This registered Republican won’t be punching the (R) tab on Nov. 3

Over the past several months, citizens have risen up to protest the gross mishandling of our economy at the hands of liberal career politicians in Washington.  Ordinary citizens, many of whom had never dreamed they would take the time out of their busy lives to make such a statement.  Had never dreamed they’d find it necessary.

Folks across the country stood to raise their voices against the negligence of a government run amok – including citizens throughout New York’s 23^rd Congressional District, in “tea party” protest from Canton, all the way to Albany.

And the eleven county GOP heads of NY23 heard those voices.  And when the time came to act, they responded – by selecting for the Republican nomination another liberal career politician.

Dede Scozzafava is not the “change” we need in Washington, no matter what her admirably positive TV ads say.  We are where we are because of big spenders.  Because of people who aren’t shy about raising our taxes, or spending money we don’t have on a bogus “stimulus” package that puts money in the hands of those who need it least.  Dede Scozzafava is more of the same: she voted over 190 times to raise taxes in New York – already among the most taxed states in the union (second only to New Jersey in total tax burden).  She voiced support of the failed – yes, failed – stimulus plan, while refusing to sign a no-tax pledge (see above link).  Granted, she recently did decide to sign that pledge, though after her honestly decent reasons for refusing, her change of heart is confusing at best, and makes me wonder what she won’t do to get elected.

Though she wisely chose not to pursue the (ACORN-affiliated) Working Families Party nod this time out, it’s important to remember that as a New York Assemblywoman, the (WFP) sits right next to the (R) and (I) behind her name.  I think it’s safe to say that, were the WFP not poison to her self-styling as Republican in this race, they’d be proudly supporting her now, too.  Especially given the comparatively Conservative leanings of the Named Democrat in the race, Bill Owens.

By contrast, Doug Hoffman is a no-nonsense, fiscally responsible Conservative.  He signed a no-pork pledge, is vehemently opposed to more taxes and would never have voted for a bailout measure like the bank bailouts we saw at the end of 2008.

A vote for Hoffman carries import beyond the simple question of who will represent NY-23, however.  The nation is watching this race, because it is, indeed, a referendum, not only on the Obama Administration’s handling of our country’s financial affairs, but of the Republicans’ aquiescence to bad policy like the Stimulus (in the Senate), the Cap&Trade, and others.  This is a fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party.  Will it once again be the Constitutionally Conservative, Common-sense voice of stalwarts from Washington to Reagan; or will it continue to be the weak-willed, if occasionally contrary, twin brother to the Democrats?