A changed race (Scozzafava Tells Supporters To Vote For Dem) Owens is best-equipped to represent NNY

[kpete]

Source: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20091101/OPI...


A changed race
Owens is best-equipped to represent NNY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2009

Dierdre K. Scozzafava's decision to suspend her campaign for the 23rd Congressional District seat is a shocking development in what had already been an extraordinary race.

In her statement Saturday morning, the assemblywoman explained the reasons behind her decision: "It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so."

During the day Saturday, she began to quietly and thoughtfully encourage her supporters to vote for Democrat William L. Owens.

Ms. Scozzafava finished a distant third in the latest Siena Research Institute poll with 20 percent support of likely voters. Her opponents, Mr. Owens and Conservative Douglas L. Hoffman, garnered 36 percent and 35 percent respectively.

Read more: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20091101/OPI...

[saltpoint]

1. What a hell of a mess.

[tsuki]

2. Wow. The comments say it all. When you LaFarge the Eisenhower/Rockefeller

wing of the RNC, this is what you end up with.

[philly_bob]

124. Interesting allusion to Marie Lafarge, executed in France in 1852.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_LaFarge

But I'd appreciate a little elaboration on the reference, I'm really weak on European history.

[tsuki]

143. Article confusion. Meant DeFarge. Sorry for the confusion. nt

[philly_bob]

145. Ah, the Dickens character from Tale of Two Cities. Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_Defarge

[No Elephants]

131. Rockefellers and Eisenhowers are now Democrats, along with some Goldwaters.

Though I do not romanticize Goldwater in hindsight, as many seem to, even he was ticked that members of "the Party of Small Government" had begun to think they had a say over people's personal lives.

Anyway, we now have Jay Rockefeller, Democratic Senator, amd some of the Eisenhowers and Goldwaters endorsed Obama, right along with Ted Kennedy. Oh, if only Dwight, Barry, Nixon and Ford could have seen that combo!

(Suck on it, Republicans of Elections Past.)

[adamuu]

3. Awesome! n/t

[Honeycombe8]

4. I'm afraid that changes the race into a 2-person race, making it harder for Owens.

Candidates have no control over who their supporters switch their votes to. In the case of Republicans, there is little chance that her Republican supporters will vote en masse for the Democrat.

This is bad news, seems to me. Sounds like the party got to her and convinced her to drop out so there wouldn't be a fight within their own party.

[MidwestTransplant]

6. They are still North East Republicans. Hopefully the don't want Palin wingnuts representing them

If he wins, Hoffman will be redistricted out in 2010.

[WePurrsevere]

9. IMO this is the key...

from what I've seen and heard the Republicans up here seem to be mostly old style moderate "Ike" types and this is why McHugh won.. he's basically a moderate and not "party line". In contrast Hoffman is a Bush RWinger (not to mention he has the personality of plank of wood but with less character from what I saw on Beck's interview with him.)

This district also went to Obama if I remember correctly so there's at least hope that Owens will win.

BTW why do you say he will be redistricted out? Do you think the census will change things?

[mdmc]

117. we have a supermajority in NYS

so if we (the dems) lose NYSCD23 we will be able to redraw the lines to make it winnable. Ditto with NYSCD20 (Gillibrands old spot). If it can't be held on to we will map it out.

Its all in the gerrymander..

[MidwestTransplant]

130. Yeah supposedly NY will lose a congressional seat after teh 2010 census.

[OswegoAtheist]

8. Anecdotal evidence follows:

In talking to people around the Oswego area, most people believe that anyone who was going to vote for DBag Hoffman were already on his side; DeDe was a vary progressive candidate, even by Democratic standards, and the DBaggers made damn sure everyone knew it. My prediction: Owens wins after absentees are counted.

Oswego "Watertown is the DBagger enclave of the district anyway" Atheist

[Honeycombe8]

122. I hope you're right. nt

[quiller4]

13. Actually the local press speculates that most of the conservatives

had already migrated and that those who had remained with the liberal Republican will either vote for Owens or cast a protest vote for Deedee whose name will still be on the ballot. They are predicting a narrow Owens win.

