A Problem of Shrinkage

[Lemur]

I find myself in complete and utter agreement with Newt Gingrich:

VAN SUSTEREN: All right, the 23rd congressional district in New York -- you're getting heat from Glenn Beck and others because you have endorsed the Republican candidate, and many Republicans, like Tim Pawlenty, former governor Sarah Palin -- Governor Pawlenty, former governor Sarah Palin, Steve Forbes, Dick Armey -- they've all endorsed the independent, and you're getting heat.

GINGRICH: Sure.

VAN SUSTEREN: And?

GINGRICH: Well, I just find it fascinating that my many friends who claim to be against Washington having too much power, they claim to be in favor of the 10th Amendment giving states back their rights, they claim to favor local control and local authority, now they suddenly get local control and local authority in upstate New York, they don't like the outcome.

There were four Republican meetings. In all four meetings, State Representative Dede Scozzafava came in first. In all four meetings, Mr. Hoffman, the independent, came in either last or certainly not in the top three. He doesn't live in the district. Dede Scozzafava...

VAN SUSTEREN: He doesn't live in the district?

GINGRICH: No, he lives outside of the district. Dede Scozzafava is endorsed by the National Rifle Association for her 2nd Amendment position, has signed the no tax increase pledge, voted against the Democratic governor's big-spending budget, is against the cap-and-trade tax increase on energy, is against the Obama health plan, and will vote for John Boehner, rather than Nancy Pelosi, to be Speaker.

Now, that's adequately conservative in an upstate New York district. And on other issues, she's about where the former Republican, McHugh, was. So I say to my many conservative friends who suddenly decided that whether they're from Minnesota or Alaska or Texas, they know more than the upstate New York Republicans? I don't think so. And I don't think it's a good precedent. And I think if this third party candidate takes away just enough votes to elect the Democrat, then we will have strengthened Nancy Pelosi by the divisiveness. We will not have strengthened the conservative movement.

VAN SUSTEREN: What is it that they have identified as why they think the independent candidate...

GINGRICH: Well, there's no question, on social policy, she's a liberal Republican.

VAN SUSTEREN: On such as abortion?

GINGRICH: On such as abortion, gay marriage, which means that she's about where Rudy Giuliani was when he became mayor. And yet Rudy Giuliani was a great mayor. And so this idea that we're suddenly going to establish litmus tests, and all across the country, we're going to purge the party of anybody who doesn't agree with us 100 percent -- that guarantees Obama's reelection. That guarantees Pelosi is Speaker for life. I mean, I think that is a very destructive model for the Republican Party.

[Vladimir]

You crazy progressives. Trying to poison us with your moderate-left ways. Hrumph.

[Fisherking]

Shrinkage!???

I am fed up with the two party system.

They always say they are going to do good things but look at what we get.

I am fully in favor of selecting our government officials in the same way we select our jurors.

Just send them to Washington and tell them to do something good for the country...

Can they do much worse?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Shrinkage!???

I am fed up with the two party system.

They always say they are going to do good things but look at what we get.

I am fully in favor of selecting our government officials in the same way we select our jurors.

Just send them to Washington and tell them to do something good for the country...

Can they do much worse?

Yes. That's like saying "these referees are terrible, let's pick random fans".

[Fisherking]

Yes. That's like saying "these referees are terrible, let's pick random fans".

And sending a bunch of rich lawyers to Washington to write laws is a better idea?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

And sending a bunch of rich lawyers to Washington to write laws is a better idea?

If they are rich then they are less likely to accept bribes, and if they are lawyers they have a certain level of intelligence. Understanding the law would help in writing new ones...

Palin/Plumber 2012!

[Fisherking]

Sorry but I tend to disagree with all but the intelligence part.

It is rather a conflict of interest for those who make money from the law to make new ones...

Being wealthy never stopped greed.

Those are the last people you want representing you, yet they seem the most likely to want the job...

Think about it.

By the way, a Quote I love;


When the white man discovered this country Indians were running it. No taxes, no debt, women did all the work. White man thought he could improve on a system like this.

[Crazed Rabbit]

I find myself in complete and utter agreement with Newt Gingrich:

VAN SUSTEREN: All right, the 23rd congressional district in New York -- you're getting heat from Glenn Beck and others because you have endorsed the Republican candidate, and many Republicans, like Tim Pawlenty, former governor Sarah Palin -- Governor Pawlenty, former governor Sarah Palin, Steve Forbes, Dick Armey -- they've all endorsed the independent, and you're getting heat.

GINGRICH: Sure.

VAN SUSTEREN: And?

GINGRICH: Well, I just find it fascinating that my many friends who claim to be against Washington having too much power, they claim to be in favor of the 10th Amendment giving states back their rights, they claim to favor local control and local authority, now they suddenly get local control and local authority in upstate New York, they don't like the outcome.

There were four Republican meetings. In all four meetings, State Representative Dede Scozzafava came in first. In all four meetings, Mr. Hoffman, the independent, came in either last or certainly not in the top three. He doesn't live in the district. Dede Scozzafava...

VAN SUSTEREN: He doesn't live in the district?

GINGRICH: No, he lives outside of the district. Dede Scozzafava is endorsed by the National Rifle Association for her 2nd Amendment position, has signed the no tax increase pledge, voted against the Democratic governor's big-spending budget, is against the cap-and-trade tax increase on energy, is against the Obama health plan, and will vote for John Boehner, rather than Nancy Pelosi, to be Speaker.

Now, that's adequately conservative in an upstate New York district. And on other issues, she's about where the former Republican, McHugh, was. So I say to my many conservative friends who suddenly decided that whether they're from Minnesota or Alaska or Texas, they know more than the upstate New York Republicans? I don't think so. And I don't think it's a good precedent. And I think if this third party candidate takes away just enough votes to elect the Democrat, then we will have strengthened Nancy Pelosi by the divisiveness. We will not have strengthened the conservative movement.

