The GOP is just a pup tent now
Another sign of the implosion of the Republican Party: Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate for a congressional seat in upstate New York, gave up and quit in the face of ferocious attacks from hardcore conservatives, who are supporting Douglas Hoffman, the candidate from the Conservative Party, in a three-way race that also includes a Democrat, Bill Owens. The GOP is now such a small tent it would hardly hold three shih tzus — especially if one of them weren’t pure bred.
Ms. Scozzafava, a state assemblywoman and former small-town mayor, was nominated to run in District 23 by Republican county leaders who quickly found their choice second-guessed by the party’s conservative wing. Many officials in the district, a vast expanse from the Vermont border through the Adirondacks to Lake Ontario, deeply resented the outside involvement.
Conservatives deemed Scozzafava unacceptable because she supports reproductive rights and gay rights, two positions deemed heresy among GOP purists. Her positions may seem hard for Southern Republicans to understand since even Democrats in the South hesitate to support gay rights and try to mute their support for reproductive rights. But this was New York state, which, until very recently, was a safe space for Republican moderates. Not anymore, apparently.
Recognizing that the GOP needs to retain its ability to appeal to moderates if it wishes to stay competitive, Newt Gingrich backed Scozzafava. But purists such as Dick Armey insisted that Scozzafava wasn’t conservative enough.
The Democratic Party is now the big tent; it includes pro-choice and anti-abortion Democrats, free-spenders and fiscal conservatives; environmental purists and backers of big business. The GOP is now the party of Rush Limbaugh.
Rush’s party may win a few more elections in the near-term; Bob McDonnell, for example, seems headed for a victory in the Virginia governor’s race on Tuesday. But demographic changes will doom an exclusionary party in the long-term.
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65 comments Add your comment
Ernest
November 2nd, 2009
8:30 am
The number of people who identify themselves as Republicans in the United States is now down to 20%. By excluding anyone who deviates from the party line on ANY ISSUE AT ALL, they are condemning themselves to irrelevancy. The Democrats’ big-tent approach causes problems for them — the conservatives among them are holding up their health care reform plans — but they DO hold both houses of Congress, and that means they control the agenda, the chairmanships and the majorities on the committees. The big tent is a noisy tent… but it’s still the one with the power.
Sandy MacHoots
November 2nd, 2009
8:31 am
Intellectual dishonesty in the AJC? Why not mention that Scozzafava was also in favor of card check, the Obama stimulus, and had a voting record in the NY Assembly that put her to the left of even most Democrats? Because “facts” would interfere with the story.
When Hoffman only gets 10% of the vote tomorrow, you’ll be proved correct, though. The tent is awfully small.
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
8:34 am
Pup tent. I had been thinking about using that term myself, earlier, although I do wonder how many people under the age of (say) 35 know what a “pup tent” is.
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
8:36 am
Why not mention that Scozzafava was also in favor of card check, the Obama stimulus, and had a voting record in the NY Assembly that put her to the left of even most Democrats?
Why don’t you mention that in NY state (unlike here in GA), only people who take the trouble to register as party members get to vote in the primaries, and that these Republican voters chose Scozzafava?
Why do you hate Republicans?
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
8:38 am
But demographic changes will doom an exclusionary party in the long-term.
Oh, I dunno, Cynthia. It seems that for the past three decades or so the Republicans manage to wedge-issue just enough voters to claim victory just enough times to remain viable. I suppose they’ll find something out there that’ll scare the bejeebers out of just enough voters to get them to vote against their own interests.
Can’t imagine what that might be, but give ‘em time. They’ve got plenty of it.
Mutts R Stupid
November 2nd, 2009
8:42 am
Obama is still in his first year as president, yet his popularity is in steep decline. A year from now, we will have the mid term elections, and I suspect Obama’ s popularity will be below 40% and falling, due to the Obama depression, the Obama war in Afghanistan, and the Obama disaster in Iraq. Meanwhile, on the North East border between India and China, Moaist rebels have dug in and claimed a large area of India for themselves, an area that China also claims is a part of Tibet, and therefore now a part of China. A proxy war between India and China is about to erupt on the border, with India in the process of sending 70,000 troops to stop the Chinese supported Moaist rebels. India is in double trouble, as the Western border with Pakistan is under constant threat from Paki rebels. So Obama’s war, the one that Bush started in Iraq, has spread through Afghanistan into Pakistan, onto India and China. Who do you think will be blamed for this massive war, the sitting President, or the guy who has been out of office for nine months?
