After Newt Gingrich declared that DeDe Scozzafava's exit left and out of the NY-23 special election was the "statesmanlike thing to do," DeDe be-itch slapped the brilliant Newt with her endorsement of Democrat David Owens.
Newt Gingrich
Of course, Gingrich is now embracing Doug Hoffman and he said one thing - one thing - that might save him from the humiliation he so well-deserves. Newt acknowledged:
"the age of party leaders picking people is over."
I might once again buy one of his books. I haven't done that for quite awhile.
About the "people picking," he says the populist movement wins over politics-as-usual:
This is both a tribute to the power of the national conservative movement to define an issue and a commentary on the populist anger against politics-as-usual.
Gingrich admits that he has been a part of "politics-as-usual." Isn't that pitiful?
Sarah Palin brought DeDe Scozzafava to national attention. I doubt many of us would have known about her without Palin's endorsement of Hoffman. Sarah is no longer an elected official. She is now one of the conservative sentries sprinkled around the country - standing guard, as are our the tea parties. We are back on track.
In an interview with Rush Limbaugh in January 2008, Gingrich said this:
We are at the end of the Reagan era. We're at a point in time when we're about to start redefining -- as a number of people started talking about, starting to redefine -- the nature of the Republican Party, in response to what the country needs.
Wrong!
Newt, the great modern day, post-Reagan brain of conservative politics, has forgotten that Ronald Reagan did the hard lifting. Reagan didn't "redefine," he didn't figure it out for himself, he just took the Constitution's conservative principles and planted both feet squarely. When he could not get the policy he wanted, he didn't stop talking about conservatism. He didn't start making excuses, redefining and looking to expand to a bigger tent.
Newt fell into the trap. He forgot that conservative populism is constitutional populism. He forgot that populism is "we the people." He knew it when he was Speaker. Conservative principles haven't changed. As Newt once said, the primary purpose of a political leader is to:
"...build a majority. If [voters] care about parking lots, then talk about parking lots."
So let's get on with it and talk about conservatism. If we can fill a big tent with pro-choicers joining us because conservatism, in the main, is a constitutional and very decent position, then let them enter. Let us talk, and talk, and talk about what is constitutional and what is not.
Newt gets it: The age of the party picking people is over. It should have never started. "We the people" allowed it to happen. We thought our chosen leaders would be on watch, but that sentry failed. Even as we began to wake up, the leadership didn't listen. We'll keep our sentry posted. Now let's work on getting support for Marco Rubio in Florida who is the only conservative in the race for the U.S. Senate.
3 comments:
Well you can't say the Republican party doesn't welcome homosexuals- with Larry Craig, Mark Foley, Charlie Crist, Lindsey Graham, etc.
I'm all for people and not party leaders being kingmakers- in either party. If Republicans want more Bachmann the congresswoman and Palin (quitter? nah- community organizer) then by all means put them front and center- to hell with the establishment.
From what I've read about Hoffman he does not even live in the district he is running for (and knows nothing about local issues), and though he talks a big fiscal conservative game he had no problem accepting $400,000+ in stimulus money from the feds for his own hospital. The more things change the more they stay the same. The largest employer in NYs 23rd is Fort Drum - so how much do you want to bitch about federal spending?
Scozzafava was a NY Republican nominated by NY Republicans - we are not talking about Alabama or South Carolina here. Plenty of Northeastern Republicans are more liberal than your average Southern Democrat. America is a big place, and what will get you elected in the rural South or Midwest might turn people off in New York.
I know more than one conservative that support abortion and legal pot, there is plenty of room for healthy constitutional debate in the Republican party.
The older I get the more I realize how little my life changes no matter who is elected- which is the way it should be.
God bless America.
@ Esquerita: Hoffman was redistricted and but lives very close to 23, as I understand it. From what I can find, he born and bred in 23 and is considered a local. The redistricting happened in 2000.
Eleven Republican county chairmen picked Scozzafava. That has nothing to do with Hoffman having the legal right to run.
Certainly, many Republicans support all of the issues you mention. Only a few support every platform fully - on either side.
What Republicans are finally waking up to, is that some issues are more important to support than others.
I don't want to bitch about a single dollar going to Ft. Drum:-) Security is the one thing the U.S. government is supposed to fund.
The vote is tomorrow, so we'll see what happens. It is encouraging to me that a conservative has a chance in this northeastern area. Maybe he will win, and maybe he will not.
I would rather have David Owens, a Democrat, in office than wait for RINO Scozzafava to sabotage the party, with her union backing. Once we get RINOs in, we can't get them out. I would rather run against Owens the next around.
Thanks for reading Esquerita. BTW, I haven't given a thought to Graham's sexual persuasion, other than I can't stand him. Your comment led me to google. My, my!
Maggie,
Great, great comments here - you know, we're used to most Holger readers taking Esquerita to the wood shed in comments here (we think she likes it) but I must say, few have put her in her place with such skill and finesse.
:)
:Holger Danske
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