VAN SUSTEREN: What is it that they have identified as why they think the independent candidate...

GINGRICH: Well, there's no question, on social policy, she's a liberal Republican.

VAN SUSTEREN: On such as abortion?

GINGRICH: On such as abortion, gay marriage, which means that she's about where Rudy Giuliani was when he became mayor. And yet Rudy Giuliani was a great mayor. And so this idea that we're suddenly going to establish litmus tests, and all across the country, we're going to purge the party of anybody who doesn't agree with us 100 percent -- that guarantees Obama's reelection. That guarantees Pelosi is Speaker for life. I mean, I think that is a very destructive model for the Republican Party.

Well Gingrich is an idiot. The 'Republican' candidate dropped out (since she was last in the polls) and endorsed the Democratic candidate.

This is the same candidate who wouldn't sign the tax pledge at first, supported card-check (IE Union thug handout legislation), and wouldn't commit to running as a republican in the next election. Years and years of doing whatever it took to get reelected instead of giving a damn about passing GOP platform legislation lead the GOP to where they are now.

CR

[Louis VI the Fat]

Well Gingrich is an idiot. The 'Republican' candidate dropped out (since she was last in the polls)

Well one would find oneself last in the polls if under fire from one's own party.


Good development though. Let the GOP alienate the centre by purging the party from moderates and putting hardliners in their place.

Palin / Plumber for president 2012!

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Let the GOP fall. Then let the Democrats fall with them, and fall hard.

[CountArach]

Well Gingrich is an idiot. The 'Republican' candidate dropped out (since she was last in the polls) and endorsed the Democratic candidate.

... who then went on to win...

[ICantSpellDawg]

Dems picked up a Congressional seat guys, this must mean that the GOP is shrinking.

What does the fact that a Conservative candidate polled over 45% against the democrat's 49% tell you about that race? Wikipedia doesn't even have Hoffman's picture up.

I'm OK with Republicans losing races, just as long as Conservatives can make a strong showing. I'm registered in that guys party up here.

[CountArach]

What does the fact that a Conservative candidate polled over 45% against the democrat's 49% tell you about that race? Wikipedia doesn't even have Hoffman's picture up.

The district is rated Republican +1 in the Cook Partisan Voting Index and in a race where the Republican had pulled out of his run then that tells you that the Democratic base isn't quite as disillusioned as some have claimed. In an odd-year election where a party is largely in control this is quite a rarity.

Still, people shouldn't read too much into it - but I'm just saying, there are conclusions in there.

Results from 2009 election night here... Maine has narrowly rejected gay marriage (Despite polls showing the opposite - Conservatives are more fired-up this season whilst Democrats remain complacent) and a law granting domestic partnership equality to gay spouses in Washington is close.

[ICantSpellDawg]

The district is rated Republican +1 in the Cook Partisan Voting Index and in a race where the Republican had pulled out of his run then that tells you that the Democratic base isn't quite as disillusioned as some have claimed. In an odd-year election where a party is largely in control this is quite a rarity.

Still, people shouldn't read too much into it - but I'm just saying, there are conclusions in there.

Results from 2009 election night here... Maine has narrowly rejected gay marriage (Despite polls showing the opposite - Conservatives are more fired-up this season whilst Democrats remain complacent) and a law granting domestic partnership equality to gay spouses in Washington is close.

Republicans won the Governorship of New Jersey. That's New Jersey, right next to New York. That's with Pro-Life views and being a supporter of George Bush for 8 years.

If you don't see the hint of rebuke, I don't know what to tell you.

People are pissed now, if the system hits any more major bumps any time soon, the mid-term elections will be interesting. Partisan Conservatives were out in force this election and I didn't even vote, I'm moderate enough to give it some time. Moderates won't look so kindly on the administration or the Congress unless there is a major turn around before the mid-terms.

Decreasingly massive unemployment numbers arn't enough of a sign for some people, I know, crazy right?

I'm just happy to see Republicans pick up Governor spots. That's where we draft Presidents. Even if this election season wasn't a rebuke of the Dems, ever hear of the adage "fake it til ya make it"? Maybe it's a rebuke of the dems now, even when it wasn't before.

People have an interesting reaction when they've missed what they percieve as the bandwagon. Most of cultural movement comes from insistence by media and popular culture, the rest comes from the actual impact of policies and good ideas... at a margin of 10:1

[drone]

The GOP took the Dems back behind the woodshed here in Virginia. Governor, Lt. Gov, Attorney General, and at least 5 more state delegates to cement their majority. A lot of papers are saying that this really means nothing for next year's national mid-term elections, but the Dems better get on the ball if they want to continue to enjoy their majority.

I'm just happy to see Republicans pick up Governor spots. That's where we draft Presidents.

Not the new VA gov, he's unelectable on the national stage.

[CountArach]

Republicans won the Governorship of New Jersey. That's New Jersey, right next to New York. That's with Pro-Life views and being a supporter of George Bush for 8 years.

That was Corzine's personal fault

But Obama was the least of Corzine's problems: Voters in Tuesday's election approved of Obama's performance 57 percent to 43 percent, according to exit polling. It was Corzine they didn't like; 27 percent of the voters who approved of Obama nevertheless found someone other than the Democratic incumbent to vote for.

Corzine, for his part, ran a polarizing campaign; every time Christie's name appeared in one of his commercials, it came with a scarlet (R) -- for Republican -- attached. Republicans are not popular in New Jersey, but local issues drove the race.

Whereas three-quarters of Corzine's voters cited a national issue -- health care or the economy -- as their primary reason for voting for him, two-thirds of Christie's picked a local one (property taxes and corruption).