Scott
November 2nd, 2009
8:56 am
Cynthia. Why don’t you do some actual research before you post. How exactly did you win a Pulitzer? Did they use the same criteria used to give Obama a Nobel Peace Prize? Dede was a Democrat….everything she did and believed in were democrat in nature(EFCA, tax increases, cap and trade, etc.) I think a bigger story you might want to use your “journalism” skills inis this scenario. Obama gives McHugh a spot in Congress. He gets a Dem to run as a Rep and then she all of a sudden drops out and endorses the Dem the weekend before the election. Why would that happen? Maybe some backroom politics by our “truthful” and “transparent” Admin? Keep thinking the Republicans are dead. After America experiences another year of destruction by the losers in control now, they will not make that OBAMA (One Big A** Mistake America) again.
The Anti-Wooten
November 2nd, 2009
9:03 am
My concern here is that you conflate Republican’s with Shih Tzu’s. Perhaps if you’d chosen some snarling, angry beast of Stygian guardianship.
Joey
November 2nd, 2009
9:12 am
A Puzzle.
My “9:21 post” was sent and posted at 7:21. At that time Shawny’s post was already there.
dB:
Just for clarity. It wasn’t a primary that got Scozzafava on the Republican ticket. And since I would doubt I would ever register as anything but an Independent, I like our system of being able to declare a party when I arrive to vote.
Shawny
November 2nd, 2009
9:14 am
If you repeat ‘the GOP is dead’ enough times, you might actually convince yourself of that. Time will tell. I suspect not, as power corrupts and those in power are quite corrupt.
Common Sense
November 2nd, 2009
9:15 am
I think you liberals are starting to “whistle in the dark”.
Common Sense
November 2nd, 2009
9:20 am
P.S.
After 22 years, I am not renewing my subscription to the AJC. It has shrunk to almost nothing, the news is stale by a day or two and the left wing bias has become intolerable.
Joey
November 2nd, 2009
9:21 am
Cynthia;
Are you posting an opinion here?
I think it more a wish, a prayer even.
I understand. We all understand.
bob
November 2nd, 2009
9:25 am
We can’t get rid of repubs, who will pay for all the Ponzi democrat vote buying scams like SS and new Healthcare. Why have two threads on the 23rd in NY anyway,both you and Bookman, if the national party involvement in a local election is a bad thing, lets outlaw any out of district campaign funds for reps and out of state donations to senate candidates. In fact, remember all the crap about the world wanting Obama and the dem pundits and elected officials saying that we should listen to what the world is saying ? No threads by cynthia or Jay saying only the locals should be involved and the world should butt out. What are the dems doing to Mary Norwood ? Although, as she readily admits to voting for Kerry and Obama, you lay with the dogs, you deserve the ticks and fleas that come with it.
onlinesavant
November 2nd, 2009
9:44 am
Joey, it’s pretty much a “wish” backed up by something that I know you abhor (If you don’t know what this word means, well then look it up.), FACTS. Republicans sold their soul’s to radicals and racist over 40 years ago. Through Goldwater,think tanks, and media “personalities” there was an unyielding and purposeful march in which the sole purpose was to eschew moderation and rationality. I know you don’t know this, but the Republican party had the first BLACK elected Senator (Edmund Burke. Mass. in the 60’s.). I can GUARANTEE you that he would not recognize this party, or be accepted into it in this day and time. Obviously Joey, you didn’t understand what Cynthia was trying to convey in the article. If you did, you would understand that she is not making a play for party affiliation (As both party’s are increasingly wholly owned subsidiaries of big corporations, and the wealthy.), but is merely lamenting the lack of ANY moderation in one of the two major political parties.So my point is Joey, and maybe it’s the point that Cynthia is trying to make, is that you live with radicalism, and you die with radicalism.For the republican party, the salad days of living through radicalism and racism are over. Now the later half of the equation is in play. It’s just a matter of whether the republicans will be played out with the tune.
booger
November 2nd, 2009
9:55 am
I cannot see how Cynthia and Jay can both write a piece on this story, and completely ignore the parallels with Norwood and Lieberman. Oh well.
The last Boy Scout
November 2nd, 2009
10:09 am
I think Cynthia you are really missing the point. The problem is not the radical right and their brand of nutso politics. The problem is that we are not driving out the vote to get our plans to build America up and into the real world. WE need to get the vote out and kill the politics of hate and lies. VOTE SMART VOTE DEMOCRATE
DannyX
November 2nd, 2009
10:12 am
Common Sense is right! Us Republicans want our pure bred politics in our newspapers too. Now I know that the AJC is kissing the rear ends of all the angry conservatives but still its not enough.
