Give Scozzafava Credit Where Due

Left and Right seem to be jumping on Scozzafava for an awkward location for a short speech. I agree that the photo was a disaster. But not so the short speech below, all things considered. All politics is local and it's still too early to predict what narrative ends up in voter's minds in NY - 23. She isn't the best candidate I've ever seen and it took her a few seconds to get her bearings. But she isn't running for President. If she succeeds in being the underdog against outside interests and is more willing to debate, the election might at least be closer than people on the Right currently think. Final result? The Democrats pick up a seat they haven't held for years. Smell like victory to you? Maybe, ... maybe not.

Michael Patrick Leahy, the Tea Party activist who has been going after NY-23 GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava with hammer and tongs, produces this photo of the candidate stumping today outside of one of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman’s offices. Little-known fact: There are lots of campaign workers, and signs, in such offices, ready to be deployed.

Comments

[Bruce, NV]

Disastrous photo. However, here's Hoffman's statement:

Statement by Doug Hoffman’s campaign on Scozzafava’s call for more debates

Senior Communications Advisor Rob Ryan said:

“Dede Scozzafava is either extremely cynical or has a very short memory. On August 19, 2009 the Hoffman campaign challenged Dede Scozzafava to a series of 3-5 debates across the district. We asked the Republican County Chairs to sponsor them. The Hoffman campaign even offered to pick-up the rental costs of the venues. Both Scozzafava and the GOP County Chairs refused.

“Dede Scozzafava is desperate; she flip-flops on issue after issue, she calls the police on reporters, and now she claims she hasn’t had an opportunity debate. It’s sad, Dede Scozzafava, staff needs to tell her that she’s the spoiler in this race and that for the good of the Republican Party and her own reputation she should drop out of the race now.”

http://www.gouverneurtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7085:hoffman-responds-to-scozzafava&catid=60:st-lawrence-news&Itemid=175

[Dan Riehl]

Interesting, Bruce. Thanks. Yeah, as I said, I've no idea how it plays in NY voter's minds. Not my home turf. Low bar, maybe - but I was waiting for her to implode as one headline claimed. I was simply impressed she managed to get through the whole thing and sound okay by the end. She is looking maxed out, though. Looks tired. I guess they're keeping the pressure on to drive her out. Politics is hardball and all that.

[Bruce, NV]

Dan, this is the craziest damned race ever. Makes me wonder what it'll be like out here over the next year. Dirty Harry looks weak. I support Tarkanian, but there are other strong candidates also. We got a good guy, Dr. Joe Heck, to challenge Dina Titus, too...I think our district is nearly 50/50 registration-wise, so this could be fun. I'm running out of money, though, from sending so much to so many great candidates around the country!

[Dan Riehl]

Agree, Bruce. Was talking to Geraghty on another matter and he mentioned how fascinating it was watching politics right now. But we also agreed Obama is taking the country straight to hell. My only concern is that the GOP becomes so fractured, it only opens the door for Obama and the liberal Dems.

The Dem in 23 may not be a total lib, I don't know. But if he gets to DC, he'll do as told, especially early on. Of coursr Scozzafava is no prize either. But I don't know the woman. Just wound up feeling almost sorry for her in the vid. But she did end it on her feet. All I mean was, if that image plants in voters minds. Yikes! It's hello Democrat number whatever it'll be. Then we have to try and knock someone off as an encumbent in 2010. I might have rather she was primaried then if she needed to be.

[unseen]

Dan,

understand your concern however as Alexander Hamilton said: :"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."

It is clear that the GOP elites in DC stand for nothing. Power above all is their motto from their actions in NY23, FL and CA senate races among others. Because of this lack of principles the GOP is losing in Ny23 and if polls are to be believed in NJ. The VA race compared to the NJ and NY23 races is a great contrast of the conservative model vs the RINO/moderate model.

One started with the base and worked outward. the others started with the middle and took the base for granted.

[Dan Riehl]

NJ is a fiasco. If they can't beat Corzine, they'll never beat anyone there, again. Idiots. Unfortunately, Cristie doesn't seem to be running an impressive campaign. At least that's my very superficial view based upon casual observance. And I don't think the weight issue helps him at all. Pathetic. the GOP in NJ is useless.

