THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume XI, Issue # 197, November 11, 2009
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
LESSONS LEARNED FROM NEW YORK DISTRICT 23
By Christopher G. Adamo
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY & ITS CONSERVATIVE BASE: IS IT POSSIBLE FOR REPUBLICANS TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT
HEADWAY IN THE 2010 MID-TERM ELECTIONS & THEREBY PUTTHE BRAKES ON LEFTWING LIBERALS, DEMOCRATIC PARTY
POLITICIANS, & THEIR SOCIALIST POLITICAL AGENDA? WILL THE REPUBLICAL LEADERSHIP ABANDON ITS
FRUITLESS EFFORT TO HAVE THEIR PARTY REFLECT A "MODERATELY" LIBERAL OUTLOOK & FIND COMMON GROUND
WITH DEMOCRATS? WILL REPUBLICANS VIGOROUSLY OPPOSE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION & THE
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, EFFECTIVELY CONFRONTING & SEEKING TO NEUTRALIZIZE THE LIBERAL LEFTIST THREAT TO
UNRAVEL AMERICA? WILL THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RETURN TO ITS ROOTS, REESTABLISHING & ADHERING TO
THE GOAL OF PROTECTING THE INTERESTS & VALUES OF HEARTLAND AMERICAN & ADVANCING THE CONSERVATIVE
PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA?
FULL STORY:
Is it possible for Republicans to make significant political headway in the
2010 mid-term elections, and thereby put the brakes on the Obama/Reid/Pelosi
program of dismantling the greatness of America? Even a cursory examination
of last week’s off-year elections in Virginia and New Jersey render a
resounding “yes.” However, the special congressional election in New York
district 23 adds the sobering reminder that the GOP can certainly blow this
opportunity if it resorts to its past pathetic pattern of dithering and
posturing.
Naturally, the Democratic Party leadership is trumpeting the win by Bill Owens in
the New York race as a defining characteristic of the current political
landscape, validating everything from the budget-busting “stimulus” bill to
the Democratic Party push for socialized health care. Yet, Owens typifies the
fraudulent nature of such a claim, having perpetrated a complete flip-flop
of his professed opposition to the “public option,” once he had achieved a
victory at the ballot box. In typical Liberal-Leftist fashion, upon securing victory,
he abandoned every Conservative principle that he had touted during his
campaign, and now supports the worst aspects of Obamacare.
Nevertheless, he won on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. If his rambling trek to the halls of
Congress represents the manner in which Democrats can maintain their hold on
power, so be it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D.-CA) will gladly accept the
presence of such minions, if that is how she is to remain at the top of the
heap.
It therefore behooves the Republican Party, if its leaders have any
expectation of regaining their former political clout, to contemplate the
situation in New York with uncharacteristic objectivity and immediately set
about to fix the horrendous mistakes made there, in order to ensure that
such foolishness is not repeated. For, if the GOP, once again, ignores the
glaring evidence and reverts again to its recent abysmal tactic of attempted
pandering to the “middle,” a series of repeats of the New York 23 outcome
will just as inevitably follow, and the Democrats will retain or perhaps
fortify their hold on power in Washington. At this critical juncture,
America simply cannot afford such a fate.
Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, lost to Owens by four
percent, which is hardly a poor showing considering how severely the deck
was stacked against him. The Republican Party began its foolhardy endeavor
in this election by selecting Diedre Scozzafava, an ultra-Liberal candidate
with connections to the party inner circles, as well as to major Leftist
political players. Instead of focusing, as they should have, on what was
wrong with Owens, the clueless Republican Party then dumped nearly a million
dollars into Scozzafava’s campaign, often running political ads against
Hoffman on the very basis of his Conservatism.
Once it became apparent that the Liberal Scozzafava was going to be blown
out in the general election, she dropped out of the race. But the malignancy
of her Liberalism was not yet fully manifested. While hapless Republicans
lauded her for the noble deed of abandoning a bid that would have proven to
be an embarrassing and resounding loss, and extolled her as a great member
of their party, she proceeded to endorse Owens, the Democratic candidate.
Against such a backdrop of delusion and confusion, the Conservative Hoffman
plugged along, maintaining his message of traditional values and true fiscal
stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Ultimately, his effort was not sufficient
to overcome the obstacles thrown in his path by both major parties. Yet he
managed to display a coherent message that generated an amazing degree of
momentum in a short period of time. Had he been properly supported from the
outset of the race, and had Owens been exposed for the disingenuous fraud
that he is, the end result could well have been completely different.