Even though the paper has purged stories dealing with blacks, gays and the homeless, there is still an occasional story that gets out. They did add a bunch of conservative columnists, they now have Wingfield, Wooten, Barr and Boortz. Until they get rid of Bookman and Tucker, that just won’t do. We want Fox News balance here. We want the diversity we are used to with the Republican Party.
I too will cancel my subscription. I cannot risk having my little fantasy world destroyed by the liberals.
DannyX
November 2nd, 2009
10:14 am
What exactly are Democrats missing with Lieberman?????
He is NOT a Democrat!
mike
November 2nd, 2009
10:22 am
Yeah! Republicans need to be tolerant of other views in their party. I mean look at Joe Lieberman! No liberals put up someone to run against him when he strayed from liberal dogma, right?
The Anti-Wooten
November 2nd, 2009
10:26 am
Mike,
Are you ignorant just of recent history or is it more pervasive than that? Ned Lamont challenged Lieberman in a primary and soundly defeated him. Lieberman then decided that it was so importamt for him to preserve his job that he initiated a 3rd party campaign.
bob
November 2nd, 2009
10:33 am
onlinsavant, what party had a higher percentage of voters for the civil rights act. It was not the party of Robert “KKK” Byrd. Hey last boy scout, when you post about doing the smart thing, you should at least know how to spell, DEMOCTRATE ? how smart is it to cater to the unproducing masses like Obama is doing ?
Chris Broe
November 2nd, 2009
10:34 am
I think Shih Tzu is the perfect onomatopoeia to describe what’s coming out of Glenn Beck’s cheeky face and mouth. Refounding America? Doesn’t that makes Glenn Beck our Refounding Father?
Glenn Beck: Refounding Father
Rush Limbaugh: Refounding Mother
Hannity: “This one time, at Mein Kampf, I was blowing my own horn, and my sleeper-cell mate…. (obscene part of Hannity’s mission statement deleted)
Is the GOP the new sleeper cell? Doing what Osama would be doing if he had Fox News?
PS: If that Sports Center clown shouts, “He…could…go…all…the….way” one more time…………
We retired the wave. didn’t we? Have we moved on?
I see a Luckovich cartoon which depicts a lounge for umpires, from which they lay around and call the balls and strikes, and make all the calls in the field via a Samsung Widescreen Plasma 1080P. They’re watching an instant replay, and one umpire has his fist in the air, signaling an out……The quote balloon reads, “Nice call. Pass the Nachos”
Or show Bobby Cox kicking sand into the replay camera?…..(no).
bob
November 2nd, 2009
10:35 am
Danny, I believe Lieberman ran and won as an independant. You are right, he is NOT a democrat.
DannyX
November 2nd, 2009
10:37 am
I’m not sure using Lieberman is a good idea anyway. He is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. Doesn’t give off a real big “I hate you” vibe. Imagine that! A Chairman. This is the same guy that campaigned very hard for John McCain.
Another popular Democrat, President Obama, also seems to have a big tent. Do you think all of the Republicans in his cabinet are holding him back? Slowing his agenda?
booger
November 2nd, 2009
10:44 am
From the AJC political insider, Nowood chances of getting support from a loser if a run off occurs slim now that the Democratic Party has questioned her credentials.
Cynthia is worried about repubs throwing a NY candidate under a bus, but completely ignores the Dems doing the same right here under her nose.
onlinesavant
November 2nd, 2009
10:58 am
Hey “bob”. Run that, “Oh, there was a higher percentage of republicans voting for the Civil Rights Act” tripe somewhere else, and on someone who does’nt know any better. It was not a republicans who initiated the Civil and Voting Right Acts. Nor the Immigration Act of 65′. The very fact that you are trying to obfuscate the true scenario by referring to how MODERATE REPUBLICANS from the northeast voted on bills in the 60’s, even though they were buffeted by their numbers (That don’t exist anymore.) indemnifies the point that Cynthia was making. Maybe you think you were replying to one of your regressive brethren, but this is by far not the case. I am a liberal, and a progressive. By nature I follow the TRUTH, and live by the linear construction of RATIONALTY. I know these are concepts that are foreign to you, but do in the future try to keep up.
Turd Ferguson
November 2nd, 2009
11:02 am
“The Democratic Party is now the big tent…” Glad Im not in it because its gonna come crashing down. Lotsa luck.
Worry not Cynthia. There is still time to save yourself.
