choir, this is one of the guys that helps with messaging? LMAO, if we win in 2010 with his help it will be a real miracle.
Oh, the shameful behavior of the Tea Party. It’s all soooooo unconventional isn’t it, Mr. Tuohey? So sorry your are having such a hard time wrapping your head around it. Sincerely.
My wife and I have been to three Tea Party’s (invigorating experience) in only one was a politician allowed to speak, and that was the worst one. Establishment Washington must attempt to co-opt this amazing spontaneous energy, in other words control, as we are a threat to the entire federal beaurocracy right and left. The people in these crowds are not parasitic rent-a-mobs, but tax paying, business owning, God fearing, proud Americans, and we are the real power in this country. We stop buying into the pyramid scheme that is the imperial federal government, game over. Like Reagan said “trust but verify” these SOBs work for us not the other way around.
Mr. Tuohey has been bitching about the Tea Party's since the git-go. I would be curious to know if he offered, or extended, or "hit them up" for his services, and if he was turned down? If so, his credability just went out the window. It is obvious he just doesn't "get" the Tea Party concept, perhaps there is an underlying reason?
Stan wrote some good points above: The Republican Party has morphed into Immigration, Perscription Drugs, No Child Left Behind, TARP and a host of other non core value beliefs, in an attempt to extend the big tent. To become Democrat Lite. In the end, what has this done? Has it helped US? Has it strengthened the Party? No. Ultimately it has bastardized the brand
When the Republicans start showing loyalty to principles I'll start showing loyalty to them, did you not this guy is acting like he's writing to fellow travelers?
I have no problem with picking a smart RINO in a blue dog state, that makes sense actually, but tossing someone who Mao would have thought was a little to left of center was incompetence x 1000 and totally useless regardless of outcome.
That obsurd part of this was that Hoffman was not exactly the most charismatic guy nor did he have much of a plan, and with only 3 weeks of campaigning he almost won, imagine if the RINO's had actually picked someone decent and supported them?
Yeah sure WE screwed up the election, get back to your RINO masters with your tail between your legs you leftist mongrel, the people have had enough of lefty and lefty light.
Typical beltway mentality. How is it that the Tea Party owes its loyalty to the GOP when the mess this country finds itself in right now was all made possible by borrow and spend RINOs. The Bush Administration and House Minority Leader Tom DeLay teamed up to destroy the party's image of fiscal responsibility and a bunch of think tank neocons got us into Iraq under the guise of WMD.
Another thing, putting the CEO of Goldman Sachs in charge of the Treasury, leading to the TARP bailout is outrageous!
Obama is right on one thing. He DID inherit a mess and his ascension to office was brought on by the public's disgust with the GOP.
A couple of clarifications in terms: Conservative does not necessarily equate to GOP and in no way does it equate to Neocon.
There are presently more Democrats in this country than Republcans and more Conservatives than Democrats. As long as the GOP continues to espouse the disastrous policies that sent them into the wilderness, they can expect to continue losing.
Stan, you said:
" Establishment Washington must attempt to co-opt this amazing spontaneous energy, in other words control, as we are a threat to the entire federal beaurocracy right and left."
You summed it ALL up, quite succinctly, and conscisely. That is it, in a nutshell. The parasitic rent-a-mobs you mentioned? That is CON-gress. They are leeches. They do nothing to contribute to society, they do not contribute to the GDP. They are blood sucking vermin, and the minute they see something, anything gaining power, gaining strength, they immediately attach to the "host" and start sucking the lifeblood from it. if CON-gress ever had an original idea, it was long before my time.
This is the second blog post of Tuohey which he gets an earful. Will he learn from it? I doubt it. He didn't learn from the first one. Since he devises and reads polls, he should remember that this is a CENTER-RIGHT country. We want to vote for CENTER-RIGHT candidates. Maybe he should actually read the polls again, this time use glasses.
I get lots of mailings and phone calls from the RNC, the NRSC, and the NRCC. The next time they call, I guess I'll tell them that Patrick Tuohey says I should get involved in my local races, that's why I won't be giving them money.
The national Republicans are all about conservatives getting involved in races outside of their state or district when it means giving them money. Sorry, I'm no longer interested. Getting Republicans elected has gotten fiscal conservatives nothing for 20 years. I'm not helping them any more.
Patrick just got a bad order at Author Bryants and he is confused AGAIN
If DeDe had won, it would have bben worse as she would have been
the ONLY REPUBLICAN supporting Obama's Marxist Health Plan!
Thew Tea party has given ALL Americans a chance by keeping DeDE Scarzoffa out of the RACE!
The higher-leaning institutional version of the hokie-pokie…….it’s where they tilt their head to the left, and then to the right. And, oh look! They’ve dumped their God given commonsense on the ground.
That’s what it’s all about!
Yes.
Exactly.
A) Her name was on the ballot.
B) What she did after she dropped out is a million times more important in shining a light on why she never should have been the candidate in the first place: SHE ENDORSED THE OPPOSING PARTY'S CANDIDATE!
that is all
Who cares whether some one who calls themselves conservative is elected or not if they are really a liberal democrat on the inside. I would rather lose an election than vote for a phony. At least then when things really go to hell, the people running the country into the ground will be wearing their true moniker. Maybe then the masses will remember who really screwed it up.
this cow would have voted for the health control bill.
James,
You are right, to a point. TARP? AIG, Goldman Sachs, GM, Chrysler, Freddie and Fannie? All jokes. You speak of holding government accountable. Would that be with, or without Health Care?
Van Jones? A Communist. Would you support him?
The birth cert? That has never been fully addressed, or put to rest.
As long as she thought she could milk it for all it was worth.
He is a pollster. He probably looks at the thread, and thinks: "Gee, I got a lot of feedback, 300, 400 responses. I am popular, wow, look at me"……….
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