How did a party beholden to conservative extremists manage to win so many elections in jurisdictions won by Obama just one year ago?
Focusing on the campaign in New York’s 23rd Congressional District as if it were the only election conducted last week, leading Democrats from the White House on down tell us that the GOP is a divided party, beholden to its far right extremist fringe. Well, those people peddling that partisan nonsense weren’t paying much attention to events on the other side of the state.
In Westchester County (where Obama snagged 63.39% of the vote last fall), Republican Rob Astorino ousted Democrat Andy Spano, winning more votes than did Congresman-elect Bill Owens and erstwhile Republican Dede Scozzafava combined. In Nassau County where Obama ran one point ahead of his national percentage, voters this week returned the County Legislature to Republican control. Guess, everyone in in the Empire State (outside its far northern reaches) is becoming extremist.
And it wasn’t just the Empire State.
Republican Barbara Comstock’s ousted a Democratic incumbent in an inside-the Beltway Virginia Delegate district. Republican Joan Orie Melvin won a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Not to mention other Republican victories in Obama jurisdictions.
So, if the GOP is so divided and so beholden to its extreme wings, how did Republicans manage to do so well in these jurisdictions which went overwhelmingly for Obama last fall?
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The same way Democrats were able to take Republican Congressional districts in 2006 & 2008 despite being accused of being “beholden to its extreme wings” (rightly in many cases IMO). It is sheer folly to think that the GOP is now America’s favorite party because our history provides ample evidence of that politics has a cyclical nature in this country. Add to that corruption and a disconnected, arrogant attitude by the governing power and you have all the makings for their humbling at the next election. I would love to see Pelosi et al get their well-deserved comeuppance next year but I have no faith that the GOP will do much better. Sure they’ll do some good but after a time they too will be tossed out as the Dems ascend once more to power, only to be tossed out themselves when the Repubs come back, etc., etc., etc.
Comment by John — November 6, 2009 @ 9:58 am - November 6, 2009
I was gonna blockquote what John did and answer in the same vein: I don’t think it’s because the GOP remotely has its act together. It’s because Obama is an incompetent leading America off a cliff (though people still like him personally).
And because of stuff like, oh, 10% employment. (Which would be 22% if they still measured unemployment like they did in the 80s or the Depression.)
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — November 6, 2009 @ 10:15 am - November 6, 2009
With the US’s binary electoral process, you don’t have to totally agree with the candidate your eventually voting-for. In-fact, I doubt most people do actually totally-agree with their eventual selection. It mostly comes in varied shades of gray;
– I don’t agree with him, but I can’t stand the other guy.
– I don’t always agree, but he’s better than the other guy.
– He, I don’t care, but the other party doesn’t deserve my support.
– Eh, I don’t really care, but his party needs my support.
Comment by Ted B. (Charging Rhino) — November 6, 2009 @ 10:18 am - November 6, 2009
The devastating loss that the Repubs felt in NY – 23 PROVES that when the rabid right wing fringe takes over the race, repubs will lose.
Repubs had all the advantages in Nov, low turnout and coupled with an energized base. And yet they still lost because they are divided and supported an extremist.
Even with an energized republican turnout coupled with an apathetic dem turnout, the loony tune wack-o right wing zealots still lose.
I assume that this is the reason your are backing the stimulus and bailout loving Carly Fiorina. She has supported much of Obama’s economic agenda, therefore you know she might have a chance in CA.
Comment by gillie — November 6, 2009 @ 11:51 am - November 6, 2009
As Dan made a point, gillie has hastily ran to miss it.
Comment by The_Livewire — November 6, 2009 @ 12:05 pm - November 6, 2009
Just keep clinging to that ASSumption.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — November 6, 2009 @ 12:27 pm - November 6, 2009
I think you’re still missing a piece of the pie. If Democrats weren’t pretty confident they couldn’t take the seat, they wouldn’t have cherry-picked the former rep to become Secretary of the Army. If some like Palin and Thompson hadn’t stepped in and made this a focus district, nobody would have even thought it was in play. I don’t think 87% of New York reps being Dems and turning that into 90% really is all that much of a surprise. Especially when all the people who actually make money have been leaving that state in droves to escape the horribly regressive taxes.
Comment by Tim — November 6, 2009 @ 1:03 pm - November 6, 2009
Could gillie get our young President Obama off the golf course or basketball court and let him know there are mass shootings happening in Texas and Florida.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — November 6, 2009 @ 1:25 pm - November 6, 2009
actually, Live_wire, in ignoring my point, gillie makes it. Reread the first ¶ of the post, then re-read his comment–it’s as if NY-23 was the only eleciton there was.
Oh and he gets his facts wrong about Carly. She opposes most (if not all) of Obama’s economic agenda.
Comment by B. Daniel Blatt — November 6, 2009 @ 1:26 pm - November 6, 2009
Well something else to keep in mind, 09 elections are also full of examples of depressed Democratic turn out. Republicans were able to capitalize on an energized voter base vs a Democratic base that doesn’t seem be excited. ‘10 elections will definitely see an increase Democratic turn out, especially if the base gets its health care bill. I think turn out had a lot more to do the GOP wins than a sea change in opinion on Obama. 08 was a special election, it was not typical and Democrats should not rest on the assumption it will happen again. They need to bring home the bacon to their voters too.
And the GOP did lose both house races to the Democrats on Tuesday, which continues the lackluster record of GOP in special elections. So as much has been made about Pelosi’s comments on winning on Tuesday, technically she did add to her majorities in the house…so thats kind of a win.
Comment by Darkeyedresolve — November 6, 2009 @ 1:33 pm - November 6, 2009
ROFL
Thanks, gillie! Laugh of the morning! MAN, are some people delusional!
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — November 6, 2009 @ 1:44 pm - November 6, 2009
He’s watching his doco again.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — November 6, 2009 @ 1:51 pm - November 6, 2009
Also could the leftists in here get our young Presidents attention and let him know that we now have 10.2% unemployment not the max of 8% that he promised and the unemployed underemployed number has hit another RECORD 17.6%!!!
I know he and Michelle have another elite dinner planned tonight at the mansion, prolly with the head of the SEIU but geez dude….
I guess he did say he was gonna start working on the unemployment thing….boobs.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — November 6, 2009 @ 3:02 pm - November 6, 2009
Anyone wanna make bet on which party wins NY 23 in 2010? hehe
I noticed that the only place Obama and Michelle didn’t campaign was…….
NY 23. Loser.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — November 6, 2009 @ 3:03 pm - November 6, 2009
Copenhagen
Abdullah abdullah
VA governor
VA AG
VA Lt Governor
VA H of Delegates
NJ
Obama Care
loser
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — November 6, 2009 @ 3:05 pm - November 6, 2009
Gilltard, the Republican who suffered a devastating loss in NY-23 was a LIBERAL. Dede [D] Scuzzyfavors. The “rabid right wing fringe” candidate was a third party candidate, and despite the fact that he was a pretty lackluster candidate, had far less money and organization, and the fact that third party candidates almost never win, he came very close.
Meanwhile, a “rabid right wing fringe” candidate won in a LANDSLIDE in Virginia, after just a few years of Democrat rule.
THAT, gillie, is the lesson from these elections. Americans cannot stand Democrat leadership, and once Dems have control, they work to correct their error in electing them as soon as humanly possible.
Comment by American Elephant — November 6, 2009 @ 6:27 pm - November 6, 2009
I thought Haiku was 3 or 4 lines, Gene?
Comment by John — November 6, 2009 @ 7:34 pm - November 6, 2009
Dan, you’ve made this point several times, but you haven’t addressed the following points. Corzine was way behind Christie in the polls while Obama was popular. He closed in on Christie while Obama’s favorable numbers plunged. Further, Reagan won by a lot in Virginia in 1980 and 1984, especially in 1984 (by a difference of 30%), but the Democratic candidates won the governor’s race in 1981 and 1985.
I’m not arguing that Obama hasn’t been an ineffective president. But perhaps these elections had little to do with Obama. I think next year’s elections will be more telling of Obama’s performance. This year’s elections were more about what was going on locally.
Comment by Pat — November 8, 2009 @ 9:42 am - November 8, 2009