On another subject…did everyone have a chance to view Sundays Piedmont Park Democrat parade. Oh how lovely.
jconservative
November 2nd, 2009
11:12 am
We need a viable national Republican threat with a realistic chance to unseat Obama. I am afraid we are losing it. In the 2008 presidential election McCain only received 28 electoral votes from states he carried by 60%. That is pitifully small. It is hard to build a national election on that base, it is just to small. Obama’s total was 146 electoral votes from states he carried by 60%. Obama does not need to do much to get re-elected. The Republicans cannot continue to shrink the tent and expect to unseat Obama. They will need the help of Latinos, Asians, gays, pro-choicers and those sitting on the liberal-conservative fence (the moderates they dislike so much).
Obama is in real good position today for the 2012 election. Reagan had his approval down to 41% in Jan 1983 (unemployment over 10%) yet had a landslide in the 1984 election as unemployment improved. Obama is sitting today with an approval rating of 52% with unemployment a hair under 10%. If unemployment falls just a point or two by mid-October 2012, Obama is re-elected.
Common Sense
November 2nd, 2009
11:16 am
The types of dangerous people and cancerous philosophies who once hid under rocks are now guffawing from the leperous marxist White House of this once great Republic. God help us to come to our senses soon.
Shar
November 2nd, 2009
11:24 am
Dede Scozzafava was selected by her Party representatives in accordance with state laws. She was the person who the local Party believed would best appeal to the voters in her district. Dick Armey, Sarah Palin and other right wing former politicians who have no association with NY’s 23rd district decided that Scozzafava did not fit their image for an appropriate Republican, regardless of what her constituents wanted. The constituents would simply have to be overridden. They hand-picked a substitute they deemed acceptable, without regard to whether he actually lives in the district (he doesn’t) or what his position is on local issues (too “parochial” and thus unimportant, according to Armey). The entire point of foisting Hoffman into the race was to intimidate moderate Republicans from other districts and to stifle the choices of voters in the 23rd.
The tactics of the Georgia Democrats in the Norwood and Christian races are repellant and misguided. Smears and dirty tricks always leave the most filth on the hands of the tricksters, and I believe that Jane Kidd and her nasty, ineffective cabal will be hurt by their actions far more than they are electorally helped. But smearing a candidate is not comparable to trying to hijack an election and override voters. The actions of the right wing in upstate NY smack of fascism.
Joey
November 2nd, 2009
11:25 am
ohI’masavant;
When I got to the point in your 9:44 where you called me a #hore, I just stopped reading.
Pat Hurley
November 2nd, 2009
11:35 am
Yea…….a “pup tent” that includes 63% of the American voters who consider themselves conservative! I wouldn’t expect the AJC – with the largest circulation decline of any major newspaper in the country over the last 6 months of 14% – to understand the political landscape of today. If your still around for the next 2 years – just sit back and watch as the conservative movement continues it’s march to reclaim the America we know and love. FYI…..you may want to ask Rush, Sean, Glenn, Bill O, Fox News, etc on their secrets to success!
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
11:36 am
Joey, I’ll take your word for it that there was no primary process involved this time–I could see that being the case in a special election like this. Assuming you’re right, I stand corrected.
As for whether it’s preferable to force voters to declare their party affiliations well in advance of a primary–I’ve done it both ways, truthfully, it’s a double-edged sword. However, people from GA do need to remember that not all states do it as we do, which was part of the point I was making.
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
11:43 am
a “pup tent” that includes 63% of the American voters who consider themselves conservative!
Feh. We’ve been through this before–the term “conservative” sounds nice mostly because it hasn’t been the subject of a decades long defamation campaign the way the term “liberal” has by right wingers.
Lefties have been focusing on actually winning elections, instead of trying to keep their party so politically pure that nobody ever need hold their nose when voting.
.you may want to ask Rush, Sean, Glenn, Bill O, Fox News, etc on their secrets to success!
None of those guys would have a prayer of winning any kind of national or, likely, statewide office. Whereas, an Air America Radio personality actually did. How’d that happen? Maybe it’s because some people can count, and they know that the most popular FoxNews show gets maybe mid-single-digit millions of viewers on their best night, nationwide.
An audience, I might add, that is skewed to the over-65s. You ain’t winning with that.
El Jefe
November 2nd, 2009
11:55 am
Every time the Republicans swing toward the center, they get their heads handed to them on a platter. A swing to the right, gets them elected. History does not lie or spin.
To all people that feel that they are the masters of their own existence and the Government should stick with what Government does well (very little), then a more conservative party is your cup of tea.
