Posted by Sir Four at 11:23am Nov 4 '09NY-23 is a Republican-friendly district in up-state New York. Some of those counties haven't sent a Democrat to Washington in over 100 years. They aren't necessarily hardcore conservatives, though. Obama narrowly won the district last year.
The Republicans put up Dede Scozzafava to run against Democrat Bill Owens. Scozzafava is a moderate who doesn't toe the conservative line. This meant she had to be destroyed, according to the teabaggers.
This right-wing movement put all their chips on independent Doug Hoffman, a candidate who made it clear he intended to go to Washington to push his ideology rather than represent his district. Palin and Dick Armey were early endorsers. Glenn Beck was pulling for him. As election day drew nearer, more endorsements came in.. Pawlenty and DeMint, for two.
So Scozzafava, reading the writing on the wall, drops out. Teabaggers cheer. The next day Scozzafava endorses Democrat Owens. The Right isn't too concerned.
Then election day comes. And you already know what is going to happen: Democrat Owens wins.
What makes this interesting is that Republicans aren't sure what to do with these teabaggers. Clearly Republicans want to capitalize on them, but the movement will turn on anyone in an instant. Teabaggers demand ideological conformity, even though such conformity is not a ticket back to governing majorities (see my sig).
This puts Republicans in a difficult spot. Do they back the most extreme conservatives to satisfy the teabagger crowd? Or do they put forth candidates with broader appeal and risk the Glenn Beck watchers going nuclear against them?
The Republicans put up Dede Scozzafava to run against Democrat Bill Owens. Scozzafava is a moderate who doesn't toe the conservative line. This meant she had to be destroyed, according to the teabaggers.
This right-wing movement put all their chips on independent Doug Hoffman, a candidate who made it clear he intended to go to Washington to push his ideology rather than represent his district. Palin and Dick Armey were early endorsers. Glenn Beck was pulling for him. As election day drew nearer, more endorsements came in.. Pawlenty and DeMint, for two.
So Scozzafava, reading the writing on the wall, drops out. Teabaggers cheer. The next day Scozzafava endorses Democrat Owens. The Right isn't too concerned.
Then election day comes. And you already know what is going to happen: Democrat Owens wins.
What makes this interesting is that Republicans aren't sure what to do with these teabaggers. Clearly Republicans want to capitalize on them, but the movement will turn on anyone in an instant. Teabaggers demand ideological conformity, even though such conformity is not a ticket back to governing majorities (see my sig).
This puts Republicans in a difficult spot. Do they back the most extreme conservatives to satisfy the teabagger crowd? Or do they put forth candidates with broader appeal and risk the Glenn Beck watchers going nuclear against them?
One bit of good news... teabaggers lose - Sir Four