[Honeycombe8]

123. A win is a win, even a narrow one. I hope that's what happens. nt

[sadbear]

5. Fox Opinion was telling it different yesterday

No surprise to anyone here, but Fox Opinion was saying on their crawler that Scozzafava released her supporters to vote for Hoffman.

[Demoiselle]

11. Yeah. I heard she threw her support to Hoffman yesterday, too...

and I don't go anywhere near Fox, so it must have been in the "Mainstream" mudpit news as well...
I'm glad to hear she's supporting the Dem.

[katanalori]

22. FUX - THEY LIE!

They also repeatedly stated that Hoffman was a Republican candidate - he is not, he is a third Party candidate running on the "Conservative" ticket.

[Tx4obama]

113. Yeah...

I was flipping channels yesterday and I saw that crawler too and I thought --- there they go again LYING.
The crawler should have said: Scozzafava released her supporters to vote for Hoffman AND Owens
since at that point she had not endorsed anyone!
Of course if anyone were ever to say anything to them about it they'd just say that the 'and Owens' was mistakenly cut off.

[SpiralHawk]

7. The Spiritual character of NY 23 - Native perspective

http://thecalloftheland.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/arisin... /

The energetic valve between the Great Lakes and the sea...

"To answer my questions about the land, Kanentiio began telling of where he was born and raised, Akwesasne Mohawk Territory on the shores of Kaniatarowanenneh (St. Lawrence River) at the New York-Ontario frontier. The Mohawks are part of the Iroquois Confederacy, and the Keepers of the Eastern Door. Their confederacy is the oldest, active participatory democracy on Earth. With its Great Law of Peace, the Confederacy was a direct example and inspiration for the U.S. Constitution."

(snip)

[WePurrsevere]

10. We live very close to Akwesasne and

my SIL works there (and is NA). From your link sadly this is true:
“Smuggling of tobacco and narcotics, and gambling — whatever commands a profit — has created a narco-culture at Akwesasne,” he said. “Our good, traditional Iroquois values of humility, compassion, simplicity, generosity and communal service have been replaced by greed, intimidation, violence, and death.”

ATM they're going back and forth (again) over their right to sell tobacco products to non-natives and not charge tax.

[FarLeftFist]

12. Republicans held that district for over 100+ years.

[quiller4]

14. but the district went for Obama in 2008 and Bush just barely held it in 2004.

[harmonicon]

15. instant run-off voting would make this a non-issue

Maybe - just maybe - cases like this will make it more likely for IRV to be put in place for local and state-wide elections. Perhaps when people see the benefits of it there, we can have a push to change the constitution to allow it in national elections.

[shadowknows69]

16. No shit. Gotta go rag on a friend on Facebook now who told me Hoffman was a shoe in now heh.

although this statement is pretty much sourceless: "During the day Saturday, she began to quietly and thoughtfully encourage her supporters to vote for Democrat William L. Owens."

I don't think the WDT has real knowledge of this, but they endorsed Dede to begin with so this may be a grudge rumor. The WDT isn't exactly known for its accurate reporting.

[struggle4progress]

129. ... “Since announcing the suspension of my campaign, I have thought long and hard about what i...

“Since announcing the suspension of my campaign, I have thought long and hard about what is best for the people of this District, and how to answer your questions,” she said in the statement posted on the Web site. “This is not a decision that I have made lightly.”

“In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first.

“I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same” ...

“I am honored to have Assemblywoman Scozzafava's endorsement,” Owens said in his statement. “Over the course of her career, Dede has always committed to serving the people of Upstate New York before serving a partisan agenda” ... http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/01/paper-g... /


... In a fundraising pitch to supporters this afternoon, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) through IssaPAC railed on Scozzafava for choosing to support Bill Owens over Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate who effectively forced her out of the race on Saturday ... http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/65779-...

[annabanana]

17. This is huge! It shows that Ms Scozzafava actually has some

some genuine regard for her neighbors. I hope that her supporters do as she asks.

[Arkana]

18. Owens is a shitty Democrat--if I were in the 23rd I might have voted

for Scozzafava.

[TeaBagsAreForCups]

23. Absolutely correct - this Dem is a waste...

... he's positively tragic and vile on LGBT issues and rights.

If I were in that district, I would have voted for the Republican had she remained. She is very progressive. That's precisely why the fat scumbag and skank, Limbaugh and Palin respectively, both went after her.

Now, it's a plague on both of their houses as far as I'm concerned.

I truly hope that Scozzafava changes her registration to a D and goes after this DINO in the next election. She deserves to ultimately prevail if only for the grief she has been put through here.

[OswegoAtheist]

108. I am in the 23rd

And I considered the same thing. I love the Democratic Party to death, but I'm also going to vote for someone with a proven track record on the issues I consider more important, and that's gay rights, contraceptive/abortion rights and organized labour.

Oswego "DINO RINO" Atheist

[harry_pothead]

118. I don't live in NY23, but doesn't a vote for DeDe instead of Owens at this point only help Hoffman?

[OswegoAtheist]

142. yes.

Let me clarify: I no longer consider that a good idea.

Oswego "passed tents" Atheist

[No Elephants]

132. Tell him. And, if he wins, primary him next time.

[Arkana]

144. I don't live in the 23rd--I live in Massachusetts and my rep is awesome.

[Cha]

19. United Auto Workers endorsement..goes to Owen..

<snip>

"The first ones out of the gate: United Auto Workers CAP Region 9… endorsing Democrat Bill Owens."

“We would like to commend Dede Scozzafava for a hard-fought campaign and she will always be a friend of the UAW. Like Bill Owens, she has been a fighter for working families and a dedicated public servant. Doug Hoffman’s commitment to privatizing Social Security, opposing efforts to reform healthcare, and supporting tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans is directly at odds with the best interests of working families in Upstate New York, and right now we can’t afford to send a voice for those kinds of priorities to Congress.”

<more>
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/19532/first...

[aquart]

20. A Republican told Republicans to VOTE DEM?

This is eerie.

[aquart]

21. "lightning speed" is the new talking point?

[NYC_SKP]

24. BREAKING: Scozzafava suspends NY 23 campaign

Source: Politico

Republican Dede Scozzafava has suspended her bid in next Tuesday’s NY 23 special election, a huge development that dramatically shakes up the race. She did not endorse either of her two opponents -- Conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman or Democrat Bill Owens.

Her statement:

(more at link)

Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1009/BREAKING_S...

[SpiralHawk]

25. Hmmmmm - Republicon Family Values behind this?

Sniff sniff...

[DumbBassRepublicans]

81. Scozzafava drops out...

Actually, Scozzafava dropped out because Pat Robertson saw her eating a
Snickers candy bar...
(You) can't do that, especially around Halloween, and especially IF you claim
to be a republican...!!

"And I say unto thee, partake thee not, of thy demonic candy bar..!!"

LOL...!!!!

[Raine1967]

26. So the race is now between a Dem and a teabagger?

eep. The GOP can't even hold thier own now.

[Roland99]

39. Further and further to the right do they slip.

And they're dragging half of the Democratic Party past the center with them.

[No Elephants]

40. IMO, the Democrats should take the blame for their own moves. If Democrats insist

on running after a Party that most voters rejected, instead of giving voters a real choice, that's on the Democrats. Yeah, Republicans suck, but for what they themselves do, not for what the Democrats choose to do.

[Roland99]

47. Trouble is, the Democratic Party has been split for a long time

The corporate whores (err...."blue dogs") are more than happy to keep feeding The Beast (military-industrial complex) and keep passing favorable bill after bill that gives corporations a break while they pay lip service to social issues. They know what side they're bread is buttered on and it has a corporation's logo stamped on it.

Then there's the progressive side that's been trying to wake the nation and the Congress up for years as to the ills of treating corporations above and beyond citizens. It's that mentality that got us into the horrid economic crisis but no one wants to admit (at least publicly) that the progressives were right.

[No Elephants]

133. Yep, which is why I never blame Republicrats for the shortcomings of Demlicans, or vice versa.

If you misdiagnose, you mistreat; and, if you mistreat, things are less likely to improve.

So, placing blame where it actually belongs is best for America.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. Interesting indeed

What are the polls saying? Does the Democrat have a chance? I hate to see Hoffman win cause the teabaggers will see that as a victory for them.

[CitizenLeft]

32. I can't remember who said it last night, but...

...a Dem pundit said that Hoffman winning is a good thing - it'll make the teabaggers even bolder, and encourage them to continue destroying the party, until they become totally unelectable statewide and nationally. I hope he's right.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. But they aren't unelectable if this teabagger wins

I live in red state hell. What I see them doing here is taking over their party, not destroying it.

[CitizenLeft]

44. no, he meant statewide and nationally...

He was implying that the Senate and the WH would be unattainable for a party run by nutcases. House seats, yes, there will be those, but even then, they can't have a majority of Bachmanns. I'm sure that's what he meant.

[proud2BlibKansan]

51. I certainly hope he is right

I thought these people would fade away after their tea parties last spring. But I was wrong.

[earthside]

65. But isn't Kansas an example ...?

My understanding is that in the recent past the Republicans in Kansas got so extreme that it made the election of Sibelius possible.

I think a teabagger win in New York is good news for progressives -- indeed, it will embolden the far right-wing to further devour what remains of the 'civilized' Republican Party.

This episode also has to be quite debilitating for the concept of 'loyalty' amongst Republicans. For example, will Lindsey Graham not be 'pure' enough and find himself with a teabagger primary challenge or a general election teabagger independent opponent?

It is possible that a victory by this Conservative Party candidate in New York may lead to the official splintering of the Republican Party with the formation of a national 'teabagger' party that runs its own candidate for president in 2012.

The standing-down of the Republican candidate for Congress in this New York CD is a significant development ... and it ain't good news for the establishment Republican Party.

[proud2BlibKansan]

69. We have had several Democrats as governor

Sebelius ran on her great reputation as Insurance Commissioner (an important post here) and as a moderate who appealed to the moderate GOPers. At that time, the moderates controlled the state GOP. But the far right gets bigger here all the time.

We have had also numerous GOP politicos switch to the Democratic party here and then run for office. Most win.

But I am alarmed at the sheer number of teabaggers here and how their movement has grown. They easily attract 1000 or more to their events in the metropolitan areas here. That's scary. I hate to assume they are tearing their party apart just because some high profile GOPers have switched to Dems.

[Frisbee]

82. It was Chris Kofinas (sp?)

on Olbermann. I hope to hell he is right because I would sure hate to live in a Country are in control, or even are a strong 2nd party!

[shadowknows69]

84. Then he can have Hoffman in his district. I don't want him.

[pink-o]

87. That was Chris Kofinis talking to O'Donnell on Olbermann.

I hope he's right, too. But I agree with the poster upthread--WTF is this chasing after and giving validation to a party in such shambles and who only 20% of the electorate identify with???

[TheWraith]

107. It's a win win for us, really.

Either Owens wins, and the Republicans continue their losing streak, or Hoffman wins, alienating more moderates and encouraging the teabaggers to continue their civil war. Woot!

[pattmarty]

41. From what I'm hearing the district has been Republican for like..............

..........a hundred years (really!!!). So with her out, the wacko should easily win. that's ok though, because this will embolden them thinking they can run more wackos in moderate or liberal districts in 2010. Then see what happens.

[CitizenLeft]

46. that's what I meant too (above).

[proud2BlibKansan]

54. I live in a district that has been red for a hundred years too but we have a Dem rep

and we are turning purple. I see the teabaggers as more of a threat to our growing Dem majority than to their own party.

[cali]

57. yes, NY 23 is republican but

it's not wacko republican. I think Owens has a good chance of winning.

[shadowknows69]

85. As I said in another thread. I can't be as confident about the not "wacko" part.

[Jim Lane]

95. Obama carried the district (although narrowly)

The last poll before Scozzafava suspended her campaign had Owens (D) leading Hoffman (C) by one point. So it could go either way, depending primarily on what Scozzafava's supporters do.

Presumably, most of them are Republican, and many of them will follow their party leaders and support Hoffman. We can hope, however, that some of the real party-loyalty types will pull the lever for Scozzafava anyway. Other Scozzafava voters might move to the remaining candidate who's closer to her views -- and that's Owens. Then, of course, there may be some resentment at Hoffman for having pushed Scozzafava out after she was chosen through an open Republican Party process. (There were multiple candidates' nights around the district, in which Scozzafava, Hoffman, and several others made their pitches to the party faithful, in advance of the county leaders' vote that picked Scozzafava.) Some voters who are ideologically closer to Hoffman might vote against him out of spite.

I'd rate Hoffman the favorite, but not by much.

In some ways, the district's long history of Republican representation makes this a no-lose situation for us. If Owens wins, we've flipped a seat. If Hoffman wins, there's a red splotch where there's always been one anyway, and the GOP can be depicted (correctly) as being taken over by teabaggers.

By the way, it's likely that New York will lose a seat after the next census, and this district might well be dismembered.

[Captain Hilts]

28. Sux to be a Republican. nt

[MonteLukast]

30. Sux to try to make it as a Repug when you're a woman

... AND pro-union! Doubly damned there!

Dede... I'm sorry. You probably were trying to knock some sense back into the Repugs. But don't you know they don't WANT to live in reality?

Leave that shithole of a rump party anyway. You'd never fit in with all those pasty white old corporatists. Can't figure for the life of me why you didn't run as an Independent.

[Captain Hilts]

43. Yeah. I really wonder the level of dissociation, if that's the word, of folks like Snowe and her.

[graywarrior]

29. OMG, dems will be running against complete lunatics in 2012.

The republican party is so fucked.

[No Elephants]

45. One thing I learned from Dummya. Never misunderestimate the enemy, no

matter how dumb you think s/he is.

Actually, I learned that long before Dummya, but I learned the "misunderestimate" word from Dummya.

[DumbBassRepublicans]

80. Dubya's Legacy...

You're right, No Elephants...
Good "strategery" NOT to "misunderestimate" the far-right, wing-nuts..!!
LOL..!!!

My prediction-

Owens: 47%
Hoffman: 45%
Scozzafava 6%
Dick Cheney: 2%

(HOPEFULLY..!!)

[pennylane100]

31. naybe she hopes her moderate supporters will go for the democrat

and help him win,

[Joanne98]

33. She probably got death threats from the Palin mob.

[DainBramaged]

34. The comments are PRICELESS, these Puke fucks think this is the beginning of a comeback

I think we got this one.

[NYC_SKP]

38. Half of them are confident, the other half scared to death, and both halves are fighting over it.

I don't know what to make of how this will spin out, but it's interesting to watch...

[DainBramaged]

42. Their stupidity is priceless............

This is better than a Saturday matinee.......

[alfredo]

35. The conservative candidate knows nothing about local issues. He doesn't

live in the district.

[No Elephants]

49. S/he doesn't have to know about local issues. God and "no new taxes" are

all they need, no matter where they are.

[ldf]

63. god, guns and faggots

it always seems to be a winning combination for them. no new taxes is just icing on the cake. they don't mean it anyway. they are just mouthing platitudes their core wants to hear. they will eaqerly spend a trillion on an illegal war. who cares?

doesn't say much for the rest of us as a voting populace. no politician has the guts to declare that human rights must never be put up for a popular vote. (a few may mumble such, but no one is running with it...)

within every couple, there must be one, and only one, cock. otherwise it is the end of marriage as in institution, civilization as we know it, the end of the universe, hell, the end of times...

what. ever.

[smalll]

125. Yeah, they're just a bunch of bitter clingers.

It's time we took the vote away from losers who can't afford to buy Macs or eat organic arugula on a regular basis.

[No Elephants]

137. Trillions spent on wars are a lot ess affordable than trillions spent on

infrastructure or the Green Revolution. So, money is not the issue.

[No Elephants]

134. Ditto vijayjays.

[proud2BlibKansan]

53. Dumb question I know but how does a person who doesn't live in the district run for office

[Dennis Donovan]

56. He rents a travel trailer in Gouverneur...

Seriously, I dunno...

[proud2BlibKansan]

58. Well I know you don't have to live in district in CA.

Is that true in other states too?

[KamaAina]

92. Congressional districts aren't written into the Constitution

remember the Constitution? I know it's been dormant for eight years but all it says is that a Congressional rep must be a resident of the same state. States are free to choose their reps at large, as small one-rep states like Delaware do.

Toby Moffett tried that once when the Dems couldn't agree on a candidate for the neighboring district in CT. He managed to lose to one of two African American repuke Reps at the time (yes, they had some! ), Gary Franks.

edit: header

[mdmc]

121. He would have until 12-31-09 to move into the district

He could not vote for himself..

[Dennis Donovan]

55. In all fairness, he lives on the edge of the district in Lake Placid...

...HOWEVER, Lake Placid derives 99% of it tax base from tourism and the Olympic Ski Center, where places like Plattsburgh, Oswego, Fulton and Watertown have to rely on manufacturing, etc. So, I agree that he doesn't know about the issues that affect REAL people in the district.

[alfredo]

64. I hope the Dem is exploiting his opponent's ignorance.

[brooklynite]

36. Not sure how to forecast this...

...Scozzafava had two pools of voters: Institutional Republicans, who would likely switch to Hoffman, except they had largely abandoned her campaign already; and moderates who supported her because her pro-choice, pro-gay marriage creds were better than Owens, but who will see Owens as the lesser of two evils.

[Salviati]

62. Although I bet some of the institutional rebubs will defect as well...

It can't sit comfortably, having your locally chosen candidate run out of the election by a bunch of tea-bagger wackos headed by a who's-who of political losers. I bet that a good fraction of Scozzafava's voters will either vote for Owens or sit out the election to spite the nutcases.

[rogerashton]

48. It's a purge

The Republican Party is purging itself of deviationists much as the CPUSSR did. At least they are not killing those who are purged -- that's nice. But then, unlike the CPUSSR, they are not in control of the government -- so "Republican moderates" have that, at least, to be thankful for.

[aquart]

70. They've done this before. Nixon got rid of the Rockefeller repubs.

Tossed a ton of decent people just because they had consciences. (Not that I would ever consider Rockefeller "decent." But there were many many people in the Republican party back then who were just SANE.)

[No Elephants]

50. Is this a traditional time for dropping out of races? I read only yesterday or so about Newsom.

[onehandle]

52. Hey, Teabaggers. No reason to stay in the GOP. The Conservative party is the future!

So, take your 10% or so of yourselves out of the GOP and join up.

You'll be BIG winners in 2010.

What could go wrong?

[stevedeshazer]

59. Michael Steele is smiling as he presides over the death of his own party...

[BumRushDaShow]

61. OMG!!!!

[redwitch]

90. Aww! Michael Steele is so cute! And so tech savvy!

[nod factor]

60. I wish

this happened to our party in 2005/2006 i.e the 'lunatic left fringe' became the attractive option thereby putting the DINOs and Blue Dogs under siege. Maybe then we wouldn't have to play all these political parlor tricks to get something as humanly basic as the right to health care passed. Instead we ran a bunch of conservative democrats so the team could 'win' because apparently that's all it's about for most, pom poms.

[adamuu]

67. We tried it -- we had a successful primary challenge against Lieberman, for one

And we mounted a primary against Hillary Clinton in NY
We tried it,

[OswegoAtheist]

66. FFFFFUUUUU-

Having to live in the NY23, I'm not going to be happy if DBag Hoffman wins because of this.

Oswego "Counting the days until I can move back to Canada" Atheist

[Joanne98]

68. Chairman of the Independence Party just endorsed Owens.,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[alofarabia]

71. Scozzafava quits NY-23

Source: Radio report

Scozzafava, the hand-picked choice of the New York state GOP in the key 23rd District special election, reportedly will throw her support to Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

Scozzafava's withdrawal came shortly after a new Siena College poll was released this morning, showing her in third place, with Hoffman neck-and-neck with Democrat Bill Owens.


No link yet.

---

Just heard that Scozzafava has quit and will throw her support to Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman although there's nothing official yet. Scozzafava's withdrawal came shortly after a new Siena College poll was released this morning, showing her in third place, with Hoffman neck-and-neck with Democrat Bill Owens.

looking for link

[Raine1967]

72. Link here:

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20091031/NEW...

they broke the story.

this is really big news --

[Raine1967]

73. sorry double post...

[alofarabia]

74. If she doesn't endorse Hoffman that could help

but this is still very bad news

[ChairmanAgnostic]

75. I have NEVER heard of anyone's endorsement mattering one bit.

I suspect some will find the conservative too much for their taste.

[FVZA_Colonel]

94. Some, but will it be enough?

The big question here is if this will cause enough voters to move towards Hoffman, though if at this point so many still didn't find Hoffman to their liking its hard to imagine how this will really help.

[underpants]

76. The sleeping giant has been awoken-have fun controlling those tea baggers Republicans

[No Elephants]

135. As much fun as we have controlling the Blue Dogs, perhaps?

[OswegoAtheist]

77. Scozzafava throws in the towel?

Source: Scozzafava's official homepage

A Message from Dede

Saturday, October 31, 2009


Dear Friends and Supporters:

Throughout the course of my campaign for Congress, I have made the people of the 23rd District and the issues that affect them the focal point of my campaign. As a life long resident of this District, I care deeply and passionately about its people and our way of life. Whether as a candidate for Congress, a State Assemblywoman or a small town Mayor, I have always sought to act with the best interest of our District and its residents in mind—and today I again seek to act for the good of our community.

The opportunity to run as the Republican and Independence Party candidate to represent the 23rd District has been and remains one of the greatest honors of my life. During the past several months, as I’ve traveled the district, meeting and talking with voters about the issues that matter most to them, I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support I’ve received as I sought to serve as their voice in Washington. However, as Winston Churchill once said, Democracy can be a fickle employer, and the road to public office is not always a smooth one.

In recent days, polls have indicated that my chances of winning this election are not as strong as we would like them to be. The reality that I’ve come to accept is that in today’s political arena, you must be able to back up your message with money—and as I’ve been outspent on both sides, I’ve been unable to effectively address many of the charges that have been made about my record. But as I’ve said from the start of this campaign, this election is not about me, it’s about the people of this District. And, as always, today I will do what I believe serves their interests best.

It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so. I am and have always been a proud Republican. It is my hope that with my actions today, my Party will emerge stronger and our District and our nation can take an important step towards restoring the enduring strength and economic prosperity that has defined us for generations.

On Election Day my name will appear on the ballot, but victory is unlikely. To those who support me – and to those who choose not to – I offer my sincerest thanks.

Dede

Read more: http://dedeforcongress.com/news/read.aspx?id=73

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This letter to DeDe Scozzafava's supporters was posted on her campaign website. It was announced by her Twitter post about an hour ago (~11AM Eastern). Wow. Just, Wow.

Oswego "Hallowe'en brings out all the crazies" Atheist

[Dennis Donovan]

78. I'm crossing my fingers for my former neighbors in Oswego...

[elocs]

79. This was posted here earlier today and is on the Front Page:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[wordpix]

83. so much for running in the middle---or even close to it---wackos clearly in control now

[SnakeEyes]

86. The suprising part

What is surprising is that the wacko just may win. Yikes.

[No Elephants]

136. Not all that surprising if a Con is running against a Purple Snake in a traditionally Pub district.

Blue Dogs will never be as good at getting Republican votes as the Republicans are, nor will Blue Dogs be as good at getting Con votes as the Cons are.

If you don't give voters a real choice, life is tough.

[pink-o]

88. Most repigs have total reactionary loyalty to their party

above what's good for their country--even above what's good for themselves. Hoffman's gonna take that seat, mark my words.