[Terrye]

unseen:

Do you really think it is fair to blame the entire Republican party and all the socalled elites for one race in New York? My fear is the same as Dan's....Obama and the Democrats win and the opposition is no more than a speed bump. That is not principled opposition, it is just plain dumb.. there is nothing principled about handing the country to the Democrats out of spite or pique.

[Pasadena]

Dan, I just don't understand you. To say that "she is not the best candidate I have ever seen.." is blatantly disingenuous. She is a socialist of the most extreme kind! Why is it a good thing for outside interests like the RNC to impose this left-wing radical over the LOCAL conservative Republican? It is far better for the Republicans to lose this seat if that is how they plan to do business. It makes no difference to me whether the socialists are Democrat or Republican. They will vote exactly the same way once elected. The RNC is insanely corrupt to even attempt to cram this offensive candidate down anyone's throat and you are acting as an enabler. Are you secretly a Democrat? Is someone holding a compromising picture of you over your head or something? Very puzzling.

[Pasadena]

Scozzafava looks like she graduated from the Andrea Dworkin Finishing School for Girls.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/04/15/andrea_dworkin_narrowweb__200x266.jpg

[Dan Riehl]

"is blatantly disingenuous"

No pasadena - you misunderstood what I meant. I already said I could never support her. I was talking about image, presentation, etc. That was a dis of her campaigning abilities. I would never vote for BJ Clinton, but he was a good "candidate." Get what I mean? Dede OTOH is not good at all.

[Dan Riehl]

BTW pasadena - what she invoked in the video imo was sympathy. Now, I don't see that as a good thing in a pol. All I was really saying is, I have no idea how it plays in one district in NY. If I had to guess, hard to see her winning. I just hope a three way split doesn't give it to the Dem, that's all. We may catch a break with no national race. It could come down to turn out. In fact, I'm sure it will. I've no idea what turn out efforts on under way for the three. That will likely be the critical difference.

[happyfeet]

If Scozzafava comes in third then everyone wins. Even if the dirty socialists get the seat the R ones can get it back in 2010 easy and the dirty socialists will waste their dirty socialist monies defending it. Also Miss Piggy wants her outfit back.

[Terrye]

Well call me old fashioned, but I say let the people decide. Personally, if the Democrats get it I am not so sure the Republicans or conservatives will get it back, not after they get through tearing each other up over it.

[unseen]

Terye,

yes I do because it isn't just one race in NY. It is 2004, 2006, 2008, It is races in 2009 in NJ, NY. It is their unwanted attempt to mold the primaries in 2010 in places like FL, CA, etc. The GOP leadership is clueless and out of touch with the base. But more so they are out of touch with the local voters whom they are trying to fit into a nice neat box. Local elections should be local. The GOP national party made this race a national race by funding the socialist GOP pick with $600k of the party's money. This is more than a race it is a bold faced slap in the face of every conservative that has supported the party. As Stacy McCain would say NOT ONE RED CENT.

[unseen]

Malkin has a great quote from Reagan that fits my view 100% on this race :

Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.

Let us also call for an end to the nit-picking, the harassment and over-regulation of business and industry which restricts expansion and our ability to compete in world markets.

Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government’s coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.

Our banner must recognize the responsibility of government to protect the law-abiding, holding those who commit misdeeds personally accountable.

And we must make it plain to international adventurers that our love of peace stops short of “peace at any price.”

We will maintain whatever level of strength is necessary to preserve our free way of life.

A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.

I do not believe I have proposed anything that is contrary to what has been considered Republican principle. It is at the same time the very basis of conservatism. It is time to reassert that principle and raise it to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way.

[BR]

"Final result? The Democrats pick up a seat they haven't held for years. Smell like victory to you? Maybe, ... maybe not."

The point is not victory over a Democrat- as Dan pointed out earlier, the House numbers make that irrelevant. The important thing is showing the Republican candidate-pickers that if they choose a mushy loser, THEY WILL LOSE. The time to demonstrate that is now, when the result is of no consequence. If the 2012 primary results in the same type of candidates we got in 2008, I'll once again be pulling for the None-Of-The-Above party.