El Jefe
November 2nd, 2009
12:05 pm
And that big tent called the Democratic party is a sham and a fraud.
It is a big tent if and only if you believe that convicted killers should live and unborn baby’s should die.
Where if you do not toe the party line, the Union thugs visit your place of business
Where if you believe Climate Change is nothing more than a power grab, you are excluded.
If you feel you are responsible for yourself, you are ostracized.
If you feel that the Government has stepped over its bounds, you are called a mob.
Where if you blindly follow the “One” and drink the kool-aid you will be admitted into the Gulag of your choice.
Joan
November 2nd, 2009
12:11 pm
By voting for conservatives, the American people are attempting to let Congress and the Administration know that they can no longer stand the heavy handed Robin Hoodish attempts to steal from the rich and give to the poor, with no thought to the long term well being of this country. Money doesn’t grow on trees, and it isn’t being created in this country any more either–and it won’t be if liberals continue to penalize small businesses, and tax corporations so heavily they move off shore. Liberals need to quit calling names, and start listening to the people.
Pat Hurley
November 2nd, 2009
12:49 pm
“Feh. We’ve been through this before–the term “conservative” sounds nice mostly because it hasn’t been the subject of a decades long defamation campaign the way the term “liberal” has by right wingers” – Not really, the term conservatives is now being used in part to distinguish the “real republicans or Reagan republicans” from those “progressive republicans” who had hijacked the party.
“Lefties have been focusing on actually winning elections, instead of trying to keep their party so politically pure that nobody ever need hold their nose when voting” – Not really, the lefties have focused on solidifying their new “base” (as the democratic party was also hijacked – but by the far left) who now consists of the mainstream media, hollywood, universities, fringe leftist groups, etc. Together these groups insure that their “message” gets out without scrutiny or reliance on fact. Does any of this sound familiar……”I will tax just the rich”, “I want to make America more secure”, “I will insure total transparency in my administration”, “There will be complete public access to health care debate”, and on and on and on…..
“None of those guys would have a prayer of winning any kind of national or, likely, statewide office. Whereas, an Air America Radio personality actually did.” – You are correct – but thanks to an organization currently under criminal prosecution – ACORN – and it’s registration of over 40,000 “democrats” just prior to the election in MN. And after 3 recounts in which Franken continued to receive more votes after each one. I wonder if Mickey Mouse, Abe Lincoln, or Superman put Franken over the top in the last recount?
“How’d that happen? Maybe it’s because some people can count, and they know that the most popular Fox News show gets maybe mid-single-digit millions of viewers on their best night, nationwide” – Which is more than triple the entire lineup of leftie competition on cable. Combine that with the literal “explosion” of conservative radio talk shows and internet bloggers throughout the country; and you have the “engine” of the movement.
“An audience, I might add, that is skewed to the over-65s. You ain’t winning with that.” – Fox leads in ALL DEMOGRAPHICS on cable television – from age 18 through age 65. It’s fun when you have the facts and complete story to back up your position!
onlinesavant
November 2nd, 2009
12:53 pm
The people were listened to Joan. That’s why there are more “liberals” than regressives in Congress (With a sizable centrist element of Democrats.). The problem with your theory is that “the people” got tired of the taking from the middle and working classes, and giving to the rich. A practice employed for thirty years. The only way that this chicanery was able to perpetuate itself for as long as it has, is because the majority of white people were willing to allow themselves to be fooled into believing that as long as they weren’t black, then things could’nt be as they knew deep in their hearts to be . This being, that we are all playing the same game. Black, Asian, Latino, and White. We are all being fleeced by big corporations and the rich. So Joan, keep telling yourself it’s the “liberals” taking from you. We liberals will do as we’ve always done. Fight for you rights as a worker, a woman, a citizen, and someone who is not rich (As far a I know.).
gop a Shrinking Party | Defense of the Republic
November 2nd, 2009
1:24 pm
[...] Pup Tent Thinking Tags: democrat, GOP, limited government, ny 23, Politics, Republican, USA News [...]
Chris Broe
November 2nd, 2009
1:28 pm
The best argument the Right has is that 99% of all tax revenue comes from the richest 1%. That’s true, however what the Right fails to mention is that after taxes, the richest 1% still has 99% of the dough, power, and privelege and even 99% of all the playboy-bunny-level babes. In fact, speaking of rating women from one to ten, the richest 1% get 99% of the 7, 8, 9 and 10’s. (and half the sixes) If it weren’t for stankho’s and Flavor Flav contestants, none of us would ever get laid.
Of course, this is all before the sin-taxes, but after lap dances.
Speaking of playboy bunnies, some of the first playboy bunnies are now in their seventies and all are housed the playboy nursing homes scattered around the country. I visited one, and I still can’t figure out how they get the bedpans to stay on the trampolines……..
kladinvt
November 2nd, 2009
1:49 pm
Considering that Hoffman, is unfamiliar with local issues and doesn’t live in the area, it should be fun to watch another rich repug outsider fail in trying to buy a legislative seat. In the Vermont race of 2006, Rich Tarrant, who lives in Florida, but has vacation property here, tried doing the same thing and failed miserably against Bernie Sanders.
Just a thought
November 2nd, 2009
1:59 pm
We know that politicians will call themselves whatever in order to run and get elected. The truth comes out about what they really are when they begin to talk about the issues. How many Democrats have changed to Republicans and how man Republicans to Democrats . . . it doesn’t matter what you call yourself. . . . a politician is a politician is a politician.
Malika P.
November 2nd, 2009
2:01 pm
The race in upstate New York does not portend the demise of the Republican Party, I’d venture to say it is just the opposite. I am inspired that the Republicans stand for fiscally conservative principles. It’s Democrats like Ms.Tucker who attack by interjecting “bedroom issues” i.e. reproductive rights and gay rights into any debate liberals cannot win against Republicans. Some Blue Dog Democrats are against gay marriage and abortion, does that mean their tent is shrinking? Folks are apprehensive about the fiscal direction of the country,and are voting against an extreme liberal agenda that will result in an increase in taxes and a loss of freedom in health choice.
F. Sinkwich
November 2nd, 2009
2:11 pm
“is that “the people” got tired of the taking from the middle and working classes, and giving to the rich.”
Huh? How exactly is that? What are the “working classes” giving the rich?
I detect some jealously here. Did you make some bad decisions in your life so you have to blame someone else for your failures?
I think so. Pity.
chuck
November 2nd, 2009
2:24 pm
This came from Newsday:
***The Siena Research Institute found 41 percent of voters in the sprawling district along the Canadian border back Hoffman while 36 percent support Owens.***
Hoffmann 10%????
Hoffmann will win the race outright. As for the “size of the tent”, that’s an argument for losers. The fact of the matter is that the Republican Party has a PLATFORM. Candidates who have minor differences with the platform of the party, are certainly going to garner Republican support. Those like Scozzafaza who differ almost COMPLETELY with the platform certainly should not expect universal support from MEMBERS of the party who agree with the platform.
It is high time that we remember that as Republicans, we stand for certain things. Those who don’t agree probably should look elsewhere. I understand that the democrat party members have a hard time understanding this concept since it involves PRINCIPLES. That’s okay, maybe one day they will get some. As for “20% claiming to be Republicans”, that’s probably true…HOWEVER, 40% say that they are CONSERVATIVES. That’s double the number that say they are LIBERALS. So who should be worried Cindy?
DannyX
November 2nd, 2009
2:26 pm
You are really out of touch Malika. For all the problems we face Americans are not looking for Republicans to change things.
Take health care, last week Gallup released a poll showing that “a majority of Americans, 55%, have at least a fair amount of trust in President Barack Obama on healthcare reform, compared with 48% expressing trust in the Democrats in Congress and 37% trusting the Republicans in Congress.”
Another poll released by Gallup on “Generic Congressional Choice,” shows Democrats losing some ground, but Republicans stayed the same. If people are not favoring a Democratic candidate they certainly aren’t rushing to Republicans. What ever momentum Republicans had seems to have vanished. The generic Congressional poll still favor Democrats 46-44%, this has been accurate in the past when gauging the upcoming mid-terms. Right now all the signs point to no big Republican turn around in 2010.
Republicans becoming even more polarizing is doomed. Abandon any sign of moderation at your own risk.
Malika P.
November 2nd, 2009
2:33 pm
Enter your comments here
Shananeeeeee Fananeeeeeeee
November 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
Come 2010 the GOP will be back in control of the House and Senate, Come 2013 their will be a Republican President sitting in the White House. Fraud-bama is just to radical and to much of a liar to be the President. Has anyone seen those CSPAN round table meetings he promised with himself, insurance companies, and doctors? I know, I’m still waiting to. Change in 2010 and 2012, Change we are looking forward to.
chuck
November 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
“polarizing” can be a good thing danny boy. The PROBABLE outcome of the next 10 years of political upheaval, will be to give the democrats what they THOUGHT they always wanted…a European style democracy. The problem for the dems is this, It will not be led by THEM. It will probably result in BOTH parties splintering…the dems into a liberal party and a party for moderates, the Republicans into a tiny “moderate” party with most Republicans splitting off and joining the other unaffiliated CONSERVATIVES. This splintering will result in the necessity for some sort of coalition government, most likely with the 2 largest groups (conservatives and moderate democrats) joining forces to govern.
That’s how I see this whole thing shaking out. Libs better enjoy this year becauseit is the last time their ideas are ever going to get any serious consideration. The American people simply don’t want it.
Chris Broe
November 2nd, 2009
3:48 pm
The danger of a third party is that only a third of the voters would be needed to win. That’s how Hitler got elected. Some 3rd-party lunatic could be elected with multiple-party elections.
Dana Carvey is campaigning for democratic candidates in the New York congressional race. I just saw a speech he gave on Utube.
Excerpt: “The Right needs a face or they will continue to lose. Who is the new face of conservatism? Who could it be? I can’t think of anybody. Nobody comes to mind. Drawing a blank here. Could it be……”
sam
November 2nd, 2009
4:21 pm
anyone who comes from way Upstate NY knows that they do not appreciate outsiders telling them who to vote for, Hoffman will get handed his hat tomorrow and noone will remember his name. hell, even if he wins noone will remember his damn name.
sam
November 2nd, 2009
4:23 pm
Jogn Q.,
dont you know that if someone blogs and it fits your ideology then it is absolute truth…i mean it wouldnt be on the interweb if it wasnt fact, right?
StJ
November 2nd, 2009
4:25 pm
Maybe we need more “third party lunatics” to run for office. Neither the Dems nor the Repubs fully represent the interests of the common person. Personally for me, the two party system forces a choice of the “lesser of two evils”. Do you want the government to have more rights than the individual, or the corporation to have more rights than the individual? Pick one.
We’ll see if the NY 23rd district starts a third party trend.
Tom Middleton
November 2nd, 2009
6:00 pm
CT: The GOP is just a pup tent now…
And it’s getting smaller at that, Cynthia. After being thrown out of the political house of America last November, they’re pouting, throwing temper tantrums, and plotting some kind of electoral comeback to get themselves back in.
But America is tired of the extravagant parties they throw for themselves at everyone else’s expense. Like the spoiled little rich brats they think they are, they break almost everything in the house in their wild abandonment for greed – as much as they possibly can – laugh uproariously at the mess, blame the democrats for all of it, and then refuse to participate in any way, shape, or form in the cleanup, including helping to pay for it.
Thank God we’ve got President Obama and the Dems in office now. Somebody in Washington needs to be responsible for what happens to our beloved country. And since we’re the ones who seem to care by far the most, it’s always going to be us, not them, don’t you think?
And don’t you think it astoundingly appropriate that the head of their political party of wild parties is an addictive personality who historically loves to party himself? And did you see Mr. (Oxycontin) Limbaugh on TV today? He was dressed like he’s going sailing on the Titanic or the like. Politically speaking, let’s hope it’s so. America can’t afford any more of his big mouth and their extravagant wild parties!!!
Kamchak
November 2nd, 2009
6:28 pm
Limbaugh: Fraudsters” at ACORN, SEIU, New Black Panthers going to try to affect elections on Tuesday.
The pre-emptive excuse.
I hate Spandex Cowboys
November 2nd, 2009
8:48 pm
In last weeks “Best of Atlanta” best blogs, Cynthia didn’t garner even one vote.
onlinesavant
November 2nd, 2009
9:26 pm
Sinkwich. Apparently, you don’t “think”. At least not that effectively (Which is typical of a regressive.). The rich take from the middle and working classes. Which you apparently hate.) because the middle and working classes pay the vast majority of taxes in this country, and get much less from it than their wealthy (Financially at least.) brethren. I know you don’t understand the concept of wealth inequality, and I won’t write a thesis trying to explain it to you (As you probably could’nt keep up anyway.), but what I will do is give you a simple scenario. For 30 years, investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure have lagged badly, while federal tax rates for the upper income levels have been no higher than 39% during this time. There was a time when the top tax rate was 90%, and during the boom times of the late fifties to the early 70’s, the top marginal tax rate was at 55%. For that top rate (Which still allowed rich people to be rich.) We, as a nation got: The Interstate Highway system. Put man on the moon. Had plenty of well paying jobs that allowed for one worker in the household.And perpetuated a mass movement into the middle class through federal grants for first in family college students.All very good things, among many that I missed that reflected the investment of federal dollars in PEOPLE. What we have had over 30 years is: CEO pay that went from 40 times more than the average worker, to 400 times more.A 1.4 TRILLION dollar deficit in infrastructure development .5 million jobs lost (And counting.) to offshoring, precipitated by lopsided trade deals championed by big corporations and their wealthy brethren. And a steep rise in two worker households.So you tell me finkwich. Who has gotten the better deal over the last thirty years? Tell me it was always the way that it is now, and I’ll call you a liar. Tell me that the way it is now is not because the rich and big corporations have bought the political process, and I’ll call you a liar.Jealous? me? A child of God who has been blessed with wonderful people in my life, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food to eat? Me, jealous? You’re kidding, right? I know your not joking. You just thought you were dealing with a simpleton like yourself.
Recovering Demoholic
November 2nd, 2009
11:33 pm
Rasmussen Report: Democrat = 37.8%, Republican = 31.9%, Unaffiliated = 30.3%
Neither major party has bragging rights on tent size, as if that really mattered when both are so tattered. What really matters are all of those Independents, disaffected Republicans, a very sizable number of disaffected Democrats, and others ready to jump ship. And, neither major party can figure out how to handle them, because these people refuse to be mauled or deceived. Similarly, the media blow-hards either fail to see this or are intentionally trying to divert attention from it and the major issues that confront us.
Now, if you insist that inclusiveness is more important than footprint and tightness, I will have to agree that this administration does have that. But, you failed to mention the liars, cheats, thugs, maoists, misogynists, two-bit race hustlers, bumbling idiots, spendthrifts — and that’s just the cabinet, czars, and some close friends.
Hype and Chains.
SouthernGal
November 3rd, 2009
4:46 am
Like you Cindy Lou…cannot wait until we only have one party ruling our lives!
Dr. Alan Phillips
November 3rd, 2009
7:18 am
CONSERVATISM RE-EMERGES IN TODAY’S ELECTIONS, PUP TENT EXPANDING
As Reagan, a citizen of California once said to us all, “Freedom is not created by government, nor is it a gift from those in political power. It is in fact secured, more than anything else, by those limitations…that are placed on those in government. It is the absence of the government censors in our newspapers and broadcast stations and universities. It is the lack of fear by those who gather in religious services. It is the absence of official abuse of those who speak up against the policies of their government.” He then went on to list four essential economic freedoms including,
The freedom to work–to pursue your living in your own way,
The freedom to enjoy the benefits of your labor,
The freedom to own and control your own property,
Finally, the freedom to participate in the free market,
These and other liberties must be safeguarded by and from government. Those who have recently gained the power to govern must be shown that there are limits they cannot pass. We conservatives will continue to resist the current administration’s intrusion into our lives and work. Healthcare policies must be examined with the microscopic eyes of our citizens prior to enactment. In America, it always will be the Government that works for the people, not the people who work tirelessly for the government. We believe in people having the right to achieve their dream.
mike
November 3rd, 2009
8:16 am
Liberal pundits are so uncreative. Notice that Luckovich, Bookman and Tucker all made the same silly point here that every liberal pundits across the country has tried to make.
bob
November 3rd, 2009
8:35 am
Onlinesavant, you say you follow the truth and then say rich do not pay taxes, what a joke. Poor do not pay fed tax other than the Social Security ponzi scam. Between 40 and 45% do not even pay fed income tax. You are rational ? Does that mean you understand that Obama cannot add 47 million to the rolls of the insured and have the price of coverage go down right. It means that you understand that illegals will still fill the emergency rooms right ? It also means that you understand Obama and Pelosi have projected spending that surpasses all of the former presidents combined right. Your party is the party of the KKK whether you choose to accept it or not.
El Jefe
November 3rd, 2009
10:12 am
As a side note, it looks like the democrats in New jersey are going to pull a Franken in that race, you know, 104% participation in key counties.
Acorn is involved as usual.
BTW – on a sadder note,
From an AP story that the AJC did not cover
PHOENIX — A young Iraqi woman whose father allegedly hit her with his car because she had become too Westernized died from her injuries Monday after laying in a coma for nearly two weeks.
Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 48, fled after the attack but was arrested Thursday when he arrived at Atlanta’s airport, where he was sent from the United Kingdom after authorities denied him entrance.
Isn’t it strange that an international story with an Atlanta connection as a site of arrest is not even reported in the local “news” paper.
How typical – must not want to offend someone. Like the poor victim.