So, where does this misbegotten profusion of errors leave the GOP and its
prospects for significant gains in next year’s races? The lesson is simple
and unchanged from times past. If the party establishes and adheres to a
goal of truly advancing the Conservative agenda (a move which should be
undertaken immediately), it can benefit greatly from every devious Liberal
effort to unravel the fabric of America that the Democrats pursue between
now and Election Day 2010.
On the other hand, if Liberal Republicans repeat their double-minded
attempts to find politically “safe” ground that bears outward commonality
with that of the Democrats, they can expect to be relegated to the political
outback for the foreseeable future.
Real America has roared in the past several years, and, in particular, since
the advent of the Obama regime. The grassroots protests, “Tea Parties,” and
Town Hall confrontations are merely reflections of an electorate that has no
intention of seeing its country and its heritage mutated beyond recognition,
from a free and prosperous society into one of subservience and repression.
Such sentiments are aimed primarily at those Democrats bent on perpetrating
this transformation, but also at Republicans who, out of stupidity,
cowardice, or some misbegotten devotion to “bipartisanship,” refuse to
appropriately confront the Liberal threat and effectively neutralize it.
Contrary to the propaganda regularly offered as “analysis” by the Liberal
media/Democratic Party axis, the backlash against Republicans in 2006 and 2008
was by no means an embrace of the mindset of the political Left. The
American people overwhelmingly identify with Conservatism, but no longer
with Republicans, who all too often disavow any loyalty to it. Having vainly
attempted to ingratiate themselves with the political “Center,” GOP
“moderates” lost touch with the Conservative base.
America is ripe for a reestablishment of those former ties. But it remains
to be seen whether the Republican Party will recognize and seize this
opportunity to return to its roots and return to power. It would be a
welcome change.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
American Politics, Political Competition, & the Control of
Public Policy: Elections, Political Parties, Political Factions,
Ideologies, Special Interest Groups, & Political Corruption
The American Political System:
Politics & Government in the U.S.A.
The American Political & Cultural Left:
Liberals, Statists, Socialists, Marxists, & Other Leftists:
The Democratic Party, Academia, & the Mainstream Media
Liberalism Versus Conservatism in American Politics
-------------------------
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY & POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES:
COMPETING SYSTEMS OF POLITICAL THOUGHT
Conservatism
Traditional Conservatism: Questions & Answers
Conservatism: Attitudes, Types, & Present Status
Constitutional Conservatism: American & British
Liberalism
Classical Liberalism: Intellectual Foundations
Classical Liberalism: Conservative Liberalism
Manchester Liberalism & Social Darwinism
Modern Social "Liberalism": Statist "Liberalism"
Radical & Totalitarian Ideologies
Radicalism, Utopianism, & Totalitarianism
Christopher G. Adamo has been active in Wyoming politics for many years and
is a managing partner in Best American Buy (www.bestamericanbuy.com), an
e-commerce business that markets American made products, including the
incomparable Abigail Adams Bedspread Set from Bates Mills. Contact
information for Chris Adamo, and his archives, can be found at
www.chrisadamo.com
Return to Top of Page
Go to the WEBSITE INDEX
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA,
Public Issues & Political Controversies
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
Most Recent Articles
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA,
Volume XI, 2009
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA,
Subject Matter Highlights
Return to POLITICAL EDUCATION Homepage
CONTACT & ACCESS INFORMATION
This is not a commercial website. The sole purpose of the website is to share with interested persons information regarding civics,
civic and social education, political science, government, politics, law, constitutional law and history, public policy, and political
philosophy and history, as well as current and recent political developments, public issues, and political controversies.
POLITICAL EDUCATION, CONSERVATIVE ANALYSIS
POLITICS, SOCIETY, & THE SOVEREIGN STATE
Website of Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr.
Government, Politics, Public Policy, Legal Issues, Constitutional Law, Government & the Economy, Cultural Values, Foreign Affairs,
International Relations, Military Defense & National Security, Geopolitics, Terrorism & Homeland Security, American National Interests,
Political Systems & Processes, Political Institutions, Political Ideologies, & Political Philosophy
INDEX FOR THE ENTIRE WEBSITE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Conservative & Free-Market Analysis of Government, Politics & Public Policy, Covering Political, Legal, Constitutional, Economic,
Cultural, Military, International, Strategic, & Geopolitical Issues
Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity