Hoffman collects two big Conservative endorsements in NY-23
Former Republican Presidential Candidate (and my personal pick for the job, if we’re to be completely honest about it), Fred Thompson sent out a letter to supporters of his political action committee, urging support of NY-23 Congressional Candidate Doug Hoffman.
In that letter, Thompson refers to Hoffman as the “True Conservative” in the race for NY-23 — an assessment with which, given the record of the “Republican” in this race, Dede Scozzafava, I have to concur –and sees the race as “an opportunity to send a message to Washington, to the Obama Administration, and to the politicians who have made careers of ignoring the will of the people they represent.”
Aside from Thompson, the Club for Growth has also thrown in for Hoffman. In a press release issued today, CFG President Chris Chocola all but denounced both Democrat candidate Bill Owens AND Republican pick Dede Scozzafava as being partisan liberals:
After months of runaway spending, bailouts, and record deficits, the last thing we need in Congress is another rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi and the liberal Democrats.
The CFG also posted a poll of three hundred area voters which suggests the race is in a dead heat between the three candidates. Though that poll was pretty clearly partisan and probably not to be trusted as a true and accurate source, it is clear that Hoffman, though not running as a Republican, can count on Republican support as Conservatives seek to reclaim Congress.
With the date for the election now set for Nov. 3, I sincerely hope that all the Republicans in NY-23 will stand up for Real Republican values and vote, not for candidate-select Scozzafava, but for Conservative candidate and the REAL Republican in this race, Doug Hoffman.
As for the eleven who put their ignorant perceptions of “electibility” over policy and values… I propose we deal with THEM as soon as possible.
Preparing For Battle: Congressional District 23
Now that Congressman John McHugh has been tapped as Secretary of the Army by President Obama (and there is little doubt he’ll be confirmed), the race has begun for his seat in the House. Though Congressional District 23 is one of the largest districts (and most underrepresented) in the nation, in general, this isn’t one that people pay much attention to. Except, this isn’t like a normal race, is it? With the Democrats in total control of two of the three branches of government, Republicans are hoping to keep this seat, and perhaps even strengthen it. Dems, meanwhile, would love to tighten their hold on the House by replacing McHugh with one of their own. And, of course, for political junkies, it’s the only game in town. All of which is to say that the NY-23 race is, in fact, being watched on a national level.
For now, I’m not overly interested in what the Democrats are doing with this. Speculation is that State Senator Darryl Aubertine will be the (D) nominee. And, certainly, GOP leadership seems to be looking for a candidate who can beat him.
According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, the Republicans may select a candidate as soon as this week. Now, Republicans are touting the fact that they are keeping the candidate-selection process very, very open and ethical. Which, I suppose they are, at least as much as is possible without actually getting the voters involved. The primary selection will actually be made by a weighted vote by the GOPchairs in the district’s eleven counties. Because of this, it’s pretty hard for the average voter to get to know the candidates until after the selection is made and the GOP starts reformulating their message for the voting public.
More information about the candidates will be posted to this blog, hopefully within the next day or two. Even now, there are clear frontrunners, according to the media; and a source within the county GOP seems to confirm, at least for herself, that the two frontrunners are moderate Dede Scozzafava and the more evidently Conservative Paul Maroun. However, there are other options as well, such as the 26-year-old Josh Lynch. Though he’s young, and this would be his first elected office, the Conservative Lynch is no stranger to election politics, or even to Washington DC. Lynch worked with Sam Brownback as an assistant, and during Brownback’s presidential bid.
It would be, I suppose, too much to hope that the District GOP would flout what has become known as “conventional wisdom” here. I say that because, though actual conventional wisdom is based on what has been proven to work, recent GOP “conventional wisdom,” has been proven specifically to NOT work. It is this new “wisdom,” for example, which suggests we need a moderate to win and keep the seat. Since, you know, that worked out so well with McCain.
Moreover, we should not be merely thinking about winning this seat back, but about helping to effect change in Washington. It should be remembered that the overregulation we’re experiencing, the quickly-passed and worthless “stimulus” package and the overbearing and equally pointless “Cap & Trade” bills are the works of liberals and moderates. “Conventional Wisdom” can say what it wants; Common Sense says introducing more of the same to Washington will not bring about positive change and could, in fact, just make it worse.
This is going to be a tough battle for the North Country. North Country politics, as I’ve learned since my arrival here about four years ago, is often about short-term reciprocation rather than solid, long-term solutions. When talking with many voters in Northern New York, there appears to be a disconnect between stated values and the actual voting process. Person A may better fit the political values of a voter, but the vote will often go to Person B, who “has done a lot for the area.” Unfortunately, what is often unseen is how those good works in the name of the home county will actually effect the voters with regard to both finances and liberty. If a politician, for example, signed something that brought a hundred jobs to such-and-such county, a voter may not notice, or may even wilfully ignore that the same politician also signed a whole bunch of taxes and regs into law which prevented them from getting raises, decreased their benefit packages or even lost jobs for the county.
And it is this, in part, which gives rise to the idea that we need moderates in order to win. The GOP, clueless as usual about what goes on in the minds of voters, takes this willingness to see only the positives as a rejection of Conservative values. They allow Democrats and the media to define the narrative about what the voters want, without actually listening to the voters themselves. On the other hand, if the GOP leadership would listen — really listen — to the average voter, they would realize that results are important, but that the voters also need to be educated in what really happens in a way that the media — the outlet charged, in the minds of many voters, with that task — simply won’t do.
The fact is, here in District 23, the GOP can run a Conservative, and win. But they need to be willing to take on the Democrats who try to define the message. They need to show how what looks like a boon for the North Country isn’t always what it seems, and that though even liberal politicians can occasionally make good decision, these are far outweighed by those decisions which fly directly in the face of North Country values.
And… we’re back.
Blogivists evidently had some issues with spammers. Issues bad enough that they had to shut their server down for several days. Something substantial coming soon.
Canton Tea Party, April 15
The President’s budget (much like our Governor’s budget) cuts spending from all the wrong places, fails utterly to eliminate wasteful spending from the worst offenders (the several bureaucracies on the National and State level), raises the deficit to such an extent that our childrens’ childrens’ children will still have no idea how to pay for it. And, to cut some of the gigantic costs, the President (much like our governor) is raising taxes and fees where ever he can. Though he claims he’s sticking it to the rich and the corporations, in reality, businesses don’t pay taxes. You and I do.
But we’re not stupid. We know that you don’t get out of debt by piling it on. You don’t save money by borrowing against your future.
On April 15, in 300 cities across America, citizens are uniting to remind the Government that we, the people, are boss — and that we, the people, aren’t happy. For Northern New York, that “Tea Party” will be held in Canton, from 11 am until 2 pm. I’m going to try and make it, and I hope you’ll join me.
An open letter to Congressman John McHugh, re: the 90% punative tax against AIG
(submitted to the office of John McHugh, and as letters to the editor, and cross-posted at RedState)
Dear Sir,
When you took office, you swore to uphold the Constitution. This is the document which defines our nation, and as such, which must be the standard to which our government holds.
Yesterday, when you voted ‘Aye’ on HR1586, you, and those who voted with you, blatantly disregarded not only the letter, but the intent of the US Constitution. And in so doing, you negated the very reason for a Republican form of government: to protect from the tyranny of the majority.
Sir, no matter how egregious the act, for the government to impose a retroactive, punative tax is not only tyrannical (and no, I’m not merely being hyperbolic), but unethical. But let’s take a look at this so-called crime, committed by certain executives at AIG. What they did, in essence, was accept a sum of money which they were promised — and contracted for — by a company which happened to get a government bailout that they never should have gotten.
That the bonuses were in bad taste in not in question. Indeed, the very idea of non-performance based bonuses of this type illustrates the kind of poor business management that drove AIG to the brink of collapse in the first place. However, in providing the bailout, it was THE GOVERNMENT which ultimately provided for the bonuses — even to the extent of actively allowing for them in the bailout bill itself. In other words, what the government has done in effect is to give these executive their bonuses, and then punish them for receiving them.
How are we, the citizens of this Country — of your District — to have any confidence in a government that shows this level of ethical schizophrenia?
Sir, you have betrayed your oath to uphold the foundational ideals of this Country. I pray, and as your constituent demand, that you find a way to make this right.
Regards,
Randy Streu
Paterson decides against fat tax, other fees… for now
New York’s illustrious “governor” Paterson has issued a statement saying he no longer needs to levy the entire tax and fee package against New York’s citizens, because of money coming to the state from Obama’s “Stimulus” package. The $11 billion from Washington will help Paterson back away from his more politically detrimental tax and fee suggestions, such as the softdrink tax, download fees and taxes, and more.
He does plan on keeping several of the new or higher fees or taxes he’d proposed, since his administration is unable or unwilling to trim enough fat out of the budget. Of course, much of New York’s overhead has to do with enforcement of codes, rules, regulations and laws. There’s a reason “over-regulated” often turns into “over-taxed” as it has in the case of New York. Simply put, when you make regulations, you have to pay somebody to enforce them. This means a larger budget. Which means… yup… higher taxes.
Paterson makes the claim that “nobody likes to tax people,” suggesting that he simply has no other choice. But there is another choice. Back off. Get the hell out of New Yorkers’ lives. Stop regulating every matchstick that comes off the assembly line. Stop requiring licenses and fees to so much as trim somebody’s hair. Shut the bureaucracy down, and then we taxpayers won’t have to foot the bill any longer. It’s an easy enough fix, if you can get the Legislature to go along with it.
Of course, given the makeup of the State Legislature, that doesn’t look too likely. Even if Paterson wasn’t completely obtuse.
Seatbelt Blitz: Thanks, Mom… or should I say, “Big Brother?”
Buckle up, Folks. I don’t know about other states, but New York State cops are preparing for a Thanksgiving Weekend Fundraiser — er… Seatbelt Blitz. That is all.