[Joanne98]

89. Owens compares Hoffman to former President Bush

WASHINGTON (CNN)– In New York's 23rd congressional district, Democratic candidate Bill Owens is capitalizing on Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava's last-minute decision to drop out of the special election as a final opportunity to tie Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman to former President Bush.

In a statement released by his campaign, Owens praised Scozzafava for her dedication as a public servant, but said his focus in the final days remains on showing voters the contrast between himself and Hoffman.

"Voters have a clear choice on Tuesday: they can elect to go back to the George Bush economic agenda, or they can vote to move forward," Owens said. "Doug Hoffman and the Club for Growth's extremist agenda won't do a thing to get our economy moving again. "...I will fight to turn the page on that agenda. I will work to create jobs Upstate to get our economy back on track because that is the type of leadership we need right now in Congress."

Vice President Joe Biden is heading back to New York's 23rd congressional district Monday to campaign for Owens the day before the special election.

Biden, who also campaigned with Owens in September, will appear in Watertown. Earlier this month, President Obama made an appearance at a fundraiser for Owens in New York City.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/31/owens-c...

[Ed76638]

91. Goddamnit

Now we're stuck with the ultra-conservative and the blue bitch

[KamaAina]

93. So, basically, she just got "Lamonted"

by her national party.

[wordpix]

97. not at all the same---Ned Lamont was the elected Dem candidate

and a lot of Dems stood by him and voted for him. Lieberman was the interloper who did an end run around his own party when he lost the primary. Lieberman was able to win the election by getting both Dems and Repugs to vote for him.

Scozz. was the elected Repub candidate and she was ousted by the Conservatives and her own party wackos in favor of Hoffman. There is no Ned Lamont parallel here.

[Justess]

100. Well, there

is a small one. Just as in the case of Scozzafava, the loudest, biggest whackaloons in the Republican party couldn't stomach voting for their own guy (what'd he have, like 10% support?). They knew there was no way in hell their own candidate could win - and so when Lieberman took his toys and went elsewhere, (most likely at their urging and by buying whatever was left of Lieberman's sorry soul) it was with the assurance of the Republicans that he would have their votes. It was the Republicans in CT who reelected ol' Joe, more than the Dems, who voted for Ned Lamont. What they did (the R's) to aid Holy Joe was pretty much the same as they did with Hoffman - only this time, by throwing their support behind him, they forced out their own candidate, instead of just voting for her opponent.

Peace

[KamaAina]

106. I was thinking of the prominent national Dems who backed Traitor Joe

[No Elephants]

138. Very useful new verb. Thanks. Just to add: The Republican Party's supporting a

conservative is more understandable to me than the Democratic Party's supporting a conservative.

I think Reagan's popular votes and Democrats for Reagan spooked the Democratic Party and Bush's 2000 electoral votes confirmed the spooking. And then, there was McGovern's defeat, which spooked the Democratic Party so much it decided, very undemocratically, that ordinary Democratic voters should no longer be allowed to choose their own nominee.

[TomCADem]

96. Amazing - The Republicans Are Getting Even More Extreme

Beck and Limbaugh really are running the party.

[Odin2005]

98. The lunatics are throwing out the last few reasonable people.

[Endangered Specie]

99. Good, I hope they keep their idealogical purge going...

sure, we may lose NY-23, but in the long run when they try to run a 'purist' on the national stage.... curtains

[JCMach1]

101. Last Minute Polls had the Teabagger ahead, I wouldn't be too hopeful

to pull out this one.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

102. We don't lose on this one...

We either win the seat, or we lose the seat and the Teabaggers think they "own" the Republican Party -- driving more and more Independents and Moderate Republicans away.

There's no downside here.

[JCMach1]

103. That is true... let them elect more crazies...

It's good for the Democratic brand

[No Elephants]

139. Not surprising that Pubs would rather vote for a Con than a Blue Dog.

Or that Dems, faced with a choice between a Con and Purple Snake may not be energized enough to get out of bed on election day.

After reading the posts on this thread from people who live in the district, if I lived there, I just might write in Dennis Kucinich, just to make my leanings very clear.

[majamay]

104. Although not necessarily, this may boost the Democrats' chances

Scozzafaba's foll