NY - 23 A Local Or National Race? It Matters For 2010

If we want to see significant push back against Obama's ultra-liberal agenda, it's important to understand what is actually happening in NY - 23, as well as the Tea Party phenomenon, how it relates to past elections and what can be learned for 2010. Do not be shocked or discouraged with a Scozzafava, or even an Owen's win. Anything can happen because some are viewing this race from a national perspective, while others from a local view. h/t to TCOT Report for that. Stay up on critical conservative movement and NY-23 news here.

Some, if not most of the latter may opt for Scozzafava. This is 2009, not 2010. And I am going to continue to pound the notion - in agreement with Instapundit, along with Dana Loesch and Bill Whittle, in the end the GOP, not only conservative ideas, must prevail in 2010.

Most troubling for me in all this was one quote from the NRCC's Guy Harrison. A Republican invoking liberal cant such as diversity headed into 2010 is a GOP political strategist who is a liability and either has to be shown the door, or wise up, as they are out of step, seemingly replaying video's of the disastrous McCain campaign and waiting for a different ending to miraculously occur.

We are optimistic that the New York Republican State Committee will nominate a strong and credible candidate, someone who shares the interests and values of such a diverse district and we will make a solid effort to gain the seat.

The 1994 Contract with America proved so effective because it nationalized a midterm election by relying upon standard conservative principles in opposition to a then liberal-leaning president, putting up candidates that fit the bill at the time, even if some eventually strayed after staying too long in DC. That's a problem we can deal with later if we manage to get a large number of new Republicans there in the first place. And that must be the number one goal in 2010.

Obama has shifted the political landscape and even more so since just a year ago. And the time for a resurgence in conservatism and conservative thought, realizing there is plenty of room for moderates under that banner, is the only correct approach for 2010.

If too quick to compromise, or overly moderate GOP staffers and strategists are running the pre-game show for 2010, the Super bowl the GOP could win in 2010 may never come about. Whether or not the 2009 NY - 23 race is effectively nationalized giving Hoffman a win in just a few short months, or perhaps just weeks of real work matters not so much.

What matters is that the GOP effectively captures the contemporary, not just any recent, or misguided sense of the American electorate right NOW, genuinely comprehending what will and what won't work big for 2010. That's critically important to what can be a huge year in 2010. NY - 23, not so much - only as a starting point where some important lessons can be learned by everyone over the next week.

Comments

[Joe]

Obama dithers on Iraq and Afghanistan...

but when it comes to taking on the New Jersey Governor's race (to save Corazine's bacon) and going after Fox News he is decisive!

[narciso]

You know if they put a podcast or at least a snippet of
that program in the link, one could actually find out for them selves. Why would the base of the 10th Mtn. Division, currently pretty active in Afghanistan disappear. Why would the 23rd significantly change all
that much, it is a huge district after all.

[Bruce, NV]

Dan, I gotta disagree with Prof Reynolds and yourself. I don't care if the GOP prevails in '10 if it prevails with Scozzafavs, Snowes and Hagels.

[gary gulrud]

"I gotta disagree with Prof Reynolds and yourself. I don't care if the GOP prevails in '10 if it prevails with Scozzafavs, Snowes and Hagels."

I don't think Dan believes this, he's just conflicted. Reynolds on the otherhand...

Doctor Zero at Pajama has a great post up on the subject.

[Jack Okie]

Dan:

The GOP can go to hell if they keep up the BS like with Scozzafava, Christ etc. If all I have is a choice between Lib and Lib-Lite, or a preening Washington aristocrat with an R beside his name, I'm voting Democrat. Nothing short of restoring the balance between the states and feds will solve the underlying problem. The problem is structural. There is too much money being hoovered up to Imperial Washington, and until the states regain their rightful power all this other is just jerkin' off.